page background
page background

WJHS Highlights

10/02/2024

WJHS Highlights10/02/2024

A Message from the Administrative Team

Dear WJHS Families,

Beginning October 7 and running through October 18, students in grades 5-8 will be participating in the Panorama MESH (Mindsets, Essential Skills and Habits) assessment of social-emotional competencies and school environment. The MESH is comprised of a series of questions that cover the areas of Self-Management, Social Awareness, and Emotion Regulation. It also looks at Supportive Relationships at school, School Safety, Sense of Belonging, and Valuing of School.


This assessment aligns with the SEL competencies taught using our Wayfinder curricular materials, and results from the assessments are used to help us as we continue to gauge the effectiveness of our social-emotional supports and programming in the district. For more information about the social-emotional objectives at your child’s grade level, and other general information about SEL in District 39, please visit the D39 Social Emotional Learning Website.


For our families celebrating Rosh Hashanah, we wish you a Happy New Year!


We will see your children on Monday. Have a nice weekend.

Best,
Kate, Jeff and Rob

Winter Sports Registration is Open!

If your child is interested in winter sports, please visit the WJHS Athletics site for registration steps. Registration is open for the following winter sports:


Basketball

Wrestling

Dance

Expectations Lessons

This week our Grade Level Administrators, Mr. Batt and Mr. Miller, began meeting with students in their Social Studies classes to conduct an expectations lesson with students. During these lessons, students reviewed classroom, hallway, and lunch/recess expectations to help ensure our students are safe, responsible, respectful, and inclusive.

Eighth Grade Families Only - Save the Date(s)!

It feels much too early to be thinking about transitioning to high school, but we wanted to share the date of the New Trier Placement Test with our eighth grade families so that they can plan ahead. This year the placement test dates are Saturday, November 9th and Saturday, November 16. Families will be able to choose one of the two test days. You will receive a communication from New Trier in early October with a link to sign up for one of the November test dates. New Trier shared with us that they will not accept any test date selections until early October when their testing letter is sent to families. Please do not contact their testing office until the link is sent in October.

7th & 8th Grade: MATH COUNTS CLUB

Do you like math competitions? Do you want to represent WJHS at the regional MathCounts competition on Saturday, February 1st, 2025? Then try out for the MathCounts team.

On October 24th, we will go over the program, and solve some MathCounts practice problems. On November 7th, November 14th, and December 5th, students will take 3 school contests. The 12 top scoring students will be chosen to represent WJHS at the regional competition. These 12 students will continue to practice for the regional competition on December 12th, 19th, and January 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th.


The Regional Competition is on Saturday, February 1st, 2025. Please make a note of that now, to ensure that your child does not have a conflict with that date, should they make the team. Students who do well at the regional competition may be invited to the State Competition which is usually one of the first two weekends in March. The four top scoring students from the Illinois State competition will be awarded an all expense paid trip to the National Competition in May.


Parents, please fill out this form by October 17th if your student is interested in MathCounts. The first club date will be October 24th.

OCTOBER SNACKS-FOR-STAFF

Back by popular demand (and with a fun new name!) we are asking families to help us show our Wolves pride by stocking the shelves in the staff lounge with treats and refreshments. Our goal is to provide snacks for staff during the week of October 14-18 to bolster their days! Click HERE for more information and to sign up and thank you for your support. Questions? Email staffappreciation@wjhspto.com.


2024-2025 WJHS YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW

Yearbooks can be purchased online through Membership Toolkit on the WJHS PTO website this year, www.wjhspto.com, under the PTO Store button. Click HERE to go directly! We changed how parents can purchase this year to make it easier for you to check later if you purchased a yearbook or not! Please purchase early and cross this off your list of things to do!


COME WATCH THE WJHS JAZZ BAND AT THE CHICAGO WOLVES GAME 10/26

On Saturday, October 26th, the WJHS Jazz Band will perform at the AllState Arena before the Chicago Wolves Hockey Game! Come support your friends by watching them perform in the walkway around the arena before the game begins. Doors open at 6pm, puck drops at 7pm. Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets!


GET INVOLVED CHECKLIST

✅Sign up to be a Lunch Volunteer Our lunchroom staff could really use some extra hands serving food to students. Sign up HERE and thank you!

✅Check out the WJHS Spirit Wear that you can personalize through our partner and fellow Wilmette moms’ business HumanKind HERE.


✅Volunteer in the Courtyard The courtyard is a quiet place that’s open during lunch recess for students who want to take a break during the day to relax in a peaceful space. Sign up HERE to volunteer either Wednesdays (7th graders) or Fridays (8th graders).

District Update

ll

Traveling Safely To and From School

With school back in session, traveling safely to and from school is very important. Whether traveling by car, bus, bike or foot, we remind everyone to be cautious and aware of surroundings as you travel. Please review these safety practices with your children.


  • Obey traffic laws, signals and crossing guards – stop at all stop signs and crosswalks.

  • Be alert – watch for others around you and avoid using cell phones and earbuds/headphones while moving.

  • Adhere to bike safety – wear a helmet and watch for pedestrians, cars and other bikers.

  • Review village walking/biking routes – check out the Village-approved walking/biking paths for your school, which includes locations of crossing guards.

  • Travel with a friend - when possible, travel to and from school with a friend.

  • Have a plan – talk with your children about safety, what to do if approached by a stranger and where/how to get help, if needed.


Parent Education Events – Let’s Play Series

District 39 is proud to be partnering with the Alliance for Early Childhood, Wilmette Public Library, and BackYard Nature Center for a series of Parent Education events designed to highlight the benefits of free play for our students. These events are meant to be a family adventure into creative, child-led free play that sparks imagination and fuels growth. This experience is designed for you and your child(ren) to explore a variety of fun-filled activities designed to flex your “play muscles” and strengthen your bond. The schedule for these events is listed below.


LOCATION DATE TIME

McKenzie TODAY, Oct. 2 3:30-4:30 pm

Romona Monday, Oct. 7 3:30-4:30 pm

Harper Friday, Oct. 18 2:30-3:30 pm

Central Monday, Oct. 21 3:30-4:30 pm

Highcrest Monday, Oct. 28 3:50-4:50 pm


Parent Education Event – Researched-Based Mathematics

D39 is offering a Parent Education event, titled “Researched-Based Mathematics Teaching and Learning,” on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 11 am. This event will be held virtually via Zoom. Dr. Jen Munson, an assistant professor of learning sciences at Northwestern University, with a Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Mathematics Education from Stanford University, will help our families gain insight into the ways children understand and engage with math. Learn what research suggests students need in order to develop strong mathematical skills. Registration is open for this event.


Principal Appreciation Month

October is Principal Appreciation Month and we are very proud to honor our building leaders in District 39. Being a school administrator is both rewarding and challenging. It is one of the toughest jobs in education and, yet, our leaders rise to the challenge every day. The principals, assistant principals and grade-level administrators in each of our buildings are dedicated to caring for and assisting our students and staff to reach their full potential. We thank them for their hard work, expertise, dedication, care, flexibility and perseverance. Please take a moment to thank your child(ren)’s building administrators for all they do.
Kate Dominique
Kate is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters

Principal at Wilmette Junior High School; love being an educator and working with young people; value spending time with friends and family