The Skokie School Home Scoop
 

Dear Skokie Community,

I want to recognize our students and staff for a successful week of remote instruction. Our teachers have shared with me that students have been engaged in learning and helpful in problem-solving this week. I am impressed by students' ability to independently problem-solve when technology challenges presented themselves. This is a huge testament to the skills and strategies they have learned this year. I am very proud of them! 

Our Skokie team has been hard at work to create some new opportunities for students to receive extra math support and engage in additional activities. Please take a look over the following opportunities that students will have available to them in the coming weeks:
  • Fifth Grade: Extra Math Support and Challenge Opportunities: On Friday, fifth grade parents received an email that details the specifics of this opportunity, hosted by Ms. Niemann and Ms. Wild. Our fifth graders will have opportunities to see a teacher for extra help with math on Tuesdays and Thursdays during their remote work time (10:15-10:45 a.m. or 2:15-2:45 p.m.) The Zoom link for these sessions can be found by clicking the "Extra Math Help" button in your child's Schoology math course. There will also be opportunities for students to tackle some challenge math problems that will be posted in the Math Schoology course. On Fridays at 10:15-10:45 or 2:15-2:45, students can join a Zoom call to discuss the work they have done on the problem over the course of the week. Students can join these sessions by clicking on the "Math Plus" button in their Math Schoology course.
  • Sixth Grade: Extra Math Support and Challenge Opportunities: Sixth grade parents and students will be receiving weekly emails on Fridays that detail specifics of the math support and enrichment opportunities for the following week. Ms. Goldberg, one of our sixth grade math teacher, will host these sessions from 7:45-8:15 a.m.  each week via Zoom. The link will be included in the email sent home on Fridays (and is the same each day).
  • Virtual Drama Club: Mrs. Antman will begin hosting a VIrtual Drama Club for students beginning this Wednesday from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to play drama games and meet new friends, among other things. Please click here to view additional details.
  • Virtual Chorus: Mrs. Balkin will begin hosting a Virtual Chorus for students interested in singing with a group of peers. The group's first meeting will be on Tuesday, January 19th from 3:45-4:15 p.m. Please click here to view additional details.
Reminder: Half Day of Remote Instruction on Monday
Please remember that students will attend a half day of remote instruction from 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Monday, January 11th. Teachers shared information about the structure of Monday morning with their students.

Take care,
Betty Weir          Louis Kotvis
Principal             Assistant Principal


District News
January 2021 Schedule 
The post-winter break schedule is as follows:
  • Monday, January 11 - AM Remote Learning (AM/PM pods will merge), PM Teacher In-Service (non-student attendance)
  • Tuesday, January 12 - Friday, January 15 - Remote Learning
  • Monday, January 18 - NO SCHOOL (MLK Day)
  • Tuesday, January 19 -  Typical school schedule resumes

To access the detailed information previously shared by the Department of Innovation, Teaching and Learning and Department of Student Services to prepare for remote learning, please click here. 

Winter MAP Testing
We are approaching our second testing window for the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test, which will take place between January 25 - February 5, 2021.  Your child's school or teacher will inform you of his or her specific testing dates.

Similar to the fall, all students in Grades 3 - 8 will take one Reading test and one Math test.   MAP is a computer-adaptive test, which means every student receives a unique set of test questions based on responses to previous questions.  This provides a personalized assessment experience by adapting to each student's learning level.  The purpose of the second testing session is to provide teachers with midyear progress data that will help inform their instruction as they move forward into the school year. Winter student reports are not sent home. Student Reports are sent home at the end of the school year with fall to spring growth measures.  Additional information on the MAP assessment may be found on our district website at  www.winnetka36.org/itl/assessments. 

Guidance for Talking with Children
The shocking events at the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon may have sparked questions from your children at home.  Here is an article to help you navigate these questions and conversations in an age-appropriate manner:  How to Talk to Your Kids about the Chaos at the Capitol. 

An Update on Quarantine Guidance for Close Contacts/Travel  

The Cook County Department of Public Health and Illinois Department of Public Health have released updated guidance in response to the recent Centers for Disease Control guidance revision.  For close contacts and travel, the 14-day quarantine is still highly recommended; however, the state and local health departments have advised the District that it is acceptable to follow the alternate quarantine timelines due to our effective mitigation efforts:
  • FOR CHILDREN & STAFF: 10-day quarantine (can return to school on 11th day) with no test and an absence of all symptoms during any day of the daily monitoring period. 
  • FOR ADULTS (staff) ONLY:  7-day quarantine (allowing for a return to work/school on the 8th day) with a negative test taken AFTER the 5th day of exposure with an absence of all symptoms during any day of the daily monitoring period. This option is ONLY available to adult staff members and the Illinois Department of Public Health is ONLY recommending molecular (RT-PCR or NAAT) tests for release from quarantine.
The 10-day quarantine option will be an option for students and staff.  The 7-day quarantine + test option is ONLY available to staff per IDPH guidance.  PLEASE NOTE, THE GUIDANCE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME.
https://stanford.zoom.us/j/95024667819?pwd=bXhvMHIrNDhITlMzVlFDSWh6TXBoUT09

From District Partner The Alliance for Early Childhood
  • Pandemic Parenting: Tools and Tips, February 18,  7-7:45pm Register Here 
  • Let's Play! Winter Woods Exploration, Crow Island Woods, February 20, 10am-4pm
From District Partner Family Action Network 

Family Action Network (FAN) hosts a series of parent sessions with renowned authors, educators, and experts. Upcoming events include:

MELISSA KORN AND JENNIFER LEVITZ
"Unacceptable: Privilege, Deceit, and the Making of the College Admissions Scandal"
Interviewer: Ashby Jones, Deputy Chief of U.S. News, The Wall Street Journal
Tuesday, January 12, 2021, 7:00 PM

CHRISTIE TATE
"Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life"
Interviewer: Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune
Thursday, January 14, 2021, 7:00 PM
REGISTER HERE

ANDREA DAVIS PINKNEY AND BRIAN PINKNEY
"The Marriage of Words and Pictures"
Tuesday, January 19, 2021, 7:00 PM
REGISTER HERE

ANGIE THOMAS
"Concrete Rose: A Conversation with Angie Thomas"
With special guest Dion Graham, actor and narrator of the audio version of Concrete Rose.
Interviewer: Marcus Campbell, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent/Principal, Evanston Township High School
Thursday, January 21, 2021, 7:00 PM
REGISTER HERE

RON LIEBER
"The Price You Pay for College"
Interviewer: Lauren Rivera, Ph.D., Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Tuesday, January 26, 2021, 7:00 PM
REGISTER HERE
 
GLENN ADAMSON
"Craft: An American History"
Interviewer: Norman Teague, Founder, Norman Teague Design Studio
Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 7:00 PM
REGISTER HERE


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




Kindergarten & New Student Registration
 
Registration for Kindergarten and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2021-2022 is now open and can be accessed from the  District website. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2021, are eligible to enroll. 
 
The New Student Registration includes the following:
  1. Complete the following new student registration forms online.
  2. Provide proof of residency. Click here to view the list of documents that will meet these requirements. For your convenience residency documents may be uploaded during online registration.
  3. Provide the original or certified copy of your child(ren)'s birth certificate and a parent photo ID. Scanned copies or snapshots of these documents may be uploaded during online registration or can be submitted in-person at the District Office by appointment. Please contact the District Registrar at (847) 446-9400 or via email carolinhuh@winnetka36.org for more information. 
  4. Next spring you will receive an email from the District with a link to your child's registration. You will be asked to review the information provided in the past, answer additional questions, pay student fees, and sign up for transportation and before/after-school care at that time. Registration information will be sent to the student's primary email and home address.
Please note: children will not be considered enrolled until both the online registration and all supporting documents (steps 1-3) have been completed.  We look forward to welcoming you to The Winnetka Public Schools.

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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