Westmoor Weekly 08/29/2025

Dear Westmoor Families,

This week’s safety drills went very smoothly—both students and staff did an outstanding job! Our students participated in a lockdown drill with the support of an officer from the Northbrook Police Department, who was present to observe and assist. We’re proud of how seriously our school community approaches safety.

Looking ahead, here are a few important dates to keep in mind:

• Fall MAP Testing (Grades 2–5) and AIMSWeb+ Testing (Kindergarten & 1st Grade) will begin next week. More details are provided below.

• Curriculum Night for parents and guardians is coming up on Wednesday, September 3. We look forward to seeing you there!

• Picture Day is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. Wishing you and your family a relaxing long weekend!

At our October Bulldog Pack meeting, we will tie-dye shirts as a Pack. Please submit your child’s t-shirt size on this Google Form by August 31st so we can ensure all students get the appropriate size. Submit a separate Google Form for each child in your family.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher.

Each week students may submit a positive quote that captures and motivates their peers to persevere and feel good. We then showcase the quotes throughout the school building. Students may submit a quote, using this link.

As more students use smart watches/devices for communication and safety, we would like to remind parents of the expectations around this technology during the school day.

We understand that some parents may provide their child with a smart watch/device for emergency communication or location tracking. However, students are not permitted to use their watches/devices for calling, texting, messaging, browsing the internet, or taking photos during school hours. Smart watches/devices must be set to ‘school mode’ to prevent sending or receiving calls and messages. Under no circumstances are students allowed to take or transmit digital images (pictures or videos) on school property or at school events, including field trips, where students or staff have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

• If a student is found using their smart watch/device in violation of these guidelines, a staff member will collect the watch/device, and it will be held in the office until the end of the school day.

• Repeated violations may result in the expectation that the watch be turned off and stored in the student's locker or submitted to the office for the duration of the school day.
• Devices should always be stored in the student's locker for the entire day.

In case of an emergency, parents should contact the school office, and we will relay any important messages to the student. Parents are asked to refrain from texting or calling their children between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. If you need to reach your child about after-school plans or an emergency, please contact the office directly or email the teacher AND wmattendance@northbrook28.net.

For more information on District 28's Technology Acceptable Use Policy, please visit our technology webpage. Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a focused and respectful learning environment.

Our fall assessment window opens next week. Students in kindergarten and first grade will work with teachers to complete the AIMSWeb+ early literacy and early numeracy assessments. These are useful assessments as teachers begin to understand the students as learners and develop plans for differentiating the curriculum for individual student needs.

Students in 2nd through 5th grade will take the NWEA MAP assessment in reading and math. Teachers will share specific dates/times when their class will be taking the assessments. MAP is a nationally normed, adaptive, digital assessment that students will take on their iPads. It is untimed. Parents will receive students' MAP score reports after the window closes and district norms are determined.

Standardized assessments are one point of data that help teachers to better understand how to support students. Classroom work and curricular assessments as well as teacher observations are all important data points as well. For more information about all of the assessments District 28 uses, please visit the district's website here.

Curriculum Night will be held this year on Wednesday, 9/3 from 6:30-7:30. Parents can choose to attend one of two identical sessions with their child’s teacher, either 6:30-6:55 or 7:00-7:25. Our PTO will be presenting in the small gym, please stop by to hear all about our PTO and the wonderful events and programs that they sponsor for our students and families.

• When reporting an absence, families can email wmattendance@northbrook28.net AND the student's teacher. The link is on the WM website and is also available on the mobile version of the site. Families can also call (847) 498-7960 to report an absence. The attendance email goes to our front office staff and our school nurse.
• If a student needs to be called out for an early dismissal or late arrival, please follow the same procedures above.
• If a student is tardy (arriving after 8:30am), please bring them to Door A near the main office. If it is after 8:45am, you will need to come in to sign them in for the day.

Picture Day will be held on Wednesday, September 10th. All students will have their picture taken that day. Pictures are from the waist up. Picture Day will email parents with access to their child's picture on September 24th. First round orders will be due by September 30th. If your student is absent or you are unhappy with their picture, retake day is Wednesday, October 8th. See the attachment below for the Picture Day workflow.

Access fun games and earn prizes while playing math outside of school! Check out what's new.

This year, District 28 is excited to introduce two new social-emotional learning (SEL) programs that will support our students from early childhood through junior high.

For our youngest learners in Early Childhood through Grade 2, we are using Everyday Speech. This program gives students the tools to practice foundational social and emotional skills in fun and engaging ways. Through short videos, modeling, and interactive activities, students learn important everyday skills such as taking turns, expressing feelings, making friends, and solving problems in positive ways. These lessons provide a strong foundation for healthy relationships and confident learning.

In Grades 3–8, we are launching Wayfinder, a curriculum developed by educators and researchers at Stanford University. Wayfinder focuses on six Core Skills: Self-Awareness, Adaptability, Empathy, Collaboration, Agency, and Purpose. Each week, students will participate in interactive lessons and discussions that help them connect with themselves, their peers, and their community. Wayfinder gives students a sense of belonging and purpose while also strengthening the skills that support success in school and beyond.

Together, Everyday Speech and Wayfinder will help students at every grade level build confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop the social and emotional tools they need to thrive. When students feel connected and supported, they are more engaged in class and better able to reach their full academic potential.

Signups for the Northbrook 28 Children's Choir is currently underway. Choir starts the week of September 1 and there are multiple options for District 28 children in first through fifth grade. Click through the link below to sign your child up for choir and please contact Mr. Bartunek (jbartunek@northbrook28.net) with any questions.

NB28CC Sign Up

We have an urgent need to have volunteers for Birthday Signs. This is one of most popular fundraisers, and we need volunteers to keep this program running. This fundraiser raises over $4,000 for the PTO, and that all goes back to funding programs for kids and teachers.

• Birthday Sign Chair: We need 1 volunteer to organize the volunteers and make sure signs are distributed to the right volunteer installers. Much of the emails and organization is already automated
• Birthday Sign Full Service Volunteer: Install birthday signs for one month out of the year (or alternatively, only in your neighborhood for a few months). We’d like to have 10 volunteers for this to spread out the installations!
• Birthday Sign Self Service Volunteer: We need 1 volunteer to put out sets of birthday signs on your porch/side of your house for those picking up signs for self service.

Please reach out to Diana Horwitz (FamilyH503@gmail.com) for any questions about volunteering for Birthday Signs!

Our annual Bulldog Bash is on Saturday, 9/20 at 11am. Come join us as at this FREE event and participate in the popular Teacher Raffle! Our wonderful teachers have put together some fantastic outings and events for which your student can enter a drawing or purchase in a Buy It Now style. Look for a detailed email after Labor Day with instructions on how to enter.

• PTO Back to School Packet: Make sure you review the back to school packet! It will be your handy reference guide for all the PTO events for the year! CLICK HERE if you missed it

• Volunteer: We have some urgent needs for volunteers for the fall – including volunteers needed for Birthday Signs and Bulldog Bash! Please sign up so we can keep having great, community events for our kids! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080F4CA8AA2FA1FE3-50540887-westmoor
• Birthday Signs: Order Birthday Signs for your kiddo by September 12th! IF YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY IS IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER, PLEASE ALSO EMAIL wptobday@gmail.com
• Spirit Wear: We are partnering with Snflr Swag for spirit wear! You can order now until September 8th at https://snflrswag.com/collections/westmoor

We are looking for some volunteers to help with Marla's Lunch -https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4BA4A822A1FB6-57869927-marlas#/

Monday 9/1 - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday 9/2 - Little Louie's

Wednesday 9/3 - Raising Cane's, Oki Sushi

Thursday 9/4 - Rosati's - Pizza Day

Friday 9/5 - Jade's Chinese Cafe

Order by Tuesday at 12pm for the following week

To order click on the link below. If you are new to Marla's Lunch, use code NPS302 when creating an account.

September 1: NO SCHOOL

September 2: Fall assessment window opens (teachers will share specific dates)

September 3: Curriculum Night 6:30-7:30pm

September 5: PTO Meeting @2:15pm

September 9: Bulldog Pack Meeting

September 10: Picture Day (See info. above)

September 20: PTO Bulldog Bash @11am

September 23: NO SCHOOL

October 2: NO SCHOOL