WJHS Highlights
10/14/2022
A Message from the Administrative Team
Dear WJHS families,
Students in New Trier Township middle schools/junior high schools change for physical education in grades 7 and 8. Not only does this help prepare students for the expectations of high school, it also allows students more freedom and individuality to dress as they like for school, knowing that they will change for P.E. and their street clothes/school clothes will not become sweaty or dirty.
Given that this is the first time your children have changed for physical education, the WJHS P.E. teachers have spent the past few weeks talking with students around expectations. Each student has been assigned a P.E. locker and lock. Teachers have purposefully spread students out to give them space. Our locker rooms have several private changing stations for students who would prefer not to change in front of their peers. The following information and expectations were shared with all students:
Physical education uniforms are the same for all students.
Cold weather gear (i.e. sweatpants and sweatshirts) may be worn, but the P.E. shirt should be worn underneath the sweatshirt.
Leggings can be worn with the P.E. shorts over them.
Students must have gym shoes that are worn for P.E.
No books, iPads, or phones are allowed in the locker room.
While not required, students may purchase an extra uniform since they participate in P.E. five days a week. Please contact Cindy Sporn to order an extra uniform.
Students may store deodorant in their locker, but this should not be in the form of aerosol spray.
P.E. teachers have been talking with all students and then engaging in more detailed conversations with individual students who desired more information about the changing process. Physical education teachers will be physically present in the locker rooms, walking up and down the aisles, to supervise and ensure that these spaces are safe for all of our students.
We are awaiting our last shipment of uniforms and expect to begin having students change soon. Please don't hesitate to contact your child's P.E. teacher for more information. Like the beginning of the school year, we have no doubt that students will quickly find their way and we hope that it is as seamless as the first week of school.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Kate, Jeff and Eric
School Safety Update
As you know, the safety of our students and schools is our top priority. This year, we are reinstituting another proactive safety step and will be implementing unannounced dog searches at WJHS. Our first search will be this month.
These dogs are trained to detect the presence of many prohibited items including:
illicit drugs and narcotics
gunpowder-based items
alcoholic beverages
commonly abused prescription and over-the-counter medications
The company that we are partnering with has trained school safety dogs to conduct random, unannounced inspections. These dogs are friendly, non-aggressive breeds such as Golden and Labrador Retrievers. Searches will be conducted at random in common areas, hallways, lockers, and grounds. If a prohibited item is found, we will initiate appropriate action in accordance with our existing school policies and procedures.
Prior to bringing the safety dogs in to search, we will provide background to the students during advisory. The information will include what the school safety dogs are trained to search for and how it will happen.
We take every reasonable precaution to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment and we believe that this proactive step will play a key role in achieving our goal of deterrence.
Thank you for your partnership in helping to keep all of our students safe. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Kate Dominique, Principal, or Tony DeMonte, Administrator for Technology, Information, and Safety, with questions.
News From Your D39 Library - Fall 2022
This edition features:
- Sora and BookFlix eBooks
- School Themed and Anti-Bullying Recommended Books
- @Wilmette and Glenview Public Libraries: Homework Help and Family Resources
School-Based Clubs and Groups
We are also excited to announce the kick off of our optional clubs for students beginning in the coming weeks. One of our strategic plan action steps this year is to create opportunities for interest and supportive clubs for students that do not require fees or registration; they can operate in a sign up or drop-in fashion and students can attend them flexibly as they are able. We asked our students what interested them, and from their responses, we created a list of clubs (with more coming soon) that will be sure to get them involved!
A few clubs will start next week, and others will be added in the following weeks! Our students are excited to learn more about the club offerings, so be sure to talk with your child about attending a club and finding a way to get involved at WJHS this year! They will receive more information about signing up and attending clubs on the morning announcements MONDAY, as well as, in Schoology.
All of the clubs are hosted by WJHS staff, and will be held either during a lunch period or after school. After school, students may be picked up at the main entrance to the school after 4:20, or they may take the late bus from school, which will drop them off close to their house.
We will share additional information about new clubs as they are added throughout the school year, and we look forward to sharing news and updates with you as these initial clubs get off the ground and are running!
LUNCH CLUBS STARTING THE WEEK OF 10/03
Library Advisory Board: 5th period
Newspaper Club: 5th period
Good Movies Club: 5th period
Board Games Club: 6th period
AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS STARTING THE WEEK OF 10/03
Culture Club: 3:20 on Tuesdays
LUNCH CLUBS STARTING THE WEEK OF 10/10
PRIDE: 5th and 6th period
Book Club: 5th period and 6th period
In addition to other clubs, Math Club is coming soon!
**Please note that there will be a MATH COUNTS math competition club added later this fall. We will send more information when that is added.
Tech Tidbit
We wanted to send a reminder that student iPads, including their school email accounts, are for school use only. Also, students should not have their personal email on their student iPads. Please help your child create a personal email account or use yours if they need one for personal reasons. Some accounts that need a personal email are social media, phone apps and outside school sports.
PTO Highlights
WE NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR THE COURTYARD AT RECESS!
If there aren't parents, we can't have this quiet space open for kids. Kids can find a place to read, play a board game, doodle/draw, and catch up with friends. It is the easiest and most peaceful job ever!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4facaa23a2f5ce9-volunteer
PLEASE HELP US STOCK THE TEACHER’S LOUNGE
Back by popular demand, we are asking families to help us stock the teacher's lounge at WJHS. Let's show our appreciation for our WJHS teachers and staff by stocking the shelves in the staff lounge with treats and refreshments to bolster their days! Our goal is to stock the shelves during the week of October 17–21. Please click this link to sign up!
ATTN: 7TH GRADE PARENTS, THE 2023 8TH GRADE DC TRIP IS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
Paul Harper is excited to announce that next year’s 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C, and Williamsburg is now open for registration. This is an opportunity for students to explore some of our nation's most important historical sites while experiencing incomparable learning moments. This trip is limited in space and after the initial seats are filled, students will be added to a waitlist for the trip. Please note that waitlisted students could still make the trip if additional seats come open. Click here to learn more and/or to register. This trip is not run by the school or the PTO and is teacher run as an elective opportunity. Please contact Paul Harper at paul.w.haprper@gmail.com if you have questions!
ATTN: 8TH GRADE PARENTS: DEADLINE FOR THE FEBRUARY PARENT-LED DC TRIP
For those who weren’t able to make the November Washington DC trip, organized by WJHS teacher Paul Harper, there is a second option for current 8th grade students! This trip is not sponsored by the school or the PTO, but we’re happy to share the message from WJHS Parent, Stephanie Crocker:
Parent Led Washington DC trip 2/18/23–2/21/23
We have had such a great outpour of support for a second DC trip! Thank you!
As of now we only have 17 guaranteed spots left! If your friend or neighbor is thinking about going, I recommend they sign up soon. This trip will have a max of 50 students. See below for details on how to enroll. Please reach out to me at crocker.l.stephanie@gmail.com if you have any questions.
ID: wilmette23
Login: wastrip23
DONATE TO “MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY” ON 10/22/22 9AM–NOON
The Volunteer Center is hosting its 20th Annual Make A Difference Day that will help 18 nonprofits' clients in critical need. North Shore residents are invited to "upcycle" their new and gently used goods at this one day annual collection drive. The event is Saturday, Oct. 22 from 9am - noon at Winnetka's Indian Hill train station parking lot.
Safely drive thru and drop off! If you have any of the essential items the nonprofits have requested like clothing, food, toys, games, books, DVDs, CDs, vinyl, musical instruments and much more! Please sort, bag and label them with the corresponding nonprofit and bring them over! The list of items requested from each nonprofit can be found here on the VC's website. Only the items on the list will be accepted. Nonprofit reps will be there to receive the essential donations. Volunteers will take them from your vehicle and the nonprofits will drive off with them at the end of the morning.
VOLUNTEER AT “MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY”
We also are in need of volunteers from middle school aged youth through adults, to help us take the donations to the corresponding nonprofit and/or help sort the items. Please email if you or your family or service group would like to help or if you have any questions. Contact info@volunteercenterhelps.org.
WJHS MONTH AT WILMETTE THEATRE
Did you know October is WJHS month at The Wilmette Theatre!!! This means the ticket booth will be decorated to showcase WJHS pride! Our chosen movie for Flashback Friday is "Goosebumps" on October 14th at 5:00pm. Tickets are just $5.00. Purchasing in advance secures you a spot! Parents can drop off or stay. This is not a PTO-sponsored event, and it’s open to all, but it sure would be fun to have WJHS dominate!!
Click on www.wilmettetheatre.com for more info and tickets!
D39 COMMUNICATION SURVEY
District 39 is gathering feedback from our families on District- and school-level communication preferences. Please take this brief survey to help the district learn how to continue to effectively and efficiently communicate. Note: this survey does not include classroom-level communication.
District Update
Parent/Teacher Conference Information
Last week, District 39 requested information from families in preparation for our upcoming parent-teacher conferences, which will be held on Nov. 16-18 directly before Fall Break. Parent-teacher conferences will again be held virtually (via Zoom) with an opportunity for parents to request an in-person conference. Should you desire an in-person meeting, please complete this survey by Monday, Oct. 17 at noon.
In-person conferences will only be held on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. Your child(ren)’s Grade Level Administrator will be in contact with those families who request an in-person conference and will schedule a time slot with your child(ren)’s group of core content teachers (Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Writing).
Families participating in parent-teacher conferences via Zoom will receive an email on Friday, Oct. 28 with complete details on how to schedule their conference time. The scheduling window will open on Monday, Oct. 31 and remain open until Monday, Nov. 14.
Parent Education Event
Parent Education Event
This week, District 39 hosted a Parent Education event titled “Parenting in a Digital Age.” Thank you to the many families who were a part of the live presentation. You can find a recording of the presentation here. Our next parent education event is an in-person event scheduled for Wednesday, November 9 at 6:30 pm at the Wilmette Junior High School auditorium. It is titled “The Upstanders Movie Screening and Panel Discussion on Cyberbullying”. Please click here for registration links and the full schedule of 2022-23 parent education events.
Shine on 39 – Mileage Club and Fitness!
On the heels of last weekend’s Chicago Marathon, this week’s “Shine on 39” piece takes a look at Mileage Club, a popular recess activity for many of our elementary school students, and gives a shoutout to our faculty and staff who demonstrated their own commitment to fitness by running in the Marathon!Community News
LINK: http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
Healing Everyday Racism in Our Schools - HEROS is hosting several events in October: Native Americans in Chicagoland, Past & Present on October 16th; Civil Rights and Social Justice on the North Shore Conversation on October 26th.
Share our Spare is joining forces with The Volunteer Center for Make a Difference Day!
October 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Indian Hill Train Station in Winnetka. Donate new and gently used baby items quickly and conveniently! (Accepted items: infant/baby clothes, unused diapers, formula, baby food and new/gently used gear.) Visit www.volunteercenterhelps.org or www.shareourspare.org/donate-items/ for more info.
Destination Imagination (DI) is open for registrations. DI is a creative competition for teams of 3-6 kids led by parents. Kids put together a skit and also practice for spontaneous instant challenges. Sign up for a DI information session or join a team.
Wilmette Jr. Trevians are recruiting Kdg-2nd graders to play hockey in House Mite and Mini Mite programs. Season runs from September - February. Contact: leslie.humbel@yahoo.com
PICKLES - kids supporting kids is a local nonprofit that provides free peer-to-peer support and resources for kids ages 6-18 affected by a parent’s cancer diagnosis. These fun, supportive youth groups meet monthly at Winnetka Community House. For more information: www.picklesgroup.org
New Trier Township offers a Food Pantry 10am - 4pm weekdays for families that live/work in the township. NT Township also offers Emergency Financial Assistance, Legal Aid Clinic, property tax assistance, social service referrals and other available resources. Go to www.newtriertownship.com for more information.
Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:00-11:00 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
"Best Step Tutoring” offers free online tutoring for PreK-12 grades.
Scout Troop 2 Wilmette email: bsatroop2wilmette@gmail.com
Wilmette Junior High School
Email: office-wjhs@wilmette39.org
Website: http://wjhs.wilmette39.org/
Location: 620 Locust Rd, Wilmette, IL, USA
Phone: 847-512-6600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Highcrest-MSWilmette-JH-516430278443448
Twitter: @hawkwolf39
Principal at Wilmette Junior High School; love being an educator and working with young people; value spending time with friends and family