THE WHOOT!

Our interactions with one another shape our community, and by embodying kindness, empathy, and positivity, we create a nurturing environment for everyone. Whether you're chatting with fellow caregivers, volunteering at events, or supporting school initiatives, your actions and attitude can inspire others and reinforce the warmth and support that make Willard such a special place. Let’s commit to being that positive influence and uplift each other, making our school community a true reflection of this beautiful sentiment.

Here's to another wonderful week in Willard-land!

With love,

Ms. Battle

I just want to take a moment to celebrate the amazing Peace Pep Rally we had on Friday. It was such a beautiful opportunity for us to come together as a whole community, to celebrate what makes us uniquely Willard, and to honor our Peace Pillars in a meaningful way. The energy and love in the room were contagious.

A huge shoutout to Ms. Johnston for organizing and leading the event with such heart, and to Ms. Belizaire for getting the energy started with those morning TikTok trends—what a way to kick things off! We couldn’t have done it without them. I think I speak for our team when I say that they snapped, did their big one, and absolutely killed it!

Shoutout to all the kiddos for bringing the magic!

The International Day of Peace is an event celebrated across the world on September 21st. This year we will be celebrating on the 20th. The theme this year is Cultivating a Culture of Peace. This annual event began at Willard in September 2022 after we lost a Kindergarten student, Devin McGregor, to gun violence. We will honor him during the circle at the end of the Peace Walk with a moment of silence. We also use this event to center and celebrate our Peace Pillars and Peace Promises.

Hispanic Heritage Month gives us the opportunity to celebrate and honor the rich cultural contributions, history, and achievements of Hispanic and Latinx communities. It’s a time to reflect on the impact Hispanic heroes, makers, and leaders have had in shaping our world—whether in the arts, sciences, politics, education, or everyday life. By recognizing these contributions, we foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultures that make up our community. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month also helps our students feel seen, valued, and proud of their identities, while inspiring others to learn and grow from these rich cultural experiences.

To honor and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ve invited all teachers and staff to participate in the Hispanic Heritage Door Wrap Challenge! This is a fun and creative way to celebrate the rich culture, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx heroes, makers, and trailblazers with our students. I can't wait fill our hallways with pride, color, and inspiration as we honor the contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities

We’ve welcomed 46 new families to the PTA so far this year, and we’d love to keep growing our PTA community. Your involvement and support enables us to provide discretionary funds for teachers, community and cultural celebrations, and much more. Please consider joining today!

Join the Willard PTA
Register to be a Willard/D65 volunteer
Shop the Willard Spirit Wear Store

On Thursday we had our FIRST in-person PTA meeting. Our focus was on building community—getting to know each other, sharing the PTA's mission and ways to be involved, and brainstorming our community goals for the year. Your participation was so valuable, whether you planned to be a volunteer or just wanted a voice in the decisions we made as a community.

It was truly beautiful to gather in person and connect with so many new families. The conversations we shared about building community and setting goals for the year filled us with optimism and excitement. We’re eager to continue this wonderful momentum and would love to see even more families at our upcoming meetings. Your presence and input are what make our community strong and vibrant. Let’s keep this spirit alive and work together to achieve our shared vision!

If you missed the most recent PTA Owl Notes, click here!

Looking ahead to fall, be sure to save the date for:

• Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Oct. 18
• Parents’ Night Out Fundraiser on Nov. 2.

Details to come!

We’re asking for your partnership in helping to keep our school healthy this year. As a reminder, students should be kept home from school when these symptoms or signs of illness are present: fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit; severe, persistent coughing; copious eye drainage; significant sore throat; excessive nasal discharge; undiagnosed skin rash; nausea and vomiting; diarrhea; extreme fatigue; moderate to severe headache; body aches; and/or a general sense of being unwell.

Please review our District 65 Health Services webpages for information about respiratory illness symptoms, guidelines on returning to school, preventative strategies, and more.

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Manteniendo saludables a nuestras escuelas

Solicitamos su colaboración para ayudar a mantener saludable nuestra escuela este año. Como recordatorio, los estudiantes deben quedarse en casa cuando estos síntomas o señales de enfermedad estén presentes: fiebre de 100.4 grados Fahrenheit (38 grados Celcius), tos severa y persistente, secreción ocular abundante, dolor de garganta significativo, secreción nasal excesiva, erupción cutánea sin diagnóstico, naúsea y vómito, diarrea, fatiga extrema, dolor de cabeza moderado a severo, dolores musculares, y/o una sensación general de malestar.

Por favor, revise nuestros sitios web de Servicios de salud del Distrito 65 para obtener información acerca de síntomas de enfermedades respiratorias, guías para el regreso a clases, estrategias de prevención, y más.

Looking to volunteer at Willard? Click here for our district's volunteer process!

Discovery Clubs registration opens today 09/02/24 and closes on 09/20/24. For more information, see the flyers below! If you have any additional questions, you can reach out to:

Raheem Lee (he/him/his)

Program Coordinator & Manager

Email: willard@rightatschool.com

Willard Welcome Packet

• English
• Spanish

District 65 Back to School Guides

• English
• Spanish

September

• 18th: School Improvement (No School)
• 19th: School Led Fire Drill, 10:20-10:40 am
• 20th: Picture Day + International Day of Peace
• 26th: Curriculum Night 5:30-7:00 pm at Willard (details coming soon!)
• 27th: Kinder Crowning (details coming soon!)