May 29, 2020

Dear Parents,

We are near the finish line and ending strong and positive, excited to celebrate our graduating 8th graders next week!  Please review this email for a few important updates:

Registration Open for 2020-2021 School Year

More than ever, it is important to register for next school year as soon as possible to ensure we have accurate data to inform next year's plans. During the registration process, you will be asked some questions that may be tricky to answer given our current unknowns. For instance, when prompted to choose transportation or before- and after-school care, please indicate the preferences you currently anticipate for your family. We recognize some programs or services may be impacted this fall based on what transpires over the summer. The District will provide refunds as necessary. Registration information was sent via regular mail and email the week of May 18th. Please contact District Registrar, Carolin Huh, at 847-446-9400 or [email protected] if you did not receive this information.

Join Us for Adventures in Learning (AIL) Remote!

Looking for something to break-up the summer and engage your children? From July 6-24, 2020, the District is offering families a reimagined version of AIL with creative classes from a remote platform. While we will miss offering our in-person program this summer, our goal is to provide an enriching remote experience for 3rd through 8th grade students. A course catalog is here . Begin registration here .

Parent Survey: 2020-2021 Planning 

Last week we shared an Overview of Planning Scenarios currently under review as we look ahead to fall 2020. We appreciate all feedback and ideas regarding these preliminary scenarios thus far. Next week, we will be launching a survey for parents to collect further input from our school community to help inform future planning. An Operational Planning Team, working with the Centers for Disease Control School Guidelines , will continue to meet regularly throughout the summer in order to ensure we are thoroughly prepared for a variety of different potential scenarios. As we have previously noted, the reopening of schools for in-person instruction is not a local decision and is contingent on meeting regional health metrics found in the May 5th Governor's Restore IL Plan . 

Winnetka Public Schools Foundation (WPSF) Family Events

Thanks to the WPSF for supporting several family education and entertainment events this spring. Please visit our website to register to join us for our final events :

June 1 at 1 p.m.: 

Leadership, Character and Wellness with Jim Davis of the Good Athlete Project 

June 1 at 6 p.m.: 

Transform Stress Into Strength During these Challenging Time with Dr. Matt Dewar

June 2 at 1 p.m.: 

An Afternoon with America's Got Talent Finalist Mandy Harvey

While I know none of us could have possibly anticipated concluding our school year this way, I am extremely proud of how our parents, teachers, and students have made the best out a less than ideal situation. I would especially like to congratulate our 2020 Wasburne graduates for their accomplishments. Thanks to all of the Washburne parents and staff who have developed creative plans to honor these students, albeit remotely. As we look ahead to the fall, I am confident we will continue to remain focused on putting our students' well-being and continued learning at the center of our work. Thank you for your partnership.

Sincerely,

Dr. Trisha Kocanda

Superintendent

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.