Crow Island Parent Newsletter

Dear Crow Island Community,

This past weekend, we had the joy of welcoming the community to Crow Island during the district’s Open House. I loved meeting so many former students, teachers, families, and neighbors. It was a wonderful reminder of our school’s rich legacy and the lasting impact it has on all who have been part of it.

I am also excited to welcome you to Go To School Night this Thursday, September 25th. The evening will be a great opportunity to visit your child’s classroom, learn about the curriculum, and preview the exciting experiences ahead this year. We’ll begin at 6:00 PM in the auditorium, where I’ll share school-wide information before families head to classrooms. If I haven’t had the chance to meet you yet, I look forward to connecting on Thursday.

Wishing you a great week ahead!

Sincerely,
Anna

September

• Monday, September 22nd | No School For Students- Staff Institute Day

• Tuesday, September 23rd| No School - Rosh Hashanah

• Wednesday, September 24th | Fall Benchmark Assessments Start for K-4 students

• Thursday, September 25th | Go to School Night, 6pm

• Tuesday, September 30 | MAP Test – Reading (3rd & 4th Grade)

October

• Wednesday, October 1 | MAP Test – Math (3rd & 4th Grade)
• Thursday, October 2 | No School – Yom Kippur
• Monday, October 6 | Safety Week Begins
• Tuesday, October 7 | Fire Drill
• Wednesday, October 8 | Vision & Hearing Screening
• Thursday, October 9 | Lockdown Drill
• Friday, October 10 | Tornado/Shelter Drill
• Thursday, October 16 | PTO Runathon @ Crow Island Woods
• Friday, October 17 | PTO Runathon Rain Date @ Crow Island Woods
• Wednesday, October 22 | Picture Retakes
• Wednesday, October 29 | Halloween Parade & Ghost Walk
• Thursday, October 30 | Fall Conferences
• Friday, October 31 | Fall Conferences

November

• Friday, November 7th| (*UPDATED) Kindergarten Butterfly Migration + Outdoor Performance at 1:30 PM
• Monday, November 24th- Friday, November 28th | Thanksgiving Break- No School

December

• Wednesday, December 3rd | PTO Book Fair (3:30-8:00 PM)
• Thursday, December 4th | PTO Book Fair (8:00-10:00 AM)
• Thursday, December 18th | Winter Sing
• Friday, December 19th | Sack Supper
• Saturday, December 20th | Winter Break Begins

E-Scooter and Other Motor-Driven Vehicle Regulations Effective Immediately

At the September 16 Village Council meeting, an ordinance was passed regulating the use of motor-driven vehicles, including electric scooters (e-scooters) and motor-driven cycles* (commonly known as e-dirt bikes or e-motos). This ordinance is effective immediately and violations can result in a fine: both to the violator and their responsible parent, when applicable.

Operators of e-scooters must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license: this is in alignment with State of Illinois legislation regarding low-speed e-scooters. Operators of motor-driven vehicles must be at least 16 years of age, possess a valid driver’s license, and have the vehicle properly titled and registered. In either case, it is a violation to alter the vehicle’s original manufacturer’s design to change its speed, method of propulsion, braking, or other operations. It is also unlawful for more than one person to ride on an e-scooter or other motor-driven vehicle.

Both e-scooters and other motor-driven vehicles cannot be driven on public sidewalks or within Village-owned parks, in Village-owned or Village-maintained parking lots, or on the Green Bay Trail.

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.

This year students in Grades K-8 will participate in academic benchmark assessments of literacy, math and social emotional learning starting September 25-October 10. On October 20, results will be emailed home, available in the PowerSchool Parent Portal, as well as online via Otus.com.

Optional Fees & Services – Deadline: Monday, September 29, 2025

✅ Visit the Web Store for more information and to register or purchase optional services.

iPad Accidental Damage or Lost/Stolen Coverage

Students in grades K–8 may purchase iPad coverage for $30. This plan covers accidental damage or the loss/theft of a device.

Important: Coverage must be purchased by Monday, September 29, 2025. After this date, it will no longer be available for current students.

Transportation Service

Bus registration reopened September 15, 2025 at a flat fee of $550 for:

· One-way AM service

· One-way PM service

· Two-way service

Please note:

· There is no longer a separate fee for one-way vs. two-way service.

· Discounts for multiple riders in the same household are no longer offered.

· One-way service is limited to morning only or afternoon only (not a combination).

Important: Bus service must be purchased by Monday, September 29, 2025. After this date, it will no longer be available for current students.

Kindergarten Stay & Play

Stay & Play offers supervised play for kindergarten students during the time between their dismissal and the regular end of the school day:

· 2:10 – 3:15 p.m. (Tuesday–Friday)

· 2:10 – 2:45 p.m. (Monday)

Supervision is provided by non-certified staff.

Important: The deadline to purchase Kindergarten Stay & Play for currently enrolled students is Monday, September 29, 2025. Registration will reopen in mid-December for families who wish to enroll for the second half of the year.

Vision and Hearing Screening

Vision and hearing screenings will be conducted at Crow Island starting on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. The following students will be screened as mandated by the State of Illinois. “Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months”(Section 27-8.1 of the School Code).

*Kindergarten vision screening is not required if an Eye Exam was completed within the previous 12 months and the signed report is on file with the school.

Additional Information:

• Parents/caregivers will be notified if your child did not pass a screening test.

• If your child wears glasses, please make sure that they have the glasses with them on the day of the screening test.

• If you need further information, please contact the school health office. Thank you for your cooperation in support of our commitment to excellence in education.

Crow Island 101 Document:

Our Crow Island 101 Guide is a helpful, at-a-glance resource for families. Many parents like to keep a copy in their kitchen for quick reference. You can view it here: Crow 101 Document.

Arrival & Dismissal:

Please take a few minutes to review our Arrival & Dismissal procedures. These routines help ensure a safe and smooth start and end to each school day for all students.

Hot Lunch Program:

Crow Island has a hot lunch program run through a third party collaboration with our PTO called Marla's Lunch. You can register and sign-up here: Marla's Hot Lunch.

Health Forms:

Kindergarten Parents- Please upload your child’s health documents HERE. As a reminder, these forms were due by the first day of school (September 2nd).

2nd Grade Parents- As a reminder, all second grade students are required to provide a copy of their most recent dental exam. Please see the attached link for form and additional information. Please use the following link to upload your child's dental form.

You can find more information about district health policies here.

Spirit Day:

Crow Island Spirit Day will be on FRIDAYS this year! Our first Crow Island Spirit Day will be on Friday, September 5th. Get your Crow Island Spirit wear from our PTO Store here!

After-School Programs:

Right At School

The District has partnered with Right At School, headquartered in Evanston, to provide after-school care for students. The Right At School Program will be offered all days school is in session. After School programming is available until 6:00 P.M. Registration is now open.

Discovery Clubs by Right at School

Crow Island's PTO, in partnership with the District, offers extracurricular activities called Discovery Clubs, specialty programming for Crow Island students after the school day ends. These seasonal Clubs are offered in three sessions - fall, winter and spring. Crow Island PTO works with the Discovery Club provider, Right at School, to offer an array of programming focused on STEM, arts and movement with offerings across age groups. The fall session begins on September 22 and runs through December 5, and registration opens Monday, September 8. Preview the activity offerings here on the PTO website.

After School Sports

Crow Island After School Sports is live on the District Web Store. Registration opened at 9am on Tuesday, September 2nd. This is open for 3rd and 4th grade students.

Monthly Observances

As part of The Winnetka Public Schools ongoing commitment to equity by fostering connection and belonging, and in alignment with our progressive tenet of building a collaborative community, our schools will take time each month to recognize the contributions of people from diverse backgrounds. Observances will look different across schools and grade levels, and may include activities such as art, music, book studies, research projects, sharing cultural holidays and celebrations, and other school activities.

For the month of September, we are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month as well as Patriot Day.

• Families can learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month here.

• You can access our library collection via Destiny here: Destiny collection

To see what is coming up each month, you can refer to our monthly observance calendar here

Go To School Night

Please join us on Thursday, September 25th as teachers share classroom information and curriculum highlights with families.

In order to provide a more comfortable environment as well as accommodate families with multiple children, we have organized our session offerings by your child's last name. Additionally, the night will begin with an all-parents meeting in the auditorium.

Go To School Night Schedule:

6:00 - 6:25: All Parents- Principal Message in Auditorium

6:30 - 7:00:

• Last Name A-L: K-2
• Last Name M-Z: 3-4

7:00 - 7:30:

• Last Name A-L: 3-4
• Last Name M-Z: K-2

If you need to attend a different classroom session, please contact your child's teacher to make arrangements. We look forward to seeing you there!

Email:

annatrilla@winnetka36.org (Principal)

christinedemas-hall@winnetka36.org (Administrative Assistant)
Website: https://crowisland.winnetka36.org/
Location: 1112 Willow Road Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847)-446-0353
Instagram: Winnetka Public Schools