Dear Families, Staff, and Community Members,
In true Chicago fashion, we experienced snow this morning. As we part ways for Spring Break, I want to wish you safe travels (whether you are heading near or far), time to connect with your loved ones, and well-deserved rest. Below, you’ll see some photos from our very busy past two weeks, including the Skokie/Washburne Dance Marathon (which raised $68,403 for Lurie's Children's Hospital), an author visit at Hubbard Woods, a pop-up Kindergarten-run “pizza shop” at Greeley, Pi Day festivities at Washburne, the first grade Change Makers March at Greeley, a visit from the Winnetka Historical Society to Hubbard Woods, and St. Patrick’s Day fun at Crow Island.
When we reconvene in April, we enter into an even busier time in our school year as project-based learning units culminate, we celebrate many beloved school traditions, prepare for events like Graduation for our Washburne students, and welcome new Kindergarten families. I see our educators pouring their hearts into making each day meaningful in our schools. I regularly notice parents taking time out of their work schedules to attend events like this week’s Winnetka Parents Institute event and “Coffee with Kelly,” and I see the impact this commitment has on our students. As one student shared, they feel their school “has a heart around it.” Thanks to all in our school community for your dedication to making our schools places where our students feel welcomed, challenged, and supported each day.
With that, I also wanted to share a friendly reminder that in order to continue to improve our schools, we encourage you to participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey if you have not done so already. The survey is administered by the University of Chicago for the Illinois State Board of Education and closes on March 29. We do not receive results from the survey unless at least 20 percent of families respond by this date. Please follow these steps to participate:
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.
Have a wonderful Spring Break!
Most Sincerely,
Dr. Kelly Tess
Superintendent
