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🌟 Good Morning, Willard Families!

What a wonderful week it has been! First and foremost, thank you so much for the many birthday wishes — they truly made my week special and I am so grateful for this community! We closed out the week in the best way possible with an incredible Black History Month celebration on Friday that was a beautiful reminder of the rich history and powerful legacy we honor together.

As we step into a new week, we are excited to wish everyone a Happy International Women's Day (yesterday)! 🌸 Did you know that International Women's Day has been celebrated for over 115 years — dating all the way back to 1911 — making it one of the longest-running global observances in the world? This year's theme is "Give to Gain," a reminder that when we invest in women through mentorship, opportunity, and support, we all rise together. Today and every day, we celebrate the incredible women near and far who have paved the way and continue to light the path for all of us!

Please take a few moments to read through this newsletter fully — there is so much good happening!

A few highlights to keep on your radar:

• 📋 5Essentials Survey — Due March 13th. Our goal is 50% parent participation and we need your help! We're currently at 24%, so please take a few minutes to complete it if you haven't already.
• 🎟️ New Activities! Check out Chicago Cubs Tickets through D65 One Fund, Spanish Club, and Evanston Buddy Ball — exciting opportunities for your families!
• 🏫 Right At School — Registration is closing soon! Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or wonderings.
• 🚗 Traffic Patterns — This is a reminder that the roads around Willard become one-way streets from 8:30-9:30am and 3:00-4:00pm. We are working on replacing the signs as they have been broken but want to ensure everyone knows the expectations during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up!

We are so proud to support your children and families not only through the educational side but also through safety and extra-curricular activities! Thank you for your partnership — now let's go out and have a phenomenal week with this beautiful weather!! 💪

Best,

AP Ernvall

Play Ball — and Help Our Kids Win Big!

The wait is over! The District 65 PTA Council Cubs Fundraiser is officially LIVE, and we need your help to make it a home run!

This is a district-wide effort where every ticket purchased goes directly toward our students through the One Fund. But it's bigger than that — strong participation now helps us build a long-term partnership with the Chicago Cubs that could benefit our kids for years to come. Let's show them what District 65 is made of!

🎟️ Grab your tickets now: District 65 at Wrigley Field

📅 Campaign Window: March 9–23 (two weeks only!)

🗓️ Game Date: Sunday, April 19th (Another game coming soon!)

This link is exclusively for the April 19th game, so don't wait! A separate link for an additional June game will be released after spring break — stay tuned for that announcement.

Share this with your school community, friends, and family TODAY. Every ticket counts — see you at Wrigley! 💙

The 5Essentials Survey is still open, and we are currently at 24% parent participation — we need to more than double that to reach our goal of 50%!

This is your opportunity to share honest, meaningful feedback about our school — and it truly makes a difference. Principal Battle and I carefully review this data to shape the decisions and goals we set for the year ahead. There is only one way to get better, and that is by listening to the people who matter most — our families and our kids!

This survey is a safe space for open and candid feedback that reflects Willard as a whole, and every response counts. If you need any support accessing the survey, please don't hesitate to reach out — we are happy to help!

⏰ The deadline to submit your survey is March 13th.

Our next Books to Movies Club event is just around the corner! On Tuesday, March 10, we'll gather to read and discuss The Lorax, followed by a movie viewing on Thursday, March 12 (The Lorax, rated PG).

We hope your permission slips were returned Today! Please reach out if that was not the case!

Registration is open for the Elementary School Chess Tournament on Saturday, March 14th at Nichols Middle School, 800 Greenleaf St, Evanston HERE . Doors open at 8:15am, check-in by 8:40am, and the first round begins at 9:00am. The entry fee is $5 per player.

Players who attend the full day will play 5 rounds, with pairings determined by game results. Points are awarded for wins (1 point) and draws (½ point), with top players recognized at the end-of-day awards ceremony. If your child can't stay the whole day, partial attendance is accommodated with advance notice. Between rounds, kids can relax and play practice games in designated "skittles rooms." Please note that parents are responsible for supervising their children throughout the event.

We also need adult volunteers to help make the day a success — sign-ups are available online.

Visit the Willard Chess Club page for registration, the flyer, the information sheet, and volunteer sign-up links. Mark your calendars for our two tournament dates: March 14 and April 18.

D65 will continue to provide comprehensive sexual health instruction in our kindergarten through eighth grade classrooms this year. This instruction is aligned to the National Sex Education standards as required by the State of Illinois in the Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act (KYSHA).

Comprehensive sexual education is about helping students understand their changing body and build skills for healthy relationships. This is done in a manner that is developmentally and age appropriate, medically accurate, and provides information that fosters healthy physical and emotional development.

Visit our website to learn more and review lessons at each grade level.

Parents and caregivers are also invited to attend a community education session:

• Focus on grades preK-4

• Tuesday, March 10

• 6-7:30 p.m.

• Focus on grades 5-8

• Tuesday, March 24

• 6-7:30 p.m.

Register for free to get virtual meeting link

Big things are happening! In this section of the Newsletter, you'll find everything you need to know about the New Foster School. Whether you're still exploring your options or you've already decided that Foster is the place for your scholar this fall — this is your go-to spot for the latest updates, helpful links, and shared presentations. Don't miss it!

A Day in the Life Overview Board Meeting, November 3, 2025

A Day in the Life Overview Parent Meeting, February 4, 2026

Un día típico en la vida Reunión de Padres, el 4 de febrero, 2026

Please mark your calendars for the Willard alumni volleyball game:

Thursday, March 26th

4:15-5:15 @ ETHS (Beardsley Gym)

We invite current and future Haven families to join us for our State of Haven Showcase & Family Orientation. This engaging event highlights Haven’s academic programming, student supports, leadership opportunities, and the systems in place to ensure every student thrives. Future Haven families will also gain a meaningful look at daily life and the strong community that defines our school.

Last opportunity to attend this semester:
Tuesday, March 25, 2026
6:30 PM sharp
Haven Middle School

We hope you’ll join us to learn more about the Haven experience and our exciting path forward!

Don’t miss a beat with all things Willard PTA! 🦉 Check out the Weekly Newsletter for the latest happenings, membership info, and our handy directory. If you missed the latest Owl Notes, click here to catch up!

March:

• 9th: D65 Committee of the Whole Meeting (5:00-7:00pm)
  
• 10th: D65 and YWCA: Navigating Sexuality Conversations at Home (preK-4 focus)
• 13th: Read-a-thon Kick Off with Students
• 18th: Willard School Tour (4:45-5:45pm)
• 18th: Willard Q3 PTA Town Hall (6:15-7:30pm)
• 19th: Willard New Families Spring Open House (All Welcome and will have a Kinder Focus)