WJHS Highlights

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!

1. 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.

2. 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!

ATTENTION 7TH GRADE PARENTS: BUY YOUR 2024/2025 SCHOOL SUPPLY KIT NOW

It’s time to order your school supplies for next year! Make life easy on yourself, instead of running all over town to get that one red folder. We’ve partnered with EduKit to offer everything your 8TH GRADER will need in one school supply kit that will be waiting in your child’s classroom the first day of school! SALES WILL END FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2024. Order today by clicking HERE!

All D39 schools (K-8) use EduKits for school supply kits, and all D39 school kits can be purchased in a single transaction by searching your other D39 school before checking out! Your EduKit purchase also helps support the WJHS PTO. Thank you! PLEASE NOTE school supply kits are separate from the instructional materials fee paid during registration.

THE WJHS PTO DOES NOT BUY EXTRA KITS!

JUNE 30TH is the last day to order a school supply kit!

Questions? Contact president-elect@wjhspto.com.

LAST CALL FOR LUNCH VOLUNTEERS

There are only 6 more slots open to volunteer for lunch duty from now until the end of the school year. Get them before they are gone! It’s a one hour commitment to help serve lunch. Thanks for your help! Sign up HERE

8TH GRADE GRADUATION PARTY - 5/31 7:00-9:30PM

Each year the PTO sends off the graduating 8th graders with a festive party to celebrate all their years in D39! This year’s party will be on a FRIDAY NIGHT, May 31st from 7:00-9:30pm. More information to come about this inside-only fun party!

Board of Education Meeting

The Board of Education will gather on Monday, May 20 at 7 pm at the Mikaelian Education Center for its monthly business meeting. During this meeting, the Community Review Committee (CRC) will present its final report titled “Harnessing the Power of Free Play to Advance Educational Outcomes” and share updated committee bylaws to the Board for review. The Board will also be presented with a student and staff planning report for the 2024-25 academic year and is expected to approve transportation contract renewals for both regular and special education. Additionally, the Board is expected to approve several fantastic new District 39 employees, including two Grade Level Administrators (GLAds) for Wilmette Junior High School. Agendas and materials for all Board of Education meetings will be posted online the Friday prior to the meeting.

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 want to 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 was a wonderful 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! A recording of this presentation is now available. Please visit our D39 Parent Education website to find archived recordings of our wonderful and informative Parent Education events.