Willard eNews - September 26, 2023
Please click on the links below for important information and upcoming events.
Willard Notices
Covid Questions? Please visit the RPS Website: 2023-2024 Updated COVID-19 Guidelines
HSA
Some important HSA info:
Reminders:
- If you have not done so, please pay your Willard dues HERE by October 1. Paying dues entitles your family access to the online directory on GroupSpot, and ensures that each student receives a spirit t-shirt (October) and yearbook (June). A HUGE THANK YOU to those who already paid! Your dues help fund the HSA's programming for the year.
- Please make sure to download the GroupSpot app HERE. You can get the latest school updates in real time on the app. The 2023-24 Willard directory will be going live in early October on GroupSpot, and it will only be available to dues-paying families. Don't miss out on getting contact info for each student, teacher, and staff person at Willard.
- The 2023 Willard Auction will be held at the Ridgewood Women's Club on Friday, Oct. 27, 7:00-10:30pm (an invitation will be emailed out soon). The auction organizers need your help procuring items to auction. Please click HERE for more info and to help.
- You can learn about our wonderful Birthday Book Program and purchase a book for your child HERE.
- Please click HERE if you'd like to donate to Willard Cares, which offers financial support and other forms of assistance to members of the Willard community. Families in need are encouraged to contact Mrs. Hoffman; all information is kept confidential.
Important Upcoming Dates:
- October is Walk to School Month! On Fridays in October, Mrs. Hoffman will meet students at various locations in the Willard neighborhood to walk to school. More info coming soon on this beloved "walking school bus" tradition.
- Oct 6: School spirit day (wear Willard or Ridgewood gear to school)
- Oct. 6: Final Frosty Friday this fall. $1 ice pops at dismissal
- Oct 10: Public HSA Meeting, 1:45-2:45pm, Willard cafeteria. All Willard parents are welcome to attend. We invited all the candidates running for the two open seats on the Board of Education to speak at the meeting if they would like.
- Oct. 10: Feel The Power school-wide assembly (following NJ's Week of Respect)
- Oct. 16-20: Willard Spirit Week. All students will receive a special Willard 2023-24 t-shirt paid for by dues.
- Oct. 17: Picture Day for grades K-2 (students in grades 3-5 who missed picture day on Sept. 21 will have their pictures done on Oct. 17).
- Oct. 27: Bake sale on the black top at dismissal
- Oct. 27: Willard Auction, 7-10:30pm, Ridgewood Women's Club
- Oct. 31: Halloween
- Oct 31-Nov. 3: Art Docent Week
Community
SSA Clothing Drive
Encore Music Studio
Greek Mythology
SSA Thanksgiving Food Drive
Autumn Country Fair
AlphaBest Holiday Camp
RHS Girls Soccer Clinic
Jamboree Casting Call
Willard eNews - September 19, 2023
Please click on the links below for important information and upcoming events.
Willard Notices
Please read these important safety reminders. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our children safe!
- Dogs are not permitted on school property during the school day. This includes arrival and dismissal. If your pet accompanies you on your walk to and from school, they must remain on a leash across the street from Willard property. We are also finding dog waste on the field, and our dumpster area is filled with dog waste bags. Please spread the word that our dumpster is for school trash only.
- Playgrounds are closed to the public before school and during the school day. Please do not allow children (including younger siblings) to play on equipment during drop off. Safety is our first priority, therefore we also ask that parents and caregivers do not walk by school during recess time to wave or make contact with the children.
- Please be mindful that at 3:00 and beyond, there is no supervision on Willard grounds. Please be sure you are supervising your child if he/she is remaining on school grounds. Middle school and high school students often congregate at Willard in the late afternoon, as well.
- For those who use California Street to drop off children, please be sure to keep the line moving. This area is for a quick stop, drop, and go. If you need to assist your child out of the car or would like to watch him/her enter the building, this is not the spot for you!
- There is no parking on Morningside or California during arrival and dismissal. The only exception is the Crossing Guard's car on Morningside. At dismissal, you may wait in your car at these locations for your child, but you may not park and leave your car.
The Cambodia Club is back!
The Ridgewood Cambodia Project has clubs at many schools in town, including Willard. Last year we had over 30 Willard students join our club to help support our 2 schools in Cambodia, while learning more about Cambodian culture and connecting with students. If your child is interested in joining us this year, please click here to sign up. We will keep you up to date with meeting dates and other important information. Our first meeting will be after school on Wednesday, September 27. We’re looking forward to another great year.
Karen Feder & Kelsey Parrasch
HSA
Some important HSA info:
The Willard Auction will be held at the Ridgewood Women's Club on Friday, Oct. 27, 7:00-10:30pm (an invitation will be emailed out soon). The auction organizers need your help procuring items to auction. Please click HERE for more info and to help!
Important Upcoming Dates:
Wednesday, Sept. 20: SEPAG (Special Education Parent Advisory Group) is hosting an activities fair. More info HERE.
Thursday, Sept. 21: School picture day for grades 3-5. Pictures for grades k-2 rescheduled now for 10/17 (not 10/10 as previously stated).
Friday, Sept. 22: The HSA will hold its first Frosty Friday of the school year. Ice pops will be sold for $1 each on the black top after school -- in three different spots: by the 1st grade door, 2nd/3rd grade door, and 3rd/5th grade door. Cash only; small bills appreciated.
Monday, Sept. 25: NO SCHOOL, Yom Kippur.
Other important info:
- The 2023-24 Willard online directory will be ready in early October, which will enable you to access the contact info for Willard classmates, faculty, and staff. Make sure to download the GroupSpot app that houses the online directory HERE. GroupSpot also gives you access to the latest school news and updates in real time!
- If you have not done so, please pay your Willard Dues HERE by October 1. Paying dues helps fund HSA's programming for the year, and entitles your family access to the online directory on GroupSpot, and a spirit t-shirt (October) and yearbook (June) for each student.
- The Ridgewood SEPAG coffee social will take place on Sept. 26, 8:45-9:30am.
- You can learn about our wonderful Birthday Book Program and purchase a book for your child HERE.
- Thank you for your continued support of our Willard Cares program, which provides financial assistance and other support for Willard families in times of need. Families in need are encouraged to contact Mrs. Hoffman; all information is kept confidential. Please click HERE if you'd like to help support Willard Cares.
Community
Autumn Country Fair
AlphaBest Holiday Camp
RHS Girls Soccer Clinic
Jamboree Casting Call
Irish Basketball
Ridgewood Cheer
Latin Club
Willard eNews - September 12, 2023
Please click on the links below for important information and upcoming events.
Willard Notices
Please read these important safety reminders. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our children safe!
- Dogs are not permitted on school property during the school day. This includes arrival and dismissal. If your pet accompanies you on your walk to and from school, they must remain on a leash across the street from Willard property. We are also finding dog waste on the field, and our dumpster area is filled with dog waste bags. Please spread the word that our dumpster is for school trash only.
- Playgrounds are closed to the public before school and during the school day. Please do not allow children (including younger siblings) to play on equipment during drop off. Safety is our first priority, therefore we also ask that parents and caregivers do not walk by school during recess time to wave or make contact with the children.
- Please be mindful that at 3:00 and beyond, there is no supervision on Willard grounds. Please be sure you are supervising your child if he/she is remaining on school grounds. Middle school and high school students often congregate at Willard in the late afternoon, as well.
- For those who use California Street to drop off children, please be sure to keep the line moving. This area is for a quick stop, drop, and go. If you need to assist your child out of the car or would like to watch him/her enter the building, this is not the spot for you!
- There is no parking on Morningside or California during arrival and dismissal. The only exception is the Crossing Guard's car on Morningside. At dismissal, you may wait in your car at these locations for your child, but you may not park and leave your car.
Please click here for Guidance Counselor's Corner.
The Cambodia Club is back!
The Ridgewood Cambodia Project has clubs at many schools in town, including Willard. Last year we had over 30 Willard students join our club to help support our 2 schools in Cambodia, while learning more about Cambodian culture and connecting with students. If your child is interested in joining us this year, please click here to sign up. We will keep you up to date with meeting dates and other important information. Our first meeting will be after school on Wednesday, September 27. We’re looking forward to another great year.
Karen Feder & Kelsey Parrasch
HSA
Some important HSA info:
SOME IMPORTANT NEWS FROM OUR HSA
The Welcome Back Panther Picnic was postponed to this Thursday, Sept. 14, 5-7pm, at the Willard field. There will be a quieter area on the kindergarten blacktop for anyone who prefers less noise and/or who needs a break. We will have a sensory-friendly early opening at 4:45pm.
Reminder on pizza for the picnic: If you picked up your pre-ordered pizza on Friday, you will have to order another one HERE for this Thursday (if you still want pizza at the picnic). If you did NOT pick up your pre-ordered pizza on Friday, a fresh pie will be waiting for you at the rescheduled picnic. If you missed the pizza order the first time, feel free to order HERE. ALL ORDERS FOR THE PICNIC MUST BE PLACED BY TONIGHT at 5PM.
Thank you to all the families who already paid their 2023-24 Willard dues! Kindly consider paying your dues by October 1st, so that the HSA can budget and plan for student programming throughout the year. Click HERE to pay your dues. As part of your dues, your child will receive a special Willard 2023-2024 t-shirt, and we need to confirm sizes! If you would like to adjust the sizing for your student(s) from those below , please click HERE to do so by Monday, Sept. 18.
- Kindergarten - Youth S
- 1st / 2nd grade - Youth M
- 3rd / 4th grade - Youth L
- 5th grade - Youth XL
Please save the date for:
9/15 - Rosh Hashanah
9/18 - Photo Day, K-2
9/21 - Photo Day, 3-5 **NOTE: A prior email had an incorrect date; 9/21 is correct**
9/22 - Frosty Friday (ice pops sold for $1 after school dismissal)
9/25 - Yom Kippur, No School
9/26 – The Ridgewood Special Education Parent Advisory Group, or Ridgewood SEPAG (formerly known as the LSHSA), coffee social at Willard from 8:45-9:30am, with the district's Special Programs Office
9/29 - Frosty Friday (ice pops sold for $1 after school dismissal)
Community
RHS Girls Soccer Clinic
Jamboree Casting Call
Irish Basketball
Ridgewood Cheer
Latin Club
Willard eNews - September 5, 2023
Please click on the links below for important information and upcoming events.
Willard Notices
Chess Club
HSA
Some important HSA info:
Important Reminders:
Dues: The Willard HSA, like other schools in our district, relies on a dues-structured membership to help fund enriching programs and activities. Paying dues grants you access to the online Willard directory (more info on the directory to come), entitles each student in your family to a yearbook in June, as well as to a Panther Pride t-shirt that’s perfect for school spirit days. Please kindly consider paying your dues by October 1st, so we can plan our budget for the year. Click HERE to pay your dues; there are discounted rates for families with more than one child at Willard.
GroupSpot: The GroupSpot app (available for phone or web) allows you to receive the latest school updates in real time (e.g., reminders about HSA events, Mrs. Hoffman's posts, and all things happening at Willard). GroupSpot also houses the online Willard directory (available to dues-paying families) and includes contact info for each student, teacher, and staff person at Willard. Click HERE for more info and HERE for an invitation to download the GroupSpot app. The updated 2023-24 Willard online directory will be available a few weeks after school starts.
Important Dates This Week:
TODAY, Tuesday, Sept. 5: First Day of School, Minimum Day (12:45 dismissal, no lunch at school)Our friends across the street at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church will be hosting an ice cream truck giveaway at dismissal for all students. Please visit the truck after school behind Willard (by the outdoor classroom/gazebo). We are so lucky to have such an amazing community that supports Willard!
Thursday, Sept. 7: Back to School Night at Willard, 7-9pm. More info HERE; adults only please, no students.
Friday, Sept. 8: Willard Spirit Day (the first Friday of every month). Send your students to school showing their school/town spirit by donning Willard wear, Ridgewood apparel, or green or maroon colored clothes!
Friday, Sept. 8, 5-7pm: Welcome Back Panther Picnic, Willard field. Please click HERE for more details. The HSA will be ordering large cheese pizzas from Santoni’s that you can pick up at the picnic (5pm and 5:30pm delivery times). Please pre-order pizza HERE by TONIGHT, September 5, end of day; only pre-ordered pizzas will be available the night of the picnic.There will be a (cash only) ice cream truck arriving at 6:15pm.
We encourage any families — especially those with students who have sensory issues or other concerns, who may have been unsure in the past — to attend an HSA function this year. Sensory-friendly opening at 4:45pm. At the picnic, there will also be a quieter area on the kindergarten blacktop for anyone who prefers less noise and/or who needs a break. As always, the Willard HSA is happy to work with the Ridgewood SEPAG (Special Education Parent Advisory Group, formerly known as LSHSA) to make our events as inclusive as possible.
Other Upcoming Important Dates:
9/15 - Rosh Hashanah
9/18 - Photo Day, K-2
9/21 - Photo Day, 3-5 **NOTE: A prior email had an incorrect date; 9/21 is correct**
9/22 - Frosty Friday (ice pops sold after school dismissal)
9/25 - Yom Kippur, No School
9/26 – The Ridgewood Special Education Parent Advisory Group, or Ridgewood SEPAG (formerly known as the LSHSA), will be co-hosting a coffee event at Willard, from 8:45-9:30am,with the district's Special Programs Office. This event will be a great opportunity for Willard parents to learn more about the Ridgewood SEPAG and to meet special education administrators and staff.
9/29 - Frosty Friday (ice pops sold after school dismissal)
10/27 - Get your childcare squared away now! The 2023 Willard Auction, a fun evening out for parents to benefit a good cause — updating the school auditorium — will be Friday, Oct. 27, 7-10pm, at The Ridgewood Women’s Club. More info and formal invitation to follow!
Community
Latin Club