Hubbard Woods Family Newsletter

Dear Hubbard Woods Families,

This week is Safety Week at Hubbard Woods. Throughout the week, students and staff will participate in important safety drills and learning experiences to help everyone know what to do in different situations.

Our goal as a staff is to focus on the “what to do”, which will involve us focusing on the procedures and routines that keep us safe, rather than the “why.” We want students to feel comfortable and confident during these drills. However, we also know that sometimes children may share information they’ve heard from others. If your child comes home with questions, we encourage you to respond calmly and reassure them that these drills are simply ways we practice being safe together. Attached are some resources that Marion Greenwood, our social worker/ feelings teacher has provided. Please take a look and preview with your young child(ren). Also, please take a look at the email that Ray Finnerty, our director of safety and security, shared with the community yesterday.

Members of the Winnetka police department, fire department, and our director of safety and security will join us to support these drills and connect with students. We’ll end the week with a special "High-Five Friday" celebration, where students can greet and thank our local first responders.

Here’s the schedule for Safety Week:

• Tuesday, October 14: Tornado Drill at 9:00 a.m.

• Wednesday, October 15: Evacuation/ Fire Drill with the Fire Department around 9:00 a.m.

• Thursday, October 16: Lockdown Drill with the Police Department around 9:00 a.m.

• Friday, October 17: High-Five Friday with First Responders during morning arrival

Talking with Your Child About Safety Week

If your child brings up questions about the drills, especially a lock down, here are a few ways to help guide the conversation:
• Keep it simple and reassuring. You might say, “Just like we practice fire drills, we do these to make sure everyone knows what to do to stay safe.”
• Emphasize safety and teamwork. Let your child know that the teachers, police officers, and firefighters are all here to help keep everyone safe.
• Validate feelings. It is normal for some students to feel nervous. Acknowledge their feelings and remind them that practicing helps everyone feel more prepared.
• Reach out if needed. If you notice your child showing ongoing worry or questions, please contact your child’s teacher so that they can reach out to our school team for support.

We appreciate your partnership in helping our students learn these safety routines in a positive and supportive way. Thank you for continuing to work with us to keep our school community safe and strong.

All the best,

Ivory Ajavon

Dear Hubbard Woods Families,

Our school year is off to a great start!!! We wanted to send some information and share exciting happenings in the Spanish classroom.

During the students’ school week, 1st-4th grade students visit the Spanish room three times per week for 30 minutes each time. During this class period, we sing songs, play games, read stories, and act in plays to begin building a Spanish base. We expose our youngest language learners in the most natural way possible, in accordance with our district’s Comprehensible Input (CI) method of World Language learning. For more on the Comprehensible Input methodology, please visit the District’s World Languages webpage.

During the first weeks of school, we learned about Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated from September 15th through October 15th, by learning in which countries Spanish is spoken, as well as reading books by Hispanic authors and “meeting” famous people who have Hispanic heritage! We will celebrate the end of this fun holiday by having a piñata party in the gym this Tuesday, October 14th during their regular KW time. The KW coaches and the Spanish teachers are teaming up to have a super fun celebration with the 1st through 4th grade students! You might see your child bringing Spanish necklaces, or bracelets home on Tuesday!

First and second graders have been working on reinforcing the high frequency verbs (quiere - wants, le gusta - likes, tiene - has, va a - goes to, etc.) using games, chants, and associations. This will get them ready to read Dragones y Tacos (Dragons like Tacos), Diego está enfermo (Diego is sick) and Juan y los Frijoles Mágicos (Jack and the Beanstalk)

Third and fourth graders have been working on calendar vocabulary, with questions like: ¿qué día es hoy? (what day is today?), ¿qué día es mañana? (what day is tomorrow?), ¿qué día fue ayer? (what day was yesterday?) as well as identifying the current season. They are starting to read their first graphic novel of the year La Lucha de la Limonada by Sr. Wooly. They will continue to read the novels Brandon Brown dice la verdad (Brandon Brown tells the Truth) and Brandon Brown quiere un perro (Brandon Brown wants a dog) by Carol Gaab.

It’s going to be a great year filled with fun and learning in the Spanish classroom!

If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Saludos,

Rocio Monge, 1st grade-4th grade Spanish teacher

rociomonge@winnetka36.org

Marnie Van der Voort, 1st grade Spanish teacher

marnievandervoort@winnetka36.org

In consideration of the 26/27 School Year, the Winnetka Public Schools Calendar Committee is seeking feedback from Winnetka families. Creation of a school year calendar is dictated by the collective bargaining agreement between the School Board and the Winnetka Education Association as well as requirements from the state. This feedback will provide the committee with a sense of families’ priorities when it comes to planning for a new school year.

The survey window will be open from October 1 to October 17.

Conference sign-ups are now open until October 28 at noon! Please follow the instructions emailed to you on September 25 to schedule your student.

*Tip: the unique login code is highlighted in yellow and is different from your student’s ID number.

If you experience any difficulty with logging in, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at help@winnetka36.org.

Each October, we take time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions of individuals with disabilities in our schools, workplaces, and communities. It is an opportunity to highlight the importance of inclusion, respect, and equal opportunity for all.

Progressive Tenets in Action: Whole Child Approach

October 15, 2025

9:30 A.M.

Location: SK Community Room

Join the first in a three-part series that will explore the District’s Progressive Education Tenets. Learn about what a Whole Child Approach means and how it comes alive in our classrooms.

Interested:

RSVP for this event here

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

Feedback Link

• October 13th-17th - Hubbard Woods Safety Week

• Tuesday October 14th Tornado Drill at 9am
• Wednesday, October 15th around 9am Evacuation/ Fire Drill with Fire Department/ Photo Retakes
• Thursday, October 16th around 9:00am Lockdown Drill with Police Department
• Friday, October 17th at Arrival - High Five Friday with First Responders
• Wednesday, October 29th - Ghost Walk
• Kindergarten Ghost Walk at 9am
• 1st-4th Ghost Walk at 1:30pm
• Thursday, October 30th - No School/ Parent/ Teacher Conferences
• Friday, October 31st - No School/ Parent/ Teacher Conferences
• Wednesday, December 17th - Winter Sing (Times TBD)