Hubbard Woods Update

Hubbard Woods Families,

A week filled with lots of excitement has begun! Our parades will take place tomorrow. Please see the timing below.

9:00- Kindergarteners will come to school in their costumes and parade around the playground. Parents, please join us on the playground. This will follow a similar format to the butterfly migration event.

For 1st and 2nd, we will parade inside the building and will exit from the west door by the playground and music room. We should arrive on the playground at approximately 1:35. Please keep the middle of the playground, inside the track markings open. We will walk in a circle and then watch a 4th grade dance.

For 3rd and 4th, we will parade out the front of school and head west on Chatfield heading to the playground beginning at 2. We will circle on the parts of the track still accessible. Please leave a path for us and gather around the outside of the track. The 4th graders will perform on the inside of the track. You may gather on the sidewalks on Chatfield to the west of school and the playground.

1st-4th Graders will put on their costumes at school. Please do not send any special accessories as these can get accidentally left at school. No weapons of any kind are permitted at school, even if they are a part of the costume. Scary masks and any painted-on fake blood are also not allowed. We want everyone to feel safe and enjoy the day.

Please remember that you will need to have a visitor badge in order to enter the building for any celebrations.

We installed our new, PTO-sponsored, Gaga Pit in Mann Park. Thank you!

Important things below:

*Notice pertaining to the temporary halt of Adventures in Learning this summer

*Dr. Tess survey

*Attendance message

I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow!

Sincerely,

Beth Carmody

Dear Winnetka Families,

This school year, our District will be focusing on best practices regarding student attendance. The National Center for Education Statistics released an overview of the importance of students regularly attending school, as well as the negative impacts of missing school. Incorporated in School Board Policy 7:20 are requirements (per Section 105 ILCS/5/22-92 of the Illinois School Code) that all Illinois school districts must establish and submit its Absence/Truancy Program to the Illinois State Board of Education. This requirement went into effect January 2023 and is to be submitted every two years thereafter.

Our wish is to partner with our families in understanding the importance of regular and prompt attendance. To that end, our schools will be sending home a letter to families of students that have passed a threshold of absences at this point in the school year. This letter is meant to draw attention to the number of absences a student has had and offer support should families need it.

We understand that there are times when absences are unavoidable, particularly in the event of sickness or family emergencies. Please do notify our schools if we can help in any way with these matters. Thank you for your continued partnership.

Sincerely,

Beth Carmody, Hubbard Woods

Michelle Cooney, Skokie

Andrew Fenton, Washburne

Luke Livingston, Crow Island

Joshua Swanner, Greeley

BOO! Did I scare you? Or does the idea of celebrating Halloween with elementary age children scare you in general? There are a lot of expectations and emotions that are all wrapped up in this month and culminate in one day. These expectations come from our culture, our children, and even our own experience of the holiday. How many of us have experienced tears or tantrums (from adults and children) on Halloween or afterwards because of some unmet expectation? Setting realistic goals for Halloween and creating a family rhythm and ritual can help everyone maintain their equilibrium as we build towards October 31. This article can give you some ideas for how to add these traditions to your family holiday. We hope your holiday is safe and fun!

Susan Johnson, Katie Kalogriopoulos, and Sandie Johnson

School Social Workers at Winnetka 36 K-4 Schools

Important: Adventures in Learning Temporary Pause and Location Change for ESY Over Summer 2024 Announced

The Board approved a temporary pause in Adventures in Learning programming for the Summer of 2024 to accommodate construction and renovation at all five campuses. Extended School Year will continue as planned, but will be hosted at New Trier’s Northfield Campus. The District will be excited to reopen Adventures in Learning in Summer 2025. More details are below.

From the Superintendent: SURVEY OPEN THROUGH NOVEMBER 18

Please take approximately five minutes to provide your feedback by Friday, November 18. Last year’s survey findings led to numerous improvements in the areas of curriculum & instruction, communications and human resources. It is my hope that our responsiveness will continue to be witnessed in our efforts to provide the very best educational experience for the students of The Winnetka Public Schools and excellence for the community-at-large.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month

Click here to view a message from Carleton Washburne students.

Bullying affects everyone: those exhibiting bullying behaviors, the bullied, and the bystanders. The District's Bullying Response and Prevention Plan creates awareness of what bullying is with “child-friendly” language that illustrates the difference between mean, rude, or bullying behavior; establishes and communicates to students, parents, and staff methods for reporting incidents related to bullying behavior; develops communication protocols for investigating, notifying and resolving incidents reported; and, builds an ongoing dialog with students on bullying awareness and prevention.

The District 36 approach to bullying is “pro” solution rather than “anti” problem to foster a change of culture through kindness, compassion, respect, reaching out, and helping others. Every October, students discuss bullying prevention in their classrooms/advisories where they are reminded of methods available to them to speak with an adult about their concerns. Students in grades 5-8 are able to report an incident or indicate that they want to talk to an adult from a form on their iPad. Students K-4 are able to report an incident to any adult in whatever form is most comfortable for them. A reporting form is also accessible from the District’s website, along with information on text4help. Click here for additional information.

Winnetka Parents Institute

The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. Please view the fall schedule here.

Coming Soon:

The Middle School Experience, AKA “Why is my child acting like this?” Please help.

November 3, 2023

9:30 - 10:30 A.M.

Washburne Resource Center

Join Principal Cooney and Assistant Principal Joynt (The Skokie School) and Principal Fenton and Assistant Principal Horwitz (Carleton Washburne School) for an informational session focusing on the ins and outs of the growing middle school child. We will share the neuroscience behind the changes that occur in 5th-8th grade children, and offer suggestions on how to support children both academically and socially-emotionally as they navigate the middle grades.

Skokie and Washburne families are encouraged to join us for an engaging, encouraging and educational hour together.

Interested:

RSVP here

Recordings of previous sessions:

• The Winnetka Experience: Portrait of a Graduate, Portrait of an Educator, and Progressive Education

Understanding Assessment Results

Fall benchmark assessment results have been mailed home. Information to help parents understand the assessment reports are available on the District website. As a community of learners, we are navigating the way through how to best use this information along with the valuable insight gathered on a day-to-day basis in our schools. Thank you for being our partner in this growth process.

Literacy Pilot Underway

Last year the District strategic plan goal to realign the K-1 literacy program was updated to entail a full curriculum review of literacy programming K-8. The goal of the curriculum review is to ensure there is a guaranteed and viable literacy curriculum based upon current research that builds from Kindergarten through Grade 8. In the spring a group of educators that comprised the District’s Literacy Leadership Committee identified literacy programs to pilot this year and 60 classroom teachers volunteered to participate in the pilot. Participating in the pilot means that the teacher has been trained in the program and will select one existing unit in the literacy curriculum to replace with the pilot curriculum. Your child’s classroom teacher may have shared this information during the recent Go To School Night events, as well as through their classroom newsletters. While the student learning outcomes in literacy may remain the same this year, the programming, materials and sequence used may be different in classrooms where the pilot is taking place. More information about the pilot will continue to be shared through District communications and regular updates during School Board meetings. A special thank you to the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation Board for approving funding that was used for a large majority of the pilot training that occurred during September.

Reminder of Covid-19 Guidance for Students/Staff:

Per the Illinois Department of Public Health, it is recommended that a person isolates for at least 5 days from symptom onset if symptoms are present or 5 days from a positive test date if no symptoms. Day 1 starts the day after symptom onset/positive test date. They can return on day 6 if fever, vomiting, and diarrhea cease for 24 hours and have improvement of symptoms. It is recommended to mask day 6-10.

2023/2024 Calendar

To view the calendar for the 2023/2024 school year, please click here.

Monthly Observances

As part of Winnetka School District 36’s ongoing commitment to equity by fostering connection and belonging, the District will take time each month to recognize the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds. The goal of these monthly observances is to provide resources and support for teachers in order to bring awareness and appreciation to the diverse population of students in our community. Observances will look different at all schools and even at different grade levels. Some activities might include art, music, book studies, research projects, sharing cultural holidays and celebrations, and other school activities. As materials are developed for these observances, we will make them accessible.

September 15- October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

October: Disability Awareness

November: Native American Heritage

December: Human Rights

January: MLK Jr. Day

February: Black History

March - April 15: Women’s History Month

April 15-May 15: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage

May 15 - June 13: Jewish American Heritage

Follow us on Social Media!

Please follow the District via the following social media platforms in order to see day-to-day happenings and more.

Facebook and Twitter: @Winnetka36

Instagram: @WinnetkaPublicSchools

Tuesday, October 31 -Halloween Parades

Wednesday, November 1st - Institute Day (No Student Attendance)

Monday-Friday November 20-24- Thanksgiving Holiday (No school)

8:30am | Doors open

8:37am | School promptly begins

11:30am-12:20pm | Lunch

2:10pm | Kindergarten dismissal

2:45pm | Early Release (MONDAYS ONLY)- Kindergarten Stay and Play/Bridge Care and all 1st-4th students

3:15pm | Tuesdays through Fridays Grades 1-4 & Stay and Play/Bridge Care Dismissal

Email: jenniferhartlett@winnetka36.org
Website: https://www.winnetka36.org/hubbardwoods
Location: 1110 Chatfield Road, Winnetka, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 446-0920