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Dear Winnetka Families,
We want to take this opportunity to thank you again for partnering with us as we work to provide meaningful and purposeful educational experiences to our students. We know that these times are stressful and that many of you are managing your own workloads, managing your households, and are also supporting one or more children with their remote learning. It is quite a challenge! We thank those of you that found the time to respond to our recent remote learning survey. In addition, many of you have reached out to us with ideas, suggestions, and information from other districts. Please know we will be using all of this information to help refine our plans going forward. To this end, it is important to recognize that what works for one family does not necessarily work for all families. Thus, we will be working to balance the needs of all of our students, staff and families as we engage in our fine tuning process.
We also want to remind our families to complete the Parent Reflection Forms we use to inform class placement by May 1st (current kindergarten families attending Crow Island for first grade should click here instead). Please click here for the form for your school. These forms are intended for incoming Kindergarten - 4th graders. Skokie will be sharing the link to its parent reflection form for our rising 5th graders the week of May 4th as part of its virtual 5th Grade Orientation. Also, we are pleased to share that the Crow Island Kindergarten Team for 2020-21 draws on the expertise from all three elementary schools. The teachers will be Veronica Petrillo, Heather Farnham and Missy Parks.
Again, thank you for your partnership.
Sincerely,
Beth Carmody, Hubbard Woods
Julie Pfeffer, Crow Island
Joshua Swanner, Greeley
DISTRICT NEWS
End-of-Year Events Updates
Monday, April 27, 2020; STEAM Grey Day
On Monday, April 27 we will have our third District-wide Grey Day, with a focus on the Maker Movement and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Education. A guide of activities for this day organized by difficulty levels, because everyone's point of entry to STEAM and Maker is different, is available with further instructions here:
As a reminder, Grey Days were added to the calendar to achieve the following:
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Provide all students with common, theme-based activities designed to be accessible to the whole family.
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Add time for students to engage in independent work and to catch up on assignments/projects.
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Afford teachers common time to prioritize curricular objectives across the District for consistency and alignment.
April 2020 Winnetka Wire
To read the latest Letter from the Superintendent and other updates from the District, click here:
https://conta.cc/2KdFxVV
Associates & Remote Learning
A shift to Remote Learning has required our teachers, students, administrators and parents to adapt to an entirely new way of receiving instruction. As such, all of our roles are being reinvented as we seek to support our students. Under normal circumstances, our Teacher Associates play a critical role in the classroom, supporting students on an individual and small group basis, providing review of instruction, reinforcement, assistance in classroom management of routines and practices. As we settle into a second phase of Remote Learning, we have taken some time to establish guidelines for our Teacher Associates so that they are able to maintain their own role in contributing to Remote Learning and support of students.
Our Kindergarten and First Grade classes each have a dedicated Classroom Associate. In addition, we have Special Education Associates throughout all grade levels that are present to provide supports specifically designated within Individualized Education Plans (IEPs/Special Education). If you do not have a student in Kindergarten, First Grade or within our Special Education program, it is likely that you and your child will not interact with a Teacher Associate during Remote Learning.
If you do have a student that may be interacting with a Teacher Associate, expect to see any of the following from this dedicated team:
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Participation in Synchronous Lessons
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Supporting Small Student Groups
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Checking in with Individual Students requiring specific supports
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Leading a game, story, review session, song/dance with students
In addition, our Teacher Associates are using this time to collaborate with teachers on lesson development, differentiation and modification of materials and professional development specific to Remote Learning and support individual needs of students. We are working together to continuously monitor how our Teacher Associates are supporting our students so that we can make adjustments where necessary.
Technology - Patience & Help Desk
As we experience Remote Learning with millions of other students, we will experience technology challenges - many of which are out of our control. If something is not working, your child can take a break and try again later. If it is frustrating, encourage your child to step away from it and do something offline. Sometimes we have no choice but to slow down.
Please know that the technology staff, both school and district level, are working diligently to respond to your requests. The best way to get support is to email the help desk
help@winnetka36.org
. The average response time for issues that fall into our realm is under three hours.
Device Loans/Replacements
To request a device, please
complete this form
. Devices will be distributed safely to those who request them. Our technology staff is able to arrange for device pick up one day per week. You will be contacted within 24 hours of your request.
Proxy Filter
We are working to replace the proxy filter. The proxy filter is what keeps kids from accessing inappropriate content online whether at home or at school. In the next week or two, you will receive an email from the technology team regarding Securly with additional details.
Inquiries Regarding School Access
Schools have been receiving questions from parents to access our school buildings for student belongings and materials. Due to the seriousness of the COVID-19 situation and in accordance with the Stay-at-Home Order issued by Governor Pritzker, we are limiting public access to our school buildings at this time. We will be able to help facilitate the pick up of student items when the Stay-at-Home Order is lifted. Our first priority is supporting our public officials in taking measures that help protect the collective safety of our community.
Family Learning/Support Opportunities
Special Education Services
The Department of Student Services would like to assure parents that special education staff members have focused their time on the development of flexible learning options for students with IEPs. We recognize the importance of continuing to provide special education services to our students who require this support to access the core curriculum. Now more than ever, schools need to be focused on the importance of providing an appropriate, accessible, accommodated educational program to all students in light of their current circumstances.
We would like to assure parents that their children's IEPs will be implemented in this new context as reasonably as possible. This includes, but is not limited to, related services within a student's IEP. Please note that the provision of special education support during remote learning will not be exactly the same as it would have been had schools remained open.
Students will receive some direct instruction and will also be completing activities independently with support from associates and special education staff. Students will have access to their case manager and any related service provider who has provided services as indicated on his or her IEP.
Case managers will check in with students and reach out to parents weekly. Most special education instruction will be asynchronous in nature. Some instruction may be synchronous (meaning live) for particular therapies, however, not all services can be provided in this fashion. If students are asked to participate in any specialized group therapy, parental consent will be required.
Please know that our goal is to help each of your children be successful as a remote learner with the support of their special education teacher and/or related services provider.
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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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