Hubbard Woods Family Newsletter

Dear Hubbard Woods Families,

As we get ready for the first day of school, I want to pause to express gratitude to a very special group of staff who worked tirelessly throughout the summer to ensure our building shines. A big thank you to Mr. Martin Ferreyra, Mr. Michael Francis, and Mr. Federico Moreno, our incredible building care team (pictured left to right). Their hard work ensures our hallways sparkle, our spaces are safe, and our school is ready to welcome every child and staff member with care. I encourage each of us to take a moment to thank them for the difference they make each and every day.

Alongside their efforts, our teachers and staff have been busily preparing classrooms, designing meaningful learning experiences, and ensuring everything is in place for a strong start. Their thoughtfulness and dedication are what make Hubbard Woods such a special community.

I also want to say thank you to our PTO for their behind-the-scenes efforts: welcoming new families, organizing school supplies, planning back-to-school events, and setting the tone for an amazing year ahead. Their support helps create a vibrant and connected community.

It has been truly inspiring to see everyone come together to create a warm, welcoming environment where our students will feel that Hubbard Woods is their second home.

I can’t wait to see you all on the first day of school!

Sincerely,

Ivory

Principal

As we head back into the school year, the priority will be spending time with students and staff throughout the day. To ensure you receive the quickest response from Principal Ajavon, please reach out to our wonderful Administrative Assistant, Jen Hartlett, at jenniferhartlett@winnetka36.org or by phone (847) 501-3875. Jen is an incredible resource for our school community and will be happy to assist you or connect you with me as needed.

Carrie Clements (Math Specialist)

Carrie Clement is an experienced math interventionist, having served in both the Milwaukee and Chicago areas as an interventionist the past four years. Prior to working as an interventionist, she taught for 13 years as a classroom teacher. She is passionate about math and enjoys finding creative ways to make math concepts accessible for all learners.

Jessica Colip (Psychologist)

Hello! My name is Jessica Colip and I am excited to be the new school psychologist starting at Hubbard Woods School this year. I have over 10 years of professional experience in both public schools and private practice. In my previous roles, I have supported students and families with a variety of academic and social-emotional needs and I look forward to getting to know the Hubbard Woods families. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, especially traveling and exploring new places.

Maria Coronelli (Occupational Therapist)

I am thrilled to be joining the Hubbard Woods community as the new occupational therapist! While I may be new to HW, this is my fourth year supporting students in Winnetka Public Schools and my eighth year as a school-based OT. In previous years, I’ve had the joy of working at Crow Island, Skokie, and Washburne, and now I’m excited to expand my role by supporting Kindergarten students across the district through an innovative partnership with classroom teachers—while also working closely with the students and staff here at Hubbard Woods.

I grew up in the Chicago area and earned both my undergraduate and master’s degrees at Washington University in St. Louis. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, reading, watching Bravo shows, needlepointing, and drinking Diet Coke.

What drew me to Winnetka, and continues to inspire me every day, is the district’s commitment to whole-child learning, meaningful and engaging instruction, and the collaborative, student-centered spirit among staff. It truly is an occupational therapist’s dream! I can’t wait for a wonderful year ahead.

Mary Gibson (Special Education Associate)

My name is Mary Gibson, and I will be a new Special Education Aide. I look forward to

getting to know everyone working here as well as all the families in our school

community. My husband Marty who is Sgt. with the Chicago Police Department and I

have been married 35 years, and we have 2 adult children, Veronica and Joey. Veronica

is an educator and coach at Evanston Township High School and Joey is a Special

Education teacher right down the street at Washbourne as well as coaches at

Stevenson. I have many years of experience working with children in various settings in

addition to a classroom and can’t wait to begin a new chapter in an elementary school

environment.

Katherine Morgan (Registered Behavior Technician)

Hi, my name is Katherine Morgan! I’m a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)/associate who’s passionate about supporting children in safe, engaging and inclusive environments. I completed my undergrad in psychology at Drake University, and have experience in both clinical, and academic settings. I’m also a mom and dog owner and an organizer for a local Meetup group where I enjoy connecting people through shared interests and meaningful activities.

I’m very excited to be joining the Winnetka District 36 team!

Dan Orticelli (Special Education Associate)

We are excited to welcome Dan Orticelli to Hubbard Woods as a Special Education Associate! Coming from a family of educators, Dan is eager to begin his official journey in education, following in his grandparents’ footsteps. He brings a calm, consistent presence and a strong commitment to building trusting relationships with students.

Lindsy Webb (Speech Pathologist)

Hello! My name is Lindsy Webb and I will be joining the Hubbard Woods team as the new speech-language pathologist. I have 9 years of experience providing speech and language therapy services in public schools, a private practice, and through teletherapy. I grew up in the Northwest suburbs and spent 7 years living in Las Vegas before returning home to Chicago two years ago. I have a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s Degree from St. Xavier University. I currently live in Chicago and enjoy spending time by the lakefront, going to Cubs games, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with my family.

I’m so excited to be joining the Hubbard Woods community and look forward to a successful school year!

Welcome 3rd and 4th graders. We are happy to announce that we will continue to offer After School Sports. This year, the activities will include Kinetic Wellness's favorite games and new exciting activities specific to this class. We will meet each group once a week after school for ten weeks. This class will run on Tuesday for 3rd grade and Wednesday for 4th grade from 3:15-4:00 p.m. We look forward to another fun session. Please sign up here and if you have any questions, please reach out to Scott Klipowicz at scottklipowicz@winnetka36.org.

Please review this information to ensure your student’s health forms are updated prior to the first day of school.

⚠️ Important Reminders

• Please do not block driveways at any time.

• Please have your child cross at crosswalks or with a crossing guard.

• Please remember to be patient and that the process takes less than 15 minutes.

• If you are in the carpool line, remain in your vehicle so traffic can flow smoothly.

• Students dropped off on Laurel Ave. before 8:30 a.m. can walk to the front of the school to access the playground/blacktop.

• Families walking children into school are encouraged to use neighborhood street parking and avoid blocking access for others.

🕗 Morning Arrival (All Students)

• Supervision begins at 8:20 a.m. on the playground.

• Students may play until 8:28 a.m., at which point staff will direct them to line up.

• Students can enter Hubbard Woods at 8:30 a.m.

• Students arriving after 8:37 a.m. should enter through the front door on Chatfield Rd.

🚗 Car Drop-Off & Pick-Up (Grades 1–4)

• A–L → Chatfield Rd. (front of school). Enter from Green Bay Rd. only.

• M–Z → Laurel (south side). Enter via Laurel only. (Students can enter through door 10 from 8:30a.m. - 8:37a.m.)

• 🚫 No turns from Vine or Burr are permitted for drop-off or pick-up.

• 🚫 Do not use Hamptondale Ave. or Chatfield Rd. west of the school (No Outlet streets) to turn around, as this disrupts our neighbors.

🎒 Kindergarten Drop-Off & Pick-Up

• Kindergarten families use the Kindergarten Circle (enter via Gordon Terrace).

• The queue should form on the west side of Gordon Terrace once the circle is full.

• Teachers and associates will greet children at drop-off and help them transition safely.

• Families with older siblings may use the regular car line. Kindergarteners will be supervised on the playground until school begins.

📅 Dismissal Times

• Kindergarten: 2:10 p.m. (Monday–Friday) – Pick up at the Kindergarten Circle

• Grades 1–4 (Monday): 2:45 p.m.

• Grades 1–4 (Tuesday–Friday): 3:15 p.m.

• Parents arriving early should wait in their vehicles until dismissal time to keep traffic moving.

🚶 Walking to School

• Families who prefer to walk children into the building may park on nearby neighborhood streets.

• Please avoid blocking driveways and always use designated crosswalks for safety.

🚌 Bus Service

• Regular bus service begins on the first day of school.

• Bus routes and schedules are provided by the district transportation office. Families are encouraged to review these before school begins.

We are excited to share the Fall Discovery Club flyers and yearly club calendar with you (attached). Thank you for your patience as we finalized these details.

📅 Registration will be open from September 8–19, 2025.
🍂 The Fall Session runs from September 22–December 5, 2025.

Club listings are also available on our website: Right At School – Hubbard Woods Clubs Fall 2025

If you have any questions, please reach out to hubbardwoods@rightatschool.com.

• Tuesday, September 2nd – First Day of School (8:37 a.m.–11:20 a.m., early dismissal)

• Friday, September 5th - 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Parent Welcome Coffee hosted by PTO in Mann Park

• Tuesday, September 9th - Picture Day

• Wednesday, September 10th - 9:00am Fire Drill

• Friday, September 12th - Spirit Day - Wearing Hubbard Woods Gear

• Monday, September 22nd - Institute Day for Staff (No Student Attendance)

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

• Thursday, September 25th - 6:00 p.m..- 7:30 p.m. Back to School Night

• Tuesday, September 30th - 7:15p.m. School Board Meeting at Washburne