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Happy Sunday Willard Families!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and soaked up that gorgeous sunshine today! 🌞

🏀 Keeping the Sports Momentum Going! Now that March Madness has officially wrapped up, the sports world keeps rolling — the 2026 WNBA Draft is TOMORROW night! Fun fact: this year's draft is being held at The Shed in Manhattan, New York, and for the first time, two brand new expansion teams — the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire — will be making picks which makes this one of the most exciting drafts in league history!

And speaking of exciting — let's talk Chicago Sky! Yes, the trade of Angel Reese had a lot of conversation stirring, but this weekend the Sky front office went to WORK and the outlook is rising! The Sky signed seven-time All-Star Skylar Diggins to a two-year deal and brought back beloved forward Azurá Stevens who, by the way, was part of the 2021 championship team with our Northside Star Courtney Vandersloot. They also traded for dynamic young scorer Rickea Jackson, who averaged 14.7 points per game last season and just added former All-Defensive selection DiJonai Carrington to lock things down on the wing. Pair all of that together and you're looking at a playoff-caliber lineup — arguably one of the best-looking roster since 2023! As a season ticket holder, I am PUMPED and cannot wait for this season to tip off! 🔵⚪ Let's go Sky!

📱 Bell to Bell, No Cell — A Reminder for Our Scholars! As we head into Monday, please take a moment to remind your scholars of our technology expectations. Cell phones should not be used during school hours. When students arrive, they have two options: turn their phone in to their teacher or store it in their locker. We only have about 40 days left together, and we want every single one of them to count! Let's keep our scholars focused, growing, and finishing strong. 💪

There is SO much to celebrate in this newsletter, along with some important 5th grade parent information, summer programming details, and upcoming events you won't want to miss! Give it a read, and as always, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

📝 One more thing — if you have a rising Kindergartner, please get them registered ASAP! We want to make sure every little one has their spot secured. 🎒

Have a wonderful week, Willard Families — we've got this! 💙

Best,

AP Ernvall

What an incredible night! Saturday, we were blown away by the amazing turnout as roughly 115 Willard families — current and future — came together for a fun-filled evening of Bingo, pizza, and great company. The energy in the room was so great, and it was truly a joy to gather as a community!

A huge thank you to our spectacular Bingo Callers for the night, Ms. Johnston and Ms. Lopez, who kept the excitement going all evening long — you two were absolute pros! We also want to give a special shoutout to the PTA for their generous support in making this event possible. None of it happens without you!

To everyone who joined us — THANK YOU! And if you missed out this time, don't worry… we hope to see you at the next one! 🍕🎱

We are beyond proud of every single Willard student who participated in this year's Read-A-Thon — and the numbers speak for themselves. Our Willard Scholars didn't just meet the challenge this year. They absolutely blew it out of the water!

Together, our students read a staggering 151,618 minutes and raised an incredible $10,458 for our school — surpassing last year's totals in both categories. Every page turned, every minute logged, and every donation collected made a real difference. We are so grateful to each and every reader and to the families who cheered them on!

And what's a celebration without some very special guests? Our beloved "furry/not so furry" friends made a triumphant return to help us celebrate — the kids went absolutely wild when the inflatable hippo, shark, chicken, and duck took the stage! It was a joyful moment that perfectly capped off an unforgettable Read-A-Thon.

Stay tuned — next week we'll be spotlighting the grade-level winners. But today, we celebrate everyone. Every Willard Scholar who picked up a book this month is a winner in our eyes. We couldn't be more proud! 💛💙

Order deadline: June 1st

It is time to place your yearbook orders! Click here to order online, or complete this form and bring it to the Willard front office with cash or a check (made out to Willard PTA). Don’t miss your chance to treasure the names, faces, and events that have made this school year special. More details will follow regarding yearbook distribution. Orders are due by June 1st!

We are also inviting families to make an additional donation to ensure that every student will receive a yearbook regardless of ability to pay. Suggested donation: $15 per book. Thank you for your consideration and generous support of the PTA.

Huge thanks to Allyson Brown-Leber and Mike Boll, dedicated PTA volunteers and Yearbook Editor's for their efforts in pulling together such a wonderful keepsake. Additionally, we would like to thank all of the parents, guardians, educators, and staff who have submitted photos throughout the year. We can’t wait to share the finished product!

Can you believe it?! Our 5th graders are about to close one incredible chapter and step into the next adventure (Middle School) and we have a whole lot of fun planned to celebrate them in style! 🥳

Here's where YOU come in: We are collecting baby or younger photos of our 5th grade scholars! 📸 That's right — dig through those photo albums, scroll back through your camera roll, and send us the (one) most adorable throwback pic you can find along with your scholars full name. You can email it directly to Ms. Ernvall or your child's homeroom teacher, and we'll make sure it gets to exactly where it needs to be. (Trust us — the kids are going to LOVE this!)

And if you'd like to be part of the magic behind the scenes, keep an eye out — volunteer opportunities for 5th Grade Promotion activities are coming soon! We'd love to have you join the fun. 🙌

Fifth grade has also been participating in the Cardboard Carnival Challenge! Take a Look!

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.

Mrs. Boone is our new Attendance Clerk!

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!

Let's Dance the Night Away as we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month on Friday May 8th, from 6-8pm at Willard Elementary school! Practice your Chinese Lion Dance skills, learn how to Bollywood dance, listen to K-pop music, create fun crafts and more! Plus, enjoy delicious Thai food catered by our own Willard Family Member and located right here in Evanston, Siam Splendour!!

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

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.

Is your child passionate about writing? The Illinois Writing Project is hosting its annual Writing Palooza on Saturday, May 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Von Steuben High School (5039 N. Kimball Ave., Chicago), and students, parents, and teachers are all welcome!

The day is packed with breakout writing sessions led by university faculty and experienced teacher-writers, plus a keynote address by Dr. Tina Curry of National Louis University. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided, and the event wraps up with a student open mic reading — a wonderful chance for young writers to share their work and connect with a broader writing community.

To RSVP, look for the QR code on the flyer. If you have questions, reach out to the main office and we'll get you connected.

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:

• 13th: D65 Committee of the Whole meeting (5:00-7:00pm)
• 17th: D65 Dental Clinic During the School Day!
• 18th: 5th Ward STEM Fest and Cardboard Carnival Showcase
• 20th: D65 Regular Board meeting (6:00-8:00pm)
• 21st: D65 Caregiver Council for Disability Inclusion Meeting
• 25th: Willard Rummage Sale!!!!