Hubbard Woods Family Newsletter

In a world that moves quickly, it can be easy for our elders to feel overlooked. That is why this initiative meant so much. A heartfelt thank you to Liz Wintz and Marion Greenwood for leading this meaningful work at Hubbard Woods. We are also so grateful to the many students and classroom teachers who embraced the opportunity to think beyond themselves and demonstrate kindness and care through National Letter to an Elder Day.

It was truly heartwarming to see the incredible number of notes written for Mr. Ed. The thoughtful messages, creativity, and joy reflected in each one are sure to bring a big smile to his face.

Illinois’ Accelerated Placement Act requires public school districts to maintain policies that allow for both single-subject and whole-grade acceleration when appropriate.

To learn more about how District 36 implements its acceleration policy, families may:

• View this overview infographic

• Visit the district’s Early Entrance and Acceleration webpage

• Watch the January 2025 Winnetka Parent Institute session on acceleration

Families who are considering whether acceleration may be an appropriate option for their child are encouraged to begin with this parent reflection worksheet, which is designed to support thoughtful decision-making prior to submitting a request.

The request form for accelerated programming for the 2026–27 school year is now open. The request window runs from March 2 through March 20.

Questions about the acceleration policy may be directed to Dr. Becky Mathison, Assistant Superintendent of Innovation, Teaching and Learning, at beckymathison@winnetka36.org.

Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. Women’s History Month is a dedicated month to reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of women to United States history. From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, the timeline of women’s history milestones stretches back to the founding of the United States.

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

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!

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. Currently, Hubbard Woods is at 15% of parents who have taken the survey.

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.

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:

• Adventures in Learning 2025 Program Details.

• Registration- Winnetka Revtrak

• Monday, March 2nd - Adventures in Learning Sign up at 1pm
• Wednesday, March 18th - Math Night at Hubbard Woods 6pm-6:45pm
• Monday, March 30th - Friday, April 3rd -No School (Spring Break)
• Monday, April 6th - School Resumes
• Tuesday, April 7th - 10th - Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) State Testing for 3rd and 4th graders