The Skokie Home Scoop
May 16, 2022
Dear Skokie Community,
The past two weeks have been filled with music at Skokie. The music of our band, orchestra, and chorus has been showcased during their May concerts. The students worked so hard to prepare for these performances and did an amazing job! A special thanks to Ms. Balkin, Mr. Chester, Ms. Nussbaum, and Mr. Vowles for their leadership of these programs.
Additionally, our all school assembly last week featured our new Skokie song, which was written by Skokie students in collaboration with Ms. Balkin, Mr. Joynt, and Ms. Weir over the course of this school year. The students created the song as their gift to Skokie for its 100th birthday. The lyrics of the song are below and you can listen to a recording here. The chorus looks forward to performing this song for years to come!
Verse 1
The teachers care about us
As we’re going to school and when we take the bus
Coming together as one
The school of the green lion
As we use our kindness and we keep on trying
Having lots of fun
Pre-Chorus
Everyone feels welcome here
We enter the building and cheer
We are Skokie, proud and strong
And this is where we all belong
Chorus
S for the school that we all attend
K for the kind way we treat our friends
O optimistic for the times ahead
Lions through and through
K Keeping knowledge throughout the years
I Inspired by our teachers and peers
E Empathetic, proud, and true!
Lion pride, from me to you
Verse 2
Walking in the hallways
We see our teachers and friends as always
Sharing creative times
Problem solve, learn from mistakes
Collaborate and make the world a better place
Celebrating all minds
Pre-Chorus
Everyone feels welcome here
We enter the building and cheer
We are Skokie, proud and strong
And this is where we all belong
Chorus
S for the school that we all attend
K for the kind way we treat our friends
O optimistic for the times ahead
Lions through and through
K Keeping knowledge throughout the years
I Inspired by our teachers and peers
E Empathetic, proud, and true!
Lion pride, from me to you
Chant
S-K-O-K-I-E
We are (6th graders)
Skokie (5th graders)
S-K-O-K-I-E
We are (6th graders)
Skokie (5th graders)
We are (6th graders)
Skokie (5th graders)
We are (6th graders)
Skokie (5th graders)
We are Skokie (all together)
The following students wrote the new Skokie School song:
Sydney Blair (5), Chloe Spencer (5), Emma Denfeld (5), Grace Rich (5), Lily Font (5), Parker Shea (6), Angie Rouse (6), Sophia Sharov (6), Lily Eidelman (6), Tristan Wilde (6), Ethan Wilde (6), Grace Shoup (5)
Take care,
Betty Weir and Larry Joynt
Skokie Principal and Assistant Principal
MAP Testing on Tuesday
An Opportunity to Meet with Incoming Superintendent, Dr. Kelly Tess
Upon arrival, check in at the front reception desk.
The Skokie School Book Fair
The Book Stall is hosting a hybrid book fair this year to help connect the Skokie School community with wonderful books and gifts while raising money! The Skokie School Book Fair runs from Monday, May 23rd through Sunday, May 29th. The Book Stall will donate a portion of all sales marked for The Skokie School Book Fair completed during this shopping window back to the school. Shop for your students; shop for your teachers; shop for your summer vacation reading!
Here is the link to the order page for folks who would like to order online: https://www.thebookstall.com/skokie-school-book-fair
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Todd Burleson.
Lions of Leadership Fundraiser for Ukraine
A Friendly Reminder from our School Nurse
Exploring Skokie: Band and Orchestra
This Spring, the 6th Grade Concert Band shared a concert with the Symphonic Band (7/8), combining on two of the selections. The Washburne Jazz Ensemble shared The Skokie School Auditorium with the 5th Grade Cadet Band, supporting the newest Winnetka musicians in their second live concert. Both the Lion Jazz and Washburne Jazz Ensembles performed a concert together in the Washburne Little Theater for an audience of family and friends.
There are no more 5th Grade Cadet Band performances for this year, but we will use in-school lessons to continue work on Common Musical Figures and preparation for next year’s music. The Washburne Jazz Ensemble will be performing at the Washburne Awards Assembly, while the Concert Band and Lion Jazz will be performing at Skokie Carnival on the 27th.
6th Graders, please check to make sure that you are signed up for Band in your 7th Grade schedule. It does not take up an elective spot, so you can do Band and also pursue two electives. You can also cross-list with Orchestra, and join Chorus; good musicians are versatile!
To all musicians this year, good work. We look forward to hearing you play in next year's ensembles. If you are not currently in one of our ensembles, 6th and 7th Grade is a fine time to get started for the first time. Come and talk to us!
-Mr. Chester and Mr. Vowles
Orchestra
The Elementary orchestra, 5th grade and the Concert orchestra, 6th Grade have now completed two successful concerts in the Skokie School Auditorium. Both performances were wonderful evenings of music and the students played at a high level representing Skokie School at its best! The students were thrilled to be able to return to live in-person performances this school year! We did not realize how much we missed the appreciation from a live concert hall audience!!
Both Orchestras are finishing out the year by sight-reading music for the upcoming school year as well as beginning to look at music for next year's ILMEA Honors Orchestra Festival.
5th Graders currently involved in Orchestra: remember to sign-up for Orchestra as one of your exploratory classes to continue your participation in Orchestra as a 6th Grader. 6th Graders currently involved in Orchestra: remember to sign-up for Orchestra as one of your elective classes to continue your participation in Orchestra as a 7th Grader at Washburne
I will look forward to seeing everyone back in orchestra next year! Have a great summer all!!
Mrs. Nussbaum
KW Uniforms for Next Year's 6th Graders
Next year, our 6th Graders will begin wearing KW uniforms again. We are partnering with an online vendor, and they have several order windows that will be open for you. Parents can order in May or June, and then the uniforms will arrive at school in August. You can order in August, however it means that your child’s uniform will not arrive until late September or early October. We recommend you order in May or June to ensure your child’s uniform arrives by the beginning of the school year. Please use this link to order.
May 1-15
June 1-15
August 1-September 15
**All orders arrive 3 weeks after the ordering window closes.
PLEASE NOTE: KW Uniforms are needed for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders only. Only shorts and shirt are required. Sweatshirt and sweatpants are optional.
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, May 17: MAP Testing in AM
Friday, May 20: 6th Grade Talent Show 2:30-3:30
Monday, May 23: A Coffee with Dr. Kelly Tess for Skokie and Washburne Families, 9:00 a.m.
Friday, May 27: Half Day of Student Attendance in AM/Skokie Carnival 10:30-11:30
District News
Focus Group on May 17 Regarding Search for the Next Assistant Superintendent of The Winnetka Public Schools
The District is in the process of a comprehensive search for the next Assistant Superintendent of The Winnetka Public Schools, led in partnership with esteemed school leadership search firm: Educational Leadership Solutions and Dr. Linda Yonke. To ensure an opportunity to provide input within this process, we would like to extend an invitation to anyone who is interested in attending a focus group. As we conduct focus groups with staff and parents, we are simultaneously engaged in our search timeline with the goal of recommending a candidate at the June School Board meeting.
Tuesday, May 17
7:30pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://winnetka36.zoom.us/j/85401131831
Meeting ID: 854 0113 1831
Passcode: 477622
One tap mobile
312.626.6799
iPad Collection Information
Health Form Reminders for Next School Year
All medical forms required by the State of Illinois are due before the first day of school. You can find additional copies of the forms on the district website here. Please see the information below:
State of Illinois Health Examination:
Kindergarten & Grade 6
Eye Examination:
Kindergarten
Dental Examination:
Kindergarten, Grade 2 & Grade 6
Please use the links to upload your child’s completed forms. Further details in the links. Please select your child’s school and grade for the school year 2022-2023.
Hubbard Woods:
Crow Island:
Greeley:
Skokie:
All Schools (Grades 1-5 and 7-8 for NEW STUDENTS ONLY) use form below:
2022-2023 Online Registration for New and Returning Students is Now Open
Registration information for next year was sent via regular mail and email this week. Look for these materials in your mailbox and inbox. Once you receive this information, you may contact District Registrar, Carolin Huh, at 847-446-9400 or carolinhuh@winnetka36.org, if you have any registration questions, or did not receive notification.
Please register early! Parents are asked to complete registration at their earliest convenience to help inform planning for the 2022-2023 school year.
Bike Safety Initiatives
As we enjoy more spring-like weather, more students will be riding bikes and walking to school. The District and Winnetka Police Department recently sent this letter to our school community on Bike Safety efforts.
In the letter, we shared information on safety pledges for students, safe route maps for each elementary school, and noted we are reintroducing the elementary “Bike Rodeo” event for second grade, hosted collaboratively with Scout Troop 20, Green Bay Cycles, and our school PTOs on the following dates:
Crow Island: Wed, 5/18, 4:00pm (5/19 rain date). The Winnetka Police will be present at this particular event for community engagement and photo opportunities.
At this event, second grade students will learn basic guidance about proper bike and helmet use. If your family is unable to attend the event at your child(ren)’s home school, you are welcome to attend another event.