Greeley Greeting

Dear Greeley Families,

Thank you for your strong partnership during parent-teacher conferences on Thursday and Friday. These conversations are such an important opportunity to celebrate growth, reflect on student progress, and align on next steps to support each child. We deeply value the trust and collaboration you bring to these discussions. When school and home work together, our students thrive, and we are grateful for your shared commitment to strong outcomes for every child.

Below you’ll find a full newsletter with several new registration opportunities and important updates for the weeks ahead. If you select a link that does not have a blue button directly beneath it, please scroll to the top of the newsletter and click the small grey text that reads, “Not displaying correctly? View in browser.” Opening the newsletter in your browser will ensure all links are accessible and easy to navigate.

With gratitude,

Lindsay

March

• Friday 3/6: End of Trimester 2
• Monday, 3/9: Start of Trimester 3
• Thursday, 3/12: Greeley PTO STEAM Night
• Wednesday 3/18: Progress Reports Released to Families in Powerschool
• Friday, 3/27: Half Day for Students (11:30am Dismissal)-Teacher Institute PM
• Monday 3/30-Friday, April 3: Spring Break

• Monday 4/6: School Resumes
• Tuesday, 4/7: Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) Testing Begins for Grades 3-4
• Tuesday, 4/7: District Chorus Concert 7-8pm
• Wednesday 4/22: Greeley Strings Concert 6:30-7:30pm
• Tuesday, 4/28: 5th Grade Orientation at Skokie School (4th Grade Families) 5:30-7:00pm

I am excited to share a glimpse into the wonderful learning happening into Ms. Scommegna's kindergarten classroom!

As part of the kindergarten Ecology unit, students recently wrapped up an engaging study of the rainforest, exploring this rich ecosystem through literature, art, discussion, and play. Children identified and described living and non-living elements found in the rainforest and began developing a deeper understanding of how these parts work together within an ecosystem.

During class read-alouds, students practiced identifying the main topic and recalling key details with teacher support. They also explored the differences between fiction and nonfiction texts about the rainforest, building important early literacy skills while expanding their content knowledge.

Students contributed to a class Venn diagram comparing texts, recorded their thinking in lab notebooks, and engaged with thoughtfully designed rainforest hands on activities around the classroom.

These hands-on experiences allowed them to explore concepts through imaginative play, art, and collaborative conversation, all hallmarks of the joyful, inquiry-based learning we value at Greeley.

It is inspiring to see our youngest learners so curious, thoughtful, and engaged.

What an incredible month of reading, connection, and community we have shared through our One School One Book (OSOB) experience! It has been such a joy to see students talking about the story in the hallways and celebrating reading together as one school community. Be sure to check out the photos below highlighting our students’ creative robot creations. Their imagination, craftsmanship, and enthusiasm have been so fun to see on display!

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing PTO and Parent OSOB Committee for selecting such a fantastic book and for the thoughtful planning that made this month so special. Your time, creativity, and commitment to bringing families together around literacy truly made an impact.

We are especially excited for this week’s Author Visit on Wednesday! Students are looking forward to hearing directly from the author about the writing process and inspiration behind the story. Our raffle winners will also enjoy a special lunch with the author, which will be such a memorable opportunity!

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.

Mrs. Glenn has curated a collection of books for our Greeley students in recognition of Women's History Month, our monthly observance for March. Please check out the collection using the button below.

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.

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

This week we recognize National SEL Week! 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. 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!

Now that the district calendar for next year has been officially approved, those dates have been added to the Greeley Public Calendar. If you subscribe to the calendar, you should already see them reflected on your device.

We have also confirmed next year’s school picture dates: Wednesday, September 23 for Picture Day and Wednesday, November 4 for Retakes. These dates have been added to the Greeley Public Calendar as well for your convenience.

First and second graders are getting ready to read the book “Dragones Y Tacos” There is a lot of excitement as many students are quite familiar with this book in English. We will explore the Spanish language version together!

Third and fourth graders are currently moving through the novel “Brandon Brown Dice La Verdad”. As we read through the book, students volunteer to act out the story chapter by chapter. Students eagerly want to be chosen as they have so much fun playing the different characters and reading the lines in Spanish.

The next time you are in the building or giving the school a call, please welcome Ms. Nancy Mancilla to Greeley! She joins us in the front office as the entrance monitor and is excited to help support a safe and welcoming office environment for students, staff, and families.

Do you know any incoming kindergartners for next year? If so, please encourage them to register soon!

Registration for incoming kindergarteners and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2026/2027 is now open on the District website and via this link. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2026, are eligible to enroll. Children will not be considered enrolled until both the online and paper portion of registration has been completed and residency documentation is verified. If you have any questions, please visit the District website or contact the Registrar at 847-446-9400.

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 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

School Hours:

8:20am | Morning supervision begins

8:30am | School Doors open

8:37am | School promptly begins

2:10pm | Regular Extended Day Kindergarten dismissal (Monday-Friday)

2:45pm | Grades 1-4 & Stay and Play kindergarten dismissal (Mondays only)

3:15pm | Grades 1-4 & Stay and Play kindergarten dismissal (Tuesday-Friday)

Office Email: danarahkhem@winnetka36.org

Location: 275 Fairview Avenue Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847)-446-6060