WJHS Weekly News and Notes

Student and Parent Handbook

All District 39 families should review our D39 Student/Parent Handbook for important information regarding District policies, procedures, and many frequently asked questions. This informative document is a valuable resource for families, providing resources as well as answers to questions on a wide variety of topics. Our Lechner Early Education Program (LEEP) Handbook is also available with information for families of our youngest D39 learners.

Parent Education Events

Please make plans to join us for our first District 39 Parent Education of the 2026-27 academic year titled “Responding to School Safety Incidents: The Standard Response Protocol,” scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 11 am. This event will be held virtually via Zoom and online registration for this event is now open.

District 39 has adopted the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) for school safety. Under this framework, our learning community will use clear and consistent language so that students, staff, and families know what to do in an emergency situation. By using common and consistent terminology, everyone will be able to understand different situations and how to respond. The SRP includes five specific actions:

• Hold! — Stay in your classroom or area. Clear the halls.

• Secure! — Get inside. Lock outside doors.

• Lockdown! — Locks, lights, out of sight.

• Evacuate! — Move to a new location.

• Shelter! — Take protective action based on the situation.

Each action is used depending on what is happening at the school or nearby, helping everyone stay informed and safe. Join D39 and the Wilmette Police Department to learn about these actions and when they would be used.

Additionally, District 39 is proud to be a sponsor of the Glenbard Parent Series (GPS), a non-profit organization that presents free research-based information for families via Zoom on current topics to support positive youth development. GPS is hosting a parent education event titled “Parenting Anxiety: Breaking the Cycle of Worry and Raising Resilient Kids” with Dr. Meredith Elkins. This event will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at both Noon and 7 pm. No registration is required. Interested families may access the presentation through the links provided above.

Technology in District 39

District 39 believes in purposeful screen use when infusing technology with instruction. Our commitment to this work includes focusing teaching and learning practices with an emphasis on Active Learning, and limiting screen time during other portions of the school day. This includes refraining from student use of electronic devices during free time/choice time, including restricted access during indoor or outdoor recess.

• Active Learning/Use emphasizes higher-level engagement and participation in student centered activities. We are mindful about active use/learning when using technology with instruction.

• Passive Learning/Use involves receiving information with limited interaction and engagement. Although you may see this at times when reading an e-text or viewing video content, it is used in a specific and targeted way.

District-issued iPads remain at school for all elementary students, unless explicitly required for a specific Active Learning homework assignment. iPads will continue to be sent home daily with our students in grades 5-8 to charge and complete assignments with the goal of Active Learning/Use. Please visit our website for more information on District 39’s commitment to purposeful screen use.

Transportation Information

District 39 makes optional transportation service available for its families. Bus service will be provided each day that school is in session, beginning For more information, please visit our D39 Transportation webpage.

Next week, Michelle McGregor, District 39 Transportation Liaison, will begin notifying families on our transportation waitlist of their updated status. Waitlist requests will be processed in the order in which they were received. Families who receive a spot on the bus are asked to remit payment by Thursday, Sept. 3. Their child(ren)’s bus pass will then be available for pickup in their school office on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and they will be eligible to ride the bus beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Board of Education

The Board of Education will next gather on Monday, Aug. 24 at 7 pm at the Mikaelian Education Center for its monthly business meeting. In addition to committee reports, the Board will hear District 39’s response to the 2026 Community Review Committee report titled “Supporting Educator Well-Being,” which was presented to the Board during its May 2026 meeting, hear D39’s annual Enrollment Report, conduct its annual tax compliance review, and conduct a first reading of several Board policies. Agendas and materials for Board of Education meetings are posted online the Friday prior to the meeting.

District 39 is Looking for a 6th Grade Girls Volleyball Coach

Interested in helping mentor some of our middle school athletes? D39 is looking for a 6th grade girls volleyball coach for the fall. The season will run from Aug. 24-Oct. 8. Practices are tentatively scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday after school (3:45-4:45 pm) unless there is a game scheduled. Practice times are flexible depending on availability. There is a $2,500 stipend for this position. Please apply online if interested.

Follow District 39 on Social Media!

Make sure to follow our District 39 social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for fun and engaging content and events from around the District! Additionally, all of our D39 schools are also active on social media. Please reference principal newsletters to follow social media accounts for your child(ren)’s school.

MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT NOW LIVE - REGISTER TODAY

What is Membership Toolkit? It’s our online platform for the wjhspto.com website! All families must register to be able to login, even if you are a returning family (8th grade family). Once your household information is confirmed/updated, you can make purchases to purchase a PTO membership ($25) to get access to the WJHS Directory. The fees also help us provide programming such as the 8th Grade Graduation Party, student council/yearbook teacher sponsorships and teacher appreciation throughout the year.

Registration works best from a home computer, not your phone! After you make your PTO membership purchase you can download the Membership Toolkit App and gain access to the online school directory. You can also purchase a yearbook, donate to the PTO’s iGNITE Fund for Enrichment and contribute to the Teacher/Staff Holiday Gift Fund.

WJHS Families were sent an email on Tuesday 8/18 from the WJHS PTO with instructions on how to register. If you did not get that email, you chose to OPT OUT during the school registration process. If you would like to receive important emails throughout the year, be able to purchase your PTO membership and yearbook, donate to iGNITE and the Teacher/Staff Holiday Gift Fund, you will need to email directory@wjhspto.com to request access to Membership Toolkit.

CLUBS ARE HERE - CHECK BELOW FOR SIGN UP INFO…

SKYLINE IS BACK THIS FALL AT WJHS ON FRIDAYS!

Broadway Performers Little Mermaid Jr

REGISTRATION OPENS AT THIS LINK 9AM ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 25

Class Meets Fridays | 3:15-5:30PM at WJHS Auditorium

September 4, 2026 - November 6, 2026 | No Class 10/30

Final Performance: Friday, November 13

Journey "Under the Sea" for The Little Mermaid Jr. with young mermaid Ariel who longs to leave her father King Triton’s underwater kingdom and live in the human world above. When she strikes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs, she quickly realizes the bargain is not what it seems. Ariel must enlist the help of friends Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to win the heart of Prince Eric and discover where she truly belongs!

Skyline's Broadway Performers is a no-cut program designed for middle school actors. Performers will be challenged by a professional teaching artist, and level up by learning advanced performance skills such as solo vocal technique, sophisticated character development, complex blocking, and challenging musical theatre choreography.

From the moment auditions kick off on the first day, Performers feel the rush of anticipation as they showcase their talents. Every actor who participates is assigned a named role in The Little Mermaid Jr., and receives a script and rehearsal materials.

Families will receive detailed instructions on how to assemble an original costume, adding the perfect finishing touch to the show. The final performance is a unique celebration of talent and teamwork that creates a core memory for actors and families alike.

DEBATE REGISTRATION OPEN

Learn research, writing and oral argumentation in one of WJHS’s most popular clubs! Programs for beginning and experienced debaters. All programs consist of weekly class sessions held at WJHS for 60 minutes with supplemental debate activities. The program concludes with a 2-hour session to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their new skills in full debates. Registration NOW OPEN - use the following link to register…

www.acesdebateclub.com/register/

GREAT VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES NOW AVAIVABLE…

Looking to Volunteer during the school day? We would love to see you at lunch & in the courtyard during recess - SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE STARTING IMMEDIATELY! Please use these links to sign up for your spot today! Thank you for your time!

Cafeteria: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAA23A2F5CE9-cafeteria

Courtyard: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FACAA23A2F5CE9-volunteer

JOIN THE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR WJHS PARENTS

There is an online community for you to ask questions and get information about WJHS - it’s the WJHS PARENTS Facebook page! Many announcements are shared on the page although it is not run by the WJHS PTO. It’s worthwhile to be able to ask questions from fellow parents and see veteran parents’ comments. You will need to answer a few questions to make sure you have a student at WJHS, as it is for parents of CURRENT students only.

WJHS SPIRITWEAR

Wilmette Junior High School Wolves spirit wear is offered through our partner and fellow Wilmette moms’ business HumanKind. NEW OPTIONS JUST ADDED - Check out all the great items HERE that can be personalized! BE READY FOR SPIRIT FRIDAYS THIS YEAR!