Greeley Greeting

Happy New Year Greeley families!

I hope you had a restful and joyful winter break filled with time to connect, recharge, and celebrate together. It was wonderful to welcome students back today and see so many smiling, happy faces at arrival—such a joyful way to begin the new year!

As we move forward, we are excited for the months ahead and all the learning, growth, and community moments they will bring. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Warmly,
Principal Kopinski

January

Monday, 1/5: School Resumes
Thursday, 1/15-Friday 1/30: Winter Benchmark Assessments (MAP, mClass, Aimsweb, SSIS)
Monday, 1/19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
Tuesday, 1/27: Pioneer Room Open House for all Third Grade Families, 9:30-10:30am

February

Monday, 2/16: Winter Benchmark Assessment Results Released to Families (Powerschool, OTUS)
Thursday and Friday, 2/26 and 2/27: Parent Teacher Conferences (No School)

March

Friday 3/6: End of Trimester 2
Monday, 3/9: Start of Trimester 3
Thursday, 3/12: Greeley PTO STEAM Night
Wednesday 3/18: Progress Reports Released to Families in Powerschool
Friday, 3/27: Half Day for Students (11:30am Dismissal)-Teacher Institute PM
Monday 3/30-Friday, April 3: Spring Break

April

Monday 4/6: School Resumes
Tuesday, 4/7: Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) Testing Begins for Grades 3-4
Tuesday, 4/7: District Chorus Concert 7-8pm
Tuesday, 4/14: Winnetka Public Schools Foundation (WPSF) Carlson Event 4:30-6pm at Skokie
Wednesday 4/22: Greeley Strings Concert 6:30-7:30pm
Tuesday, 4/28: 5th Grade Orientation at Skokie School (4th Grade Families) 5:30-7:00pm

Greeley School Google Calendar

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

Lighthouse Moment from the Classroom

Refresher: Schoolwide Expectations Review

As we return to school this week after a two week break, students and staff will revisit our schoolwide expectation stations this week to review procedures for shared spaces such as the hallways, lunchroom, playground, and bathrooms. We are incredibly thankful to our associate staff and coaches for helping lead these stations and supporting both students and staff in building a shared understanding of our expectations. This work directly supports one of our strategic aims to improve schoolwide consistency in behavior management in order to prioritize safety and nurture a sense of belonging at Greeley.

Catch up on District News

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.

New Episode of Winnekta 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:

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

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.

Erin's Law Opt Out Form