Whoot There It Is

Weekly News You Can Use: 11/22/22

Note from Principal McCoy

Note from Principal McCoy

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite Holiday.


I have always enjoyed it since I was a small child, because it is one of the few times that my entire family would gather from all over the country to come together. Our traditions and activities were without fail some of my absolute favorite memories. I share that with you all, because Thanksgiving is a reminder to me that family, friends, life, love, and community are so important.


I know that everyone does not celebrate Thanksgiving, & I completely respect that.


I do want you all to know that I appreciate you all as our parent & community partners. Last year was such a hard year in more ways than I can explain. However, this year I feel at home with you all as we begin to get to know one another better and begin to build deeper more authentic relationships. A school community is so crucial, because schools are a central hub for neighborhoods.


My goal as the principal at Willard is to continue to build and nurture our school community. I love our school & I want everyone to feel seen, heard, & valued.


I am grateful for you all & your wonderful children as they allow me to do what I love.


So today, know that I am grateful for each & everyone of you, our students, our staff members, and our school community as a whole. Thank you for all that you do to share your love, support, and dedication at Willard.


Our school is not an island, it takes many hands to make the work successful.

I am looking forward to growing and connecting our school community as we get to know one another more. I am also look forward to partnering with each & every one of you as we continue to recreate & reimagine celebration and community at Willard.


For those who celebrate, have a safe & happy Thanksgiving. For those who do not celebrate, have a safe & rest filled rest of your week with those whom you love.


Principal McCoy

Note from Principal McCoy
#Lunchbag Event

#Lunchbag Event

WE (Willard Elementary) gives back!


Join us in this Community Service Event.

Willard Elementary is joining together to give back to our local community in an act of kindness.


On Wednesday, November 30th we will join together to put together lunches for our community.


Our students will create kindness notes and decorated lunch bags filled with delicious lunches.

After students decorate their bags or notes, they will help to pack lunches that we will donate to local shelters.


We are looking for donations. Please see the linked Wishlist for our needed items.

Amazon Wishlist


We are also seeking volunteers to help make this event a success.

Volunteer Sign up

#Lunchbag Event
Winterfest

Winterfest

We are hosting our Willard Winterfest on Thursday, December 15th from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Come & join us as we embrace our school community with music, fun, and activities.


Want to help plan or volunteer at this event, please sign up here.

Winterfest Sign Up

Winterfest
Sports

Sports

Elementary Athletics

District 65 is starting elementary athletics.

Winter sports will consist of cheerleading and basketball.

The district offers sports for all 4th and 5th grades, and there is no fee. District 65 and the city of Evanston have agreed that the city will provide basketball for the 1st-3rd graders, and the district will do so for the 4th and 5th graders. There are also coaching opportunities for parents and people in the community.


Basketball and cheerleading will start on Monday, December 5th, 2022 and registration will close on Monday, November 28th, 2022.


PLEASE CREATE AN EVENTLINK ACCOUNT TO SIGN YOUR CHILD(REN) UP. HERE ARE THE STEPS TO CREATE YOUR LINK. Once you create this link you will be able to sign up for 4th & 5th grade sports. Please see the district website for additional details.


COACHING DETAILS ARE HERE

We are searching for coaches, and that it's a paid position.

Please contact Branden Lane for coaching details. (laneb@district65.net)

Sports

Looking For Ways to Begin Your Cultural Awareness Journey?

District 65 Beyond Diversity Seminar December 1st & 2nd


District 65 is excited to host a community-based Beyond Diversity Seminar grounded in the ideals of anti-oppression and compassion. This two-day training will offer participants the opportunity to learn how their own values, beliefs, and assumptions influence their worldviews and behaviors, and they can go beyond mere tolerance of others to true respect for cultural differences.

District 65 is deeply committed to racial and educational equity. As part of this commitment, all District 65 team members are asked to complete this transformative training experience. We are also inviting parents and caregivers from the District 65 community to participate in this community-based session!

The session is at no cost to D65 community members. Participants must be able to attend the entirety of both session dates to be fully registered for the session.

District 65 Beyond Diversity Training
Thursday, December 1, and Friday, December 2

7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Joseph E. Hill Education Center (Boardroom)
1500 McDaniel Avenue, Evanston

Click here to register. Space is limited.
Registration will close on Friday, November 18, at 5 p.m.



El Distrito 65 está emocionado de organizar un seminario ‘Más allá de la diversidad’ para toda la comunidad el cual estará basado en los ideales de compasión y anti-opresión. Esta capacitación de dos días ofrecerá a los participantes la oportunidad de aprender cómo sus propios valores creencias y suposiciones influyen su manera de ver el mundo al igual que su comportamiento, además pueden ampliarse más allá e ir de la tolerancia hacia otros al respeto verdadero de las diferencias culturales.

El Distrito 65 está profundamente comprometido con la equidad racial y educativa. Como parte de este compromiso, se pide a todos los miembros del equipo del Distrito 65 que completen esta experiencia transformadora de capacitación. ¡También estamos invitando a padres de familia y a cuidadores de la comunidad del Distrito 65 para que particiopen en esta sesión comiunitaria!

Esta sesión es gratuita para los miembros de la comunidad del D65. Los participantes deben poder asistir a ambas fechas de las sesiones para que estén debidamente registrados para la sesión.

Capacitación del Distrito 65 ‘Más allá de la diversidad’
Jueves, 1ro de diciembre y viernes 2 de diciembre

7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Centro Educativo Joseph E. Hill (salón de juntas)
1500 McDaniel Avenue. Evanston

Presiona aquí para inscribirse. El espacio es limitado.
La inscripción se cerrará el viernes 18 de noviembre las 5 p.m.

Right At School Winter Programs


Registration Dates: Monday, November 14th - Friday, December 9th

Winter Session Dates: Monday, December 5th - Friday, March 10th

Scholarship Form Dates: Monday, November 7 - Wednesday, November 30th


Scholarships Process


DIME & Martial Arts will be added to the schedule soon per RAS.

Student Advisory Project Phase II

For the first time in almost 30 years, our district is working towards a comprehensive, equitable plan to help ensure that nearly all students have access to a neighborhood school in proximity to their home, inclusive of programming and services that best meet their individual needs.

Please note that the new Student Assignment Plan, including boundary changes, will not go into effect until the 2025-2026 school year.

Join us in Phase II of our Student Assignment Planning (SAP) effort to learn more and discuss the impact of the plan on our community. In this phase, community feedback is needed to help determine programming options and locations across the District.

All in-person and virtual sessions will have slides in English and Spanish and verbal interpretation.

Visit our SAP Resource Hub for more information.

In-Person Engagement Opportunities

*Session will be in Spanish with English interpretation.


Topic:

  • Boundary Changes
  • TWI Activity
  • Historical Data
  • Locations and Improvements


Upcoming Sessions & Locations:

November 29th 7:00pm

IN-PERSON
Bessie Rhodes Auditorium


3701 Davis St., Skokie


VIRTUAL:

November 29th 5:30 pm

Zoom Link
Passcode: 517389


December 6th. 6:30-8:30 pm

IN-PERSON

Fleetwood Jourdain Community Center

1655 Foster St., Evanston

COVID Shield Testing

COVID Shield Testing

SHIELD Testing is now available on Tuesday mornings in the JEH Board Room from 7:30-9:30am. If you have students or staff who did not receive a QR code, your health office staff can print and/or register the individual to provide the QR Code. QR codes are needed to test at JEH.

We have seen a slight rise in cases as the weather has begun to shift. Please utilize this testing opportunity if your child is ill.

COVID Shield Testing

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...

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.

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

November 21st-25th:

  • Fall Break


November 28th:

  • Registration Closes for Basketball & Cheerleading


November 30th:

  • Parent University: Standards Based Grades & Report Cards
Virtual Session


November 30th:

  • Willard Gives Back: #Lunchbag Event
  • (1:45 pm - 3:15pm)


December 5th:

  • Basketball & Cheerleading Begin


December 15th:

  • Winterfest 5:30-7:00 pm
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