The Skokie Home Scoop
February 14, 2022
Dear Skokie Community,
Happy Valentine’s Day! On Friday, all of our classes had a chance to celebrate this holiday with a “Spread the Love” themed celebration. Thank you to the parents and teachers who helped to plan and make these events special for the students. During the celebrations, the students had an opportunity to participate in a variety of service projects as well as exchange valentines with each other.
As we enter into this week of parent/teacher conferences, we look forward to connecting with you and sharing information about your child’s progress. We wanted to share several reminders related to conferences:
In 6th Grade, students attend conferences along with their parents. In 5th grade, conferences are parents only.
As we will be toggling between in person and Zoom conferences this year, we appreciate your patience and understanding with balancing these two formats.
For parents attending conferences in person, please note that masks are still required for all visitors inside our school buildings.
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day and spreading the love, we enter this week with the intention of honoring each individual child and bringing our school community together. We are looking forward to a great week!
Take care,
Betty Weir and Larry Joynt
Skokie Principal and Assistant Principal
Skokie Students Snowshoeing in KW!
Save the Date: PTO Parent Coffee
Exploring Skokie: Technology
Students on the Walker/Krupinski Team will be creating digital timelines that details the life of different Ancient Greek historical figures.
Students created physical models of ancient civilizations. Featured below is a 3D print of an Egyptian pyramid!
In 6th grade science, students will be studying climate and creating a “Travel Weather Report” which they will video using a “green screen” background. The “Travel Weather Report” will highlight the temperature and precipitation of a particular city.
Utilizing the Engineer Design Process, students are designing a “Futuristic Winnetka Business Building” by incorporating eco-friendly resources into the building’s structure. They are also investigating and researching how to operate the business using energy efficient methods. Next week, students will begin to plan their scale model by constructing 3D paper figures, and using 3D printing software.
Art Club
Registration for Art Club will open on Tuesday, February 22nd at 9am. There will be a Tuesday and Wednesday offering, both after school from 3:30-4:30pm. After school art club is an art based social club. We use traditional media to explore both student and instructor directed art projects.
PLEASE NOTE: Your child may have already participated in this club this year. We would like to offer it again to students who have not previously been able to be a part of it. We kindly ask you, if you had participated in it once, please allow other students to sign up first. If there are still openings on Friday, February 25, we invite you to sign up at this time.
Orchestra News
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
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.
The Preventing The Summer Slide Reading Program provided opportunities to incentivize reluctant readers to maintain their reading stamina and raise their level of thinking over the summer months. This program has provided a fun and motivational reading experience for the past four summers!
Skokie's new heat press allows students to design and create their own logos for a variety of applications including T-shirts caps, hats, ceramic plates, ceramic tiles, mugs, coasters, mouse pads, jigsaw puzzles, lettering and more! This piece of equipment further expands our capability to provide opportunities for students to engage in S.T.E.A.M. and inquiry learning experiences.
The Oculus Quest headset is an all in one virtual reality system. This technology allows students to have an immersive experience that is not otherwise possible due to physical limitations. Recently a 5th grade team read the book, The Lion of Mars, by Jennifer L. Holm, which is about what it would be like to grow up living on Mars. Utilizing the virtual reality tools of the Oculus, students were then able to view and explore the landscape and atmosphere on Mars!
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!
Upcoming Dates
- Thursday, Feb. 17 and Friday, Feb 18th: Conference Days, no student attendance
- Monday, Feb. 21: No School - Presidents’ Day
District News
February 2022 Conferences (Grades 1 - 8)
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.
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):
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)