The Winnetka Wire
Monthly News from The Winnetka Public Schools
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Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members,
We are ready to welcome our students and staff back for the 2019-2020 school year! In addition to the benefit of summer rejuvenation, our staff are also eager to embed their summer professional learning into their practice. Did you know that our staff contributed to nearly 50 different curriculum projects this summer? They also attended conferences, read professional literature, and participated in summer Winnetka University courses. We live our value of life-long learning through the summer!
The 2019-2020 school year marks a very important milestone in the  history of The Winnetka Public Schools...the 100th anniversary of our commitment to Progressive Education. In 1919, Superintendent Carleton Washburne arrived in Winnetka and set our community on course for a century-long journey dedicated to "learning by doing."
One of our major goals this year is focused on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), an evolution of Washburne's focus on the
whole child
. A strong SEL foundation is a catalyst for student success in every  domain. We also remain on track to complete many of our 5-year strategic goals within our 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. This summer, capital projects identified in our Educational Master Facility Plan to address necessary health/life safety improvements, were completed. Additionally, Redistricting 2020 remains a focus for the School Board. In October 2019, the Board will approve a Redistricting Plan to be implemented in Fall 2020.
While we focus on the important work ahead of us, we keep the students at the center of every decision. Our teachers wholeheartedly share this commitment. As one third grade student recently expressed,
"We just want to let you know that we really love our teachers!"
In addition to our teachers, we are grateful for a community that has a long-standing tradition of partnering with our schools. Thank you to The Winnetka Public Schools Foundation, our PTOs, and to the entire Village for our shared commitment to each and every student.
Sinc
erely,
Dr. Trisha Kocanda
Superintendent
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In 2016, a significant imbalance in student enrollment among the District's three elementary schools necessitated a review of attendance boundaries. At that time, the District experienced the widest disparity in elementary enrollments in over 50 years. Crow Island was deemed over capacity with 45% of the District's K-4 students enrolled. Greeley was under capacity, and Hubbard Woods was nearing capacity. In fall 2017, a short-term solution was implemented. Crow Island kindergarteners were assigned to Greeley and Hubbard Woods with portable trailers installed at Crow Island to support grades 1-4.
Given the current elementary school attendance boundaries and forecasted enrollments, a long-term solution requires redistricting.
The Board is committed to finalizing a plan in Fall 2019, with implementation in Fall 2020.
Cropper GIS, a recognized specialist in K-12 demography, geography, and planning (and District partner since 2016), is helping facilitate the redistricting process.
Please check your mailbox for a community-wide mailing that should arrive this week. In the meantime, please visit the Redistricting 2020 webpage
for more information, and note these upcoming dates t
hat pertain to the pr
ocess:
August 26, 2019, School Board Meeting
7:15 p.m. at Greeley School
Redistricting options presented
September 3, 2019
6:30 p.m. at Greeley School
Public Engagement Session
September 24, 2019
7:15 p.m. at Greeley School
School Board Meeting--Superintendent recommendation presented
October 22, 2019
7:15 p.m. at Greeley School
School Board Meeting--School Board approves Redistricting Plan
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The next School Board Meeting will be held at Greeley School on August 26, 2019. There will be a 7:00 p.m. hearing on the Tentative FY19 Budget. The Regular Meeting is at 7:15 p.m. and includes the following presentations on the agenda:
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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Safely Crossing Green Bay Road
During Bridge Construction
The Village of Winnetka is in the midst of bridge repair work at the intersections of Cherry Street/Green Bay Road and Oak Street/Green Bay Road, with completion anticipated in November 2019. For students traveling to school through these areas, the Village and Police recommend that the safest area for students to cross Green Bay Road is the pedestrian signal at Elm Street and Green Bay Road. It is advised that students walk their bikes while crossing Green Bay Road.
As always, please ensure that students biking or scootering to school are wearing helmets.
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A New Look for The Winnetka Public
Schools Website
A new District website (
www.winnetka36.org) launched earlier this month. The updated website enables The Winnetka Public Schools to comply with recently introduced Americans With Disabilities Act regulations as well as provide a fresh look and more functional design for our school community. Please note that you will need to update your bookmarks as some webpages that were used on the former site may no longer work. Feedback or questions on the new page may be directed to
webmaster@winnetka36.org.
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Summer in
District 36...
Students enjoyed an array of classes as part of Adventures in Learning,
The Winnetka Public School's summer program, a longstanding
Winnetka tradition.
From the Archives...
Crow Island students are pictured
in this
vintage image.
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Connect with The Winnetka Public Schools on social media by
clicking on the icons
at the bottom
of
this message.
We
use the hashtag #WE36, which
stands
for
"Winnetka Experience." Please follow us for
day-to-day glimpses of learning in action
in our schools.
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For a list of upcoming speaker series events,
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