THE WHOOT!

What an amazing start to the school year! Two weeks in, and I'm blown away by the energy and excitement buzzing through our hallways. Our students have jumped right in with such enthusiasm—it's contagious!

I've loved getting to meet so many wonderful families and incredible scholars already. Every conversation and classroom visit reinforces why Willard is such a special place.

Welcome to our WHOOT — your weekly dose of all things Willard! We'll keep you in the loop with important updates, key dates, and everything you need to stay connected to our amazing community.

Can't wait to meet more families and continue getting to know our fantastic students. My door is always open, so please stop by anytime! I'm incredibly grateful to be on this journey with you. The year ahead is going to be so wonderful — I can feel it!

Best,

Ms. Ernvall

Looking for last week's newsletter? Click here!

Updated Date Alert! Mark your calendars for September 25th – it's Picture Day! Time to practice those smiles, coordinate the outfits, and get ready for some cuteness. We can't wait to see all those wonderful faces.

We have been made aware of a fraudulent email being sent to some families using a school leader’s name from a fake email address.

Please know that our staff will never directly solicit families for gift cards, money, or other personal favors. All official communication will come from a District 65 email address. The Technology Services team is aware of this issue, but they are unable to block these emails as they do not originate from our system.

If you receive one of these emails, please do not respond. Instead, please report. Thank you for your support and vigilance in keeping our community safe from scams. Please feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns.

We're on a mission to get every Willard student their own Evanston Public Library card – and it's going to be amazing for your family!

An EPL card unlocks thousands of books, resources, workshops, and family events. Even better? Your card works at Wilmette and Skokie libraries too, giving you three incredible library systems to explore!

We've already talked this up during Library classes and the kids are excited. Application forms are available in our Willard Library, and we've attached one to this newsletter for easy access.

This is a simple way to open up endless learning opportunities and fun experiences for your family. Let's make this the year every Willard student gets their library card! - Ms. Harries

pdf

insert_drive_file

Student EPL Card Application

Download

73.7 KB

Back by student request, we are starting up our Birthday Book Club. For a contribution of ANY AMOUNT, your child can have a new book donated to the school library in their name. During their birthday (or half-birthday) season, your child will choose a new book from a curated selection to add to our Willard Library AND be the first person to check it out! The book will then be available for all students to enjoy, and everyone will see a bookplate with your child's name on it as the donor.

If you are interested, fill out and return this form by Friday, September 26th. Additional questions? Contact Ms. Harries (harriesl@district65.net).

Thank you so much, Willard families, for your amazing support during arrival and dismissal! Your help really makes everything run smoothly each day, and we couldn’t do it without you. As you drop off your child, please make sure they’re visible to our teachers and staff, and then step back once they’re safely in their line. This small gesture goes a long way in keeping everyone safe and helps our little ones feel less overwhelmed during these busy times. We truly appreciate your partnership in making these important moments calm and comfortable for our students.

Our fall iReady testing period is now underway and will continue through September 19th. For our kindergarten families, testing will run from September 15th through October 3rd.

iReady assessments help us understand each child's unique learning needs in reading and math, allowing our teachers to provide personalized instruction throughout the year.

Supporting Your Child During Testing:

Here are some helpful reminders to share with your scholars:

Do your best - There's no need to study or stress; just try your hardest on each question
Take your time - Read each question carefully and think before answering
It's okay if some questions are hard - The test is designed to find what you know and what you're ready to learn next
Ask for help if needed - Your teacher is there to help with directions or if you need a break

At Home Support:

Ensure your child gets plenty of sleep during testing weeks
Provide a healthy breakfast on testing days
Remind them that this assessment helps teachers plan the best learning activities for them
Keep a positive, low-pressure attitude about the testing

Questions? Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or the main office.