February 26, 2021 

Dear Families,

We hope you enjoyed this beautiful day and can enjoy a warmer weekend.  Please take a moment to review the following, important information:

Extended Day Planning - Spring 2021 
At the February 23 School Board meeting, the following plans were reviewed in a presentation.  Please review the highlights below:
  • Carleton Washburne School (grades 7 & 8)
    • Preparation plans are on track for a March 15 implementation of the Extended Day schedule.
    • 97% of the students will be in-person; 3% will be remote.
    • Cross Country and track will be offered to students in Grades 6-8 this Spring.
  • Crow Island, Greeley, Hubbard Woods, & Skokie Schools (grades K-6)
    • Grades 1 - 6: With continued staff access to vaccines AND if health guidance supports social distancing less than 6 feet, AM/PM pods merge for modified full-day of school with a targeted Monday, April 19 start date.
    • Schedules are under development with lunch at home; the School Board requested more information on lunch and potential options.
    • Families will have another opportunity to choose on-site or remote learning once schedules are available mid-March.
    • Kindergarten: Due to a number of factors related to developmental appropriateness, Kindergarten students will maintain their current hybrid schedule this spring.
The School Board will hold a special board meeting to follow-up on extended day plans on Wednesday, March 10 to review:
  • Details of the Modified Full Day schedule for Grades 1-6.
  • Vaccination status and current health guidance specific to merging the am/pm pods in Grades 1-6.
Updated IDPH Guidance 
The Illinois Department of Public Health is in the midst of updating their guidance both on exclusionary criteria for symptomatic cases and for those who are vaccinated.  These updates will be shared in a dedicated message on Monday.

The school year will end one day earlier than previously communicated, with the last half-day of school falling on Friday, June 4 (rather than Monday, June 7 as previously communicated). Please update your personal calendars. An updated 2020-2021 calendar is here . 

Additionally, the Draft 2021-2022 Calendar was presented to the School Board this week prior to adoption at the March 23 Board Meeting. This draft mirrors previous years' calendar models; however, it does include no school the week of Thanksgiving. 

Strategic Planning Underway
After a short hiatus due to the pandemic, we are eager to continue to refine work with a group of stakeholders (including students, educators, and community members) in order to launch the District's next 3-5 year Strategic Plan. In April, we will administer a survey to gather insight from students, staff, parents and community members on Strategic Planning priorities. To view an overview of the process, visit the webpage dedicated to the Strategic Plan.  

Nearby Covid-19 PCR Testing Option
If you are in need of a PCR test, there is a local option offering daily appointments.  Northshore Clinical Labs offers free PCR COVID-19 testing at a mass testing site at Flick Park's Pool Field House (3600 Glenview Road, Glenview, Illinois) for any staff, student, or family member.  Please view this link to register for a test. Should you have any questions or have accessibility needs, please contact Northshore Clinical Labs at (773) 570-6510, or email [email protected]. Note that this is the same organization with which the Township is partnering for post-spring break testing. 

At this point, approximately 70% of our staff have reported that they have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. We are confident that this number will continue to increase. Thank you for remaining engaged after a year of COVID-related planning. We are fortunate to have a community and staff who are committed to meeting the needs of our students in the midst of challenging circumstances. I look forward to continuing to share our progress.

Sincerely,
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.  

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