WJHS Highlights
09/30/2022
A Message from the Administrative Team
Dear WJHS families,
Thank you to all of our eighth grade families who came out to meet us last night! It was so wonderful to see you in person! I have shared some photos below from this really great evening.
We are excited to share that our lunch menu offerings are expanding! Beginning Monday, we will have two lines at lunch for students. One line will offer the hot lunch of the day on this menu, and the other line will have à la carte options. The daily à la carte options are: hamburger, cheeseburger and chicken sandwich.
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
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.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Kate, Jeff and Eric
SEL Assessment
As we have shared previously, D39 staff and students have been engaged in lessons and activities designed to address social-emotional objectives. These lessons have focused on their continued growth and development in social-emotional competencies and will continue to be a point of emphasis throughout their time in District 39. You can learn more about SEL on our District webpage, which includes helpful parent resources.
An important part of a robust social-emotional learning framework is the inclusion of assessment practices that help teachers gauge how their students are developing and how they can adjust instruction to support their students’ continued development.
Beginning the week of October 3, students in grades 5-8 will be participating in the MESH (Mindsets, Essential Skills, and Habits) self-assessment from Panorama Education. The MESH includes a self-assessment on the social-emotional competencies, which asks students questions about their interactions with others (social awareness), their work habits (self-management), their moods and emotion (emotion regulation), and their supports at school (positive relationships). MESH also has a component designed to assess school climate, which asks students questions about their sense of belonging at school, feelings about school, bullying and teasing at school, and general school safety. This assessment has been given to students in grades 5-8 over the past five years. The results are used for teachers to adjust their instruction to target the needs of their students and as a tool for our programming to ensure that we are building in the necessary curricular supports that address the needs of students at these grade levels. As we continue to make progress on Goal 2 of our D39 Strategic Plan, we will also be looking at these results to guide our planning for Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions (more intense level).
This assessment will be administered in students’ homeroom classes, and in November a report on fall results of social-emotional assessments will be shared with the Board of Education.
It is time for the Battle of the Books at WJHS! Students join a team to read and discuss a list of award-winning and highly recommended books. The program culminates in a Kahoot "Battle" to determine which team knows the books best. Battle of the Books is open to 7th and 8th grade students and students are encouraged to form teams of 4-6 students in either grade. Students can also register individually. Interested students should register HERE by Friday, Oct 7. Questions can be directed to Daphna Neirick, Mary Kate Lubawski, or Erin Schwarz.
Tech Tidbit
Technology and digitization have removed many logistical limits of philanthropy, transforming how people regard charity. Innovations have helped us confront poverty, education inequality, and environmental destruction. Check out this post about “8 of the Top Ways Technology Has Influenced Philanthropy”
Are you looking for charitable opportunities? Try supporting a classroom.
DonorsChoose allows donors to read through proposals from teachers. The site’s proposal filter functions let donors make a selection they feel passionate about. It is a great way to see exactly how your donation can have a positive impact.
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
YEARBOOK SALES ARE NOW OPEN
WJHS yearbooks are on sale now for $25, use code #8211 when ordering. Click here to order yours now!
ADDITIONAL ADVANCED DEBATE CLUB OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
Aces Debate has announced another 8-week Advanced Debate class, being held at WJHS on Fridays from 3:30–4:30 (in rooms 109 & 111) starting on 9/30. The cost of the club is $275. Click here to register. Select “WJHS Advanced Debate.”
CHESS ANYONE?
Is your child interested in Chess? Chess-Ed provides a unique, exciting and dynamic instruction, with a goal to always lift each student to a new level of expertise. Click here for details.
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. On this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, students will explore some of our nation's most important historical sites while experiencing incomparable learning moments. This will be a trip that your child will be talking about for years to come! Click here to learn more and/or to register. This trip is not run by the school or the PTO. Please contact Paul Harper at harperp@wilmette39.org if you have questions!
PASS39 CONNECTING PARENTS COFFEE
Pass39 is a parent organization committed to supporting parents of children with learning, behavioral, emotional, and developmental challenges. We’re hosting a coffee on October 4th, 9:30–11am for D39 parents and/or caregivers (preschool children welcome) of children with 504s or IEPs and those in the process of getting one. Please RSVP to Pass39@Wilmette39.org for location.
D39 PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
D39 has asked us to spread the news about their Parent Education series. The October event is “Parenting in the Digital Age,” taking place on 10/12 at 11am. These free talks are held in person and via Zoom. You can register for upcoming presentations and/or view previously-recorded ones via this link:
https://www.wilmette39.org/for_parents/parent_education
The September presentation was “Setting Goals with Students.”
District Update
Social Media Boot Camp for Parents of Students in Grades 5-8
As the popularity of social media continues to grow, District 39 will be hosting a three-part social media boot camp for parents of students in grades 5-8. This program, led by D39 Administrator for Technology, Information and Safety Tony DeMonte, will take place on three consecutive Thursdays (Oct. 26, Nov. 3, Nov. 10) from 4-5 pm. Registered parents will discuss social dynamics, see demonstrations of apps from students, and learn about Apple's safety controls. We ask that only one parent per family register for this boot camp and please register only if you can attend all three sessions. Click here to register now! This program will be limited to the first 20 registrants.
D39 Communication Survey
In alignment with Goal 4 of our strategic plan, we are gathering feedback from our families on District- and school-level communication preferences. Please take this brief survey to help us learn how to continue to effectively and efficiently communicate. Note: this survey does not include classroom-level communication.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Save the Date
Our fall parent-teacher conferences will take place on Nov. 16-18, immediately preceding Fall Break (Thanksgiving week). Conferences will be held via Zoom, with in-person appointments available by request. More details, including sign-up information, will be provided in the coming weeks.
Parent Education Event
Make plans now to join us on the morning of October 12 for our next Parent Education event titled “Parenting in a Digital Age.” Please click here for the full schedule of 2022-23 parent education events and registration links.
Shine on 39
This week’s “Shine on 39” features our Central Elementary Spanish teachers and students and a special team-building project that they did this year to learn about one another. The project is a wonderful example of Goal 2 of our strategic plan, which revolves around cultivating a supportive and inclusive learning community that is responsive to the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of each student. Great work!
Community News
LINK: http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
Good Fest: Good Music, Good BBQ, Good Cause: Join the concert/bbq this Saturday, October 1st at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 1235 Wilmette Ave. Fest features Tributosaurus, Acoustic Fight Club & Backyard BBQ. Portions of the proceeds go to Family Promise Chicago North Shore. Get tickets here.
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 hosts Open House on September 25 at Erickson Woods from 2:00 - 4:00 pm for boys & girls grades 6-10. 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