What's Up Willowbrook
September 27, 2024
Important dates
Thursday, October 3
- No school - District holiday
Wednesday, October 9
- PTO Ice Cream Day
Monday, October 14
- No school - District holiday
Wednesday, October 16
- Picture Retakes
- Parent-Teacher Conferences (4:30-8:00 p.m.)
- PTO special lunch - Egg Harbor Cafe
Thursday, October 17
- No school for students
- Parent-Teacher Conferences (12:00-8:00 p.m.)
**Parents are welcome to join us each Friday at 8:45 a.m. for our Flag Raising Ceremony**
Parent-Teacher Conferences Oct. 16-17
WHEN ARE CONFERENCES? This fall, we will offer parents live, online interactions with our teachers during Parent-Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, October 16 from 4:30-8:00 p.m. and Thursday, October 17 from 12:00- 8:00 p.m. Conferences are one of the most valuable tools we have to foster our strong partnerships between home and school. Beginning with fall’s conferences, we will be using Google Meet as our video conference and we will create a Conference Link Directory that will be shared with you closer to the start of conferences. If, for any reason, you require an in-person conference please get in touch with the teacher and they will work with you to find a meeting time.
WHEN DOES REGISTRATION OPEN? Conference registration will open on Wednesday, October 2 at 6:00 a.m. and will continue through Friday, October 11 at 3:00 p.m. Conference scheduler login information will be sent to the primary contact email for your student, along with step-by-step instructions for registering. Please keep an eye open for this information. Registration codes and directions will also be available in Parent Portal on form 2024-25 School Year Information.
WHAT TO EXPECT: During conferences, your classroom teacher will discuss academic and social-emotional goals, discuss how the learning experience is progressing at school and at home, and share details about the classroom community with you. This is a collaborative meeting between families and teachers when we can answer your questions. We are so proud of our students and their strong start. Thank you so much for your ongoing support and partnership.
Student screening update
Pilot supports social-emotional needs
During our Strategic Planning process last school year, parents and teachers often stressed the importance of understanding the whole child and nurturing students so that they are both academically and emotionally available to learn and access the curriculum.
In support of this, we provide a variety of assessments/screenings each year to all students or a specific grade level in these areas: math, reading, speech and language, occupational therapy, and social-emotional learning. The goal is to gain an overall picture of the whole child while ensuring students are supported in areas requiring additional learning opportunities.
We will continue these efforts the week of September 30, when Willowbrook's kindergarten through 5th-grade teachers will complete the Student Risk Screening Scale (SRSS) as they have in the past. Additionally, one teacher in each grade will “pilot” a different screener called SAEBRS: Social, Academic, Emotional, Behavior Risk Screener. SAEBRS contains a teacher assessment that will be completed by the pilot groups in grades K-5; it also includes a student self-assessment that will be completed by the grade 3-5 pilot groups. The self-assessment is a short questionnaire about their social, academic, and emotional behaviors that will provide direct insight from their perspective. Therefore, data will not only shed light on a student who outwardly demonstrates their challenges, but it will also help to identify students who may be struggling internally.
A second screening will occur in February. After that, teachers will provide feedback on which screener better provides early identification, any interventions needed, and ensures that students have access to the mental health, social, emotional, behavioral, and academic support they need to succeed in school.
The goal of the SAEBRS pilot is to continue our efforts to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students at Willowbrook. This includes reviewing our social and emotional learning curriculum, as well as our preventative measures to support all students’ social-emotional needs.
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will be notified by a Willowbrook school social worker or school psychologist if the results of the SRSS or SAEBRS identify a child as at-risk or qualify for an intervention. The next steps may include support and resources such as school counseling interventions, mental health resources from the community, and/or additional classroom support.
Assessment results mail next week
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
Results from the Spring 2024 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) will be sent out the week of September 30. The IAR assessments were administered to students in grades 3-8 during spring 2024. Students in grades 3-5 will receive the results of these assessments by email, and the 8th-grade assessment reports will be mailed to our former students' homes.
Illinois Science Assessment
Results from the Spring 2024 Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) will be sent out the week of September 30. The ISA assessments were administered to students in grades 5 and 8 in spring 2024. Students in 5th-grade students will receive the results of these assessments by email, and the 8th-grade assessment reports will be mailed to our former students' homes.
Should you have any questions on the IAR or ISA results, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s building principal or the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Melissa E. Hirsch.
Staff Shout-Out!
As we embark on another exciting school year, we want to recognize and celebrate our staff members' incredible dedication and hard work throughout the school year.
We are launching a "Staff Shout-Out" initiative to acknowledge and appreciate their efforts. This is an opportunity for you, our valued parents and guardians, to highlight the exceptional work of any staff member who has positively impacted your child or family weekly throughout the school year.
Click the button below to submit your "Staff Shout-Out"
WILLOWBROOK PTO NEWS
Order your Willowbrook spirit wear through Oct. 4
Willowbrook Spiritwear Sales starts this Friday, September 20 and ends in two weeks on October 4.
Scan the QR code and/or click on this Willowbrook Spiritwear Sales link to begin shopping.
A portion of the proceeds will go to Willowbrook PTO.
Please contact Jus Yong-Kulasic and Nirali Shah (Willowbrook Spiritwear Committees) with any questions.
Special Lunch volunteers needed!
Volunteers needed for lunch
Parents are Partners form
Please fill out our parents are partners form if you haven't already by clicking here.
Details on running for the Board of Education
Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 will have three school board seats to be filled at the Consolidated Election on April 1, 2025. Candidates who are elected will fill four-year terms expiring in April 2029.
Candidates for the office of the school board can now circulate nominating petitions for signatures. The period for filing nominating petitions concludes November 18, with November 12 being the first day permitted to file a petition.
A candidate for the school board is required to file the nominating petitions, Statement of Candidacy, and receipt for filing their Statement of Economic Interests with the applicable county election clerk and not with the school board secretary or the administrative offices of the school district. The county clerk may have petition forms available, or blank petitions may be downloaded from the State Board of Elections website, elections.il.gov.
Details on seeking caucus endorsement
Candidates who are interested in seeking endorsement from the District 30 School Board Caucus should contact Caucus Chair Marci Goldgar at marci257@aol.com by Friday, October 18. The School Board Caucus is a committee of District 30 residents that includes families both with and without children enrolled in Willowbrook, Wescott and Maple schools. The Caucus' role is to source, screen and endorse potential school board candidates. To be considered by the Caucus, candidates will need to complete a detailed application as well as an interview.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Over-the-counter meds require physician signature
Due to a change to the State of Illinois School Code, Willowbrook Health Office will only be able to distribute over-the-counter (OTC) medications (such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen) to students with a completed Medication Authorization Form (for OTC). The new requirements include a physician’s signature along with a parent/guardian's signature.
Please return the completed form to the school’s health office if you would like your child will be able to receive over-the-counter medications at school. Thank you
Health exam forms
For all students new to District 30, state regulations require a State of Illinois Health Examination Form completed within the last 12 months. This must be on file in the health office prior to the first day of school. If your child does not have a Health Examination Form on file with all current immunizations, your child could be excluded from school.
Kindergarten students are also required to have a completed State of Illinois Eye Examination Form by October 15. The exam must have been performed on or after August 21, 2023, one year from the start of school.
Dental examinations are required for all kindergarten and grade 2 students. Examinations must be completed within 18 months of the May 15, 2025 deadline. These forms can be obtained from the health office and are also available on our website. If you have questions, please call the front office at 847-498-1090.
If your student requires medication or a health care plan, please click here to download all of the necessary forms. If forms are not completed by the opening of school, we will abide by the health care plan from the previous year for those students with life-threatening food allergies or medical conditions.
All forms can be dropped off at the front desk with Mrs. Heather Peraino (hperaino@district30.org), with School Nurse Mrs. Lisa Mullen (lmullen@district30.org) or sent to them by email.
Quest lunch service
Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 continues its partnership with Quest Food Management Services to provide quality food services to your student. We are happy to offer a preorder system via myMealOrder!
- The meal will consist of an entree, side, fresh fruit, and vegetable, including milk or water.
- All orders must be placed at least three days in advance.
Visit mymealorder.com to open an account, learn more about our preorder system, and view the menu.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ashley Jenkins, Food Service Director for Quest at ajenkins@questfms.com.
Find events in our community!
Want to know what's going on around the community? District 30 uses a "Virtual Backpack" to share community information while saving paper, costs, and lightening the loads our students bring home. Please click the button below to view upcoming Community Events.
Safe2Help Illinois
Any time a student feels unsafe, any adult in their school can help!
But sometimes, students or parents wish to reach out for help in a different way or after school hours. Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe way to share information 24/7 that might help prevent any threat to school safety, including bullying, self-harm or other serious concerns.
The goal of this program is to get students to “seek help before harm;" it is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish. Safe2Help Illinois also offers a Mental Health Toolkit that provides resources for parents and educators reinforce the components of this program.
Safe2Help Illinois offers around-the-clock help via:
- Hotline: 844-4-SAFEIL
- Text line: 72332
- Email HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com
- Plus a website full of resources for young people seeking help for themselves or a friend. Its Ways To Get Help page is a directory of specialized hotlines, and other sections of its website provide practical steps for dealing with depression or helping a distraught friend. The checklist called "20 Questions To Ask Yourself If You Feel Like Giving Up" can help older children overcome a bout of anxiety or depression.
Willowbrook School
Willowbrook School is part of Northbrook/Glenview District 30, which exists to create an inclusive community that inspires learning, fosters resiliency, and cares deeply for every child. We honor childhood and foster intellectual, physical and social-emotional growth. District 30 serves more than 1,200 students in pre-K through 8th grade across Willowbrook, Wescott and Maple Schools.
We prohibit harassment and discrimination of all forms within our district and follows all policies and procedures to ensure a safe environment for all.
Main Office: 847-498-1090
Health Office: 847-400-8860
Location: 2500 Happy Hollow Road, Glenview, IL, USA
Website: district.30.org/willowbrook
Facebook: facebook.com/ngsd
Twitter: @district30