It may have felt like January outside this past weekend, but we know that spring is near. As we head into spring break, we hope everyone is able to enjoy the time away and come back in April refreshed and ready to tackle the final months of the school year.

Trimester 2 report cards will be available at the end of the day on Friday, March 24th. Families can access report cards in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. We will notify you when they are available to view. You can see step-by-step directions for how to access report cards using this link. If you have any questions, please reach out to parentportal@winnetka36.org.

If you would like to see the video or slide deck from New Trier Freshman Campus Principal Paul Waechtler’s presentation on 3/7 please Click Here.

Take Care and Be Well,

Andrew Fenton & Ben Horwitz

Washburne Principal & Assistant Principal

In the coming weeks, building social workers will implement state-mandated sexual abuse prevention education during one 20-30 minute session in each classroom. Parents have the option to opt their children out of the program as they deem appropriate, and must do so by March 21st.

For more detailed information about Erin’s Law and curriculum content, or to find the opt-out form, please refer to the Erin’s Law page of the District Website or contact our Washburne social workers; Barb Caines, Naira Ejupovic, and Ellie Hotchkiss.

All 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are welcome to join us to train and compete in the various track and field events. Students can choose to run sprints, distance races, and/or different field events. Practices are Tuesdays through Fridays from 3:30-4:30. Attendance is not required all four days of the week. We will have a meet against other schools once a week. The first day of practice is set for Tuesday, April 4. We will plan to meet in the back field between Washburne and Skokie.

Registration is open, please click here to register.

If you have questions, please reach out to Andy Becker at andybecker@winnetka36.org.

Washburne has again partnered with 1st Day School Supplies so that families have the option of ordering a school supply kit for the next school year. The supplies included the kit have been chosen by Washburne teachers and administration for each grade and should provide your student with everything they need for the upcoming year. The final deadline for ordering school supplies through 1st Day is July 1st. Supply kits will be sent to your home and teachers will let students when to bring supplies into school at the start of the new school year. Please click here to order your school supplies through 1st Day.

Families are also welcome to purchase school supplies on their own, and can use the 2023-24 school supply list that will be posted on the Washburne Website in April.

All Skokie 6th grade families are invited to join Dr. Fenton and Mr. Horwitz in the Washbune Little Theater on Wednesday, April 19th at 6:30pm to learn more about Carleton Washburne School and the transition to 7th grade. Parents will have the opportunity to hear about the structures and school experience for Washburne students and ask questions about the school.

Parents can see the monthly menus in our cafeteria by clicking HERE. Please feel free to use this menu to plan out your child’s meals.

Welcome to Window to Washburne! Each week, we will be highlighting some of the learning taking place in our classrooms.

Sludge is back for another year in our 8th grade science classes. Each year, our 8th graders investigate an unknown mixture of substances to determine what specific substance are inside their test tubes. Working in groups for two weeks, students conduct experiments to determine the boiling point, precipitates, or other characteristics of their “sludge” and use a process of elimination to narrow down the field. In this unit, students take much of the information that they have learned about chemistry throughout the year to identify these unknown mixtures.

Kudos to Mr. Cooper and all of our science teachers for continuing this fun unit of investigation.

In this section we will be shining the spotlight on our Related Studies program and all the wonderful opportunities available to our Washburne students.

Symphonic Band has been engaged in multiple learning and performance activities this winter. For the Illinois Grade School Solo & Ensemble contest, individual band members performed solos or worked collaboratively on duets. A number of Washburne students earned Division I scores for their performances, with one perfect score and a follow up from the judge complimenting their performance.

The full band participated in the annual Music In Our Schools Month combined Glencoe District #35 and Winnetka District #36 concert on March 16th. Central and Washburne directors and students performed four selections, and welcomed a guest conductor. Guest conductor Eric Bachmann led two pieces. Mr. Bachmann taught here from 1990 - 1996. Retiring this year, he welcomed the opportunity to come back to Washburne and reflect on the changes in the program.

Future opportunities to hear us include Jazz Night, coming April 13th, and our Spring Concert, coming May 4th. The Washburne Jazz Ensemble performs with the 5th grade Cadet Band on May 11th. The WJE is alo preparing for the Spring Tour, performing at each District elementary school. We hope to see you at these concerts!

For anyone visiting our school buildings during school hours, we will now be requiring a driver’s license or state ID to be left at the front desk until your guest lanyard is returned. This decision was made in accordance with other safety procedures we are enhancing for the security of our students and staff.

Winnetka Voices is a podcast hosted by The Winnetka Public Schools, featuring candid conversations on issues relevant to education and shared resources to support our students and families.

NEW! Episode #5

Progressive Education: 100+ Years Strong in Winnetka

Dr. Kelly Tess speaks to School Board President Emily Rose, Crow Island Kindergarten teacher Melissa Brody (both of whom are alumni of The Winnetka Public Schools) and Tom Flemma, Head of School at North Shore Country Day, a private school in Winnetka with a unique shared history in progressive education. Throughout the episode, learn about the unique legacy of Progressive Education in Winnetka, and how our public and private institutions uphold our commitment to experiential learning. “I hope we continue to push ourselves to be a lighthouse of a District….the future is bright,” says Ms. Rose.

Listen here:

Apple Podcast

Amazon

Spotify

Google

The District Literacy Leadership Committee has initiated the curriculum review process. The first meetings have focused on reconnecting with Understanding by Design, the research-based curriculum framework used across the district, examining research on best practice in literacy, and reflecting on current practice. The outcome of the work projected for this spring is to select materials and/or practices to pilot this fall. Learn a bit more about what the committee is studying by reading the article Looking to Research for Literary Success, which outlines 10 ways to support knowledge building which is a component of reading comprehension.

District 36 administrators and teachers are using the PBL Gold Standard Design Elements to help guide the work of embedding project-based learning (PBL) as an instructional approach at the middle school level. This framework helps by providing a framework for teachers to plan and refine deep and meaningful learning experiences through which to guide their students. At the February Institute Day, teachers shared out with their colleagues a PBL they completed with their students, what they themselves learned from the experience, and what adjustments they might make in the future. Valuable discussions about planning with the design elements in mind, instructional strategies that were used, and how to transfer their learning to new projects followed. The collective efforts of teachers learning and growing together is essential to the success of this work and directly impacts students as we refine our practices.

The District is offering an array of upcoming educational sessions for families and community members. Click here for session dates and more information.

UP NEXT:

March 2023

D36 K-8 Math Programming: An Overview

(Dr. Becky Mathison, Director of ITL and District Math Teachers)

March 21, 2023

Location: Washburne RC

Time: 10:00-11:00 AM

During this session Dr. Becky Mathison, Director of Innovation, Teaching and Learning, alongside a team of math educators from the District will provide an overview of D36 math programming K-8 including an upper grade course map, explain how the approach aligns to progressive education and the portrait of a graduate, and ways to support your student at home. This session will feature a panel of D36 math educators.

Interested: RSVP here

APRIL 2023:

Differentiation: What is it? What does it look like in D36?

Dr. Becky Mathison (Director of Innovation, Teaching and Learning)

April 19, 2023

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: SK Community Room
During this session Dr. Becky Mathison, Director of Innovation, Teaching and Learning, alongside a team of educators from the District will provide an overview of what differentiation is, how it is implemented in D36 classrooms, explain how the approach aligns to progressive education and the portrait of a graduate, and ways to support your student at home. This session will feature a panel of D36 educators.

Interested: RSVP here

The Accelerated Placement Act requires Illinois public school districts to adopt and implement policies on acceleration that provide opportunities for single subject and grade level acceleration. To learn more about District 36’s acceleration policy implementation visit the following links: acceleration infographic and updated webpage which includes a link to the application form. The request window is now open and closes on Friday, March 31.

Winnetka 36 is always looking for great candidates when there are openings and we appreciate referrals encouraging them to apply.

Here’s a link to our current openings: https://www.applitrack.com/winnetka36/onlineapp/default.aspx

We also get questions about the necessary steps on how to become a substitute teacher and thought we would share how to do that on the bottom of the document: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/how-become-sub-teacher.pdf

Adventures in Learning 2023 runs from June 14th-July 19th, 2023.

No camp on June 19th or July 4th.

A decades-long tradition, this summer program includes classes as varied as Athlete's Club, Razzle Dazzle Science Magic, Recyclable Art,Basket Weaving, Camping Adventures, Make Your Own Music Video, Adventures in STEAM, Archery, Computer Animation, Greek Mythology Drama, Coding, Yoga for Kids, AIL Action News (New for 2023), Animal Care,and Spa-Liscious to name a few!

Students in grades 2-8 may choose up to four classes from over 60 options. Younger children (pre-Kindergarten through grade 1) will explore our progressive educational concepts through guided play and outdoor activities.

This year's program will again be held at Washburne for the 2nd-8th graders and Crow Island for the Pre-K (4 years old by June 1st, 2023)and K Primary program (5 years old by September 1st, 2023).

2023 Fees

General (base cost*) and Primary Program

$675 Winnetka residents

$725 Non-residents

*Some General Program classes have an additional supply fee (will be noted in the catalog).

Registration is now open for Winnetka residents.

www.winnetka36.org/adventures

This spring, a traffic study will be conducted on and around Crow Island Elementary School’s campus in order to determine the most efficient traffic flow when both stormwater abatement and construction related to the referendum commence in spring 2024. The traffic study will utilize pole cameras set up at these Crow Island-area locations (between Glendale and Locust; and Mt. Pleasant and Cherry Streets) during March 2023. Further information on recommended traffic pattern changes, possible road closures and other relevant information will be shared with residents prior to the launch of these projects.

For upcoming events, access FAN’s website here.

Please follow the District via the following social media platforms in order to see day-to-day happenings and more.

Facebook and Twitter: @Winnetka36

Instagram: @WinnetkaPublicSchools

Registration for the 2023-2024 school year is now open for all students (returning and pre-registered). Email notification was sent to the primary contact on record with the District March 17, 2023. Additionally, families will receive notification via regular mail. Contained within the notification is a unique “snapcode” that parents will need to login. Please contact District Registrar, Margie Karabas via email (Margiekarabas@winnetka36.org) or phone 847-446-9400, with any questions. Additional information and login to the portal can be found on the District Website - Parent Registration

Tuesday, March 21st: Board of Education Meeting @ 7:15pm

Friday, March 24th: Trimester 2 Report Cards Available

Monday, March 27th - Friday, March 31st: No School - Spring Break