We are starting with all of the fun fall things that happen each year at Willow. It lends itself to a lot of thematic fun and teaching. Apples are aplenty and pumpkins will soon follow. We also have classes preparing for their first field trips. It's important that permission slips are returned quickly so we have accurate counts for attending and the bus.

Our first round of STAR testing is complete and those reports should come home to you soon for 1st and 2nd grade. They are a snapshot of where your child is in reading (or early lit for some) and math. We look at these reports to help tailor instruction and determine if intervention is needed. The STAR will be given again midyear for some and at the end of the year for all Wildcats.

In the morning, we appreciate those of you who pull all the way down the drop off pad allowing other cars to fit in behind you. It's a much safer practice for all involved. Also a reminder that dogs should not be on school property when we are in session. Please share the above information if you have childcare or grandparents who drop off and may not know our procedures. Thanks for sharing with them. The school cannot accept lunches sent by any delivery service. As a parent, you can drop off a lunch, but we will not give students anything dropped off by a service like Uber Eats.

Don't forget that next Friday, October 6th, and the following Monday, October 9th, we are closed for Fall break. It's a great time to make sure their coats and boots are labeled and the backpack is emptied. Our lost and found is growing already! If your Wildcat is missing something, please stop by the office so you can go take a look.

We have a few extra mums for sale. They are mostly yellow and $10 each. Stop by the office if interested.

Have a fun weekend!

The Homewood Fire Department came to spend time with all of our classes. They learned more about being safe at home and school. This weekend is a good time to make sure your all of your family members know the safety and escape plan where you live. Your whole family can visit the Fire Department Open House on October 14th!

It's imperative that your Wildcat be in school. The years at Willow are where the foundational skills are developed. When he/she/they miss on a regular basis, the impact of those absences is long lasting. If you have a child with a documented illness, that is always taken into consideration.

A "truant" is defined, by the IL School Code, as a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause, as defined under this Section, from such attendance for more than 1% but less than 5% of the past 180 school days.

"Chronic or habitual truant" shall be defined as a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days. Students falling into this category will be referred to the Regional Office of Education as truant.

Please do not send your child with outside food in for breakfast. We appreciate you dropping them off by 7:45 each morning.

Last week's bulletin reached 504 people located in 11 US states and also Italy. Grazie!

Each year our Tech expert, Mrs. Gardner, creates an incredible yearbook for our school. Through October 31, the price is 10% off. You also get 2 pages in the book to personally customize.

If you've noticed anyone at Willow going above and beyond, please use the link to recognize him/her/them! 💖 I share your kind words with them in my staff bulletin.

https://forms.office.com/r/L4vYqd7NpN

H-F Park District:

Community Bonfire October 3: https://hfparks.com/community-bonfire-oct-3/

Community Bonfire October 17: https://hfparks.com/community-bonfire-oct-17/

Trick or Treat Trail October 28: https://hfparks.com/trick-or-treat-trail-oct-28/

Oct: Bullying Prevention month

Oct 2: School Custodian Appreciation Day

Oct 6: no school

Oct 9: Indigenous Peoples Day- no school

Oct 9-13: Fire Prevention Week

Oct 16-20: School Bus Safety Week

Oct 19: Picture Day

Oct 20: Institute Day- no school

Oct 27: PreK Fun Friday (no PreK classes) /World OT Day

Oct 31: Halloween- parade at 8:30- 11:40AM early dismissal

Nov: American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

Nov 5: Daylight Savings time ends

Nov 10: Veteran’s Day observed- 11:40 AM early dismissal

Nov 12: Diwali

Nov 11-18: Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week

Nov 13: World Kindness Day

Nov 13-17: School Psychologist Appreciation Week and American Education Week

Nov 16: Picture retakes

Nov 17: End of Trimester 1

Nov 15: Education Support Professionals Day

Nov 20-21: Parent/Teacher Conferences

Nov 22: no school

Nov 23-24: Thanksgiving/ Black Friday- no school

Dec 3: Day of People with Disabilities

Dec 7-15: Hanukkah begins at sundown

Dec 15: PreK Fun Friday (no PreK classes)

Dec 22: 11:40 AM early dismissal

Dec 23-Jan 7: Winter break