WJHS Highlights
10/15/21
A Message from the Administrative Team
Hi WJHS Families,
Thank you to those who joined us for the ADL "5 - 8 Walk Against Hate" last weekend! The weather was beautiful and there were some great conversations being had amongst those who participated. Check out some photos below from the event!
Sometimes it's hard to remember that we are still in a pandemic and that life has not yet returned to the way it was in the fall of 2019. As a reminder, you may get a call from us because your child has been identified as a close contact to an individual who tested positive for COVID, and this could result in a possible quarantine. Unlike pre-COVID, we are asking you to keep your child home from school if they have COVID symptoms, such as a sore throat or headache. Please know that like you, we cannot wait for a return to an even more "normal", but that protocols for COVID still exist. You can find more information about our COVID protocols in the "D39 Family Response to Illness Booklet". Thank you in advance for understanding.
We hope you enjoy this very fall-like weekend!
Sincerely,
Kate, Jeff and Eric
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 is scheduled to go "live" on Monday, October 25th and stay open through 11:59pm on Monday, November 8th. An email will be 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 are Coming!
Winter athletics registration for girls and boys Basketball, Dance and Wrestling will open on Monday, October 18th. Please visit the athletics website for the link to registration and the forms needed for participation.
7th and 8th grade basketball tryouts will be Monday October 25th - Wed. Oct. 27th. Dance clinics/tryouts will be held October 25-29th.
Wrestling registration will also open at that time. Wrestling is also hosting open mat wrestling sessions at Highcrest every Tuesday and Thursday until the season starts on November 29th.
LAB 39 is Coming Back! Parent Volunteers Needed!
LAB 39 After-School STEM Enrichment will return after Thanksgiving for 5th-8th grade science-lovers in D39! All classes are taught by dedicated parent and community volunteers. No prior teaching experience is necessary; just bring your love for science! If you are interested in leading a class, please complete the survey through the link below to indicate which courses might be of interest to you, and what days/times you are available. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XYJQJ3Q
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
“5-Minute Film Festival”
To celebrate this year's Digital Citizenship Week-October 18-22 , we have put together a “5-Minute Film Festival” (located in your child’s Schoology Lunch Course). Students can watch and participate at their own pace during the school day when they have free time, or at home.
2021’s 5-Minute Festival Films are:
The Pressure to Stay Connected
Friendships and Social Media
Hate Speech Online
13 Ways to Protect your Data
Choose Your News
These films will discuss hot topics with the intention of reminding students that we:
find balance in our digital lives
know the power of words and actions
are kind and courageous
take control to protect interests
can find reliable sources
8th Grade Graduation
PTO Highlights
Help Stock the Shelves - October WJHS Staff Lounge
Looking for a way to recognize our amazing WJHS Staff? The PTO Staff Appreciation Committee has organized a Stock the Shelves event this month. Now that school is in full swing, let’s fill the staff lounge with treats & refreshments during the week of 25-29 October by using the SignUp Genius link: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0f49a5ab2aa6fcc43-wjhs SignUp for item(s) and then fulfill your SignUp by either:
(1) dropping off at WJHS front door vestibule anytime during the week 10/25-10/29 OR
(2) order via Amazon and ship (anytime in October) to: Wilmette Junior High School, Attn: Staff Lounge, 620 Locust Rd., Wilmette, IL 60091.
Questions? Contact Julie Farina staffappreciation@wjhspto.com
Donate to Highcrest’s Make A Difference Day
The D39 community is partnering with the Volunteer Center of the North Shore for National Make a Difference Day on 10/23/21. HMS will collect items, so please start collecting gently-used items around your house: clothes, jackets, books, toys, sporting equipment. See flyer below.
Attention 7th Grade Parents!
Attention 7th Grade Parents!
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)
Attention 8th Grade Parents!
Will your 8th grader be attending New Trier next year? Get a jump start on holiday gifts by ordering NT Spiritwear now! Just go here, choose your item, customize and ship or pick up your finished product locally!
Math Club Registration Opens Monday at 9am
Math Club is open to students in grades 5–8, and will prepare students to compete against peers in a series of 3 national competitions: MATHCOUNTS, MOEMs and Perennial Math. Club will meet the first and third Tuesday of each month November 2nd through March 15th at Highcrest from 3:45–4:45. Registration opens 10/18 at 9am on the HMS After School Club page. For questions please contact afterschoolclubs@highcrestpto.org
PTO REMINDERS/NEWS
✅ Last chance to order a print directory here
✅ Contribute to the Teacher/Staff gift and iGNITE funds here
✅ Purchase a yearbook here
✅ Purchase Spirit Wear here
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!
SEEKING AN AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS CHAIRPERSON
We’re in need of a detail-oriented person, who can direct a team of volunteers, to set up and promote winter and spring After School Clubs. This volunteer opportunity can be done on your own time, from your computer. You’ll work with the VP of Student Programs to set up the next season of club registration.
Please email clubs@wjhspto.com to help us keep our clubs going!
SEEKING A VILLAGE WIDE PTO COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
Are you interested in joining the Village Wide PTO as Communications Chair?
🗣️THE VWPTO MEETS 4 TIMES A YEAR AND INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL D39 GRADE LEVEL SCHOOLS, D39 BOARD OF EDUCATION, PASS39, CIVICS & SAFETY, DR. CREMASCOLI, AND MORE. AS CHAIR, YOU WOULD REACH OUT TO ALL SCHOOL COMMUNICATION REPS AND REPORT THEIR INFORMATION TO THE VWPTO AT THE MEETING.
🗣️PLEASE CONTACT THE VWPTO PRESIDENT, BARB BENTIVENGA, (BENTIVENGA4@ICLOUD.COM) FOR MORE INFORMATION.
🗣️PLEASE NOTE THAT THE REMAINING VWPTO MEETINGS ARE NOV. 10, 2021 AT 9:15AM, MARCH 9, 2022 AT 9:15AM, AND MAY 11, 2022 AT 10AM.
LOOK WHAT YOUR PTO DID THIS SUMMER!!!
Over the 2021 summer, your PTO has been hard at work making some incredible changes to the outdoor spaces at Wilmette Junior High! See before and after pics and read more here.
LAB 39 is Coming Back! Parent Volunteers Needed!
LAB 39 After-School STEM Enrichment will return after Thanksgiving for 5th-8th grade science-lovers in D39! All classes are taught by dedicated parent and community volunteers. No prior teaching experience is necessary; just bring your love for science! If you are interested in leading a class, please complete the survey through the link below to indicate which courses might be of interest to you, and what days/times you are available. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XYJQJ3Q
New Trier High School Level Placement Test
District Update
Institute Day Highlights
We hope our students and families enjoyed a day off of school on Monday! Despite the day off of school, our schools were busy with learning as teachers and staff engaged in their Institute Day. Our entire district staff engaged in a full day of learning on Monday about the Responsive Classroom approach to building community inside the classroom. We have adopted this method district-wide as a way to build a foundation that spans all classrooms, schools and grade levels, from which we can develop essential social emotional skills and advance learning. This training taught our staff techniques and strategies to use in their classrooms and across the school to engage students in academics, build a positive community, effectively manage the learning environment, and provide developmentally responsive instruction. This is just one step as we continue to build a toolbox of strategies to support the social emotional needs of our students while building academic readiness and rigor.
Parent Education Webinar Recording
As an extension of our activities from Monday, our Parent Education series this week offered parents the opportunity for “Learning About The Responsive Classroom Model and Tips to Take Home.” This webinar shared many of the components of the Responsive Classroom approach, and how some of those strategies could be integrated at home. If you missed the presentation, you can view the recording here. Please see this information sheet from Responsive Classroom for more details and feel free to review the Responsive Classroom website, too. We look forward to continued communication and partnership with you as we strengthen community across our classrooms.
Strategic Plan Update
As we continue to lay the foundation for implementation of our strategic plan, I want to thank our entire district staff for their engagement in this week’s work on Responsive Classroom. One of the goals of the strategic plan calls on us to continue to facilitate a supportive community. The Responsive Classroom approach helps to cohesively address the social emotional needs of our students as they progress through their educational journey.
Community News
LINK: http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
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. Make a Difference Day, October 23rd, donate gently used and new goods to benefit over a dozen community nonprofits.
National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15. Join in recognizing Hispanic Americans achievements and contributions. See website for events and activities.
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. beststeptutoring.org
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