Willard Elementary School
Back to School Guide: 2021-2022
Message from Principal McCoy
We are just a few days from the launch of the 21-22 school year. Our Willard team has been busy working to ensure that the school is ready, that students are correctly scheduled, and that the building is safe and ready for our Willard Scholars to return on Wednesday. I am aware of the many frustrations that have arisen in communication, accessing schedules, etc. Please know that our district is working diligently to assist families as we all acclimate to the new Powerschool student information system. As a building we have been working on minimal staff, but the good news is that everyone returns tomorrow as we enter into our district wide- Welcome back sessions for all D65 staff.
We will work to send out an email tomorrow that identifies/ confirms your child's teacher for the 21-22 school year.
As we move into the school year, I will send out a Friday Memo each week, that will share quick updates & key information/ events that are upcoming.
I am excited for what this new school year will bring as we return to in-person instruction.
Sincerely,
Principal McCoy
The Willard Way
The Willard Peace Pillars:
- Know Peace
- Feel Peace
- Make Peace
- Speak Peace
Mission Statement:
Willard School educates and inspires our multi- and monolingual students to think and act critically with empathy, kindness, and curiosity. Each member of our community: staff, students, families, and caregivers - actively contributes to a caring, safe environment through both their words and actions. Our entire school community will take the steps needed to address and end all forms of racism, bias, bigotry, and bullying at Willard School. Our collective efforts will help our students feel connected, have access to high academic standards for all, and be able to grow to their full potential.
Willard Park Meet & Greets
PowerSchool Support
Parents/guardians who have questions or need help may attend our Registration and PowerSchool Virtual Office Hours every Tuesday from 3-7pm, beginning Tuesday, August 24.
Zoom Access Information
ID: 9289795540
(US) +1 346-248-7799
Additionally, we are looking to support families in using the system through virtual and in-person engagement opportunities as part of our back-to-school programming. Stay tuned for details!
If you have questions or need support, please contact Robert Han, D65 Student Assignment Data Specialist, at parents@district65.net.
Arrival
Arrival (8:50-9:00 am)
Before you bring your child to school ...
District 65 will use the Safety iPass from CrisisGo to manage daily staff and student health self-certifications for those who will be returning in person.
Before your child comes to school, complete the *Safety iPass from CrisisGo.
Safety iPass from CrisisGo can be accessed on multiple devices.
You can download the CrisisGo app to complete your daily self-certification. As you look for the app, it may be helpful for you to know it has the same symbol that you see on many first aid kits.
This is our self-certification process to certify that your child does not have a temperature of 100.4°F or higher and is not exhibiting other symptoms associated with COVID-19.
If any child in a family registers a temperature of 100.4°F or higher, ALL children in that household must stay home.
School staff members will contact families of children who did not self-certify.
There will be no supervision before 8:50 on the playground. Please be sure to accompany your child(ren) on the playground if they are using it before arrival.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Schedule
Below is a general drop-off and pick-up schedule. Additional information can be found in Attachment No. 2, Map of Entrance/Exit Plan.
8:50am - Outside supervision begins on the playgrounds
8:58am - Alert bell rings for children to line up (Due to COVID regulations, children will not play on the playground for morning recess, due to the excessive number of students at one time.)
9:00am - Entry bell rings. Students line up and enter on the west side of the building as follows:
Kindergarten: Kindergarten playground (south); enter through basement doors.
Grades 1-2: Line up on Northside basketball blacktop, enter through the North doors of the multipurpose room.
Grades 3-5: Line up and enter at Door No. 5 (near North playground), which is halfway between the Kindergarten and Grades 1-2 line ups.
9:05am - Classes begin. Please contact your classroom teacher for classroom-specific schedule, including lunch/recess and specials (drama, music, art, & library).
3:35pm - Students are dismissed. Students generally exit through the same doors they entered in the morning.
Safety
Only students may enter the building during morning arrival. Due to COVID-19 protocol only staff & students are permitted in the building. If parents need assistance, they will receive it at the main entrance in the foyer. Temperature checks will be completed before entry into the main office is permitted.
Weather
If there is inclement weather at school drop off, students will enter the same entry doors as above at 8:50 and proceed to the following locations:
Kindergarten: Basement hallway
Grades 1-2: Multi-purpose room
Grades 3-5: Auditorium
Absence
Each day your child is sick or absent, a parent or guardian must call the Willard safe phone at 847-905-3602.
Late Arrival
If your child will be arriving after the school day starts, please come to the health clerk’s office through the main entrance on Hurd Ave. to sign them in. If you know they will be significantly late, please call the Willard safe phone at 847-905-3602.
Early Pick Up
If your child has an appointment before the school day ends, please come to the health clerk’s office to sign them out. Due to safety and supervision issues, administration cannot call students out of class after 3:15 for early pick up. Only people listed as parents/ guardians/ emergency contacts will be permitted to students up early from school. Although you may be a familiar face, we do require that an ID be shown to prove identification for the safety of all students.
Half Days (“School Improvement Days”)
School improvement days are scheduled by District 65. On these days, students are dismissed at 12:05 p.m. at the same place they are ordinarily dismissed. Half days are normally once a month on a Wednesday. Families who need school-based childcare during this time can contact the District 65 childcare program and/or Right At School https://www.district65.net/domain/744 for further information. The District 65 calendar for this year can be found at: http://www.district65.net/Page/2.
Pick-Up/ Drop-Off
Bus Transportation
Students who reside 1.5 miles or more from Willard or reside where walking to Willard or to a bus stop would constitute a serious safety hazard are eligible for free transportation through the District. Students with disabilities who have transportation services written into their Individualized Education Plans (IEP) are also eligible. More information about transportation services can be directed to the District at http://www.district65.net/Page/118 or the District Transportation Coordinators at (847) 424-2425.
Buses will drop off and pick up in front of school at door # 1
Before entering the bus, students or guardians will need to self certify using CrisisGo and show their Safety iPass to the designated bus supervisor or driver.
Students who have not self-certified will have their temperature taken by their designated bus aide. If they exhibit no symptoms or do not have a temperature of 100.4°F or higher, they will be allowed to sit on the bus regularly.
If they have a temperature of 100.4°F or higher and/or have COVID symptoms, there will be a designated area on the bus where they will be isolated from other students until the arrival of school. Then, they will be escorted to the Isolation room upon arrival.
If the child’s temperature is 100.4°F or higher caregivers will be contacted immediately.
Face covering must be worn at all times by students & staff on the bus. (Extra masks will be kept on the bus in case students do not have one.)
Hand sanitizer will be given to students upon boarding & de-boarding.
The bus will load from the back to the front, and unload from the front to the back.
Students will sit in an assigned & distanced seat from others.
Some windows will be kept open (weather permitting) to ensure extra ventilation.
Buses will be cleaned & sanitized daily and after each route.
Upon arrival students will walk to the back of the school & line up with their class.
In case of bad weather, they will enter through the front door.
Parking/Drop Off
Traffic patterns during pick up and drop off can be tricky. The City of Evanston has instituted a one-way traffic pattern around Willard School by putting up "Do Not Enter" signs for portions of Hurd Avenue and Central Park. The “Do Not Enter” time periods are from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Student pick up & drop off will occur on Park & Central Park.
During this time, traffic can only flow as follows:
Hurd - Is for busses only- no students should be dropped off or picked up in cars
Park - Traffic flows west on Park.
Central Park - Traffic flows north at pick up and drop off.
Alleys may not be used as throughways. Do not use alleys to avoid the one-way/do not enter signs. There is also a new cutout on Hurd Avenue for a bus, cars may not park in the cutout during pickup or drop-off (15 minutes before and after the bell) but may during the school day for picking up or dropping off students. As a final safety reminder, please use the crossing guard to safely cross the street.
For drivers dropping off students at the south end of the building on Park Place, please note that this is a no parking zone. Please do not leave cars unattended or blocking an intersection. Also, the alley south of Willard off of Park Place is a private alley, and is marked both “no parking” and “no through traffic.” Please do not drive in the alley instead of using Hurd or Central Park to move between Hartzell and Park; many pedestrians and children walk there.
For students arriving via bicycle, please remember to have our students wear their helmets and walk their bikes on school grounds.
What does my child need to bring on the 1st day of school?
- Their lunch ( if they do not want a hot lunch)
- A mask
- A water bottle
No school supplies are needed, because we are supplying them for all students.
Can I Volunteer or Come Into the School?
We are seeking volunteers to support outdoor lunch/ recess.
If you are interested, you must contact our human resources department & complete a background check. We are also asking for all volunteers to be vaccinated.
Once we receive notice that you are cleared to volunteer, we will contact you & schedule you to support our outdoor lunch/ recess time.
Tell us about your child(ren) and how you hope to be involved at Willard this school year.
PPE Considerations and Classroom Procedures
Personal Protective Equipment for Staff and Students: Each staff member will be provided with the following: gloves, masks, face shields (if needed), and disinfectant wipes.
Masks are required for staff and students at all times when in the building, with the exception of eating breakfast and lunch.
Some teachers might use face shields for added protection.
Disinfectant spray/wipes will be used to wipe down areas in the classrooms.
Social Distancing
Halls have been marked with arrows to create one way pathways and with 6’ markings for keeping distance from others in line.
Masks must be worn at all times.
Classroom Setup
Classrooms have been arranged so that students are spaced at a minimum of 3 ft apart. (All non-essential equipment, furniture and non-wipeable materials have been removed from the classrooms.)
Plexiglass will be used as a divider on tables per teacher discretion or if space is less than 3 feet apart..
Each student will have their own materials and learning tools, including technology.
Each student is provided with a storage space for their materials and a bin for storing items that have been used and need to be disinfected.
Students should have their own backpacks to transport materials to and from school.
Masks must be worn at all times.
Technology
K-1st Grade students will leave their devices at school with them each day.
Personal headphones will be made available to students as needed.
2nd-5th Grade students will bring their devices with them to/from school daily.
It is essential that devices are brought to school fully charged.
Students will be assigned an individual device. No students are permitted to share technology at any time.
Additional technology devices will be available should a child forget their device at home. These will be disinfected after use.
Additional Student Supplies & Personal items
All supplies need to be individualized; there will be no communal or shared supplies.
Educators will order supplies for each classroom. There are no supplies that you will need to purchase for the school year.
Students will utilize a locker or cubby for the personal materials (backpack, coat, boots, etc.).
Cleaning Procedures
Classrooms will be sanitized by custodians at the end of each day.
Common areas will be sanitized throughout the day and the end of each day.
Bathrooms will be sanitized twice per day.
Transitions
Bathroom Procedures
We will use a visual symbol in each hallway to represent the number of people in the bathroom. 2 students will be allowed in the bathroom at a time.
Hallway Travel
Hallways are marked for travel in one direction only.
Students will stay 3-6’ apart in the halls
Movement Breaks
Teachers will provide breaks for students in the classroom, maintaining safety guidelines.
Movement breaks for outside transition will be included on the schedules.
Health
Link to resources
This section will continue to be updated as the Health Services Dept makes updates.
Resource: COVID Exclusion Guidance
Resource: ISBE Best Practices for Staff/Student who test positive.
Resource: IDPH COVID 19 Exclusion Decision Tree
When a student gets sick at school ...
Educators will call down to the health office to check for the availability of spacing for students to be seen. The health office personnel will direct the educator to have the student seen in their office or to the designated isolation space.
Students will be supervised at all times.
Guardians MUST have an adult over the age of 18 who is available and can quickly pick up their student. While this is always important, it is essential to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Students will not be permitted back to school until they are fever free for 72 hours without use of fever reducing medication. Individuals should not return for in-person instruction for 10 days after symptoms first appeared.
Students will not be penalized for staying home from school and must not come when they don’t feel well.
Remote learning instruction will be provided for quarantine students based upon district guidelines.
Breakfast- Lunch- Recess
General Information: Each grade has a 20 minute lunch outside (when the weather permits, or in their classroom on inclement weather days) followed or preceded by a 30 minute recess period. Since lunch is not very long, consider limiting what is packed to only what will be eaten and is easy to eat. Each morning the children put their lunches in a basket (not refrigerated) and retrieve them at lunchtime.
Hot Lunch: Hot lunches and milk are available free of charge to all students. The lunches are prepared at Evanston Township High School and brought to Willard daily. Lunch count is taken in the morning & a vegetarian option is available daily, only students who request a lunch in the morning will receive one at lunch time. You can find the hot lunch menu on the District website: http://district65.schoolwires.net/Page/98
Cold Lunch from Home: Pack a lunch at home and bring in a sturdy lunchbox or insulated bag (lunches are NOT refrigerated at Willard). Label it clearly with the student’s name. A drink can be brought from home (water, juice box, etc) or, as stated above, milk (white or chocolate) may be picked up through the District 65 food service.
Snacks: Classes may have a scheduled snack time once a day. Students may bring their own snack OR one will be provided. Snacks must be allergen free. Snacks will be brought for individual students only, they may not be brought for the entire class or shared amongst students.
If your child(ren) does not want a snack they do not need to bring one.
Breakfast: Breakfast will be free of charge, available to every student, and will be provided “grab and go” style. Breakfast will be located at each assigned entry way. Students will eat in the classroom.
Students are not required to participate in breakfast/snack, but it will be available for all students.
Food Allergies: In order to establish a safe environment for students with peanut and treenut allergies, Willard has a designated “Nut-Free Table” available in the lunchroom. For more information about Willard’s nut-free table, or other food allergies and lunchroom accommodations, please contact Principal McCoy. If you have questions about receiving accommodations for your child’s food allergies, please contact the District’s Coordinator of Health Services, Mary Larson, at larsonm@district65.net or 847-859-8120.
Recess: Willard encourages students to play outside during lunch recess as much as possible. However, due to certain inclement weather, there are times when children will play inside for their lunch recess. Depending on their grade, children may have indoor recess in their classroom, gym, and/or auditorium. Masks will be worn during recess time (indoor & outdoor).
Buddy Benches: Our kindergarten and upper grade playgrounds both have Buddy Benches, which are brightly painted and inviting. At the beginning of each school year, we explain to each class that the Buddy Bench is a place to sit if you are shy about asking friends to play. Students are coached and encouraged to go to the buddy bench if they see a classmate sitting there, and invite them to join their play or their game!
Before & After Care
There are many before and after school activities which provide child care and/or enrichment opportunities for Willard students. Some of these activities are run by outside providers while some are run by Willard parents and/or staff. Detailed information is sent prior to the start of the school year, and throughout as new programs are made available. Families in need of scholarships should reach out to Emma Kornhauser, the school social worker. There are two childcare options: District 65 and Right at School.
District 65 School Age Child Care (SACC) operates before and after school child care at Willard every day that school is in session (including ½ days). For further information about schedules and fees, contact the District’s Child Care office at (847) 859-8306 or (847) 859-8118, or visit the District’s Child Care webpage at http://www.district65.net/Page/107
Right At School (RAS) operates after school childcare (“Right Club”). Based on safety guidelines, enrichment programs may start in November, but the afterschool care will begin on the first day of school. RAS also runs “camp days” on school ½ days and during certain school holidays. For further information about schedules and fees, contact RAS’ customer service at 855-287-2466 or visit https://rightatschool.com/willard-elementary/
PTA Updates & Information
We welcome you to join the Willard PTA!
Join us in building a more inclusive Willard community! Now more than ever, it is important that we join together as a school community, and we believe our PTA plays a critical role in helping us do so. Here are some of the benefits to participating in the PTA:
Show your support for our school community
Vote on budget matters and help guide the direction of the PTA’s programming
Become eligible to hold Executive Committee and Committee Chair positions
Register online to become a member of the Willard PTA at:
https://my.cheddarup.com/c/willard-pta-membership-2021-2022-membresia-de-willard-pta-2.
Membership donations are optional.
Volunteer Opportunities!
There are many opportunities for you to get more involved in the PTA which we will share throughout the year. Currently, we are seeking volunteers for the following:
Hispanic Heritage Celebration Chair & Committee Members - Help plan an outdoor, school-wide event to bring our community back together to celebrate during Hispanic Heritage month this fall.
African Diaspora Celebration Chair & Committee Members - Help create a school-wide community celebration of the African Diaspora.
Spanish Translators - Do you speak Spanish and English? Help provide written and/or oral translation for PTA events and communications.
Save-the-date for our first joint principal/PTA meeting on August 31 at 6pm on Zoom
Contact willardowlspta@gmail.com to let us know how you can help!
Willard PTA Website: https://www.district65.net/Page/930
This website contains information about PTA-sponsored events at Willard, PTA membership, volunteer opportunities, and contact information for the PTA Co-Presidents. One can also sign up for the Owl Notes and PTA committees through this website. If you would like to receive OwlNotes, click this link to signup: https://us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b06391a88de4cdd
PTA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/willardpta This parent-run facebook page is generally used to highlight some of the events occurring at Willard and in the community. Parent Group Facebook Page: This facebook group is open to all current Willard Elementary School parents for posts and questions related to school-related topics and items. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1651252948240734/
Upcoming Events
- Wednesday, August 25th: First Day of School 9:05 a.m - 3:35 p.m.
- Tuesday, August 31st: PTA Meeting- virtual 6:00-7:00 p.m.
- Monday, September 6th: No School Labor Day
- Tuesday, September 7th: Non-Attendance Day (Rosh Hashanah)
- Thursday, September 16th: Non-Attendance Day (Yom Kippur)
- Wednesday, September 22nd: Willard Curriculum Night 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.