Dear Winnetka Families,
At last week's School Board meeting, the Board approved a modified full day schedule with lunch for all elementary school students. Please find some answers to frequently asked questions as well as additional information below.
Key Elements for students in Grades 1-4 (K schedule remains the same in AM and PM pods) -
8:30 am - 2:30 pm, ~5.5 hours of instruction daily
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Remote part of the day replaced with in-person instruction
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Most special education, related services and intervention support in person
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Related arts in person including KW in the gym or outside
When will the schedule for Grades 1-4 shift to its Modified Full Day schedule? Our targeted date for the launch of the new schedule is Monday, April 19. During the next month, we will be working to finalize the schedule from an educational and operational perspective.
Agreements and Expectations for Lunch: -
Students bring their own lunch from home (there will not be lunch provider options this spring).
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Outdoor lunch will be utilized when possible. Indoor dining requires adherence to health guidance such as social distancing, reduced talking/silence while eating, mask wearing when not eating, and use of desk shields.
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Times for lunch are still under review as the schedule is in development to adhere to programming goals (such as in-person related arts) and updated health guidance.
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Based on 6' social distancing requirements during eating, we are exploring the possibility of eating in shifts within the classroom with ½ the class eating and ½ reading or doing an independent quiet activity at their desk and then switching.
Last week, we referred to the various needs of families. Similarly, please be aware that each elementary building has various and unique needs, as well: space, staffing, playground composition, etc. Out of necessity, elementary school principals have collaborated extensively this year to provide a consistent and equitable learning experience for all elementary school children. With this in mind, as we implement our modified full day schedule, it is likely that slight variations will exist between schools as we navigate each school buildings' unique needs.
Sincerely,
Julie Pfeffer and Larry Joynt, Principals, Crow Island School
Joshua Swanner, Principal, Greeley School
Beth Carmody, Principal, Hubbard Woods School
Intense planning is underway, with more specific details forthcoming. Here are the highlights to help families make a decision to choose in-person or remote learning.
RESPONSE DUE: Friday, March 19
Please complete this form to indicate whether your child will participate in the Modified Full Day model or Remote Learning. In order for our administration to make a variety of logistical preparations for this shift, we ask that you complete the form no later than Friday, March 19. Note that this selection is binding from April 19 through the end of the school year. Please share one submission for each grade 1-6 student in your family.
UPDATED TRAVEL GUIDANCE
Per updated health department guidance, children under the age of 18 are NO LONGER exempt if they traveled with adults who have received a negative COVID-19 test. Children who travel to an orange state must provide a negative test result or quarantine for 10 days; we no longer accept/need adult testing results. Please refer to this link to access the full travel guidance. The Township COVID-19 PCR testing site on April 2-4 and 10 will be hosted at Marie Murphy school and will be able to accommodate children. A registration link for this testing site will be live and emailed on Monday, March 15.
Access 2020-2021's District Parent Education sessions below:
Parent Education Opportunities
Winnetka Parents Institute: Structuring Your Student's Time on Devices
Presented by:
Louis Kotvis, Assistant Principal of The Skokie School
Jenn Marshall, Technology Support Coordinator
Matt Boyer, Technology Instructional Specialist
Thursday, March, 18 9:30 a.m.
This Winnetka Parents Institute virtual event will provide pertinent information for parents regarding technology usage for their child. This is the first of a three part series the District is offering this spring. At this first session, the team will discuss the benefits of minimizing screen time, provide strategies and structures that you can do at home to manage screen time and also show you strategies for monitoring your student's devices. At the end of the session there will be a Q and A session where the team will answer questions regarding this topic. The session will be recorded and posted on our website for those unable to attend.
Please click the link below to join the webinar: Passcode: Tech36 Webinar ID: 897 5654 6494 Passcode: 974679 Telephone: 312 626 6799
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.
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Dates to Remember
saturday, march 27 thru
sunday, april 4
spring break
monday, april 5
PLANNING DAY
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
tuesday, april 6
students return to in-school learning
Friday, April 9
Spirit Day
Friday, April 9
Remote pick up day
Friday, April 23 remote pick up day
friday, may 7 spirit day
Friday, May 7 remote pick up day
friday, may 21 remote pick up day
friday, may 28 half day am -
all students remote in am
Monday, may 31 no school
memorial day
Friday, June 4
anticipated last day of school
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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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