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🌸 Welcome Back, Willard Families! 🌸

We have missed y'all much, and today is finally here! We hope Spring Break was everything you all wanted and needed — whether that was a quiet mornings at home, a sandy beach somewhere warm, late-night sleepovers with cousins, a driveway basketball game that went way too long (no such thing!), or simply a chance to breathe and recharge. However your family spent the week, we are so glad you're back and ready to finish this year STRONG!

And speaking of finishing strong — can we talk about March Madness?! 🏀 What a tournament it has been! The emotional rollercoaster of buzzer-beaters and last chance shots!

While UConn's run came to an end, UCLA's Lauren Betts was absolutely putting on a show throughout the tournament. The Women's Final Four... Crazy! I was holding out and hoping for a L. Betts dunk last night and yet, I think South Carolina spent all their energy in their win against UConn!

Now, I'll be honest — your newsletter writer over here is representing Michigan in all my brackets, so bear with me for just a moment! 💙💛 The Michigan men earned the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region and entered the tournament 31-3, and they have been rather UNSTOPPABLE. They became the first team in NCAA tournament history to score 90 or more points in five consecutive tournament games, and after routing Arizona 91-73 in the Final Four, they are heading to the National Championship Game TONIGHT night against UConn! It will be their first title game since 2018, chasing the program's first championship since 1989. Okay, Okay - Enough about Michigan but Go Blue! Regardless of who you're rooting for, one thing we can ALL agree on is that this is the time of year to dig deep and finish strong — and that's exactly what we plan to do together!

For those celebrating, wishing you and your family a very Happy Easter filled with joy, family, and maybe a little chocolate! 🐣

Now grab a warm drink, get cozy, and enjoy this edition of the Family Newsletter. We are in the final week of our Read-a-Thon so keep those pages turning! We cannot wait to share all the exciting sunny days ahead. Spring is here, and the best is yet to come!

Best,

AP Ernvall

Happy Monday, readers — and welcome BACK from Spring Break! We hope everyone is rested, refreshed, and ready to FINISH STRONG, because we have one final week of the Read-A-Thon ahead of us! We are currently at 59,314 minutes read!!!!

This is our last push to rack up the pages and raise as much as possible for our school. Every minute spent reading counts — whether it's curled up on the couch, snuggled in at bedtime, or sneaking in a few chapters before dinner. Every page turned is a step closer to our goal!

So grab your books, fire up your imagination, and let's make this final week our BEST week yet. We are SO proud of every reader who has participated — now let's bring it home!

📖 Happy Sunday & Happy Reading! Let's GO! 🎉

🎉

Unsure how to log your minutes... click here!

Our community is coming together to support one another! District 65 welcomes donations from generous community partners in the form of food boxes, gift cards, clothing, and more — and we want to make sure these resources reach the families who need them most.

If your family could use some extra support, we invite you to fill out our confidential interest form. There's no obligation, and all responses are completely private. We'll work to connect you with the resources that show up and are available at school!

📝 Interested? Please complete this form.

Registration is NOW OPEN for the ES Chess Championship Tournament held at Chute Middle School on Saturday, April 18th.

Use this link to register players.

View the flyer and read the information sheet for details.

We need volunteers to run a successful tournament. Parents, adults, and others can sign up to volunteer here.

After registering, view your registration status here.

Event information and registration:

• The tournament will be held on Saturday, April 18th at Chute, 1400 Oakton St, Evanston.
• The doors open at 8:15am. Please check in with your team coordinator by 8:40 a.m.

The first round starts at 9:00am.

• The tournament entry fee is $5 per player.
• At this championship tournament, players will be matched by grade and team trophies will be awarded at the end of the day.
• Online registration is now available HERE and the deadline is 10:00pm, Wednesday, April 15th.

Extra information for players/parents that are new to tournaments:

• If players attend the whole tournament, they will play 5 games throughout the day.
• After the first round, player match-ups are determined by the results of previous rounds.
• Players are awarded a point for victories and a half point for a draw. Teams and players with the most points are recognized at the end-of-day awards ceremony.
• If you are unable to attend the whole day or need to come late, you can earn half points for rounds that you indicate ahead of time that you will be absent for.
• Between rounds, players can hang out together and play practice games in “skittles rooms” – an assigned classroom in the school.
• Parents are responsible for supervising their children during the tournament. Parents who are unable to remain for the duration of the tournament must arrange for adult supervision of their children.

The Rummage Sale is fast approaching next month on April 25th!

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/8050D45A4A82CA1F58-62840626-willard

Lots of hands make light work… and not to mention is more fun! Thanks for your support in ensuring this event is a success once again!

Join District 65 Schools for a fundraiser at a Chicago Stars match on the lakefront! Get ready to cheer on the Stars as they face off against the Portland Thorns on Sunday, May 3rd at 12:00pm at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.

For every ticket purchased, $5 will be kicked back directly to District 65 PTA/One Fund! Let’s pack the stands, bring the energy, and make this match a day to remember!

Date/Time: Sunday, May 3rd at noon

Location: Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium 2235 N Campus Dr, Evanston, IL 60208

Ticket Link: https://www.gofevo.com/event/District6563

Flyer: district 65 Chicago Stars flyer.png

Honor a Teacher and Express Your Gratitude!

Show your appreciation for a teacher who has made a difference in your child’s life by making a gift to Foundation 65 in their honor. The teacher will receive a special note, and your donation will help fund innovative educational programs for District 65 students.

Fill out and return the attached Honor a Teacher form to Foundation 65 or go to https://www.foundation65.org/honor-a-teacher to fill out the form online.

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!

Hello 5th Grade Families!

Exciting news! Haven Principal Chris Latting has just shared the latest ​New Student/Family Newsletter packed with important updates and highlights. You can catch up on all the current news and revisit previous updates too. Thank you for staying connected​!

This section of the newsletter highlights flyers from community organizations, partnerships, and programs that your family might enjoy. While these organizations are independent from our school, they offer wonderful opportunities to explore as we head into Spring Break and Summer.

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!

April:

• 6th: Students and Staff Return to school
• 8th: School Improvement – Early Dismissal (12:05)
• 8th: Foster Family Night @ Kingsley (6:00-7:00pm)
• 10th: Read-A-Thon Closing Assembly
• 11th: D65 & Northwestern Computer Science Showcase (11:00-1:00pm)
• 11th: Pizza and Bingo Family Fun Night! (5:00-7:00pm @Willard)
• 13th: D65 Committee of the Whole meeting (5:00-7:00pm)