A Message from the Administrative Team
Hi WJHS Families,
The New Trier Township Community offers a support grant program of which we would love to see our families take advantage. This grant program can provide financial assistance to residents for necessary expenses which are not covered by insurance. We encourage you to check out the web site here for more information and to apply if you are eligible.
8th grade Curriculum Night is tonight and we are looking forward to seeing our 8th grade families!
Here is the schedule - Curriculum Night begins at 5:30 PM for families with a student in band or orchestra and at 6:00 PM for all other families. Doors open at 5:55 PM.
As a reminder, there will be no student attendance tomorrow for a teacher institute day and no school on Monday in observance of Yom Kippur.
We hope you have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Kate, Eric and Nicole
Battle of the Books
It is time for the Battle of the Books at WJHS! This is a fun way to encourage our Wolves to read books from a variety of genres and engage in a friendly competition about what they've read. Students will register individually and read as many of the books from our Battle of the Books list of award-winning and highly recommended titles as they'd like.
All participating readers will attend our "Battle of the Books" on January 26. At this event students will be placed on random teams to participate in a Kahoot competition about all of the books. Students can attend optional check-in meetings during recess to discuss the books they've read with peers.
Interested students should register HERE by Friday, Oct 6. Various prizes will be offered to participating students, and we appreciate the generous support of the PTO in sponsoring the prizes.
Questions can be directed to Daphna Neirick, Mary Kate Lubawski, or Erin Schwarz.
WJHS Clubs are Beginning!
In addition to Homework Club which is described below, we are also excited to announce the kick off of our optional clubs for students beginning in the coming weeks. One of our strategic plan action steps this year is to create opportunities for interest and supportive clubs for students that do not require fees or registration; they can operate in a sign up or drop-in fashion and students can attend them flexibly as they are able. We asked our students what interested them, and from their responses, we created a list of clubs (with more coming soon) that will be sure to get them involved!
A few clubs started this week, and others will be added in the following weeks! Clubs are dependent on student attendance so please talk with your child about attending a club and finding a way to get involved at WJHS this year. Sign ups are posted around the school and some clubs are drop-in so no sign-up needed!
All of the clubs are hosted by WJHS staff, and will be held either during a lunch period or after school. After school, students may be picked up at the main entrance to the school after 4:20, or they may take the late activity bus from school, which leaves at 4:45 PM from the front of WJHS and drops students off at their local elementary school.
We will share additional information about new clubs as they are added throughout the school year, and we look forward to sharing news and updates with you as these initial clubs get off the ground and are running!
CLUBS STARTING THE WEEK OF 09/18
September 18: Pride Club: both lunches
September 19: Newspaper Club during 8th grade lunch
September 20: Drawing Club during both lunches
September 20: Board Game Club during 7th grade lunch
September 21: Mindful Coloring during both lunches
September 21: Lego Club, after school
September 29: Library Advisory Board, 8th grade lunch
Beginning October 2: Kindness Crew during 7th grade lunch
Clubs sponsored by the PTO can be found on the WJHS PTO website and below in the PTO Highlights section of the newsletter!
Some of our school and district clubs will begin later in the year. Tryouts for Science Olympiad will be in mid-late October, and tryouts for Math Counts are in December. More to come!
Homework Club has Begun!
Homework Club runs from 3:20-4:20 in the Learning Commons. This is meant to be a place for students to get some work done before they head home. Homework Club is supervised by WJHS teachers. If your child finds completing work at home a challenge, Homework Club may be a great resource. Homework Club meets Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays unless there is a staff meeting, and Thursdays.
Students do not need to sign up ahead of time and there is no fee to attend. After school activity busses are also available for students who need transportation home.
SEL News!
District 39 has been working this year to improve our parent communication about Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in the district, and hope you all had an initial introduction to what you can expect as far as classroom SEL instruction this year. All of our grade level objectives, as well as other supports for families are available on the D39 SEL Website HERE.
District 39 is committed to providing a safe and equitable learning environment that fosters a mindset of empathy, respect, and belonging for all district students and staff. For that reason, elements of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging have been integrated into our SEL objectives, and we want to bring about more awareness for all of our students and families about various ways we can celebrate one another in our supportive community throughout the year. This calendar provides dates and information on many celebratory dates for students and staff of District 39.
Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 and continues through October 15. There, are many opportunities to celebrate the history and contributions of those who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central, and South America. In our local community around Chicago, there are many events where you and your family can experience this celebration, and additional opportunities are available on PBS or by checking out some of the virtual exhibits with your child(ren) available online through the Smithsonian Institution.
PTO Highlights
PTO-SPONSORED FALL AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
Registration is limited so sign up TODAY on the WJHS PTO website HERE! Any questions? Contact clubs@wjhspto.com
NEW: Fantasy Club: Fall’s focus will be NFL football! Learn about football, track your favorite players, be in a virtual football league. Mr. Larsen heads up this fun new club for 10 Mondays after school. Begins 10/2 (no meeting 10/9 or 11/20). $120
ACES Debate Club ALERT: Intermediate Section (returning debaters) still accepting registrations; other sections are full. For grades 5-8, meets after school 3:45-4:45pm on Thursdays at Highcrest Middle School beginning 9/28. $280 Click HERE for more information and to register.
Latin Club: Only open to Latin students grades 7-8. Partake of all things Latin! Craft Roman naval and mural crowns, tie-dye togas, watch the original Clash of the Titans, celebrate a Roman Halloween and craft the dress of gladiators! Magistra/Kelly Shoemaker heads up this club that meets 8 Thursdays after school beginning 9/28 (no meeting 11/16 or 11/23). $120
Arts & Crafts Club: Explore new and off the beaten paths methods of art making! Ms. Madeline Brueggemann-Pappageorge leads this fun club that meets 10 Mondays (Section 1) OR 10 Tuesdays (Section 2) after school beginning 10/2 or 10/3. Sections are identical. $120
Dungeons & Dragons Club: For enthusiasts and newcomers! Learn this creative game and run exciting campaigns, some even homebrew! Bring your dice (if you have some) and your friends and get ready to roll for initiative. Mr. Chapp will teach all the basics in the Learning Commons on 10 Thursdays after school beginning 9/28 (no meeting 11/16 or 11/23). $120
Games & Strategies Club: Match wits and powers of deduction with and against your classmates by playing traditional boards games as well as new ones. Nothing electronic or battery operated! Organized by Brenda Hsu and held 6 Thursdays after school. Begins 11/2 (no meeting 11/16 or 11/23). $120
LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
The Courtyard: Volunteers supervise this space where kids can relax during lunchtime recess to play board games, doodle/draw, read books or just talk with friends. Come at 11:50am - 1:10pm any weekday to open/close up the courtyard by bringing out the games & supplies bin from our storage unit. Sign up click HERE. Questions? Contact volunteers@wjhspto.com.
The Lunchroom: Volunteers help serve food to the kids in line either on the menu side or the grab & go side! Peek at your kid during lunch and at the same time help out the lunchroom staff by providing an extra set of hands! Come at 11:15am - 12:45pm most weekdays. Sign up HERE.
2023-24 WJHS YEARBOOKS ON SALE
WJHS 2023-24 Yearbooks are $28 each and can be purchased HERE. Yearbooks will be delivered to the school and distributed to your child the last week of school. NOTE: When asked to “Search Name List”, your child’s name will not come up. Just click “Add a Name” and enter your child’s name. Questions? Contact yearbook@wjhspto.com.
ATTN: 7TH GRADE PARENTS - 2024 8TH GRADE WASHINGTON D.C. TRIP NEWS
Teacher Paul Harper is excited to announce that next year’s trip to Washington D.C. and Williamsburg is NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION. This is an opportunity for our 8th Grade students to explore some of our nation’s most important historical sites while experiencing incomparable learning moments. This trip is limited in space to 125 students and after the initial seats are filled students will be added to a waitlist for the trip. Please note that waitlisted students could still make the trip if additional seats come open or students cancel. Click HERE to learn more and/or to register. This trip is not run by the school or the PTO and is teacher run as an elective opportunity. Please contact Paul Harper at paul.w.harper@gmail.com if you have questions!
District Update
No School Tomorrow and Monday
A reminder that our schools will be closed tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 21) AND Monday (Sept. 25) for a District-wide Institute Day and Rosh Hashanah.
Shoutout to Romona Elementary School!
District 39 would like to congratulate Romona Elementary School on being named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School! This is the third time that Romona has earned the distinction (2006, 2017), given by the U.S. Department of Education. The National Blue Ribbon School award celebrates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for – and attaining – exemplary achievement. Romona was recognized by National Blue Ribbon Schools as an “Exemplary High Performing School,” one of only 14 in the State of Illinois to be honored in that category. Schools earning this designation are among their state’s highest-performing schools.
We are so proud of all of the teaching and learning that occurs in ALL SIX of our schools and congratulations to Romona on this prestigious award!
Board of Education Meetings
Our Board of Education held its regular business meeting on Monday, Sept. 18 at 7 pm at the Mikaelian Education Center. The Board heard a presentation on our Strategic Plan Action Steps for the 2023-24 school year and approved this plan. The Strategic Plan Action Steps – by goal – as well as a summary of our accomplishments from last school year are available on our D39 Strategic Plan website. The Board also approved several updates to Board policies and conducted its regular monthly business. Agendas and materials for all Board of Education meetings are available here.
Parent Education Events
District 39 is committed to providing family-focused programming throughout the year geared towards providing tips, guidance, and support for our parents! We recently hosted our second event of the year titled “Supporting your Neurodivergent Learner: Strategies for Success.” A recording of that presentation is now available.
Our next event, titled “Parenting in the Digital Age”, is also one of our most popular presentations! Families can participate in-person at Highcrest Middle School or virtually via Zoom for this event, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 11 am. Registration is now open. Please check out our Parent Education page for our full schedule of Parent Ed events, registration links, and archived recordings.
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: @hawkwolf39
Twitter: @hawkwolf39