The Skokie Home Scoop
April 18, 2022
Dear Skokie Community,
This week, we have a Skokie-Washburne Cross Campus Earth Day event planned for Friday afternoon. During the event, 5th and 8th grade students will work together with buddy advisories and travel to various sites around Winnetka to engage in a nature scavenger hunt and learn about local ecosystems. Our 6th and 7th graders will engage in a variety of activities focused on clean air, deforestation, and environmental activism. They will then have an opportunity to hear from a keynote speaker regarding ways in which they can make a difference for our earth.
Fifth Grade families: you will be receiving an email from us later today with information regarding the site your child will travel to on Friday. There is a permission slip we are asking you to sign, as this involves taking a bus and traveling off campus. Please keep your eyes open for this email and get the permission slip back to us by Thursday.
Friday is also the day our 6th Graders visit Washburne for Shadow Day and learn about the various related studies opportunities they will have as 7th graders. Students will spend the morning at Washburne and will have the opportunity to eat lunch and have recess there during their visit. This event is not only meant to help them learn about the programming, but also to begin familiarizing them with the building. This year, they will have the added bonus of spending some time with the 7th graders during Earth Day in the afternoon.
We are looking forward to a great week!
Betty Weir and Larry Joynt
Skokie Principal and Assistant Principal
Washburne Information for Current 6th Grade Families
On Tuesday, April 19th at 6:00 PM, Dr. Fenton and Mr. Horwitz will hold an in-person event for incoming 7th grade families to share information about Washburne and the transition to our building. They will provide an overview of how Washburne works and discuss important information for parents to know.This event is intended for parents.
On Friday, April 22nd, 6th grade students will visit Washburne for shadow day where they will learn about Washburne (schedules, teams, lunch, etc.) as well as having an opportunity to hear from a number of Washburne staff about elective class options.
Washburne staff are excited to welcome the class of 2024!
Placement Input for Current 5th Graders for 6th Grade
The thoughtful placement of students in learning communities is a process we invest a great deal of time into. In order to form cohesive learning environments, we rely on feedback from parents and 5th/6th grade teachers. As we create classroom placement, our goal is to balance the needs of individuals and groups of learners. Additionally, we consider the academic and social-emotional profile of the students.
If you would like to provide us with information to consider regarding your child's placement, please complete one of the forms listed below. Your input will be reviewed and considered by Skokie/Washburne administrators as they work on class placement. While we are unable to accommodate specific teacher requests, we value your input and are interested in hearing about a learning environment that is a best fit for your child.
Current 5th Grader Parent Reflection Form (information will go to Betty Weir and Larry Joynt)
Current 6th Grader Parent Reflection Form (information will go to Andrew Fenton and Benjamin Horwitz)
"The Upstanders" Viewing for Parents
We are offering a free viewing of the documentary The Upstanders to all 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade parents. The Upstanders explores all sides of cyber-bullying, from bully to victim, bystanders and family members. Covid has increased the incidence of cyberbullying by 70%. Changing human behavior and connection is the key, and this is what the film addresses.
Weaving together personal stories of teenagers and their families, as well as teachers and brain-scientists, The Upstanders shows the importance of empathy and resilience to transforming attitudes and action, and highlights new laws and established programs that are already reducing bullying in schools and communities.
The viewing window is April 21 @ 8am CDT through April 28 @ 11:45pm CDT using this link. For the best possible viewing experience, we recommend viewing on Firefox or Google Chrome.
All viewers will need to enter their email address and create a password to access the film. iNDIEFLIX respects privacy and registrants will not receive any unsolicited emails from them that are not related to this screening. All registrants will receive a confirmation email and reminders as your event approaches. They would also like to invite you to take a few moments to complete their post screening survey to provide them valuable information to help them continue to improve their films.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up
Please pay close attention and follow the direction of our crossing guards. We have had several instances recently where cars have gone through intersections with a crossing guard still standing in the street, and sometimes as children are still crossing the street. We appreciate your patience and understanding in the name of safety.
Exploring Skokie: Spanish
Fifth graders have been engaged in reading our class novel Isabela captura un congo for the last few weeks. We have learned about Costa Rica and some of its culture, and acted out fun parts of the story. Students enjoyed playing games to review chapters read, vocabulary, and to check for understanding.
Sixth graders started reading a class novel called Brandon Brown versus Yucatán, and demonstrated a good grasp of the content. We have now covered several chapters, and a favorite game for review is Crocodile Dentist. Students have also started a story about a mysterious piece of paper that had a “black hole” in it, and it was fun to listen to what they would do if they had one of these. We watched a clip that accompanied this story, and will be working on some extension activities as well.
Lions of Leadership Fundraiser Update for Ukraine
The Lions of Leadership have added a dress-up component to their fundraiser! We hope everyone can participate and show their support for the people of Ukraine.
Who: All Skokie Lions
What: Bring in donations to support Ukrainian people
When: The week of April 25th
Monday, April 25th: Wear PJs and bring in Pennies
Tuesday, April 26th: Wear Neon and bring in Nickels
Wednesday, April 27th: Wear Denim and bring in Dimes
Thursday, April 28th: Wear Crazy Outfit and bring in Quarters
Friday, April 29th: Wear Yellow and Blue, and bring in Dollar Bills
Where: Bins in the front foyer near Mrs. Zalinski
Why: To support the people of Ukraine with necessary supplies through Unicef and the Red Cross
Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, April 20: 5th Grade Orientation at Skokie
Friday, April 22: 6th Grade Shadow Day at Washburne in the A.M./Earth Day Event for Skokie/Washburne in the P.M.
District News
Contacting Home from School: Please Help Us Encourage Students in Using School Phones While At School
We are looking for your partnership in ensuring that students are using school phones to contact you if they are not feeling well or need to connect with you for any reason during the school day. If a student needs to call home, the student should let their teacher know and we will arrange a way to communicate. If your child does contact you via their watch or phone during school hours, we ask that you please call the school so we can arrange for your child to talk with you on a school phone. Thank you for your support with this matter.
Adventures in Learning Registration is Now Open
The Winnetka Public Schools is returning to its traditional Adventures in Learning summer program following a two year hiatus. Our General Program is designed for students entering 2nd grade through 8th grade. Our Primary Program provides activities for children Pre-K (4 years old by June 1st, 2022) and K-1st grade (5 years old by September 1st, 2021). Registration is open to both residents and non-residents of Winnetka via this link.