Skokie Home Scoop: January 19, 2021

The Skokie School Home Scoop

Dear Skokie Community,

We cannot wait to welcome our hybrid students back to in-person learning this week. During our two weeks of remote learning for all, I know students and teachers alike have enjoyed being able to see each other's full, unmasked faces.

During our two week of full remote, teachers engaged students in one-on-one social-emotional well-being check ins. The goal of these check-ins was to have individualized time during which teachers could simply ask students how they are doing, what is on their minds, and how we can support them. These check-ins provided our educators with information about your child that will continue to allow us to hone the way in which we support their learning and growth.

Take a moment to learn more about several upcoming events at Skokie:

Skokie Spirit Day: This Friday!: Be true to your school! Skokie Spirit Day will be celebrated on Friday, January 22nd. Your 5th or 6th grader can show their Lion pride by wearing their Skokie spirit wear or the school colors of green and white.
MAP Testing: All students will engage in MAP testing next Tuesday and Thursday, January 26th and 28th. The MAP assessment provides us with one data point to support our understanding of your child's learning and growth. The best thing you can do to help your children prepare is to support them in getting a good night's sleep and eating a substantial breakfast/lunch.
Winter Conferences: Our winter parent-teacher conference period is approaching. Your child's advisor will be reaching out with a conference sign-up soon. Conferences will occur the week of February 8th.

We look forward to a great week together! Take care,

Betty Weir Louis Kotvis

Principal Assistant Principal

District News

Trimester 3 Commitment Form: Remote or In-Person

The District is now planning for Trimester 3 (February 22-June 7, 2021). A critical component in our planning is knowing how many grade-level students to accommodate for in our in-person hybrid or full remote model. The District remains committed to offering families a choice between the two models, but please note that you are committing to this choice for the duration of the Trimester. We are unable to accommodate changes mid-trimester to ensure our educational programming, staffing, and quarantine protocols can be upheld as designed.

In order to afford the District adequate time to staff and plan for Trimester 3, we kindly request that you complete this form for each child in your family. Responses due Friday, January 22.

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.

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.

Upcoming Parent Education Events

NAVIGATING SCHOOL DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES

Presented in partnership with Stanford University's Challenge Success

Thursday, January 21 at 7 p.m.

How can parents best support the personal and academic needs of their children while also attending to their own professional and familial needs? In this presentation, caregivers will learn how they can establish a healthier home environment for their school-aged child, reduce academic stress without sacrificing achievement, and increase their child's resilience, creativity, and well-being.

https://stanford.zoom.us/j/95024667819?pwd=bXhvMHIrNDhITlMzVlFDSWh6TXBoUT09

From District Partner The Alliance for Early Childhood

PANDEMIC PARENTING: TOOLS AND TIPS

Stop Yelling! Holding Boundaries at Home to Stay Balanced

February 18, 7-7:45pm

Sibling squabbles, temper tantrums, refusal and resistance wear away your precious last nerve. You snap, you yell, and then you feel terrible. The pandemic has amplified this experience for so many parents. No parent wants to yell at their child and yet, no human has endless patience. So how do you live with your children without yelling or giving up completely? How do you find the balance while getting your children to cooperate? Come learn how to set boundaries without yelling and keep the peace without losing your peace. Rediscover the loving parent you are through new self-awareness and tools to support your family. Program facilitated by Molly Pope, Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, Parent Coach, and Speaker and Trainer.

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:

ANDREA DAVIS PINKNEY AND BRIAN PINKNEY

"The Marriage of Words and Pictures"

Tuesday, January 19, 2021, 7:00 PM

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

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

GLENN ADAMSON

"Craft: An American History"

Interviewer: Norman Teague, Founder, Norman Teague Design Studio

Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 7:00 PM

See further details and FANs complete schedule here.

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

Pandemic Parenting with Molly Pope

Confident Parents, Confident Kid with Jennifer Miller

Executive Functioning Strategies To Help Support Your Child During Remote Learning

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:

Complete the following new student registration forms online.
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.
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.
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.