What's Up Willowbrook

Dear District 30 families,

Every day, District 30 is working to support the social-emotional health of our students. Today, we want to remind parents of the actions happening and the resources available in our schools to support our learners.

• This year, District 30 has added a new Social Worker to each building in addition to our expert School Psychologist team. Our mental health teams have already visited every class to introduce themselves to students and let them know how to ask for help if they need it. Additionally, if you feel your child needs the support of our team, please reach out to your school principal.

• Additionally, this is the third year of our RULER program, which is a social-emotional learning initiative that helps students learn to identify, understand, and navigate their feelings. This year, we have invited you to partner with us in helping children expand their RULER skills, which was discussed at Curriculum Night and in previous issues of this newsletter. Please see this newsletter today for the September RULER topic.

• District 30 also holds inclusivity and belonging as one of our core values, as outlined in our Strategic Plan that was created by our community. This value is emphasized daily in every classroom through lessons, play, and by example. Our goal is to ensure that every student has at least one trusted adult and friend they can turn to in school.

• Finally, please remember that if you hear anything worrisome about the safety of our schools, students, or staff, it is critical to tell a staff member. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing information in person, you can always utilize the Illinois Safe2Help program.

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We are grateful for the tremendous sense of community in District 30 and for your partnership in caring for the whole student. As a community, let’s ensure we all support one another throughout this school year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Emily K. Tammaru

Superintendent of Schools

On the afternoon of Saturday, September 14, District 30 will run a test of our emergency notification system. As part of this test, you should receive an email, phone call, and text message to the contact numbers and email addresses you have registered with the district.

You can review and update your contact information in Parent Portal on the Language & Contact Information for District Communications form. Please review/update this form for each child you have enrolled in the district. Once submitted, your contact information will be updated overnight.

In order to receive text messages from District 30 via BrightArrow, you will need to opt in. To opt in, please send “Yes” to 79041.

Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation with this critical test.

• PTO Room Parent Meeting
• PTO General Meeting

Wednesday, September 11

• Patriot Day Ceremony - 9:15 a.m. (please see details below)
• PTO Ice cream day

Wednesday, September 18

• PTO Special Lunch - Culvers

Friday, September 20

• Half day - dismissal at 11:45 a.m.
• Preschool AM students attend. No school for students in the preschool PM class.
• Walking school bus (7:45-8:30 a.m.)

Wednesday, September 25

• District 30 Conversations with the Community - 12 p.m. or 6 p.m.

Friday, September 27

• Walk for Willowbrook - more info coming soon!

**Parents are welcome to join us each Friday at 8:45 a.m. for our Flag Raising Ceremony**

This month, we are building community in class by recognizing that all emotions matter and creating a Charter that reflects how we want to feel in our classrooms. Every class is creating their own unique Charter, which cultivates a sense of safety and camaraderie within our schools.

Please watch What's Up Willowbrook ...

• Next week to discover what your children are learning about the Charter in class
• Sept. 20 to learn what you might do at home with your child(ren) related to the Charter

We will have a special Patriot Day Flag Raising ceremony in the gym at 9:15 a.m. and we would like any parents, friends, or family members that are First Responders of our students to serve as flag raisers. Please fill out the form below if you plan on being an Honored guest at our ceremony.

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"

We have noticed an increase in cars using the back lot to pick up their kids after school. The back lot is used for preschool parents to pick up their kids and to load the buses. For safety reasons, please do not use the back parking lot to pick up children not in preschool.

For the safety and consideration of all students and staff, please do not bring dogs on to school grounds.

If you missed our open house/registration night from the spring or are new to District 30, you can still sign your child up for orchestra lessons for this school year! Orchestra is open to current 4th- and 5th-grade students.

If you have questions or would like to know more about the program, please contact Mrs. Barrett, Orchestra Director, at abarrett@district30.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

If your student is interested in learning to play a band instrument, there is still time to join the 5th-grade band!

• Sign up for band by filling out the Contact Information Form
• Click here to rent the instrument

If you do not know what instrument you would like to play, please email Mr. Pittman at rpittman@district30.orgto set up a time to try instruments during recess or after school!

Please fill out our parents are partners form if you haven't already by clicking here.

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.

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.

All who live in District 30 boundaries are invited to meet Superintendent Dr. Tammaru and a member of our Board of Education to ask questions and share what is important to you in our schools.

You can pick from either the 12 p.m. or 6 p.m. session on Wednesday, September 25 at our District 30 Offices, 2374 Shermer Road, Northbrook. RSVP is optional so we can plan for space and send a reminder to participants close to the event date.

Please share with neighbors, as this event is for everyone in our boundaries – even if they do not have children in our schools. Click below to join us!

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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