THE WHOOT!

This week’s Parents Night Out was such a special reminder of the happiness that comes from connecting, sharing a laugh, and being in the company of friends and neighbors. It filled my heart to see so many of you taking a well-deserved break to enjoy the evening together. Events like this help strengthen the bonds that make our Willard community feel like family, and I'm so grateful for each of you.

If you couldn’t make it this time, please know you were missed—and we're looking forward to welcoming you to the next gathering. I hope each of you finds time for the little things that bring you joy. Thank you for being part of what makes Willard so special.

With love,

Ms. Battle

As Election Day approaches, I want to reach out with a few thoughts on how we can support our students in the days that follow. Our school is a beautiful blend of different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, and I know that some children may come to school on Wednesday with big feelings, questions, or concerns about the election.

I encourage you to take a few moments to check in with your child that morning. This could be a time to listen, to reassure, and to remind them that our school community is a place where everyone is valued and accepted, no matter the election outcome. Here, every student has a place where they belong, and we work together to make sure that kindness, respect, and empathy lead the way.

In school, we’ll be leaning on our Peace Pillars to help ground conversations. These values of kindness, empathy, respect, and inclusion are our guideposts, especially during times of change or uncertainty. They help us focus on what truly matters—supporting each other and fostering a community where every child feels seen, safe, and valued.

To help our students process their thoughts, we have some simple, open-ended activities planned that will invite them to share their feelings in a gentle, supportive way. If there are resources or ideas that have helped your family navigate meaningful conversations like these, please feel free to share them. We’re all in this together, and your experiences and insights are invaluable as we work to make this a safe and loving space for all.

We had a memorable Comfy Cozy Day that brought warmth and joy to everyone! Buddy classes came together to play games, share stories, and enjoy time reading. A few of our teachers even joined in on the fun, adding to the laughter and togetherness of the day. It was truly amazing!

We’ve welcomed 46 new families to the PTA so far this year, and we’d love to keep growing our PTA community. Your involvement and support enables us to provide discretionary funds for teachers, community and cultural celebrations, and much more. Please consider joining today!

Join the Willard PTA
Register to be a Willard/D65 volunteer
Shop the Willard Spirit Wear Store

Donate Your Change to Willard Thru Dec. 19!

It's students versus staff in the battle to see who will collect the most coins, and win a chance to throw a pie in Principal Battle's face! The Willard Coin Drive is going on now through Dec. 19. Buckets are in the Willard front lobby, the library, and outside of Room 107.

If you missed the most recent PTA Owl Notes, click here!

B sure to save the date for:

• PTA/Principal Community Meeting on Nov. 14th

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We are excited to invite you to be part of an important opportunity to shape the future of our schools by joining the Superintendent’s Parent/Caregiver Advisory Council. This council brings together a dedicated group of district parents and caregivers committed to improving education and addressing critical issues currently impacting our schools.

We seek a group of parents/caregivers with diverse skills to collaborate on identifying potential solutions to issues our district is currently facing. Please consider applying if you are a parent or caregiver passionate about education and committed to building a strong, supportive learning environment for all students. As a member of the Superintendent’s Parent/Caregiver Advisory Council, you will have the opportunity to:

-- Share your insights and perspectives on important issues affecting our students and schools

-- Offer feedback and suggestions directly to district leadership

-- Help shape initiatives that support students' academic and social emotional growth

Meetings will be held monthly in person or via Zoom from 6:00 - 7:30 PM. Once the council is established the meeting schedule will be determined collectively by the group.

Applications must be submitted online by completing this Google Form by November 6, 2024, with the first meeting in early November. The deadline has been extended to allow for more time for applications.

We welcome your input and are looking forward to continued partnership and reviewing your application. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our schools!

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Estimados padres y cuidadores,

Nos complace invitarlo a ser parte de una oportunidad importante para dar forma al futuro de nuestras escuelas uniéndose al Consejo Asesor de Padres/Cuidadores del Superintendente. Este consejo reúne a un grupo dedicado de padres y cuidadores del distrito comprometidos a mejorar la educación y abordar los problemas críticos que actualmente afectan a nuestras escuelas.

Buscamos un grupo de padres/cuidadores con diversas habilidades para colaborar en la identificación de posibles soluciones a los problemas que enfrenta nuestro distrito actualmente. Considere presentar una solicitud si es un padre o cuidador apasionado por la educación y comprometido con la construcción de un entorno de aprendizaje sólido y de apoyo para todos los estudiantes. Como miembro del Consejo Asesor de Padres/Cuidadores del Superintendente, tendrá la oportunidad de:

-- Comparta sus ideas y perspectivas sobre temas importantes que afectan a nuestros estudiantes y escuelas.

-- Ofrecer comentarios y sugerencias directamente al liderazgo del distrito.

-- Ayudar a dar forma a iniciativas que apoyen el crecimiento académico y socioemocional de los estudiantes.

Las reuniones se llevarán a cabo mensualmente en persona o a través de Zoom de 6:00 a 7:30 p.m. Una vez establecido el consejo, el calendario de reuniones será determinado colectivamente por el grupo.

Las solicitudes deben enviarse en línea completando este formulario de Google antes de 6 de noviembre de 2024, con la primera reunión a principios de noviembre. La fecha límite se ha extendido para permitir que haya más tiempo de recibir solicitudes.

Agradecemos sus comentarios y esperamos continuar colaborando y revisando su solicitud. ¡Gracias por su continuo apoyo y participación en nuestras escuelas!

This workshop is for parents, caregivers, and family members who want to go deeper in their reflection and learning around healthy sexuality, sexual health education, child and adolescent development, and how all of these things intersect. Participate in a little bit of sex ed while your students receive it in school! Led by Hallie Cohen, Training and Prevention Educator for YWCA Evanston/North Shore and sex education consultant to D65, this virtual workshop will be engaging, interactive, and discussion-based.

During this workshop, participants will:

• Explain how their own experience with sexuality education impacts how and what they share with their own children;
• Identify the most important values and messages they would like to pass on to their children about sexuality;
• Gain an understanding of healthy sexual development for their child's age range;
• Identify teachable moments during which they can share information and family values regarding sexuality.

The workshop will be held twice, with different developmental focuses. However, if an individual can't make the date with their ideal focus, they are encouraged to attend the other date.

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/prek-4th-grade-caregiver-sex-education-workshop-its-that-easy-tickets-1007882753447?aff=oddtdtcreator

Looking to volunteer at Willard? Click here for our district's volunteer process!

Willard Welcome Packet

• English
• Spanish

District 65 Back to School Guides

• English
• Spanish

November

• 4th: Lockdown Drill
• 5th: No School
  
• 13th: Early Dismissal
• 14th: Principal/PTA Community Meeting
• 25th-29th: FALL BREAK