Crow Island Parent Newsletter
November 17th, 2025
Dear Crow Island Community,
With Thanksgiving on the horizon, I asked a few of our students what they are most thankful for at Crow Island—and their answers (and photos!) are below.Their answers may be short and sweet, but they highlight the everyday experiences that make Crow Island such a special place.
I am incredibly grateful to be part of Crow Island. These past few months have been filled with learning, growth, and the building of strong classroom communities. As we look ahead, I’m excited for the winter celebrations and the many meaningful moments still to come.
Please note that there is no school next week. I hope you’re able to spend time with loved ones and enjoy a restful break. My next newsletter will be shared on December 1st.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.
Sincerely,
Anna
November
- Monday, November 24th- Friday, November 28th | Thanksgiving Break- No School
December
- Wednesday, December 3rd | PTO Book Fair (3:30-8:00 PM)
- Thursday, December 4th | PTO Book Fair (8:00-10:00 AM)
- Thursday, December 18th | Winter Sing
- Friday, December 19th | Sack Supper
- Saturday, December 20th | Winter Break Begins
January
- Monday, January 5th | School Resumes
- Monday, January 19th | MLK Day- No School
- Wednesday, January 21st | Winter MAP Reading Test- 3rd and 4th grade
- Thursday, January 22nd | Winter MAP Math Test- 3rd and 4th grade
- Thursday, January 29th | Pioneer Room Open House (9:30 AM)
- Thursday, January 29th | Math Night (5:30-6:15 PM: 1st and 2nd Grade, 6:30-7:15 PM: 3rd and 4th Grade)
PTO Updates:
Annual Crow Island Food Drive
The annual Crow Island Food Drive benefiting the New Trier Food Pantry starts today, Monday, November 17th through Friday, November 21st. Crow Island has become a major contributor to the New Trier Food Pantry and, now more than ever, supplies are very much needed and appreciated.
The pantry greatly appreciates all contributions, and all items must be shelf stable. Items will be collected during morning drop-off at both the circle and Glendale Avenue drop-off points.
Current needs include:
Canned fruit
Canned tuna, chicken, and salmon
Cooking oil
Salad dressings, condiments, and salsas
Pasta and pasta sauce
Cookies, crackers, and granola bars
Rice and rice mixes
Toothpaste and mouthwash
Ziploc-style bags, cleaning supplies.
NO Mac + Cheese, please!
Questions? Email the Community Outreach Committee: Chrissy Pelleriti or Kristin Ziebarth.
"Feathers of Gratitude" Community Impact Project
All Crow Island families are invited to participate in a fun community impact project called "Feathers of Gratitude.” Students received a paper turkey "feather” last week. Students are encouraged to cut out their feathers, write something (or someone) they are grateful for, and decorate it. Please return the feathers to school by Wednesday, November 19th. Volunteers will put the feathers onto a giant turkey cut-out for all of the kids to see. Print out an extra copy of the feather cut-out here.
Discovery Club Winter Session Offerings
Registration for winter Discovery Club programs opens today, November 17th, and will remain open through Friday, December 5th. The session begins the week of December 8th and will end February 25th.
While some of these programs do fill up quickly, there is a waitlist option that often does allow for enrollment even if a class appears full. Please add yourself to the waitlist! Instructions for doing so can be found on the PTO website.
NOTE: After School Sports with Mr. Sweene and Mr. Wilson are on a different timeline (January 6 through March 11) from Discovery Clubs through Right At School. Registration link to follow.
Winnetka Parents Institute- DECEMBER 2025:
Progressive Tenets in Action: Collaborative Community (Virtual Webinar)
December 10, 2025
9:30 A.M.
Location: Virtual
Join the third in a three-part series that will explore the District’s Progressive Education Tenets. Learn about what a Collaborative Community means and how it comes alive in our classrooms.
Interested:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://winnetka36.zoom.us/j/87477059974?pwd=LaBSpD0VjkfHeEnEFP5RqzzgacBqHy.1
Meeting ID: 874 7705 9974
Passcode: 328845
Following the event a link will be provided to the taped presentation on the website.
NOVEMBER 2025: (Video Link Available)
Progressive Tenets in Action: Experiential and Meaningful Learning:
Please see the following link for the video from this presentation on the Winnetka Parent’s Institute website: https://www.winnetka36.org/parents/winnetka-parents-institute
Classroom Spotlight: Spanish
This week in Spanish, fourth graders made and decorated sugar skulls! This is a tradition many fourth graders have been looking forward to for a long time. We spent some time learning about el Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), looking at examples of sugar skulls, and talking through the process. They take one class to make the skulls out of sugar, meringue powder and water. Skulls dry over the next couple of days, and then they put their decorating skills to work in the next class! Fourth graders did an amazing job this year, and are really proud of their work. Sra. Landor invited me to join the 4th graders for this awesome activity, and it was so much fun! See photos below!
Crow Island 101 Document:
Our Crow Island 101 Guide is a helpful, at-a-glance resource for families. Many parents like to keep a copy in their kitchen for quick reference. You can view it here: Crow 101 Document.
Arrival & Dismissal:
Please take a few minutes to review our Arrival & Dismissal procedures. These routines help ensure a safe and smooth start and end to each school day for all students.
Hot Lunch Program:
Crow Island has a hot lunch program run through a third party collaboration with our PTO called Marla's Lunch. You can register and sign-up here: Marla's Hot Lunch.
Health Forms:
Kindergarten Parents- Please upload your child’s health documents HERE. As a reminder, these forms were due by the first day of school (September 2nd).
2nd Grade Parents- As a reminder, all second grade students are required to provide a copy of their most recent dental exam. Please see the attached link for form and additional information. Please use the following link to upload your child's dental form.
You can find more information about district health policies here.
Spirit Day:
Crow Island Spirit Day will be on FRIDAYS this year! Our first Crow Island Spirit Day will be on Friday, September 5th. Get your Crow Island Spirit wear from our PTO Store here!
Morning Drop-off Reminders
As a reminder, please note the following regarding morning drop-off:
- Supervision begins at 8:20 AM. Students should not arrive at school unsupervised until 8:20 AM.
- Due to the number of students and the varying age levels, students should not bring balls to use in the morning on the playground.
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences Platform Feedback
Thank you to all families for your partnership and engagement during fall conferences—and for your patience as we introduced our new Parents’ Meeting (SchoolCloud) scheduling platform. Your feedback helps us continue improving the experience for future conferences.
Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts using the brief survey below: Parent Feedback Survey
We appreciate your continued collaboration in strengthening the partnership between home and school.
Winter Sing- Cereal/Cracker Boxes Needed! (Reminder)
Calling all cereal/cracker boxes! Our art teacher, Mrs. Johnston, is collecting clean and empty cereal boxes and/or cracker boxes in order to make a little village for our winter sing auditorium decorations.
Our theme this year is Belonging and our vision for the auditorium is to create a little wintery village for the auditorium.
She is in need of a box for each student (roughly 335 total).
A collection box will be in the foyer.
Many thanks!
-Mrs. Johnston
Monthly Observances: National American Indian Heritage Month
Each November, we celebrate Native American Indian Heritage Month by honoring the rich cultures, traditions, and histories of Native Americans. It is a time to recognize their many contributions and to learn more about the diverse heritage that continues to shape our nation.
Contact Us
Email:
annatrilla@winnetka36.org (Principal)
christinedemas-hall@winnetka36.org (Administrative Assistant)
Website: https://crowisland.winnetka36.org/
Location: 1112 Willow Road Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847)-446-0353
Instagram: Winnetka Public Schools