Carleton Washburne
Monday Memo - February 14, 2022
Washburne Families,
Happy Valentine’s Day! We are looking forward to meeting with our families later this week as we host our annual winter conferences this Thursday and Friday. The window to schedule conferences will remain open until February 15th. All families should have received a specific email with login information to make appointments for your child. If you have not received this information or need any assistance, please reach out to Mr. Horwitz (benhorwitz@winnetka36.org).
As a reminder, families have the option to schedule in-person or virtual conferences. If you are attending in person, please remember that all visitors to our building are required to wear a mask.
We ask that if families would like a Winter Conference but are not able to attend in person, they utilize the Zoom option. It becomes unwieldy for our staff to accommodate conferences outside of our conference days, taking time away from other instructional obligations.
Washburne student spirit was evident last week as our students participated in spirit week by taking on a different challenge each day. A new personal favorite was “anything but a backpack” day. Check out the pictures below for a sampling of the week.
Take Care and Be Well,
Andrew Fenton and Ben Horwitz
Washburne Principal / Assistant Principal
WPSF Phone-A-Thon Annual Fundraiser
Winnetka Public Schools Foundation (WPSF) is a non-profit organization that raises funds to enable Winnetka's public schools to go above and beyond what is possible with tax dollars alone. Your donation to WPSF funds grants to teachers, bringing new and innovative ideas into our classrooms every year, touching each of our five schools. Some of the recent Washburne grants are highlighted in the images below.
Beginning Sunday, February 27th, WPSF board members will personally reach out to community members by phone, text and email to ask if you’re able to donate this year. Every donation can make a difference and if you donate online by February 26th, you will "beat the call!” With your support, WPSF can continue to provide our teachers with resources to bring creativity to the curriculum, enhancing the learning experience for all Winnetka students.
Let’s be a "Catalyst for Innovation" together!
Donate now at: wpsf.org/donate
IGSMA Results
On Saturday, February 5 2022, Skokie/Washburne Orchestra students as well as a vocal ensemble from the Washburne Chorus participated in the IGSMA (Illinois Grade School Music Association) Solo and Ensemble Contest at St. Peter Lutheran School in Arlington Heights. We were all so excited to be back in person for this important event!!
Students are graded on a point system ranging from 7 (a perfect score and a Div. 1+ rating) to 28, (a Div. III rating) Performances were either as soloists or small ensembles.
We had a number of students participate from the Skokie and Washburne Orchestras, The Washburne Chorus, as well as a member of the Washburne Symphonic Band.
3 duets and a vocal ensemble received Div. 1 Superior Rating
3 solos received Div. 1+ Perfect Scores
16 solos received Div 1 Superior Rating
Congratulations to all of the D36 musicians for their outstanding efforts and participation! You have represented yourselves and the district well!! Congrats again!
We are proud of all of you!
Mr. Chester, Mrs. Nussbaum, Ms. Scott and Mr. Vowles
Window to Washburne
7th graders across the building have been studying the Constitution this trimester. Some of their studies have focused on understanding the different branches and responsibilities of the government, and other parts have looked at the real-world implications of this living document. For example, students have studied famous Supreme Court cases such as Tinker v. Des Moines to understand the rights that they have within school. Students have also examined hypothetical scenarios to learn more about how the Constitution has been interpreted over the years. Throughout this unit, students are embodying our Portrait of a Graduate in several ways, particularly by being global citizens.
Kudos to our social studies department and 7th grade students for promoting active civic knowledge and participation.
What's Happening in Related Studies
We are wrapping up end of trimester projects in the Visual Arts Department. Studio Art 7 students have been working on creating mobiles and just finished weavings. Art & Design students just finished up a Costume Design project where they were challenged to design a costume around a theme or object. Sculpture students just finished learning how to bubble glaze onto plates and now they are learning how to attach clay by making mugs. And finally, the Yearbook class is almost finished! They are working on their final pages - the entire book will be submitted to the yearbook company at the end of the trimester.
2021-22 Washburne Yearbooks
The student designed Washburne 2021-22 Yearbooks are now available for purchase.
Order your Washburne Yearbooks via the district web store by clicking this link.
Yearbooks will be delivered to students the final week of school.
Please reach out to Amy Gabbert amygabbert@winnetka36.org with any questions.
District News
February 2022 Conferences
February 2022 conference sessions will be offered to parents only on the two designated conference days: Thursday, February 17 & Friday, February 18. Parents may choose to be in-person or participate via Zoom but conferences are limited to these days only. Centralizing the conferences on these two days are intended to support families who need to schedule conferences for multiple children as well as ease the burden on staff. Kindergarten conferences will be offered on February 18 and 24 or 25. Please note if parents are attending conferences in person, masks are required.
Important: 2022-2023 Registration Reminder for the 2022-2023 School Year
Registration for incoming kindergarteners and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2022-2023 is now open on the District website and via https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=30658&culture=en. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2022, are eligible to enroll. Completing the registration process in a timely manner ensures the District has the most accurate information in order to support staffing and logistics for the upcoming school year.
The new student registration process is completed in three steps:
Complete new student pre-registration forms online beginning November 18, 2021.
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.
Provide proof of residency and paper registration forms. Click here to view the list of documents that will meet these requirements. For your convenience, all required documents may be uploaded during online registration.
Children will not be considered enrolled until both the online and paper portion of registration has been completed and residency documentation is verified. If you have any questions, please contact the District Office at 847-446-9400.
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) Clarification
Following the January 25 School Board Meeting, questions have emerged regarding whether the receipt of grant funding under the American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund is contingent upon requiring mask wearing in our schools.
The ESSER grant has three cycles. The District applied for and received ESSER 1 and 2 funding. The implementation of a universal masking requirement was not a prerequisite to receiving these funds.
The ESSER 3 grant is yet to be submitted by the District. An official from Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) confirmed that the ESSER 3 funds require confirmation of assurances prior to submission of the grant, none of which refer to universal masking.
Downsized Capital Improvement Proposal Overview
The Winnetka Public Schools went to referendum in April 2019 for capital expenditure, which likely failed due to the scope and total cost of the request. Since that date, the District has taken several steps to determine a new path forward and is considering a return to the ballot box in November 2022 with a downsized capital improvement proposal. As you are a former Board member, District administration and current Board Members would welcome an opportunity to learn more about the proposal, which more effectively balances the needs of Winnetka’s students and schools with what taxpayers want. Important improvements have been made to the 2019 request, including:
Reducing the size of the proposal
Decreasing the estimated annual tax impact
Keeping The Skokie School open
Eliminating $36 million from Carleton Washburne’s facility plan
In order to ensure you are in the loop early on in this process, you are cordially invited to attend the following community engagement session:
Thursday, Feb 24, 2022 at 9:15 a.m. (ZOOM)
https://winnetka36.zoom.us/j/88244255120?pwd=VlpCajJjMVl3SXpLSG9kSmFmSEUwQT09
Passcode: 303758
Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 7 p.m. at Hubbard Woods School
Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. (ZOOM)
https://winnetka36.zoom.us/j/86759744779?pwd=NFBLLzY1aGkwenFUZFFKalJTSmRlQT09
Passcode: 667048
Winnetka residents, please check your mailbox in this week for a letter regarding the Downsized Capital Improvement Plan. In March, a survey will also be delivered to every home in Winnetka. We welcome your insight and involvement in this process.
Erin’s Law Information for Families
Winnetka Parents Institute
In Partnership with The Alliance for Early Childhood: Community Screening of Chasing Childhood, February 24- March 3
Virtual Screening- Attendees will receive a link to the film via email
The post-film discussion will be held on March 3rd over Zoom.
Chasing Childhood is a feature length documentary that explores a phenomenon affecting kids from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds. Free play and independence have all but disappeared, supplanted by relentless perfectionism and record high anxiety and depression. What’s lost goes well beyond our idyllic conceptions of childhood past. When kids don’t play unsupervised by adults, they don’t gain critical life skills: grit, independence, and resourcefulness. Though they may appear more accomplished on paper, by the time they get to college they are often falling apart, lacking the emotional tools to navigate young adulthood.
The film explores how we got here and how we might empower our kids. Potential solutions are offered by the leaders of this movement, including former Stanford Dean and author of How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims, Biological Psychologist Peter Gray and others. Learn more about the documentary at: https://www.chasingchildhooddoc.com
Parent Education Sessions from District Partner Family Action Network (FAN):
For upcoming events, access FAN’s website here.
Virtual Trolley Tour on the Winnetka History Express!
February 17th 7-8:15 pm
Join Winnetka Historical Society on a virtual trolley adventure that will take you through time and space, from the Native American settlement at Indian Hill Club, through Winnetka’s historic business district, to the scenic Skokie Lagoons, and lastly to sites along Sheridan Road. Play trivia to try and win a set of Winnetka notecards or a Winnetka coloring book!
Register through the link below ($10)
http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=frubp7abb&oeidk=a07eizvhoof2aaa0395
Sponsored by North Shore Community Bank and Trust (Winnetka)
Upcoming Dates
Thursday, February 17: Winter Parent/Teacher Conferences - No School
Friday, February 18: Winter Parent/Teacher Conferences - No School
Monday, February 21: President's Day Holiday - No School
Tuesday, February 22: Board of Education Meeting @ 7:15pm