Dear Crow Island Families,
Welcome to 2025 and the second half of our school year together. We hope that you had a restful winter break and were able to gather with family and friends to celebrate the holiday season and welcome in the New Year!
When students return to school this week, they will spend time with teachers and me relearning the school-wide expectations. Our expectations focus on Being Kind, Being Helpful, and Being Safe. On Monday, we will concentrate on the playground expectations and snow gear. As a school, we practice these expectations to help students build safe habits and create a supportive environment for all. I have included visuals below of our playground and technology expectations that we share with students. As we return, we will encounter snowy and cold conditions, so we will review what is expected at school. Families can help by ensuring that students are prepared to be outside daily; students should have a hat, gloves, jacket, boots, and snow pants.
This week also begins our winter benchmarking assessment window. Over the next three weeks students will be assessed in literacy and math nationally normed benchmarks at each grade. These assessments help us track growth and to determine where students are performing. The scores are shared with parents via OTUS after the window closes in the first week of February.
Happy 2025 and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Luke
January:
- Monday, January 6: Return to school
- Monday, January 6: Winter Benchmarking Window Opens
- Tuesday, January 14: Gr 3 and Gr 4 MAP Testing Reading
- Wednesday, January 15: Gr 3 and Gr 4 MAP Testing Math
- Monday, January 20: Non-attendance Day (MLK Jr. Day )
- Thursday, January 23: Pioneer Open House
February:
- Friday, February 7: Half Day Institute Day (Dismissal 11:20am)
- Thursday, February 20: Winter Conference (non-attendance for students)
- Friday, February 21: Winter Conference (non-attendance for students)
Monday Spirit Days:
As a reminder, every Monday is considered a Crow Island Spirit Wear Day. Staff and students are encouraged to participate.
Morning Arrival:
We have noticed that cars are lining up on Glendale in the morning before 8:20am. This makes it hard for teachers to park in the morning. Please do not block the parking spots. Also, the loading dock driveway located near the kindergarten playground is not a drop off and pick-up point for children. Please remain in line.
After School Sports Registration | Opens Tuesday
Crow Island After School Sports is live on the District Web Store. Registration opens at 9am on Tuesday, December 17th.
Monthly Observances | January
This month, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr who led the movement to end segregation and counter prejudice in the United States through the means of peaceful protest. Dr. King was the chief spokesperson for the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law, and it was first observed on January 20, 1986. The first time all states observed it was in 2000. Students at Crow Island will engage in classroom activities learning about MLK Jr. In addition, our Crow Island Library has cultivated texts through Destiny, our online collection and you can find those here: MLK Jr. Collection.
Benchmark Assessments & Otus Access
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 Winter Benchmark Assessments start on January 6th and conclude on January 24th. There are four platforms the district utilizes to gather student learning information; aimswebPlus, mCLASS, NWEA MAP, and SSIS. Benchmark data will be available in Otus beginning January 31, 2025. In order to allow for the data uploads to take place and to provide parents with consistent access to student data, please be aware that the Otus Parent Portal will be inaccessible January 6-January 30.
Building Data Team meetings to review the Winter Benchmarking data will occur February 3-14.
Contagious Illness Update:
To keep everyone informed on what we are seeing around the district, we are sharing that a lot of students are currently getting diagnosed with pneumonia, flu, strep, and GI viruses. Please keep our health guidelines in mind when thinking of sending your child to school. Everyone needs to be fever/vomiting/diarrhea free for 24 hours without the use of medication before returning to school.
Kindergarten Registration:
Registration for incoming kindergarteners and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2025/2026 will begin November 18, 2024. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2025, are eligible to enroll. Questions related to School Admissions and age requirements are addressed in School Board Policy 7:50 School Admissions and student Transfers to and from Non-District Schools.
January Winnetka Parents Institute Schedule
The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. View the entire 2024/2025 schedule here.
Up Next:
Acceleration Applications Overview with Assistant Superintendent of Innovation, Teaching and Learning Dr. Becky Mathison
January 15, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Location: Carleton Washburne School RC
Attend this session to understand accelerated programming options for students entered grades 3-8 during the 2025/26 school year. Time will be provided for attendees to begin the application for this process.
Preschool/Kindergarten Family Information Night (with Winnetka Administration and Sue Stolzer, Early Childhood Assessment Team Lead from TrueNorth)
January 15, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Location: Greeley School
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 as well as what is available within our schools once a student enters kindergarten. Families will receive a preview of:
The transition-to-Kindergarten process by Crow Island, Greeley and Hubbard Woods Principals,
The resources available to families of current preschool students from the Department of Student Services, Equity and Inclusion
Details on “Kindergarten Connection” which will take place in Summer 2024
Highlights of a typical kindergarten day in The Winnetka Public Schools
We look forward to meeting new families at this event!
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
Contact Us
Email: christinedemas-hall@winnetka36.org
Website: https://crowisland.winnetka36.org/
Location: 1112 Willow Road Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847)-446-0353
Twitter: @CrowIslandD36