Greeley Greeting

Dear Families,

I’m sending this week’s newsletter a little early as we head into our exciting three-day school week ahead!

As a reminder, Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place this Thursday and Friday. If you haven’t yet signed up, please take a moment to do so soon—the sign-up portal will close next Tuesday. You can find the repeated information and link below for your convenience.

Please also take a moment to review the details about Halloween costumes, the Ghost Walk, and our Ghost Dances next week. Students are eager to showcase the dances they’ve been practicing in KW classes following our Ghost Walk around the sidewalks of the school.

Lastly, if you haven’t yet shared your feedback about our crossing guard locations, we’d greatly appreciate your input. The survey will close next Thursday.

Thank you, as always, for your partnership and engagement!

Warm regards,
Lindsay

October

Wednesday, 10/29: Greeley Ghost Walk and Ghost Dance, arrive 12:45, walk starts at 1:00
Thursday, 10/30: Parent Teacher Conferences (No School)
Friday, 10/31: Parent Teacher Conferences (No School)

November

Wednesday, 11/5: Picture Retake Day
Friday, 11/7: Greeley PTO Spiritwear Day
Friday, 11/21: End of Trimester 1
Monday 11/24-Friday, 11/28: Thanksgiving Break (No School)

December

Monday, 12/1: Trimester 2 begins
Thursday, 12/10: Trimester 1 Report Cards Released
Wednesday, 12/17: Winter Sharing Performance, 6-7:30pm at Skokie School
Monday, 12/22-Friday, 1/2: Winter Break (No School)

Greeley School Google Calendar

Picture Retakes-Sign Up Here!

If you would like your child to have their picture taken (or retaken) on Picture Retake Day—Wednesday, November 5th, please sign up using the link below. This is the same link that was shared in the PTO newsletter, so if you’ve already signed up there, you do not need to sign up again.

Picture Retake Sign-Up

Halloween Costumes

Students are invited to bring their costumes to school on Wednesday, October 29th. In order to maintain a positive learning environment throughout the day, all costumes will be put on after lunch (exceptions with kindergarten may apply).

The following expectations are in place for costumes:

Masks that cover most of a student's face are prohibited
Any weapons, including facsimiles, must be left at home. In the event that these are brought to school, the teacher will hold onto them for the duration of the school day
All costumes should be age-appropriate for elementary school (per school board policy)
Please consider your child's mobility when selecting a costume; we encourage students to wear articles of clothing that are not overly cumbersome

Ghost Dance

Students have been working hard in KW classes to prepare for our Annual Ghost Dance, weather permitting, our Ghost Dance will be performed by first- through fourth-grade students on Wednesday, October 29th. Families are invited to attend and watch our students' performances, which will begin at 1:15pm.

Please note the following:

We recommend arriving at 1:00pm to get situated
Families line up on the sidewalks surrounding the playground
The playground area itself is for students and staff only-please do not enter the playground area
Students will promptly return to their classrooms following the performance
An email will be sent to families should the Ghost Dance be canceled due to inclement weather

Room parents who are planning parties following the Ghost Walk and Ghost Dances are encouraged to stop into school anytime in the next few days to have their Driver's license or State ID run through the system if you have not done so yet this year. This will save you the headache of having to wait in a long line or potentially being late to the party.

Last year, our Greeley Gorilla students raised $1177.45 for the Gorillas at Lincoln Park Zoo, in honor of our new mascot. We recently received a note of thanks from them, with some pictures of the gorillas our students helped. We are passing these along to you. Thank you for all your support!

“Winnetka Voices”

Season 4, Episode 1:

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:

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for October 30 and 31. Information was sent to families on October 3 from noreply@winnetka36.org so please check your inbox for that. Parents Meeting information has also been posted to your PowerSchool Parent Portal Document Library for 24/7 access.

Conference sign-up is open until 10/28 at noon. For any additions/changes past that point, please contact the school’s main office.

If you happen to be signed up for a video conference, please be aware of the following:

An email will be sent with your schedule and a link to join the video conference
You will need your Parents Meeting code to log in
Should parents need to attend from different devices/locations, be sure to invite the other person to the conference

To invite a guest to a SchoolCloud parents' meeting video appointment, log in, go to My Bookings, and click Invite Parent/Guardian. You will then enter the guest's name and email, consent to sharing information, and select the student(s) for whom the invite is intended before sending the invitation. The guest will receive an email with a link to join the video call.
Instructions with screenshots

LAST CALL! Parent Survey: Crossing Guard Locations

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.

Remote Learning Practice Day

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.

Deciding When to Close School-Inclement Weather Days

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.

Deciding When to Close School:
When determining whether to close schools due to inclement weather, we consider several factors:

Safety First: The well-being of our students and staff is paramount.
Travel Conditions: We evaluate the state of area roads and the potential for hazardous conditions that could develop during the day.
Extreme Cold: During periods of severe cold, we consult weather reports and liaise with our transportation providers about the feasibility of running bus routes.
Collaborative Decision Making: We coordinate with New Trier Township superintendents for a unified approach to school closures.

Communication with Families:
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.

Winnetka Parent Institute (WPI)

Progressive Tenets in Action: Experiential and Meaningful Learning

November 12, 2025

9:30 A.M.

Washburne Cafeteria

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.

Interested:

RSVP here

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

Feedback Link