The WJHS Panther Update
February 2, 2024
Principal's Letter
Panther Families,
The day is finally here! Illinois Reads is coming to Westmont High School tomorrow! The book festival, hosted by the Illinois Reading Council and CUSD 201, will feature Illinois authors, book readers, special guests, crafts for kids, and photo opportunities with various book characters. Food will be available for purchase by Westmont's very own Tapatio, Uncle Bub's, and Zazzo's. Hootie McReads, our Illinois Reads mascot, will also be available for purchase. A BIG thank you to Ty Warner for making Hootie available. Anderson's Bookshop will be on site with books for all ages available to purchase. This is an event you don't want to miss - we can't wait to see you there!
WJHS Students of the Month for January:
6th Grade
Henry J.
Varvara S.
7th Grade
Alison F.
Boris V.
8th Grade
Logan B.
Timothy C.
Ava K.
PE/Explo
Cailyn S. - 6th Grade
Aelyn A. - 7th Grade
Simon S. - 8th Grade
Congratulations to you all! Keep up the great job; we are so very proud of you!!
PTO News - Mark those calendars! The PTO’s only major fundraiser this year, Raise Craze: Panther Paws for Kindness, is returning to WJHS from February 26 - March 15.
What is Raise Craze? It’s Fundraising through Kindness where our students lead the charge!
Here’s how it works:
Raise Craze provides WJHS with a private registration link to our fundraiser. This will be shared when registration opens on February 14th along with detailed instructions.
- Students will setup a secure, custom donation web page on the Raise Craze platform using their school email address.
- Students then select 3 or more Acts of Kindness they intend to complete during the fundraiser. The PTO provides a list, but students can add their own.
- Students enter email addresses for family members, neighbors, or friends they would like to request donations from, and then Raise Craze handles the rest. During the fundraiser, your students will pay it forward by completing those Acts of Kindness (AOKs) for others.
Raise Craze is a one-way, secure communication platform. No student or parent data is ever shared or sold. All data is erased after the fundraiser concludes so even if your student participated last year, he or she will need to register again this year. Stay tuned for more information that will be shared in a separate email that will be sent on February 14th, on the PTO’s Facebook page, and at the PTO’s next meeting on February 12th, at 7pm.
Learn more about Raise Craze and how it works:
https://raisecraze.com/how-it-works-video
Student Council News - Who loves the month of February? The Student Council does! It’s that time of year to spread your kindness by sending a Cupid Gram to your favorite teachers, office staff, and friends! Student Council will be selling Trident gum and Nerds rope candy for $1.00 during lunches through February 13th. Parents can purchase them, also, by stopping in the Office (cash only). Cupid Grams will be delivered to students in their STAR/Resource class on February 14th.
Panther Competition Cheer Team - We have some exciting news! Our ladies placed 2nd overall in the SDEAA Conference! Way to go, ladies! Coach Meneses and Coach Grevan can’t wait to see what you can do next year!
Outdoor Education Trip - We are getting ready for a great O.E. trip! If you're joining us, please start looking for your sleeping bag, snow pants, and boots now. We want you to be prepared!
Students are asked to complete the Google Form that was emailed to them last week. We need to know which classes you'd like, your t-shirt size, and movie choice. Please note that the final payment and any updates to paperwork (for example, a change in a Health Form) are due by Monday, February 12th. Questions? Please contact jburisek@cusd201.org. Thanks for your support of our favorite WJHS tradition.
8th Grade Parents - Keep an eye on your email the week of February 12th for a notification to schedule a time for 9th grade course selection. You will need to book a time for your student to meet with a high school counselor (you are invited to accompany them) to select their classes for next year. Meetings with high school counselors for course selection will be held at the Jr High on February 20th and 21st during the school day. More information will be given at the High School's Incoming 9th Grade Night on Thursday, February 15th, 6:30 - 8P.M.
Graduation Picture Retake Day - Retakes will be in the morning on Thursday, February 22nd.
ATTENDANCE - Second semester is well underway and teaching and learning is strong at WJHS! As we continue on with the 2023 - 2024 school year, we want to re-emphasize the importance of student attendance and the impact absences can have on students. Students with accumulating absences will continue to be contacted by the WJHS attendance team so that we can help problem-solve. You may receive communication even if your student's absences are excused or due to medical reasons. We aim to partner with you and collaborate together.
Additionally, with a new semester underway we want to remind everyone of the tardy policy at WJHS. Classes at WJHS begin at 8:20am. Please review the tardy policy below from the WJHS Student Handbook:
In order to maximize instructional time, it is imperative that all students arrive to class on time. All students must be in their classroom before the beginning of instruction. Students who are continually tardy to class will face disciplinary action and will jeopardize the student’s ability to be successful in the classroom. Three or more tardies during a semester constitute an after-school detention.
You can find the entire Attendance Policy beginning on page 4 of the WJHS Handbook. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns related to attendance.
Remember to check the WJHS calendar for up-to-date information on Clubs, Events, & Athletics.
Sincerely,
Amy Quattrone
WJHS Principal
EARLY ACT
Early Act is hosting the “Pastabilities” Food drive all next week,
Feb 5th - 9th. Students have the opportunity to earn up to 2 service hours for 8 donated items. Donate 8 or more and earn a raffle ticket to win a lunch party for you and 7 friends in the Panther Perks Café. Three students will win the lunch parties. Turn your items in to Early Act members working lunches starting next Monday.
College of DuPage Open House - I’m excited to extend a personal invitation to you, our outstanding teachers and especially to the WHS and WJHS students, to attend the upcoming Computer and Information Science Open House. This event presents a fantastic opportunity for Westmont students and their families to engage with COD. The evening will be both informative and insightful, featuring workshops, panel discussions, and a chance to connect with students, faculty, and industry professionals. Attendees stand to gain valuable insights into diverse careers in the field, along with information about certificates, degrees, and transfer opportunities.
On behalf of COD and its CIS program, I warmly invite you to join us at College of DuPage’s main campus in Glen Ellyn to explore the world of Computer and Information Science careers.
Workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with students, faculty, and industry professionals will be available for all attendees.
Thursday, Feb. 8th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn
Enter at Seaton Computing Center on the south side of campus.
For event registration, directions, and additional event details: www.cod.edu/cis-open-house.
Workshops offered:
- AI Chatbot Demo presented by the COD Computer Science Club
- Algorithms in Modern Everyday Life
- Tour of the AR/VR Classroom and Immersive Visualization Lab (360° Classroom)
- Computer Programming Participation-the Basic Literacy we all need today (even with AI)
- Getting Started at COD—An Admissions Presentation
Panel Discussions with Industry Professionals:
- IT Trends and Careers—Embracing Emerging Tech
- Quality Assurance Testing in the Game Industry
Interact with Representatives at Tables of Interest:
- Computer and Information Science (CIS) Program Chair and Faculty
- Office Technology Information (OFTI) Program Chair
- COD departments (Admissions, Career Services, STEM Scholarships, and inquire about free resources and services offered at the COD Library and the Learning Commons)
- Transfer Institutions (Lewis University and Western Governors University)
Speak with members of Student Clubs:
- Computer Science Club
- e-Sports Team
- PUMA-STEM Club
- Video Game Development Club