Greetings Panther Families,
Monday starts Teacher Appreciation Week!! It's a special time to recognize and honor the hard work, dedication, and impact that teachers have on students' lives. Teaching is such a crucial profession, shaping future generations and inspiring lifelong learning. It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate educators and acknowledge them for their tireless efforts.
Here at WJHS, we are so fortunate to have the best around!!
Erin’s Law, House Bill 6193 was signed by Governor Pat Quinn on January 24, 2013. This law requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention curriculum for grades pre-K through 12.
Victor Pacini, a survivor of sexual abuse, author, and motivational speaker, will be assisting our schools in implementing this mandate. Mr. Pacini’s program is developmentally appropriate, interactive, and aligned with learning standards. The focus of his presentation is to teach children basic skills to keep them safe from dangerous or abusive situations. The concepts that will be discussed are:
• Distinguishing safe from unsafe touches
• Safety rules at home and school
• Saying “NO”
• Safe/Unsafe Secrets
• It’s not the child’s fault if someone touches them
• Telling a trusted adult
Mr. Pacini’s organization will be presenting at our schools. The dates for the student presentations at each building are May 6th.
Requests to Opt-Out: If you prefer that your child opt out of this prevention education session, please email aquattrone@cusd201.org
Want to continue the conversation at home? Here are some additional resources available to parents.
--
Graduation will be held in the high school auditorium on Thursday, May 23, at 7:00 pm.
- If you ordered and paid for a gown, your student will receive it at the first practice on 5/22.
- Your student will receive 5 tickets at the first practice on 5/22 if they have turned in all school materials. Be sure to secure these tickets when your student gets home as replacement tickets cannot be issued due to space constraints.
- If you have more than 5 guests, only 5 will be admitted to the high school auditorium, but additional guests may watch the live stream of the ceremony in the high school commons. The live-stream link will also be emailed to 8th-grade parents for out-of-town guests.
There will be 2 mandatory graduation practices for students on the following dates:
- Wednesday, May 22, 8:30 am - appx. 11:30 am
- Thursday, May 23, 8:30 am - appx. 11:30 am (8th-grade students will be dismissed from school for the day at the end of practice on 5/23)
💃🕺8th Grade Dance 🕺💃
The 8th Grade Dance Committee is hoping for some help with this year’s dance, which is scheduled for Friday, May 17th. Don’t worry; we’ve got the decorations and planning covered, but we could use some assistance with snacks!
While students are expected to eat dinner before the dance, we do provide light snacks and drinks. Please consider signing up to purchase and donate some of these items.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054AACA62BA0FE3-48585659-8thgrade
Items can be dropped off or shipped to:
Maren Graham
306 N. Grant Street
Westmont, IL 60559
Please make sure all items are delivered no later than Tuesday, May 7th.
The 8th-grade dance committee will meet at the school this upcoming Tuesday, May 7th @ 7 PM.
Please attend if you can.
Welcome to Summer Reading!
Summer reading is more than just a pastime; it's a gateway to adventure, imagination, and academic growth for middle schoolers. During those sunny months away from classrooms, diving into books keeps young minds active and engaged, preventing the notorious "summer slide" in learning. Beyond academics, reading fosters empathy, expands vocabulary, and enhances critical thinking skills. It opens doors to new worlds, cultures, and perspectives, nurturing a lifelong love for learning. So, whether it's escaping into a fantasy realm or exploring the depths of history, summer reading sets the stage for endless possibilities and a brighter academic future.
For the 2024-2025 school year, incoming 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students are asked to read one book over the summer and to provide evidence of their comprehension when they return to school in the fall.
I've included information on book choices and evidence below, along with options to read in three different languages: English, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
We are very happy to once again be offering many summer camps for all ages this June and July.
Student(s) who would like to participate should complete the required WHS Summer Camp registration form. Parents, you can sign up your children for multiple camps but will need to fill out a form for EACH one.
In addition, you will be asked which grade each student will be entering in the 2024-2025 school year - this will then direct you to a page where it will list all the camps being offered for that grade level.
If a camp is charging a fee, the check should be made payable to CUSD 201 at the first session of the camp. Please note that if a student's account is not current or paid in full, they may not be allowed to participate in a summer camp.
The List of Camps also includes the coach's email address where questions can be directed. Coaches will send out further information regarding their camps as we approach the summer.
The Westmont Park District has partnered together with the local nonprofit People’s Resource Center (PRC) so that proceeds from the race can benefit neighbors in need right here in our community. As a partner in the community, PRC helps to meet neighbors’ basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing assistance services. In addition, PRC provides job, computer, and literacy training programs and art empowerment classes to help neighbors in need here in DuPage County. You can learn more about People’s Resource Center here: http://www.peoplesrc.org.
Click on the photo for additional information and to register.
