WJHS Highlights
10/29/21
A Message from the Administrative Team
Hi WJHS Families,
We are going to see temperatures drop this week and are excited to be feeling fall-like weather! As Dr. Cremascoli mentioned at the board meeting in August, we will eat outdoors as long as the weather permits. While the temperature is dropping, it is still fall and mild enough for students to eat outside. Please remind your child to bring their jacket and wear warm clothing, as lunch will be eaten outdoors barring precipitation.
The parent-teacher conference sign-up links were sent to families this past Monday. If you did not receive an email or need assistance, please contact the main office and they will be able to assist you.
Have a great weekend and stay dry!
Sincerely,
Kate, Jeff and Eric
Spelling Bee
It's Scripps National Spelling Bee season! We are really looking forward to having students participate in the bee program this year.
All students can access the sign-up and study materials through LC/Enrichment course in Schoology.
Here is an informational video if you'd like to show it in class or during homeroom.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
We are excited to host Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences again this year! Despite that virtual conferences were created due to COVID restrictions, we received a lot of positive feedback about the efficiency they provided last year. We hope they continue to run smoothly and provide an opportunity for you to meet your child's teachers!
The online sign-up system went "live" on Monday, October 25th and will stay open through 11:59pm on Monday, November 8th. An email was sent to parents on Friday, October 22nd with specific sign up information.
Conferences cannot be scheduled outside of the designated days.
Each conference will be 5 minutes in length
Conferences will be held:
November 10:
5:00 - 8:30 PM
November 11:
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 - 3:00 PM
5:00 - 8:30 PM
November 12:
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Winter Sports
Wrestling registration is still open! Please visit the athletics website for the link to registration and the forms needed for participation.
- Wrestling is also hosting open mat wrestling sessions at Highcrest every Tuesday and Thursday until the season starts on November 29th.
- Open mats are Tuesday and Thursdays.
Protocol for Spectators
- Each player is allowed to have 2 spectators attend games. These two spectators should sit together and be spaced 6 feet apart from other households.
- Masks are required of all attendees.
- Once your player is finished with their game you must leave the facility to allow room for other spectators to enter for the next game.
- Siblings of players may attend, but they count towards one of the 2 spectators.
- The student body will not be able to attend games at this time.
LAB 39 is Coming Back! Parent Volunteers Needed!
LAB39 is back! Class schedules are now available for these hands-on interactive afterschool STEM enrichment classes for 5th-8th grade science lovers in D39. More info at: http://d39foundation.org/making-impact/lab39/course-schedule/ Registration opens at 9am on November 3rd. Don't miss out! Questions? email lab39wilmette@gmail.com
Parent Education Events
In case you missed the parent education event, Learning About The Responsive Classroom Model and Tips to Take Home, the presentation recording can be found here.
Our next parent education event is Wednesday, November 17th at 11am. It is titled Supporting Friendship Development and Connection. Please Register Here.
Tech Tidbit
Recently, you may have heard some chatter about the TV show “Squid Game” as people are discussing the appropriateness of its content. For example, one school is going as far as banning Squid Game costumes and the play of similar games at school. However, some families are fine with the show's content. Ultimately, each family will need to evaluate whether it’s ok for your children to view.
To read the entire Common Sense Media review, click here. Here is a summary of what Common Sense Media has to say about “Squid Game”:
WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
Parents need to know that the level of violence is very intense in Squid Game. Characters are systematically tortured and killed for the sadistic pleasure of a game master. Adults have sex, and there are threats of sexual violence: Women are grabbed by the hair and beaten. Themes concerning the highs one gets from gambling, winning, or conning money are a main focus.
8th Grade Graduation
PTO Highlights
HELP SAVE OUR AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
Our Clubs can only happen if we have the volunteers to administer them. Moms, Dads, do your kids love our After School Clubs? Would you like to be more involved at school, without having to leave your home or office? Then please consider helping with After School Clubs. We are looking for two co-chairs (a right-brained and left-brained team would be best) and several other helpers. Even if you're a busy parent, we have opportunities that can be done once per season over a coffee break. Please read through the opportunities on this Signup Genius, including the estimated time commitment, and sign up for a slot or two.
SEEKING A VOLUNTEER FOR A WILMETTE THEATRE PARTNERSHIP
Do you have school spirit and love movies? Then we have a fun new volunteer opportunity for you. Wilmette Theatre’s new Program Director, Amy Dane Falkowski is offering up the ticket booth to D39 schools for a month each. This volunteer would organize/lead a group of students, who would decorate the ticket booth, to show school pride and/or promote an event. WJHS is being offered the month of November—which includes the Theatre’s Grand Reopening on November 6th. In addition to decorating the “WJHS Ticket Booth,” you would pick a movie (the “WJHS Pick”), to run at a Sunday Matinee, for a price of only $2. Interested? Please email Casey Brown at president@wjhspto.com
DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE GRADUATION COMMITTEE?
We are looking for volunteers and a chair for the 8th Grade Graduation Committee to work with the administrators to plan decorations and (hopefully) an end of year graduation celebration. This year’s date is Wednesday, 6/8. We are also seeking parents/guardians to join our 7th Grade Graduation Committee to shadow this year’s graduation planning in preparation for next year! For more information, please email graduationparty@wjhspto.com
Attention 7th Grade Parents: Book 8th Grade DC Trip now and save $100
Register now through November 15th, 2021 to receive a $100 early bird discount for next year’s DC Trip. For more information and registration: https://worldstrides.com/custom/wilmette-jr-hs-dc-wb-199281/
(Note: the DC trip is not sponsored by D39, WJHS or the PTO, for more information email Paul Harper at harperp@wilmette39.org)
WJHS & New Trier Spiritwear!
Choose your item, customize and ship or pick up your finished spiritwear locally!
For WJHS go here
For New Trier go here
(great gifts for the 8th graders who will attend New Trier!)
THANK YOU!
A huge thank you to everyone who signed up to Stock the Shelves of the Staff Lounge this week! Your donations let the teachers and staff know how much we appreciate all they do for our children and the snacks, drinks & treats will be enjoyed for weeks to come!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
If you are interested in helping at WJHS during the 2021-2022 school year, please sign up here! At this time, the PTO is working on determining where and when parents can help, and we will reach out to you as opportunities arise. Thank you for your interest in volunteering at WJHS!
PTO REMINDERS
✅ Immediate directory access here
✅ Contribute to the Teacher/Staff gift and iGNITE funds here
✅ Purchase a yearbook here
New Trier High School Level Placement Test
District Update
Board Meeting Update
The Board of Education held its regular meeting this past Monday and unanimously approved the 2021-22 Action Steps for our new strategic plan, Engage, Empower, Inspire (presentation slides). We are thrilled to have Board approval for these items and are excited to continue to lay the foundation to implement this important multi-year effort. The Board also reviewed information regarding our 2021 tax levy and approved a public meeting on the proposed levy directly before its November meeting. Highlights from the Board meeting are available online along with meeting materials and a recording of the meeting.
Strategic Plan Information
As mentioned above, we are excited to continue to lay the groundwork to put our strategic plan into action. Our next step is to create a District Strategic Advisory Team made up of representatives from all stakeholder groups. The main charge of this group will be to identify and design key performance indicators that will help us measure and monitor progress as we aim to Engage, Empower, and Inspire our students and community (Strategic Plan presentation slides and report).
Ages 5-11 Vaccination Clinic
In anticipation of final approval of vaccination for children ages 5-11, the New Trier Township elementary school districts are working with our pharmacy partner on setting up two vaccine clinics in November. This effort is meant to supplement other opportunities available to our students through their medical providers, and registration will be limited to the number of doses we are able to secure. Details are currently being finalized and information will be sent as soon as vaccination is approved for children.
Fall Fun Reminders
Fall Festivals and Halloween are always special days for our students. We love watching them showcase their creativity with their pumpkin creations, costumes and harvest celebrations. It is also often a time for gathering and various connections among our community. As you prepare for safe celebrations this weekend, please continue to pay special attention to outdoor safety as we lose daylight hours and remain aware of healthy and safe protocol for gatherings, especially indoors. Thank you for all of your support!
Community News
LINK: http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
DCFS Foster Child Gift Drive: Families wishing to participate in agift drive for foster children this December should contact Amy Bowen or DanaDrummer. See flyer for details.
PEDAL POWER is collecting gently used bicycles to award Chicago Public School Honor Roll students. Please donate used bicycles on November 13th, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Drop off locations are listed on the flyer posted on the website.
PICKLES EMPOWER is hosting fall sessions/activities from October 18 - November 19 for 1st - 12th graders with a parent/guardian being treated for cancer or requiring close monitoring for disease progression. Information and links are posted on the Community News site.
The Volunteer Center is offering many volunteer service opportunities. Township Paper Shredding Event, November 13th, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Volunteers needed.
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.
For 5th - 8th grade Girls:
Regina Dominican Panthers Basketball Coaching Staff is hosting FUNdamentals Clinic November 7th, 14th and 21st. 5th-6th grades: 9:00-10:00 am and 7th-8th grades: 10:00 - 11:00 am. ($25 fee)
Wilmette Junior High School
Email: dominiqk@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