The Wilmot Word

It’s the holiday season and once again District 109 is coming together to host our 109 Gives Back Holiday Gift Drive! This drive benefits local Deerfield families.

Sign up now to make someone’s holiday a little bit brighter! (Note: the list will continue to grow… so check back again in the next week or two as more things are added!). Check out this video form our Team Give students. QR codes will be available on snowflakes next week, in the Wilmot foyer.

Gifts can be dropped off at any 109 school or our district office between Monday, November 27th and Friday, December 8th.

• Please make sure gifts are not wrapped

• Please make sure gifts are labeled with the themed family name (example: Candy Cane family)

• If you are bringing gift cards, we ask that you bring them to the school’s front office.

• Gifts can also be shipped directly to Wilmot Elementary School at 795 Wilmot Road in Deerfield care of Eileen Brett.

If you need to make an alternate drop-off arrangement for a gift, please reach out to Eileen Brett at ebrett@dps109.org.

If you have any questions, please reach out to communications@dps109.org. Thank you for helping ensure that our neighbors have a wonderful holiday season!

The Wilmot Holiday Lights Fest is just around the corner on Friday, December 15th! We hope to showcase 10-15 houses with wonderful holiday decorations and light displays. On Friday, December 15th from 5-9pm, we ask those participating to keep the holiday house lights on outside your home. We'll provide students and their families a map of participating Wilmot homes at the Kick Off event hosted in the Wilmot GMA/small gym from 5-6pm on the same day.

Meet up with other families, create a driving plan, and enjoy a hot cocoa and baked goods sale by the 3rd graders from Team Give. Proceeds will be donated to a charity chosen by the 3rd grade Team Give members. To make things easier for our Wilmot families, any gifts for Operation Snowflake can also be dropped off at the Holiday Lights Fest.

If your family would like to be considered as a Holiday Lights Fest destination, please fill out this form no later than Friday, December 8th. We'll confirm your participation some time during the week of December 11th. Thanks for your interest and here's to a happy and healthy holiday season!

• For questions, please reach out to either of the Lights Festival co-chairs: For general Holiday Lights questions - Katie Witenko (773) 540-3887
• For Team Give questions - Margie Alpert (773) 677-1203

The cold temperatures and winter weather have arrived. Here is what you need to know regarding our winter weather expectations and procedures. Many factors are considered when we make a decision about inside or outside recess. These include the temperature and the windchill, as well as the conditions of our playgrounds and blacktop areas (e.g. snow, ice, or water). We will go outside if it is 20 degrees or higher and at or above 15 degrees with the windchill (assuming the playgrounds and blacktops are safe). The decision to go outside is often made right before recess, and therefore, students must come prepared to go outside each and every day. Please send students with the proper clothing (labeled with your child's name) including a coat, hat, gloves, boots, snow pants, etc. I encourage all students to have a change of clothes at school.

• 12/13 - Jersey Day (Pick a sport to showcase a jersey)
• 1/10 - Decades Day (Dress like a certain decade. Ex: 70’s Disco)
• 2/7 - Super Bowl Day (Support one of the teams)
• 2/14 - Valentine’s Day (Red, Pink and White/Hearts)
• 2/21 - Dress as a book character (e.g. Dress like Waldo or Harry Potter)
• 3/20 - March Madness Day (Wear a college basketball team shirt or colors)
• 4/17 - Crazy Hair Day (e.g. 4 ponytails, or a slicked-back hair)
• 5/15 - Beach Day (Beachwear -No bathing suits)

Special Spirit Days in December

• Monday, 12/18/23 - Pajama Day (Dress cozy to school)
• Tuesday, 12/19/23 - College Day ()Showcase your favorite school
• Wednesday, 12/20/23 - (Holiday or Winter Sweater (Clothing) Day (Wear something festive)

As we did last year, we will combine our grade level in-person music concert with an art share. Below are the dates for all music concerts and art share events. The Art Share will begin at 5:45 pm and the music concert will begin at 6:00 pm.

• 2nd grade - Thursday, January 18
• 5th grade - Tuesday, February 6
• 3rd grade - Wednesday, February 28
• 4th grade - Tuesday, March 19
• 1st grade - Thursday, April 4
• Kindergarten - Thursday, May 2

Click the link below to see our New PTO Newsletter. Learn about:

• Holiday Lights - December 15
• Holiday Shop for students (December 11-13)
• Order your yearbook
• PTO meeting dates - Next meeting is, Tuesday, November 12

The Deerfield Park District holds after-school enrichment programs in our school. The winter program brochure is now available if you click below. Resident registration begins on December 4th, while non-resident registration begins on December 6th. All questions should be directed to the park district (847-945-0650).

• Monday, December 11

• PTO meeting at 1:30

• Friday, December 15

• PTO holiday lights