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| The Skokie Home Scoop - November 11, 2016 |
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Dear Skokie Families,
As the days get shorter and we head into the winter months, your 5th or 6th grader may be looking for new opportunities to participate in after school. We have added several more club offerings below for Skokie students. Also, MathCounts team registration will finally be available via the Home Scoop in next week's edition (see description below). Please take a minute to look at what is listed below and consider registering. Skokie is proud of the array of after-school offerings that we have made available to students over the last few years, and even more encouraged by the increased student interest in being a part of their extended school community.
On another note, many of you are taking advantage of the opportunity to take a trip away as a family on this long weekend. This Veteran's Day weekend can be a nice break before the hustle and bustle of the winter holidays, but it is also an opportunity to reflect on the gift of service from those who have committed their lives to our nation's military. Our district had an opportunity today to honor those within our district's staff who have served or have an immediate family member currently in service. While we may not all have a direct personal connection to the military, we certainly feel the impact of their service in our daily lives as citizens of a country which enjoys so many freedoms. Thank you to those in service of our country, and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Enjoy this beautiful fall weekend together with your families.
Most Sincerely,
Kelly Tess
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WANT A QUICK WAY TO GET PICTURES AND UPDATES FROM SKOKIE? FOLLOW SKOKIE ON TWITTER @skokie36 Use #lookforthes and tweet @skokie36 with pictures or messages of service!
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A
Winnetka Parent Institute Presentation
"Not Quite Little Kid, Not Quite Teenager:
The Developmental Progression of the Middle School Child"
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 9:30am
The Skokie School Community Room
Presented by Kelly Tess and Dave Kanne
Join us for an informational morning 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.
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Skokie MakerNight!
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 6:30-7:30pm
Open to all Skokie students and their parents: RSVP required
Please join us for the first ever Skokie MakerNight. We will have our three MakerSpaces open for a night of exploration, creativity and hands-on learning. Come learn how to build a 3-D model, sew a gift for the holidays, code a program for a robot and much more!
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SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
The Skokie School is excited to offer the opportunity for both 5th and 6th graders to join a Division A Science Olympiad Team. This is a non-competitive format of the Science and Engineering based program. Skokie students participating in the program are then primed to participate in the competitive level at Washburne, should they continue to be interested. This program begins on Thursday, November 17th and runs Thursdays after school from 3:45-4:45 in the cafeteria until Thursday, May 25, 2017, led by Mrs. Ninorta Gabriel, our building Science Facilitator. Registration is lim
ited to the first 30 students to submit the online form.
Click here to register for Science Olympiad.
MATH COUNTS TEAM
The Skokie School is excited to offer an after-school Math opportunity for 5th and 6th grade students: MathCounts. It is important to fully understand the structure of the program before registering, as it has specific parameters that may or may not be appealing to all students in their after-school time.
The Skokie MathCounts team is designed to engage students with a deep passion and motivation for Math. A MathCounts member enjoys the challenge of complex problems, and has a natural curiosity and inquisitiveness for math. The MathCounts experience helps to ensure that its members actively practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Its members engage in the opportunity to compete on several levels (MathCounts teams exist in all 50 states); however, it is designed for 6-8 grade students. Our participating 5th grade Skokie students will be as mathematically engaged as our 6th grade members, but will not be a competing member on the team until their 6th grade year. MathCounts teams are exposed to competition materials, such as the problem you see below. Take a moment to look at this problem with your 5th or 6th grader. If this type of problem is fun and engaging for them, MathCounts may be of interest to them.
It is incredibly important to keep in mind that MathCounts is
not
an acceleration or tutoring opportunity for students. MathCounts resources are based on grade level appropriate material. It is an additional opportunity for deep exposure to rich and challenging problems. MathCounts should not be a frustrating or defeating experience for its members.
REGISTRATION OPEN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18
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SKOKIE AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
CREATIVE WRITING
This club is for Skokie students who love to write and want to build their skills, share with others, and work towards publication. Club meets from 7:25 - 8:10 a.m. in Room 176, beginning November 30 and continuing through May 31, 2016. (Club meetings 11/30, 1/4 & 1/18, 2/1 & 2/15, 3/1 & 3/15, 4/5 & 4/19, 5/3, 5/17, and 5/31.
PLAY IT NOW MATH CLUB for 5th & 6th Grade Students
Now open to both 5th and 6th graders!
Play it Now Math Club is a new math and logic game club for
all Skokie students! Whether your child can't get enough of all things math or wants to build math confidence and skill, this club is the perfect fit! Each week, engaging new games are introduced that grow perseverance, logic, strategic thinking, and computational fluency. Our club provides a relaxed environment for building both friendships and mathematical thinking! We have tons of great games like: Blockus, Krypto, Chess, Math Dice, Blink, Swish, Battleship, 24, Quirkle, Set and many, many more! Club meets 7:30 - 8:25 a.m., October 27 -
May 18
(not in session 11/17, 11/24, 12/22, 12/29, 2/9, and 3/30) in the Skokie School Loft. Come and join the fun!
ROBOTICS TEAM
Join this adventurous crew as we experience the challenges suggested for The First Lego League. We will determine if we are ready to compete or if we want to pilot the experience for next year's competition. The Team will meet on Wednesdays, from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. November 2 through December 14, 2016, in Room 142.
AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS/CLIMBING CLUB
We are pleased and excited to be offering, for the upcoming 2016-2017 school year, our
After School Sports Clubfor fifth and sixth graders, and
Skokie Climbing Club
. The Skokie Climbing club is for students who would like to climb the Skokie High Ropes Course after school. 6 - 8th grade students along with 5th grade Adventure Climbers are allowed to enroll during the first semester.
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DISTRICT NEWS
Winnetka Parents Institute Opportunities
To access our recent WPI focused on the New Trier High School transition process, click here:
Cultivating Calm: Building Connected Families, Creating Peaceful Transitions, and Raising Kids Who Contribute
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 9:15 a.m.
Hubbard Woods School Auditorium
Molly Pope, Hubbard Woods School psychologist, will share tips and tools on how to elicit cooperation, manage upsets, and problem solve with your children. Using the positive parenting strategies of the Conscious Discipline program, Mrs. Pope will discuss how to foster connection with and among your children. You will learn developmentally-friendly
strategies for supporting your child's social and emotional growth, and help support them along their path in life.
A Parent's Guide to Social Media & Digital Literacy
Tuesday, November 29 at 9:30 a.m.
Washburne School Resource Center
Maureen Chertow Miller, Director of Technology, and Tony Venetico, Assistant Principal at Carleton Washburne School, will provide an overview on social media and share tips and tactics on fostering digital literacy with your child.
Enrollment Balancing Project - Update & Reminder
To monitor the progress of the Enrollment Balancing Project, visit the District's website:
The School Board is dedicated to an open and transparent process to address the imbalance in enrollment at our schools and the implementation of the Extended-Day Kindergarten program for 2017-2018 school year.
Note that the Board Advisory Committee is in the midst of evaluating models addressing these enrollment issues. No recommendations will be made to the School Board without additional input from staff and community members.
All Board Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. November Advisory Committee Meeting dates are as follows:
Monday, November 14, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Carleton Washburne School Resource Center
Tuesday, November 29, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Carleton Washburne School Resource Center
Additionally, there is an opportunity to share your comments and suggestion at any time via enrollmentbalancingproject@winnetka36.org.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration for the 2017-2018 school year will be held on Friday, December 2, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Crow Island, Greeley, and Hubbard Woods Schools. Children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2017, are eligible to enroll. Online pre-registration is available at www.winnetka36.org. Registration packets will also be available at all elementary schools beginning November 14, 2016, should you wish to pick one up prior to Registration Day.
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.
Special Education Focus Group
The Winnetka Public Schools offer a continuum of services to our students who may require specialized supports. As a component of the annual goal of
Reaching all Learners
, the Department of Student Services is evaluating the current continuum of special education services that is offered within District. We are interested in gathering input from our parents, and will be holding parent focus groups on the topic on November 30 and December 1, 2016. If you would like to take part in a focus group, please use the link below to complete our participation form:
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November 15, Tuesday
6th Grade - New Trier Math Qualifying Test
November 21, Monday
6th Grade - New Trier Math Test Make-up
November 23, 24, 25
NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Holiday
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