Hubbard Woods Family Newsletter

We hope you were able to join us for our Spring Sing this week. It was a joyful celebration of our students and the spirit of our school community.

A special thank you to Ms. Banks for the care, time, and thoughtfulness she poured into orchestrating this experience with students. What made this performance so meaningful was the way it was truly student-led. From developing ideas to shaping the final performance, students had a voice throughout the entire process, with Ms. Banks guiding and supporting them every step of the way. It was a powerful example of what happens when students are given ownership of their learning.

We also hope you enjoyed the beautiful visual artwork displayed throughout the performance, thanks to the creativity and dedication of Ms. Bammy. Her work added another layer of richness to the experience and highlighted the many ways our students express themselves.

Thank you for being part of such a special event and for continuing to support the arts in our school community.

Annual Online Registration is now open here. Details such as the Snapcode needed for Registration were sent to families via email. If you did not receive this information or have any questions, please contact Maria Perez, District Registrar, at 847-446-9400 or mariaperez@winnetka36.org. Please register at your earliest convenience in order to ensure the District can best plan for staffing needs for the upcoming school year.

Additionally, please note the following:

50% Discount on Bus Transportation for 2026/2027

The District is offering optional, parent-paid bus service with a 50% reduced flat fee, approved by the School Board. Registration is completed separately via Revtrak.

Transportation Fees & Deadlines:

• $515 flat fee: April 14 – July 10, 2026

• $565 flat fee: July 11 – August 1, 2026

One flat fee applies whether your student rides AM only, PM only, or round-trip. No additional discounts are available for one-way service or multiple riders.Registration is open through August 1, 2026.

Thank you to our students, families, PTO volunteers and staff for your engagement in Book Swap Day on April 22. It was wonderful to see so many books donated and to watch students thoughtfully browse and select new additions for their home libraries. The day felt especially meaningful as it aligned with Earth Day, reminding us of the importance of reusing and sharing resources within our community.

At the Hubbard Woods field trips on April 29 and April 30, a Winnetka Historical Society documentarian will be present to record footage of students exploring the log house. We ask that you either grant permission or opt out via this form no later than April 28, 2026.

Read more about the project here:

The Winnetka Historical Society (WHS) is producing a documentary on the history of the Schmidt-Burnham Log House which is the oldest log structure in Cook County, Illinois. Built c. 1837, it was the longest occupied home in northern Illinois until the daughter of Anita Willets-Burnham gifted it to the Winnetka Historical Society in 2001. It was then moved to Crow Island Woods and opened to the public in 2006. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and currently open to the public May-November on Sundays utilizing part-time staff and volunteers.

The documentary will share the history of this amazing structure as well as the stories of the people that lived there. It will be produced by award-winning filmmaker John Newcombe and former Winnetkan, who also produced documentaries on Winnetka and Kenilworth. The film will include interviews with grandchildren of Anita Willets Burnham, Winnetkans who were part of the acquisition and move of the Log House, and recent log house visitors, including children, to glean their perspective on the history and exhibits within.

In addition, related artifacts, photographs, maps, and artwork from the Winnetka Historical Society’s vast collection will be integrated into the documentary. The content of the film will target both children and adults alike and will be launched at a series of screenings in partnership with local organizations including the Winnetka Northfield Public Library, D36, North Shore Senior Center and Community House Winnetka. It will then be made available to schools and the public for free through our YouTube channel.

The documentary is funded by the Dr. Scholl Foundation

First Graders to Welcome Author Jacob Grant

Author and illustrator Jacob Grant will be visiting our school on Wednesday, April 29, for a storytime and to teach students how to draw some of his characters! Jacob's newest book is Turtle Slept In, about a sea turtle who wakes up late and has to venture across the beach to the sea! His other recent picture books include Umami, No Fair!, and No Pants!

Families can order signed copies of Jacob's books at this link:

http://www.bookedevanston.com/turtlesleptin

Please place your order by Sunday, April 26!

Many thanks to our friends at Booked in Evanston for making the visit possible!

May 13, 2026:

Stress and the Brain: Helping Kids Handle Big Feelings

SEL Integrations, Inc. presentation

May 13, 2026

9:30 A.M.

Location: Skokie Community Room (in person event)

When kids get overwhelmed, their brains and bodies can react in powerful ways. In this

session, we will learn what is really happening in the brain during stressful moments,

including what it means when a child “flips their lid” and how to respond with calm and compassion. We will share simple strategies and sample scripts to help support kids with managing big emotions while strengthening connection.

Interested:

RSVP for this event here

As we begin planning class placements for the 2026–2027 school year, we engage in a thoughtful and collaborative process to create balanced, supportive learning communities for all students. This process considers a range of factors, including each child’s academic and social-emotional profile, as well as insights from current teachers and families.

If you would like to share information about your child’s learning style or any academic or social-emotional considerations that may help inform this process, you are welcome to do so by completing the parent input form by Friday, May 1. Family input will be reviewed in full by Ms. Ajavon.

While we deeply value your perspective, we are not able to honor requests for specific teachers. Relevant information that is not tied to a specific teacher request will be thoughtfully shared with our educators as part of the placement process.

Thank you for your trust and partnership as we work to create positive and meaningful learning experiences for every child at Hubbard Woods.

Ms. Delzell is excited to invite the Hubbard Woods School community to join her in celebrating her favorite place in the school - our library! There are three schoolwide celebrations she hopes you'll mark your calendars for...

Friday, May 1 is not technically part of the month of April but it is D.E.A.R. Day!

Beverly Cleary first introduced the world to Drop Everything and Read in Ramona Quimby, Age 8, and her birthday is April 12, which is a Sunday. May 1 is a Friday and a half-day for students, so hopefully, a D.E.A.R. interruption here at school will just blend into a non-normal day.

Any questions? Please reach out directly to Ms. Delzell (lizdelzell@winnetka36.org). Happy School Library Month!

Mr. Philip Burchell and Ms. Christina Venos, Kindergarten teachers in The Winnetka Public Schools, join Superintendent Dr. Kelly Tess for an engaging conversation about this formative year in school. They share insights into how early literacy, social skills, and curiosity are developed through creating opportunities for play and fostering a love of learning. Tune in to hear how Winnetka’s youngest students begin their educational journey. As Mr. Burchell notes, “At the end of the day, we’re building good humans and that is the most important part of all of it.”

Listen here:

Apple Podcast

Amazon

Spotify

iHeart

• Wednesday, April 29th - Strings Concert at 7pm
• Friday, May 1st - Complete FY27 Class Placement Parent Input Survey