Carleton Washburne

It has been a busy September at Washburne. Classrooms are full of learning, and our students are off to a great start to the year. We wanted to share a couple safety reminders with our families that we shared with students last week. Please encourage your child to lock their lockers while at school, this is the best way to ensure that their belongings remain safe. Also, students are expected to wear their lanyards with their student lunch ID’s while at school. Thank you in advance for helping us remind our students to bring their lanyards each day.

A big thank you to our PTO for organizing our first principal coffee of the year last week. Our PTO also held the first ever Washburne Back to School Bash on Friday with over 150 students in attendance. We are so thankful to have the support of our community and we look forward to continued collaboration throughout the year.

Take Care and Be Well,

Andrew Fenton & Ben Horwitz

Carleton Washburne Principal & Assistant Principal

In this section we will be shining the spotlight on our Related Studies program and all the wonderful opportunities available to our Washburne students.

All students enrolled in art classes make their own sketchbooks. We make paste papers for the covers and bind their sketchbooks together. Art & Design students just completed their OP Art design based on the work of Bridget Riley. Studio Art 7 students just completed their Name Designs. Sculpture class is completing their Slotted Sculpture project and will prep for clay work this week.

The yearbook class has just finalized the theme for the yearbook: Washburne Let's Glow!

Travel Basketball is an interscholastic sport at Washburne open to 7th and 8th graders. It is a competitive sport that meets Tuesdays through Thursdays from either 3:30-5:00 or 5:00-6:30, and Fridays from either 7:00-8:00 AM or 3:30-5:00 PM. Games vary each week, and can be on any day Monday through Friday. Games will end by 6:00. Students wishing to play on the team must attend both days of tryouts. They also need to be registered online and have a medical clearance form/current physical on file with the school.

Boys and Girls Basketball are live on the District Web Store.

Registration opens at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 1st.

The tryout dates/times are set for:

7th Boys: Tuesday, October 22 3:30-5:00 and Thursday, October 24 5:00-6:30

8th Boys: Tuesday, Oct 22 5:00-6:30 and Thursday, October 24 3:30-5:00

7th Girls: Monday, Oct 21 2:30-4:00 and Wednesday, October 23 5:00-6:30

8th Girls: Monday, Oct 21 4:00-5:30 and Wednesday, October 23 3:30-5:00

Contact Andy Becker for more information.

Calling all engineers, inventors, and robot wranglers! Spark your creativity and get ready to design and build beyond your wildest dreams! We’re bringing back the Washburne Robotics Club kicking it off on Tuesday, October 15th, continuing for the next 10 weeks until December 17th!

Here are the details:

Time: Tuesdays, 3:30 PM - 4:40 PM, a perfect after-school adventure!

Dates: October 15 - December 17th, let's conquer the end of the fall trimester with bots!

Location: The CW CoLab, N102, (Mr. Selgrat’s room), Carleton Washburne School

What to expect: We will collaborate to build and program robots, while working together to choose our path as a club, sharpening our creativity and problem-solving skills.

No experience needed: Just bring your enthusiasm, curiosity, and willingness to participate.

Why join?

Show off your robot creations and battle for glory!

Make awesome friends: Meet like-minded tinkerers and build a team that supports your robotic dreams.

Learn cool stuff: Coding, engineering, physics – they're all part of the robot revolution!

Have a blast: Seriously, who doesn't love building robots?

So, what are you waiting for? Blast off with the Robotics Club and watch your imagination take flight!

Sign-up info: Head over to the "Clubs & Activities" page on the school website. Spots are limited, so don't delay!

Registration opens on Tuesday, October 1st

Classes beginning Monday 10/10 through 12/12/2024, 7:45-8:15am weekly.

Register at: https://www.2024-2025skokiewashburnechess.eventbee.com

Chess-Ed will continue to provide this unique, exciting, and dynamic chess instruction

which lifts each student to a new level of expertise. Studies confirm that the student who plays chess does better academically and throughout life in general. Chess increases IQ performance, uses analytical and critical thinking skills, teaches problem solving, responsibility, decision making, good sportsmanship, social skills and more.

This 8-week program will be offered: 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, (no class 11/14-parent conferences), 11/21, (no class 11/28-Thanksgiving), 12/5, and 12/12/2024.

Early fee savings is $120 now and thru 10/5 for the 8-week session. (LATE fee $150 begins 10/6-10/24/24.)

Register TODAY!

https://www.2024-2025skokiewashburnechess.eventbee.com

Chess is the “SPORT OF THE MIND”

This club is back by popular demand for a second year. Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game where students will design a character and work cooperatively to complete missions and questions using both strategy and creativity. All levels of knowledge about the game (including beginners) are welcome. Dungeons and Dragons club takes place every third Thursday of the month after school until 4:45pm, and it is a great way to meet new people with similar interests. Please sign up in the District Web Store and reach out to Katie Nelson at katienelson@winnetka36.org with any questions.

Homework Club has begun after school in the Washburne Resource Center from 3:30-5:00pm. Homework Club will be available all year on Tuesdays, Wednesdays (new this year!), and Thursdays. It's a great opportunity to get things done while still at school. Drop in to finish some homework or get help from a teacher. All are welcome and there are no sign-ups required. Stay until five or leave when finished. Reach out to Ms. Nelson with any questions.

Debate meets after school on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30pm in Ms. Etter’s room (N106). This is a great opportunity for students to hone their research skills, become polished public speakers, and challenge themselves outside of the classroom. Students can compete in after-school tournaments with other New Trier feeder schools a few times throughout the year.

Our first meeting will be Tuesday, October 8th. Click here to register for this club.

Students are a vital part of planning, promoting, and executing our annual dance marathon, benefiting Lurie Children's Hospital. To date, we have raised over $200,000 for a place that has touched so many lives of those who live in Winnetka. Our student steering committee will meet on Thursdays at 8:00AM, monthly at first, then bimonthy, then weekly closer to the event, which will take place in the early spring. Sign up your child to be a part of this committee using the link below, which will be open until October 23rd, the day before our first meeting. DM Student Steering Committee

Whether your child is outgoing or wants to work behind the scenes, there is something for everyone to do. We need talents of all types. Every year it is a joy to work with students on such an important (and fun!) service project.

We can't wait to get started!

- Tracy Silverman, Melissa Yeoman, Rachel Hirsh, and DeAnna SeLander

Office Drop-Off Procedures

We will be implementing new procedures for parents who need to drop off items, such as iPads, lunches, or homework, at school during school hours. If you are dropping off an item for your child, you will be buzzed into the outer foyer of our building. We have a table set up where items can be left. There are post-it notes and pens on the table if you need to label the item for your child. We will no longer be buzzing parents into the office if you are dropping off an item during school hours.

Lanyards

All students were provided with a Washburne lanyard on the first day of school. For safety and security reasons, students are required to wear this lanyard during the school day.

If your child leaves the lanyard at home, we will provide a temporary one for them to wear that day. If the lanyard is lost, a replacement lanyard must be purchased for $1. Please help remind your child to bring their lanyard to school each day.

Thank you for your partnership as we work together to create a safe environment for our students, staff and families.

• Thursday, October 3rd: No Student Attendance
• Wednesday, October 9th: Leader Round Table @ Washburne School 6:30pm-7:30pm
• Tuesday, October 29th: School Board Meeting 7:15pm

We invite you to engage on important District and school-related topics with Dr. Tess and your building Principal. Please mark your calendar for the session at your home school(s) and kindly RSVP here:

The Skokie School

Tuesday, October 1

6:30-7:30 p.m.

Hubbard Woods School

Tuesday, October 8

6:30-7:30 p.m.

Carleton Washburne School

Wednesday, October 9

6:30-7:30 p.m.

Crow Island School

Thursday, October 10

6:30-7:30 p.m.

Greeley School

Monday, October 14

6:30-7:30 p.m.

The SSIS Student SEL Survey will be administered in grades K-8 the week of October 7th as part of our District-wide goal to support SEL for all students. The survey is aligned with Illinois state Social-Emotional Learning standards and will provide data to help inform our efforts to support the well-being of all students. The survey focuses on five core SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Students grades 3-8 will take the survey during their SEL/advisory time. Time will be dedicated during our October 7th staff meeting for teachers grades K-8 to complete the teacher portion of the SSIS survey. Additionally, all staff will be asked to complete the Teacher and Staff survey through Panorama which will focus on: wellbeing, belonging, school climate, and equity and inclusion.

In order to support students in acquiring the skills above, the new programming has two components:

1. Foundational Skills

2. Knowledge Building

Foundational Skills apply to students in grades K-5, as described by the Common Core State Standards. This includes basic reading skills such as letter recognition and letter sounds. In grades 3-5 learning goals expand to include prefixes, suffixes, Latin and Greek roots.

Knowledge Building is a core of K-8 programming. Using their Foundational Skills, students combine reading and writing with background knowledge on science, social studies, and the arts. This allows students context to apply skills and is not intended to replace current programming in these areas.

Messages regarding the new literacy curriculum will continue to be included in principal newsletters. Be sure to see past additions for more details.

The Winnetka Public Schools are committed to the second goal area of our strategic plan focused on creating a culture of positive well-being for students, staff, and community. This includes promoting wellness for our school community and collaborating Districtwide to foster connection and belonging.

We are committed to continuing recognition of monthly observances and celebrations this year; however, we have made some revisions and additions based on feedback from our school community. A link to the official 2024/2025 calendar can be found here. The calendar was created to collectively raise awareness of the important days of commemoration across several events and faith traditions practiced by staff and families in the District. However, it should be noted that this is not a comprehensive list of all religious days or faith traditions observed in the community. If you would like to recommend a change or addition to this calendar for consideration in the future, please let us know via this online form.

September 15 to October 15 is National LatinX Heritage Month. This is a time to celebrate the cultures, achievements and contributions of LatinX, Hispanic and Latino-identified people whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

In 2024/2025, we will further explore what it means to have a sense of belonging using the Vanderbilt University research-based Ten Dimensions of Belonging which offers 10 ways schools can foster belonging for all. Districtwide, we will focus on one dimension of belonging each month. September’s dimension is PRESENT. Staff are students are encouraged to reflect and take action regarding the following: Are all students, families, and staff involved in the same spaces and activities as their peers? You can read the first edition of the Department of Student Services monthly newsletter, Belonging Means… here.

The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. View the entire 2024/2025 schedule here.

Up Next:

What to Know About the Otus Parent Portal (Virtual only!)

October 9, 2024

9:30 A.M.

Location: Virtual

Zoom Link:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://winnetka36.zoom.us/j/89140902359?pwd=CkiZde9cij4R65VWd5jMpDaW5wkTlo.1

Meeting ID: 891 4090 2359

Passcode: 740131

Patrick Dawson (Director of Innovation, Teaching and Learning) and Dr. Zach Fodor from Otus will present on how parents can access their student’s assessment data (i.e. NWEA MAP, aimswebPlus, mClass DIBELS, IAR, etc) in one platform, Otus. Come and learn how you can use this powerful tool to review and stay up-to-date on your student’s performance.

Interested:

RSVP for this event here

If you missed it, view videos from past sessions:

Insights on K-8 Literacy Programming in The Winnetka Public Schools

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