Greeley Greeting

Dear Greeley Families,

It was exciting to witness an authentic culmination of learning last week at Greeley! I had the pleasure of attending the wonderful Strings Concert led by Ms. Cai-our students did an outstanding job, and it was a true celebration of their hard work and talent.

We also welcomed author and illustrator Ross Burach, who visited with our K–2 students last week. His engaging and energetic presentation inspired lots of laughter and creativity, and students loved learning about his writing and illustrating process!

As you read on, you’ll find important updates, including health guidelines and information about open registration for returning families.

A few quick reminders:

The parent input survey for class placements for the 2026–2027 school year will close this Friday. If you have feedback to share, please be sure to complete it this week.
Tomorrow evening, we look forward to welcoming our fourth grade families to Skokie for a special meeting with the Skokie principals as we begin preparing for the transition to fifth grade. See Principal Cooney and Assistant Principal Castillo-Oh's message below.

Warmly,
Principal Kopinski

April

Tuesday, 4/28: 5th Grade Orientation at Skokie School (4th Grade Families) 5:30-7:00pm

May

Friday, 5/1: Half Day for Students (11:20am Dismissal)-Teacher Institute PM
Wednesday, 5/6 through Wednesday, 5/20: Spring Benchmark Assessments
Thursday, 5/21: Spring Sing Grades K, 3, 4 5:30-7:00
Monday, 5/25: No School (Memorial Day)
Tuesday 5/26: Spring Sing Grades 1 and 2, 6:00-7:00pm
Wednesday, 5/27: Kindergarten Parent Open House, 6:15-7:15p, (Incoming K families)

June

Monday 6/1: Spring Benchmark Assessment Results Released to Families (Powerschool and Otus)
Friday, 6/5: Skokie Shadow Day for Grade 4 students
Friday, 6/5: Half Day for Students (11:20am Dismissal)-Teacher Reporting Day
Tuesday, 6/9: Greeley Field Day
Wednesday 6/10: Greeley Field Day Rain Date
Thursday, 6/11: Progress Reports Released to Families, 4th Grade Video and Party 1:30-3:00pm
Monday 6/15: Last Day of School, Half Day for Students (11:20am Dismissal)-Teacher Reporting Day

Greeley School Google Calendar

Register Your Student(s) for the 2026/2027 School Year

Annual Online Registration is now open here. Details such as the Snapcode needed for Registration were sent to families via email. If you did not receive this information or have any questions, please contact Maria Perez, District Registrar, at 847-446-9400 or mariaperez@winnetka36.org. Please register at your earliest convenience in order to ensure the District can best plan for staffing needs for the upcoming school year.

Additionally, please note the following:

50% Discount on Bus Transportation for 2026/2027

The District is offering optional, parent-paid bus service with a 50% reduced flat fee, approved by the School Board. Registration is completed separately via Revtrak.

Transportation Fees & Deadlines:

$515 flat fee: April 14 – July 10, 2026
$565 flat fee: July 11 – August 1, 2026

One flat fee applies whether your student rides AM only, PM only, or round-trip. No additional discounts are available for one-way service or multiple riders.Registration is open through August 1, 2026.

Lighthouse Classroom Spotlight

Rockstar author/illustrator Ross Burach visited K-2 last week. Every student was 100% engaged listening to Ross's "road to becoming an author" story and then a readaloud of his newest book, How Not to Make a Jelly Sandwich. Most exciting were his draw-alongs featuring ways to express emotions using eyes alone, goofy elephants, and unique ways to turn your first initial into something fun. We have budding author/illustrators who will be making their own school visits one day.

Health Guidelines Spotlight: Lice

Please take a moment to review the district health guidelines (included below), with particular attention to the section on head lice.

Students should receive treatment as recommended by a doctor or pharmacist. Children may return to school after treatment has begun. If lice are identified during the school day, students do not need to be sent home early—they may finish the day, begin treatment at home, and return to school once treatment has started.

One of the most helpful things families can do is report cases of lice to Nurse Janda and the classroom teacher. This allows us to monitor how many cases are present and respond appropriately. Our nurse partners with custodial staff to arrange additional cleaning when needed, and it also helps staff plan classroom practices that may reduce the likelihood of spread.

Families can also support prevention by reaching out to other families their child has been in close contact with to share awareness. This is especially helpful in situations where items may have been shared, such as helmets, hats, dress-up clothes, or brushes.

While lice can certainly be a nuisance, they are not considered a contagious disease. Cases are not reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the school keeps all reports private and confidential. Sharing this information with us has no negative impact on your family.

Thank you for your partnership in helping us maintain a healthy school environment.

Ms. Cooney's Email to Fourth Grade Families

April 7, 2025

Dear 4th Grade Families,

Orientation

We will be hosting 5th grade Orientation on Tuesday, April 28th at Skokie School. This event provides an opportunity for current 4th grade students and their families to visit Skokie, to see a classroom and to hear from school educators and school leaders. Below, please find the agenda for the evening.

5:30: DSS presentation on special education supports**

6:00: Student Classroom Visit and Parent self-guided tour

6:30: Principal Presentation in the auditorium

5:30-5:55 pm: Department of Student Services, Equity, and Inclusion Presentation for Parents in the

Resource Center

Staff will do activities with students in classrooms while parents attend the presentation.

**Please note that the special education presentation at 5:30 pm is geared towards families who are interested in learning about the special education supports and services available at Skokie, though any families are welcome to attend. For families who do not want to attend this presentation, please arrive around 6:00 pm. Our front doors will open at 5:55 pm for the rest of the orientation activities.

6:00-6:20 pm: Parents will take a self-guided school tour while students participate in classroom activities (details below)

Upon entering, parents will be handed a packet with a room number on it.
We ask that you walk your 4th grade child to the room number listed on your packet and drop them off for classroom activities led by a Skokie staff member.
After dropping off your child, we ask that you take the self-guided tour on the front of your packet while students start the activities in classrooms.
After completing your tour, please meet your child back in the classroom number on your packet. Please try to return to the classroom by about 6:20 pm so you have time to pick up your child.

Winnetka Parent Institute for May 13. 2026

Stress and the Brain: Helping Kids Handle Big Feelings

SEL Integrations, Inc. presentation

May 13, 2026

9:30 A.M.

Location: Skokie Community Room (in person event)

When kids get overwhelmed, their brains and bodies can react in powerful ways. In this

session, we will learn what is really happening in the brain during stressful moments,

including what it means when a child “flips their lid” and how to respond with calm and compassion. We will share simple strategies and sample scripts to help support kids with managing big emotions while strengthening connection.

Interested:

RSVP for this event here

Last Week: Parent Input Survey for 26/27

As we begin planning our class placements for school year 2026-2027, we engage in a thoughtful process to create balanced and supportive learning communities for all students. In doing so, we consider many factors, including students’ academic and social-emotional profiles, as well as input from current teachers and families.

If you would like to share insights about your child’s learning style or any academic or social-emotional considerations that may help inform this process, you are welcome to do so by completing the form below. Family input will be reviewed by Principal Kopinski as part of the overall placement process.

Please note that while we value your perspective, we are not able to honor specific educator requests. Thank you for trusting our professional judgment as we work to create thoughtful learning environments and positive experiences for every Greeley student.

If you would like your input to be considered, please complete the form by Friday, May 1, 2026.

Parent Input Survey for 2026-2027