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Hello Willard Families!
In the spirit of transparency and honesty, I waited to send out this parent newsletter because I have been digging deep in what to say as we prepare for the night ahead. Principal Battle and I recognize and want to name how difficult tonight could be for our families, staff, community, and, at the end of the day, our students.
The decision around closing schools has been a conversation that we have been a part of for quite some time now, and yet, it doesn't make it any easier.
Embracing Our Peace Pillars
Amidst the anticipation, I want to remind us that we believe in PEACE.
As you know, we teach our students about the Peace Pillars—the idea of Speaking Peace, Feeling Peace, Making Peace, and Knowing Peace! I encourage all of us to practice and model these Peace Pillars as we attend or watch the Board Meeting tonight.
Speak Peace: Speak your truth, but also Ask, Listen, and Think.
Feel Peace: Remember to Breathe, be brave, and be joyful.
Make Peace: Be an Ally and Accept and Welcome Differences.
Know Peace: Value Connections with Others and Be Resilient and Persevere.
WE ARE WILLARD!
No matter what happens or what is spoken tonight, WE ARE WILLARD! We are a community that grows together, strengthens each other, and supports one another through this entire rollercoaster. I want to encourage us to keep our neighbors and surrounding communities in mind as we engage tonight as well; they also represent our district and will become our scholars' friends down the road!
Here is to tonight and to us still showing up tomorrow as the same, loving, supportive, mindful community.
With Love,
AP Ernvall
We want to send a huge thank you to all the wonderful families who joined us for our Family Literacy Night on Friday! Seeing so many of you attend was truly incredible, and the energy you brought made the evening absolutely amazing!
It was such a pleasure to have you engaged and interacting with Camp Willard! We heard such wonderful feedback from many of you about the fun activities, especially the packed Read Aloud sessions in the Library. Your enthusiasm is a true reminder of the vibrant, supportive community we have here at Willard. We are so grateful for your commitment to literacy and for making this event such a success!
Congrats to the following students who are our WINNERS from the Guessing Grove:
- Luna Marinez
- Jackson Beechum
- JJ Larson
For those who couldn't attend, we missed you! We hope to welcome you to another one of our marvelous community events sometime soon.
🎨 Get Creative with the Willard Art Club! 🖌️
The Willard Art Club is in full swing, and our young artists are having a blast exploring their creativity! Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening and what families need to know:
🗓️ Session Dates & Future Fun
Current Session: Our Fall/Winter session is running now and will keep the paint flowing until February 18th!
Next Up: Keep an eye out! The Spring session will likely kick off in mid-March!
Enrollment Note: We are currently full for the Fall/Winter session. But don't worry—if your budding artist couldn't join this time, please be sure to check back for our Spring session enrollment!
⏰ When and Where the Magic Happens
The club meets every Wednesday from 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM!
3rd Grade: Creating masterpieces in the Art Room with Mr. Bush.
4th/5th Grade: Getting imaginative in the Library OR a classroom with Ms. Lopez and Ms. Johnston (4th Grade Teacher).
🚪 Important Pickup Reminder for Parents
Please be ready to pick up your artists promptly at 5:00 PM!
Pick-up Location: All students will exit through Door 3 (the entrance/exit near the library).
After-School Programs: Students enrolled in Right At School or SACC will be safely taken to their respective programs by one of the Art Club leads.
Walkers: Students with permission to walk home will also exit through Door 3.
We can't wait to see all the incredible art they create this season!
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🔺 Click the image above for more information! 🔺
🍴 Additional Resources - Food Deliver if Needed! 🍴
If your family is experiencing food insecurity or needs help accessing meals, local resources are available. Here’s where you can find support, including free groceries and essential goods, in the community: Food Resources Handout.
As we are pushing out resources, we understand that for some families, attending our community food event in person can be a challenge! If your family is afraid or unable to leave your home to participate, we want to ensure you still have access to the food. All are welcome to the event itself!
Home Delivery is Available
A partnering organization is building a group of trusted, volunteer drivers to deliver food directly to the homes of families who need it most.
Family Requests: If you need to request home delivery for the first time, please fill out the following form to receive the support needed.
Thank you for helping us support every family in our community!
📸 ATTN: Picture Retakes! 📸
Smile Big! Smile Bright! 🌟
Picture retakes have been rescheduled for November 18th! Retake forms can be picked up in the main office! Please have your scholar inform their teacher if they plan to retake their photo on this day!
⛄ Snow, SNoW, and More SnOw... ⛄
❄️ School Closing Reminders and Our Outdoors Commitment
As we head into the snowy winter season, we want to share important information about how we communicate unexpected school closings.
Plan for School to be Open: Please always assume school is in session unless you receive an official closing notification from the district. We promise to give you as much notice as we possibly can!
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❄️ Keeping Our Students Warm and Playing Outside
This is also a friendly reminder that we are an outdoors school! We absolutely love to be outside whenever possible, even in the cold and snow.
To make sure your child is comfortable and ready to enjoy our outdoor play they will need the appropriate winter gear. This includes warm boots, hats, gloves/mittens, and snow pants.
If you need support in getting any of this necessary winter gear, PLEASE let us know! Your child's comfort and ability to participate are our top priorities.
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❄️ How We'll Notify You of a Closing
In the event of an unscheduled school closing, District 65 will use the following channels to notify all families:
Automated phone call, email, and text message
- District 65 Website
- Local news, television, and radio stations
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❄️ Action Item: Check Your Contact Info!
To ensure you receive these critical notifications, please make sure your contact information in PowerSchool is up-to-date.
Need to update your phone number or email address? Please email registrationinfo@district65.net or call us at 847-859-8065.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep all students safe and ready for learning, inside and out!
🚨 Owl Notes Access from 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
November:
- 17th: D65 Board Meeting
- 18th: Picture Retakes
- 24th: Fall Break Begins!
December:
- 1st: School is back in Session!