THE WHOOT!
August 14th, 2024
A Note From Your Principal: Week of Oct. 7th
As we step into a new week, I want to remind everyone of the power in the phrase, “Find a Way to Make It Happen.” Whether it’s trying something new, tackling something tough, or finding a moment of peace in a busy day—each of us has the ability to overcome and create positive change. Let’s approach the week ahead with open minds and hearts, encouraging one another and celebrating every small win along the way. Keep shining, keep striving, and remember, together we can make great things happen! Wishing you all wonderful week.
With love,
Ms. Battle
✨Learning in Action✨
Ms. Johnston's 4th Grade Class
Ms. Johnston’s class was truly learning in action this week as students dove into their Wit & Wisdom "Heart" unit by creating their own blood models! Using hands-on materials to represent blood cells, plasma, and more, students brought science to life in an exciting and interactive way. It was beautiful to see their minds fully engaged as they discussed what they were learning and made meaningful connections to the human body. The energy in the room was electric as students shared their creations and talked through the role each component plays—this is what joyful, engaged learning looks like at Willard!
Ms. Galicia's Kindergarten Class
Ms. Galicia’s kindergarten class embraced the Thinking Classrooms model during their math block this week, turning their classroom into a joyful space of exploration and problem-solving! Our youngest learners worked together in small groups, using whiteboards and manipulatives to tackle fun counting and sorting activities. It was amazing to see them confidently share their thinking, ask questions, and build on each other’s ideas. The room was buzzing with excitement as students supported one another and celebrated their discoveries. Seeing these budding mathematicians take such pride in their learning was a beautiful reminder of the power of collaboration, even in our littlest learners!
On the Horizon
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences are here this week, and we’re excited to welcome all families in for valuable conversations! This is an important time to connect, celebrate your child’s growth, and share strategies for continued success. Remember, you are the biggest advocate on your child’s team, and your voice matters. Feel free to ask questions!
Conferences will be held:
- Tuesday, Oct. 8th from 4-7 pm
- Wednesday, Oct. 9th from 4-6 pm
Looking forward to seeing you all!
Hispanic Heritage Night
We are excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our Willard community! Join us for a special event on Friday, October 18th from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM at Willard Elementary, hosted by the Willard PTA. We’ll have learning workshops highlighting different Hispanic countries, cultural activities, and opportunities for students and families to connect.
We are also collecting donations of traditional clothing and accessories from Spanish-speaking countries to build a “treasure chest” of dress-up items for our celebration. This is a wonderful opportunity to honor the vibrant cultures and histories of Latinx/Hispanic communities—hope to see you there!
Willard PTA
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
Save the Date & Book Your Sitters!
Willard Parents' Night Out Fundraiser
When: Sat., Nov. 2, 5:00-10:00 pm
Where: Fat Shallot, 2902 Central St.
Join your fellow Willard parents and caregivers for a night of delicious food and good company for a great cause! The Fat Shallot will donate ten percent of all food and drinks purchased to the Willard PTA/D65 One Fund, when you mention "Willard". We hope to see you there!
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¡Únete a otros padres y cuidadores de Willard para una noche de deliciosa comida y buena compañía por una gran causa! The Fat Shallot donará el diez por ciento de todas las comidas y bebidas compradas a la PTA de Willard/D65 One Fund, ¡cuando mencionen "Willard"! ¡Esperamos verte allí!
Owl Notes
If you missed the most recent PTA Owl Notes, click here!
On the Horizon: PTA Sponsored Events
Looking ahead to fall, be sure to save the date for:
- Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Oct. 18th
- PTA/Principal Community Meeting on Oct. 22
- Parents’ Night Out Fundraiser on Nov. 2nd
District Updates
Purchasing School Pictures
Dear parents,
School pictures are ready!
To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number. All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card.
More about the Smilesafe program here. Thank you!
Acceleration
In District 65 we are committed to helping all students reach their full potential and to provide opportunities that accelerate learning. Accelerated learning is available to all students; educators accelerate learning through grade-level differentiation, enrichment, and small group instruction. D65 also offers the possibility of alternate placement - which may grade skipping, single subject skipping or early entrance into grades K or 1st. You can find more information about acceleration HERE.
Acceleration Night is coming! All District 65 families with students in kindergarten through 7th grade are invited to join us to learn more about opportunities for acceleration, and about the process for consideration of grade-skipping. Meeting dates are; 10/23 @ 6:00 pm on Zoom
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Todas las escuelas- Mensaje para la comunidad
El el Distrito 65 estámos comprometidos a ayudar a que todos los estudiantes alcancen su máximo potencial y a proporcionar oportunidades que aceleren el aprendizaje. El aprendizaje acelerado está disponible para todos los estudiantes; los educadores aceleran el aprendizaje a través de la diferenciación en el nivel de grado, enriquecimiento e instrucción/enseñanza en grupos pequeños. El D65 también ofrece la posibilidad de ubicación alternativa - lo cual puede incluir saltarse un grado escolar, saltarse una materia/clase o ingresar de manera temprana al Kinder o al primer grado. Pueden encontrar más información acerca de la aceleración AQUÍ
¡La noche informativa acerca de la aceleración se acerca! Todas las familias del Distrito 65 que tengan estudiantes en kindergarten hasta 7mo grado están invitadas a acompañarnos para aprender más acerca de las oportunidades para la aceleración y acerca del proceso para considerar saltarse un grado escolar. Las reuniones son: el 23 de octubre a las 6:00 pm también en Zoom
Volunteer Process
Looking to volunteer at Willard? Click here for our district's volunteer process!
Useful Resources
Dates to Remember
October
- 8th/9th: Parent Teacher Conferences
- 11th: No School
- 14th: No School
- 18th: Hispanic Heritage Night
- 22nd: PTA/Principal Community Night