Dear Skokie Families,

If you haven't already heard (on this below zero windchill day), the groundhog did see his shadow this morning, so those six additional weeks of winter are in our future.  Needless to say, this is a good time to remind everyone to make sure your 5th or 6th grader is coming to school with the proper winter gear.  It looks like we have some cold days ahead.

The parent-teacher conference period begins next week.  Links are still available below if you have not yet had a chance to sign up for a time.  We look forward to seeing you in the building over the next couple of weeks.

Finally, I was honored to speak at The Carlson Event last evening.  This event is hosted annually by the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation as an opportunity for parents to connect with each other and learn more about the ways that this generous foundation has supported various initiatives and resources in our five schools.  I spoke to the audience last night about the Foundation's gift of television studio equipment and the impact it has had on our students and staff.  Our television studio came to fruition after much consideration and brainstorming together with our tech team (Kathy McDonough, Jeff Weir, Gina Wild and Maureen Miller) and Todd Burlesson, RC Director at Hubbard Woods.  We wanted to create a television studio that was engaging enough for our students coming to us with extensive experience from Hubbard Woods, but also inviting to students with no exposure from the other schools.  We eventually committed to purchasing the PadCaster system, with the support of the WPSF.  This system is a serious of snap-on accessories compatible with an iPad, allowing a student to turn their device into a relatively sophisticated camera with lighting, sound and teleprompter capabilities.

Caden Greco, current sixth grade student at Skokie, joined me in the presentation last night, giving a live demonstration of the PadCaster and its many features.  The message I hope our audience members left with last night is how important it is for us to invest as much in student engagement as we do in quality of instruction.  Many of the standards that we are required to teach our students consist of content that they may not necessarily need in their future career; however, what does result from solid teaching of any content, is a confident student who can clearly articulate what they have learned.  That ability to communicate effectively is the prevailing skill that will serve them in interviews for college or interviews for a first job.  Providing our students with engaging resources to facilitate the application of learning is pivotal in our experiential approach, and made possible with the generosity of the WPSF.

Happy Friday, Happy Super Bowl!  Dress in layers, and be careful in the snow!   Have a great weekend, and enjoy the time together with your family.

 

Most Sincerely,

 

Skokie Memory Book
Order Deadline Quickly Approaching

The deadline to order for your child is

February 28, 2018 .

The Memory Book Club, comprised of twelve fifth and sixth graders, has been hard at work gathering photos and laying out a 2017-2018 keepsake for each Skokie School student.  

The Skokie Memory Book is purchased separately from the school or PTO.  

Orders are made online at jostens.com 

The cost is $20.00 per Memory Book.

Please direct questions to Tip Walker - Memory Book Advisor.

 

District News

 

 

Thank you to all who participated in the community survey this month. The Core Team will use the data collected in order to develop initial Future Ready D36 concepts for community review at a Special Board Meeting on Monday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will launch a highly iterative process that will engage the community in an effort to continuously refine the Future Ready D36 Educational Master Facility Plan over the course of March through June, 2018.  

Is Your Child Starting Kindergarten in 2018?

To pre-register your child for the 2018-2019 school year, please contact the District office at 847-446-9400 to begin the process. This early pre-registration process helps ensure that The Winnetka Public Schools have proper staffing and most accurate school assignments.  Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2018, are eligible to enroll. Click here  for documents required for new students.  Registration packets are available at the District Office ( 1235 Oak St .). Children will not be considered enrolled until residency documentation is verified and all forms are submitted. If you have any questions, please contact the District Office at 847-446-9400

Early Childhood Screenings

The Department of Student Services will be holding early childhood screenings on March 13, with registration on February 13. If you are a Winnetka resident and have any concerns about your child's development in the areas of speech, language, coordination, hearing, vision, learning readiness, or emotional maturity, you are encouraged to register your child for an early childhood screening. The intent of the screening is to identify children who may have delays in their development and may require specific supports to address these delays. To be eligible for this screening, your child must be at least three years old.

Click here for more information about the screening 

Opportunity for Students

The Students Involved with Technology Conference (SIT), is an annual conference for 3rd through 12th grade students. The event will be held on

February 10, 2018, from 8:30- 2:00 p.m. at Westgate Elementary School in Arlington Heights. What makes the conference unique is that it is completely presented by students for students with adult volunteers from local schools and the community to help the day run smoothly.  

SIT is a great opportunity for your child to learn from their peers or to step into a leadership role by sharing their expertise.  Space is limited and registration is accepted on a first come, first served basis.   For information and registration visit  

https://goo.gl/ApxAP2.

 

From The Alliance for Early Childhood:

AMERICAN RED CROSS BABYSITTER'S COURSE

Monday, February 19, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Note: This course is for junior high school students who are at least 11 years old or who have completed 5th grade.

$125 per student (includes lunch and snacks)

Visit this link to register: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0845adad2ca64-american1

                            

Would your child know what to do if a child choked when he or she was babysitting?  Would he or she know how to call 911 or how to handle a nosebleed?  American Red Cross teaches all these things...and more!  The ARC Certification course is designed to provide students who are planning to babysit with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and responsibly care for children and infants.  This training will help participants develop leadership skills, learn how to develop a babysitting business, keep themselves and others safe, and help children behave.  In addition, participants will learn about basic child care and basic first aid.