The Who's News
Willett PTA Newsletter: Week of September 16, 2024
9/16-20: Willett Safety Week
9/17 (Tue): Willett PTA Meeting, 7 pm
9/18 (Wed): Dental Screening for Kinder, 3rd, and 5th Grades
9/23-27: Spirit Week at Willett!
9/25 (Wed): Willett Book Club First Meeting, 6:45 pm
9/26 (Thu): E=mc^2 Math Club begins, 3:15 pm (after school)
9/27 (Fri): Willett PTA Family Social Event at Ruhstaller, 5-7 pm
9/30 (Mon): Picture Day
10/4 (Fri): Coffee with the Principal, 8:30 a.m.
10/14 (Mon): Indigenous Peoples" Day (No School)
Subscribe to the Willett PTA Calendar HERE.
Active4Me Needs Volunteers as Students Arrive to School
We need volunteers to help us scan between 8:20-8:30 am as kids arrive to school, especially for these first few weeks of school. If you can help it would be greatly appreciated. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050D49A8AD2BA0F49-50637567-willett
If you’re new to Willett, and your student walks, bikes, uses a scooter, electric vehicle, or public transit, please consider signing up for Active4.me at: www.active4.me/Registration/willett. Paper forms are also available at the Active4.me table. We will issue your student a bar code tag when we receive the signed registration form. Thank you for your help!
Be a Star in Your Child's Classroom – Volunteer as a Room Parent!
Want to make a big impact with just a small time commitment? Become a Room Parent! The Willett PTA is seeking one enthusiastic parent per classroom to help bridge the gap between the PTA and families. Your role? Simple but impactful: share PTA updates, lend a hand during teacher appreciation events, and be a vital support for your child’s learning environment. It’s a fantastic way for busy parents to stay involved and make a difference!
Interested? Got questions? Reach out to us at willettroomparent@gmail.com and let’s make this school year unforgettable!
Willett Book Club Is Back!
Mr. Fluetsch will be hosting the Willett Book Club again this year. The Book Club is for 4th, 5th and 6th grade students and the students' chosen adults. Each month both students and adults read the book. We then get together and discuss it as a group. The first meeting will be Wednesday, 9/25, at 6:45 pm in the Willett Library.
Much more information about the Book Club can be found at this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o-ueiBbmlWx5XDI8_yGdEny1o6xPHmTi69kiuXXCw8k/edit?usp=sharing
Dungeons and Dragons Club
The first D&D club was a roaring success last week, with over 60 students showing up to play. Starting September 19th, D&D Club will meet in Mr. Simi's room, G-34, at lunch (12:15 to 1:00) on Thursdays. Students may pick up their lunches from the MPR and then walk to Mr. Simi's class. Thank you for all the interest and support. If you have questions, please email Mr. Fluetsch cfluetsch@djusd.net .
Spirit Week September 23rd-27th
Willett will have its first spirit week with a focus on KINDNESS:
- Monday: Work Out problems with Kindness
- Dress in your workout clothes or wear blue.
- Challenge: Invite someone to join you at lunch or at recess!
- Tuesday: Peace, Love and Kindness
- Wear tie dye or wear red.
- Challenge: How many times can you say “thank you” or “please” today?
- Wednesday: Team up for Positivity
- Wear your favorite team or wear orange.
- Challenge: Find a way to help someone!
- Thursday: You have Good Character
- Wear your favorite cartoon character or wear pink.
- Challenge: Give someone a compliment!
- Friday: You’ve got Spirit
- Wear Willett Wear or wear green.
- Challenge: Find a way to make someone’s day better!
Let's make this a fun spirit week and have students and staff dress for the occasion!!
RUBY BRIDGES WALK TO SCHOOL DAY (Thursday, November 14th)
Students, families, and members of the community are all invited to join us as we walk in support of kindness, anti-racism, and anti-bullying from Arroyo Park Soccer Field to Willett Elementary school. Will you join us? If so, please RSVP to this post (below)!
The first 150 students to sign-in at Arroyo Park will receive a free purple beanie! Students (especially younger students) may wish to join us for the second portion of our walk starting at Sycamore Park. The first 150 students to sign-in at Sycamore Park will receive a purple bracelet! We’d like to thank the Ruby Bridges Foundation and AAA for their help in sponsoring this event and providing us with free swag to share with our participants.
Kickoff PTA Meeting TOMORROW 9/17
Our first General Membership PTA meeting will be on Tuesday, September 17 in the Willett MPR at 7 pm
Our agenda will include budget review and discussion of teacher grants. See full agenda here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kx6L9nIHBYdHmMGORT5luMiRS2J9HeFsp-ipbHDeOMg/edit?usp=sharing
Please join so all voices are represented!
Have you donated to/joined your PTA yet?
Volunteer with the PTA!
The PTA is looking for volunteers to oversee the following vacant positions or roles:
•BRAVO Music Chair
•Coffee-with-the-Principal Chair
•End-of-Year Celebration Lead
•Jog-a-thon Committee Chair
•Lunar New Year Committee Chair
•New Family and Membership position
•Water delivery monthly for staff
Contact Katie Lasker at president@willettpta.org for details and next steps if this sounds like something for you!
Yearbook Photographers Needed
Interested in being a yearbook photographer!? If you are interested and/or would like to send in photos, please email yearbook@willettpta.org, any and all photos are appreciated!
Ruhstaller Social Hour Friday 9/27!
Please mark your calendars for Friday September 27th, 5-7pm for a kid-friendly, dog-friendly Willett social hour at Ruhstaller Farms. There will be a reserved area for the Willett community. We hope you can join us for some low-key Friday night socializing! Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are permitted, and the PTA will have snacks to share. Ruhstaller is located at 6686 Sievers Rd, Dixon, CA 95620, about 10 minutes from Davis.
Spooky Soiree Tickets on Sale!
Come have fun at a Willett costume party this fall at our Spooky Soiree! Regular price tickets are now on sale through October 15th. The Spooky Soiree will include dinner, drinks, and dancing with your ticket in addition to a costume contest and silent and live auctions. This fun party will be held on Saturday 11/2/2024 from 6 pm to 10 pm at Wildhorse Golf Club in Davis. The PTA is doing all the hard work, we just need you to show up and have fun! Stay tuned for a sneak peek at auction items in next week's newsletter!
Buy tickets here: https://willettelementary.schoolauction.net/spookysoiree/
Spooky Soiree volunteers needed!
Have a love for spooky decor? Have an amazing silent or live auction item to donate? A great idea for the event? We need you! Please email erinautrymontgomery@gmail.com to join our (small) committee of people working to make this event a success for the school.
Davis Parent University
Davis Parent University is a volunteer organization unique to our community. It is a committee composed of representatives from each DJUSD school who partner with school leaders and educators to determine the support that is most needed for our children, families and community. From there, the committee researches authors relevant to the topics recommended by the elementary, junior high, and high schools and the 2024/2025 school year will address communication and mental health with authors who will provide tools that apply to any and all stages of parenting.
The first event kicks off with an in person event highlighting speaker Ned Johnson, bestselling author of the acclaimed book, What Do You Say? How to Talk with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home. We hope to see you on Wednesday, October 30th beginning at 7pm in Brunelle Theater. Space is limited, so please reserve your FREE tickets starting August 20 at the DPU website: davisparentuniversity.com.
International Parent Community at the I-House
Are you an international family? Be sure to check out how the International House of Davis (on the corner of College Park & Russell) seeks to support the International Parent Community HERE.
Community Voices Wants Your Input on Climate and Housing Issues in Davis and Yolo County
This year, the Davis Community Action Network, a local grassroots organization focused on housing and climate issues in Davis and Yolo County, will publish a report representing as many community perspectives as possible about our housing and climate crisis. They have reached over 200 people but are asking for more parents to get involved! If you are interested, please join for a 1 hour zoom conversation where you will:
Learn about affordable housing and climate-smart design
Share your experience and ideas about how to make Davis more affordable and sustainable
Add your voice to DCAN’s upcoming report on community perspectives for the City of Davis
When: Thursday Sept. 18, 7:00-8:00 pm
Where: VIA ZOOM - Register for the link at https://forms.gle/AokxxSVosw3KVooS6