THE WHOOT!

Willard School recently hosted a vibrant and joyful Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Celebration, bringing our community together for an evening filled with tradition, games, food, and fun! Families enjoyed cultural activities, delicious cuisine, and meaningful moments that honored the rich heritage of AAPI communities. A huge shout out to our incredible AAPI planning team for their thoughtfulness and creativity in organizing such a beautiful event, and a heartfelt thank you to Siam Splendor for generously sponsoring the celebration. It was a night to remember!

We proudly celebrated the recipients of the Justin Wynn Award! The event honors students who demonstrate outstanding leadership, service, and citizenship in their schools and community. It's a meaningful moment to recognize young leaders who embody the spirit of giving back and making a difference. Congratulations to Logan and Meadow!

A big shoutout to Ms. Chau for bringing learning to life in the most delicious way! As a creative extension of their latest Wit and Wisdom unit, Ms. Chau invited a professional sushi chef into the classroom for an interactive sushi-making demonstration. Students had the incredible opportunity to dive into the history of sushi, learn about Japanese culture and traditions, and even roll up their sleeves to make their own sushi rolls! This hands-on experience not only deepened their understanding of the text but also made learning meaningful, memorable, and fun. Thank you, Ms. Chau, for blending culture, cuisine, and curriculum so beautifully.

Our 5th graders recently took an exciting step toward their next chapter with a visit to Haven Middle School! During their trip, students toured the building, learned all about what to expect in middle school, and even had the chance to reconnect with former Willard Owls now thriving at Haven. It was a wonderful opportunity to ease nerves, build excitement, and envision the road ahead. We’re so proud of our soon-to-be middle schoolers!

Our students have been diving into an exciting unit on the American Revolutionary War! We’ve been exploring the era through different perspectives and discussing how personal experiences can shape someone’s point of view.

To bring history to life, our classes will be hosting a Revolutionary War Rap Battle! Students will be working in groups to write and perform raps from the viewpoint of either a Patriot or a Loyalist. It’s been a fun and creative way to engage with history, and we’re thrilled to share their hard work with you.

You’re invited to our evening performance on Thursday, May 22 at 6:00 PM!

We hope you’ll join us for an evening full of creativity, history, and fun!

- Ms. Noble & Ms. Johnston

Join us for a fun and welcoming event where you can meet the principal, enjoy food and activities, and connect with the community! All future Foster families are invited—come be part of the excitement!

Details

• When: Saturday, June 14
• Time: 12:00-3:00 p.m.
• Where: Twiggs Park (1901 Simpson St.)

On behalf of our District 65 Technology Team, we want to make you aware of a dangerous social media trend emerging in some school districts, where students are encouraged to intentionally damage their school-issued Chromebooks—particularly by puncturing lithium batteries or tampering with charging ports to cause short circuits.

Thankfully, we are not currently aware of any District 65 students participating in this trend. However, we want to be proactive in reminding our students and families that this type of activity is extremely dangerous and can be especially hazardous to our students and schools. Lithium battery damage can result in fires that are fast-spreading, hard to extinguish, and pose serious risks to students and staff.

Please take a moment to talk with your student about the importance of using school technology safely and responsibly. Deliberate damage to devices is a violation of our Acceptable Use Agreement and would be considered as vandalism according to our student handbook. It may lead to disciplinary action and replacement fees due to intentional damage as defined in our Device Protection Plan and Replacement Procedure.

We appreciate your partnership in keeping our school community safe and informed.

The Kuumba Evanston Olympic Games are BIGGER & BETTER than last year (watch video)!

Aimed at fostering a love of sports, teamwork, and personal growth among current 3rd to 6th-grade students, the games bring children from all across Evanston together for 3 weekends of fun at Evanston Township High School. There are 21 different Olympic sports including ours!! In addition to competitive, Olympic style games and challenges, experienced coaches and mentors from Evanston will not only teach their sport but also instill the Core Values of the games: Spirit, Effort, Teamwork and Sportsmanship.

Save the Dates

• Kuumba Olympics Family Festival presented by Girls Play Sports: Sunday, June 1 (3-5:30pm) - kids meet their teammates and nation leaders and get their uniform, and the whole family gets to play fun games and have a pizza party
• Olympic Games: Begin Friday, June 13 and end with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, June 29 - kids participate in one or twelve sports over three weekends

*Register here

You will need to create an account. Once an account has been created, you will be prompted to fill out 3 quick forms. Please complete the forms in their entirety. You will receive a confirmation email once your registration has been submitted.

Evanston, IL – Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) is excited to expand its Summer Program for 2025, offering youth in Evanston a summer full of learning, creativity, and fun. The program will run from June 16 to July 25, with a Special Field Trip Week from July 28 – August 1. Youth entering grades 2–8 this fall are welcome to join, with free and paid options available based on household income. Registration opens to the community on March 29, with priority given to Y.O.U. families, and early registration is encouraged due to limited space.

This year’s program features creative workshops in art, music, and writing, STEM projects that foster curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math, and weekly field trips to exciting locations around Evanston. Participants will also engage in sports, games, mindfulness activities, and other recreation and wellness options designed to keep them active and engaged. The program fosters community building by providing youth with opportunities to connect with peers and caring mentors in a safe, supportive environment.

Program Details
Dates: June 16 – July 25 (Field Trip Week: July 28 – August 1)
Location: Oakton Elementary School (Elementary), Chute Middle School (Middle School)
Hours: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Registration: Opens March 29, closes May 1.
For more information about Y.O.U. or to learn how to support our programs, please visit www.youthopportunity.org.

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

May:

• 22nd: 4th Grade Revolutionary War Rap Battle
• 23rd: Field Day
• Grades 3-5: 9:30-11 am
• Grades K-2: 1:45-3:15 pm
• 26th: Memorial Day-No School
• 30th: Hootenanny

Willard Welcome Packet

• English
• Spanish

District 65 Back to School Guides

• English
• Spanish