THE WHOOT!

Huge shout out to all the families who showed up and showed out. This was our biggest turnout yet as a school community! The night was filled with laughter, fun, and some friendly competition that brought us all closer together. I'm so grateful for the love and energy you brought to the event!

A special thank you to our generous sponsors—Lubotsky Boko Residential, Beth Lewis Mortgage, and Matthew Fowler Insurance. Thank you for helping make the magic happen. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Thank you again to every family who came out to support. We can’t wait to do it again. 💙💛🦉

Our Spring Rummage Sale is this Sat., Apr. 19! To make the sale a success, we need donations of all kinds - child and adult clothing and shoes, housewares, toys, games, sporting equipment, books, and more! Please make sure items are in good condition.

You can drop off your donations at Door 5 during these timeslots:

• Thurs., Apr. 17: 5:00-8:00 pm
• Fri., Apr. 18: 8:00-11:30 am and 5:00-8:00 pm

We also urgently need volunteers to help with the following:

• Donation intake and sorting - Thurs., Apr. 17 from 5:00-6:30 pm
• Donation intake and sorting - Fri., Apr. 18 from 6:30-8:00
• Day of sale support - Sat., Apr. 19 from 12:00-2:00
• Zero waste crew (clean up and haul away) - Sat., Apr. 19 from 2:00-4:00 pm (minivan or SUV helpful)
• Donate snacks, coffee, or donuts for volunteers - Sat., Apr. 19

If you can help in any of these areas, please sign up today! We can't do it without you!

Gratefully,
The Willard PTA

Get hyped because the 5th Grade Student Council is throwing the ultimate party just for 3rd–5th graders. This is our way of bringing everyone together to have fun, celebrate all the awesome things we've done this year, and show off our school spirit in the freshest way possible.

✨Wear your best sneakers, dress to impress, and keep it fresh! 👟💫

There’s going to be music, dancing, and good vibes. Plus, we’re adding some heart to the fun. The 5th Grade Student Council is asking for a suggested donation of $1 to support Rainbows For All Children, an organization that helps kids who are going through grief or loss. So grab your freshest outfit, lace up your flyest kicks, and get ready for a time you won’t forget! Let’s gooo! 🕺💃

- 5th Grade Student Council

To entice students to keep reading after the Read-a-thon and through the summer months, the Willard Library is hosting a Literati Book Fair!! The book fair opened online on April 7th and will be open for in-person shopping from May 5th through May 9th. All purchases benefit our library. Look out for more information through emails and flyers in the coming weeks.

By July, District 65 will have reduced nearly $20 million from the annual budget in two years, but more work remains. For several years, district leaders and board members have discussed in public meetings the potential need for school closures or consolidations. This is in response to an aging population within our community, declining student enrollment, underutilized buildings, and dated facilities.

While this process will surely be difficult, it represents an opportunity to reimagine and reinvest for the future of public education in Evanston/Skokie. No decisions have been made regarding additional school closure/consolidations. The District is in the early stages of planning, including developing potential criteria. See more information

The goal is to engage parents, caregivers, staff, students, and community members in a transparent process with clear criteria. Decisions must be made with integrity and rooted in data and community voice.

As such, District 65 invites you to attend an upcoming community conversation:

• April 15, 6:30-8 p.m. at Nichols Middle School (800 Greenleaf St.)

Spanish interpretation will be provided. Can’t attend in person? Share your thoughts virtually by 11:59 p.m. April 15, 2025.

Ayude a moldear el futuro del Distrito 65 - Acompáñenos el 15 de abril

Para el mes de julio el Distrito 65 habrá reducido caso $20 millones de dólares del presupuesto anual en dos años, pero se requiere de más trabajo. Durante varios años los líderes del distrito y los miembros de la Junta Directiva de Educación analizaron en sesiones públicas la posible necesidad de cierres y fusiones de escuelas. Esto en respuesta al envejecimiento de la población en nuestra comunidad, al declive de las inscripciones de estudiantes, a la subutilización de edificios y al envejecimiento de las instalaciones.

Aunque este proceso será sin duda difícil, representa una oportunidad para reimaginar y reinvertir para el futuro de la educación pública en Evanston y Skokie. No se ha tomado ninguna decisión en cuanto a más cierres / fusiones de escuelas. El distrito está en las etapas iniciales de la planeación, incluyendo el desarrollo de los posibles criterios. Ver más información

La meta es involucrar a los padres de familia, a las personas encargadas del cuidado de estudiantes, al personal, estudiantes y miembros de la comunidad en un proceso transparente con criterios claros. Se deben tomar decisiones con integridad y basadas en datos y en la opinión de la comunidad.

Por ello, el distrito los invita a asistir a una próxima charla comunitaria:

• 15 de abril, 6:30 a 8:00 p.m., en la escuela secundaria Nichols (800 Greenleaf St.)

Habrá interpretación al español. ¿No puede asistir en persona? Comparta sus ideas de manera virtual a más tardar a las 11:59 p.m. el 15 de abril del 2025.

Please include the following communication in your building's family communications. The BPAC is hosting a Know Your Rights workshop for D65 families. Here is language you can use for your communications.

The Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) is hosting a Community Safety Workshop for D65 Families. Join our community as we learn how to create community support and solidarity in ensuring the rights and safety of every neighbor. Sanctuary Evanston will be presenting information on

• Your legal rights and how to protect them
  How to prepare safety plans, including temporary guardianship forms, which are essential to ensuring stability for children in the event a parent is detained or removed.

• Community resources for families and students

April 16, 2025

6:00 -7:15

Washington Elementary

914 Ashland Ave

or

Zoom

link - https://bit.ly/3QYdH2p

Childcare provided

Snacks provided

El Comité Asesor de Padres Bilingües del Distrito 65 (BPAC) está organizando un taller acerca de seguridad comunitaria para las familias del D65. Únase a nuestra comunidad mientras aprendemos cómo crear apoyo comunitario y solidaridad para asegurar los derechos y la seguridad de cada vecino. La organización ‘Sanctuary Evanston’ presentará información sobre:

• Sus derechos legales y cómo protegerlos

• cómo preparar planes de seguridad incluyendo formularios de tutela temporal, que son esenciales para garantizar la estabilidad de los niños en caso de que un padre sea detenido o deportado.

• Recursos comunitarios para familias y estudiantes

16 de abril

6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

En persona en la primaria Washington

914 Ashland Ave

O por

Zoom

Enlace- https://bit.ly/3QYdH2p

Se proporciona cuidado de niños

Se proporcionan refrigerios

Evanston, IL – Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) is excited to expand its Summer Program for 2025, offering youth in Evanston a summer full of learning, creativity, and fun. The program will run from June 16 to July 25, with a Special Field Trip Week from July 28 – August 1. Youth entering grades 2–8 this fall are welcome to join, with free and paid options available based on household income. Registration opens to the community on March 29, with priority given to Y.O.U. families, and early registration is encouraged due to limited space.

This year’s program features creative workshops in art, music, and writing, STEM projects that foster curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math, and weekly field trips to exciting locations around Evanston. Participants will also engage in sports, games, mindfulness activities, and other recreation and wellness options designed to keep them active and engaged. The program fosters community building by providing youth with opportunities to connect with peers and caring mentors in a safe, supportive environment.

Program Details
Dates: June 16 – July 25 (Field Trip Week: July 28 – August 1)
Location: Oakton Elementary School (Elementary), Chute Middle School (Middle School)
Hours: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Registration: Opens March 29, closes May 1.
For more information about Y.O.U. or to learn how to support our programs, please visit www.youthopportunity.org.

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

• April:

  • 19th: Rummage Sale
  • 23rd: Open House for New Families
  • 26th: Sneaker Ball Grades 3-5