WJHS Highlights
12/06/2024
A Message from the Administrative Team
Dear WJHS Families,
We hope that you were able to connect with some or all of your child's teachers during conferences. Getting to know families is one of the highlights of the school year and our teachers love talking with you about your child's learning and growth here at WJHS. If one of your teachers was unavailable for conferences and you would like the opportunity to talk with them, please reach out to that teacher directly.
While we were away, the weather moved from fall straight to winter, and it was very cold this week! Here are a few things we notice, along with reminders, as we move into winter:
- More families drop off their children for school when the weather gets cold. When dropping off your child via car, please pull all the way into the circle drive so that as many cars as possible can drop off students at once. You should only drop your child off on the right side of the circle drive - the left side is for parking and there is no crosswalk in the circle drive. When your child has departed your vehicle, please carefully pull away from the curb and make a right out of the circle drive.
- If you drop off your child in another location, such as the street or down the block, please remind them to use the crosswalk. They should not be running across the street where there is no crosswalk, or walking through the grass in front of the school as there is not a crosswalk in the circle drive.
- Please remind your children to grab their winter coats, hats and gloves when they leave home! All D39 students go outside for recess if the "RealFeel" temperature is five degrees or above. We will move to indoor recess if the "RealFeel" temperature is below five degrees. We know that adolescents are coat-averse, but please remind your child to bring a coat, hat and gloves to school!
Thank you for your partnership in helping drop-off be more efficient and reinforcing with your child to grab their coat as they are leaving the house - we appreciate it!
We are having some Winter Fun ⛄ this month and I am linking the calendar of events so that you can see what's happening and encourage your child to participate. Yesterday Mr. Larsen's homeroom won the "Name that Tune" Holiday Trivia and will choose the Spirit Day theme for Thursday!
We hope you enjoy the warm-up this weekend!
Sincerely,
Kate, Jeff and Rob
This year, we will use the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s online testing platform to hold our grade-level spelling bee via an online spelling test.
The first step to spelling bee participation is registering for the online testing platform by visiting https://online-test.spellingbee.com.
Here is a video tutorial that will walk you through the registration process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ThKRsffiFc
Tests can be taken on any device with a web browser, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones. Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge are our preferred browsers. We do not support Safari for desktop or Internet Explorer.
The students from each grade with the highest scores will move on to compete in the district bee. This year, our school-level competition will be administered via an in-person bee at WJHS in January 2025
Our district champion will then move on to represent Wilmette District 39 in the next level of the regional spelling bee program, which may include online tests instead of in-person spelling bee events.
Remember, the first step to participating in the spelling bee is to register at online-test.spellingbee.com. Please register your student as soon as possible, as I will begin assigning tests soon. If you have already registered another child in the online testing platform, you can log in to your account and add an additional child to that same parent account. There is no need to register a different email address for each child in your household.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions about our school spelling bee program.
Mary Kate Lubawski - Lubawskm@wilmette39.org
Wilmette Junior High School
👏TEACHER & STAFF HOLIDAY GIFT FUND 👏
TODAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE TEACHER & STAFF HOLIDAY GIFT FUND! This one-time gift will be given to all teachers, admins, building staff and crossing guards from all WJHS families before winter break. The suggested amount is $30/students. Contributions are completely voluntary and every amount is greatly appreciated! CURRENTLY 55% OF OUR PARENT COMMUNITY HAS DONATED - PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TODAY! Thank you to the families who have already contributed!
If you’re not sure if you’ve already donated, check your sent emails from notify@membershiptoolkit.com or log into your Membership Toolkit account, go to My Account, then check Previous Orders. Any questions? Email community@wjhspto.com.
2024-2025 YEARBOOK COVER DESIGN CHALLENGE
Is your student a budding artist? Whether they’re skilled in pencil/paint or in digital/app use, students are encouraged to join the Yearbook Cover Design Challenge! Students received the submission link via their Schoology Lunch Course with a due date of December 20th! Questions? Email Mr. Donhost at donhostm@wilmette39.org.
DEBATE CLUB WINTER REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Learn how to think fast and speak well! Study research, writing and oral arguments.
Aces Debate Club is offering an 8-week ADVANCED DEBATE class at WJHS beginning Mondays at 3:30-4:30pm starting 1/13. This class is for WJHS students who have taken debate before, either at Highcrest or WJHS. Program concludes with a 2-hour session to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their new skills in full debates.
Aces Debate Club is also offering an 8-week class for HMS & WJHS students who took Debate in the fall and are ready for the next class. This class will be held on THURSDAYS at Highcrest Middle School beginning on 1/23.
There is ALSO an 8-week INTRO TO DEBATE class, being held at Highcrest Middle School Fridays 3:45-4:45pm starting 1/10. This class is for WJHS and HMS students who have not participated in debate before. For more information and to register click HERE. Questions? Email instructor Aaron Vinson at acesdebateclub@gmail.com.
🍔CAFETERIA VOLUNTEERS WANTED 🍕
Lots of December availability! Please consider volunteering as it’s so appreciated by our lunchroom staff! Sign up HERE and thank you!
The WJHS PTO has been asked to pass along some relevant community information:
D39 EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Appreciation Certificates are now available! For a $39 donation, the staff member(s) of your choice will be honored with a personalized certificate sent via email and their name will be posted on our website’s virtual Wall of Honor. All donations benefit D39 schools by funding the Gripp Grant program. Purchase your Appreciation Certificate HERE.
“SUBSTANCE USE TRENDS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT”
This D39 Parent Education presentation will explore the latest substance use trends among youth including alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis. Parents will learn what to look out for when it comes to vaping devices, misleading packaging, and secret compartment items. Parents and caregivers will receive prevention strategies and tips that can be implemented at home. Register HERE for Wednesday, December 11th at 11:00am (in-person at the Mikaelian Education Center or virtual via Zoom). Presented by District 39, PEER Services, and the Knowledge Empowers Youth (KEY) Coalition. For more information click HERE.
Parent Education Event
Make plans to join us on next Wednesday (Dec. 11) at 11 am for our next Parent Education event titled “Youth Substance Use Trends Parents Should Know About.” This presentation explores the latest substance use trends among youth (including alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis), using visual aids, to help parents know what to look out for when it comes to vaping devices, misleading packaging, and stash compartment items. The presenters will include prevention strategies and tips that parents and caregivers can implement at home. This is presented by PEER Services and the Knowledge Empowers Youth (KEY) Coalition. Families are encouraged to join us in-person at the Mikaelian Education Center, but can also participate virtually via Zoom. Registration for this event is now open. Please visit our Parent Education webpage for our full schedule of events as well as archived recordings of past events.
Save the Date – Registration for the 2025-26 Academic Year
With the end of the calendar year rapidly approaching, we wanted to share that registration for the 2025-26 school year will open on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. District 39 is excited that it will be offering full-day kindergarten for all families beginning in Fall 2025! Additionally, our school calendar committee is currently busy building next year’s school calendar. The committee expects to present a draft of the 2025-26 Academic Year Calendar to the Board of Education on December 16 and to receive final approval of the calendar at the January 27th Board meeting. More details to follow in the coming weeks.
Weather-Related School Closures
Winter weather is quickly approaching, or already upon us, depending on your perspective! Although we always hope to avoid school cancellations, the safety of students and staff is our top priority and occasionally requires consideration of school closures. Weather conditions (including temperature, wind chill and snow accumulation), street conditions (both in Wilmette and in surrounding municipalities), school building conditions, and bus conditions are all considered when evaluating the effects of weather for school.
If inclement weather conditions warrant cancellation of school, District 39 parents and guardians will receive an email, automated call, and text message from the school by 5:30 am on the morning of the school closing. Additionally, school closure notifications are posted to our district website and are communicated to all major Chicago radio and television outlets. When extreme weather conditions exist, parents are encouraged to check email, cell phone messages or the district website for information regarding school closures.
This school year, the first weather-related closure will function as a traditional “snow day,” with all classes canceled for the day. As communicated earlier, that day may be made up as a remote learning day on Presidents’ Day (Monday, Feb. 17). For additional information, please visit our D39 webpage regarding emergency closures.
Wilmette Junior High School
Email: office-wjhs@wilmette39.org
Website: http://wjhs.wilmette39.org/
Location: 620 Locust Rd, Wilmette, IL, USA
Phone: 847-512-6600
Instagram: @wjhswolves39
Twitter: @hawkwolf39