Hubbard Woods Family Newsletter

Dear Hubbard Woods Families,

At Hubbard Woods, we’ve been talking a lot about what it means to belong. We want every child and adult in our community to truly feel it. Belonging lives in the everyday moments: a smile, a wave, making space for someone’s ideas, or noticing when a classmate might need a little extra support.

One of our school wide expectations, We Respect and Include, has been guiding our conversations. We’ve been focusing on what it means to be present. Being present is more than just showing up. It’s about seeing others, being seen, being welcomed, and being valued. Our children have been practicing this during assemblies, in classrooms, and during lunch and recess.

Together, these small daily actions and celebrations at school and home help us make sure that belonging isn’t just a word. It’s a lived experience for every student, parent, and staff member at Hubbard Woods.

Sincerely,

Ivory

Principal

We are excited to welcome you to Go To School Night, a special evening to meet your child’s teacher, step into their classroom, and learn more about the school day at Hubbard Woods.

📅 Thursday, September 25
🕕 6:00–7:25 p.m.
📍 Hubbard Woods School

Please note: Go To School Night is for adult caregivers only.

The evening will begin with a Principal’s Message in the Auditorium, where I will share updates on our school’s areas of focus for the year. Following that, you’ll rotate into classroom sessions organized by last name and grade level:

• 6:00–6:25 – Principal’s Message (Auditorium)

• 6:30–6:55 – A–L: K–2nd grade | M–Z: 3rd–4th grade

• 7:00–7:25 – A–L: 3rd–4th grade | M–Z: K–2nd grade

We look forward to spending this evening together as we kick off another wonderful year at Hubbard Woods!

Referendum-funded construction is complete at all five campuses, the highlights of which include a new gym and classrooms at Crow Island, a beautiful multi-purpose room at Hubbard Woods, and many more essential improvements to our historic schools. Please join us for community open houses at all campuses on September 20 from 9 a.m.-11:00 a.m. A ribbon cutting will take place at 9 a.m. at the new Crow Island gym.

September 22, 2025

Time: 5:00 PM

Location: Skokie Auditorium

In this session, parents, caregivers, and community members will explore the transformative world of Generative AI in education and discover how AI is reshaping learning. We'll address common myths, discuss ethical considerations, and provide strategies for supporting your child's AI literacy. Through interactive demonstrations and focused discussion, you'll learn to effectively partner with your children as they navigate AI-enhanced learning environments and leave equipped with the knowledge and confidence to embrace educational technology while fostering responsible AI use at home and in the classroom.

Interested:

RSVP here

Feedback Link

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.

As part of the districtwide math curricular review, select classrooms will be participating in a math pilot this year.

Purpose of the Pilot
Our goal is to build a vertically aligned and coherent math system that supports all learners through rigorous, standards-aligned resources. The pilot allows us to evaluate high quality instructional materials in real classroom settings, considering how they meet student needs and align with our progressive teaching and learning values.

What to Expect
Families whose students are in pilot classrooms will receive direct communication with a general timeline. While one unit will be taught using a pilot resource in place of the current one, students' daily experience will remain consistent. All participating teachers receive training and will ensure instructional supports are in place for students as needed.

How We Will Evaluate Resources
We will consider student engagement and understanding, teacher usability, standards alignment, and feedback from students and families.

Timeline
Feedback collected during the pilot will help inform a final recommendation to the Board of Education in Spring 2026. The selected resource or resources will be implemented districtwide in the 2026–27 school year.

If you have general questions about the pilot, please reach out to patrickdawson@winnetka36.org.

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 Latinx Heritage Month as well as Patriot Day, which occurred this past week.

• Families can learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month here, which is celebrated from September 15th to October 15th.

• 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

For the safety of all, bicycles should be walked on school property. Students are expected to walk their bikes upon arrival and secure them in the designated racks. Please ensure bicycles are not left on sidewalks or in front of exit doors, as this creates safety hazards.

In response to parent feedback, District 36 is enhancing how families access student information through the integration of three tools designed to improve communication, transparency, and ease of use.

PowerSchool: Digital Document Delivery & Parent Portal Library
The PowerSchool Parent Portal now delivers official school documents such as PDFs of assessment results that were traditionally mailed home directly. Families will receive email notifications when new files are posted for viewing download.

Within the new Parent Portal Document Library tab, documents and student-specific resources will be stored throughout the year. We will build out individualized folders over time to ensure easy, centralized access to important information related to your student.

Otus: Student Data Dashboard
Otus allows families to view academic and social-emotional assessment results (e.g., MAP, DIBELS, aimswebPlus, SSIS, IAR, ISA) in a clear, visual format. This platform supports richer conversations with teachers and provides ongoing insight into student growth. Parents will receive student access codes via email on September 8. These codes will also be stored in your student’s Document Library in PowerSchool.

Parents Meeting: Simplified Conference Scheduling
Launching this fall, Parents Meeting will allow families to book conferences, view meeting details, and attend virtually if needed through one platform. Account setup instructions will be shared the week of September 22 in preparation for fall conference sign-ups opening up on October 3 at 12 p.m. Please review the attached image for a detailed view of important parent communications dates throughout this school year.

All registrations are available through RevTrak: https://winnetka.revtrak.net/

Registration for the following optional fees, programs, and services closes on September 30:

• Kindergarten Stay & Play
  

• iPad Insurance

• Elementary & Skokie Milk Fees

Bus Registration -Reopens: Monday, September 15 and Closes: September 30

The District offers optional, parent-paid bus service. To encourage ridership, the School Board has approved a 50% fee reduction for this school year.

• Flat fee: $550 per student (AM only, PM only, or Round Trip)
  
  

Register via RevTrak: https://winnetka.revtrak.net/

Right Club – Before/After-School Care
The District partners with Right at School to provide:

• Before-school care at Greeley (with bus service to students’ home schools)
  

• After-school programming at Crow Island, Greeley, and Hubbard Woods

Register here

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

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

• Thursday, September 25th- October 10th - Benchmark Assessment Period

• 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