Washington Wildcat Chat

Dear Washington Families,

In the coming weeks, our staff will begin to collaborate on the important process of creating class lists for the upcoming school year. This process is quite structured, takes various factors into account, and involves many stages.

Because the placing of students in classrooms is so important, we use a very specific and detailed process for all children. We consider several criteria in making our decisions, with no one being more important than another. The following criteria are considered before placements are made:

• The total number of children in all grade-level classes needs to be equal.

• Ability levels of students need to be balanced in each grade level class.

• Leadership skills and other affective characteristics need to be balanced.

• Students’ learning styles should be matched appropriately with teachers’ instructional styles.

• Some student combinations should be split for social or academic reasons.

We will also coordinate co-teaching opportunities for our multilingual students and students with diverse learning needs. These considerations dictate how we group and cluster students in all grade levels.

If you would like to provide specific information about your child to assist in the homeroom placement selection, please submit a letter by Friday, March 21st. Pertinent information may include the parents’ view of how the child learns best, the environment that best suits learning, peer social matches to avoid, and any other important details. Such information will be considered as part of our process, but final decisions about class assignments are determined by the administration and teachers.

Due to the nature and complexity of this task, we are unable to accept requests for specific teachers. We ask that you please do not put our teachers in an awkward position by requesting a specific placement for them. At times, they are unable to honor a request and we do not want them to feel responsible for not being able to follow through with considerations. Additionally, our staffing needs and teacher assignments change from year to year based on the number of students at each grade and life events of staff members.

Please note that any letters received after Friday, March 21st may not be considered. Our staff will spend a significant amount of time on placements, and we take the process very seriously.

Lastly, please note that once homeroom assignments are made and notifications are shared in August, we are unable to honor requests for changes. We encourage you to take the opportunity now to share your thoughts. If you have questions or feel you need to have a conversation with me that our letter method doesn't provide, please contact me as I'd rather have this conversation now than a complicated conversation in August.

Thanks for your support and partnership.

Warmly,

Angie

Uncle Pete’s Sack Lunch Project is coming soon! The sack lunches prepared by our school community will be delivered to shelters, food pantries, senior programs, and soup kitchens as well as those in need of food across Chicago’s West Side and Uptown areas.

Lunches will be collected in the morning at the start of the school day as children arrive on Tuesday, March 4th.

See below for more details!

Chess-Ed is excited to return to Washington School to provide lunchtime chess instruction

this Spring!

The 10-week program runs from 03/07/2025 to 05/23/2025 and takes place

on Fridays from 11:35 am to 12:30 pm (during lunch). The program is open to students

in all grades and of all chess abilities (including those in full-day and half-day Kindergarten).

Professional instruction will include the basics for beginner and novice players and build

with opening theory, middle game planning, and end game combinations for continuing and

advanced students. Playing chess improves memory, uses analytical and critical thinking

skills, teaches problem solving, responsibility, sportsmanship, social skills and more! The

benefits of chess last a lifetime!

To register, please click here. Register by 03/04/2025 to take advantage of lowest available fee. For more information about the program, please refer to the program flyer. Chess-Ed is looking forward to working with your CHESS ENTHUSIAST this Spring!

Washington's Spring Parent Teacher Conferences will take place on March 6th. Spring Conferences are by invite only. Your child's teacher will communicate with you if they are interested in scheduling a conference. As always, we thank you for your partnership in supporting our students!

There will be no school on Friday, February 28, 2025.

We have not had any school closings due to inclement weather before February 1st, meaning Friday, February 28 becomes a Records/Planning Day. Staff will work, but there will be no student attendance on Friday, February 28.

Additional dates to remember this month:

• February 14: No School (Teacher Institute Day)
• February 17: No School (Presidents’ Day)

Calling all authors! Don't forget that stories are due on Friday, February 28th. Since the due date falls on a day when school is not in session for students, we will still be accepting entries on Monday, March 3rd. This is a great opportunity for all students to share their writing talent with our school community. Guidelines and program details can be found in the link. Good luck to all of our talented Washington authors!

Registration is open and you can now enroll your child for the 2025-2026 school year. All of the information and links can be located on the District Registration Page .

The registration deadline will be noon on Friday, March 14, and if you register your child and pay the fees by then, you will receive the early bird discount. You must fill out and submit registration forms by Monday, March 10, at 3:00 pm to take advantage of the fee discount. This allows our staff time to verify documents and send out invoices so you can pay them by noon on Friday, March 14. Any families who do not register by this date will receive a records release, as we assume you’re going to another district.

For the 17th consecutive year, academic registration fees will remain unchanged for families who register and pay by the deadline. However, the early bird discount does not apply to participation, bus, or tuition fees. Our website has the fee list and explanations for any fee increases, such as for Instrumental Music and Chromebook maintenance.

DINE TO DONATE AT LOU MALNATI'S PARK RIDGE!

SUPPORT D64 BOPA

BAND & ORCHESTRA PARENT ASSOCIATION

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Lou Malnati's Park Ridge
In person, carry out and delivery!

USE PROMO CODE: GPFUND24

For Questions, please contact:

Christine Erickson bopa64@gmail.com

• Read-a-Thon, February 3rd to 24th
• Uncle Pete's Lunch Collection, March 4th
• Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences, March 6th
• Illinois Science Assessment (5th Grade), March 11th - 13th
• PTO Meeting, March 12th
• Spring Break, March 24th - 28th

Inspire all students to discover their strengths, embrace learning, achieve personal excellence, and demonstrate care. Students thrive in a rich, rigorous, and innovative curriculum delivered by highly qualified teachers. Each student learns and grows in a safe, nurturing environment. In collaboration with student, parents, teachers and the community, District 64 provides opportunities for each learner to investigate, be successful, be resilient, and become inspired and empowered as they contribute to our global society.