Whoot There It Is
Staff- 22/23 School Year: Volume 1: Issue 27 5/14/2023
AAPI Family Night
Excellent Job Team.
Please check out our school Facebook page for Pics.
Upcoming Assemblies
Friday, May 19th
- Haven Orchestra Concert
- Gym
- Attendance: All Students
- 1:40-2:05 pm
SCHOOL REMINDERS & HAPPENINGS
Communication Expectations
- Weekly Email or Message to families sharing: Your curricular focus is for the week, and guiding questions they can ask their children, & resources to support learning at home.
- Monthly team or individual Newsletter (must be a shared decision by the team): First one should go out this week. With indepth grade level info for all curricular areas/ standards/ skills.
Scheduling Team
Are you interested in being on the scheduling team?
If so, please complete this form, we will begin the scheduling next week.
If not, no worries this form is for all scheduling feedback. Fill out this form to share ideas to make our schedules better.
Curricular Updates & PLCs
Lesson Plans: Due SUNDAY
Wrapping up the school year strong.
Finishing all curricular units
Assessing where students are & their academic growth to end the year strong.
PLCs & Our SWP Goals:
Check in with your PLC, how is your PLC intentionally working towards our PLC goals.
SLOs should be coming to a close.
Has your team reviewed your PLC goals lately? Update your team's PLC goals & data on your PLC agendas.
Here's a link to Info on Benchmark Assessments SY23.
Evaluations- Classified Staff
- All classified staff will receive evaluations this school year.
- Health Clerks/ Nurse
- Administrative Assistant
- Concierge
- Paraprofessionals/ Non-Instructional Aides
- Lunch-Recess Supervisors
- Custodians
Your evaluative administrator (Mr. Johnson or Myself) will reach out to you to schedule your evaluation meeting before the end of the school year.
End of the Year Events/ Activities/ Planning
- Student class assignments
- Grade level articulation meetings (during staff meeting time)
- Scheduling Committee- Volunteers needed
- Summer Planning
Willard Open House
Please Join us to learn more about a day in the life at Willard Elementary School.
If you have family members or friends who are looking at Willard next year, please share this link with them.
Who:Kindergarten & New Families
When: June 1, 2023
Time: 6-7 pm
DISTRICT-WIDE EVENTS & UPDATES
D65 End of the Year Celebration
Save the Date! D65 Staff End-of-Year Celebration
May 25, 2023
4:00-6:00 pm. @ the Quad
- This will be a fun field day style event. It will be open to D65 staff from 4:00-6:00 and will be a rolling event.
- Please plan to join the Schools Team as we celebrate the end of the school year and we acknowledge the hard work that the staff of this district have put in place over the year by celebrating and acknowledging retirements, awards and recognitions, etc.
Foundation 65 Literacy Program
Please consider attending an upcoming information session to learn about Foundation 65's Educator Literacy Program. This program provides financial assistance to educators in obtaining their masters in literacy or reading endorsement. Foundation 65 is looking to launch a fourth year of support for District 65 educators who are deeply committed to equity work and might see this additional education as a way to leverage their impact.
We created the Educator Literacy program in order to increase the capacity of educators to teach reading in their classrooms and buildings. We believe that teaching literacy is an act of social justice and are committed to supporting educators to obtain the knowledge, skills, and community that they need to support their Black and Brown students in achieving high literacy outcomes.
The Educator Literacy program is a collaboration with Northeastern University (NEIU), District 65 and Foundation 65. Participants commit to completing their masters in literacy or reading endorsement and remaining within District 65 for 3 years after completion. In return, Foundation 65 commits to paying for 50% of tuition costs for the two year program (educators will still pay fees each semester). For more details about NEIU’s program, please visit their site here.
The Reading Teaching Endorsement requires 6 courses over a two-year period while the MA leading to a Reading Specialist license requires 11 courses. Total educator cost (after Foundation 65 support) looks to be around $4,000 for the Reading Endorsement and almost $10,000 for the Reading Masters. This cost would be paid over two years.
We have an informational session about this program set up for May 15 at 4:00 pm. Here is a flyer with more information. Here is a link to the Foundation 65 website with more information about our program.
We understand that taking on additional education might be a significant lift because of time or resource constraints. We are also hopeful that you might consider applying for this program as the educators who are currently involved with it have already seen the benefits. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions and I will do my best to answer or make sure that they are answered at our information session.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. We are hopeful that we will be able to consider your application and learn more about you as we develop our fourth cohort.
With gratitude,
Alecia Wartowski
Upcoming Assessments
MAP Testing
- May 1st - 19th
DESSA
Deadline Extended to May 19th
- DESSA (SEL Screener) spring window is now open for all K-8 students.
- Although we did not take the Fall survey, please take time to complete the Spring Survey.
- If you need a refresher on the DESSA, here is a link to the training video. Skip to 17:15 to just see the DESSA administration in Branching Minds. Reach out to Donna Cross with questions.
LGBTQ+ Family Meeting
Given some of the recent legislation being proposed as well as the news surrounding the tragedy in Nashville, we want to make sure we are providing support and resources for students, staff and families in our LGBTQ+ community who are impacted by the harmful rhetoric and media attention. Please access and share the resources below which include a list of community resources and lesson supplements. Although the District is not continuing with Equity weeks, educators may absolutely implement lessons from the resources provided in the past.
Community Organizations & Resources
There will be at least two more LGBTQ+ staff and family sessions offered through Chicago Therapy Collective this school year. We are working to identify one more additional session and will provide updates once this has been confirmed. These virtual sessions provide an opportunity for our staff and families to build community, support each other and share valuable resources and support. Please help spread the word!
Family Sessions 7pm-8:15pm, Zoom Link
Wednesday, May 17
Staff Sessions, 3:30-5:00pm, Zoom Link
(allies welcome and invited!)
Wednesday, May 24th
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
D65's BIG 5
In everything that we do we are committed to:
- Courtesy
- Respect
- Dignity
- Professionalism
- Humanity
Please partner with us as we live out the BIG 5 in our daily walk, talk, & communal interactions.
COMMUNICATION
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
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
May:
- Emma Kornhauser-1st
- Rosa Felix-2nd
ENTER YOUR BIRTHDAY HERE IF YOU DON'T SEE YOUR NAME ON THE LIST.
TELL US YOUR FAVORITE THINGS HERE:
Upcoming Events
Haven Orientation: Rising 6th Graders
- May 16th
- 6-7 pm
TWI Chat
- Wednesday, May 17th
- 6:00 - 7:30 pm
- Fleetwood
Affinity Group Meeting
- Thursday, May 18th
- 6:00-7:30 pm
LGBTQ+ Family Meeting
- May 17th
Orchestra Concert
- May 18th
- 1:40-2:05
- Gym
PTA Townhall
- Tuesday, May 23rd
- 6-7 pm
- Zoom
Sneakerball
- Friday, May 26th
- 6 - 7:30 pm
Field Day
- Friday, May 26th
- 3-5: 9:20-10:50 pm
- K-2: 1:50-3:20 pm
No School- Memorial Day
- Monday, May 29th
Hootenany
- Tuesday, May 30th
- 7:00-8:00
- Fleetwood
Kinder & New Family Open House
- June 1st
- 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Willard End of Year Family Celebration
- Friday, June 3rd
- 6:00-8:00 pm
5th Grade Promotion Ceremonies
- June 5th
- 1:30-3:30 pm
Last Day of School
- Tuesday, June 6th
Family and Community Engagement Retreat
- Saturday, June 10th
- 9-12 pm
- Willard
Willard Elementary School
Email: mccoyc@district65.net
Website: https://www.district65.net/willard
Location: 2700 Hurd Avenue, Evanston, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 905-3600