Greeley Greeting
Monday, September 11, 2023
A Message from the Principal
I am sure many of our students and staff feel accomplished after a successful first week of school, and deservedly so! Each classroom has already started building routines and establishing classroom community: two pillars of successful learning and growth.
This past Friday, we held our first monthly all-school assembly (kindergarten will join us beginning in October). During our assembly, we invited students to reflect on their summer and the start of the school year. We also reviewed expectations for the playground and hallway in addition to discussing the Greeley Values. These values will be shared at our upcoming Go to School Night.
Go to School Night will take place on Wednesday, September 20th from 6:00-7:30pm this year. The night is intentionally structured to accommodate our growing number of families. Please see below for information on how the evening will be set up:
6:00-6:30pm
Grades K-2: Child's last name A-L
Grades 3-4: Child's last name M-Z
6:35-6:55pm
Principal's welcome message in the auditorium (will begin promptly)
7:00-7:30pm
Grades K-2: Child's last name M-Z
Grades 3-4: Child's last name A-L
We also recognize that some families may have children in more than two grades or multiple children in Grades K-2, for example. Please contact your child's teacher if you need to alter which session you attend.
Lastly, thank you to our PTO and other parent volunteers who helped us get the school up and running. We are incredibly grateful for those who decorated our lawn, brought welcome coffee for parents on Tuesday, beautified our grounds, or helped in any other way. Thank you for making Greeley a truly collaborative community!
Sincerely,
Joshua Swanner
Principal
Panorama SEL Survey
Picture Day Information
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
School Reminders
- For the safety of community members, dogs are not allowed on the immediate sidewalk around Greeley. If you are walking with your dog(s), you must be across the street.
- Everyone should be crossing the street using the crosswalks. Please join our staff in reminding children that it is unsafe to cross the street anywhere except the designated crosswalks.
- Last Name Pickup Signs - Please affix the sign to your visor or dashboard. These signs make pickup run faster and smoother for everyone.
Transportation Safety
In order to prevent traffic-related incidents from occurring in our community, it is important to be vigilant as a bike rider, pedestrian, or driver when traveling through town. Our principals review bike and pedestrian safety practices with students at the start of the school year. We ask that you also take a moment to review the following information with your family:
Illinois law prohibits the use of cell phones or other electronic devices while driving in a school zone, even if it's hands free. It is dangerous and is enforced as a moving violation by the police.
Please do not use pick up and drop off time to check texts, etc. This potentially endangers others.
Please remind your students that they should not be using cell phones or other electronic devices while biking.
Crossing guards are present at busier intersections near our schools to assist with safety. Please respect the authority of the crossing guards and follow their directions
Please talk to children to ensure that they understand the importance of using caution and following all traffic signals.
Note that there are not stop signs at every intersection, especially on Oak and Elm Streets, which are heavily used thoroughfares to Crow Island, Skokie, and Washburne.
We STRONGLY recommend that all students who bike, skateboard, or scooter to school wear a helmet, regardless of age.
Students should bike on the sidewalk wherever possible, and be respectful to pedestrians. Also, children are expected to walk their bikes through crosswalks and while traveling in Winnetka business districts.
When riding on sidewalks, students should be cautious approaching driveways to be sure there is not a vehicle exiting.
In order to prevent theft or damage, please encourage your child to securely lock their bike to the bike racks available at school.
Each elementary school also has specific traffic procedures and parking restrictions that are enforced by police. We encourage you to review these procedures and contact your building administrator if you are unclear.
The speed limit in our school zones is 20 miles per hour during school days. For the safety of all, please follow the posted speed limit.
Recommended safe routes to each neighborhood school are as follows:
Fall Benchmarking
Benchmark assessments are valuable tools that provide a snapshot of student progress at a point in time. These assessments help teachers to identify areas where students are excelling and where they may need additional support. They can also inform instructional decisions by providing data that can be used to tailor teaching to meet each student's unique needs and strengths. Benchmark assessments are an important component of progressive education, which recognizes that students learn in different ways and at different rates. By using benchmark assessments to inform instruction, teachers can provide a more individualized approach to learning that supports each student's academic growth and personal development.
This year students in Grades K-8 will participate in academic benchmark assessments of literacy and math starting September 11. There are three platforms the district utilizes to gather student learning information; aimswebPlus, mCLASS, and NWEA MAP. Specific information about assessments, including how parents will receive their child’s results, will be shared at Go To School Night.
2023/2024 Calendar
Go To School Night Schedule
Crow Island, Greeley & Hubbard Woods
Wednesday, September 20 - 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Skokie
Wednesday, September 13 - 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Washburne
Thursday, September 14 - 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Fall 2023 Safety Bulletin
Winnetka Parents Institute
The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. Please view the fall schedule here, and mark your calendar for this upcoming event in September:
“The Winnetka Experience: Portrait of a Graduate, Portrait of an Educator, and Progressive Education”
September 20, 2023
Time: 9:30AM
Location: Washburne RC
Interested:
Jeff Knapp (Assistant Superintendent of Professional Learning and HR) and Beth Carmody (Principal at Hubbard Woods School) will present on the Portrait of a Graduate, Portrait of an Educator, and the impact that these along with Progressive Education have with students and staff to help drive the Winnetka Public Schools District 36 as a local and national leader in talent development. A panel discussion of Winnetka teachers will bring to life how Progressive Education is displayed across our schools.
Want to monitor your child's school device at home? Set up the JAMF Parent App!
Introducing The Winnetka Public Schools App
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
- Week of 9/11: Panorama Student Survey (Grades 3-4)
- Week of 9/18: MAP Testing (Grades 3-4)
- Wednesday, 9/20: Picture Day
- Wednesday, 9/20: Go-to-School Night; 6:00-7:30pm
- Monday, 9/25: No School
About Us
School Hours:
8:30am | Doors open
8:37am | School promptly begins
2:10pm | Kindergarten dismissal
2:45pm | Early Release (MONDAY ONLY)
3:15pm | Grades 1-4 and Stay & Play Kindergarten dismissal
Email: GordonSchreiber@winnetka36.org
Website: https://www.winnetka36.org/greeley
Location: 275 Fairview Avenue, Winnetka, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 446-6060