![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/blossom-14.26b0d9e5.jpg)
WJHS Highlights
05/24/2024
A Message from the Administrative Team
Dear WJHS Families,
School has been super busy and so I've included some photos below about what has been happening. Please enjoy! Also - please read the PTO Highlights section of the newsletter for very important information!
As a reminder, the last week of school:
Eighth Grade Students Only:
Friday, May 31: Team Day; 8th grade graduation party
Monday, June 3: Great America
Tuesday June 4: Graduation practice; iPad return and locker clean-out
Wednesday, June 5: AM Graduation Practice, Yearbooks, 11:20 Dismissal for 8th grade only
This is the last day of school for 8th grade only. Graduation at 5:30 pm. Please see the 8th grade section below for more information.
The schedule for the last week of school for seventh graders is:
Monday - Tuesday: regularly scheduled day;
Wednesday: regularly scheduled day; team day
Thursday: Yearbooks, 11:20 dismissal
On this Memorial Day weekend, please take a moment to think about and remember those who lost their lives in service to our country. We will see your child back at school on Tuesday, for a little less than two weeks of school left!
Take care,
Kate, Eric and Nicole
Congratulations on a Great Track Season!
Three of our students, Carter and Maxwell (grade 7) and Nico (grade 8) competed at state track!
New Trier Students Build Living Lab for WJHS
Thank you Ed Foundation for a Great STEAM in the Real World Assembly!
STEAM in the Real World aims to enrich and teach students about different careers in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. This program reinforces the concept that math matters in everyday life.
Thank you to our speakers!
- Dr. Frank Petriello, Professor of physics at Northwestern University & staff scientist at Argonne National Laboratory
- Bradley Davey, PhD Candidate, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University
Silent co-presenter Reed Stevens, Learning Sciences Professor at Northwestern, graduate advisor to Bradley Davey, Founder and PI, FUSE Studios
- Paige Loczi, Interior Designer, Founder + Principal, LOCZI design)
Thank you to our D39 Education Foundation and Mrs. Zorger for organizing such a great experience for students!
Board of Education Recognition
Students who participated in Science Olympiad and those who earned awards for the French Exam and Latin Exam, were recognized at the D39 Board of Education Meeting on Monday night. Congratulations students and thank you to Ms. Madden, Mr. Nelson, and Mrs. Shoemaker for their leadership!
Student Council Staff vs. Student Volleyball Match + Fun!
The Student Council raised over $300 for "Action Against Hunger" by allowing students to donate money for specific staff members to get "pied"! Mr. Nelson, Mr. Rennels, Ms. Gianni, and Mr. Resis were the big winners!
A huge thank you to our Student Council and their amazing advisors for all that they do to support student voice and leadership, and to our PTO who sponsors the Student Council!
Reflections Celebration
We honored our retirees and milestone staff members this week! Congratulations to our staff members who are retiring: Dinah Barthelmess (June), Randy Ellison and Sophia Theodoropoulos (December).
NY Times 15-Second Vocabulary Video Challenge
The following students' 15-second vocabulary videos were honorably mentioned by The New York Times in their 11th-annual contest:
vainglorious by Grace Leaker, 13, and Ariel Vukas, 13, Wilmette Junior High School, Wilmette, Ill.
yawp by Riley Bertocchi, 14, and Katelyn Andrus, 14, Wilmette Junior High School, Wilmette, Ill.
Library Due Dates
Below are important library dates for the end of the year:
- May 17 - Last day that students may check out a book
- May 24 – All students and staff books are due
- Math teachers: Students may keep textbooks until May 29
- June 5 - Equipment that has been checked out from the LC is due
We will continue to distribute overdue notices on a weekly basis. Please allow students time during homeroom to go to their lockers and/or the LC to return the books. Thank you to everyone for your help!
Lost & Found
As you can imagine, the lunch bags/containers that are left at school start to become pretty disgusting and we will be discarding them before the 3-day weekend. If you think your child has left behind a lunch container and you want to come claim it, please stop by next week.
All other lost and found will be donated at the end of the school year. Please encourage your child to check it out at lunch. Parents also can come look through the lost & found for that sweatshirt that your child can't seem to find anywhere, or the hat that your student keeps telling you they lost. It might be here in the WJHS cafeteria lost and found!
Tech Tidbit
As we near the end of the 2023-2024 school year, please mark your calendars for iPad Collection Day. This year iPad collection day will take place on the following dates:
Tuesday, June 4th for all 8th-graders (during Homeroom)
Wednesday, June 5th for all 7th-graders (during Homeroom)
7th-graders will be returning the iPad and case only. They should come to school ready to return their device during homeroom on June 5th.
8th-graders will return their iPad, charging cord, brick, and case. Students should come prepared to return their device and accessories on June 4th. Click here for information on how to prepare the device for return.
If you have any questions, email Support@wilmette39.org
8th Grade Families: Upcoming Events
Monday, June 3: 8th grade field trip to Great America.
8th grade graduation will take place on Wednesday, June 5 at 5:30pm in the new Winnetka Main Gym, at the Winnetka Campus of New Trier High School on Wednesday, June 5, 2023. Please find the most recent information sent home HERE.
The New Trier incoming/new student web page is something to bookmark! Important information is now posted regarding registration and upcoming events. Click HERE to access.
May SEL
As we enter into the final weeks of the school year, students can feel a mixture of emotions. They are gearing up for summer and a less-structured time away from school, and they are facing the reality of saying goodbye to their friends and teachers for the summer, and maybe even longer as they transition to a new building. This can mean challenges at home as students think about the transition ahead.
In the coming weeks, as you gather around the dinner table, or even on a walk or car ride, we have suggested a couple of activities that you can try with your child(ren) to help them express these end-of-year feelings with a focus on gratitude and looking forward to new and exciting things. Check them out and enjoy!
Gratitude and Memories: Have your child create a Top 5 or Top 10 list of best memories from the school year. You can write these down or just ask your child to share them with you. Ask your child why that stood out to them, and why they are thankful for having had that experience. It will help them process their feelings about that experience, and will also spur some great conversations about what they might hope for in the coming year.
Letter to My Future Self: Invite your child to create a letter or a drawing that they would share with themselves a year from now and include what they want to remember from this school year, and lessons they have learned, and one wish for themselves for the coming year or summer. As this can be difficult for younger children, they could draw three things: their favorite memory, something they learned this year, and a wish/goal for themselves in the next grade or in the summer. After completing the letter/drawing, put it in an envelope and put it on the fridge with an open date for a year later. You can open it up and see if the lessons and memories were still there, and if the wish came true!
PTO Highlights
🎓8TH GRADE GRADUATION PARTY 5/31 7:00-9:30PM 🎓
The 8th Grade Graduation Party will be Friday, May 31st from 7:00-9:30pm, at WJHS. This festive party is provided by the WJHS PTO for graduating 8th graders and will include Dancing❗Inflatables❗Games❗Photo Booth❗Refreshments❗
PLEASE NOTE: No cell phones allowed, per school policy. If phones are brought they will be locked at the door and returned at the end of the evening.
We want to make sure our 8th graders feel the love as they say goodbye to WJHS! Many hands are needed to make sure things run smoothly. Can YOU help us decorate or hand out snacks at their party? Partial availability is fine with us! Click HERE to view the SignUp Genius. 7th and 8th grade parents welcome to volunteer. THANK YOU!
✏️7TH GRADE PARENTS: TIME TO BUY YOUR EDUKIT FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR ✏️
ALL of your student’s school supplies in ONE BOX! No running around, going to multiple stores! Save time and money by purchasing an EduKit school supply box and IT WILL BE WAITING FOR THEM IN THE CLASSROOM ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. Order today by clicking HERE!
THE WJHS PTO DOES NOT BUY EXTRA KITS! Due to shipment concerns, there will be a “Last Chance” sale during the summer. JUNE 30TH is the last day to order! PLEASE NOTE school supply kits are separate from the instructional materials fee paid during registration. Questions? Contact president-elect@wjhspto.com.
YEARBOOK DISTRIBUTION
Yearbooks will be handed out on the last day of school for each grade. 8th graders will get their yearbooks on Wednesday, June 5th. 7th graders will get their yearbooks on Thursday, June 6th. If you want to double check that you ordered a yearbook, search your email for a confirmation from yearbookordercenter@herffjones.com. Orders were due 4/20 however there are a handful of extra copies. If you would like to receive one, you need to immediately email yearbook@wjhspto.com to check availability and receive payment instructions.
🎓8TH GRADE GRADUATION YARD SIGNS 🎓
The WJHS PTO is providing a complimentary yard sign for your graduating 8th grader! You can pick up your FREE sign at 728 Romona Road (it’s the house with the BLUE door- look on the front porch!) Stop by at your convenience. ONE SIGN PER GRADUATE PLEASE. Congratulations to all our 8th graders from the WJHS PTO!
📣WJHS & NEW TRIER SPIRITWEAR 📣
Looking for a great gift for your graduating 8th grader? Get them ready for New Trier High School with a “Class of 2028” sweatshirt! Details HERE. humanKIND is a locally mom-owned company that we’ve partnered with to sell WJHS spiritwear. Items are fully customizable with an option to ship OR pick up locally. Click HERE for options.
2 SPOTS LEFT FOR LUNCH DUTY - VOLUNTEER TODAY
Spend 1 hour of your time to serve food to students in the lunch line on either Wednesday 5/29 or Monday 6/3. The lunchroom staff really appreciates our help! Sign up HERE
District News
Board of Education Meeting
The Board of Education held its regular monthly business meeting last Monday. The Board was presented with the final report from the Community Review Committee (CRC) titled “Harnessing the Power of Free Play to Advance Educational Outcomes” and also reviewed updated CRC bylaws. The Board also reviewed the annual Student/Staff Planning Report for the 2024-25 academic year and approved transportation contract renewals for both regular and special education. Additionally, the Board approved several outstanding faculty and staff candidates for the 2024-25 academic year, including Jeffrey Batt and Robert Miller as new Grade Level Administrators at Wilmette Junior High School. Agendas and materials for all Board of Education meetings are available online.
Parent Education Event - Supporting School Transitions
As families begin to prepare for the conclusion of the 2023-24 school year AND look ahead to the 2024-25 school year, I encourage those who have students making school transitions this coming Fall to check out our most recent Parent Education recording titled “Supporting School Transitions.” This presentation provides an overview of the many ways in which our schools partner to support student and family transitions between schools. Whether you have a child moving from EC-K, 4th-5th, 6th-7th, or 8th to high school, this is a “must-watch” for any family! Please visit our D39 Parent Education website to find archived recordings of our wonderful and informative Parent Education events.
Upcoming Important Dates
Please keep in mind these important upcoming dates. Refer to your school principal’s newsletter for other important year-end happenings within our buildings.
Monday, May 27 – NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
Wednesday June 5 – Last Day of Regular Attendance for Lechner Early Education Program
Thursday, June 6 – Last Day of School for K-8 (early release day); Park Day for LEEP Students
Wilmette Junior High School
Email: office-wjhs@wilmette39.org
Website: http://wjhs.wilmette39.org/
Location: 620 Locust Rd, Wilmette, IL, USA
Phone: 847-512-6600
Instagram: @hawkwolf39
Twitter: @hawkwolf39
Principal at Wilmette Junior High School; love being an educator and working with young people; value spending time with friends and family