Greeley Greeting
August 20, 2024
Dear Families,
It was wonderful to see our Greeley community come together last week—both for our spirited Ghost Walk and Ghost Dance celebrations and during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Thank you for showing such strong support for our students and staff! A special thank-you goes to Mr. Dunafin and Ms. Wilkinson for their incredible preparation for the Ghost Dance, and to our dedicated Related Arts team for helping with supporting student organization as well as playground setup and cleanup.
We also hope you’ll take a moment to share your feedback on the new conference scheduling platform introduced this year. Your input will help us continue to improve the experience for families.
Starting this week and continuing through May, we’re excited to welcome certified Therapy Dogs from Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy to Greeley! Each classroom will have an opportunity to read and spend time with a therapy dog this year, thanks to a generous grant from the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation, secured by Ms. Hanley. Your child’s teacher will share their class’s visit date along with a permission slip for participation.
Warm regards,
Lindsay
District Therapy Dog Update
We are excited to share that a District Therapy Dog initiative will launch later this fall. The introduction of a Therapy Dog supports our commitment to the whole-child approach to education, nurturing the social and emotional well-being of every student and staff member. We are excited about the potential of this initiative to bring comfort, joy, and connection to our schools and are committed to ensuring that the Therapy Dog is introduced to our schools with care and student safety at the forefront. Look for an official introduction to this new member of our community later this fall. The program will feature Winnie, a certified therapy dog owned and handled by Mr. Ray Finnerty, Director of Safety and Security.
Starting in December, Winnie will accompany Mr. Finnerty throughout his day as he visits our schools. Her presence is intended to enhance the supportive, safe, and welcoming environment we strive to provide for all students. Winnie will always remain under Mr. Finnerty’s supervision and will not be left alone with students at any time.
We recognize, however, that some students or families may prefer that their child not interact with Winnie. To accommodate all preferences, we are offering the opportunity to opt out of any direct contact or interaction with Winnie. Students who opt out will continue to have a full and positive school experience; no explanation for the opt out is required.
If you do not wish for your child to have contact or interaction with Winnie, please complete the attached form by November 14, 2025.
Related Arts Spotlight
In art class, students began the year by learning our studio expectations and now proudly start each class by reciting them together as our Art Room Pledge!
Our first unit is all about Line. Students in grades 1–4 created vibrant “Line Fish” artworks, which are currently displayed throughout the school—be sure to take a look next time you visit!
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1st Grade: Students explored the art of Jasper Johns and his piece Alphabet, then created their own mixed-media artworks inspired by his style—featuring their names.
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3rd & 4th Grade: Students dove into Op Art (Optical Illusion Art), experimenting with lines that appear to pop off the page and learning to blend colored pencils into smooth gradients.
All student artwork is available to view on Artsonia. If you haven’t connected to your child’s online portfolio yet, please use the QR code below to join and celebrate their creativity!
Lastly, I’m collecting toilet paper and paper towel rolls for an upcoming Winter Sharing project. My goal is to collect 1,000 rolls! Collection boxes are located in the main hallway and outside the art studio. Every little bit helps—thank you for your donations and support!
Lizzie Ramirez, Art Educator
Artsonia QR code
Winnetka Voices-New Podcast Episode
“Winnetka Voices”
Season 4, Episode 1:
Mentoring New Teachers by Cultivating & Growing Our Talents Together
Season 4 of the “Winnetka Voices,” kicks off with a conversation on how new teachers are equipped to succeed in a robust two-year Mentorship program in The Winnetka Public Schools. Superintendent Dr. Kelly Tess and special guests Jeff Knapp, Assistant Superintendent of Professional Learning and Human Resources and Ruthie Helmer, 5th grade math and science teacher and Mentorship Coordinator, reflect on the District’s commitment to supporting new teachers so they are best equipped to tend to their students’ academic, social and emotional needs. “We want them to feel like this is home and in turn make it “home” for our kids,” says Mr. Knapp. Ms. Helmer reflects, “We really are making an impact on future generations…Being a teacher is a true calling and Winnetka is a special place. Everyone here has that same calling.”
Listen here:
Winnetka Parent Institute (WPI)
Progressive Tenets in Action: Experiential and Meaningful Learning
November 12, 2025
9:30 A.M.
Washburne Cafeteria
Join the second in a three-part series that will explore the District’s Progressive Education Tenets. Learn about what Experiential and Meaningful Learning means and how it comes alive in our classrooms.
Interested:
Following the event a link will be provided to the taped presentation on the website.
Contact Us
Office Email: danarahkhem@winnetka36.org
Location: 275 Fairview Avenue Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847)-446-6060