Washburne Families,
I hope everyone enjoyed the tremendous weather this weekend. It certainly was nice to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. I want to thank you for your support and collaboration as we successfully implemented the extended day schedule. The students have handled the transition beautifully, and it was just awesome to see the reactions of many students who had not been together in class all year, finally reunite. I have included a few important reminders regarding the schedule in this week's memo that are essential to the continued success of the model.
Traffic Reminders and Crisis Go
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Crisis Go - Please remember to certify your child in Crisis Go by 8:00am each day. We would like to get the number of uncertified students below 5% each morning. Last week we were over 15% on most days. With the first academic class starting at 8:30am, students who need to certify or are arriving after 8:30am are missing valuable class time. Having students certified by this time allows us to admit all of our students into the building as quickly as possible.
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Drop-off and Pick-up of students - If you are using Elm Street to drop off or pick up your child, this should take place on the south side of the street only. We have witnessed students attempting to cross Elm Street with traffic coming from both directions. If you are using Oak Street please pull over and have students exit on the north side of the street and be mindful of students getting in and out of cars. Following both of these procedures will help keep all of our students safe.
We appreciate your patience as we adapt to this new schedule and traffic flow. Your cooperation and support help us to keep our students safe as we implement this extended day model.
As part of our new schedule, all students have a snack break during the day. When preparing for your child's snack, please keep the following things in mind:
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As much as possible, students will be going outside for these breaks. While we all hope for sunny weather, students need to be prepared to go outside for a variety of weather conditions.
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When the weather conditions are too severe for any classes to go outside, students will eat their snacks at their desks in their classrooms, maintaining the six feet of social distancing that is already in place.
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Please pack a snack for your child that can be consumed quickly. Students will not be allowed to share food with one another.
Live-Streaming for Trimester 3
As we increase the amount of time that students are in our building and look to a full return in the fall, we anticipate that short-term streaming will be a relic of the pandemic but not a permanent shift in the way we approach instruction. While the rationale for streaming when a student would potentially miss 10 days of instruction is very clear, the benefits of streaming for a day or two are much more limited. From a social emotional standpoint, we also need to reinforce the message that it is okay to miss a couple days of school. As in typical years, students will have access to missed work and can access teachers as needed; our new office hours will help with this, too.
Here is how we are approaching temporary streaming in our extended day schedule: -
Students will not shift to remote instruction unless they have missed two days of school, with streaming starting on day 3.
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As has been the case all year, students will not stream during voluntary absences, including travel or other appointments.
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Students will not stream for any additional days of school missed due to voluntary travel, including awaiting test results.
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To the largest extent possible, students will stay with their teachers for any temporary remote learning; however, schedules may be slightly adjusted.
Office Hours
Each team is hosting office hours for students during the remote part of the day. These take place at:
Office Hours take place remotely via Zoom, and teachers have shared all necessary links with students through Schoology.
Report Cards
Trimester 2 report cards will be available online in Powerschool on Wednesday, March 24th at the end of the school day. We will notify you when they are available to view. You can see step-by-step directions for how to access report cards using this link.
Track and Field is coming to Winnetka this spring! Registration is now live.
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This season will be a combination of cross-country and track and field. Students will be allowed to choose which events they want to run (sprints and/or long distance).
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The program will be offered for 6-8th graders.
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No child will be allowed to participate without being registered and having a clearance form/physical on file.
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The season will start on Tuesday, April 6 with an informational meeting on zoom for parents and athletes.
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Practice will be from 3:45-4:30, Mondays through Thursdays.
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Students will be in pod groups based on the workout for their running groups. This will be established in the first week of practice. Students will meet the coaches at various spots outside around Washburne.
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More information will be sent through email closer to the start of the season.
WSPF Phone-A-Thon is Here
CLICK HERE for information on The Winnetka Public Schools Foundation's Phone-a-Thon. With your support, WPSF can continue to provide teachers with resources to bring creativity to the classrooms, enhancing the learning experience for all Winnetka students.
Washburne Class of 2021 Call for Baby Pictures
Before we know it, our eighth graders will graduate from Washburne! So it's time to pull out those baby pictures which is a long-standing tradition!
These pictures will be displayed at school during the month of May. They will also appear at the Graduation Ceremony and/or video alongside your child's graduation photo.
Please provide one digital photo of your child (aged birth to 2 years.) This photo can be casual or formal, black and white or color, the choice is yours (or theirs!).
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Photos should be a jpeg format.
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Digital photos need to be submitted in the original resolution, at least 1MB preferred.
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If you are scanning a printed photo, please set your scanner to at least 300 dpi or at least 1200 x 1800 pixels.
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Deadline to submit photos is Friday April 9th (the Friday after Spring break.)
with your child's name or nickname (as you wish it to appear in the video) in the subject line. We will reply to confirm submission.
If you can't provide a digital photo, please reach out to us at [email protected] and we can make alternative arrangements.
Questions?
As we head into our final week before spring break, Ben and I would like to thank you for your support as we have navigated this school year. We are excited about our new schedule and looking forward to a great finish to the year.
Take Care and Be Well,
Dr. Andrew Fenton Ben Horwitz
Principal Assistant Principal
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Registration Open for Township COVID-19 PCR Testing Clinic--April 2, 3, 4 & 10
New Trier Township School Districts are partnering with NorthShore Clinical Labs to host free COVID-19 PCR testing for students, families, staff, and community members. Test results are expected within 24-48 hours from time of testing. Per the most current travel guidance, children under the age of 18 are not exempt from the travel order and must follow PCR testing or quarantine requirements if they travel.
LOCATION
Marie Murphy School Gymnasium
2921 Illinois Road, Wilmette
Those interested in receiving a test must register in advance and complete a laboratory requisition form.
Please contact Northshore Clinical Labs at (773) 570-6510 with any questions.
Adventures in Learning 2021 runs from
June 14, 2021 - July 16, 2021
REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 25!
We are excited to welcome students back to in-person Adventures in Learning! This summer the structure of the program has been modified as we continue to navigate the impact of COVID--19 and prioritize the health and safety of our campers, families and staff. The in-person program options being offered adhere to the District's current mitigation plan and successful student cohort and pod framework.
The Primary Program, for children Pre-K (4 years old by June 1st, 2021) and K - 1st Grade (5 years old by September 1st, 2021) will be housed at Crow Island School. The program is held Monday - Friday, beginning at 8:35 a.m. and ending at 11:30 a.m.
The General Program, for grades 2-8, will be held at the Carleton Washburne School. To protect the health and safety of our students and staff and minimize the need for cohort quarantines, up to 4 distinct courses will be grouped together to create a "pod." This is a change from our typical program structure where students select individual 40 minute classes. Implementing this change allows for cohorts of students to remain intact and thus limits COVID-19 exposure while minimizing the need for and impact of exposure creating large-scale quarantines that would significantly impede a successful AIL experience. The 5-week program will be offered as a 3-week and 2-week session, to ensure campers all have the opportunity to enjoy their favorite classes. When registering parents will be asked to select two pods from the options provided.
Click here to learn more and to view the course catalog for the general program.
Structuring Your Student's Time on Devices: Resources & Parent Survey
On Thursday, March 18, the Winnetka Parents Institute had a presentation titled "Structuring Your Student's Time on Devices". This was a presentation in a three part series that is focused on educating parents on technology for their students. Session two will focus on developing digital citizens and the third session will provide ways to work with your student on understanding their digital footprint. All of the videos, resources and step by step tutorials are provided on our Digital Parent Workshop website here. Please also be sure to fill out the survey at the end of the presentation so we can follow up with you and provide you with the support that is needed. Please join us at the next presentation in April (date TBA)!
Family Action Network (FAN)
The Alliance for Early Childhood's PANDEMIC PARENTING TOOLS & TIPS:
Recognizing Anxiety and Depression in Young Children; April 8 from 7-8 p.m.
No one likes to think of young children as being anxious or depressed and yet, children experience a wide range of emotions. The pandemic has shifted experiences and supports that families are typically able to access. This leaves children and families vulnerable. Young children won't come out and say, "I'm struggling, can you help?" Instead, they act out in challenging ways. Come learn about the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety in young children, and how our own feelings can get stirred up by this topic. We'll talk about healthy vs. unhealthy struggles, and how to support our children so they can grow in their own resilience. Programming facilitated by Molly Pope, I/ECMHC, Parent Coach, and Speaker and Trainer. Register Here to attend live or have the recording emailed to you.
Parent Education Opportunities
Kindergarten & New Student Registration
Registration for Kindergarten and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2021-2022 is now open and can be accessed from the District website. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2021, are eligible to enroll.
The New Student Registration includes the following:
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Complete the following new student registration forms online.
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Provide proof of residency. Click here to view the list of documents that will meet these requirements. For your convenience residency documents may be uploaded during online registration.
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Provide the original or certified copy of your child(ren)'s birth certificate and a parent photo ID. Scanned copies or snapshots of these documents may be uploaded during online registration or can be submitted in-person at the District Office by appointment. Please contact the District Registrar at (847) 446-9400 or via email [email protected] for more information.
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Next spring you will receive an email from the District with a link to your child's registration. You will be asked to review the information provided in the past, answer additional questions, pay student fees, and sign up for transportation and before/after-school care at that time. Registration information will be sent to the student's primary email and home address.
Please note: children will not be considered enrolled until both the online registration and all supporting documents (steps 1-3) have been completed. We look forward to welcoming you to The Winnetka Public Schools.
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Replies to this email will be sent directly to Andrew Fenton. Please note that unsubscribing from this email will unsubscribe from all Winnetka School emails.
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The Winnetka Public Schools community empowers every student to flourish in an innovative, experiential environment. We support and challenge all learners to actively engage in continual growth and achievement to make a meaningful difference in the world.
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Upcoming Dates
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Regular BOE meeting at 7:15pm
Wednesday, March 24th
Trimester 2 Report Cards available online
Saturday, March 27th - Sunday, April 4th Spring Break - No School
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