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🌟 Good Monday Morning, Willard Families!
Happy Monday — we hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We are heading into an exciting week, so let's dive in!
🏀 March Madness Recap — What a Weekend!
Wow, did the NCAA Tournament deliver this weekend or what?! If you were watching either men's or women's, you know — the games were WILD. Iowa pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, knocking off defending champion Florida in the final seconds thanks to a go-ahead 3-pointer with just 4.5 seconds left. St. John's fans were going absolutely crazy after a buzzer-beating banked layup lifted them past Kansas 67-65. We hope your brackets are still alive... but honestly, no shame if they're not! This is March Madness at its finest. 🎉 The Sweet 16 tips off this Thursday — stay tuned!
And don't sleep on the WOMEN'S tournament — it has been just as exciting! TCU's Olivia Miles put on an absolute show, recording a triple-double (12 pts, 16 rebounds, 14 assists!) and then TCU survived a heart-pounding overtime thriller against Washington to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16. Texas' Madison Booker dropped a jaw-dropping 40 points against Oregon — a new school record for the tournament. Minnesota also delivered one of the moments of the weekend, winning 65-63 on a buzzer-beater by Amaya Battle to advance. The women's game is MUST-WATCH right now! 💜
📚 Read-A-Thon Week 1 — GREAT Job, Readers!
A HUGE shoutout to all of our amazing students and families for an incredible first week of our Read-A-Thon! The energy and enthusiasm has been so fun to see. Keep those pages turning — every minute counts! We are so proud of our reading community. Let's keep the momentum going into Week 2! 📖✨
🌸 Spring Break is Almost Here!
Can you believe Spring Break is just around the corner?! We are SO ready. This week is a great time to finish up any outstanding work, get organized, and gear up for a well-deserved break. We encourage students to stay focused this week so they can head into break feeling great!
📋 Important: District Assignment Timeline Reminder
Please take a look at the District one pager below for next steps in the School Assignment Timeline. Please view our School Transition Hub for FAQs on Permissive Transfers.
As always, if you have any questions, wonderings, or just need to reach out — please don't hesitate! We are here for you. Have a wonderful Monday and a fantastic week ahead!
Best,
AP Ernvall
📚 The Willard Read-A-Thon started 3/16 📚
🎉 WOW, what a launch! Our students have already devoured a whopping 19,724 minutes of reading in just the first week — that's incredible! The pages are turning, the stories are flowing, and the energy is OFF THE CHARTS. Don't stop now — keep reading, keep logging those minutes, and cheer your teammates on like the reading rockstars you are! 📚🚀
Unsure how to log your minutes... click here!
🎨 Art Club This Week 🎨
Unfortunately Art Club will be canceled this week! They will resume next week!
☕ Don't Miss It — Coffee & Donuts on the Playground!
Principal Battle and AP Ernvall are coming to you! Join them tomorrow, March 24th, for a casual morning hangout right on the playground. Grab a coffee, snag a donut, and come say hi — ask questions, share what's on your mind, or just chat!
This is the first of several chances to connect, so don't miss out. See you out there! 🍩
District 65 School Assignment Notification Timeline
🌻 Y.O.U. Summer Camp Registration is OPEN! 🌻
We're excited to share that Y.O.U. Summer Camp registration is now officially OPEN for all D65 students entering grades 2–5 in Fall 2026!
Our summer program is designed to provide a safe, engaging, and joy-filled experience where youth can build relationships, explore new interests, and continue learning in meaningful ways.
Program Details:
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Who: Students entering grades 2–5 (Fall 2026)
Cost: Sliding scale to ensure accessibility for all families
What to Expect:
Hands-on enrichment activities (STEAM, literacy, arts & more!)
Outdoor play & recreation
Field trips & experiential learning opportunities
A strong focus on belonging, creativity, and joy
🥳 Food, Essentials, and Gift Card Drives 🥳
The 3rd Evanston Community Cares Emergency Drive is a community-wide volunteer effort bringing together ETHS, Connections for the Homeless, Niles Township Pantry, Interfaith Action, Evanston Community Fridges, and many more local organizations. All are welcome — your time and support make a real difference for our neighbors.
📅 SCHEDULE
Early Drop-off (Non-Perishables, Essentials & Gift Cards)
• Thu, March 26 | 3–6 PM — Art Makers Outpost, 609 South Blvd
• Fri, March 27 | 12–5 PM — Art Makers Outpost, 609 South Blvd
Collection Day — Saturday, March 28
• 9 AM–12 PM — Dawes Park (south end of lagoon, at the No Kings Rally & March)
• 12–5 PM — ETHS Fieldhouse (drive-up drop-off)
• 12–7 PM — ETHS Fieldhouse (volunteer shifts available)
Distribution Day — Sunday, March 29
• 10 AM–3 PM — ETHS Fieldhouse (drive-up & walk-up pick-up)
How You Can Help
1. Volunteer Your Time
We need 30–50 volunteers per shift for collection and distribution. All are welcome — teens 14+ can sign up solo and earn community service hours; under 14 should come with a caregiver.
2. Donate Items, Gift Cards, or Money
Donate Items: Bring food, household essentials, or gift cards to Dawes Park (March 28, 9 AM–12 PM) or ETHS Fieldhouse (March 28, 12–5 PM). Can't make it Saturday? Drop off Friday, March 27 (12–5 PM) at Art Makers Outpost, or email valkahan@gmail.com to arrange another time.
Become a Sponsor: Financial sponsors help us buy critical items in bulk to reach all pantries and the 500 families we aim to serve. Recognition is optional — donate publicly or anonymously. Bulk buyers (restaurants, wholesale access) are especially welcome to bring items directly to the March 28 drive.
→ Sponsorship Opportunities Here or email valkahan@gmail.com to pledge.
3. Spread the Word
Share on social media, forward to your networks, and encourage donations. Graphics and flyers are available — just ask. Media coverage this week and at the event would be a huge boost; press inquiries welcome.
4. Run Your Own Mini-Drive
Collect items before March 28 and bring them to the drive. Ideas: invite customers to your business to donate, take up a quick office collection, ask friends at a gathering to each bring a bag, or rally your kids' team, building, or block. Every bag counts!
⚾ Last Chance! ⚾
It's your last chance to Play Ball for this specific game!!
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! 💙
📆 Community Events and Activity 📆
🔑 Focusing on Foster 🔑
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!
💫 On The Road To Haven... 💫
State Of Haven Showcase
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!
Summer Programming - Community Options
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.
🚨 All Things PTA 🚨
Owl Notes!
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!
Dates to Remember
March:
- 23rd: D65 Regular Board Meeting (6:00-8:00pm)
- 24th: Coffee with Admin/PTA (8:30-9:30am)
- 24th: D65 and YMCA: Navigating Sexuality Conversations at Home Grades 5-8 (6:00-7:30pm)
- 25th: Fire Drill w/Responders (1:40pm)
- 26th: D65/D202 Jazz Day Field Trip (9:15-12:45pm)
- 26th: Willard Alumni Volleyball Game (4:15pm)
- 30th - April 3rd: NO School - Spring Break!
April:
- 6th: Students and Staff Return to school