Crow Island Parent Newsletter

Dear Crow Island Community,

We had a great first week back at school, and students are settling back into their regular routines. This week, we will begin our Winter Benchmark Assessments. Testing will take place over the next two weeks, with students participating in grade-level assessments. Teachers will use this data to inform instruction in the coming months and ensure students continue to grow and succeed. See more information on these assessments below.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

Sincerely,
Anna

January

• Monday, January 19th | MLK Day- No School
• Wednesday, January 21st | Winter MAP Reading Test- 3rd and 4th grade
• Thursday, January 22nd | Winter MAP Math Test- 3rd and 4th grade
• Tuesday, January 27th | *DATE CHANGE!* Pioneer Room Open House (9:30 AM)
• Thursday, January 29th | Math Night (5:30-6:15 PM: 1st and 2nd Grade, 6:30-7:15 PM: 3rd and 4th Grade)

February

• Friday, February 13th | Valentine's Day Parties by Grade
• Thursday, February 26th | No Student Attendance- Parent Conference Day
• Friday, February 27th | No Student Attendance- Parent Conference Day

March

• Monday, March 16th | Immigration Week
• Friday, March 20th | Citizenship Ceremony and Immigration feast
• Wednesday, March 25th | 1st and 2nd Grade Spring Sing: 1st Grade @ 5:45 PM, 2nd Grade @ 6:45 PM
• Monday, March 30th- Friday, April 3rd | Spring Break

Each morning at Crow Island, a fourth-grade student leads our daily announcements for the entire school. Students introduce themselves, lead the Pledge of Allegiance, share birthdays in the building, and wrap up with a fun fact, joke, or thought for the day. This special tradition helps start each morning on a positive and welcoming note. The students practice thoughtfully and are always well prepared when it’s their time to shine. Thank you to our fourth-grade teachers and students for helping us begin each day at Crow Island with a smile.

🐾 Therapy Dog Program

As we continue to introduce Winnie into our schools, Ray Finnerty-Director of Safety and Security is going to be speaking at all school assemblies in the coming weeks. (Winnie of course will be with him.)

During the 10-15 minute assembly Ray will be speaking about what the therapy dog program is and is not, facts about Winnie, how to approach Winnie when the students see her in the hallway and how to interact with Winnie in their day to day movement in the buildings.

Once the buildings get to meet Winnie in the assembly she will start making her way through classrooms and spaces as needed by staff or students.

As a reminder if you do not want your student to have interactions with Winnie and have not already filled out an opt out form please do so at your convenience.

Attached here are some Therapy Dog FAQ's for your review, hopefully it answers any questions you may have about this new program. These FAQ’s can also be found in The Winnetka Public Schools website under Safety and Security.

Staying Healthy Together

We wanted to take a moment to share a gentle reminder as several illnesses are currently circulating in our school community.

To help keep all students and staff healthy, we kindly ask that you please be mindful about keeping your child home if they are showing signs of illness, such as fever, vomiting, persistent cough, or other symptoms that may be contagious.

Allowing children time to rest and recover at home not only supports their well-being, but also helps prevent the spread of illness to others.

We truly appreciate your partnership and understanding as we work together to maintain a healthy and safe learning environment for everyone. If you have any questions or are unsure whether your child is well enough to attend school, please review the district health guidelines or don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your continued support.

-Nurse Hahn and Principal Trilla

Winter Benchmark Assessments

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.

This year students in Grades K-8 will participate in academic benchmark assessments of literacy, math and social emotional learning January 15-30. On February 16, results will be emailed home, available in the PowerSchool Parent Portal, as well as online via Otus.com.

Online Registration Open for Incoming Kindergarteners & New Students for the 2026/2027

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.

Stay & Play Registration

Kindergarten students who are not currently enrolled in Stay & Play will have the opportunity to register (via revtrak) through January 31, 2026. After purchasing Kindergarten Stay & Play registration, your child will be able to begin their attendance in the program the following Monday so the schools can plan accordingly.

Morning Drop-off Reminders

As a reminder, please note the following regarding morning drop-off:

• Supervision begins at 8:20 AM. Students should not arrive at school unsupervised until 8:20 AM.
• Due to the number of students and the varying age levels, students should not bring balls to use in the morning on the playground.

Winnetka Parents Institute (WPI):

Differentiation: What is it and how can I tell if my child is having a differentiated experience?

January 21 at 9:30 AM

Location: Washburne RC

Join this session led by the Dept of Innovation, Teaching and Learning to learn a bit about what differentiated instruction is, the conditions needed in order to implement, and what it looks like in action in District 36 classrooms.

RSVP Link

Feedback Link

Incoming Kindergarten Family Information Night with Winnetka Administration

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Register for Kindergarten in 26/27 on-site from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.

Session from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Greeley School

275 Fairview Ave., Winnetka

This informational session is for Winnetka parents whose children will enter Kindergarten in the 2026/2027 school year. Parents will learn the resources and experiences that await students once they begin Kindergarten in The Winnetka Public Schools.

Families will learn about:

• The Transition-to-Kindergarten process, presented by the Principals of Crow Island, Greeley, and Hubbard Woods Schools

• A glimpse into a typical Kindergarten day in The Winnetka Public Schools

• Supports for student needs that are available through the Department of Student Services, Equity and Inclusion

We look forward to welcoming our incoming 2026–2027 Kindergarten families at this event!

RSVP here.

Feedback link.

Monthly Observances: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

This month, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who shared an important message of peace, fairness, and unity. Each year, his birthday is honored as a national holiday on the third Monday of January. Families can also explore our library’s special collection of books about Dr. King here: Destiny Collection

Traffic Reminders

• When lining up on Willow Road before turning into the circle, please do not get too close to Glendale Ave. Cars that are lining up too close to Glendale are blocking visibility for drivers turning onto Willow Road.
• Please be sure that you are not stopping on Glendale Ave. when turning into the circle.
• Be sure to wait until there is room to enter the circle before turning off of Willow Rd.
• Additionally, when exiting the circle, please do not turn left until there is space to fit your vehicle without blocking Glendale.
• Finally, please pull over as far to the right as possible on Glendale when picking up a student from the back playground.

We want to ensure that we are not blocking Glendale in case there were ever a need of an emergency vehicle that needed to get through to the school or neighbor. Thank you so much for your attention to these matters!

Crow Island 101 Document:

Our Crow Island 101 Guide is a helpful, at-a-glance resource for families. Many parents like to keep a copy in their kitchen for quick reference. You can view it here: Crow 101 Document.

Arrival & Dismissal:

Please take a few minutes to review our Arrival & Dismissal procedures. These routines help ensure a safe and smooth start and end to each school day for all students.

Hot Lunch Program:

Crow Island has a hot lunch program run through a third party collaboration with our PTO called Marla's Lunch. You can register and sign-up here: Marla's Hot Lunch.

Spirit Day:

Crow Island Spirit Day will be on FRIDAYS this year! Get your Crow Island Spirit wear from our PTO Store here!

Email:

annatrilla@winnetka36.org (Principal)

christinedemas-hall@winnetka36.org (Administrative Assistant)
Website: https://crowisland.winnetka36.org/
Location: 1112 Willow Road Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847)-446-0353
Instagram: Winnetka Public Schools