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| Dear Skokie Families, The winter parent/teacher conference window is around the corner, beginning on January 28 and running through February 8. Our teachers offer their schedules to parents within that window, allowing for 20 minutes of time with each family. Please look below for your child's advisory/team to sign up for a conference time. You only need to sign up for a single time slot. If you see only your child's advisor listed below, please sign up only under your child's advisor. The team will make time for you to visit with both teachers during that time slot. On an unrelated note, the snow is coming this weekend! With the snow, we tend to see both overly cautious as well as dangerous driving. Please remember to obey traffic laws as you move through our school zones. We all know that drop-off and pick-up time can be a hurried, even stressful time, but it is typically during the hurried moments that accidents happen. We know we share the same goal in that we want all of our students and staff to be safe when they enter and leave our building. Please remember to have your children exit the car curbside, and do not invite them to cross at any other location than where there is a crossing guard. We appreciate your partnership and patience as we work through these winter months! Enjoy the time together with your family this weekend. Stay safe and warm as the winter weather approaches. Most Sincerely, Kelly Tess
WINTER CONFERENCES
5th Grade (Click on the link below)
HILTY ADVISORY
NIGLIAZZO ADVISORY
GEHRIG/SKYDELL TEAM
MARTINSEN/HOYT TEAM*
GRAF/PIERCE TEAM*
6th Grade (Click on the link below)
ERICKSON/GOLDBERG TEAM
MARGOLIS/KRUPINSKI TEAM
LAMBROS/AGOURIDIS TEAM
WALKER/DEGIULIO TEAM
BARBARO/WARNER TEAM*
*Families on these teams will be/have been contacted by the team for sign-up
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @skokie36 #beatree #everybodyin |
A Note from the KW Department...
The KW department is hoping for snow! Our PTO generously purchased snowshoes to help our students enjoy more outdoor time during the winter months. KW is planning to take students outside snowshoeing beginning next week. To participate, students will need hiking boots or snow boots, a winter coat, hat, and gloves/mittens. Snow pants or gators are also recommended. We will let students know the day before, if their class will be going outside to snowshoe.
Also...
After School Sports will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3:35-4:30, beginning 1/28 and ending 5/17
Climbing club sessions will begin for 6th graders, January 29th. For 5th graders, Feb. 19.
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Winnetka D36--
JUNGLE JOG--5k, Run/Walk:
Saturday, March 16
ALL WINNETKA FAMILIES WELCOME!
The Skokie School and Carleton Washburne School are thrilled to co-host this year's Jungle Jog on Saturday, March 16 at 8am. This is the 5th year that Skokie has helped to organize this race, and now we look forward to expanding our invite to the Winnetka Public Schools Community at large. The race begins at the Winnetka Train Station and runs a 5k loop along the Green Bay Trail.
Click here
to register, and start planning your race costume!
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AP CORNER
Living In the Moment
"We thought of life by analogy with a journey, with a pilgrimage, which had a serious purpose at the end. And the thing was to get to that end...But we missed the point the whole way along. It was a musical thing, and you were supposed to sing or dance while the music was being played."
- Quote from the Alan Watts "Why Your Life Is Not A Journey" video
Yesterday I participated in an inspiring workshop with the other members of our administrative team and several teachers. The workshop was led by Trung Le, who is a visionary architect that specializes in transforming learning spaces in schools. Le and two of his associates led us through a variety of exercises that asked us to on reflect upon our identity as individual educators, contemplate our future direction as a district, and imagine how learning spaces could play a part in our future.
One of the most impactful parts of the day was watching and reflecting upon the video "Why Your Life Is Not Journey" (https://youtu.be/hnNjZSofSjU). The video is under 5 minutes long and you won't regret setting aside time to watch it. It gets at the idea that through schooling, we often set our children up on a series of corridors that we are rushing them through to get to the next thing. But instead, it asks us to look at physical existence as music...which is essential playful. The point of the music is to enjoy the music. The point of the dancing isn't to get to a finish line, the point of the dancing is to dance. It contends that life is analogous to music rather than to a journey.
When I was in the classroom teaching 6th grade, admittedly, I often said to my students, "This will help you prepare for Washburne." And while of course we all want the students to be prepared for their future, we need to be careful not to let that supercede the opportunity in the present, right in front of us.
What is the child ready for right now? What will meet the child's needs in this moment?
I was not expecting a workshop about learning spaces to lead to such deep contemplation. We are looking forward to continuing to partner with parents, teachers, and our students as we consider what the future could hold for the design of our schools. And with that being said, while we are always keeping an eye toward the future, we also want to look at the now. At each child who walks through our doors every day, and bring each of them the experience that will nurture them and support their existence in a holistic way. We want to create a space that reminds all of us to capture the moment; to sing and to dance.
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A Message from the Volunteer Center...
Dear Skokie School Families,
I hope your family will join your neighbors and friends at The WInnetka Community House for The Volunteer Center and The Kindness Connection's annual MLK Day of Service and Speak Out afternoon on MLK Day this Monday from 1pm -4pm.
There is something meaningful for everyone of all ages and abilties to do! Projects range from making beaded bracelets for women and children in domestic shelters, valentines for veterans, banners and no-sew blanket making for the homeless, scarves for refugees and low income families, pet toys, and more. Each year hundreds of people join together and make a difference for every living being - humans and animals.
Important repeat feature again this year - Speak Out and Share your Thoughts! All participants are encouraged to share their perspectives throughout the afternoon behind the microphone about Martin Luther King, civil liberties and how we can unite together to achieve equality and understanding. Discuss your thoughts in a respectful, productive and if you'd like, creative manner. Recite something you or another author has prepared or speak or sing extemporaneously. Everyone encouraged to participate in this activity. Last year one of my favorite comments came from a young child "I hope we can always help everyone" And of course my second favorite from another child - "I think women should get paid the same as men." His mom was beaming...
There are no fees or reservations to attend, BUT... All project materials are provided except those wishing to make blankets please bring 4 yards of fleece fabric and fabric scissors. A donation of laundry detergent for the NTT Food Pantry clients, and gently used warm coats and umbrellas for all ages are also welcome for veterans and children and adult refugees.
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District News
Update on Educational Master Facility Plan (EMFP): Future Ready D36
On December 18, the District 36 School Board unanimously approved a $90.6 million referendum for community vote on April 2, 2019. With the total cost of the proposed facilities projects estimated at $100.6 million, the School Board committed $10 million from reserves to offset the cost of the referendum and lower the overall tax impact. If approved, the estimated tax increase over the current bond obligation-tax levy would be approximately $276 (annually) per $1 million of property value.
This plan was reviewed from a teaching and learning perspective, from a facilities perspective, and through the lens of what is fiscally responsible. It aligns with our community's value for neighborhood schools, our commitment to remain good stewards of taxpayer resources, and our community's high expectations for progressive schools.
Please see this letter that went to the school community in December:
A fact sheet with additional information will be mailed to all Winnetka residents the week of January 20. A webpage with Referendum-specific information is also now available:
https://www.winnetka36.org/ref2019
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WPI Events
From our Partners at The Alliance for Early Childhood:
Play Time: How Prescribing Parks Has Changed the Lives of Children
Wednesday, February 6, 2019,
7:00-8:00pm
Little Theater, Washburne School, 515 Hibbard Rd, Winnetka
This event is free and open to the public
PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS are invited to an evening with Robert L. Zarr, MD, MPH a nationally recognized pediatrician recently featured in
The New York Times
and
TIME Magazine
. Dr. Zarr will share his personal experience as a pediatrician on the front lines of treating a growing epidemic of chronic disease in children. Come hear the science and practice behind his innovative park prescription program.
Click
here
to RSVP:
https://goo.gl/forms/zsUjBIE2YnZ5jaXx2
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For Parents: Managing Your Child's School Anxiety & School Refusal
Featuring Jacqueline A. Rhew, CADC, LCPC,
Co-author of Successful Parenting-Create Your Custom Plan for Raising Independent Children into Adulthood and Co-founder of Center for Emotional Wellness
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Skokie School Community Room
Childhood anxiety and school refusal is at an all-time high, and arming kids with healthy coping strategies is more important than ever. Are your children focused on avoiding failure or are they operating from a place of achieving to their greatest ability, based on their individual strengths and weaknesses? This presentation will review specific interventions designed to assist children in managing their anxiety, as well as promoting increased motivation, healthy goal setting and active school engagement. Learn how to better develop parenting strategies to assist children with healthy coping responses and engage them in effective communication and language that promotes self-advocacy and independence. Ms. Rhew will provide essential tools for parents to assist their children in building resilience, navigating stressful situations, and increasing self-advocacy and problem solving abilities, thus leading to greater self-confidence and self-reliance.
Winter MAP Testing
We are approaching our second testing window for the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test, which will take place between
January 14 - 25, 2018
. 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. 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. 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 at
www.winnetka36.org/map
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Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten pre-registration for 2019-2020 is now open. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2019, are eligible to enroll. The District's Kindergarten Committee and Central PTO unanimously approved shifting to an online process versus an on-site process. This shift minimizes the time needed to pre-register and respects the busy schedules of our families.
The Registration process is completed in two steps:
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Complete an online pre-registration form
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Provide proof of residency (documents can be uploaded online): child(ren)'s original birth certificate and a parent photo ID will need to be provided in person. Opportunities to do so will be made available in Spring 2019.
The list of documents that will meet these requirements is here:
https://www.winnetka36.org/parents/prospectivefamilies
If you have any questions, please contact the District Office at
847-446-9400
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Redistricting
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Dates to Note
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Winter Conference Window
January 28 - February 8
NO SCHOOL-MLK Jr. Day
Monday, January 21
MAP Testing Window
Monday, January 14- Friday, January 25
Dance Marathon
Friday, March 1
St. Baldrick's/Wigs for Kids
Monday, March 11
Winnetka D36 Jungle Jog (5k)
Saturday, March 16
Spring Break
March 23-31
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