Hubbard Woods Update

January 9, 2023

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Kindergarten Castle Construction With a 4th Grade Friend

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More Building

Principal Update

Welcome back! I hope that you had a wonderful break and everyone stayed healthy. The energy in the school today is amazing. It feels great to reconnect with our community of learners.

Speaking of learning, there are many opportunities for parent learning listed below in our District Update. One to highlight is tomorrow at 6 PM. It is an introduction to Kindergarten in D36 and will take place at Greeley School. I look forward to seeing some of you there! Please let any neighbors or friends know that may have their oldest entering Kindergarten.

Please note that next Monday is a non-attendance day for students in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. This would be a great day to start discussions and planning for how your family can be involved in our service-learning opportunity outlined below.

(Same information from the PTO Newsletter)

We are looking forward to our month of service-learning, focusing on community and dignity. In conjunction with this school-wide curriculum, all students will take part in service projects benefiting Cradles to Crayons. In school, students will create “well-wish notes” — notes and drawings of encouragement that accompany each clothing pack distributed by Cradles to Crayons. Secondly, students will sort and quality-check donations. Lastly, grades 2-4 will volunteer in person at the organization’s Giving Factory in Chicago.

Jan 17- Feb 3: Cradles to Crayons Donation Drive at HWS

Week of Jan 30: Students create well-wish notes at HWS

Week of Feb 6: Students sort and quality check donated items at HWS

Feb 14-17: Grades 2-4 volunteer at Cradles to Crayons (*Volunteers needed, sign up HERE)

We need your help!! DONATE new and like-new clothing, newborn thru 12yrs, details here: Click HERE for items that are accepted. Donations can be dropped in marked bins in the entrance lobby starting January 17.

VOLUNTEER in-person with students at Cradles to Crayons. We need a lot of parent volunteers to support this effort! Dates, times, classroom assignments, and volunteer openings can be found HERE.

Sincerely,

Beth

District Update

Winter MAP 2023 Testing

We are approaching our second testing window for the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test, which will take place between January 17 - 27, 2023. Your child’s school or teacher will inform you of his or her specific testing dates.

Similar to the fall, all students in Grades 3 - 8 will take one reading test and one math test. The MAP Assessment is designed to measure a student’s achievement level at different times of the school year and compute growth over time. MAP is a computer-adaptive test, which means every student receives a unique set of test questions based on responses to previous questions. This provides a personalized assessment experience by adapting to each student’s learning level.

The purpose of the second testing session is to provide teachers with midyear progress data that will help inform their instruction as they move forward into the school year. Winter student reports are not sent home. Student reports are sent home at the end of the school year with fall to spring growth measures. Additional information on the MAP Assessment may be found on our district website in the Assessment Section of ITL. If you need further information on your child’s testing session please contact your building principal.

Winnetka Parents Institute

The District is offering an array of upcoming educational sessions for families and community members. Click here for a complete list of session dates and more information.

JANUARY 2023:

Introduction to Kindergarten in The Winnetka Public Schools

Tuesday, January 10 at 6:00 p.m.

Greeley School

275 Fairview Avenue

Winnetka

This informational session is intended for Winnetka parents of preschool students who will be attending The Winnetka Public Schools. Parents will learn more about the support and services that the District provides to current preschool students attending local preschool programming. Additionally, families will receive a preview of:

The transition-to-Kindergarten process by Crow Island, Greeley and Hubbard Woods Principals,
The resources available to families from the Department of Student Services, Equity and Inclusion
Details on Kindergarten Connection that will occur in summer 2023
Highlights of a typical kindergarten day in The Winnetka Public Schools

We look forward to meeting new families at this event!

Not Quite Little Kid, Not Quite Teenager: The Developmental Progression of the Middle School Child (CHECKING IN WITH SKOKIE AND WASHBURNE ADMIN)

January 12, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

The Skokie School 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:

January 12, 2023

10:00-11:00 AM

RSVP here.

Acceleration in Winnetka 36

January 25, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

The Skokie School Community Room

Director of Innovation, Teaching, and Learning Dr. Becky Mathison will host this information session about the acceleration policy. The content will include a review of the purpose of the acceleration policy and a preview of updated procedures this year. Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback on specific components including the initial request form.

Interested:

January 25, 2023

10:00-11:00 AM

RSVP here.

Parent Education Sessions from District Partner Family Action Network (FAN):

For upcoming events, access FAN’s website here.

Math - Elementary PRINCIPAL Newsletters only for January

Elementary Math Core Values in Winnetka D36

Perseverance

In an elementary Winnetka classroom, mistakes are embraced as an essential and expected part of the learning process. Brain research shows that children learn at the highest level when they come to an understanding of their own mistakes. Therefore, mistakes are always seen as an opportunity. This shift in thinking helps cultivate curiosity and reflection, as well as, reduce math anxiety. Perseverance, persistent effort to make sense of a problem, is another value in our classrooms and a key to mathematical achievement. Flexibility, curiosity, and a growth mindset are all components of perseverance we strive to model and cultivate in our students. This goal of our instruction shapes our responses to student work, thinking, and attitudes. Students are often asked to reflect on their work or a classmate’s work, to see if they can understand a different strategy or revise their thinking. A student’s ability to persevere is a key factor for their mathematical growth and achievement in the long run. We strive to cultivate this mindset early on in their journey.

Online Registration Open for Incoming Kindergarteners & New Students for the 2023-2024 School Year

Registration for incoming kindergarteners and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2023-2024 is now open on the District website and via https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=30658&culture=en. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2023, are eligible to enroll.

The new student registration process is completed in three steps:

Complete new student pre-registration forms online beginning November 16, 2022.
Provide the original or certified copy of your child(ren)'s birth certificate and a parent photo ID. The certified copy can be submitted in person at the District Office. If you have the original birth certificate, you may bring it to the District Office to be photocopied. The District Office is at 1235 Oak St., Winnetka.
Provide proof of residency and paper registration forms. For your convenience, all required residency documents may be uploaded during online registration. Click here to view the list of documents that will meet these requirements as well as the other forms required for registration (Registration Forms & Information).

Children will not be considered enrolled until both the online and paper portion of registration has been completed and residency documentation is verified. If you have any questions, please contact the District Office at 847-446-9400.

Stay & Play Registration

Kindergarten students who are not currently enrolled in Stay & Play will have the opportunity to register for the 2nd half of the year after 8:00 am January 9th through this link. Please note that the registration period ends January 31, 2023 and will remain closed for the remainder of the year. The rates are prorated below. If you attempt to register before the 9th, you will receive an Item Unavailable message. After purchasing Kindergarten Stay & Play registration, your child will be able to begin their attendance in the program the following Monday so the schools can plan accordingly.

Text-for-Help Available to Support Student Safety & Well-Being

Text-for-Help is intended to provide confidential support to students at school. This resource is available 24/7, 365 days a year, completely anonymous, and staffed by fully-licensed counselors on the other end. Based on the students’ needs and preferences, a counselor will then direct the user to further assistance.

For further details about the tool, please review this recent Winnetka Parents Institute Session.

Follow us on Social Media!

Please follow the District via the following social media platforms in order to see day-to-day happenings and more.

Facebook and Twitter: @Winnetka36

Instagram: @WinnetkaPublicSchools

TREX PLASTIC FILM CHALLENGE BEGINS

Time to Gather Up Your Plastic Bags...

The TREX Plastic Film Challenge Starts November 15th! Each year Go Green Winnetka and all District 36 schools participate in this program, which enlists schools to collect plastic bags and wrap, which are then recycled and made into alternate wood products. The Challenge runs through April 15, with winners announced on Earth Day. During this time, bins are placed at D36 schools to collect the *plastics listed below.