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🌟 Good Evening, Willard Families!
What an incredible week it's been! A HUGE thank you to our amazing parent volunteers who showed up Friday to help kick off our Read-A-Thon — your energy and dedication means so much to our scholars and staff! And let's talk about the highlight of the day... we were treated to a visit from some absolutely adorable, furry friends (picture below)! 🐾 Safe to say, our readers were extra motivated!
Looking ahead, we are SO excited to invite ALL families — current and future Willard families alike — to join us for our Willard PTA Town Hall this Wednesday! Come connect, ask questions, share ideas, and be a part of the magic that makes our community so special. We'd love to see every one of you there!
A quick but important reminder as we head into these chilly, windy days: even without snow on the ground, our scholars will still be heading outside as long as the Real Feel is above 20°F. Please make sure your student is bundled up with a hat, gloves, and a warm coat so they can enjoy the fresh air comfortably and safely! ❄️🧤
Thank you for being the most wonderful community — we are so grateful for each and every one of you. We cannot wait to see all our scholars bright and early tomorrow! See you then! 💙
Best,
AP Ernvall
📚 The Willard Read-A-Thon starts 3/16 📚
Get ready, Owl families! Our Read-A-Thon is officially kicking off, and this is your chance to cheer on your young reader while making a real difference for our school. Check your inbox for an email from GiveButter with everything you need to log reading minutes and share your student's fundraising page with friends and family.
Over the next few weeks, students will lose themselves in amazing stories, rack up minutes, and help raise funds that directly support Willard programs and initiatives. Every page turned is a win — for our kids, our school, and our community.
Let's go, Owls! 🦉📖
🍀 St. Patty's Day Fun 🍀
🔷 Q3 PTA TownHall 🔷
🌟 Come be part of the conversation! We're so excited to welcome you to our Q3 PTA Townhall — whether you're a longtime Willard family or just starting your journey with us, there's a seat saved just for you. Together, we're building something special, and your voice matters every step of the way. Check out the flyer below for all the details, and we can't wait to see you! 💛
⚾ It's Time to Step Up to the Plate for District 65! ⚾
Play Ball — and Help Our Kids Win Big!
The wait is over! The District 65 PTA Council Cubs Fundraiser is officially LIVE, and we need your help to make it a home run!
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! 💙
👑 Black SonRISE Is Back! 📣
We're excited to announce the return of Black SonRISE for a new session! Our five-week program kicks off on April 11th, and this year's theme is "EVERYTHING COMMUNICATES."
Throughout the program, Risers will explore the many ways we communicate — from how we present ourselves to how we connect with others. They'll learn to craft and deliver effective arguments, discover inspiring communicators throughout history who look like them, and practice engaging meaningfully with their peers.
The program is completely FREE, though space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. For more information, reach out to us at jbrownleejr@yahoo.com.
A flyer with full program details is below — please feel free to pass it along to any other interested parents and caregivers. We can't wait to see your Risers!
— The Black SonRISE Dads
👀 Registration is open 👀
Registration for spring athletics is open now through March 19. Students at all District 65 elementary and magnet schools will have the opportunity to participate in soccer, track, or tennis this spring. District 65 and the City of Evanston partner together to provide increased access to youth athletics programming.
Details about match/game schedules are available on the District 65 website and on the registration page for each sport. For more information and registration instructions, view the D65 elementary spring athletics page or the City of Evanston's Spring Program Guide.
📆 Community Events and Registration 📆
Foundation 65, "Black Joy, Black Brilliance"
We’re excited to help spread the word about an upcoming event hosted by Foundation 65, "Black Joy, Black Brilliance", a FREE celebration created especially for Black children in grades K–5.Families will have the opportunity to connect with Black-owned businesses and local nonprofits, including YWCA Evanston/North Shore. Registration
🔑 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:
ALL ARE WELCOME
- 18th: Willard School Tour (4:45-5:45pm)
- 18th: Willard Q3 PTA Town Hall (6:15-7:30pm)
- 19th: Willard New Families Spring Open House (All Are Welcome and will have a Kinder Focus)
- 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 (6-7:30pm)
- 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
