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🎊 Ringin' In The New Year! 🎊
Welcome Back and Happy New Year, Willard families!
As we shake off the last bits of winter break magic (and if you're me, maybe a few too many cookies), we can barely contain our excitement about seeing all those sweet, smiling faces walking through our doors tomorrow! We welcomed the team back today and the hallways were far too quiet without the energy, laughter, and occasional controlled chaos that our kiddos bring to Willard each day.
Speaking of victories worth celebrating – much like a certain Detroit team's triumph (sorry, Chicago fans, even though we didn't make the playoffs) – we're ready to tackle the rest of this school year with championship-level enthusiasm!
Some AMAZING Willard Memories from 2024 That Still Give Us All the Feels!
🎊 Our first-ever Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration was absolutely FIRE! Ms. Belizaire is still talking about those incredible Flamenco dancers who had the whole crowd mesmerized!
💎 Ms. Battle discovered treasure hunters among us – shoutout to the Ruby Hunters who turned recess into a gemstone expedition!
🎤 That Peace Pep Rally though! When the entire school belted out "Golden" at the top of their lungs, we're pretty sure they heard us all the way downtown Chicago!
🏕️ Camp Willard Family Night was LEGENDARY! Mrs. JP is still finding s'mores crumbs and hearing campfire songs in her dreams! She enjoyed taking her class around camp days after!
🎿 Pre-break field trip madness was NEXT LEVEL! K-2 conquered Winter Wonderland like tiny arctic artists (lead by fifth grade scholars), Grades 3-4 scored big at the Chicago Wolves game, and our 5th graders brought the house down cheering for Northwestern Women's Basketball!
🫀 Science got REAL in fourth grade with Mrs. Noble – those heart dissections had everyone feeling like future surgeons (and maybe slightly squeamish)!
⛄ Ms. Ernvall's snowy recess adventures turned our playground into a winter wonderland of snowmen, snow angels, and pure joy!
Three Goals We're Charging Toward in 2025
🌟 Goal #1: All students achieving 40 minutes of iReady MyPath a week!
🌟 Goal #2: Developing more student voice through small groups, Peace Pep Rallies, and clubs!
🌟 Goal #3: Creating a stronger sense of community and belonging even as we travel the unknowns and potential changes. We are going to celebrate everyday together and continue to challenge our students minds for greatness!
Here's to an incredible second half of the school year filled with growth, discovery, and that special Willard spirit that makes our community so extraordinary. Rest up tonight – tomorrow we hit the ground running!
Best, Ms. Ernvall
P.S. Don't forget to set those alarm clocks – we've all gotten a little too comfortable with those slow winter break mornings! ⏰
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Dates to Remember
January:
- 6th: Welcome Students Back to School!!
- 12th: D65 Committee of the Whole Meeting
- 14th: Founding Foster Family Meeting
- 15th: Willard TWI Community Meeting (In Person)
- 19th: No School - MLK Day
- 21st: Willard Spelling Bee
- 22nd: Willard TWI Community Meeting (Virtual)
- 26th: D65 Regular Board Meeting