Hubbard Woods Family Newsletter

Dear Hubbard Woods Families,

This past week has been filled with celebrations—the official start of Hispanic Heritage Month, the taping of the 3,000th episode of WGST, and our Open House, where families and the community had the opportunity to explore Hubbard Woods and see the exciting new upgrades, including our multipurpose room.

We’re looking forward to continuing the momentum this Thursday at Go To School Night. It will be a special opportunity to connect as a community and share updates on our areas of focus.

Sincerely,

Ivory Ajavon

Principal

This is a friendly reminder that students should not in possession of personal technology (smartphones, smartwatches, AirPods/earbuds) during the instructional hours at any school site. For K–4 students, these items should remain in backpacks at the start of the school day. Students found using personal technology will face disciplinary consequences, including parent/guardian pick-up of devices.

Message from Dr. Tess on K-4 Personal Technology

August 2025

Dear Winnetka K-4 Families,

While the commonality of students with access to personal technology (cell/smart phones, airpods/earbuds, smartwatches, etc.) has grown substantially over the last decade, reports from staff and parents with concerns about the distracting and even addictive nature of devices like these on campus has become difficult to ignore in the years following the pandemic. In a survey given to Winnetka Public Schools staff members in June 2024, 57% of respondents reported having to address the distracting use of personal technology in the classroom either at least once a week or even daily. Similarly, 56% of 4th-8th grade students surveyed on the same topic in June of 2024 reported that their classmates are distracted by personal technology in the classroom at least once a week or even daily.

Additionally, research indicating the dangerous impact on children and teens with regular and frequent access to personal technology has become abundant and accessible to staff and parents, raising questions about what can be done at school to establish limitations and help reduce the negative impact of these devices on young children. The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt, garnered a strong national response from readers, with this text subsequently circulated through both the Winnetka staff and family community. Haidt’s extensive research illustrates how the reality of growing up in this era of technology “has interfered with children's social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism.” (https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book)

I wanted to make you aware of our protocol regarding student personal technology on our campuses. In previous school years, students have not been allowed to use personal technology during the school day; however, we recognize that the consistency of enforcement of that rule is the key to keeping it from being a distraction in our classrooms. Last year, the Board approved a new system to manage personal technology in our middle schools, effective at the start of the 2024/2025 school year.

Personal technology is defined as any device brought from home such as a smartphone, smartwatch and/or airpods/earbuds. We have made our middle schools a personal-technology-free space to improve teaching and learning using a program called Yondr. Yondr has been implemented in thousands of schools across 27 countries to facilitate an engaged learning environment.

While our K-4 schools will not be utilizing Yondr Pouches, the rule regarding personal technology on campus applies at all of our school sites and will be enforced. Students are not to engage with personal technology during instructional hours and will be subject to disciplinary consequences for using personal technology, including but not limited to parents reclaiming devices in the main office, and/or loss of privileges.

Please review the communications linked below that have been shared with Skokie and Washburne families, which outline the protocol we will have in place in our middle schools.

WASHBURNE PARENT MESSAGE

SKOKIE PARENT MESSAGE

The success of this initiative will rely on our shared efforts to enforce the priority of preserving our educational environments across all grade levels. We are hopeful that it will make a positive impact on the lives of both our students and staff.

Most Sincerely,

Dr. Kelly Tess

Superintendent of Schools

Our Lost & Found is beginning to fill up! To help us quickly return items to students, please label your child’s belongings—especially jackets, sweaters, hats, water bottles, and lunchboxes. A simple name written on the tag or container makes a big difference.

Unlabeled items are much harder to return and often remain in the Lost & Found. During Go To School Night, please stop by to check for any missing items. At the end of each month, unclaimed items will be donated.

Thank you for helping us ensure that belongings make their way home each day!

At the September 16 Village Council meeting, an ordinance was passed regulating the use of motor-driven vehicles, including electric scooters (e-scooters) and motor-driven cycles* (commonly known as e-dirt bikes or e-motos). This ordinance is effective immediately and violations can result in a fine: both to the violator and their responsible parent, when applicable.

Operators of e-scooters must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license: this is in alignment with State of Illinois legislation regarding low-speed e-scooters. Operators of motor-driven vehicles must be at least 16 years of age, possess a valid driver’s license, and have the vehicle properly titled and registered. In either case, it is a violation to alter the vehicle’s original manufacturer’s design to change its speed, method of propulsion, braking, or other operations. It is also unlawful for more than one person to ride on an e-scooter or other motor-driven vehicle.

Both e-scooters and other motor-driven vehicles cannot be driven on public sidewalks or within Village-owned parks, in Village-owned or Village-maintained parking lots, or on the Green Bay Trail.

We are excited to welcome you to Go To School Night, a special evening to meet your child’s teacher, step into their classroom, and learn more about the school day at Hubbard Woods.

📅 Thursday, September 25
🕕 6:00–7:25 p.m.
📍 Hubbard Woods School

Please note: Go To School Night is for adult caregivers only.

The evening will begin with a Principal’s Message in the Auditorium, where I will share updates on our school’s areas of focus for the year. Following that, you’ll rotate into classroom sessions organized by last name and grade level:

• 6:00–6:25 – Principal’s Message (Auditorium)

• 6:30–6:55 – A–L: K–2nd grade | M–Z: 3rd–4th grade

• 7:00–7:25 – A–L: 3rd–4th grade | M–Z: K–2nd grade

We look forward to spending this evening together as we kick off another wonderful year at Hubbard Woods!

September 22, 2025

Time: 5:00 PM

Location: Skokie Auditorium

In this session, parents, caregivers, and community members will explore the transformative world of Generative AI in education and discover how AI is reshaping learning. We'll address common myths, discuss ethical considerations, and provide strategies for supporting your child's AI literacy. Through interactive demonstrations and focused discussion, you'll learn to effectively partner with your children as they navigate AI-enhanced learning environments and leave equipped with the knowledge and confidence to embrace educational technology while fostering responsible AI use at home and in the classroom.

Interested:

RSVP here

Feedback Link

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 starting September 25-October 10. On October 20, results will be emailed home, available in the PowerSchool Parent Portal, as well as online via Otus.com.

As part of the districtwide math curricular review, select classrooms will be participating in a math pilot this year.

Purpose of the Pilot
Our goal is to build a vertically aligned and coherent math system that supports all learners through rigorous, standards-aligned resources. The pilot allows us to evaluate high quality instructional materials in real classroom settings, considering how they meet student needs and align with our progressive teaching and learning values.

What to Expect
Families whose students are in pilot classrooms will receive direct communication with a general timeline. While one unit will be taught using a pilot resource in place of the current one, students' daily experience will remain consistent. All participating teachers receive training and will ensure instructional supports are in place for students as needed.

How We Will Evaluate Resources
We will consider student engagement and understanding, teacher usability, standards alignment, and feedback from students and families.

Timeline
Feedback collected during the pilot will help inform a final recommendation to the Board of Education in Spring 2026. The selected resource or resources will be implemented districtwide in the 2026–27 school year.

If you have general questions about the pilot, please reach out to patrickdawson@winnetka36.org.

Optional Fees & Services – Deadline: Monday, September 29, 2025

✅ Visit the Web Store for more information and to register or purchase optional services.

iPad Accidental Damage or Lost/Stolen Coverage

Students in grades K–8 may purchase iPad coverage for $30. This plan covers accidental damage or the loss/theft of a device.

Important: Coverage must be purchased by Monday, September 29, 2025. After this date, it will no longer be available for current students.

Transportation Service

Bus registration reopened September 15, 2025 at a flat fee of $550 for:

· One-way AM service

· One-way PM service

· Two-way service

Please note:

· There is no longer a separate fee for one-way vs. two-way service.

· Discounts for multiple riders in the same household are no longer offered.

· One-way service is limited to morning only or afternoon only (not a combination).

Important: Bus service must be purchased by Monday, September 29, 2025. After this date, it will no longer be available for current students.

Kindergarten Stay & Play

Stay & Play offers supervised play for kindergarten students during the time between their dismissal and the regular end of the school day:

· 2:10 – 3:15 p.m. (Tuesday–Friday)

· 2:10 – 2:45 p.m. (Monday)

Supervision is provided by non-certified staff.

Important: The deadline to purchase Kindergarten Stay & Play for currently enrolled students is Monday, September 29, 2025. Registration will reopen in mid-December for families who wish to enroll for the second half of the year.

• Tuesday, September 23rd - Rosh Hashanah - No School

• Thursday, September 25th- October 10th - Benchmark Assessment Period

• Thursday, September 25th - 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Back to School Night

• Tuesday, September 30th - 7:15p.m. School Board Meeting at Washburne

• Thursday, October 2nd - Yom Kippur - No School

• October 13th-17th - Hubbard Woods Safety Week

• Tuesday October 14th Tornado Drill at 9am
• Wednesday, October 15th at 9am Fire Drill with Fire Department
• Thursday, October 16th at 9:30am Lockdown Drill with Police Department
• Friday, October 17th at Arrival - High Five Friday with First Responders