Greeley Greeting

Dear Greeley Families,

We hosted a very enjoyable 1st and 2nd grade Spring Sing this past Thursday. A special thank you goes to Ms. Hewitt, Ms. Montgomery, our students, and all who joined us. We are eager for our third and fourth grade performances this week!

• 3rd Grade Spring Sing: Thursday, May 2; 6:00-6:30 pm
• 4th Grade Spring Sing: Thursday, May 2; 7:00-7:30 pm (Please note that this time is corrected from previous newsletters

Additionally, please consider attending tomorrow's Coffee with Kelly event (details below). The topic of the session in an increasingly relevant one: artificial intelligence and education. We hope to see you there!

Most Sincerely,

Joshua Swanner

Principal

In a continuing effort to incorporate appropriate use of technology in our schools, it is important to address "smart watches". Although students do not typically carry personal cell devices in elementary school, we have noticed an increasing number of students with smartwatches. While we welcome the use of watches for the purposes of telling time, it is important to revisit our schoolhouse expectations for technology.

In order to ensure student engagement and their participation in our community of learners, the use of smart watches during school hours for the following activities are prohibited:

• Texting

• Sending photos

• Playing Games

• Making phone calls

Please know that any device used for the above purposes will be temporarily taken by a staff member and returned to the child at the end of the day. If these issues continue, that child will need to leave the device at home. Please remember that the school is not responsible for lost personal items. Thank you for your continued partnership in creating the best possible learning environment for our students.

Join the Behavioral Health Team (BHT) in a coffee talk on Wednesday, May 1st from 2:15-3:15 pm in the Greeley Resource Center on the topic of Executive Functioning strategies. Executive Functioning refers to a set of abilities involved in planning, organization, inhibition, and attention. Our talk will include strategies and tips for how you can support your child's development of executive functioning skills.

We hope to see you there!

Second-grade students will learn principles of bike safety, navigate a simple course, and have their safety equipment checked. Second-grade students can join us after school with their bicycles 4:00pm on the blacktop. Please bring a helmet. Safety first!

Lastly, a bicycle registration form has been provided by the Winnetka Police Department and is accessible below. Families can complete this form and email it to pdrecords@winnetka.org. The WPD Records Department will register the bike and mail the bicycle license sticker to the address on the form. Families can then affix the license sticker to the bicycle.

For incoming second to fourth-graders, please use the link below to register for violin, viola, and cello.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/11Ht_yhorZu0uC6AmKMa_6l1GBSoY1bzqfl5ABvbWx_o/edit

Please use the QR or the link below. Order now through May 10.

If you have any questions or problems, or if your child would like a book but the cost is a financial hardship, please email greeleymemorybook@gmail.com

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1013847996811365

5:30-6:00: Department of Student Services Presentation in the Resource Center

(Focus on supports and services for students with IEPs)

Presenters:

Denise Matthews, Director of Student Services, Equity and Inclusion

Michelle Cooney, Principal

Emily Lyons and Shannon Anderson, Case Managers

During this time, there will be activities in Rooms 115 and 116 for children whose families are attending the presentation.

6:00-6:30: Family Activity: Get to know Skokie!

(Open to ALL 4th grade students and families)

Students and families will engage in an activity in classrooms.

6:30-7:00: Presentation

(Open to ALL 4th grade students and families)

Welcome to Skokie presentation in the auditorium for an informational session in the auditorium about the The Skokie School schedule, extracurricular activities, and the placement process.

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 14-15, 2024. This shift from October provides an opportunity to redefine how fall conferences are utilized. Conferences should serve as an opportunity to provide information about how a student is learning and what is next to support continued growth. Please complete this brief survey by May 3. The results will be used to structure the November 2024 conferences.

Dr. Kelly Tess, Superintendent of Schools, invites you to our third “Coffee with Kelly,” a community conversation hosted at our schools! Staff, families and community members are welcome to join Dr. Tess, Mr. Patrick Dawson (Director of Innovation, Teaching & Learning) and Mr. Matt Boyer (Technology Integration Specialist at Skokie) for a co-facilitated discussion on the growing world of Artificial Intelligence, what we are learning about it and how parents can stay informed. We hope to provide an opportunity to learn more about how it intersects with the world of education, as well as offer participants a first-hand, guided experience with AI and offer ways parents can talk about this with their children.

“Coffee with Kelly” in April

April 30, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.

The Skokie Community Room

Please RSVP by April 26

All staff, caregivers, and parents (including grandparents!) are welcome. You do not need to be a Skokie School family or staff member to attend. Coffee will be served!

The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics.

Click here for the Spring 2024 schedule.

Up next:

What Do These Reports Mean? (Greeley Staff Members and Principal Joshua Swanner)

May 15, 2024

9:30 A.M.

Location: Washburne Cafeteria

Families receive important information regarding their child’s growth and achievement at three distinct times in the school year. This includes progress reports, benchmarking reports, MAP assessment reports, and IEP trimester updates. This informational session is available to families of elementary students enrolled in the Winnetka Public Schools and will provide an overview of how to read and interpret the triannual data provided to families. Join staff members from Greeley School as they detail the purpose of these reports and how they are used to inform instruction.

Interested:

RSVP for this event here

Feedback Link

If you missed our spring sessions, watch the videos here:

From Washburne to New Trier: (with Paul Waechtler, Principal)

A D36 Parent's Guide to the New Trier Transition

Not Quite Little Kid, Not Quite Teenager: The Developmental Progression of the Middle School Child

Digital Citizenship in Winnetka (with SEL Coaches and Technology Integration Specialists)

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.

Academic benchmark assessments for literacy and math will occur three times this year for students in grades K-8. The Spring Benchmark Assessments start on April 29th and conclude on May 17th. There are three platforms the district utilizes to gather student learning information; aimswebPlus, mCLASS, and NWEA MAP. Benchmarking reports will be mailed home on Wednesday, May 29th.

Assessment may be found on our district website in the Benchmark Assessment Section of ITL under Parent Communication on Student Learning. If you need further information on your child’s testing session, please contact your building principal.

This is a friendly reminder that all medical forms required by the State of Illinois are due before the first day of school. You can find additional copies of the forms on the district website here.

Please see the information below:

State of Illinois Health Examination:

Kindergarten & Grade 6

Eye Examination:

Kindergarten

Dental Examination:

Kindergarten, Grade 2 & Grade 6

Please use the links on the district’s health page to upload your child’s completed forms.

It’s time for Teacher Tributes!

For over 20 years the Alliance for Early Childhood has honored teachers of young children and the work they do supporting their healthy growth and development. To honor The Winnetka Public Schools teachers, support staff, and leaders, please follow this link.

Let's Play! Sandcastles and Seagulls

Saturday, May 11, 10am - noon

Gillson Park and Beach, Wilmette, IL

Pre-Registration link

Build sandcastles, explore the bird sanctuary, and play in nature with The Alliance for Early Childhood in partnership with Wilmette Park District and BackYard Nature Center. Bring your sandcastle building tools and sense of adventure and enjoy a morning of play and exploration at The Beach!

• Wednesday, May 1, 2:15-3:15 pm: BHT Coffee Talk
• Thursday, May 2. 6:00 pm: 3rd Grade Spring Sing
• Thursday, May 2, 7:00pm: 4th Grade Spring Sing
• Friday, May 3: Spirit Day
• Wednesday, May 8, 4:00 pm: 2nd Grade Bike Rodeo

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
Facebook: facebook.com/Winnetka36
Twitter: @Winnetka36