THE WHOOT!

"Peace begins with a smile" is such a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the simplest things have the greatest impact. A smile can brighten someone’s day, ease tension, or open the door to a new connection. It’s a small gesture, but one that can make our world feel a little kinder and more peaceful—starting right here, with each of us. Here's another amazing (and peaceful) week in Willard-land!

The International Day of Peace has become a special day for us here at Willard, celebrated every year the week of September 21st. The theme this year was Creating a Culture of Peace, but for us, its carried even deeper meaning. We started this tradition in September 2022 after we lost one of our beloved Kindergarten students, Devin McGregor, to gun violence. Each year, we came together to honor him—celebrating not only his life but also our Peace Pillars and Peace Promises that keep his memory alive. Its a heartfelt reminder of why peace matters to our school family, and why we continue to work toward creating a safe and loving space for every one of our children.

It was truly beautiful to see our students, from the youngest to the oldest, standing together and chanting about peace, love, and kindness. Their voices carried a powerful message. It was a moment of pure joy and inspiration, one that reminded us all of the incredible love and strength within our Willard family.

Click here to see photos from our Peace Walk.

We're excited to invite you to Willard's Curriculum. Why Curriculum Night?

• Opportunities to participating in Q & As
• See firsthand what students are learning
• Deeper understanding of classroom expectations, routines, and procedures
• Experience and explore your child's learning environment
• Connect with other Willard families

We will have two sessions by classroom teachers for families with children in multiple grade levels. Additionally, we will have opportunities for you to connect with members of our Fine Arts Team, IES (Individualized Education Services) Team, and Student Service Providers. Please see the schedule below:

5:30-6:00 Classroom Teacher session or Specials & Related Service Teacher Session

6:05-6:35 Classroom Teacher session or Specials & Related Service Teacher Session

6:40-7:00 All school session with Ms. Battle (Auditorium)

Click here to see the rotation schedule for teachers and staff.

We’ve welcomed 46 new families to the PTA so far this year, and we’d love to keep growing our PTA community. Your involvement and support enables us to provide discretionary funds for teachers, community and cultural celebrations, and much more. Please consider joining today!

Join the Willard PTA
Register to be a Willard/D65 volunteer
Shop the Willard Spirit Wear Store

If you missed the most recent PTA Owl Notes, click here!

Looking ahead to fall, be sure to save the date for:

• Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Oct. 18
• Parents’ Night Out Fundraiser on Nov. 2.

Details to come!

In today’s learning environment, students may need access to the internet at home to complete school-related tasks assigned by teachers or to engage in e-learning in the event of a school closure day. We understand that not every family may have reliable internet access at home, and we are committed to ensuring that all students can fully participate in their education.

Affordable Internet Options for Families: If your family does not currently have access to the internet at home, we encourage you to explore the following affordable internet programs:

• Access from AT&T: Offers affordable internet access for eligible families.

• Xfinity Internet Essentials: Another option for eligible families to access discounted internet services.

• Internet First from Astound: Provides affordable internet access for eligible families.

We ask that you review these options to see if one meets your family’s needs. Each of these programs offers affordable solutions specifically for families in our community.

If You Encounter Barriers: If, for any reason, you are unable to access the internet through one of these programs, please reach out to us. We are here to help and will work with you to find an option that works best for your family. In many cases, we may be able to provide a district-issued hotspot to ensure your child can stay connected and engaged in their schoolwork.

Our goal is to make sure that every student has the tools they need to succeed, both in the classroom and at home. If you have any questions or need support, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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En las escuelas de hoy, los estudiantes pueden necesitar acceso a internet en casa para completar tareas escolares asignadas por los maestros o para participar en el aprendizaje virtual en caso de un día de cierre escolar. Entendemos que no todas las familias tienen acceso confiable a internet en casa, y estamos comprometidos a garantizar que todos los estudiantes puedan participar en su educación. Opciones de Internet Asequible para Familias:

Si su familia no tiene acceso a internet en casa, les recomendamos que exploren los siguientes programas de internet asequible:

• Acceso de AT&T: Ofrece acceso a internet asequible para familias elegibles.

• Internet Essentials de Xfinity: Otra opción para que las familias elegibles accedan a servicios de internet con descuento.

• Internet First de Astound: Proporciona acceso a internet asequible para familias elegibles.

Les pedimos que revisen estas opciones para ver si alguna de ellas satisface las necesidades de su familia. Cada uno de estos programas ofrece soluciones asequibles específicamente para las familias de nuestra comunidad.

Si Encuentra Obstáculos:
Si, por cualquier razón, no puede acceder a internet a través de uno de estos programas, comuníquese con nosotros. Estamos aquí para ayudar y trabajaremos con usted para encontrar una opción que funcione mejor para su familia. En muchos casos, podemos proporcionar un hotspot emitido por el distrito para asegurar que su hijo(a) pueda mantenerse conectado y comprometido con sus tareas escolares.

Nuestro objetivo es asegurarnos de que cada estudiante tenga las herramientas necesarias para tener éxito, tanto en el salón de clases como en casa. Si tiene alguna pregunta o necesita apoyo, no dude en ponerse en contacto con nosotros.

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

Young, Black & Lit is excited to kick off our Direct to Home Lit Year program for the 2024/2025 school year. Throughout the year, your student will receive 15 age appropriate books with Black main characters to help build their home libraries. This program is open to all K - 3rd grade students enrolled in Evanston/Skokie District 65, but it is subject to the first 300 sign-ups.

We do our best to provide a wide variety of books and encourage you to read the books with your children and discuss the themes in the books. If there are books your child does not connect with, we encourage you to donate them to families and/or organizations that can use them. We will try to provide a mix of books that your child can read independently and those that may require some extra help reading. Please select the age level of books you believe is most appropriate for your child's reading level.

Please Note:

• The Program is open to all D65 students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade on a first come-first served basis (up to 300 students).

• Participation is FREE.

• Books will be shipped directly to your home (3 mailings of 5 books) throughout the 2024-2025 school year.

• We can only ship to Evanston or Skokie mailing addresses. We CANNOT ship to PO Boxes.

• If you move during the school year or otherwise need to update your shipping address during the school year, please email us at info@youngblackandlit.org.

• If you have multiple children enrolled in D65, please complete a separate form for each child.

• Sign-up closes September 30, 2024.

Click HERE to sign up!

Willard Welcome Packet

• English
• Spanish

District 65 Back to School Guides

• English
• Spanish

September

• 26th: Curriculum Night 5:30-7:00 pm at Willard
• 27th: Kinder Crowning (details coming soon!)