Hubbard Woods Family Newsletter

We are thrilled to share a special moment from our school community! As part of our World Traveler series, our students had the incredible opportunity to explore the rich culture, history, and geography of Brazil, right here at Hubbard Woods!

A heartfelt thank you to the Freitas family for leading this engaging and meaningful presentation. Through the sharing of their experiences, our students gained a deeper appreciation of Brazilian heritage, making connections that extend far beyond the classroom. Moments like these remind us of the power of learning from one another and celebrating the beautiful diversity within the community.

At Hubbard Woods, we take great pride in fostering curiosity in our students. This event was a shining example of how we come together to learn, grow, and appreciate the many cultures that make up our school family. We look forward to more exciting World Traveler experiences and learning about Germany next month.

A big thank you to those individuals on the PTO and Hubbard Woods staff who made this event possible. I appreciate all of your hard work in making this experience a reality!

All the best,

Ivory Ajavon

Principal

In early April the district will administer the state-mandated assessment, Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). The IAR includes complex tasks in reading and math that require strategic reasoning, extended investigation, and writing.

The IAR will be administered to students in Grades 3 through 8 from April 2 - 17, 2025. Individual teachers or schools will send details concerning specific dates and times of testing sessions. District curriculum, which is aligned with the Common Core and Illinois State Priority Standards, exposes students to the content and skills presented on the IAR throughout the school year. In the weeks before the tests, teachers will familiarize students with the computer platform and question format used in the IAR test platform to ensure that students feel comfortable with the test interface.

Information regarding IAR can also be found on the District website. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact your principal.

The Homework & Executive Functioning Network has compiled a list of tips and tricks to support students and parents with homework success at home. Review the list here!

District 36 has chosen to provide the optional Parent Survey Supplement. This allows parents/guardians to share their perspectives on the important elements of school effectiveness. If at least 20% of parents from your student’s school complete the survey, a parent report will be generated. Currently, we are 17% of parents taking the survey.

Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement efforts. All responses are completely confidential and will never be linked back to you or your child. To complete the Parent Survey, click here.

The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. View the entire 2024/2025 schedule here.

Up Next:

Homework and Executive Functioning Support in The Winnetka Public Schools

April 9, 2025

9:30 A.M.

Location: Washburne RC

This session will highlight the work that is being done to better support our students in the area of executive functioning and how the District’s philosophy and expectations on homework will be experienced by our students.

RSVP for this event here

If you missed it, view videos from past sessions:

• Insights on K-8 Literacy Programming in The Winnetka Public Schools

• What to Know About the Otus Parent Portal

• AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 5-8

• Understanding the IEP and 504 Processes: From Referral to Eligibility and Services (with Ms. Denise Matthews, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Equity and Inclusion, and Ms. Jackie Schwartz, Director of Student Services, Equity and Inclusion)

• Acceleration Applications Overview with Assistant Superintendent of Innovation, Teaching and Learning Dr. Becky Mathison

• Preschool/Kindergarten Family Information Night (with Winnetka Administration and Sue Stolzer, Early Childhood Assessment Team Lead from TrueNorth)

• From Washburne to New Trier: A D36 Parent's Guide to the New Trier Transition

• Not Quite Little Kid, Not Quite Teenager: The Developmental Progression of the Middle School Child

The Accelerated Placement Act requires Illinois public school districts to adopt and implement policies on acceleration that provide opportunities for single subject and grade level acceleration. To learn more about District 36’s acceleration policy implementation view this infographic or visit our updated webpage. The request form for accelerated programming in the 2025/26 school year is now open; the request form window is February 24-March 21. If you have questions about the policy, please contact the Asst Supt of Innovation, Teaching and Learning, Dr. Becky Mathison, at beckymathison@winnetka36.org.

Get ready for an exciting Summer 2025 filled with opportunities for growth and learning! We are thrilled to offer a dynamic range of Adventures in Learning (AIL) programs, including Discover, Extended School Year, and Academic Intervention Classes. These programs are designed to provide enriching educational experiences and support for students throughout the summer months.

The Winnetka Public Schools will host summer programs at Greeley and Hubbard Woods Elementary schools from June 23 to July 24, 2025. There will be no class on Friday, July 4. The hours are 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Registration opens March 3, 2025. Details are here.

The Dimension of Belonging featured in March is “Supported” and monthly observances include Women’s History Month. Learn more by reading the Belonging Means… Newsletter which features contributions from Greeley School and the Department of Innovation, Teaching and Learning.

• Tuesday, March 18th at 7:15pm - School Board Meeting at Washburne

• Monday, March 24th - Friday, March 28th - Spring Break

• Monday, March 31st - School Resumes