| |
| The Skokie Home Scoop - May 11, 2018 |
Dear Skokie Families,
If you follow us on Twitter (@skokie36 or @SKmakers36), you will know that this was a big week for our Skokie Makers as several visited Springfield to showcase some of the projects they have initiated in our MakerSpace. This trip included interaction with Governor Bruce Rauner and Representative Daniel Biss. Skokie would not have these unique, creative, innovative opportunities without the passion and dedication of Ms. Kathy McDonough. Kathy has helped to bring a number of opportunities to our school, all in the name of student curiosity and creativity.
This year, Kathy and our students took on a first entrance into the First Lego League Competition, which challenges students to think like scientists and engineers using Legos. Skokie's team placed in the finals and was even invited to compete in California. Thanks to Kathy's enthusiasm, drive and the additional support from staff and parents, this team was a fantastic success and will continue next year. Congratulations to our Lego League Team and Skokie Makers on a great year, and a huge debt of gratitude and appreciation to Ms. McDonough as she celebrates her final year at Skokie before retirement!
 
The weather took an unexpected turn at the end of the week, bringing back the cold temperatures. It does look like it will warm up again next week. This time of year is when we tend to see some of our students test the boundaries of appropriateness with their choice of clothing. Middle School is the time when all students are going to experiment with expressing themselves a bit, but we also try to balance that with a healthy amount of self-awareness. It may be helpful to have a conversation at home around clothing choices that are comfortable and appropriate for school, especially as all of our students are experiencing growth spurts. We appreciate your help with this sometimes challenging topic.
Finally, Happy Mother's Day to all of our our Skokie Moms! You are your child's first teacher and a vital partner of ours as we work together to help our students grow. I hope you feel celebrated this weekend. Enjoy the time together with your family, and we look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday!
Most Sincerely,
Kelly Tess
|
Skokie Field Day -
Monday, June 4th
( Rain date Tuesday, June 5th)
Help make Skokie Field Day a success!
To volunteer please see the link below:
Important Field Day Reminders:
- Apply sunscreen before school
- Make sure to have a water bottle
- Wear your green and white to show school spirit!
- No face paint allowed
- Colored hairspray is allowed, but must be applied before school and off grounds
- Bathing suits can be worn under clothing, but shirt and shorts must be warn at all times
- Consider wearing old athletic shoes for morning activities ( water is involved)
- Consider bringing an extra set of dry clothes and shoes for afternoon activities
*Special lunch provided by the Grand: the choices are a hot dog, hamburger or veggie burger. Along with chips, fruit and a cookie.
The day will conclude with memory book signing and a popsicle social!
Any questions, please email:
Megan Panje-Wilson
|
|
|
|
Grade 6 State of Illinois Health Requirements
All students entering the sixth grade are required to submit a Certificate of Health Examination and Proof of a School Dental Examination.
Both are due before the first day of school and
must be dated after August 29, 2017.
Please make your appointments now. The availability of appointment times become more challenging as we head into summer
.
Additional information is available on the District website.
If you have questions, please contact the Skokie Nurse,
Marianne Siegel RN, at 847-441-2194.
|
District News
Special Board Meeting Highlights & Financial Overview
A Special Board Meeting was held on May 8, 2018
to discuss Future Ready D36, the District's Educational Master Facility Plan. At the meeting, the School Board identified how they would like the Core Team to proceed as they refine concepts for Board approval.
Key discussion items included the following:
-The Board asked the Core Team to focus their work on concepts that include neighborhood schools (rather than the "Transform" concept).
This includes further analysis of K-3, K-4 and K-5 models in advance of the May 22, 2018 meeting.
-The Board agreed that these baseline components should be included in an Educational Master Facility Plan...
Health, Life Safety Items
ADA Accessibility
Cosmetic Updates
Safety & Security Enhancements
HVAC with Air Conditioning
Domestic Water Pipe Improvements
Electrical Capacity Improvements
-Currently, all concepts are modeled using the 2018-19 school enrollments - the highest projected enrollment in our current demographic reports. Historical data (and community feedback) suggest that enrollment will eventually rebound. If the Board wants to account for higher enrollment, it needs to provide an enrollment threshold to continue concept modeling, as enrollment impacts square footage and costs.
The Board determined that they would like the Core Team to focus on the enrollment average plus one standard deviation.
-Much has been shared regarding modern learning spaces, informed by site visits, student/teacher experiences, and research.
The Board asked the Core Team to examine a tiered approach to modernizing our schools and provide a recommendation on what future ready updates should be prioritized by grade level.
Financial Overview
To listen to a detailed cost analysis on the concepts under consideration,
click here
. This podcast elaborates on what was shared with at the April 24, 2018 School Board Meeting in order to provide further clarity to the community surrounding the financial implications of Future Ready D36.
The next School Board Meeting will take place at 7:15 p.m. at Hubbard Woods School on May 22, 2018. To continue to share your input with the Core Team, please email
[email protected]
. Documents and meeting materials regarding Future Ready D36 are accessible via
www.winnetka36.org
.
Information Sharing Protocol
Dear D36 Families,
We appreciate your continued support of our schools and work diligently to keep you informed and connected. We wanted to remind you of our privacy practices related to directory information sharing. The School District does not share any family contact information with other organizations without direct consent. This consent is typically granted during the school registration process and specifically includes only the PTO and Winnetka Public Schools Foundation. The PTOs provide a school directory, now on the DirectorySpot app, for personal use only. Sharing directory information with other entities, whether they are private or public, is violation of the PTO Directory use protocol. Out of respect for the privacy of all District families, please honor the appropriate use of directories. Again, thank you for your continued support of our schools.
Thank you,
Jenny Herb & Trisha Kocanda
Upcoming Winnetka Parents Institute Sessions
"Not Quite Little Kid, Not Quite Teenager: The Developmental Progression of the Adolescent Brain"
Friday, May 18 at 9:30 a.m.
The Skokie School Community Room
Join Dave Kanne, Principal at Carleton Washburne School, and Kelly Tess, Principal at The Skokie School, for a presentation that highlights the biological reasoning behind why our adolescents behave the way they do during these vulnerable, formative years.
RSVP here
.
The District Calendar Committee was made aware that the 2018-19 Academic Calendar approved by the Board in January was short one teacher attendance day. There was also a desire to schedule the last student attendance day on a Thursday rather than a Friday, due to potential inclement weather days. Please note the
revised calendar
moves the first student attendance day to Monday, August 27, 2018, and the last day to Thursday, June 6, 2019.
Spring MAP Testing
We are approaching our third testing window for the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test, which will take place between May 14 -25. Your child's school or teacher will inform you of his or her specific testing dates.
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 third testing session is to provide an overview of a student's growth and achievement for the school year. Your child's MAP Progress Report will accompany the other end-of-the-year progress reports from your child's teachers in a mailing sent home in mid-June. Additional information on the MAP assessment may be found on our district website at
www.winnetka36.org/map
.
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 Street).
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.
Adventures in Learning 2018
Adventures in Learning 2018 runs from June 18th-July 20th, 2018. (There is no camp on July 4th.) A decades-long tradition, this summer program includes classes as varied as Drone Flight School, Camping Adventures, Make Your Own Music Video, Adventures in STEAM, Archery, The Wacky World of Water, Kitchen Magicians, Tennis, Computer Animation, Improvisation, Yoga for Kids, Animal Care, and Spa-Licious. Students in grades 2-8 may choose up to four classes from over 100 options. Younger children (pre-K through grade 1) will explore educational concepts through guided play and outdoor activities.
This year's program will be held at The Skokie School for the 2-8th graders and Hubbard Woods School for the Pre-K (4 years old by June 1, 2018) and K-grade 1 Primary program (5 years old by September 1, 2018).
|
|
|
|
|
Dates to Note
***************************
May 18, Friday
Winnetka Parent Institute
"Not Quite Little Kid, Not Quite Teenager: The Developmental Progression of the Adolescent Brain"
Join Dave Kanne and Kelly Tess for a presentation that highlights the biological reasoning behind why our adolescents behave the way they do during these vulnerable, formative years.
11:50 a.m. Dismissal
--------------------------------
4th Grade Shadow Day
May 28, Monday
NO SCHOOL
Memorial Day
June 4, Monday
Skokie Field Day
June 5, Tuesday
(Raindate)
Skokie Field Day
----------------------------
|
|
