Greeting Panther Families,
As we approach the end of 2024 and the start of the holiday break, let’s take a moment to celebrate all that we've accomplished together! This is a wonderful time to reflect on the semester, share joy with friends, and express gratitude for the experiences we've had. With just one week left of school, let’s finish the year on a high note!
Great news—data shows that most WJHS students attend school daily! Our Attendance incentive is making a difference, and students are excited to be part of the Westmont Junior High community. We appreciate your partnership in sharing the message that regular attendance is critical to educational success.
Why Daily Attendance is Key:
Students need to be in school every day to:
- Receive consistent instruction.
- Build strong routines for learning.
- Access their teachers’ expertise and support.
While we understand that absences due to illness or emergencies are real, students need to be in school when they are healthy and able. The district has communicated the symptoms that should keep students home, and our goal is for each student to miss no more than 5 days every year. If an illness results in missed days, being present the rest of the year becomes even more critical.
Tips for Supporting Attendance:
- Schedule appointments outside of school hours or at the start or end of the school day.
- Share with providers that school attendance is a priority when scheduling appointments.
- Plan vacations during school breaks whenever possible.
The benefits of our unified efforts are evident, and your support at home makes all the difference. Thank you for reinforcing the importance of attendance and helping us maintain a strong and consistent message.
Let’s make this last week of school a great one and end the semester with pride!
We are continuing the countdown to winter break and have just five more days to go! Today was dress like a student/teacher day, which is always fun to see. Check out 12 Spirit Days of Christmas below to find the themes for our final five days! Visit our Facebook page to see daily photos of our students and staff showing off their school spirit!
Our Lost and Found is overflowing with items! If your child is missing anything, please encourage them to check the Lost and Found as soon as possible.
Location: Commons
When to Check: During lunch, before school, or after school
Reminder: Any items left unclaimed before we leave for Winter Break will be donated to a local shelter. Let's work together to reunite these belongings to the rightful owner!
Erin’s Law, House Bill 6193 was signed by Governor Pat Quinn on January 24, 2013. This law requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention curriculum for grades pre-K through 12.
Victor Pacini, a survivor of sexual abuse, author and motivational speaker, will be assisting our schools in implementing this mandate. Mr. Pacini’s program is developmentally appropriate, interactive, and aligned with learning standards. The focus of his presentation is to teach children basic skills to keep them safe from dangerous or abusive situations. The concepts that will be discussed are:
• Distinguishing safe from unsafe touches
• Safety rules at home and school
• Saying “NO”
• Safe/Unsafe Secrets
• It’s not the child’s fault if someone touches him or her
• Telling a trusted adult
Mr. Pacini’s organization will be presenting at our schools. The date for the student presentations at WJHS is Jan. 15, 2025.
Requests to Opt-Out: If you prefer that your child opt-out of this prevention education session, please email Amy Quattrone @ aquattrone@cusd201.org
