WJHS Highlights

FaceTime and Messages are disabled on student iPads to help students focus on using the devices for school purposes only. Students still have access to email and can use Apps, like Google Docs, to be able to collaborate and communicate with each other and teachers. Sometimes students are tempted to use the district provided tools and accounts for personal items, such as setting up social media accounts with school email, gaming, outside school sports communication and socializing with friends. Some students will also set up their personal email accounts on their district iPad. Students should be using personal devices for personal, unrelated school items. Please have a conversation with your child about using their district issued iPad only for school.

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!

AFTER SCHOOL CLUB”S “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR PERFORMANCE TONIGHT

Skyline Children’s Theater is excited to present the spring performance of WJHS students in “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” in the WJHS Auditorium TONIGHT 5/3 at 7:15pm. Tickets available at the door or pre-purchase them HERE. TEACHERS/STAFF: you’ll get in FREE with your staff ID!

TEACHER/STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK IS MAY 6 - MAY 10

We have been hard at work planning some nice things for our teachers and staff next week to let them know how much our parent community appreciates them! Themed days of treats, lunches and tokens of appreciation will be given out all next week to all teachers and staff on behalf of all our parents. If you would like to contribute to the items being planned for our fun activities, you can check out the SignUp Genius HERE.

Welcome Our New Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction!

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Joshua Swanner to our D39 family as our new Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Swanner is completing his seventh year as principal at Greeley Elementary School in Winnetka and has extensive experience as an administrator, teacher, and teacher leader. Prior to his principalship at Greeley, he served as Assistant Principal at The Skokie School (Grades 5-6) and as a middle/junior high school teacher in both Winnetka and St. Charles. Dr. Swanner brings to this position a passion for supporting student and staff learning, successful experiences with building strong and successful school communities, and a commitment to advancing effective curriculum and instruction. He was approved by the D39 Board of Education at Monday night’s meeting and will begin his work in D39 in August.

Information on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Classroom

District 39’s statement of inclusion articulates our commitment to a safe and equitable learning environment that fosters a mindset of empathy, respect, and belonging. Every classroom in our district comprises students who bring unique identities, cultures, beliefs and traditions, and it is imperative that they see themselves and their families reflected in their classroom and school.

Teachers and staff in D39 are committed to supporting students as they share their identities, beliefs and traditions with their classmates and strive to acknowledge the many traditions represented in our D39 community. This may include the use of literature, video, student sharing, or other activities to support student representation and understanding of one another. Please visit our website for our complete District 39 Statement of Inclusion.

Board of Education Meeting

The Board of Education gathered on Monday night for its monthly business meeting. During this meeting, the Board heard committee reports and was presented with the district’s December 1 Child Count report. Agendas and materials for all Board of Education meetings will be posted online the Friday prior to the meeting.

Parent Education Event

Make plans now to join us virtually via Zoom next Wednesday (May 8) at 11 am for our last Parent Education event of the academic year. This presentation, titled “Supporting School Transitions,” will give our families tips and information ahead of their child(ren) transitioning from 4th to 5th grade and 6th to 7th grade. There is not an in-person option for this presentation. Register online to reserve your spot and visit our D39 Parent Education website for our full schedule of events, registration links, and archived recordings.