WJHS Highlights

Dear WJHS Families,

For the second year in a row the Student Council Winter Dance was a hit! We are so proud of our student leaders who advocated for a dance or social event, came up with ideas and made it happen. For this year they were able to reflect on last year’s dance, and work to improve the event for 2024 based on feedback and experience. This process involves so many of the “must have” skills for entering college and the workforce in the 21st century: communication, collaboration, creativity, leadership, adaptability, decision making…and more! I’ve linked some photos of the event here if you’d like to check them out. Thank you to all of our adults who helped support the Student Council and students as they navigated their way through creating this special opportunity and helped make Paris Glows At Night so much fun!

I saw on the news this morning that it is now officially the warmest February on record and is supposed to be 70 degrees on Sunday - we hope you are able to get out, enjoy this amazing weather, and have a great weekend!

Warm regards, (pun intended!)

Kate, Eric and Nicole

Many of our SEL lessons in District 39 help students learn about themselves, their emotions, their families and their traditions as they also learn about others’ perspectives. This helps to create a community of belonging for all of our students at our schools and in our classrooms.

Learning about traditions that are the same as, and different from your own helps your child increase their understanding of the world around them. This month we have the opportunity to learn more about Ramadan, which begins the evening of March 10 and ends around April 9 with the holiday of Eid-al-Fitr. During this holiest and most important month for Muslims around the world, many practice fasting during daylight hours. Enjoy reading a book together about Ramadan to learn more! District 39 teachers are aware that many students will be celebrating Ramadan, and are prepared to make accommodations for students to be able to participate. Please make sure you reach out and let us know if your child is participating so that we can support them as needed.

As a reminder, this calendar provides dates and information on many celebratory dates for students and staff of District 39.

We have updated our WJHS Winter Clubs. We have linked the lists below:

7th grade clubs (period 5)

8th grade clubs (period 6)

*After school clubs are open to students in both grades.

As you can imagine, lunch boxes that are left behind at school, start to get pretty smelly after a couple of days! We hold off on throwing them away until the end of every month, but they do become pretty disgusting. If you believe your child has left behind a lunch bag/box/container at school, please come to WJHS as soon as possible to look through the lost and found. We cannot keep these after 30 days for the reasons outlined above. Thanks!

The safety of students is our top priority and we need your assistance when it comes to dropping off and picking up your children. Morning supervision begins at 7:55 AM and the doors open at 8:15 AM. Students have 10 minutes to get to their lockers and then homeroom once the front doors open. On days when there is inclement weather, students wait in the auditorium until 8:15.

We understand that dropping off or picking up your child from school can be hectic, in particular in the winter months when fewer children walk and ride bikes. The district creates maps and instructions for drop-off and pick-up. I am linking ours here. Families may use the front circle drive for drop-off and pick-up, and may also coordinate a safe place to drop off and pick up that is planned in advance. For example, many families drop off their children at the corner of Wilmette Ave. and Locust Rd. and then students walk the last couple of blocks to school. Whatever you decide, please do not allow your child to run across the middle of Locust Rd. We have a crosswalk directly in front of WJHS and the Mikaelian Education Center and ask that you please remind your child to use this crosswalk if they are dropped off on the west side of Locust, and to not run across the road in front of moving vehicles to try and get to the school. Thank you for your help.

8th grade students will take the Illinois Science Assessment during 7th and 8th periods on March 4 through March 6.

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. We are excited to offer one graduation ceremony this year for the entire 8th grade class, set to take place at 5:30 pm. Due to space in the gym, each student will be offered four tickets for family.

The PTO’s fund for Enrichment is called iGNITE. With parents’ donations, iGNITE pays for field trips, guest speakers/authors, sponsors the fall Battle of the Books and spring reading challenges and supports other enrichment activities. Thank you parents for donating to iGNITE!

PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

⭐Serve lunch at WJHS - sign Up HERE

⭐Liaison for Edukits (school supplies) - email president-elect@wjhspto.com

⭐Thank you to parent Joe McGann, who volunteered to be the Civics & Safety Rep this year!

8TH GRADE PARENTS

Save-The-Date! New Trier Parents Association is hosting a New Trier 101: Introduction for Incoming Freshmen Parents Tuesday 4/9 6:30-8:00pm at Cornog Auditorium (Northfield Campus). The Northfield Campus Principal and a group of experienced New Trier parents will share knowledge and tips on a variety of topics in a Q&A session.

The New Trier Parents Association (NTPA) is looking for parents of incoming freshmen (Class of 2028) to get involved during your students’ years at New Trier! There’s something to fit every schedule. Click HERE to learn more about how you can support your student’s high school experience.

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