November 2025 Newsletter

District 31 Caring Corner
he District 31 Caring Corner is open during regular business hours and is located in the District Office lobby (3131 Techny Road, Northbrook). The Caring Corner is generously funded by Hunger Free Northbrook (Hunger Free Resource Network) and is designed to supplement food needs, not replace the full services available through the Northfield Township Food Pantry.

We ask families to be mindful and take only a few items—enough to supplement a meal or two—so that others may also benefit. If you’d like to access the Caring Corner, visit during business hours; district staff will buzz you into the lobby. No forms or names are required—take what you need.

True North Update
District 31 has determined that remaining a member of a restructured and reorganized True North Educational Cooperative 804 is in the best interest of our students and community. This plan will allow our students continued access to essential services, including the therapeutic day school program at North Shore Academy and a range of specialized supports provided through the cooperative. This reorganization will strengthen collaboration and service delivery among member districts. The District 31 Board of Education has agreed to participate in this reorganization process and remains committed to ensuring a smooth transition. We will continue to share updates as plans develop and more information becomes available.

Thanksgiving Break
Thanksgiving break will take place from Wednesday, November 26, through Friday, November 28. There is no school, and all District offices and schools will be closed. 

Candy Donation Drop
Wondering what to do with all of that leftover Halloween candy? A Candy Collection Box will be available at Field and Winkelman for all candy. Candy is being collected for over 30 charities. Last year, over 144 paper bags worth of candy were donated!

Donation boxes will be available through Friday, November 7.

October Board of Education Recap
Board Meeting Highlights: 

• Presentations and Discussion Items:

  • The Board of Education recognized our building administrators.  The Illinois Principal Association has designated October 20–24 as Principal Appreciation Week, with Principal Appreciation Day on October 24. This is a special opportunity to recognize the incredible dedication and leadership of our building administrators. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our principals, Nino Alvarez and Samantha Eiseman, and our assistant principals, Keith Dunn, Erin Krantz, and Lisa Shaffer, for their unwavering commitment to our students, staff, and families. Every day, they lead with vision, care, and persistence—creating welcoming and safe environments where students thrive and teachers are supported. Their leadership is at the heart of our district’s success, and we are grateful for all they do to empower students and strengthen our school community. Please join us in celebrating and thanking them during Principal Appreciation Week!

  • Director of Finance and Operations Nicole Schramm conducted a Public Hearing concerning the intent of the Board of Education to sell not to exceed $8,650,000 School Fire Prevention and Safety Bonds for the purpose of conforming its existing facilities that house students to the building code promulgated by the State Board of Education of the State of Illinois, by altering, reconstructing and repairing said facilities and having equipment purchased and installed therein.

  • The Board of Education discussed the need to move forward with issuing Tax Anticipation Warrants (TAWs). The need for these warrants arises from the fact that Cook County has not yet released the fall property tax bills, meaning that no revenue has been distributed to local public bodies, including school districts. The Cook County Treasurer’s Office has not provided a timeline for when these delayed tax bills—originally scheduled for release in August—will be issued. To date, the District has already transferred funds from its reserves to meet financial obligations such as payroll and regular operating expenses. The TAWs will serve as a temporary funding measure to ensure that the District can continue to meet its financial responsibilities while awaiting the delayed tax revenue. Once Cook County releases tax payments, the loan will be repaid in full. This is a commonfiscal step taken by school districts and other public entities during extended revenue delays and does not indicate any financial instability within District 31.

  • Director of Curriculum and Instruction Lauren Lipsey presented on Standards-Based Grading. The purpose of this presentation was to strengthen shared understanding of Standards-Based Grading and its implementation across the district, clarify updates and next steps for continued rollout at Winkleman and Field Schools, and ensure Board Members are prepared to respond to community and family questions.

  • Director of Finance and Operations Nicole Schramm reviewed the Financial Reports.  In addition, she shared the 2025-2026 Public Disclosure of IMRF Compensation, as well as the Post-Issuance Tax Compliance notification and report. These items are available on the District 31 website in Board Docs.  

  • The Board of Education reviewed the Superintendent's Report.  

  • The Board of Education reviewed the assumptions and parameters for the 2026-2027 school calendar. The calendar committee will use these assumptions to create a school calendar for the board to review in November and approve in December.

• The Board of Education made the following approvals:

  • Approve the Adoption of the Resolution Designating District Principal Authority for the Illinois Funds.

  • Approve the Resolution to Rescind the Resolution passed on June 23, 2025, which issued the Notice of Intent to Withdraw from True North Educational Cooperative 804

  • The Board of Education approved the consent agenda.

The Board of Education meets monthly, usually on the last Thursday of the month, at 7 p.m. in the Field Middle School Learning Center. We welcome any member of our community to attend in person or virtually via our live stream. Agendas, minutes, and the link to the live stream can be found here. The District 31 Board of Education is composed of seven elected representatives from the District 31 attendance area. Each is elected for a four-year term. Meet the members of the District 31 Board of Education here.

November Board of Education Meeting 
The next regular Board of Education meeting is Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 7 p.m., in the Field Learning Center.  The agenda is posted two days before the meeting here.  The Finance Committee Meeting will take place in a separate meeting, just before the Public Hearing, at 6 p.m. 

Keeping our Schools Healthy 
Cold and flu season is in full swing! The following link from the Mayo Clinic provides helpful information to help determine (by symptom) if your child may be suffering from COVID-19 versus the Flu, versus Allergies, versus a Cold:  COVID-19, Cold, Allergies, and the Flu: What are the differences? If you are sick, STAY HOME!

Please adhere to the illness prevention guidelines below. We appreciate your support in helping keep our school community and our homes as healthy as possible.

Tips for Staying Healthy:

• Frequent hand washing is the BEST way to prevent and combat the spread of germs. Wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer. (Tip: for young children, suggest singing the "Happy Birthday" song when washing hands to get rid of germs, approximately 15 seconds.)
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or turn your head and use an elbow if a tissue is unavailable.
• Do not share drinks, food, or unwashed utensils. Make sure all family members wash their hands before unloading the dishwasher and setting the table.
• Get plenty of rest, eat healthy food, and snack on nutritious foods. Drink lots of water!
• Avoid being around people who are sick, and stay home when you are ill.
• Disinfect surfaces that are prone to germs (student desks, lockers, door knobs, keyboards, telephones, faucet handles, toothbrushes, etc.).
• Get a new toothbrush after recovery from a contagious illness.
• Keep current on your vaccines.

Contact your physician with any questions or concerns regarding your child's health, and notify the school health office if your child tests positive for a contagious illness. Thank you in advance for considering others, adhering to school guidelines, and reinforcing healthy behaviors at home.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school health office.

District 31 Emergency Closing Information
During the school year, one or both schools may be closed at times. In most cases, school closures are due to weather-related conditions. The Northfield Township Superintendents have developed guidelines about these closures. The safety of all children is our top priority when deciding to close or alter the school day. District 31 recognizes that conditions may vary for individual families; therefore, if school is open and you feel it is unsafe to send your child to school, please contact the school office, and the student will be given an excused absence. Parents and students should assume that classes are in session at the normal time unless otherwise notified. 

In the event of a school closing or other emergency, parents can expect to receive an automated phone call and email. Please ensure your contact information is accurate and complete in our Skyward system. School closure decisions will generally be made before 6 a.m. on the day of closure. This allows weather conditions to be monitored overnight to avoid unnecessary closures. Closure decisions will only be made the night before if conditions are known with a high degree of certainty and warrant closure. Parents should establish contingency plans for possible closures throughout the school year, regardless of the season.

To read more about Emergency closing information, click here. 

Family Engagement Committee
The Family Engagement Committee’s next meeting will take place on Monday, December 8, from 7 - 8 p.m. via Zoom. During the meeting, the Committee will review the Parent Involvement Handbook and brainstorm ideas for new family orientation to help welcome new families into the District. 

The Committee meets quarterly on Mondays at 7 p.m. via Zoom. If you are interested in joining the Family Engagement Committee, please contact Hayley Garard at hgarard@district31.net.

Department of Curriculum and Instruction News
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction remains grateful for the ongoing dedication of all District 31 educators, who are committed to supporting the growth of every student.

This year, we are excited to launch iReady Math from Curriculum Associates in Winkelman's K-5 classrooms. This standards-aligned, robust curriculum is grounded in data-driven instruction and research-based practices. iReady’s Framework is centered on the “Try It - Discuss It - Connect It” framework, which supports students in strengthening their mathematical thinking and collaborative discussions. Families are invited to learn more about the iReady Mathematics Curriculum by visiting https://readyclassroomcentral.com/familycenter/.

Mathematics
Our math curriculum review cycle had a fabulous professional learning experience at the 2024 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Chicago on September 26 - 27. Professional learning is always an important part of a curriculum review cycle to anchor decision-making in best practices, and we are grateful that the national conference happened to be in Chicago this year, coinciding with our curriculum review cycle! 

We then gathered for our second committee meeting of the year with the following objectives:

• Finalize our District 31 mathematics vision statement
• Share & consolidate our professional learning from the NCTM conference
• Deep dive into district data using SWOT analysis to create guiding priorities
• Review and revise our math program evaluation tool
• Practice applying our math program evaluation tool to a current math unit planner

Our next Math Curriculum Review Committee meeting will be held on November 11 to continue our Phase 1 work together. Thank you to all of the committee members for their time and dedication to this important process: Amy Rudolph, Phoebe Handler, Ady Miron, Lisa Peltz, Kim Howard, Julie Stone, Erin Chankin, Kathryn LePine, Nada Hene, Megan Correll, Nisha Gandhi, Tristan Roche, Laura Shoenfield, Sandra Luna, Samantha Eisman, Dr. April Miller, Lauren Lipsey, and Meg Knapik.

English Language Arts (ELA) 
Winkelman is currently in Year 3 of Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) published by Amplify. CKLA is based on the science of reading, which combines systematic, explicit instruction in foundational skills with language comprehension instruction by building background knowledge in science, social studies, literature, and the arts. This resource has all green ratings from EdReports, an independent curriculum review nonprofit that reviews materials based on three gateways: Text Quality, Building Knowledge, and Usability. The Knowledge Matters Campaign also endorses CKLA as a resource that excels in building knowledge through high-quality, rigorous instructional and learning materials.

In Year 3, we will focus on continuing strong implementation of the curriculum while leaning into opportunities to strengthen our use of the program. Our goals this year include:

• Using assessment data to identify areas to provide differentiated instruction
• Utilizing small group instruction to meet the needs of each learner 
• Piloting IXL ELA alongside Amplify Boost (digital supplement) to determine which supplemental resource best meets our needs 
• Embedding Kagan cooperative learning strategies to engage all students in learning experiences  

Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
We have held two SEL Curriculum Review Committee meetings this year to continue our two-year review. The two-year review process will first allow us to focus on adult social-emotional learning and pilot potential SEL resources before school/district-wide implementation.

Our goals for the SEL Curriculum Review Committee include: 

• Engage in a data-driven curriculum review to evaluate our current SEL programming for alignment with the needs of Wink & Field
• Continue to analyze data from DESSA’s SEL screener to better understand our students' SEL needs
• Engage Panorama staff, students, and parents in climate/culture surveys to understand climate/culture across the district better.

• Develop an understanding of the District Curriculum Review Cycle process and our anticipated two-year review timeline.
• Understand the CASEL 5 Competencies
• Identify robust, practical, and applicable ways of embedding SEL more intentionally and explicitly. 
• Provide practical, research-based strategies to strengthen Adult SEL across our buildings, tailored to the specific needs of our staff.

Throughout the SEL curriculum review cycle, the District will continue to utilize the Second Step curriculum to teach and reinforce proactive social-emotional skills. 

Our next SEL Curriculum Review Committee meeting will be on November 20 to continue our collaborative work. We are grateful for the time and contributions of the members of our SEL committee: Allison Burns, Karen McGrath, Lyndsey Incadala, Duygu Kazkondu, Jenna Berkowsky, Rose Solovy, Phoebe Handler, Amy Sack, Maria Skabardonis, Cailin Melka, Stefanie Bauer, Heather Stodola, Sandi Newman, Jesse Menold, Nino Alvarez, Samantha Eiseman, Dr. Janine Gruhn, and Lauren Lipsey.

Standards-Based Learning & Grading
As a part of our Strategic Plan, we are excited to share that Winkelman is implementing a fully Standards-Based Grading report card this year! The Standards-Based Grading report cards at Winkelman provide clarity on learning expectations and opportunities to monitor student progress and growth toward grade-level learning expectations. Field’s 6th-grade class has also transitioned to a fully Standards-Based report card. We are grateful for the partnership among our students, teachers, and community to support the implementation of this research-based, effective grading practice. If you are interested in learning more about Standards-Based Grading, please check out our website page here. 

Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)
Your student’s Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) results from the 2024 - 2025 school year will be sent in the mail to your home address on file. The IAR assessment is taken by all students in Grades 3-8 and measures proficiency in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. In August 2025, the Illinois State Board of Education approved adjustments to the performance levels and score cut-offs on this assessment. These changes were made to better reflect expectations for college and career readiness and to align the IAR more closely with other state and national assessments, such as the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) and the ACT.

Families need to know that while the performance levels and score thresholds have changed, the Illinois Learning Standards and the content of the IAR assessment remain the same. The new system is designed to give a clearer and more accurate picture of how students are progressing toward long-term readiness goals. Illinois will continue to use an online parent portal to help you gain a deeper understanding of your student's score. 

Families in Grades 3-8 received a comprehensive email from Lauren Lipsey (Director of Curriculum & Instruction) with more insights into understanding your child’s IAR score. Please be on the lookout for your student’s IAR score, which will be received via mail over the next 2 weeks, and if you have any questions, reach out to Lauren at llipsey@district31.net.

Erin’s Law Update: Be Seen Be Heard
An Illinois law known as Erin’s Law requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness/prevention curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Winkelman students will participate in a presentation titled “Be Seen and Be Heard” on November 7.  The presentation teaches children basic skills to keep them safe from dangerous or abusive situations. Learn more about this presentation here.

If you have any questions, please contact your school social workers. Field School will participate in Erin’s Law programming in January. 

D31 Education Foundation News
View the latest information from the D31 Education Foundation here, including details on an upcoming meeting and a parent social event.

Hunger Resource Network Night: Grocery Shopping For the Caring Corner
Join Hunger Resource Network for a night of giving back with grocery shopping on Sunday, November 9, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sunset Foods (1127 Church Street) to support the District 31 Caring Corner and other food-insecure families in the Northbrook area. Hunger Resource Network will provide a simple list of non-perishable items for families to purchase throughout the store and will double-bag the groceries for distribution to those in need. Each bag costs approximately $35, and it will take less than half an hour to buy the items. Learn more here. 

Partner Spotlight - Elyssa’s Mission
The community-based organization, Elyssa’s Mission, was founded in 2006 in honor of Elyssa, a bright, gifted, and outgoing Chicagoland girl who bravely battled post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Elyssa’s Mission provides hands-on support to area public and private schools to educate students, staff, parents, and guardians on how to recognize and assist teens most at risk.

District 31 has partnered with Elyssa’s Mission for the annual SOS Signs of Suicide campaign for over a decade. The campaign teaches students how to identify signs of depression and suicide in themselves and their peers while training school professionals, parents, and community members to recognize at-risk students and take appropriate action. Elyssa’s Mission presentations for the 7th-grade students take place the week of November 10.

Thank you to Elyssa’s Mission for their invaluable contributions to our community and for prioritizing our children’s mental health.