Willow Parent Bulletin # 12

Your children did well with our code red lock down drill on Thursday. Thank you for your help at home preparing for this. It's one of the hardest things we do with our students, but we know that preparing them is important. My son is 26 and learned about lockdowns when he was in school, too. Years later, in college, that knowledge and practice became necessary. Practice makes permanence.

The building is all things turkey right now. Familes have done an excellent job disguising them! We appreciate the time you put into helping your Wildcat with these projects!

We have school on Veterans' Day now so that we can teach the importance of the day. To those of you who have served, we thank you. To those of you who have lost someone, we send you our deepest sympathy. This morning many local veterans and current servicemen and women came together for a program at James Hart. The Hart band and orchestra played and a short history lesson was done by Hart teacher Matt Johnson. After, fellowship and stories were shared over breakfast. Those in attendance appreciated the cards and pictures done by our students. When you look at the turmoil in other parts of the world, it drives home the importance of honoring those who made/continue to keep our country both safe and free.

The Illinois State Board of Education Department of Public Health has put out a Health Advisory Message regarding a measles outbreak in the north suburbs of Cook County. We’d like to take this opportunity to send out the following reminders:

• If your student is sick, please keep them home and seek treatment as appropriate. Please do not medicate a fever and send them to school.
• See School Nurse Guidance which informs our practices.
• Students with fever/vomiting/diarrhea must be free to these symptoms without medicine for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Please update your students’ emergency contact list to be sure we can reach someone to pick up from school in the case of illness.
• Remain current with immunizations.
• See reminders below regarding healthy habits.
• See District 153 Health Services Webpage for more details.

When the snow comes, so do upset Wildcats when they don't have boots and snowpants to play in it. We are going to set up "loaner" stations in each grade level. If you have and coats, boots, or snowpants that are no longer used in your family, we would appreciate the donations. We will handle the washing disinfecting of items.

Please send in your food items next week. We have families in the community counting on us! Remember, you don't need to send every item. If we each bring one....that's over 600!

If you have already donated, thank you!

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Willow School November 13th-17th and on November 20th during parent teacher conferences. Please head over to Scholastic's website to upload money to your student's e-wallet and preview the books that will be available to purchase

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/willowschool153

The PTA needs volunteers for the fair!

Sign up is easy just head to the link below, register for signup.com and pick your times! Please choose as many time slots and days as you like!

https://signup.com/go/kezdkgy

Any questions? Please email erica.vanschaik@homewoodpta.org

Willow K-2 will attend the musical on November 15th. Your Wildcat's teacher sent home an "opt out" field trip form. If you do NOT WANT your child to attend, please complete the form and send it back.

Last week we had 587 people check our the Bulletin!

Those extended Wildcats were from 15 different states!

If you've noticed anyone at Willow going above and beyond, please use the link to recognize him/her/them! 💖 I share your kind words with them in my staff bulletin.

https://forms.office.com/r/L4vYqd7NpN

Nov 10: Veteran’s Day observed- 11:40 AM early dismissal

Nov 12: Diwali

Nov 11-18: Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week

Nov 13: World Kindness Day

Nov 13-17: School Psychologist Appreciation Week and American Education Week

Nov 14-17: Scholastic Book Fair

Nov 16: Picture retakes

Nov 17: End of Trimester 1

Nov 15: Education Support Professionals Day

Nov 20-21: Parent/Teacher Conferences

Nov 22: no school

Nov 23-24: Thanksgiving/ Black Friday- no school

Dec 3: Day of People with Disabilities

Dec 7-15: Hanukkah begins at sundown

Dec 15: PreK Fun Friday (no PreK classes)

Dec 22: 11:40 AM early dismissal

Dec 23-Jan 7: Winter break