The Winnetka Wire
Monthly News from The Winnetka Public Schools
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Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members,
As we head into our last week of school, we celebrate the growth our students have experienced, enjoy Winnetka traditions such as Civil War Day and Crows on Parade, and prepare to bid farewell to our eighth grade students. Many of our soon-to-be graduates began their time in D36 as Kindergarten students, so watching them mature into amazing young scholars, leaders, and caring individuals is rewarding.
We are immensely proud of these students for their leadership, pursuit of academic excellence, and the many ways in which they serve our community. We know they are well-prepared for the rigors and opportunities ahead in high school and beyond. A few examples of the graduating class' accomplishments this year include...
- Raising more than $6,000 for Hurricane Relief, which was selected as a school-wide fundraiser last autumn.
- Participating in the Futures Unlimited conference (intended to encourage females to consider STEAM careers and interact with female role models in the technology industry).
- Earning highest honors in the National Council of Teachers of English "Promising Young Writers" competition.
- Producing their spring musical, Pirates of Penzance. From the costumes
 to the choreography to the lighting, the show is entirely led by students. 31 eighth graders were involved in the production.
- Demonstrating leadership on the keynote panel of Tech & Learning Live, a professional learning conference for K-12 tech leaders.
- Qualifying for the Illinois Music Education Association Jazz Band and National Geography Bee contest.
- Presenting final projects of their choice, many of which included the creation of documentaries, websites, podcasts, and fundraisers on topics as diverse as genetics, refugees, and the history of Wrigley Field.
- Claiming Highest Honors in the 2017-18 WordMasters Challenge,™ a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 150,000 students annually. The eighth grade team placed ninth nationwide, and the seventh grade team earned first place in the nation.
As our eighth graders conclude their Winnetka Experience, we hope they will remain connected, assured that they will always have the support of the educators in D36. May these young women and men always strive to be lifelong learners and continue to make a meaningful difference in the world, wherever their paths may lead.
Wishing our graduates--and entire school community--congratulations as we conclude our 2017-2018 school year. Enjoy a safe and relaxing summer!
Sinc
erely,
Dr. Trisha Kocanda
Superintendent
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The next School Board Regular Meeting will be held at Hubbard Woods School on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. There is a 5:30 p.m. Work Session focused on the 2017-18 District Improvement Plan Report. The Regular Meeting begins at 7:15 p.m.
T
he following presentations are on the agenda:
- Future Ready D36
- Preliminary FY19 Budget
Please note, there will be three opportunities for Public Comment during the Regular Meeting. It is requested that community members kindly hold comments until the second opportunity, which immediately follows the
Future Ready D36 presentation. After the second opportunity for public comment, the Board will have additional conversation.
The Board welcomes public comment at meetings. Each speaker is given three minutes to speak. The speaker will be notified when the time limit is reached. Please note, the Board uses this time to listen to community questions and concerns, but will not respond immediately to individual requests and cannot take formal action on non-agenda items.
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A year after the Future Ready D36 process was initiated by the School Board, the Board looks forward to receiving the Core Team's grade configuration analysis on a long-term Educational Master Facility Plan. This plan will address the District's enrollment imbalance, aging facilities, and vision for teaching and learning.
At the June 6 School Board Meeting, the Board is now expected to further narrow the Future Ready D36 concepts under review with a final approval of the Educational Master Facility Plan early in the next school year.
Documents and meeting materials regarding Future Ready D36 are accessible via www.winnetka36.org.
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Online Registration for 2018-2019
Registration information for next year has been sent via regular mail and email. Look for these materials in your mailbox and inbox. Once you receive this information, you may contact District Registrar, Maria Perez, at 847-446-9400 or [email protected] if you have any registration questions, or did not receive notification. Registration should be completed and submitted by June 29, 2018.
All students entering the sixth grade are required to submit a Certificate of Health Examination and Proof of a School Dental Examination. Incoming second graders must submit Proof of a School Dental Examination. Both are due before the first day of school and must be dated after August 27, 2017. Please schedule your child's doctor appointments now and return the forms before the end of this school year if possible.
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Revised 2018-2019 Calendar
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.
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D36 alum Lucy Spahr (Washburne Class of 2014) will be attending Cornell University in the fall, where she will study English and Film. An
accomplished filmmaker, Lucy has channeled her passion for  storytelling and filmmaking into creating several successful projects. She produced a music video, "If We Were Rain," an Official Selection at the Santa Monica International Teen Film Festival and the All American High School Film Festival in New York City, and
Global Warming: The Dead Zone
, a documentary to raise awareness on the impact of climate
change.
Lucy submitted Global Warming: The Dead Zone to C-SPAN's StudentCam contest, which asked stude
nts to highlight an issue that Congress should address. The film, one of over 2,900 submissions from students around the United States, received an honorable mention in 2017. She enlisted the support of a geoscience teacher at New Trier to serve as an expert in the documentary, which stars both her grandfather and younger brother, Spencer (Washburne Class of 2016). Spahr studied filmmaking during a summer program at UCLA and has created films for the New Trier Greg Harris Film Festival, but otherwise has no formal filmmaking training.
"I cherish my D36 progressive education because it emphasized creativity," says Lucy. "I have fond memories of writing scripts and being on camera for WGST at Hubbard Woods. The program taught me at a young age that film is a medium that allows me to express my feelings and ideas in a constructive and fun way." Lucy recalls designing a circus production in Kindergarten, learning to write and deliver presentations with the support of her teachers, and honing her public speaking skills as she progressed through middle school, which she notes, "gave me confidence with the much larger environment at New Trier."
Lucy has served on the New Trier Township Peer Jury, was a member of the New Trier Varsity Girls Tennis Team, and has worked as a tennis instructor at AC Nielsen Tennis Center. As she prepares to graduate from New Trier, she recommends that students explore the many leadership opportunities that high school has to offer. "Get involved in an activity that you enjoy...have an open mind and be willing to experiment!"
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In the News
The Winnetka Current highlighted
Skokie students advocating for technology in schools while meeting with Illinois legislators at TECH 2018 in Springfield. The Winnetka Current also shared a story on how local businesses have partnered with Greeley School.
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This Chicago Tribune article discusses a few apps that may help parents monitor their children's device use, especially during summertime.
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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, Rocket Engineering, Make Your Own Music Video, Adventures in STEAM, Archery, Life as an American Girl Doll,
Soccer, Robotics, Kitchen Magicians, Tennis, The Wacky World of Water, Lacrosse, Computer Animation, Improvisation, Yoga for Kids, Animal Care, Volleyball, Ooey Gooey Science Magic, Oil Pastels, Creative Writing, Coding, Harry Potter Adventures, and Spa-Licious.
Students in grades 2-8 may choose up to four classes from over 100  options. Younger children (pre-Kindergarten 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 2nd-8th graders and Hubbard Woods School for the Pre-K (4-years-old by June 1, 2018) and K-1 Primary program (5-years-old by September 1, 2018).
Registration is open at www.winnetka36.org/adventures.
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Important Dates
Board Meeting
June 6, 2018
7:15 p.m.
Hubbard Woods School
Early Dismissal
June 11, 2018
2017-2018
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Spring in District 36...
Hubbard Woods students gathered to release 100
trout to support the Lake Michigan ecosystem. The students raised the trout in the Resource Center.
   Skokie students showcased elements of
life in the 1700s at their annual Colonial Faire, demonstrating
milling and baking, dressmaking,
woodworking,
and shoemaking,
as well
as an apothecary,
a blacksmith shop,
and more.
 Washburne students presented
Pirates of Penzance.
From
designing a
nautical-themed set, to choreographing intricate dances, students used their creativity and talents to bring this Broadway classic
to life on stage.
 Greeley students raised money to donate to
PAWS during their
Walk-a-Thon. The students selected the organization and
planned the event.  
Hubbard Woods students researched animals and presented their
findings at their
Animal Fair.
D36 students at all schools are enjoying
Field Day, including
these Washburne and Crow Island students.
Greeley students created self-portraits.
 Hubbard Woods students wrote, produced, designed, and performed in an opera.
 The Skokie School and its Integrated Service Delivery initiative was selected to receive an
APS Best Practice
Award. Through these awards, the NSSED Association
of Parents & Staff (APS) recognizes programs that offer inclusive opportunities including people of all abilities,
and that show leadership and innovation in areas such as learning, advocacy, partnership, recreation and social integration.
From the Archives...
Hubbard Woods students are pictured in their classroom.
Crow Island students are engaged in learning.
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For a glimpse into The Winnetka Experience
and more information on the purpose of the
Future Ready D36
initiative
, please enjoy this video.
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For a list of upcoming FAN speaker
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