Principal McCoy's Owl's Nest
Volume 2: Issue 6 January 06, 2022
Principal McCoy's Message
Happy New Year Willard Families,
We hope that everyone had an amazing 2023 thus far & a relaxing or engaging Winter Break. As we prepare to return to learning we are excited for the things to come for the 2nd half of this school year. We look forward to continuing to grow & nurture our future leaders- our Willard Scholars in partnership with you.
During the first half of this school year we have already accomplished so much:
- Willard was identified as an Exemplary school on our Illinois Report Card (highest rating possible).
- We held a Peace March & Peace Circle
- We donated over 200 lunches to our community YMCA & YWCA.
- Our African American & LatinX Affinity Parent Groups launched.
- With the help of parents we launched & now are fully functioning our composting during lunch.
- We have Student Junior Coaches helping to lead our recess activities.
- We have held multiple successful family night events: Welcome Back Bash, LatinX Heritage, Conferences, and Curriculum Night, and several PTA Town halls.
- Our Green Team/ Climate Action Team planted over 7 new trees on our school grounds.
- Our parent Garden Team held classes in our outdoor classroom- garden.
As we prepare for the Second half of this school year, we have some amazing things planned & are excited to continue to build an atmosphere of community & inclusion & unity at Willard Elementary School.
Have a great weekend & we look seeing you all and our amazing Willard Owls on Tuesday, January 10th.
Principal McCoy
Willard Mission & Vision
Mission Statement:
Willard School educates and inspires our multi- and monolingual students to think and act critically with empathy, kindness, and curiosity. Each member of our community: staff, students, families, and caregivers - actively contributes to a caring, safe environment through both their words and actions. Our entire school community will take the steps needed to address and end all forms of racism, bias, bigotry, and bullying at Willard School. Our collective efforts will help our students feel connected, have access to high academic standards for all, and be able to grow to their full potential.
Student Assignment II Project (SAP: Phase 2)
The SAP Phase II Committee application is open and all District 65 community members; families are invited to apply.
Please review this letter for more information.
The application will close on January 20th.
YOUR VOICE IS ESSENTIAL! PROGRAMMING NEEDS & INTERESTS ARE A PART OF THE PLANNING, SO PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SURVEY LINKS OR AT UPCOMING SAP MEETINGS.
WALK 4 WARMTH
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration is open for the 2023-24 school year.
Please click here for details: https://www.district65.net/Page/2468.
Informational Meetings are held monthly.
District 65 Kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year opened on Monday, December 5, 2022. Families can register their incoming kindergarten students by visiting https://www.district65.net/kindergarten. Children must be five years old on or before September 1 to register for kindergarten and are assigned to an attendance-area school based on their residency address.
Rising 6th Grade Registration
Rising 6th grade registration will open after winter break, beginning on January 9th. Families will receive specific instructions from the Student Assignment Team regarding the process.
Details are coming soon.
Paper- Student Athlete Tutoring
This program is available for all student athletes in D65.
Please view this video for additional details
D65 Winter Sports
5th Grade Boys/ Non-Binary
- Practice: Friday 8:00am (Before school)
- Coach: Lauren Schultz
4th Grade Boys/ Non-Binary
- Practice: Monday/ Wednesday 3:50-4:50 pm
- Coach: Juwon Lane
4th & 5th Grade Girls/ Non-Binary
- Practice: Tuesday/ Thursday 3:45-4:45 pm
- Coach: Kelley Chong
Cheerleading: Coaching/ Practice details to come
Practices will take place in the gym. Students will come to the gym directly after school for afternoon practices. For morning practices, students should enter through the kindergarten door by the back playground.
Pick-up for afternoon practices will take place by the Kindergarten door as well.
D65 is participating in the Scripps Spelling Bee.
Who: 4th & 5th grade (Spanish & English)
Interested students will first compete in a classroom spelling bee, which will be held District-wide during the week of January 16, 2023.
The winners of the classroom competitions will participate in a school-wide spelling bee during the week of January 30. The winners from each school will then participate in a District 65 spelling bee, scheduled for early February.
The District champion will receive a sponsored trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in late May or a sponsored trip to the Spanish National Spelling Bee in summer 2023.
Paper copies of the Spelling Bee word list have been sent home & are available below.
Families can access information, resources and book titles that boost vocabulary on Scripps National Spelling Bee website’s “Parents” tab
Find quiz and study tools for different word lists on the free Word Club app
Please see resources below:
Great Words Great Works Book List
Spelling Bee Informational Letter
Willard Before & After School Care
Yes, we will. Families will have a few options:
- D65 School Aged Childcare offers before & after school care options: Please click here for details
- Right at School: is an alternative after school program option for families as well that has additional electives available throughout the school year. Scholarships are available for after school electives.
School Aged Child Care also offers half day options for families who are interested.
PANORAMA SURVEY
The Panorama Student Supports Survey for grades 3-8 will take place between January 10th-February 3rd.
Surveys are for 3rd-8th grade this year (Change from previous years when it was just 5th-8th grade)
Surveys are not REQUIRED but highly encouraged.
Surveys are anonymous and data is viewed at a school or grade-level, not at the individual school level.
The survey content will ask students to self-reflect on Teacher-Student Relationships, Sense of Belonging, Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, and Wellness and SEL.
We are asking that all of our students participate in the surveys, as their responses will provide invaluable insights into their experiences and how we can improve and adapt our district to their needs. If a student doesn’t feel like they have enough information to answer a question, they will be able to skip the item altogether. The responses to these surveys will be completely confidential. We are partnering with a third-party vendor to support us in administering these surveys.
Letters will be sent out this week to all 3-5th grade families with additional details this upcoming week.
Family Communication: Letter/Email in both English and Spanish, notifying families of the Panorama Survey and providing the option to "opt-out" if they do not want their student to participate.
ACCESS TESTING
Access is a state required assessment, therefore there is no opt-out form.
WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR CHILD IS DOING ON THEIR SCHOOL ISSUED DEVICE?
Securely Home
PLEASE NOTE WE USE SECURELY TO MONITOR SAFETY & ALERTS. IF WE RECEIVE AN ALERT FOR SELF-HARM WE WILL CALL YOU REGARDLESS THE TIME TO MAKE YOU AWARE & TO ENSURE YOUR CHILD'S SAFETY.
Please note that Securly Home only allows for monitoring of student activity on district-issued devices. Use of Securly Home by parents/guardians is optional, and district oversight, as well as student technology protections, remain in place on all district devices.
Please see the attached link for more information.
COVID-19 Updates:
Numbers are on the rise, please do not send your child to school if they are ill.
Please take a moment to thoroughly read our District 65 Covid-19 Health Guidance. Below are a few highlights.
Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must continue to isolate for 5 days. If your child tests positive, please notify the school.
Contract tracing is no longer recommended for COVID-19. Families will be notified if there is a positive case in their child’s class, bus or activity. However, close contact notices will no longer be communicated.
SHIELD TESTING IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE DUE TO LOW TURN OUT.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE TAKE HOME KITS BY REQUEST.
Dressing for the Weather
Communication Outlets:
OWL NEST:
WHOOT THERE IT IS:
Quick update- week at a glance. 2nd through fourth/fifth Fridays.
Upcoming Events
School Improvement Day:
- No School
- January 9th
Access Testing Window Begins
- January 10th - February 10th
Panorama Survey Window Begins:
- Grades 3-5
- January 10th - February 3rd
MLK Day:
- No School
- Monday, January 16th
Kindergarten Registration Orientation:
- January 18th
- 7:00 pm (VIRTUAL)
Black Affinity Group Gathering
- Friday, January 20th
- 6:30-8:30 pm
- Fleetwood- Jourdain Community Center
Winterfest
- Friday, January 27th
- 5:30-7:00 pm
PTA Town hall
- Tuesday, January 31st
- 6-7pm