Willow Parent Bulletin #14

November 19, 2021

heading towards Thanksgiving break

November is always a reflective kind of month for me . . . How did the school year start? What do we need to fine tune? . . . and that ultimately leads to . . . What’s coming next? Toss in a pandemic and there's a lot to ponder!

We've spent the month giving students specific opportunities and examples of being kind. When I walk the halls, open car doors or observe a classroom, I get to see your children at their best. There’s a pulse when you enter the building…a tangible excitement about school, despite all of the changes that we have been forced to make.

Learning begins at home and gets fine-tuned by dedicated and amazing teachers. We understand how fortunate we are to work in a community where education is supported and valued. There are few other places where the Board of Education and Superintendent are so vested in children…your children.

Another opportunity to partner with the school comes during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Your child has been hard at work! There have been letters and numbers to learn, fact families to master, games to play, music to sing, art to create, and sight words to memorize . . . just to name a few. Staff and students have been giving their time and best efforts. Please be sure you have signed up for a time to share in their experiences. This morning you received an email with information on what priority skills were taught this Trimester in your child's class. This letter will help you to better understand the grades on your wildcat's report card.

If you are signed up for an in-person conference, please enter through door B. (by the flag pole) If you have your vaccination card out and ready, that will help us move the line quickly. Please arrive a bit early so checking in doesn't make you late.

If you were able to see the flurry of messages this morning, you know that we have had some Covid cases this past week. I'm including some testing locations for those of you who are interested. We will continue to follow all health department guidelines and have been in daily contact with them.

As many get back to a "more normal" type of Thanksgiving, I hope you will give pause to all for which we have to be grateful. Small things. School things. Family things. Each other things.

Click here to see Mrs. Korso's and Mrs. Vazquez's rooms' take on the Macy's Parade

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Book Blurb: "You Should Meet Shirley Chisolm"

Author Laurie Calkhoven has written a Level Three Reader biography about Shirley Chisholm. She was the first African-American woman elected to Congress. Her inspiring story, You Should Meet Shirley Chisholm, has been written in an easy to read and understand format for our students at Willow. This book will make a wonderful addition to our biography section. The closest library to have this book for check out is the Palos Heights Public Library.

PTA Cook's Night Out

Come out to Twisted Q, in Homewood, on Tuesday, November 30th to support the PTA! The fundraiser runs from open to close, so you can grab some delicious Twisted Nachos or Burnt Ends Chili for lunch…or maybe a delicious Dixie Brisket sandwich, Chicken Parmesan or a Pulled Pork Platter for dinner!! Homewood PTA will receive 15% of all sales for this fundraiser, so please be sure to bring a copy of the flier!

All proceeds earned from this fundraiser go right back to the schools, in the form of enrichment activities for our students. Homewood PTA appreciates your support!