Carleton Washburne

Fall Conferences

Washburne’s fall conferences will be on Thursday, November 14th and Friday, November 15th. With the later date of this year’s conferences, Washburne will utilize its winter conference model in the fall. Families will have the opportunity to schedule five-minute conferences with each teacher on their child’s trimester 1 schedule.

This week, you will receive a separate email with directions to schedule conferences for your child. The scheduling portal will open up to families on October 30th. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Washburne’s Safety Week will be next week, October 28th to November 1st. During this week, we will hold three drills, a lockdown drill, fire drill, and a severe weather drill. Please look for an email from our Security Director, Ray Finnerty, at the end of this week for more details about each drill.

Take Care and Be Well,

Andrew Fenton & Ben Horwitz

Carleton Washburne Principal & Assistant Principal

During this time of year, we are seeing an increase in illnesses including strep, colds, flu, and other viral infections. Additionally, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), pneumonia, and strep are prevalent in the community right now.

Here are some steps we can take together to help keep our school community healthy:

1. Stay Home When Sick: If your child is experiencing symptoms such as a persistent cough, fever, or difficulty breathing, please keep them home and consult a healthcare provider. This helps prevent the spread of illness to other students and staff. You can reference our district Health Guidelines here.

2. Encourage Good Hygiene: Remind your children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water, especially before meals and after using the restroom. Using hand sanitizer can also be effective when soap and water are not available.

3. Promote Cough Etiquette: Teach your children to cover their mouths and noses with a tissue or their elbow when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of tissues properly and wash hands afterward.

Your support in reinforcing these practices at home is invaluable. Together, we can help ensure a healthier school environment for everyone.

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

¿Qué pasa en la clase de español?

7th Grade students have been working hard learning about how to describe themselves and others in Spanish. Students engage with each other to strengthen their interpersonal skills with a strong focus on language function and accuracy.

8th Grade students have been working on describing themselves and aspects of their everyday lives. They have been strengthening their interpersonal and interpretive skills. Students have had the opportunity to engage in conversations with each other, write letters to a friend and are starting to be able to talk about clothing and style.

We are excited to continue building their proficiency and production of the wonderful Spanish language!

As electronic or gas bicycles (E-Bikes) and electronic scooters (E-Scooters) gain popularity, the following are the legal parameters for their use in the State of Illinois and the Village of Winnetka. As safety is our priority, we ask that you review these guidelines with any electronic bike or scooter riders in your home.

The existing state statues for electric or gas bicycles necessitate that they have a motor of less than 1 horsepower and be operated by a person who is at least 16 years of age, and must follow all rules applicable to bicyclists, though electric or gas bicycles may only be driven on streets (not sidewalks). E-Bikes that exceed 20 MPH or have motors more powerful than 750 watts may fall under a different classification than standard E-Bikes and could be considered motor vehicles, requiring registration, insurance, and a license to operate.

E-Scooters are considered similar to bicycles if they have a maximum speed of 20 MPH and motor power that is less than 750 watts. Per Illinois statute, E-Scooter riders generally should be at least 16 years of age, and E-Scooters should carry only one rider. E-Scooters may be ridden on sidewalks (outside of business districts: riders should walk their E-Scooters in the business districts) if they do not exceed the speed of 8 MPH: if they do, they must be used on streets which have a speed limit of 35 MPH or lower. Scooters exceeding the 20 MPH/maximum 750 watt limit are considered similar to motor vehicles. E-Scooters used on streets are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorists, and helmets are recommended for both cyclists and E-Scooter riders.

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.

Click here to find October’s edition of the newsletter Belonging Means…

October Dimension of Belonging: Invited

Definition: The way people are invited signals their value and fosters a sense of belonging.

Essential Question: How are we pursuing all staff and students’ presence and actively extending new invitations?

• Monday, October 21st-Friday, October 25th: Safety Week at Washburne
• Tuesday, October 29th: School Board Meeting 7:15pm
• Tuesday, November 5th: No School, Election Day
• Thursday and Friday, November 14-15th: No School, Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences

Thank you to those families who were able to join our leader round tables, hosted at all five buildings. We’ve included a link to the slides as well as a link to a feedback form including questions that were asked at the event. Feedback will be synthesized and shared out in an upcoming principal newsletter. We will then follow-up leading up to Fall Conferences in a subsequent newsletter with ways we are being responsive to the feedback.

Crow Island: Slides and Google Form

Greeley: Slides and Google Form

Hubbard Woods: Google Form

Skokie: Slides and Google Form

Washburne: Slides and Google Form

Thanks to our First Responders who have been working with Director of Safety & Security, Ray Finnerty, and our schools to practice drills and join us for “High Five Fridays” this October. Please review the Fall 2024 Safety Bulletin, produced in collaboration with the Village, for important safety-related information.

Practice Remote Learning Activity on November 7, 2024:

To ensure our students are prepared for any potential shift to remote learning due to multiple days of inclement weather, we have planned a proactive practice activity. This practice session is an important step in ensuring that our students remain connected and ready for learning should inclement weather occur.

• Date for Device Take-Home: On Thursday, November 7, all students will bring their school-issued iPads home.

• Objective: The goal is for each student to connect their device to their home Wi-Fi network and ensure they have access to the necessary tools and platforms.

• Return of Devices: Please ensure that the devices are returned to school with your child on Friday, November 8.

• Communication: Additional communication and reminders, as well as a form to record any issues your student experiences, will be sent closer to this practice event.

As we approach the winter months, it is important to review our district's inclement weather policy. Our top priority is always the safety of our students and staff. We take a comprehensive and thoughtful approach when faced with weather-related decisions such as heavy snow or extreme cold, and work closely with our township and Village partners to plan accordingly.

Deciding When to Close School:
When determining whether to close schools due to inclement weather, we consider several factors:

• Safety First: The well-being of our students and staff is paramount.

• Travel Conditions: We evaluate the state of area roads and the potential for hazardous conditions that could develop during the day.

• Extreme Cold: During periods of severe cold, we consult weather reports and liaise with our transportation providers about the feasibility of running bus routes.

• Collaborative Decision Making: We coordinate with New Trier Township superintendents for a unified approach to school closures.

Communication with Families:
In the event of a closure, we will communicate with you through our Blackboard system. This includes:

• Phone Call, Email, and Text: Please ensure you've opted-in for text notifications.

• Website Updates: Visit our website at www.winnetka36.org for up-to-date information regarding school closures.

• Regional Closures: Check the Emergency Closing Center for a comprehensive list of school closures in our region.

• Communication Timing: Our goal is to finalize and communicate any closure decision prior to 6 a.m. on that day.

Handling School Closure Days:

• First Inclement Weather Day: The first closure day will be treated as a traditional “snow day,” and will require adding an extra day to the school year in June.

• Subsequent Days: For any additional inclement weather days, we will shift to remote learning in order to ensure that we do not need to extend the school year further into June.

Remote Learning Details:

• Teacher Communication: Email as well as postings in our Learning Management Systems (Grades 5-8 - Schoology, Grades K-4 - Seesaw) will be utilized. Parents can expect communication from their homeroom or advisory teacher by 8:00 a.m.

• Student Experience: Remote learning will follow the typical school schedule, combining synchronous and asynchronous methods. For our K-4 students, related arts teachers will now join their homeroom teacher’s Zoom so that our younger students do not need to manage leaving and joining different Zoom sessions.

• Special Education Services: Students receiving services will have these services provided to the greatest extent possible, coordinated by the case manager or service provider.

• Remote Learning Schedule: The schedules that will be used for remote learning can be viewed here.

Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated as we prepare for the possibility of inclement weather. Thank you for your continued support.

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

Up Next:

AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 5-8

November 13, 2024

9:30 A.M.

Location: Carleton Washburne School RC

UNESCO, in their 2021 report entitled AI and education: Guidance for policy-makers stated that:

• “AI is said to be a key enabler of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0)…A recent global estimate suggests that 30% of work activities could be automated by 2030. Up to 375 million workers worldwide could be affected...Meanwhile, however, AI and other frontier technologies are increasing the range of high-skill jobs that require unique creative and analytical abilities and human interactions. In short, many workers’ jobs might disappear, and they will need to develop new skill sets – upskilling or reskilling – to enable them to enter the new occupations made possible by AI. Education ministries and training providers need to anticipate these changes, equipping today’s workers and preparing new generations with the necessary technical and social job skills, to smooth the transition to a world dominated by AI, while ensuring social sustainability.”

Artificial Intelligence is “out of the toothpaste tube” and is not going back in. In response, we’ll share with parents the steps we’re taking to increase the literacy of our students of Artificial Intelligence and how we’re preparing them to be responsible users of this tool.

Interested:

RSVP here

If you missed it, view videos from past sessions:

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

Celebrate Make a Difference Day on October 26th by donating new and gently used baby and toddler items to Share Our Spare. Drop off items at the Indian Hill Train Station in Winnetka on 10/26 from 9am-12pm. Check out www.shareourspare.org/donate-items/ for more details. Please contact laurenswift10@gmail.com with any questions.