Crow Island Parent Newsletter
February 23, 2026
Dear Crow Island Community,
I hope you had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed the exciting finishes from the USA Women’s and Men’s Hockey teams at the Winter Olympics!
This week’s newsletter includes several important updates: the 5Essentials Survey, guidance on deciphering your child’s data, final sign-ups for Spring Conferences, WPSN Phone-a-Thon, registration information for Adventures in Learning summer programming, and National Social Emotional Learning Week.
We are looking forward to welcoming families on Thursday and Friday for parent-teacher conferences. Our teachers have been thoughtfully preparing to ensure meaningful conversations about your child’s growth and progress. I hope to connect with many of you during these two days.
Be sure to check out the Kindergarten feature below highlighting their 101 Days of School celebration last week!
Wishing you a great week ahead.
Sincerely,
Anna
February
- Thursday, February 26th | No Student Attendance- Parent Conference Day
- Friday, February 27th | No Student Attendance- Parent Conference Day
March
- Monday, March 16th | Immigration Week
- Friday, March 20th | Citizenship Ceremony and Immigration feast
- Wednesday, March 25th | 1st and 2nd Grade Spring Sing: 1st Grade @ 5:45 PM, 2nd Grade @ 6:45 PM
- Friday, March 27th | Half Day for Students (Staff Institute Day)
- Monday, March 30th- Friday, April 3rd | Spring Break
April
- Monday, April 6 | School Resumes
- Tuesday, April 7-Thursday, April 9 | Illinois Assessment of Readiness (Grades 3 and 4)
- Thursday, April 16 | STEAM Expo
Lighthouse Moment: Kindergarten 101st Day of School Celebration
Last week, Kindergarten at Crow Island dressed as 101 Dalmatians to celebrate the 101st day of school! From making their costumes, writing about what students would want to collect 101 of, creating a "collar" of 101 beads, and more- the students had a great day with this new tradition!
Important: Please Take 5 Minutes to Complete 5 Essentials
The Illinois State Board of Education annually asks families, students and staff to complete the Illinois 5Essentials Survey. Administered by University of Chicago, data gleaned from the survey directly helps the District prioritize goals and resources. Additionally, the quantity of parents who participate in the survey (or lack thereof) directly affects The Winnetka Public Schools’ Illinois State Report Card ratings.
The survey is linked here, takes about 5 minutes to complete, and is completely confidential.
Your participation helps the District gain actionable data to improve the student experience and ensure the Illinois State Report Card rankings accurately reflect Winnetka’s engaged parent community. The survey closes March 13, 2026.
Between March 2-13, 2026, students in grades 4–8 will be given the opportunity to complete a brief student version of the survey at school by logging in using their state student ID and birth date. Student responses will remain confidential. If you prefer your child not to participate, please notify your building principal in writing by February 27, 2026.Spring Conferences Conference sign up closes at noon on Tuesday, February 24. Pass that point, any adjustments or additions to the schedule will need to be directed through your school’s main office. Conference schedules can be viewed in the following ways: Review the email from noreply@schoolcloud.co.uk with a list of your bookings 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 to log into your account just as you did to schedule the conference 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. For any login or video conferencing issues, please send an email to help@winnetka36.org with a description of what you’re experiencing. Decipher Your Student’s Data Having trouble making sense of your child’s assessment data? Try this new tool! It’s an AI-powered tool aimed at helping Winnetka parents do just that! The Winnetka Public Schools Foundation Phone-A-Thon Is Almost Here! On March 8, Winnetka Public Schools Foundation board members will be reaching out to The Winnetka Public Schools families and community members by phone, text, and email with one big goal: raising $85,000 to fund next year’s grants. These grants spark classroom innovation, expand student learning opportunities, and provide impactful professional learning for The Winnetka Public Schools staff. From One Book One School literacy initiatives to dynamic artist-in-residence opportunities, the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation infuses additional resources and creative learning tools into our schools. You can Beat the Call by making your gift online before March 7 and help the WPSF meet its goal faster! Every gift, at every level, makes a meaningful difference for our students and educators. Donate today: www.wpsf.org Adventures in Learning Registration Registration opens March 2 at 1:00 PM for Winnetka residents. Classes fill quickly, so we encourage you to review the Adventures in Learning Program Guide in advance and be ready to register at 1:00 PM. Important Links: National Social Emotional Learning Week We are excited to announce plans to recognize National SEL Week from March 2nd-6th! The Winnetka Public Schools will join communities across the globe to celebrate the importance of social emotional learning (SEL), by highlighting the theme of community. We will be hosting our second Districtwide Spirit Week, featuring engaging activities and events designed to promote SEL throughout our schools. Each day will highlight one of the CASEL core competencies and the RULER tools, emphasizing how SEL plays a vital role in fostering a supportive and inclusive community. Together, let’s strengthen our sense of belonging and celebrate the importance of SEL in our district!
Monthly Observances: Black History Month
February is Black History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the many achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout U.S. history. It is a time to honor leaders, innovators, and everyday heroes whose work has shaped our communities and our nation.
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.
Spirit Day:
Crow Island Spirit Day will be on FRIDAYS this year! Get your Crow Island Spirit wear from our PTO Store here!
Contact Us
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