Greeley Greeting

Monday, June 1

Principal's Message

Dear Greeley Families,

It is hard to believe that we are heading into the final two weeks of the school year! While there is certainly excitement in the air as summer approaches, we still have many meaningful learning opportunities and special traditions ahead. We are looking forward to Field Day next week, our fourth-grade celebration and video, and our final all-school assembly on June 15, when we will honor and say goodbye to our fourth graders as they prepare for their next chapter at Skokie School.

This week, our teachers will come together to review spring benchmark data, reflect on student and staff learning from this year, and begin planning for a strong start to next school year. These conversations will help us further refine our Strategic Aims and ensure that instruction is responsive to the needs of the students our teachers will welcome into their classrooms this fall.

As part of our commitment to keeping families informed about student growth, spring benchmark data will be available for viewing in PowerSchool today and in Otus beginning tomorrow. Please see below for additional information about accessing and understanding your child’s results.

Finally, if you have not yet completed registration for the 2026–2027 school year or still need to order a school supply kit, please review the information below. Your attention to these important tasks helps us prepare for another successful school year.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to making these final weeks of the school year memorable for our students!

Warmly,

Principal Kopinski

Upcoming Dates

June

Monday 6/1: Spring Benchmark Assessment Results Released to Families
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, Memory Books sent home
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

New Information

2026 Graduate Visit

One of the highlights of last week was welcoming back our Class of 2026 high school graduates to Greeley. Alumni returned to their elementary school to reconnect with former classmates, rewatch their fourth-grade video, walk the halls one more time, and visit with the teachers who helped shape their journey.

As we look ahead to our fourth-grade celebration next week, it serves as a wonderful reminder of just how quickly the years pass. Moments that feel so ordinary today soon become cherished memories. It's a reminder for all of us to slow down, celebrate the milestones, and appreciate the relationships and experiences that make Greeley such a special place.

Lighthouse Moment from the Classroom

Our fourth-grade leaders planned May’s all-school assembly, centered around this month’s Dimension of Belonging: Befriended. Following our final fire drill of the school year last week, students remained on the playground to participate in a special community-building activity. Working alongside their buddy classrooms, students helped “Chalk the Block” by creating positive messages, words of encouragement, and affirmations throughout the playground. Adding to the festive atmosphere, Mr. Urquhart served as DJ, playing uplifting music as students worked together to spread kindness and positivity.

As the school year draws to a close, I have challenged our fourth graders to reflect on how they want to be remembered by their K–3 peers and what kind of legacy they hope to leave behind as they prepare for their transition to Skokie School. Fourth graders shared that they want to be remembered as kind, positive, and inclusive leaders. In these final days at Greeley, they are intentionally working to demonstrate those qualities through their words, actions, and daily interactions with others.

Monthly Observances: Pride Month

June includes four observances on the calendar: LGBTQ+ Pride, Immigrant Heritage, Eid-El-Adha and Juneteenth. The points below may help families to understand what can be expected during the month of June:

School Bulletin Board displays may include prominent LGBTQ, Immigrant, Muslim and Black American figures.
Resource Centers will have a display of books that align with the observances of the month, as has occurred throughout the school year.
Library collections vary by school and are shared with families in principal newsletters.
The inclusion of LGBTQ+ Pride, on the list of Monthly Observances is not synonymous with K-8 instruction relating to sexuality or sexual identity but rather a recognition of contributions of those in the LGBTQ+ Pride community.
Sexual health education is taught in fifth and seventh grades, and remains isolated to the existing content and standards in those grades alone. Parents of students in those grades are provided with a preview of the content and able to review materials at their request prior to those units being taught in the spring.

Our observances are designed to build awareness, respect, and understanding among students from all backgrounds and family structures. These celebrations help us teach the values of inclusion, empathy, and shared humanity that are foundational to our educational mission.

As part of our commitment to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and educational environment for all students, the District highlights Monthly Observances that reflect the diverse histories, identities, and contributions within our school community and broader society. These observances are grounded in our values of respect, empathy, and belonging for every child and family. Families can read more about our commitment to equity and inclusion here, and specific information about monthly observances here.

Spring Benchmark Assessments

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.

On June 1, benchmark results will be available in the PowerSchool Parent Portal (tutorial video). Benchmark scores in Otus (tutorial video) will be available on June 2.

PowerSchool Parent Portal (K–8)

PowerSchool is your primary hub for important school information. In PowerSchool, you can:

View trimester progress reports
Access attendance information
See official documents and assessment reports, including publisher-generated reports
Complete required actions such as digital signatures

Otus (K–8)

Otus brings your child’s learning data together in one place. In Otus, you can:

View benchmark and classroom assessment data (MAP, aimswebPlus, mCLASS, SEL)
See growth over time
Access multiple data points in one dashboard

Otus is especially helpful for understanding trends and progress across the school year, rather than isolated results.

For more information on accessing benchmark results, please refer to this recent newsletter

Winnetka Voices

Season 4, Episode 5:

The Art & Science of Differentiation

Veteran Winnetka educator Mr. Steve Agouridis and new-to-Winnetka teacher Ms. Kate McCarthy join Superintendent, Dr. Kelly Tess, for a thoughtful conversation about differentiation to meet the needs of every learner. Together, they explore how differentiated instruction looks in Winnetka classrooms and reflect on effectively teaching students with different interests and learning styles. Learn more about how Winnetka teachers build connections with students, facilitate experiential and meaningful learning and consider the whole child to differentiate for every student.

Listen here:

Memory Books

All students will receive a Memory Book this year. All Memory Books will be sent home on Wednesday, June 10th.

Related Arts Spotlight

Hola Verano!

Hello Summer!

As we are finishing up the school year, the 1st and 2nd graders are playing games to reinforce basics in Spanish.

The 3rd and 4th graders are finishing up the book, El Capibara con Botas. They are loving the story and we have also been learning about Capibaras, the country of Ecuador, the Amazon Rainforest and the Galapagos Islands all of which are in the story.

-Señora Soto

Repeated Information

Health Forms for 2026/2027

Please review this information to plan for the 2026/2027 school year.

Order School Supply Kits Here

A note from Ms. Yue Cai, String Teacher

Dear Greeley Families,

Just a quick note to let you know it is that time of year again. Recruitment assemblies will be taking place within the last week at Crow Island, Greeley and Hubbard Woods for current 1st-3rd grade students. 4th grade students will have a separate assembly where they will learn more about the program at Skokie. 4th graders can also start on any string instrument including the string bass!! Students will be introduced to the instruments that they can learn at school: violin, viola, cello and string bass. (4th graders only) The registration forms will be electronic again this year via Google Forms.

If you have more than one child signing up next year, feel free to use the same form for both (all) of your children. The registration deadline will be Friday, June 13th. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

For the CURRENT 1st-3rd Grade students

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGkXLOZ6N8z--O-GOGXVwbTBvdfNXv04NtwR9sXwrofCp5uw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=113061840731808588672

For the CURRENT 4th Grade students

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUuBD3pUP9zcwzCFqdGAmW3Uyw3Ik1ePuwVcnvHZdYdCNDTw/viewform

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.