Hubbard Woods Family Newsletter

Dear Hubbard Woods Families,

This week, we are excited to welcome families for Parent-Teacher Conferences. These conversations are such a meaningful opportunity for partnership between home and school. Together, we are able to reflect on each child’s growth, celebrate their successes, and collaborate on next steps to support their continued learning and development.

You should have received a message this morning confirming your appointment time. If you did not, please see the information in the box below to check your appointment booking. We truly appreciate your time and partnership.

All the best,

Ivory

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conference schedules can be viewed in the following ways:

• Review the email from noreply@schoolcloud.co.uk with a list of your bookings

• Log in to the site to review your schedule

Signed up for a video conference? Review this guide!

You will need your unique Parents Meeting code to login. If you did not download or save this information, you may access it the following ways:

• Email from noreply@winnetka36.org on October 3 with information

Access your Parents Meeting doc through the PowerSchool Parent Portal Document Library (It can take 1-2 minutes to load the site)

**Note: The Document Library is not accessible from the PowerSchool app, only via a browser window

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:

Apple Podcast

Amazon

Spotify

iHeart

We’re excited to celebrate our annual Halloween Ghost Walk on Wednesday, October 29th! The kindergarten parade will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the 1st–4th grade parade will start at 1:30 p.m.

Students in grades 1–4 will change into their costumes at school. Please refrain from sending special accessories, as these can be easily misplaced. Weapons of any kind, even if part of a costume, are not permitted, and scary masks or painted-on fake blood should be left at home.

Our goal is to ensure that everyone feels safe and ready to enjoy the time together!

👻 Parent Attendance:
Parents, if you have pre-planned with your child's classroom teacher to come into the building to support with activities, please complete this registration form by Monday, October 27th, so that we can have visitor badges prepared ahead of time.

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.

November 12, 2025

9:30 A.M. in Washburne Cafeteria

Interested: RSVP here

Following the event a link will be provided to the taped presentation on the website. Feedback Link

Practice Remote Learning Activity on November 6, 2025:

To ensure our students are prepared for any potential shift to remote learning due to multiple days of inclement weather, we have planned a proactive practice activity. This practice session is an important step in ensuring that our students remain connected and ready for learning should inclement weather occur.

• Date for Device Take-Home: On Thursday, November 6, all students will bring their school-issued iPads home.

• Objective: The goal is for each student to connect their device to their home Wi-Fi network and ensure they have access to the necessary tools and platforms.

• Return of Devices: Please ensure that the devices are returned to school with your child on Friday, November 7.

• Communication: Additional communication and reminders, as well as a form to record any issues your student experiences, will be sent closer to this practice event.

As we approach the winter months, it is important to review our district's inclement weather policy. Our top priority is always the safety of our students and staff. We take a comprehensive and thoughtful approach when faced with weather-related decisions such as heavy snow or extreme cold, and work closely with our township and Village partners to plan accordingly.

In the event of a closure, we will communicate with you through our Blackboard system. This includes:

• Phone Call, Email, and Text: Please ensure you've opted-in for text notifications.

• Website Updates: Visit our website at www.winnetka36.org for up-to-date information regarding school closures.

• Regional Closures: Check the Emergency Closing Center for a comprehensive list of school closures in our region.

• Communication Timing: Our goal is to finalize and communicate any closure decision prior to 6 a.m. on that day.

Handling School Closure Days:

• First Inclement Weather Day: The first closure day will be treated as a traditional “snow day,” and will require adding an extra day to the school year in June.

• Subsequent Days: For any additional inclement weather days, we will shift to remote learning in order to ensure that we do not need to extend the school year further into June.

Remote Learning Details:

• Teacher Communication: Email as well as postings in our Learning Management Systems (Grades 5-8 - Schoology, Grades K-4 - Seesaw) will be utilized. Parents can expect communication from their homeroom or advisory teacher by 8:00 a.m.

• Student Experience: Remote learning will follow the typical school schedule, combining synchronous and asynchronous methods. For our K-4 students, related arts teachers will now join their homeroom teacher’s Zoom so that our younger students do not need to manage leaving and joining different Zoom sessions.

• Special Education Services: Students receiving services will have these services provided to the greatest extent possible, coordinated by the case manager or service provider.

• Remote Learning Schedule: The schedules that will be used for remote learning can be viewed here.

Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated as we prepare for the possibility of inclement weather. Thank you for your continued support.

The safety and well being of our students and staff is our number one priority. That includes ensuring that our students have safe pathways to school, especially if they choose to walk or ride their bike. The Winnetka Public Schools have received feedback that the current placement of a crossing guard at Willow and Wilson (in the Greeley attendance zone) would be better utilized at Sunset and Green Bay Roads as students make their way to and from school. Given this information, we wanted to solicit your input via this survey as we consider a possible relocation of our crossing guard in that area. Survey participation is voluntary and all responses are anonymous. The survey will close on October 30, 2025..

• Tuesday, October 28th - School Board Meeting at 7:15pm at Washburne

• Wednesday, October 29th - Ghost Walk
• Kindergarten Ghost Walk at 9am
• 1st-4th Ghost Walk at 1:30pm
• Thursday, October 30th - No School/ Parent/ Teacher Conferences
• Friday, October 31st - No School/ Parent/ Teacher Conferences
• Thursday, November 7th - Remote Learning Practice Date (Devices go home and returned Friday)
• Tuesday, November 18th - School Board Meeting at 7:15pm at Washburne
• Monday, November 24th-28th - No School/ Thanksgiving Week
• Wednesday, December 17th - Winter Sing (Times TBD)