Monday Memo

Dear Washburne Families,

Last week, we were visited by our State Representative, Robyn Gabel. Representative Gabel participated in the "Principal for the Day" program, where she took a student-led tour, visited related studies classes to learn about what makes Washburne unique, and met with 8th-grade students to discuss the legislative process. She also took questions from students, who did a great job asking about current events, e-bike legislation, and the Bears' move to the new stadium.

This week, we will kick off our Washburne Safety Week. Students will participate in a fire drill with the Winnetka Fire Department, a lockdown drill with the Winnetka Police Department, and a tornado drill at school. Last week, students previewed these experiences with Mr. Ray Finnerty by grade level teams.

In addition, this week is also Halloween. Below is some guidance if your child decides to dress up on Wednesday, October 29th. Please make sure that your child adheres to the following guidelines:

Students may not wear a mask with their costumes.
All costumes should reflect good taste and common sense. Nothing deemed inappropriate by our regular dress code will be allowed.
Weapons of any nature are not allowed. This includes toy guns, knives, sticks, swords, etc.
Students will be in their costumes for the entire day, so it should be comfortable for them to wear.

Take care,

Dr. Luke Livingston

Principal

Mr. Ben Horwitz

Assistant Principal

October:

Monday, October 27 | Washburne Safety Week

Wednesday, October 29 | Lockdown Safety Drill

Thursday, October 30 | Conferences

Friday, October 31 | Conferences

November:

Tuesday, November 4 | Picture Retake Day

Wednesday, November 5 | Fall Vocal Showcase 7pm

Thursday, November 6 | Remote Practice Day (Devices go home and return Thursday)

Thursday, November 20 | Winter Band Concert 7:30

Friday, November 21 | End of Trimester 1 & Thanksgiving Break Begins

Monday | Washburne Spirit Wear:

On Mondays, staff and students are encouraged to wear their Washburne gear or wear our school colors.

Fall Conferences

Fall conferences across the district will be on Thursday, October 30th and Friday, October 31st. Families will be able to sign up for a 20 minute conference with your child’s advisor beginning on October 3rd at 12:00 PM. Conferences are student led and students are expected to come and do a lot of leading of their conferences with the advisor.

Last year, Washburne changed its fall conference model to five-minute sessions with individual teachers since these conferences took place at the end of the trimester. With a return to earlier conferences this year, we are shifting back to our traditional advisor conferences in the fall. Individual five minute conferences will remain the model for our winter conferences.

Conference sign-up is open until 10/28 at noon. For any additions/changes past that point, please contact the school’s main office.

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 your Parents Meeting code to log in
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.
Instructions with screenshots

Washburne Safety Week

Washburne’s Safety Week will be held next week beginning on October 27th. During this week, we will practice three of our required safety drills, an evacuation drill on October 27th, a shelter drill on October 28th, and a lockdown drill on October 29th.

Monthly Observances | October | Disability Awareness

In October, Americans observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month by paying tribute to the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep the nation’s economy strong and by reaffirming their commitment to ensure equal opportunity for all citizens. At Washburne it is also a time for our learning community to focus on a culture of inclusion and learn more about disabilities. You can access the building library destiny collection here.

Cardio/Resistance Training Club Registration:

Cardio/Resistance Training Club is a time for students to improve their fitness training, going beyond what is done in Kinetic Wellness. The Club will meet Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30 – 4:30. Students may attend when their schedule allows. As a member of the cardio/resistance training club, students will receive 3 hours a week in the fitness room, supervision from a certified KW teacher, and a chance to perform their own workout. The club will start on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 and will continue until March 26, 2026. All students are welcome to join us as we set goals, work on personal training habits, and work on another wonderful lifetime fitness activity. Please reach out to Candice Florance at candiceflorance@winnetka36.org with any questions. The CW - Cardio/Resistance Training Club is live on the District Web Store. Registration opens at 9am on Tuesday, October 28th.

Dance Marathon Club:

The Dance Marathon to raise funds for Lurie Children’s Hospital is back! Keeping in line with our district’s progressive philosophy, student voice is a major component of this event. Each year we’ve had a vibrant, dedicated student steering committee who helps plan, promote, and run the event. These students do everything from designing the logo, to creating posters and videos promoting the event, and running the booths at the actual event. This committee meets on Thursday mornings at 8:00, starting monthly in October, then twice a month, then weekly as we near the spring event. If your child wants to be on this exciting committee who plans a fun event for a great cause, please sign up your child via the district website by October 31st.

Click on this link: Dance Marathon Link Then click on Washburne Non-Sports.
Questions: Email Rachel Hirsh, DeAnna SaLander, and Tracy Silverman

6th-8th Grade Math Enthusiasts:

Does your child have a passion for MATHEMATICS? They should join our district MathCounts Team! MathCounts is a national math competition where students compete for a chance to go to the State, and even the National Math Competition. Each week we will learn new skills, play games, and do challenges to prepare for the competition. This club will meet on Tuesdays from 3:45-4:45 pm at Carleton Washburne School in Room S204. The regional competition will be on 2/7/26 at Oakton College in Skokie. Hope to see you on November 4th, 2025 (first day). You can register on the district website: https://winnetka.revtrak.net/rw-clubs-and-athletics/#/list

Washington DC Trip 8th grade (Due Date is October 31st to secure a spot)

We are sharing information from World Strides about next year's 8th grade Washington DC Trip (please note, this is not a school-sponsored trip).You can register for the trip here.

Questions? Reach out to DJ Barraca or Teri Knaff.

Practice Remote Learning Activity on November 6, 2025:

To ensure our students are prepared for any potential shift to remote learning due to multiple days of inclement weather, we have planned a proactive practice activity. This practice session is an important step in ensuring that our students remain connected and ready for learning should inclement weather occur.

Date for Device Take-Home: On Thursday, November 6, all students will bring their school-issued iPads home.
Objective: The goal is for each student to connect their device to their home Wi-Fi network and ensure they have access to the necessary tools and platforms.
Return of Devices: Please ensure that the devices are returned to school with your child on Friday, November 7.
Communication: Additional communication and reminders, as well as a form to record any issues your student experiences, will be sent closer to this practice event.

As we approach the winter months, it is important to review our district's inclement weather policy. Our top priority is always the safety of our students and staff. We take a comprehensive and thoughtful approach when faced with weather-related decisions such as heavy snow or extreme cold, and work closely with our township and Village partners to plan accordingly.

Deciding When to Close School:
When determining whether to close schools due to inclement weather, we consider several factors:

Safety First: The well-being of our students and staff is paramount.
Travel Conditions: We evaluate the state of area roads and the potential for hazardous conditions that could develop during the day.
Extreme Cold: During periods of severe cold, we consult weather reports and liaise with our transportation providers about the feasibility of running bus routes.
Collaborative Decision Making: We coordinate with New Trier Township superintendents for a unified approach to school closures.

Communication with Families:
In the event of a closure, we will communicate with you through our Blackboard system. This includes:

Phone Call, Email, and Text: Please ensure you've opted-in for text notifications.
Website Updates: Visit our website at www.winnetka36.org for up-to-date information regarding school closures.
Regional Closures: Check the Emergency Closing Center for a comprehensive list of school closures in our region.

Communication Timing: Our goal is to finalize and communicate any closure decision prior to 6 a.m. on that day.

Handling School Closure Days:

First Inclement Weather Day: The first closure day will be treated as a traditional “snow day,” and will require adding an extra day to the school year in June.
Subsequent Days: For any additional inclement weather days, we will shift to remote learning in order to ensure that we do not need to extend the school year further into June.

Remote Learning Details:

Teacher Communication: Email as well as postings in our Learning Management Systems (Grades 5-8 - Schoology, Grades K-4 - Seesaw) will be utilized. Parents can expect communication from their homeroom or advisory teacher by 8:00 a.m.
Student Experience: Remote learning will follow the typical school schedule, combining synchronous and asynchronous methods. For our K-4 students, related arts teachers will now join their homeroom teacher’s Zoom so that our younger students do not need to manage leaving and joining different Zoom sessions.
Special Education Services: Students receiving services will have these services provided to the greatest extent possible, coordinated by the case manager or service provider.
Remote Learning Schedule: The schedules that will be used for remote learning can be viewed here.

Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated as we prepare for the possibility of inclement weather. Thank you for your continued support.

Progressive Tenets in Action: Experiential and Meaningful Learning

November 12, 2025

9:30 A.M.

Washburne Cafeteria

Join the second in a three-part series that will explore the District’s Progressive Education Tenets. Learn about what Experiential and Meaningful Learning means and how it comes alive in our classrooms.

Interested:

RSVP here

Following the event a link will be provided to the taped presentation on the website.

Feedback Link

Parent Survey: Crossing Guard Locations:

Parent Survey: Crossing Guard Locations

The safety and well being of our students and staff is our number one priority. That includes ensuring that our students have safe pathways to school, especially if they choose to walk or ride their bike. The Winnetka Public Schools have received feedback that the current placement of a crossing guard at Willow and Wilson (in the Greeley attendance zone) would be better utilized at Sunset and Green Bay Roads as students make their way to and from school. Given this information, we wanted to solicit your input via this survey as we consider a possible relocation of our crossing guard in that area. Survey participation is voluntary and all responses are anonymous. The survey will close on October 30, 2025.

“Winnetka Voices”

Season 4, Episode 1:

Mentoring New Teachers by Cultivating & Growing Our Talents Together

Season 4 of the “Winnetka Voices,” kicks off with a conversation on how new teachers are equipped to succeed in a robust two-year Mentorship program in The Winnetka Public Schools. Superintendent Dr. Kelly Tess and special guests Jeff Knapp, Assistant Superintendent of Professional Learning and Human Resources and Ruthie Helmer, 5th grade math and science teacher and Mentorship Coordinator, reflect on the District’s commitment to supporting new teachers so they are best equipped to tend to their students’ academic, social and emotional needs. “We want them to feel like this is home and in turn make it “home” for our kids,” says Mr. Knapp. Ms. Helmer reflects, “We really are making an impact on future generations…Being a teacher is a true calling and Winnetka is a special place. Everyone here has that same calling.”

Listen here: