WJHS Highlights
09/22/2022
A Message from the Administrative Team
Dear WJHS families,
As a reminder, we do not have school tomorrow for a Teacher Institute Day nor on Monday for Rosh Hashanah. We hope that you have a wonderful long weekend and Happy New Year to our families who are celebrating!
We can't wait to meet our eighth grade families on Thursday! Please find below the schedule for Curriculum Night, and look closely because you have homework!
Sincerely,
Kate, Jeff and Eric
It is time for the Battle of the Books at WJHS! Students join a team to read and discuss a list of award-winning and highly recommended books. The program culminates in a Kahoot "Battle" to determine which team knows the books best. Battle of the Books is open to 7th and 8th grade students and students are encouraged to form teams of 4-6 students in either grade. Students can also register individually. Interested students should register HERE by Friday, Oct 7. Questions can be directed to Daphna Neirick, Mary Kate Lubawski, or Erin Schwarz.
Tech Tidbit
Struggling to keep up with the apps, games, and websites your kids are using?
Common Sense Media is the leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families. Parents trust their expert reviews and objective advice. You can find age-appropriate movies, books, apps, TV shows, podcasts, video games, and websites that you and your kids will love. Browse their library of almost 40,000 reviews by age, entertainment type, learning rating, genre, and more.
PTO Highlights
REMINDER FOR PARENTS OF THE NOVEMBER 8TH GRADE DC TRIP
If you haven’t done so, please fill out and turn in the forms for this November’s Washington DC trip no later than 9/25. Use this link to submit the forms. You can find the forms in the email Paul Harper sent to you on 9/9. We’re also asking parents to purchase a hooded sweatshirt (with the option to put their name on the back) for the trip. Use this link to order a sweatshirt on or before 10/1. If you were not able to attend the parent Zoom, you can view the recording with this link.
ATTN: 7TH GRADE PARENTS THE 2023 8TH GRADE DC TRIP IS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
Paul Harper is excited to announce that next year’s 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C., and Williamsburg is now open for registration. On this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, students will explore some of our nation's most important historical sites while experiencing incomparable learning moments. This will be a trip that your child will be talking about for years to come! Click here to learn more and/or to register. This trip is not run by the school or the PTO. Please contact Paul Harper at harperp@wilmette39.org if you have questions!
YEARBOOK SALES ARE NOW OPEN
WJHS yearbooks are on sale now for $25, use code #8211 when ordering. Click here to order yours now!
CHESS ANYONE?
Is your child interested in Chess? Chess-Ed provides a unique, exciting and dynamic instruction, with a goal to always lift each student to a new level of expertise. Click here for details.
ADDITIONAL ADVANCED DEBATE CLUB OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
Awaiting blurb and link from Aaron.
PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING THE VILLAGE WIDE PTO BOARD
Are you interested in joining the Village Wide PTO? We are seeking to fill the following positions:
2nd Vice President (Enrichment)
Communications
Outdoor Classroom
The positions require that you communicate with the D39 school representatives and report back to the Village Wide PTO at their meetings. The Village Wide PTO meetings are as follows:
9/21/22 at 9:15 am
11/16/22 at 9:15 am
3/15/23 at 9:15 am
5/17/23 at 10:00 am with luncheon to follow TBD
Please contact the President of the Presidents’ Council, Barb Bentivenga, at bentivenga4@icloud.com for more information.
D39 PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
D39 has asked us to spread the news about their Parent Education series. The October event is “Parenting in the Digital Age.” These free talks are held in person and via Zoom. You can register for upcoming presentations and/or view previously-recorded ones via this link:
https://www.wilmette39.org/for_parents/parent_education
The September presentation was “Setting Goals with Students.”
PASS39 CONNECTING PARENTS COFFEE
Pass39 is a parent organization committed to supporting parents of children with learning, behavioral, emotional, and developmental challenges. We’re hosting a coffee on October 4th, 9:30–11am for D39 parents and/or caregivers (preschool children welcome) of children with 504s or IEPs and those in the process of getting one. Please RSVP to Pass39@Wilmette39.org for location.
Homework Club
Homework Club is a drop-in club that runs from 3:20-4:20 in the Learning Commons on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays unless there is a staff meeting, and Thursdays.. This is meant to be a place for students to get some work done before they head home. Homework Club is also supervised by teachers who are available to answer questions as best we can. If your child finds completing work at home a challenge, Homework Club may be a great resource. Students to not need to sign up ahead of time, but please make they have arrangements to get home safely.
New Trier Placement Test: 8th Grade
It feels much too early to be thinking about transitioning to high school, but we wanted to share the date of the New Trier Placement Test with our eighth grade families so that they can plan ahead. For WJHS, the placement test date is Saturday, November 12. New Trier shared with us that they will not accept any test date changes until early October when their testing letter goes out to families.
District Update
Board of Education Meeting
The Board of Education gathered on Monday evening for its regular business meeting and also conducted a public hearing on the District’s e-learning plan. During the meetings, the Board approved the 2022-23 action steps for our D39 strategic plan as well as our e-learning plan, which was updated to more accurately reflect its original purpose of creating flexibility to make up an emergency closure day (ie. a snow day). Additionally, the Board completed a final review of specified Board policies. Click here for access to the complete meeting agenda and materials.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Save the Date
Please save the date for our fall parent-teacher conferences on Nov. 16-18, immediately preceding fall break (Thanksgiving week). Conferences will be held via Zoom, with in-person appointments available by request. More details, including sign-up information, will be provided in the coming weeks.
Parent Education Event
District 39 recently held its most recent parent education event titled “Setting Goals with Students”. You can find a recording of the presentation by clicking here. Make plans now to join us on the morning of October 12 for our next event, “Parenting in a Digital Age.” Please click here for the full schedule of 2022-23 parent education events and registration links.
Community News
LINK: http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
Good Fest: Good Music, Good BBQ, Good Cause: Join the concert/bbq on Saturday, October 1st at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 1235 Wilmette Ave. Fest features Tributosaurus, Acoustic Fight Club & Backyard BBQ. Portions of the proceeds go to Family Promise Chicago North Shore. Get tickets here.
The Wilmette Theatre hosts a Flashback Family Film Weekend featuring Field of Dreams and E.T. films on Thursday, September 22nd through Sunday, September 25th. Tickets are $5. Movie times on the website.
Destination Imagination (DI) is open for registrations. DI is a creative competition for teams of 3-6 kids led by parents. Kids put together a skit and also practice for spontaneous instant challenges. Sign up for a DI information session or join a team.
Wilmette Jr. Trevians are recruiting Kdg-2nd graders to play hockey in House Mite and Mini Mite programs. Season runs from September - February. Contact: leslie.humbel@yahoo.com
New Trier Township offers a Food Pantry 10am - 4pm weekdays for families that live/work in the township. NT Township also offers Emergency Financial Assistance, Legal Aid Clinic, property tax assistance, social service referrals and other available resources. Go to www.newtriertownship.com for more information.
PICKLES - kids supporting kids is a local nonprofit that provides free peer-to-peer support and resources for kids ages 6-18 affected by a parent’s cancer diagnosis. These fun, supportive youth groups meet monthly at Winnetka Community House. For more information: www.picklesgroup.org
Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:00-11:00 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
"Best Step Tutoring” offers free online tutoring for PreK-12 grades.
Scout Troop 2 Wilmette hosts Open House on September 25 at Erickson Woods from 2:00 - 4:00 pm for boys & girls grades 6-10. email: bsatroop2wilmette@gmail.com
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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Highcrest-MSWilmette-JH-516430278443448
Twitter: @hawkwolf39
Principal at Wilmette Junior High School; love being an educator and working with young people; value spending time with friends and family