Whoot There It Is

Weekly News You Can Use: 1/21/23

Note from Principal McCoy

Note from Principal McCoy

This week we had the opportunity to honor Dr. Martin Luther King with an observed day off. As a Willard School community our students took time to watch videos and learn about Dr. King, his journey, and the impact that he along with so many other Civil Rights Leaders had in leading the change for justice. Many of our students also shared their own dreams for our society.


Yesterday was a truly significant day! As a school we joined together for an assembly to honor Dr. King. We had wonderful Willard Owls: Etta Pierce & Joshua Denton, who had courage to get on stage & share wonderful information about Dr. King. We also had Mr. Eddie Reeves who gave an awe-inspiring oration of Dr. King's, I have a Dream speech.


As we shared with our students, the work that we have centered at Willard has truly been inspired by leaders such as Dr. King.

Our Willard Mission Statement is all about intentionally fighting about injustice, bigotry, and all forms of racism.

Our Willard Peace Pillars were created to build the character of our students as they lead with PEACE & the courage that it takes to ignite it & keep it going.


As we continue to move forward, I encourage you to take time to have the conversations with your children around who they are, what they experience, and how they can be international with pursuing the mission of justice, equality, and peace.


Check out our school Facebook page for video clips & pictures from the assembly.


Have a Great Weekend,


Principal McCoy

Note from Principal McCoy

SCHOOL REMINDERS & HAPPENINGS

Morning Arrival

Morning Arrival

Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m.


Outside of breakfast, please do not arrive or drop off your students prior to 8:50 a.m.
Morning Arrival

WINTERFEST

Our Winterfest event is fast approaching!

We will have our very first ever Winterfest.


The event will take place in the school, but we have some reminders:

- Food will be served from 5:30-6:00

- Children MUST remain WITH their parent/guardian/caretaker at all times

- Please ONLY go into rooms being used for activities, we want to respect classroom spaces.

- Please place garbage in the trash receptacles throughout the building.

- Have Fun!


We are looking for volunteers to assist with some games & stations.

Check out the Signup Genius.

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Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held the week of February 13th. Our school dates will be shared in next week's newsletter.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Spelling Bee

Spelling Bee

Who: 4th & 5th grade (Spanish & English)


This week classes took the spelling bee in their classes. On February 2nd we will host our school wide spelling bee to identify our school winners & representatives who will participate in the district wide bee in early February.


The District champion will receive a sponsored trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in late May or a sponsored trip to the Spanish National Spelling Bee in summer 2023.

Spelling Bee

Access Testing

All English Learners (ELs)/Emergent Bilingual (EB) families will take the ACCESS test during the January 11-February 10, 2023.

Panorama Survey

The Panorama Student Supports Survey for grades 3-8 will take place between January 10th-February 3rd.

  • Surveys are for 3rd-8th grade this year (Change from previous years when it was just 5th-8th grade)

  • Surveys are not REQUIRED but highly encouraged.

  • Surveys are anonymous and data is viewed at a school or grade-level, not at the individual school level.

The survey content will ask students to self-reflect on Teacher-Student Relationships, Sense of Belonging, Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, and Wellness and SEL.


We are asking that all of our students participate in the surveys, as their responses will provide invaluable insights into their experiences and how we can improve and adapt our district to their needs. If a student doesn’t feel like they have enough information to answer a question, they will be able to skip the item altogether. The responses to these surveys will be completely confidential. We are partnering with a third-party vendor to support us in administering these surveys.


Letters will be sent out this week to all 3-5th grade families with additional details.

DISTRICT-WIDE UPCOMING EVENTS/IMPORTANT NEWS:

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten Registration Orientation Session

Jan. 18, 2023

Starts at 7:00 PM


Description:

District 65 Kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year opens on Monday, December 5, 2022. Families can register their incoming kindergarten students by visiting https://www.district65.net/kindergarten. Children must be five years old on or before September 1 to register for kindergarten and are assigned to an attendance-area school based on their residency address.


English Zoom link: https://district65.zoom.us/j/6403483408
Spanish Zoom link: https://district65.zoom.us/j/2408001331

Kindergarten Registration

BPAC: Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee

BPAC is an important forum for bilingual families to work with the district to advance their kids’ needs.

Check out the upcoming meeting that they are hosting.

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D65 Chat n' Chew

D65 Chat n' Chew

District 65 parents/caregivers and community members are invited to join Superintendent Horton and members of the District 65 Leadership Team for informal conversation and to discuss the important initiatives underway in support of our students.

Spanish interpretation will be provided.

Light refreshments will be served.


January 25, 2023

5:00-6:30 p.m.

Yo Fresh Cafe - 635 Chicago Avenue, Evanston

D65 Chat n' Chew
Miracles in Action Winter Report

Miracles in Action Winter Report

Check out the Miracles in Action Winter Report to see what's been taking place throughout D65.


Miracles Winter Report-English


Miracles Winter Report- Spanish

Miracles in Action Winter Report

D65's BIG 5

This year we are committed to our BIG 5 & we ask that you will join us.


In everything that we do we are committed to:

  1. Courtesy
  2. Respect
  3. Dignity
  4. Professionalism
  5. Humanity


Please partner with us as we live out the BIG 5 in our daily walk, talk, & communal interactions.

Paper- Student Athlete Tutoring

Paper- Student Athlete Tutoring

This program is available for all student athletes in D65.


Paper is a 24/7/365 chat based platform that gives students access to live "1 on 1" tutoring in over 200 subjects, 4 different languages, and offers unlimited annotated essay review. They're designed to help students develop critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills. No answers are given to students and all Paper tutors are taught to use the socratic teaching method. To learn more about the program click this link.


Please view this video for additional details

Paper- Student Athlete Tutoring

HEALTH & WELLNESS

IDPH Flu Updates

IDPH Flu Updates

IDPH recommended all schools distribute the linked informational materials regarding influenza and influenza vaccinations and meningococcal disease and meningococcal vaccinations to families.

  • The influenza publication should be provided to parents or guardians of all students.

  • The meningococcal publication should be provided to parents or guardians of age-appropriate students. The age-based recommendation for the meningococcal vaccination is for children 11 years of age or older.

Thank you for your assistance in providing this important information to the families of District 65.

IDPH Flu Updates
Weather & Proper Dress

Weather & Proper Dress

We are in the beauty of winter and the midwest weather. Please send extra clothes for your children who are in grades K-2. They love playing in puddles and everything that is enticing in nature. A back up pair of clothes will limit us calling to disrupt your day, while making sure that our wonderful Willard Owls are warm & dry.


Please also send them with coats, hats, and gloves. If they need any of these items please let us know, we do have extras.

Weather & Proper Dress

Looking to Volunteer?

The process just became easier!

Click here to fill out the virtual D65 Volunteer Form.


We have a few opportunities coming up be on the look out...

Participatory Budgetary Meeting

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZU7xQET3kdqsVz47R362Ez0SdfLmlyUMymApG2Ja2tvSaSQ/viewform

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COMMUNICATION

Are You Following Us On Social Media?

Are You Following Us On Social Media?

Social Media:

  • Follow Us For up to Date Pics of Willard Owl Awesomeness in Action!
  • Facebook: @WillardOwls
  • Instagram: WillardOwlsD65
Are You Following Us On Social Media?
Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Access Testing:

  • January 10th - February 3rd


BPAC

  • Thursday, January 26th
  • 6:30-& 7:30 pm


Winterfest

  • Friday, January 27th
  • 5:30-7:00 pm


PTA Town hall

  • Tuesday, January 31st
  • 6-7pm


Special Education Parent Information Night

  • February 7th
  • Location: JEH
  • 6:30-8:00 pm


African American Achievement Awards

  • February 9th
  • Location: ETHS
  • 6:00-8:00 pm


Parent- Teacher Conferences

  • Week of February 13th


No School

  • February 17th
  • February 20th


African Diaspora Family Event

  • February 24th
Upcoming Events
Willard Elementary School

Willard Elementary School

Willard Elementary School

2700 Hurd Avenue, Evanston, IL, USA mccoyc@district65.net (847) 905-3600 district65.net/willard