WJHS Highlights

Dear WJHS Families,

First semester ends Monday and we have encouraged students to check with their teachers about how they are doing in class and to see if they have any missing assignments or grades that can be completed between now and the end of the semester. I've included the steps to access your own PowerSchool account so that you can help your child keep track of assignments and grades.

Powerschool - Our Student Information System where students and parents can look for attendance, grades and report cards. This is where final grades can be found. As a reminder, this is a method of communication that our teachers use to keep you informed of your child’s progress in each class. Please contact your child’s teacher with questions about any grade or reported assignment in the Parent Portal. Students at WJHS receive mid-semester progress reports at each quarter and final grades at the semester mark. Staying informed of your child’s progress throughout the year will help you support your child and partner with your child’s teachers to reach their academic goals.

• Click HERE for a quick start guide on how to login/create an account.

• Click HERE for a video tutorial on using PowerSchool for parents.

• If you still have problems, call the building secretaries for assistance at 847-512-6600.

Students can access Powerschool:

1. Use this link: wilmette39.powerschool.com - Also located under Students on our WJHS website.

2. Student username is the beginning of their school email address before @wps39.org (ex. 21josephs)

3. Their password is their school email password (ex. 12345pop)

OR students may use PowerSchool Mobile App (Tutorial Video) to check their grades (Progress Reports and Report Cards are only viewable through a browser)

1. Download the App from Self-Service

2. Use District Code HMKF

3. Student username is the beginning of the student’s email address before @wps39.org (ex. 22josephs)

4. Student password is student email password (ex. 12345pop)

Over the past couple of months you may have heard your child come home and mention something about the bathrooms being closed. We are having significant issues with students putting paper towels into the toilets which then causes a plumbing back-up and safety issues. This often requires us to close the restrooms for the day or sometimes several days, as our custodial staff and the district plumbing staff work to fix the problem. We would love your partnership in explaining to your children that you, as tax payers, help keep schools running safely. Thank you!

Warm regards,

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. More information on graduation will come out in the next few weeks.

This year the WJHS Student Council will be hosting a Winter Dance - the theme is "Paris Glows by Night". The dance will take place on Friday, February 23rd at WJHS from 5:30PM to 7:30PM. Tickets will be available for purchase through RevTrak for $5 ahead of time. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Different from last year (and per school administration), the school policy will apply in regards to cell phones. We noticed last year that students were not socializing and connecting with their peers because they were too preoccupied with their phones. In addition, they were using phones to photograph and video record classmates without their permission and posting photos and videos on social media. We want this to be a fun and safe social event for WJHS students and so administrators will collect phones at the entrance to the dance and have students put them in a labeled baggie. An administrator will be with the cell phones at all times. Parents, you are welcome (and encouraged) to go "old-school" and send your child to the dance without their phone, while sharing a story about your cellphone-less youth, "This is what it was like when I was young". They'll love it! 😀

If you decide to go this route, please make a plan with them for a time and place to pick them up. You can also send your child with a pre-labeled baggie to save time and get them into the dance sooner.

We are very excited for this event but need your help. If you are willing to volunteer please let us know through this Google Form. Thank you for your time and efforts.

Sincerely,

WJHS Student Council in collaboration with Administration

When children set goals in their school or home life, it helps to foster self-awareness (knowing what they are good at doing, and identifying areas they want to improve) and self-management (setting plans to reach their goals). It can help build intrinsic motivation as they reach their goals, and offers opportunities to celebrate the many little “wins” along the way.

Here are a couple of great articles that offer tips on goal setting with your child:

1. Six Parent Tips on Setting Goals with Your Child

2. How to Help Your Child Set and Reach Goals

WINTER AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS

There is still time to sign up for some Winter After School Clubs! Check out ACES Debate Club (begins 1/18-1/22 depending on level), Skyline Theatre’s Beauty & The Beast Club (starts 2/7) and French Cuisine Club (starts 1/25) descriptions on the PTO’s website: wjhspto.com. Not all clubs are run by the WJHS PTO. Questions? Email clubs@wjhspto.com

VILLAGE WIDE PARENT-TEACHER ORGANIZATION OPENING

The Village Wide PTO is continuing their search for an open volunteer position on their board as the Civics & Safety Representative. This is a light time commitment: you meet 3 times/year at 12:15pm (and there are 2 meetings left: 2/21 and 5/15 at 10am). Your job is to to reach out to your Civics & Safety representative contacts at each elementary school and report anything that’s going on back to the Village Wide PTO Board at the meeting (Bike-to-School day, Crossing Guard annual appreciation breakfast, etc). Please contact the Village Wide PTO President Casey Brown for more information at caseysmithbrown@gmail.com.

OPEN WJHS PTO POSITIONS✋

• School Supplies Coordinator: Coordinate next year’s Edukit order in Feb/Mar ‘24 and manage distribution of supplies using volunteers in Aug ‘24 (can be a 7th or incoming 6th grade parent)

• Civics & Safety Representative: make sure important announcements about special days (Bike to School day, Crossing Guard Appreciation Day, etc) get communicated to the PTO Exec Board. Minimal time commitment.

For more information about any of the above openings, please email president-elect@wjhspto.com.

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