Greeley Greeting

August 20, 2024

Week of June 2, 2025

Principal's Message

Dear Greeley Families,

Last week was filled with both cherished traditions and exciting new experiences.

We celebrated the beloved Second Grade Bike Rodeo, a tradition in our district since at least the 1970s. This event would not be possible without the support of the Winnetka Police Department, Troop 20 Scouts, Green Bay Cycles, and our amazing PTO. We are so grateful for their partnership in keeping this experience alive for our students and families.

We also kicked off what we hope will become a new Greeley tradition—the Graduate Walk! It was heartwarming to welcome back the Greeley Class of 2017 for one final stroll through their elementary school halls. These now–high school graduates revisited their memory books, reconnected with former teachers, and shared their plans for the future. It was a special moment for all of us, and we’ve included some photos of the event below.

This week, our staff are turning their focus to year-end reflection and planning. Through our data team meetings, we are reviewing student growth and preparing to support next year’s learners. As lifelong learners ourselves, we are committed to continuous improvement and to aligning our work with the new District Strategic Plan. We look forward to sharing updates on our progress and future goals in upcoming newsletters.

In the meantime, we encourage you to check in on your child’s progress in literacy and math by logging into the Otus portal. Helpful resources are linked below to support you in this process.

Warmly,

Lindsay

Upcoming Dates

June

6/6 Half Day-11:20am dismissal
6/9 June birthday lunches with the principal
6/10 Field Day (6/11 Field Day Rain Date)
6/12 Fourth Grade Celebration (6/13 Rain Date)
6/16 Last Day of School (11:20am dismissal)

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New Information

Help us Plan for Next School Year

🎓 Student Registration Reminder- Deadline: June 30, 2025

Please complete registration as soon as possible to secure placement and inform optional services. Use this link to access online registration for both returning and new students

AND…. Don’t forget

🚌 50% Discount on Bus Transportation for 2025–2026! Register via Revtrak

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

Transportation Fees & Deadlines:

$500 flat fee: April 7 – July 11, 2025
$550 flat fee: July 12 – August 1, 2025

Applies to AM only, PM only, or round-trip service — one price for all.

👶 Kindergarten Transportation

Half-Day & Extended-Day K: AM-only service eligible
Extended-Day & Stay & Play Program (fee-based): Eligible for round-trip service

🚨 Important Bus Registration Notes:

No additional discounts for one-way service or multiple riders
Bus registration closes August 1 – September 14
Reopens September 15 – 30, 2025

Library Books Due

Last Spirit Day

This Friday, June 6th will be our last Spirit Day of the year. We look forward to seeing everyone in their Greeley gear for the half day!

June Monthly Observances

June includes four observances on the calendar: LGBTQ+ Pride, Immigrant Heritage, Eid-El-Adha and Juneteenth. The points below may help families to understand what can be expected during the month of June:

School Bulletin Board displays may include prominent LGBTQ, Immigrant, Muslim and Black American figures.
Resource Centers will have a display of books that align with the observances of the month, as has occurred throughout the school year.
Library collections vary by school and are shared with families in principal newsletters as well as the “Belonging Means” newsletter.
The Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Pride, on the list of Monthly Observances is not synonymous with K-8 instruction relating to sexuality or sexual identity but rather a recognition of contributions of those in the LGBTQ+ Pride community.
Sexual health education is taught in fifth and seventh grades, and remains isolated to the existing content and standards in those grades alone. Parents of students in those grades are provided with a preview of the content and able to review materials at their request prior to those units being taught in the spring.

Our observances are designed to build awareness, respect, and understanding among students from all backgrounds and family structures. These celebrations help us teach the values of inclusion, empathy, and shared humanity that are foundational to our educational mission.

As part of our commitment to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and educational environment for all students, the District highlights Monthly Observances that reflect the diverse histories, identities, and contributions within our school community and broader society. These observances are grounded in our values of respect, empathy, and belonging for every child and family. Families can read more about our commitment to equity and inclusion here, and specific information about monthly observances here.

Battle of the Books

Reminders from Last Week

A Note From Our Strings Teacher, Ms. Cai

Just a quick email to let you know it is that time of year again. Recruitment assemblies will be taking place within the next few weeks at Greeley, Hubbard Woods and Crow Island for current 1st-3rd grade students. 4th grade students will have a separate assembly where they will learn more about the program at Skokie. 4th graders can also start on any string instrument including the string bass!! Students will be introduced to the instruments that they can learn at school: violin, viola, cello and string bass. (4th graders only) The registration forms will be electronic again this year via Google Forms. Here are the links for registration--

For the current 1st-3rd Grade students

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/11Ht_yhorZu0uC6AmKMa_6l1GBSoY1bzqfl5ABvbWx_o/viewform?edit_requested=true

For the current 4th Grade students

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18F1VD3QswnQ4gy1Fudu--zNjluGxIt_zw6_zpoFRz0c/edit

The registration deadline will be at the end of June. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Ms.Yue Cai

Strings teacher

Benchmark Assessment Information

Benchmark assessments are valuable tools that provide a snapshot of student progress at a point in time. These assessments help teachers to identify areas where students are excelling and where they may need additional support. They can also inform instructional decisions by providing data that can be used to tailor teaching to meet each student's unique needs and strengths. Benchmark assessments are an important component of progressive education, which recognizes that students learn in different ways and at different rates. By using benchmark assessments to inform instruction, teachers can provide a more individualized approach to learning that supports each student's academic growth and personal development.

Academic benchmark assessments for literacy and math will occur three times this year for students in grades K-8. The Spring Benchmark Assessments started on May 5th and concluded on May 23rd. There are four platforms the district utilizes to gather student learning information; aimswebPlus, mCLASS, NWEA MAP, and SSIS. Benchmark data will be available in Otus beginning May 30, 2025. In order to allow for the data uploads to take place and to provide parents with consistent access to student data, please be aware that the Otus Parent Portal will be inaccessible May 5-30.

Building Data Team meetings to review the Spring Benchmarking data will occur June 2-9.

Otus Parent Resources

Please be aware that access to the Otus Parent Portal will be turned off on June 30, 2025 in order to prepare for the next school year. Communication will be sent out at the start of the year notifying parents when the portal will be accessible again.