Crow Island Parent Newsletter

Dear Crow Island Community,

I hope you had a wonderful Winter Break and were able to enjoy some time together as a family. It has been so nice welcoming students back and seeing our school filled with energy and excitement again. As we head into 2026, we’re looking forward to a great few months of learning, growth, and connection at Crow Island. Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support. We’re excited for what’s ahead!

Sincerely,
Anna

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
Tuesday, January 27th | *DATE CHANGE!* 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)

February

Friday, February 13th | Valentine's Day Parties by Grade
Thursday, February 26th | No Student Attendance- Parent Conference Day
Friday, February 27th | No Student Attendance- Parent Conference Day

March

Monday, March 16th | Immigration Week
Friday, March 20th | Citizenship Ceremony and Immigration feast
Wednesday, March 25th | 1st and 2nd Grade Spring Sing: 1st Grade @ 5:45 PM, 2nd Grade @ 6:45 PM
Monday, March 30th- Friday, April 3rd | Spring Break

Lighthouse Moment: Winter Sing and Sack Supper

Before Winter Break, students took part in two cherished Crow Island traditions: Winter Sing and Sack Supper. Our students worked incredibly hard in preparation for Winter Sing and did a wonderful job across all three performances. A big thank you to all of our teachers—especially our music teacher, Ms. Crows, and our art teacher, Ms. Johnston—for helping make this year’s Winter Sing such a success. The Crow Island spirit was felt throughout the day, and we loved welcoming so many families and friends to share in the celebration.

Additionally, students had the opportunity to give back during Sack Supper. Crow Island students participated in our annual Sack Supper service project, a long-standing tradition focused on giving back to the community. With the help of our incredible PTO and parent volunteers, students worked together in their classrooms to assemble brown bag meals for those in need. We were proud to see our students demonstrate such kindness, teamwork, and care for others.

*Space is still available for after school sports with Mr. Sweene and Mr. Wilson*

After School Sports (3rd/4th Grade)

We are still looking to add a few more students into our 3rd/4th Grade Crow Island After School Sports Club with Mr. Sweene and Mr. Wilson. The program runs from January 6th through March 11th. Register on the District Web Store today!

Winter Benchmark Assessments

Benchmark assessments are valuable tools that provide a snapshot of student progress at a point in time. These assessments help teachers to identify areas where students are excelling and where they may need additional support. They can also inform instructional decisions by providing data that can be used to tailor teaching to meet each student's unique needs and strengths. Benchmark assessments are an important component of progressive education, which recognizes that students learn in different ways and at different rates. By using benchmark assessments to inform instruction, teachers can provide a more individualized approach to learning that supports each student's academic growth and personal development.

This year students in Grades K-8 will participate in academic benchmark assessments of literacy, math and social emotional learning January 15-30. On February 16, results will be emailed home, available in the PowerSchool Parent Portal, as well as online via Otus.com.

District Communication Updates

If you missed it, check out the January 2026 edition of THE 36 MIX here!

The Superintendent’s Executive Report, THE BEACON, is available here.

Winnetka Voices: Season 4, Episode 2:

A Conversation with New Trier High School Superintendent Dr. Peter Tragos

The Winnetka Public Schools Superintendent (and New Trier alum), Dr. Kelly Tess, and New Trier High School Superintendent, Dr. Peter Tragos, reflect upon the joys and complexities of leading for the next generation in public schools. Dr. Tragos reflects, “We are producing and preparing good people for the world.” “We are all temporary stewards of a long rich history and our job is to make it better,” emphasizes Dr. Tess.

Listen here:

Monthly Observances: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

This month, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who shared an important message of peace, fairness, and unity. Each year, his birthday is honored as a national holiday on the third Monday of January. Families can also explore our library’s special collection of books about Dr. King here: Destiny Collection

Traffic Reminders

When lining up on Willow Road before turning into the circle, please do not get too close to Glendale Ave. Cars that are lining up too close to Glendale are blocking visibility for drivers turning onto Willow Road.
Please be sure that you are not stopping on Glendale Ave. when turning into the circle.
Be sure to wait until there is room to enter the circle before turning off of Willow Rd.
Additionally, when exiting the circle, please do not turn left until there is space to fit your vehicle without blocking Glendale.
Finally, please pull over as far to the right as possible on Glendale when picking up a student from the back playground.

We want to ensure that we are not blocking Glendale in case there were ever a need of an emergency vehicle that needed to get through to the school or neighbor. Thank you so much for your attention to these matters!

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.

Spirit Day:

Crow Island Spirit Day will be on FRIDAYS this year! 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.

District Update: Erin's Law

In March 2021 the District began providing state-mandated sexual abuse prevention education for all students in compliance with Erin’s Law. Erin’s Law is prevention-based, bringing sexual abuse education into public schools using age appropriate curriculum. Thanks to Erin’s Law, children are being taught to recognize abuse and learning what to do if they need assistance. Erin’s Law requires all public schools to provide education on sexual abuse prevention for all students, early childhood through 12th grade, annually. This law also requires educators to take part in training classes that cover sexual abuse and how to recognize warning signs.

The Erin’s Law curriculum will be taught in your child’s regular classroom or advisory by a school social worker and/or their classroom/advisory teacher. Elementary students will take part in three to four lessons, each lasting 20–30 minutes, over the course of a few weeks starting in January. All materials and activities are developmentally appropriate for each grade level. Middle School students will participate in one lesson taught by their advisor and/or social worker in March. For more information about the curriculum, please visit the District website.

We understand this can be a sensitive topic for some families and we have resources for you, as parents/guardians, to learn more about this program.

Our elementary school social workers will be holding open office hours on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 from 10-10:30am. The meeting link can be found here; Meeting ID: 819 7168 4256/Passcode: 655079. You may also reach out individually to your school’s social worker if you have specific questions about the program.

Parents have the option to opt their children out of the program as they deem appropriate. The opt-out form must be completed and returned to the building principal by January 9, 2026. Please feel free to contact Dana Ruecker, Assistant Director of Student Services, Equity, and Inclusion, with additional questions or concerns about Erin’s Law.

Winnetka Parents Institute (WPI):

Differentiation: What is it and how can I tell if my child is having a differentiated experience?

January 21 at 9:30 AM

Location: Washburne RC

Join this session led by the Dept of Innovation, Teaching and Learning to learn a bit about what differentiated instruction is, the conditions needed in order to implement, and what it looks like in action in District 36 classrooms.

RSVP Link

Feedback Link

Incoming Kindergarten Family Information Night with Winnetka Administration

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Register for Kindergarten in 26/27 on-site from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.

Session from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Greeley School

275 Fairview Ave., Winnetka

This informational session is for Winnetka parents whose children will enter Kindergarten in the 2026/2027 school year. Parents will learn the resources and experiences that await students once they begin Kindergarten in The Winnetka Public Schools.

Families will learn about:

The Transition-to-Kindergarten process, presented by the Principals of Crow Island, Greeley, and Hubbard Woods Schools
A glimpse into a typical Kindergarten day in The Winnetka Public Schools
Supports for student needs that are available through the Department of Student Services, Equity and Inclusion

We look forward to welcoming our incoming 2026–2027 Kindergarten families at this event!

RSVP here.

Feedback link.

Math Pilot: Parent Feedback Requested
As part of our ongoing K–8 math curricular review, we invite you to share your input on the home support resources provided by the Fall 2025 pilot programs. Your feedback will help the Math Leadership Team understand how each tool supports families and which are most useful at home.

Please take a few minutes to complete the brief survey linked below. Your perspective is greatly appreciated. This survey will remain open until January 7.

Survey Link

Pick-up/drop off during lunch and recess

As a reminder, our policy is that students should not be picked up or dropped off during lunch/recess from 11:30 AM- 12:20 PM. Please feel free to pick them up just before lunch and drop them off just after as needed. This is for safety reasons. We appreciate your support with this!

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