Skokie Home Scoop
August 20, 2024
Dear Families:
We hope you are enjoying the last two weeks of summer with your families. We are very excited for the start of the 2024-25 school year and are looking forward to welcoming students and families into the school next week.
Below, please find information about the first days of school and upcoming events for students and families.
Important Beginning of the Year Dates
Friday, August 23rd: Student placement information will be available to families online at 10:00am. You will be able to access this via your PowerSchool account.
Tuesday, August 27th: Skokie Building Tours from 9:00 am -12:00 pm (principal guided tour at 11:00 am)
Thursday, August 29th: Skokie Meet and Greet (2:15-3:15 pm). Students will have the opportunity to meet their teachers prior to the first day of school.
Tuesday, September 3rd: First Day of School (½ Day: 8:30-11:50 am) Lunch will not be served at school on this date. There will be bus service on this date.
Thursday, September 19th: Skokie Go to School Night 6:00-7:30 pm.
Tuesday, September 24th: Coffee with the Skokie and Washburne Principals in Elm Park from 9:00-10:00 am.
School Building Tours
We are happy to be able to open up our building once again to students and families to take a tour of The Skokie School prior to the start of the school year. Our building will be open for self-guided tours on Tuesday, August 27th from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.
If you would prefer to take a guided tour of the building, we will be offering a principal led tour at 11:00 am on 8/27.
Accessing the Parent Portal for Student Schedule Information
Student schedule information will go live to all families on Friday, August 23rd at 10:00 am via the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Please know that parent and teacher feedback was thoroughly reviewed. A tremendous amount of thoughtful consideration went into every student placement. Due to the complexities involved in this process, we are unable to change team and advisory placements.
At Skokie, you will see your child’s schedule for trimester 1. Please keep in mind that students will have different Arts strand electives during trimester 2 and 3.
You can access the PowerSchool Parent Portal using this link.
If you are a new district family, you will receive a specific email from our district office with directions to access the parent portal.
If you have any trouble accessing your account, please reach out to parentportal@winnetka36.org.
Student Meet and Greet Event and Locations
On Thursday, August 29th from 2:15-3:15 pm, all Skokie students will have the opportunity to meet with their Advisors and connect with other students. Students and families should plan to go to their Advisors’ room and can bring supplies for drop off. Please help your student to unpack their kits and bring supplies without the wrapping. Feel free to bring them in a labeled bag, but the supplies themselves should not be labeled. If you are not able to attend the Meet and Greet, please send the supplies to school during the first three days of school. If they are not able to carry all supplies on Day One, please plan to prioritize folders, pencils and pencil pouches on the first day.
Arrival
Doors open at Skokie at 8:15 am. Please have your student plan to arrive at or before 8:15 each morning. Between 8:15 and 8:25 students will go to their lockers and get settled and ready for their day in their Advisory classroom. Any student arriving after 8:25 will be marked tardy and will have to come in through the office. Please plan for an 8:15 am arrival.
Crossing
Last year, we worked with a firm to invite recommendations to improve the safety of pedestrian and bike crossing as well as transportation tips. We will share an informational video with students on the first day of school and will be messaging expectations during arrival and dismissal. You will notice our crossing guards supporting students as they move from corner to corner, rather than stopping traffic from the center of each intersection (Elm and Glendale, and Oak and Glendale).
Skokie Lunch Information
As we shared during our 5th grade orientation last year, we are making a tremendous effort to encourage all students who are bringing their lunch to do so when they arrive at school each day. If a lunch is forgotten at home, it can be dropped off and left in our vestibule for your student to pick up. Please consider that calls to the classroom for item pick ups are disruptive. We encourage you to develop a system for children to help prepare and remember to bring their lunch each day.
Marla’s Lunch
Hot lunch orders are supported through Marla’s Lunch. Below please find the link for orders. Ordering opens on Friday, August 23rd at 5PM for the first week of school.
Skokie's Marla's Hot Lunch Ordering
Questions? Email: marlaslunch@gmail.com or call: 224-269-0068
KW Uniforms and School Supplies
All students should have the supplies listed in this LINK, either ordered as a kit through our PTO or purchased on your own. Please know that it is okay if students do not bring every item to school on the very first day. Our teachers will communicate with students regarding expectations for managing school supplies on the first day.
The PTO and the KW teams at Skokie and Washburne are excited to continue our partnership with New Trier High School’s One Stop Trev Shop! The One Stop Trev Shop is an innovative job training/life skills program for New Trier’s Transition Program students. Please CLICK HERE for more information on how to order your KW uniform.
Clubs
Throughout the year we will share opportunities for students to participate in clubs that occur before or after school. Many of our clubs fill up very quickly. If you know that your student is interested in participating in a club we encourage you to mark the date and time on your calendar when registration opens. It is important to note that registration closes once the spots are filled as clubs do not run waiting lists. Many of our clubs do run additional sessions over the course of the school year.
Memory Book Club Sign-Up
5th and 6th graders create the annual yearbook in The Skokie School Memory Book Club. As a club, the participants create the overall design, take and collect photographs, create layouts, promote contests, and distribute the annual yearbook to their classmates. This club is supported by a Skokie School teacher but is largely a reflection of the creative efforts and interests of Skokie students. It runs from October to March before school on Mondays.
Registration opens at 9am on Tuesday, August 27th here.
Sincerely,
Michelle Cooney and Larry Joynt
Principal and Assistant Principal
The Skokie School