The Skokie School Home Scoop
 

Dear Skokie Community,

This past Sunday, I took my five year old twins to their swim lesson. As I sat in my numbered chair, six feet away from others, watching my boys engage in an experience that brought them laughter and true joy, tears filled my eyes. While they soaked into my mask, I contemplated what brought on this swell of emotion. 

Is it because I am so happy they are having so much fun? Is it because I am so sad they have missed out on this and other things for an entire year? Is it because I am so grateful that they get to have this experience at all?

It was a little bit of all of that. And it was also this:

They are okay.

As a parent, I am so ready for my kids to have a more "regular" life back. I can't help but think about all of the things they have missed out on this year. As an educator, I am committed to getting our students back into school for a more regular day to help take more steps towards life pre-COVID.

I had the chance to read a beautiful book called The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and The Horse this weekend. I highly recommend you pick it up and share it with your child. It is a quick, beautiful read filled with inspiring, wise words. One quote that particularly struck me was: 

"Sometimes just getting up and carrying on is brave and magnificent."

Our children have learned resilience, compassion, adaptability, and more through navigating this past year. They are brave and magnificent. As we look to the remainder of this year, I hope we can continue to bring some joyful, beautiful moments into your child's life.

Several quick reminders:

Circle Drive: Please do not use the Skokie circle drive during arrival and dismissal, as it is a safety concern due to the number of children walking (between 8:15-8:40 a.m., 11:25-11:35 a.m., 12:15-12:40 a.m., and 3:25-3:35 p.m.). 

Water At School: Please Send!: Drinking water helps students concentrate and avoid dips in their energy, stamina, and attention. Please be sure that water bottles are a daily addition to your student's backpack. We appreciate your support on this important yet simple detail!

Rising 6th Grader Elective Choices: If your child is a rising 6th grader, please be sure to complete this form along with your child to indicate 6th grade elective selections.
Take care,

Betty Weir          Louis Kotvis
Principal             Assistant Principal

District News

Vision for Fall 2021
In this year like no other, we have successfully implemented a sustainable hybrid learning model.  We were able to endure through the most challenging viral peaks and are now looking to expand the in-person experience for the last quarter of the year.  This will propel us into fall 2021...with visions of a far more "typical" year.  Here are highlights of what we are planning for and expecting as we kick off the 2021-2022 school year with the appropriate health/safety mitigations:
  • Return to typical school day and hours, including Extended Day Kindergarten
  • Lunch available on-campus
  • Extra-curricular activities, including clubs and sports
  • After school care 
Note that this list is not exhaustive and we look forward to being able to continue to explore options to enhance our students' learning experience and social emotional care. Our work this spring with extending our school day will better prepare our students, staff, and families for our vision for fall 2021.  Aligned with our Winnetka values, we will continue putting our student experience at the forefront of our planning decisions.
Special School Board Meeting
The School Board will hold a special board meeting from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10 to review:
  • Details of the Modified Full Day schedule for Grades 1-6.
    Vaccination status and current health guidance specific to merging the am/pm pods in Grades 1-6
The school year will end one day earlier than previously communicated, with the last half-day of school falling on Friday, June 4 (rather than Monday, June 7 as previously communicated). Please update your personal calendars. An updated 2020-2021 calendar is here.
Additionally,  the Draft 2021-2022 Calendar was presented to the School Board this week prior to adoption at the March 23 Board Meeting. This draft mirrors previous years' calendar models; however, it does include no school the week of Thanksgiving. 

Nearby Covid-19 PCR Testing Option
If you are in need of a PCR test, there is a local option offering daily appointments.  Northshore Clinical Labs offers free PCR COVID-19 testing at a mass testing site at Flick Park's Pool Field House (3600 Glenview Road, Glenview, Illinois) for any staff, student, or family member. Please view this link  to register for a test.Should you have any questions or have accessibility needs, please contact Northshore Clinical Labs at (773) 570-6510, or email  [email protected]. 
Note that this is the same organization with which the Township is partnering for post-spring break testing. 

Access 2020-2021's District Parent Education sessions below:






The Alliance for Early Childhood's NEW Let's Play! Guide 
Let's Play! is The Alliance for Early Childhood's ongoing community program, inviting families to engage and interact with their children in child-directed, creative, free play. We have put together a program that is aligned to current state guidelines in order to host you and your family safely this year for outdoors events.  Check out our digital 2020-2021Let's Play! Guide to see our calendar of events and registration details.

Replies to this email will be sent directly to Betty Weir. Please note that unsubscribing from this email will unsubscribe from all Winnetka School emails.  

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