The
🎉 Happy Finale Families! 🎉
If you thought I could leave without one final Whoot - You thought wrong!!
It is hard to believe that tomorrow marks the final day of the school year. The kids are traveling through the hallways with so much excitement, and we are going to channel all of that excitement into our biggest celebration yet: OwlPalooza! Please join us tomorrow, Friday, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM for an unforgettable evening together. I cannot wait to see you all there and looking forward to wrapping up this year in true Willard style.
As we reach the finish line, this is also a deeply bittersweet moment for me. This will be my final family newsletter, as my time as your Assistant Principal is drawing to a close. While I am incredibly sad and disappointed to be saying goodbye after just one short year, I am overflowing with gratitude. The relationships we built and the deep investments we made together this year means a lot to me. I do not take lightly what an amazing, fierce, and caring community you have here at Willard. You look out for each other, and it has been an absolute honor to serve your incredible kids and our dedicated staff. I am wishing all of your families nothing but the absolute best in everything that lies ahead. I will miss you all!
AND YET, you know I can’t officially sign off without one final, epic sports update! Women's sports are absolutely on fire right now, and the WNBA is dominating the headlines. The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup just tipped off this week! Right here in town, the Chicago Sky just locked down a massive, historic partnership with Progressive to fund youth reading literacy programs across local schools and proving once again that these athletes are champions both on and off the court. The WNBA All-Star Game is also here in Chicago this year! Check it out!
Meanwhile, over in football news, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams just made history as the first player in franchise history to be named the EA Sports Madden NFL 27 cover athlete. And for my Detroit fans out there, the Lions are officially back on the field for OTAs this week, with sports analysts already predicting a massive, dominant season ahead of them (some say because they got an "easier schedule" but... what do they know? 😆
Thank you for a wonderful year, Willard. Keep taking care of each other, keep advocating, and let's rock OwlPalooza tomorrow night!
*See you at Haven shortly for 5th Grade Promotion!
With all my love and gratitude,
AP Ernvall
❗❗ OwlPalooza 2026 ❗❗
The countdown is officially over—OwlPalooza is TOMORROW! 🎉 We are ready to wrap up this incredible school year in style with the ultimate playground party, epic dancing, and the best community vibes around.
But to pull off the most legendary party of the year, we need a little help from our amazing flock! We are looking for awesome volunteers and generous donations to help everything run smoothly.
Can you pitch in? We still need:
🍔 Food Servers (Feed the fun!)
🎨 Activity & Craft Table Supervisors (Keep the creativity flowing!)
💪 Setup & Tear-Down Heroes (The heavy lifters who make it happen!)
🥤 Supplies: Water jugs and tasty snack items
🦋 Fun Extras: Temporary tattoos!
👉 Click here to donate time or supplies!
🌧️ Rain or Shine, the Party is ON!
Don't let the forecast scare you! If Mother Nature decides to rain on our parade, we will move all the fun inside! Either way, we are celebrating.
If you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out to our wonderful OwlPalooza Co-Chair, Greer Beckman (greerbeckman@gmail.com). Thank you so much for making this year so special. We can't wait to celebrate with you tomorrow! 🥳🦉
A Message from the Health Office
End-of-Year Medication Reminder
It’s that time of year again! If your scholar has medications in the health office, please ensure a parent or guardian picks them up by the last day of school.
Please note that we are unable to store medications over the summer; any items remaining after students are dismissed will unfortunately have to be discarded. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Nurse Juli in the health office!
💥 PTA: Action Required 💥
As we wrap up the school year, it's time to make our voices heard and vote on important initiatives for the upcoming year.
First, a huge thank you to everyone who came to the townhall last night for such a productive conversation! Here are the slides.
Please use the separate Google Form linked below to cast your anonymous ballot:
Vote on the 2025-2026 Budget: https://forms.gle/LzzdKzy8yM7VRLkT7
Vote in the General Election: https://forms.gle/77oyhMeAWxPwbebk8
Please try and vote ASAP, so the Executive board can close the budget by the end of the school year. In order for your vote to be counted, you must have been a member of the Willard PTA for 30 days.
In the coming weeks/months, the new PTA Executive Board will work to fill the remaining vacancies on the PTA Executive Committee. Current and anticipated vacancies include: VP of Affinity, Co-treasurer, Co-President, and VP Fundraising. Please email willardowlspta@gmail.com to learn more about these roles. If you are interested in taking on any role in the PTA (no matter how big or small there is a space for you!) please use this form: https://forms.gle/LWphdc5Z6ymeB1VC7
Your participation is vital in shaping the direction of our school community, approving our financial plans, and finalizing our leadership team. Thank you for your continued engagement and dedication to the Willard Owls community!
🥳 Fun Closing Events in Pictures! 🥳
Final Peace Pep Rally...
TWI and Transitioning Family Potluck!
5th Grade Breakfast...
🎬 Free Community Movie Night: The Goat
Northwestern Athletics and Recreation, alongside the Office of Neighborhood and Community Relations, invites you to a free showing of The Goat on Tuesday, July 28 at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium!
⏱️ The Schedule & Details
5:45 p.m. – Gates Open
6:30 p.m. – Movie Starts
Rain Location: Welsh-Ryan Arena
🚗 Parking & Logistics
Admission is entirely free, and campus parking is free after 4:00 p.m. (try the North Campus Parking Garage at 2311 Campus Drive or unreserved flat lots).
🍿 What to Bring (and What to Leave)
Do bring: Blankets, pillows, and your own snacks/drinks. Free drinks, popcorn, and candy will also be provided while supplies last!
Don't bring: Chairs, alcohol, glass containers, thermoses, or grills.
Note: Stadium seating is on the field (no chairs allowed). Accessible bleacher seating is available for guests with accommodation needs.
RSVP Today: RSVPs are highly encouraged so you can receive instant updates if the event moves indoors due to weather. RSVP Here
Dates to Remember
June:
- 4th: 5th Grade Promotion @Haven
- 5th: Last Day Of School
- 5th: Owl-a-palooza (5:00-7:00pm)
