Staff Newsletter

Week of February 18th

This past week was a beautiful reminder of what makes Willard such a special place. Our Peace Pep Rally brought the whole school together, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the time, energy, and love our teachers put into making it happen! Thank you Ms. Johnston and Ms. Lopez!!

One of the most moving moments was watching our entire school sign A Wish For Peace. Thank you to Mr. Molitor who took the time to teach us. Seeing every student and staff member signing together was truly something special. It warmed my heart. This is what school community should feel like. The way we show up for each other, the way we create joy for our students, the way we come together—it all matters. Let’s keep that spirit going. 💙💛

Click here to see our community in action!

HIP HIP HOORAY! WILLARD ALL THE WAY! The C&C Team has worked hard to develop a plan that is easy access for ALL students so that no one feels left out of our community building and FUN! Please send the flyer home via your communication method and make sure your team creates a simple & fun cheer Cheer Template for lunchtime on Thursday!

We are looking forward to a very special event - our African Diaspora Celebration on Fri., Feb. 28! We need your help to plan the activities, decorations, and food. If you have 30 minutes or several hours, we would love your help! Please join the planning committee for this event by emailing willardowlspta@gmail.com. Thank you!

This week, we will have Admin Led PLCs! Sounya will join us to:

• Develop our understanding of high leverage Building Thinking Classroom practices (Chaps. 1-3)
• Discuss implications for classroom practice (macro and micro moves)

I'm excited for our learning tomorrow because we'll have an opportunity to engage in BTC non-curricular tasks!

I know that we had to pivot on Wednesday due to weather, so thank you! If you had to reschedule conferences, please be sure to circle back with your families. If support is needed for any upcoming conferences, let me know!

• Bilingual Paraprofessional
• LBS1
• Bilingual Social Worker (Currently onboarding)

Click the link to check out this month’s Culture and Climate Newsletter—we’ve got exciting staff outings and a spirited Student Spirit Week. 💜 Don’t miss out!

• Elyse and Emma for truly showing up, listening to parents with empathy, running amazing meetings, and sharing your expertise. - April

• Gena! Thanks for your monthly tips and your insights and guidance with certain students.- Lara

Let's keep the good vibes rolling, Willard Owls! 🦉✨ It's time to shout out our amazing colleagues when we catch them spreading joy and love around the school. Whether it’s a warm smile, a helping hand, or a moment that just made your day, let’s celebrate those special acts that make Willard feel like home. Remember, a little acknowledgment goes a long way, so don't be shy—share the love and let’s lift each other up! 🌟 Click here to submit a shout out!

There is a new attendance code in PowerSchool for E-learning. This code, “EL”, should only be used on designated e-learning days and it counts as “present” for attendance. Please instruct your educators to use this code to indicate that a student is present on E-learning days so that we can accurately report this information to the state.

Questions about this topic? Please contact: Chris Lange

YMCA Summer Learning Applications for Licensed Educators, Instructional Coaches, and Paraprofessionals. Here are the links to apply!

• Instructional Coach and Academic Teacher - https://forms.gle/itJs7Gw3nr5xJ5G4A

• Teacher Assistant – https://forms.gle/FZvw5ic9V5kJCVQa6

*Applications are due by March 28, but candidates will be reviewed and considered on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged.

Questions about this topic? Please contact: Deborah Osher (osherd@district65.net)

Staff can begin to apply for summer learning positions for the following programs: Summer Literacy Intensive, Jumpstart, and Newcomers. Postings will be listed in Frontline (Internal postings) no later than Monday, February 3. The YMCA will be sending out additional job postings for both the YMCA Summer Learning and MSX Meta-Media.

Questions about this topic? Please contact: Deborah Osher osherd@district65.net

The Student Support Committee is a committee provided for in the DEC/ D65 Joint Agreement. The purpose of the Student Support Committee is to review feedback on the Behavior Continuum and make updates as necessary. In order to ensure we have a robust set of feedback to reflect on, we encourage all educators to complete a brief survey about their experience with the Behavior Continuum. Please submit your feedback by February 24th.

Questions about this topic? Please contact: Bryon Harris (harrisb@district65.net)

We've noticed some recent trends related to information security and want to ensure our district remains protected. To keep our systems safe and secure, please see the information below. These best practices will help prevent security risks, protect privacy, and keep our network secure.

Information Security Tips and Reminders
Please do not use your work email for personal use. Below are some reasons why.

• Security Risks: When you use your work email for personal accounts, you increase the risk of phishing and malware attacks on our District network. If your personal account is compromised, hackers could potentially gain access to your work email and sensitive data.

• Privacy Concerns: The District 65 Google system is subject to State of Illinois FOIA laws and regulations. and therefore emails sent and received from your work account are subject to inspection. If you're sending personal emails that you would not want someone to have access to, please use your personal email address.

• Clutter: Mixing personal and work emails can make it difficult to stay organized and productive. It's best to keep your work and personal communications separate.
  Please do not store your passwords in a digital document or notekeeper (such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Google Keep, or Apple Notes).

• Lack of Encryption: Docs are not designed for secure password storage. While both Google and Microsoft employ security measures, the documents themselves are not encrypted in a way that's specifically meant to protect highly sensitive data like passwords. Anyone who gains access to your account (or even just the document itself, if sharing is enabled incorrectly) can see all your passwords.

• Sharing Mistakes: It's easy to accidentally share a Google Doc with the wrong person, especially if you're sharing folders or have multiple collaborators. One slip-up and your passwords are out in the open.

• Phishing Vulnerability: Phishing attacks can target your account. If a phisher gains access, they immediately have access to your password document.

• Better Alternatives Exist: There are much safer and more effective ways to store passwords, such as dedicated password managers (like 1Password which we have access to in District 65). These tools are specifically designed for this purpose and offer strong encryption, secure sharing, and other essential features.

1Password is the preferred password manager for District 65 and is available to you at no cost. If you need assistance setting up 1Password, reach out to support@district65.net to schedule a time to meet with us. Check out 1Password friends and family which allows up to 5 individual accounts to be added under your free personal subscription provided by the district

Questions about this topic? Please contact: Jimmy Giannos

We are so excited to be once again accepting nominations for the High Five! Celebrating Excellence in District 65 Award! Please submit nominations for those colleagues or staff members who are making a difference.

All important dates will be added to the Willard Calendar and shared via a calendar invite.

February:

• 18th: Admin Led PLCs/5Es Window Opens
• 19th: Spirit Week starts!
• 19th: Language Allocation Observations for TWI (District Walkthrough AM)
• 20th: Staff Meeting
• 28th: African Diaspora Celebration

• School Wide Event Calendar SY24-25
• Staff Directory
• Supervision Schedule
• Staff Shout Out