Walker Wolverines PTA

We don’t exactly know what ‘room parents’ will look like this year quite yet (perhaps helping with supply distributions or delivering books!), but please fill out this form if you are interested in volunteering:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084aaca62baaf85-walker

From Mr. Gray:

The district is implementing a new math curriculum this year. Unfortunately, the materials (student workbooks and teacher’s guides) did not arrive until after the first day of school. So….

We would like to schedule another ‘pickup’ this Friday and the following Tuesday.

– The pickup will take place IN FRONT of the school in the circular driveway area between 9 and 3 each day.
– It should be fast — you pull up, tell us the grade(s) of your kids and we pass the books to you in the car and check your name off the list.
– You can come either day – doesn’t matter what letter your last name starts with!
– If you can’t make it those days, contact me and I will arrange an alternative time.
– If you do not have transportation, please let me know and I will arrange to have the books delivered to you.
– We should have enough staff to operate the pickup, but if you are interested in helping please let me know.

Here are the links from the QR codes on the sheet handed out with your student’s device:

iPads:

iPad Getting Started Guide for Families: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1327fJY3kt_8lOLS-ZBFnhmeGO48KO5vekgbTJfJLTFU/edit?fbclid=IwAR2MrJrC0K50ouboMNwmw-c3zO3qhz6hNiPau9uSRk4Go1Yxd6vWAIFJ6Jg

iPad Installing Apps with Self Service: https://source.mpls.k12.mn.us/ipad-self-service?fbclid=IwAR38ZjstGXFtkuUB3XlmLJqzL7ozCrW_xDnk8qBOqBEqbihCxJEkjlGklfk

Chromebooks:

Using your Chromebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PzJu7ZGk9a4jzQaWJ0Bo2DGoOlHK6sdFWKOfpoXCFwQ/edit

iPads & Chromebooks:

Parents’ Guide to Google Classroom: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/parents-ultimate-guide-to-google-classroom

SeeSaw Introduction for Families: https://web.seesaw.me/families

Clever for Families: https://clever.com/families

CommonSense Media Infographic – Make Room for Healthy Media Choices: commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/landing_pages/make-room-for-healthy-media-partner_free-1007142.pdf

American Academy of Pediatrics – Finding Ways to Keep Children Occupied During these Challenging Times: https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2020/aap-finding-ways-to-keep-children-occupied-during-these-challenging-times/

From the District:

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Please see attached important information detailing our meal service for the start of school year 2020-21.

Orders for the first pick-up, scheduled for August 26, are due Monday, August 24 at 9 am! Order at https://www.district65.net/Page/1917.

Estimados padres de familia/tutores,

Consulte la información importante adjunta que detalla nuestro servicio de comida para el inicio del año escolar 2020-21.

Favor de hacer el pedido para la primera recolección, programada para el 26 de agosto, antes del lunes 24 de agosto a las 9 de la mañana! Order at https://www.district65.net/Page/1917.

Curbside Meal Service Information (English & Spanish)

—IPADS, CHROMEBOOKS AND SUPPLIES—

There are two upcoming dates to pick up supplies and technology: 8/24 and 8/25 in the Walker parking lot from 3:30-7:00 pm

This will be a drive thru pick up and all of our staff will wear protective gear. Pull into the west parking lot off of Church. Families will stay in their cars and we will place the device/supplies into your trunk etc.

August 24th – Last names A-M
August 25th – Last names N-Z

If you can’t make it on your assigned day, please come on the alternate date.

The list of supplies you will receive is here. 

Students in K-2 will get an Ipad and students in 3-5 will get a chromebook for this school year.

If your child is in grades 3-5 and they already have a working, loaner device from Walker, you do NOT need to get a new one. If your child is in K-2 and you received a chromebook from us, please bring that device to swap when you get the Ipad.

If you need a HOTSPOT for your home, please write an email to me with the subject line HOTSPOT NEEDED and I will enter the request for you with the district. If your child was using a mobile phone as a hotspot, we would like to upgrade you to a district provided hotspot.

Link to Enrichments: http://bit.ly/D65Enrichments

Link to scholarship request: https://bit.ly/D65scholarship

See more information on our Enrichments page.

Dear District 65 Community –

While I will officially be joining the District 65 team next week, I wanted to take the opportunity to check in and to shed more light on our planning for the fall. I would like to thank everyone who has reached out to our administration, school leaders, and board members. We feel your anxiety and hear your concerns. What school will look like in the fall is a conversation that many of us are having around our dinner tables. We knew this already but the past few months have shown us just how important schools are to our communities. Under the Governor’s Restore Illinois Plan, schools can re-open in Phase 4.

I truly believe, and you will hear me say it often, our students do not fail. The structures that we create as adults fail our students. While, in some ways, we all wish that we could go back to normal. And yet, this situation provides us with the opportunity to create our new reality which includes bold steps in addressing systemic racism and accelerating learning for Black and LatinX students. We cannot go this important journey alone. The Evanston and Skokie community has proven that when we all come together, great things will happen. Please see below for several important updates on our return to school planning and how we are working to re-imagine our PreK-8 public schools:

Building Understanding
We are actively planning various scenarios for our safe re-opening in accordance with public health guidelines. We anticipate having updated guidelines from the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Health in the coming weeks. To build awareness and understanding, we have created a five-minute video and one-page summary for your reference. These are available in both English and Spanish at district65.net.

Listening to and Learning from our Community
Thank you to our educators, students, and families who responded to our Remote Learning Survey. We received over 4,500 responses! The information we have learned from your experiences will be instrumental in our planning efforts.

We need to hear more from you, especially about your feelings in sending your children to school and how we can best support all of you. A brief survey for D65 parents/caregivers will be forthcoming.

Return to School Planning Teams
This week we convened our first meetings of our Return to School Task Force. This is an incredible group of over 60 staff members, parents, and community representatives. This group will spend significant time through early July in planning for our various return scenarios.

In addition, a team of teachers, paraprofessionals, curriculum and instruction staff, and school and district administrators have formed a committee to focus on teaching and learning for the various scenarios.

We will be very transparent about this process and will be sharing updates throughout the summer. Please stay tuned for more information. Thank you and have a nice weekend!

With appreciation,

Dr. Devon Horton
Incoming Superintendent

Find our June meeting minutes here: June 2020 PTA Meeting Minutes