Carleton Washburne

Today marks the beginning of our third trimester at Washburne. Students received their new elective assignments and will begin those classes today. As a reminder, all 8th graders will take the Illinois Science Assessment on Thursday, March 14th. Students should make sure to bring their fully-charged iPad to school.

The Skokie-Washburne Dance Marathon is this Friday 3/15 after school in the Washburne Gym. To register your child or volunteer, see the information below.

Last Wednesday we were joined by New Trier Freshman Campus Principal Paul Waechtler who shared, "A D36 Parent’s Guide to the New Trier Transition." Please Click Here to view the presentation. You can also mark your calendars for Thursday, March 21st at 10:00am, as the Skokie and Washburne principals will be presenting on, “The Developmental Progression of the Middle School Child”. Please RSVP here and join us in the Skokie Community Room.

Take Care and Be Well,

Andrew Fenton & Ben Horwitz

Carleton Washburne Principal & Assistant Principal

Parents - This is it! The dance marathon benefiting Lurie Children's Hospital is this Friday, March 15th from 3:30-5:30pm! There will be music, dancing, basketball, card writing, bracelet making, the epic pieing the teachers in the face and more. Your children will have two hours of fun while they support a great cause. To sign up your child for the event, click on this link: Sign-Up for Dance Marathon. The cost is $10 beforehand or $20 at the door. If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to PTO President, Gina Gooden via DM Parent Sign-Up.

Thank you so much for your support!

Where does the money go? Children's Miracle Network

Last Thursday, March 7, Washburne’s Centerstage and Stagecraft classes were thrilled to present The Wizard of Oz to the Winnetka 3rd graders with our annual children’s play tradition. They also performed the show for family and friends on Wednesday evening. The cast worked hard to bring these famous characters from the page to the stage and the crew designed and built all of the costumes, props, scenery, and special effects. We had a packed house at both performances and the 7th and 8th graders involved got a chance to showcase all of their hard work and creativity for the community. We are so lucky to offer the opportunity for students to explore their own creative ideas, problem-solve, and collaborate with their peers on a real-life challenge; what a true example of progressive education in action.

Bravo to all involved in this student-run production!

In the coming weeks, building social workers will implement state-mandated sexual abuse prevention education during one 20-30 minute session in each classroom. Parents have the option to opt their children out of the program as they deem appropriate, and must do so by March 4th.

For more detailed information about Erin’s Law and curriculum content, or to find the opt-out form, please refer to the Erin’s Law page of the District Website or contact our Washburne social workers; Rachael Hutson, Naira Ejupovic, and Ellie Hotchkiss.

The Homework and Executive Functioning Network, composed of teachers, interventionists, and administrators, is currently working to develop District Guidelines for Homework (grades 5-8) and Executive Functioning (grades K-8).

In order to make an informed decision, the Network would greatly appreciate your honest response to this brief, ANONYMOUS survey so that we can better understand our current practice and perceptions around these two topics. Responses are due by March 13. The information we collect from teachers, students, and parents, paired with research, will guide the Network in developing:

1. A qualitative, single-point rubric for Executive Functioning that details descriptors in the following areas: Organizing & Planning, Initiating Tasks and Staying Focused, and Managing Emotions.
   Executive functioning impacts each student’s growth, development, and achievement. These are essential skills for students in school and life, and are often strong indicators of future success.

2. Guidelines for grades 5-8 Homework Practices to aid in establishing consistent classroom-to-classroom expectations for students, increasing vertical alignment within our system and between levels, and identifying supports in preparing students for “what’s next”.

We understand that experiences may vary by grade level so please complete one survey per grade level and school that your student(s) are in.

Survey link: https://forms.gle/huKAKKvtR4kSv1bV9

Track and Field season is approaching soon. It is an interscholastic sport available to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. Students train and can compete in various races from sprints to the mile run. We will also mix in some field events, including the shot put, high jump, and hurdles. Practices are Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays from 3:30-4:30pm. Students can come as their schedules allow - practices are not mandatory. Meets typically happen once a week, and are optional as well. On good weather dates, students should plan to meet in the back field between Washburne and Skokie.

• Our first practice will be Tuesday, April 2.
• Registration opens at 9am on Tuesday, March 12th via the District Web Store.

Please contact Andy Becker at AndyBecker@winnetka36.org for any questions.

More information regarding the season will be sent home before Spring Break to all registered students.

Friday, March 15th 3:30-5:30pm: Skokie/Washburne Dance Marathon

Tuesday, March 19th: D36 School Board Meeting - 7:15pm @ Washburne School

Monday, March 25th - Friday March 29th: Spring Break - No School

Dr. Kelly Tess, Superintendent of Schools, invites you to our second “Coffee with Kelly,” a community conversation hosted at our schools! Staff, families and community members are welcome to join Dr. Tess and a special guest for co-facilitated discussions on topics of interest, providing an opportunity to gather together, listen to each other’s perspectives and reflect on enhancing our partnership to educate the students of Winnetka.

This “Coffee with Kelly” will center on the topic of Reading Aloud with Your Child at Any Age. Dr. Tess will be joined by Crow Island second grade teacher Missy Parks and Washburne Special Education teacher, Chris Joob for a conversation on:

• The value of listening to a story out loud and the neural connections this helps to build,

• The opportunities that are opened up for conversation and connection by sharing a story together,

• learning about how staff and families feel linked or out of synch with each other and their schools through literature,

• and reflecting on how developing a love for reading doesn't have to happen independently.

This is an opportunity to converse, connect, learn, and grow together!

Guests are invited to:

• Read either of these two articles on the benefits of reading aloud:

• Why Reading Aloud to Kids Helps Them Thrive

• 5 Benefits of Reading Aloud

• and/or come as you are, excited to engage with your childrens’ teachers, your neighbors, and your school leaders!

Wednesday, March 20 from 4:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.

The Skokie School Community Room,

520 Glendale Ave., Winnetka

Please RSVP by Monday, March 18.

All staff and parents (including grandparents!) are welcome. You do not need to be a Skokie 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 Winter/Spring 2024 schedule.

Up next:

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

March 21, 2024

10:00 AM

Skokie Community Room

Join Principal Cooney and Assistant Principal Joynt (The Skokie School) and Principal Fenton and Assistant Principal Horwitz (Carleton Washburne School) for an informational session focusing on the ins and outs of the growing middle school child. We will spend time exploring both the academic and social-emotional needs appropriate to 5th-8th grade children, how they change over that four year span, as well as the neurological changes that contribute to these needs. Parents with current middle schoolers, or soon-to-be middle schoolers, are encouraged to join us for an engaging, encouraging and educational hour together.

Interested:

RSVP here

Following the event a link will be provided to the taped presentation on the website.

Feedback Link

You are invited to complete the Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey. On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can inform school improvement efforts. The five indicators that affect and predict school success are:

• Effective Leaders

• Collaborative Teachers

• Involved Families

• Supportive Environments

• Ambitious Instruction

Your participation in this survey is voluntary, but important to our schools and the District. We do not receive results from the survey unless at least 20 percent of parents/guardians respond. The more responses parents/guardians provide, the more we will know how to focus our efforts. Please help us to improve by completing the survey.

• Go to: the 5Essentials Survey website to take the survey

• Select “Parent Survey.”

• You may enter your email address if you would like to receive confirmation of your submission, but it is not required.

• Then enter “COOK” into the county field and type in your student’s school.

You will then be asked a series of questions to provide input regarding your family’s experience at your student’s school. Please remember to click “submit” once you are done so your responses can be counted.

Please know that your identity and responses will be kept confidential and will not be connected with your child. If you have multiple children who attend our schools, you may complete one survey for each child. However, only one parent per household may submit a survey for a given child. The parent survey closes on March 29, so please submit your responses soon.

The Accelerated Placement Act requires Illinois public school districts to adopt and implement policies on acceleration that provide opportunities for single subject and grade level acceleration. To learn more about District 36’s acceleration policy implementation, click here to view an infographic and click here to visit our updated webpage. Note that the acceleration request form will be open February 26-March 22.

If you have questions about the policy, please contact the Asst Supt of Innovation, Teaching and Learning, Dr. Becky Mathison, at beckymathison@winnetka36.org.

Families may now access the calendar for the upcoming school year, also available on our District website.