What's Up Willowbrook

During the week of December 9, students in grade 3 and grade 5 will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). CogAT is one component of District 30's comprehensive assessment plan.

CogAT measures general and specific cognitive abilities, such as a student’s reasoning and problem-solving ability. It is a multilevel battery assessment that provides information in three domains: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal.

Each domain requires approximately 45-60 minutes to administer. In addition, a practice test will be administered before the actual testing session.

Student results will be provided to staff and families in mid to late February.

• PTO Ice Cream Day

Wednesday, December 18

• PTO Special Lunch - Panera

Friday, December 20

• District Winter Sing - Maple School (9:45-10:30 a.m)

Monday, December 23 - Friday, January 3

• Holiday Break - No School

Monday, January 6

• School resumes

Thank you to our Willowbrook PTO and volunteers who helped make this morning's Spirit Wear Breakfast a success! The event drew a full house in the MPR and students also banners in advance of National Thank-You Note Day that is Dec. 26. Today they presented a banner to thank District 30 staff and each day forward will present thank-you banners to the Glenview Police & Fire Departments, Northfield Township Food Pantry, Glenview Public Library & the North Suburban YMCA. Keep up the kindness, Wildcats!

A charter is a working document that is never set in stone. This month as part of our RULER School-Home Connection, we are revisiting our charters to evaluate and revise our ever-changing needs.

We will also be looking at our charters through a lens of empathy to ensure students feel a sense of belonging in our classrooms and brainstorm ways for how we can help everyone in our community feel safe, regardless of differences.

NEXT WEEK: Find out what your child is learning at school about empathy.

DEC. 20: Learn how to discuss your child's charter revisions at school and home and how to use empathy in your household

Winter is finally upon us! As a friendly reminder, please send your child(ren) to school each day with the proper outdoor clothing. Recess is held outside when the wind chill is 13 F and above. Children need to be wearing a winter jacket, hat, gloves, boots, and snow pants to be allowed to play in the snow. Remember to label your children’s clothing as well!

The Special Lunch Committee wants to thank the following volunteers for helping to serve Special Lunch on November 20: Josh Lemeshow, Veronica Kede, Kevin Xu & Stefanie Wolfson.

Please take a look at our lost & found in the foyer by the front office. It is overflowing with jackets and sweatshirts. We will be donating whatever if left at winter break so please come take a look!

A pair of apple AirPods Pro were turned into the front office. If you child is missing them please have them come to the front desk.

The Maple World Language Teachers are excited to be visiting the 5th grade classrooms on the following dates:

• Wescott on Tuesday, January 14 from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
• Willowbrook on Thursday, January 16 from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Mini-lessons and presentations will be given about the French and Mandarin classes offered at Maple. Promo videos of Spanish, French and Mandarin will be presented and program questions will also be answered during this time.

The World Language Choice Form will be pushed out to parents electronically via email on Friday, January 17 for both elementary schools. The deadline for the language selection is Friday, January 24.

It’s hard to believe we’ve reached that time of year when all District 30 students come together for the Winter Sing! You should have received instructions on how to complete the electronic permission slip form for this event. Please contact the front desk if you have any questions.

On the same day, we will also be having fun at our holiday room parties, hosted by our wonderful PTO room parents. After the parties, the entire school will gather for our annual Willowbrook Sing, a lively sing-along for students and staff.

This year, to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone, we are kindly inviting only our room parents to join us in the gym for the sing-along, in order to manage the space more effectively.

Wishing you warmth, joy, and a wonderful winter season ahead!

Get ready to embark on a global journey right here in District 30! The District 30 PTOs are thrilled to invite you to our Multicultural Night on January 31 from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. at Maple School!

Multicultural Night is not just an event; it's a celebration of the rich tapestry of families that make up our vibrant community. We encourage you to be a part of this special evening by hosting a table and showcasing the unique beauty of your chosen country or culture.

Why host a table? It provides platform to share the wonders of your culture. Set up your space with engaging activities, and treat attendees to delicious ethnic snacks that represent the essence of your heritage. Consider creating eye-catching posters or trifold displays filled with fun facts about your country.

Multicultural Night serves as a window into the diverse cultures within our community, allowing students to explore and appreciate the richness that surrounds them. It's also a fantastic opportunity for families of different backgrounds to proudly showcase their heritage.

How to participate: Ready to create a memorable table with your friends? Sign up now by clicking the button below. For any questions or assistance, feel free to contact the committee chair at amandadae@gmail.com.

Let's come together, celebrate diversity, and make Multicultural Night an unforgettable experience for our District 30 family!

How to Participate: Ready to create a memorable table with your friends? Sign Up now by clicking here or the button below. For any questions or assistance, feel free to contact committee chair Sana Chaudry at s.r.chaudry@gmail.com.

Want to share your family’s culture through a student performance? Sign up your student to perform at Multicultural Night and share cultural traditions through:

• Traditional and modern dance performances

• Musical presentations (vocal or instrumental)

• Cultural demonstrations

• And more!

This enriching evening offers your children a unique opportunity to explore and celebrate the magnificent tapestry of cultures within our school community through student performances.

Ready to showcase your culture? Register your performance today! Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

Popsicle Party Challenge: This challenge returns with a friendly contest between the three schools of Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 – Wescott, Willowbrook and Maple – to see which school has the most students register for the race. The winning school will win a popsicle party for all students in May! Will Willowbrook take the title again this yearr? Game on!

We are still in need of volunteers for lunch December 11, 16, and 19. Thank you!!

Quest Food Management Services offers a preorder system via myMealOrder

• The meal will consist of an entree, side, fresh fruit, and vegetable, including milk or water.
• All orders must be placed at least three days in advance.

Visit mymealorder.com to open an account, learn more about our preorder system, and view the menu. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ashley Jenkins, Food Service Director for Quest at ajenkins@questfms.com.

Want to know what's going on around the community? District 30 uses a "Virtual Backpack" to share community information while saving paper, costs, and lightening the loads our students bring home. Please click the button below to view upcoming Community Events.

Any time a student feels unsafe, any adult in their school can help!

But sometimes, students or parents wish to reach out for help in a different way or after school hours. Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe way to share information 24/7 that might help prevent any threat to school safety, including bullying, self-harm or other serious concerns.

The goal of this program is to get students to “seek help before harm;" it is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish. Safe2Help Illinois also offers a Mental Health Toolkit that provides resources for parents and educators reinforce the components of this program.

Safe2Help Illinois offers around-the-clock help via:

• Hotline: 844-4-SAFEIL
• Text line: 72332
• Email HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com
• Plus a website full of resources for young people seeking help for themselves or a friend. Its Ways To Get Help page is a directory of specialized hotlines, and other sections of its website provide practical steps for dealing with depression or helping a distraught friend. The checklist called "20 Questions To Ask Yourself If You Feel Like Giving Up" can help older children overcome a bout of anxiety or depression.

Willowbrook School is part of Northbrook/Glenview District 30, which exists to create an inclusive community that inspires learning, fosters resiliency, and cares deeply for every child. We honor childhood and foster intellectual, physical and social-emotional growth. District 30 serves more than 1,200 students in pre-K through 8th grade across Willowbrook, Wescott and Maple Schools.

We prohibit harassment and discrimination of all forms within our district and follows all policies and procedures to ensure a safe environment for all.

Main Office: 847-498-1090

Health Office: 847-400-8860

Location: 2500 Happy Hollow Road, Glenview, IL, USA

Website: district.30.org/willowbrook

Facebook: facebook.com/ngsd

Twitter: @district30