The 36 Mix: November 2026

Happy Halloween, Winnetka Families, Staff and Community Members!

As the month of October comes to an end, I want to take a moment to celebrate some wonderful news for The Winnetka Public Schools, while also expressing my gratitude for the many ways our school community continues to support our students.

This week, the Illinois State Board of Education released its annual Illinois School Report Card, and I am proud to share that for the first time since the State introduced school designations, all five Winnetka schools have earned an Exemplary designation. This is the highest designation awarded by the State and represents an important milestone for our District.

Please take a moment to view this brief video message on the news.

While this recognition is certainly worth celebrating, what is most meaningful is the tremendous work behind it. Over the past several years, our educators have devoted significant time, thought and professional learning to refining instructional practices, particularly in literacy. This work has required collaboration, reflection and a shared commitment to meeting the needs of every learner. These results are one indication that our intentional efforts are making a difference for students.

Of course, no single measure can capture the full picture of a child's growth or the richness of a Winnetka education. Academic achievement is an important part of our work, but it exists alongside our longstanding commitment to the Tenets of Progressive Education:

a whole child approach

meaningful experiential learning experiences

and

a collaborative community.

The State's designations are one of many data points we consider as we evaluate our progress, identify opportunities for growth and continue striving to provide the best possible educational experience for every student.

I am deeply grateful to our teachers, staff and school leaders for the care, expertise and dedication they bring to this work each day. This recognition reflects years of collective effort, and reinforces the importance of our shared commitment to continuous improvement.

October brings more reason to celebrate with Principal Appreciation Month. I want to thank our Principals for the ways they pour their hearts and minds into their work each day. Your leadership is a key factor of our success as a system and a job we are so grateful that you choose to do here in Winnetka. Thank you to our parents, PTOs, principals, teachers and staff who helped bring Halloween to our classrooms in such a memorable way for our students. Festivities throughout our schools include Ghost Walks and Dances, parties, pumpkin painting and more. These experiences create joyful memories and a sense of belonging that are just as much a part of what makes Winnetka special.

As we look ahead to November, I hope we can all take pride in the progress we are making together, while remaining focused on the work and opportunities still ahead. Thank you for your continued partnership and for all you do to make The Winnetka Public Schools such a special place to learn and grow.

Most Sincerely,

Dr. Kelly Tess
Superintendent
The Winnetka Public Schools

• Board Meeting Recap
• Instructional Technology Survey Results
• Weather-Related Emergency Closures
• Remembering Ms. Gina Wild
• "Winnetka Voices" Season Five Launches!
• Winnetka Parents Institute: Save-the-Date for December
• 36 PIX: Photos from Halloween and more

• A work session presentation and discussion was held to support the understanding of student growth over time (linked here).

• During the regular meeting, the Fall 2026 Academic Data update was shared and can be reviewed here. The District is proud of its continued growth in teaching practices and the resulting student learning.

The full Board Packet for the October 2026 meeting is available here.

We want to extend a giant “thank you” to the 547 parents who participated in our Instructional Technology Survey. In addition to our families, all staff and students in grades 4-8 were invited to participate in the survey on instructional technology. You can read the themes that arose from the results of families and staff input below. A summary of student input will be included in next month’s 36 Mix as responses are still being collected. Input gathered will be used to inform published guidelines and usage for instructional technology by grade level band. Families, Staff and Students can expect published guidelines before winter break of this year, and any resulting adjustments in expectations beginning after winter break. The goal of this effort is to ensure that all families, staff and students understand the purpose of instructional technology in the classroom, the limitations we have in place to ensure safe and responsible use, and the resources available to all through instructional technology devices as a means to enhance instruction in the classroom.

Summary of Parent Responses:

- Most children do not bring a school-issued device home regularly (about 55% said "Never").

- When devices are brought home, they are primarily used for homework or assigned classwork (89%), with other uses like creating projects, research, and communication also common.

- The most frequently observed benefits of district-issued technology are access to learning materials (53%) and communication with teachers (31%), but over a third of respondents (36%) have not observed clear benefits.

- The top concerns are reduced handwriting/non-digital learning (68%) and excessive screen time (62%).

- A majority of parents prefer that devices for younger grades (K–4) should not go home, while preferences become more varied in higher grades.

- For technology use in classrooms, most parents want less emphasis on tech for reading, math, and writing, but are more open to its use for research, creativity, and accessibility.

-Many parents would be more likely to use family tools if there was clearer information and more control features (like restricting websites or setting time limits).

- Communication about device use expectations is seen as only somewhat clear by most respondents, with nearly 30% saying they have not seen any communication.

Summary of Staff Responses:

- Student device use is typically less than 30 minutes per day, and technology is most often used for teacher-directed instruction or independent practice, with less frequent use for collaboration or creation.

- Most staff feel technology use is appropriately balanced with non-digital learning, but some have concerns.

-Common barriers to effective technology use include student distraction, screen-time concerns, and too many platforms/logins.

- There is a desire for more clarity on district expectations and more support for integrating technology intentionally.

Prior to this school year, the District had adhered to School Board guidance making the first of any necessary emergency weather closure a traditional “snow day” with no student or staff attendance and no remote learning offered. This required the District to add an additional day to the school year to account for state attendance mandates. Last year, the School Board made an adjustment to the District’s weather related emergency closure protocol, providing authority to the Superintendent to use either a “snow day” or a remote learning day at any point when a weather emergency requires the closure of schools. Any potential school closure will still be decided in partnership with the New Trier Township superintendents, as it has been historically, and also take into account factors like staffing capacity, transportation limitations, building temperatures and road safety.

Last week, our community lost a beloved colleague, friend, teacher, cheerleader and consummate helper. Ms. Gina Wild passed away last week very suddenly due to a health related matter. Ms. Wild taught in Winnetka for 26 years, and in these days following her loss, it has been such a gift to see firsthand the breadth of her impact from students to staff to families and community members.

As shared in The Skokie School “Home Scoop” newsletter,

“Ms. Wild was a positive force of energy who brought warmth and joy into every space she entered. She built relationships that made students, families, and colleagues feel truly seen and valued. She worked alongside her teammates generously and believed we were always stronger together. She met every person with empathy, patience, and care, knowing that each story mattered. As a learning designer, she created experiences that sparked curiosity and helped every student grow. Through more than two decades of change in education, she stayed adaptable and open to new ideas while never losing sight of what mattered most: our students. Above all, Ms. Wild was an advocate for all, standing up for every learner and making sure each one had what they needed to thrive. Her legacy lives on in the students she inspired, the colleagues she uplifted, and the community she helped shape. We are deeply grateful for the gift of her time with us, and we will carry her light forward together.”

Join Dr. Kelly Tess, Superintendent of The Winnetka Public Schools, and Ms. Stacey Sunderland, the new Executive Director of The Alliance for Early Childhood, for a candid conversation about parenting in today's world. From building resilience and fostering independence to embracing boredom and the reflecting on the benefits of outdoor play, they explore how some old-school parenting approaches still have plenty to teach us. (Remember those 1990s family road trips in the station wagon or minivan, long before screens came along for the ride?) Ms. Sunderland also highlights the valuable programs and resources The Alliance has offered North Shore families for nearly 40 years.

Listen here:

Apple Podcasts | Amazon | Spotify | iHeart

SEL Integrations

December 2, 2026

10:30 - 11:30 a.m. on ZOOM

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.

RSVP link.

Join Zoom Webinar here:

https://winnetka36.zoom.us/s/82003062854

The 26/27 WPI schedule is here.