What's Up Willowbrook
August 21, 2026
Welcome back, Willowbrook families!
The start of a new school year always brings excitement, new opportunities, big smiles, and a fresh start. If you didn’t know by now, our school theme is Level Up Your Learning, focusing on helping students take greater ownership of their learning, choices, and growth.
In my opening message to students this week, I shared the idea that learning can be like a video game. Growth doesn't happen because someone else takes the controller and solves the challenge for us. Growth happens when we practice, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, try new strategies, ask questions, and keep moving forward. Throughout the year, we will encourage students to become more independent learners by regularly asking themselves three important questions:
What am I learning?
How do I know if I've learned it?
What should I do next?
We reinforced these same ideas during lunch and recess lessons this week. Mr. Brekke and I partnered with our Lunch and Recess Supervisors to meet with every grade level and review routines, expectations, and the social skills that help create a safe, respectful, and inclusive school environment.
Whether students were learning how to solve playground conflicts, practice good sportsmanship, include others in a game, or take responsibility for everyday routines, the message remained consistent: we want our students to develop the confidence and independence to solve problems, make responsible choices, advocate for themselves, know when to ask for help from an adult, and learn from their experiences.
These conversations will continue throughout the school year, both inside and outside the classroom. We value your partnership and encourage you to reinforce these messages at home by talking about responsibility, problem-solving, kindness, inclusion, and learning from mistakes.
Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to teach our Wildcats to grow into confident, capable, and independent learners. Here's to a wonderful school year as we all work together to Level Up Our Learning! I hope to see each of you next Thursday at Curriculum Night, and please take a moment to check out this month’s Leveling Up Parent Power-Up for Responsibility below!
Katie Compagno
Monday, August 24
- Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing window opens (grades 1-8)
- Fall club registration open at 9:00 a.m.
Thursday, August 27
- Curriculum Night 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Friday, August 28
- Fall club registration closes at 3:00 p.m.
- First flag raising ceremony
- PTO registration closes (available again after August 30 with $20 late fee)
Tuesday, September 1
- PTO Ice Cream Social 5:30-7:00 p.m.
- Picture day
Friday, September 4
- Walking School Bus
Monday, September 7
- District holiday - NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, September 8
- PTO Room Parent Meeting 7:00 p.m.
- PTO General Meeting 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 9
- PTO Ice cream day
Friday, September 11
- Patriot Day ceremony
Willowbrook School offers a variety of staff-sponsored clubs during the school year. These clubs are inspired by staff interest/passion, are first-come, first-serve, and are free to students. However, space is limited. Clubs run from 3:20-4:20 p.m. for a period of 8 to 16 sessions. The fall club sign-up window opens at 9:00 a.m Monday, August 24 and closes 3:00 p.m. on August 28.
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
Following the start of the 2026-27 school year, the district's online adaptive assessment, Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), will be administered to all students in grades 1-8. The MAP testing window will open on August 24 and run through September 15. Students in grades 2-8 will take two assessments: reading and mathematics. Grade 1 will take mathematics only. Please check with your child's teacher about their testing schedule to avoid conflicts if appointments need to be scheduled during this time.
These assessment results will continue to be used (1) by teachers to assist them in differentiating lessons in reading/language arts and mathematics; as well as (2) to measure student academic growth. Students' fall assessment reports will be made available to parents later in the school year.
Our Curriculum Night will be Thursday, August 27. We invite all parents and guardians to attend this informative evening session. Please note - children do not attend this event.
The first round of classroom presentations begin at 6:00 p.m. for preschool through 2nd grade. A general presentation by the building leaders will be held in the school gym at 6:35 p.m., followed by 3rd- through 5th-grade classroom presentations at 7:00 p.m.
- 6:00-6:30 p.m. Pre-K to grade 2 classroom presentations
- 6:35-6:55 p.m. Principals' presentation in the gym
- 7:00-7:30 p.m. Grade 3-5 classroom presentations
Each classroom teacher will provide an overview of the grade-level curriculum, teacher expectations, and projected activities for the year. If you are not attending a classroom presentation, please consider visiting music, art, physical education, library, or related service personnel.
FREE for all Willowbrook families
Please join us for the Willowbrook PTO ice cream social on September 1 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in front of the school! This free event welcomes all students and their parents and guardians to celebrate the start of school and connect with old friends and new!
It's not too late - 4th and 5th grade students can still enroll in orchestra this year by emailing Mrs. Barrett at abarrett@district30.org for more information!
Lessons will begin Tuesday, September 8, and morning orchestra practice will begin the week of Monday, October 5. Keep your eyes out for an email from Mrs. Barrett by September 4 with the schedule and for the Monthly orchestra newsletter that comes out the first Friday of each month!
Let's have a musical year!
Mrs. Barrett
This year’s school theme is “Level Up Your Learning,” and at Willowbrook, one of our goals is to help students become increasingly independent learners who take ownership of their learning, decisions, and responsibilities. As students grow, it is important that they begin to see themselves as capable problem-solvers who can manage routines, overcome challenges, and advocate for their needs.
Our school-home connection plays a vital role in your child’s success. Throughout the year, we will share simple tips, questions, and activities that families can use at home to help foster responsibility, independence, and confidence. These will be shared as Family Power-Ups in our What’s Up Willowbrook Newsletters and are designed to support the important skills students need to become self-directed learners both in and out of the classroom.
These suggestions are not intended to add more to your family's busy schedule. Rather, they are small ways to gradually transfer responsibility to children and help them build the skills they need to be successful both in and out of the classroom.
August’s focus is Responsibility. When students learn to manage materials, routines, assignments, and commitments, they develop the confidence and ownership that support lifelong learning. Stay tuned for more information in our next What's Up Willowbrook Newsletter.
Together this school year, we will continue to help our Wildcats Level up their Learning!
Parent Power-Up
Help your child develop a sense of ownership by giving them age-appropriate responsibilities at home. When children practice responsibility outside of school, they build confidence and independence inside the classroom.
Ideas to Try:
Ask these questions:
“What do you need to do to get ready for school tomorrow?”
“What is your plan for remembering that?”
“Do you have everything you need for school today?”
“What can you do on your own today before asking for help?”
“What responsibility are you most proud of this week?”
“What is one area where you'd like to become more responsible?”
Choose and lay out clothes for the next day.
Make their bed each morning.
Help prepare lunches or snacks.
Pack their own backpack each evening using a checklist.
Want to know what's going on around the community? District 30 uses a "Virtual Backpack" to share community event listings while saving paper, costs, and lightening the loads our students bring home.
Please click here or the button below to view upcoming community events submitted to District 30 by local park districts, nonprofits and more.
To ensure a smooth start to the school year, please review the following Illinois health requirements:
- All students who are new to District 30: Any student who is new to District 30 must have a completed Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination on file before the first day of school. The physical exam must have been completed within the past 12 months and include all required immunizations. Students who do not have the required documentation after October 15, 2026, may be excluded from school per state mandate until it is received.
- Kindergarten students & students new to District 30: Kindergarteners and all students new to District 30 must submit a completed Illinois Eye Examination Report by October 15, 2026. The eye exam must have been completed within 1 year of the start of the school year.
- Kindergarten & 2nd grade: Illinois law requires students entering kindergarten and second grade to submit a completed Dental Examination Form by May 15, 2027. The dental exam must have been completed within the required state timeframe (18 months prior to the deadline).
- Medications & health care plans: If your child requires medication at school or has a medical condition that requires a health care plan, please complete and submit the required forms before the first day of school. If updated forms are not received, the school will continue to follow the previous year's health care plan for students with life-threatening allergies or other qualifying medical conditions until new documentation is provided.
Health, dental, eye examination, medication, and health care plan forms are available on the District 30 website. Completed forms may be:
- Dropped off at the school office
- Emailed to Lisa Mullen, School Nurse (lmullen@district30.org)
- Emailed to Heather Peraino (hperaino@district30.org)
If you have any questions, please contact the school office at 847-498-1090.
When members of the public, including parents and siblings, have reason to visit our building during regular hours of operation, they must enter through the main entrance and check in with the front desk. All visitors to school property are required to:
Report to the main entrance
Show proper identification
Clear the district’s security screening identification system
Wear a visitor badge in a manner that is visible to all employees and students at all times when on school property and
Return the issued visitor badge upon departure from the building
This step-by-step guide can help you prepare for a visit or to check out a child during the school day using our new system. Additional visitor information can be found in the District 30 Student-Parent Handbook on page 10.
First Student provides transportation for District 30 students. The types of services, and fees approved by the Board of Education can be found at Families/Transportation, along with a bus service registration form at the bottom of the page. For all transportation needs, please contact First Student at 847-724-7200.
Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 continues its partnership with Quest Food Management Services to provide quality food services to your student. We are happy to offer a preorder system via myMealOrder!
- The meal will consist of an entree, side, fresh fruit, and vegetable, including milk or water.
- All orders must be placed at least three days in advance.
Visit mymealorder.com to open an account, learn more about our preorder system, and view the menu.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ashley Jenkins, Food Service Director for Quest at ajenkins@questfms.com.
District 30 has an intergovernmental agreement with Northbrook Park District that allows before- and after-school care to students in K-5th grade at Willowbrook School. District 30 provides the facility while the park district provides the program and staff management with all revenues going to the park district.
This Adventure Campus Program offers the ability to participate in before- and/or after-school care on days when school is in session and on select teacher institute days, conference days, and holidays.
Contact the Northbrook Park District at 847-291-2995 or visit their webpage nbparks.org for more information.
What's Up Willowbrook is a communication that our school sends out weekly to families and staff on Fridays. All copies will be sent electronically to the email addresses that families previously provided us using the online registration system. By now, you should have completed the online registration process so that you can receive all of our school's communications. The next issue will be emailed on Friday, August 21. Please contact the office if you do not receive this edition by Saturday, August 22. What's Up Willowbrook is also posted on the district website.
Important information is sent home throughout the year in What's Up Willowbrook so please make sure to take the time to read each week's issue. We don't want anyone to miss out on seeing notices about current or upcoming events at the school.
Other ways to stay connected with what's happening in our schools include:
Volunteering at lunch is a great way to become involved at Willowbrook! As a lunch volunteer, you get to spend time with your child, get to know your child's classmates and feel more connected with the Willowbrook community.
Volunteers are needed to set up the lunch line, help serve students and do minimal cleanup.
- Lunch service is approximately 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- You can sign up for one or more slots
- Questions? Contact willowpto@district30.org
When adults volunteer, students benefit! There are many opportunities to get involved; please consider signing up for a committee so the PTO can continue to fund events, such as:
- School Store
- Students Night Out
- Staff appreciation events
- And more!
Any time a student feels unsafe, any adult in their school can help!
But sometimes, students or parents wish to reach out for help in a different way or after school hours. Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe way to share information 24/7 that might help prevent any threat to school safety, including bullying, self-harm or other serious concerns.
The goal of this program is to get students to “seek help before harm;" it is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish. Safe2Help Illinois also offers a Mental Health Toolkit that provides resources for parents and educators reinforce the components of this program.
Safe2Help Illinois offers around-the-clock help via:
- Hotline: 844-4-SAFEIL
- Text line: 72332
- Email HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com
- Plus a website full of resources for young people seeking help for themselves or a friend. Its Ways To Get Help page is a directory of specialized hotlines, and other sections of its website provide practical steps for dealing with depression or helping a distraught friend. The checklist called "20 Questions To Ask Yourself If You Feel Like Giving Up" can help older children overcome a bout of anxiety or depression.
Willowbrook School
Willowbrook School is part of Northbrook/Glenview District 30, which exists to create an inclusive community that inspires learning, fosters resiliency, and cares deeply for every child. We honor childhood and foster intellectual, physical and social-emotional growth. District 30 serves more than 1,200 students in pre-K through 8th grade across Willowbrook, Wescott and Maple Schools.
We prohibit harassment and discrimination of all forms within our district and follows all policies and procedures to ensure a safe environment for all.
Main Office: 847-498-1090
Health Office: 847-400-8860
Location: 2500 Happy Hollow Road, Glenview, IL
Website: district.30.org/willowbrook
