Hubbard Woods Family Newsletter

Dear Hubbard Woods Families,

We hope you all enjoyed the opportunity to connect with our staff and one another during Thursday's meet and greet. It was heartening to see the smiles, hear the laughter, and witness the meaningful conversations among our children, families, and staff throughout the building.

Tomorrow marks our first day of school, and I am eagerly anticipating our school-wide assembly, where we will focus on building a strong community by embracing what it means to be outstanding community members.

I look forward to seeing you all soon and embarking on this exciting journey together.

Warm regards,

Ivory Ajavon

Principal

As part of The Winnetka Public Schools' ongoing commitment to equity by fostering connection and belonging, our schools will take time each month to recognize the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds. Observances will look different at all schools and even at different grade levels. Some activities might include art, music, book studies, research projects, sharing cultural holidays and celebrations, and other school activities.

For the month of September we are celebrating Hispanic/ Latin X Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th to October 15th of each year. This tradition began in 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson issued a proclamation to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Week. The dates for Hispanic/ LatinX Heritage Month were chosen to coincide with the Independence Day celebrations of many Latin American nations when they declared independence from Spain.

During Hipanic/ LatinX Heritage Month, we celebrate the countless contributions that Hispanic Americans have made to our nation. We also take this time to recognize the trailblazing individuals who fought for progress and equity for their communities. Throughout this month, teachers will incorporate this into their classrooms with age and grade appropriate materials. In addition, our library will be sharing some resources for families at home.

You can access two of the resources here:

• Families can learn more about Hispanic/ LatinX Heritage Month here.

• You can access our library collection via Destiny here: Destiny Collection

We aim to create an environment that fosters connection and full engagement among students. To help cultivate this environment, we request that personal technology, including cellphones, not be present during the instructional day. Additionally, smart watches should be placed in airplane mode so that students can fully engage with their classmates and teachers/staff.

Please refer to Dr. Tess's communication sent out on Wednesday, August 21st, regarding technology use in each of the K-4 buildings.

Please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Phones should be kept on silent or turned off and stored in the student cubby area during the school day. They may be retrieved after dismissal as students leave school.

• Watches may be worn for the purpose of telling time but should be set to airplane mode with Wi-Fi access turned off while in school.

• Students are not permitted to call, text, or message their family members during the school day. If students need to contact a family member, they may use one of the phones in the main office.

If students have difficulty following these procedures, the following actions will be taken:

• First, students will be prompted to put the device away in their locker.

• If a second violation occurs, the student will be asked to hand over the device to a staff member, who will then turn it in to the main office. Parents will be contacted to retrieve the device.

We are excited to share a new resource with parents this year that will enable them to receive a weekly email sharing their student’s web activity using their school account. An introductory video can be viewed here. For a detailed overview of the capabilities and how to get started, watch this video. You can expect to receive an email by September 3 inviting you to download the Securly Home app.

Additional resources:

• Home App Walkthrough .pdf

• Securly’s Standard Filtering Categories

The Winnetka Public Schools App

Download the District’s app by searching “The Winnetka Public Schools” on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The app will serve as a convenient way to report absences, view and manage your school calendars, and see at-a-glance District news.

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

The District’s Green Team will be hosting a kickoff event on September 13 at 3:30-4:00 pm at the Washburne Amphitheater. All current and interested Green Team members District-wide are invited to attend and hear more about our vision for this school year. Did we mention there will be popsicles? Please RSVP here if you plan to attend so we know how many to purchase.

Additional After School Program: Amazing Minds

Calling all 1st-2nd graders! How would you like to go on an incredible journey with Amazing Minds after school where instructors will help sharpen your skills in math, science, geography, language arts and reading through fun, hands-on thematic based activities. Come and exercise your brain with us after school!

• Tuesday, September 3rd 8:37-11:20 am- 1st Day of School

• Parent Welcome Coffee (PTO Sponsored 8:30-9:30 am)

• Wednesday, September 4th - 1st Full Day of School

• Tuesday, September 10th - Picture Day

• Thursday, September 26th - Back to School Night (6:00-7:30 pm)