Hubbard Woods Family Newsletter

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful winter break and were able to spend meaningful time connecting with family and friends. We are so happy to be back together and begin this next chapter of our school year.

Before the break, we shared a very special day during our Winter Sing, and it is a moment worth revisiting. Our students had the opportunity to showcase their learning in such authentic and joyful ways. From the beautiful artwork displayed throughout the exterior hallways and in the auditorium to the musical performances shared with classmates, staff, and families, these performances truly reflected the creativity, confidence, and growth of our children.

Seeing students take pride in their work and perform in front of such a supportive school community was a powerful reminder of what learning looks like at Hubbard Woods. Thank you for being such an important part of these experiences and for continuing to partner with us in supporting our students.

We are excited to welcome everyone back and look forward to the many moments of learning, connection, and celebration ahead.

All the best,

Ivory

Hello Hubbard Woods community!

My name is Bailey Banks, and I am the new general music long-term substitute beginning in January. I am so excited to join this team and be a part of the Hubbard Woods students' education for the remainder of the year!

Although District 36 is a new school for me, I have been teaching music in various forms since 2023, when I graduated from Millikin University with a degree in Vocal Music Education (with certificates in Composition and Jazz Studies). During my professional career, I have taught at several different schools around the Chicagoland area, including Curie Metropolitan High School in Chicago and Park View School in Morton Grove. Currently, I also serve as the director of an acapella group at Niles West High School in Skokie, and last year I did another long-term substitute placement at Maine East High School in Park Ridge.

Transitions can be as scary as they are exciting sometimes, so I wanted to give some insight into my values as an educator. First and foremost, I find that young learners succeed most when they can explore and play while building essential skills as musicians and people. In an average "Ms. Banks's classroom", you will see students engaged in song, playing games that exercise their creative side, and working together with their peers to better build their class community! At all grades, my goal as a teacher is to facilitate student growth and encourage taking educational risks, while giving them a soft place to land as they navigate the world around them.

I feel so lucky to be invited into this position. Hubbard Woods School's rich legacy of music education is one to be revered, and I am thrilled to engage the loving community here! I am looking to make this transition as easy as possible, and can not WAIT to talk with you all.

See you all soon, and thank you again!

Bailey Banks

What is MOSAL?

MOSAL, or the Month of Service and Learning, is a program that weaves service learning into the curriculum and includes a number of hands-on projects over the course of a month.

What is the 2026 project?

This year, Hubbard Woods is partnering with Radical Generosity, an organization that works with numerous nonprofits across Chicagoland to help those facing housing and food insecurity.

This year’s project is A YEAR OF BIRTHDAYS during which we hope to make and donate 365 birthday bags! Students will be creating birthday cards and filling birthday bags - canvas bags filled with items for a birthday celebration.

How are families asked to help?

1 – Please click HERE to access the Amazon wishlist and help us collect enough materials to make birthdays feel special for all! Wishlist donations will be accepted until Friday, January 16th.

2 – Over the month, consider having your student bring in a nonperishable food item that could comprise a special birthday meal. Does your family have birthday pancakes? Bring in a box of pancake mix! Does your family always have spaghetti and meatballs for birthday dinner? Bring a box of pasta or a can of tomato sauce! Food donations will be accepted until Friday, January 23rd.

As we return from break, we want to take a moment to remind everyone of our district health guidelines. Prior to break, we were seeing cases of lice, gastrointestinal symptoms, fevers, and coughs.

Today, during our school wide assembly, we will place a special emphasis on handwashing with students as part of reinforcing healthy habits and preventing the spread of illness.

Please continue to follow our health guidelines to help keep our school community healthy. Thank you for your partnership.

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:

Apple Podcast

Amazon

Spotify

iHeart

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

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.

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.

• Monday, January 5th - School Resumes
• Thursday, January 15th - January 30th - Middle of Year Benchmark Assessments
• Monday, January 19th - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
• Friday, January 23rd - Parent/ Staff Parent 6pm-10pm
• Week of January 26th - Month of Service Learning Culmination Project (Radical Generosity)
• Tuesday, January 27th at 6:30pm - 4th grade National Anthem at New Trier
• Tuesday, January 27th - School Board Meeting at Washburne at 7:15pm
• Thursday, February 26th & Friday, February 27th - Parent Teacher Conferences (No Student Attendance)