Welcome to Willows!
Welcome
We are so happy to have you and your daughter join the Willows community. Here you will find all the information you need to help your daughter become an Eagle this fall.
Have a question? Call the front office at 847-824-6900 or email us.
Course Registration & Math Placement
Math placement tests are given to incoming students to help our math department identify the best fit math class for your daughter.
Course registration links are sent via email after students have completed enrollment. Student schedules will be posted on WillowsWeb by early August. Students must be officially enrolled in order for math placement and course registration to be processed.
Your First Day of School
Click on any heading below to expand the section and learn more
To help our students use their time well over the summer and keep their minds sharp, we ask students to continue their studies over the summer by completing the summer enrichment requirements.
Download the summer enrichment packet. All tasks are to be completed before school begins and brought to class on the first day of school.
Willows has partnered with Schoolbelles (school code S3004) as uniform provider. The uniform skirt, blazer, and PE uniform must be purchased through Schoolbelles. (PE uniform shorts are also used for many athletic team uniforms so you may consider an additional pair.) Students can be measured anytime at the Schoolbelles store located in Chicago at 7246 West Foster. Blouses, socks, tights, and shoes can be purchased at your favorite store or Schoolbelles. Visit our uniform page for more information.
Marla’s lunch partners with national and local restaurants, delivering fresh and delicious lunches every day of the school year.
Marla’s Lunch arranges for delivery to the front office and each lunch comes in a bag or box labeled with each student’s name. Only students who order lunch will receive one. Marla’s does not send extra lunches to be purchased “the day of.” In order for students to get lunch, parents must order it ahead of time.
Parents are provided with a monthly menu and must order lunches at least 1 week in advance; orders for the following week must be confirmed each Monday at 12pm noon. The system prevents any changes after Monday at 12 PM.
Microwaves are provided for student use if they prefer to bring their own lunch.
Link to login and order: https://marlaslunch.boonli.com/login
Instructions to set up a new account will be available in August.
For more information about our lunch program, click here.
Willows has an online spirit shop, hosts pop-up spirit shops several times a year and sells a small selection of Willows gear in the front office. Contact the Front Office for more information.
The athletic department hosts a shop each athletic season for athletes and fans. Contact our Athletic Director, Mrs. Rachel Meiner, for more information.
Fall sports start August 12th for high school and August 26th for middle school. Visit the Athletic Forms Page for required information. Contact our Athletic Director, Mrs. Mrs. Rachel Meiner, for more information.
Visit our bus servvices page for more information or contact Alicia Garcia, garcia@willowsacademy.org.
The State of Illinois requires a number of health forms on file before your daughter enters Willows. All forms should be uploaded via WillowsWeb. Visit our health forms page for more information.
The Parent-Student Handbook contains the school policies.
Camp Soar and our Athletic Camps are great opportunities to get to know classmates and get acquainted with our campus. Visit willowsacademy.org/summer for more information.
2024-25 Important Dates
Fall Parent and Family Events
- August 14th: New Student/Parent Orientation
- August 18th: Family Picnic and Locker Set-up
- August 19th: 6th Grade Welcome, Half Day
- August 20th: First Day of School
- August 22nd: Parent Back-to-School Night
- August 23rd: Field Day (noon dismissal)
- September 24th-September 25th: 9th Grade Overnight
- October 10th – October 11th: Parent/Teacher/Mentor Conferences
- October 24th – October 26th: Fall Play
- October 27th: Open House
- November 9th: Holiday Prelude Fundraiser
- November 27th-November 29th: Thanksgiving Break
- December 6th: Christmas Concert
- December 20th-January 6th: Christmas Break
Spring Parent and Family Events
- February 13th: Parent/Teacher/Mentor Conferences
- February 21st – February 22nd: Senior Mother-Daughter Overnight
- February 28th: Mardi Gras Carnival
- March 13th – March 15th: Spring Musical
- March 17th-March 21st: Spring Break
- April 3rd: Mother/Daughter Luncheon
- April 17th-April 21st: Easter Break
- May 1st: May Crowning & Spring Concert
- May 21st: Honors Assembly
- May 22nd: Senior Baccalaureate Mass, Senior Graduation and Gala
- May 29th: 8th Grade Ribbon Mass and Graduation
- June 2nd: Athletic Banquet
Lunch Program: Marla's Lunch
Willows has a partnership with Marla’s Lunch. Students can pick from restaurant meals that are delivered hot and fresh right at lunchtime. Learn more about our lunch program here.
FAQs for Parents
Questions about tuition should be directed to Alicia Garcia, 847-824-6900 ext 244.
Access your Blackbaud Tuition Management account through the Resource Board on WillowsWeb.
You can make changes yourself in WillowsWeb by clicking on your name in the top right corner and select “Profile.”
Willows uses a number of methods to communicate with families.
Face-to-face, in person conversations and meetings are the best way to share important information. Phone calls or video calls are a close second. Our teachers also communicate via email, but please allow at least one business day for them to respond. Teacher email addresses are available in the directory on WillowsWeb.
WillowsWeb is our learning management system where your daughter’s grades and progress will be posted. Grades are updated at least every two weeks.
Willows Weekly is the weekly electronic newsletter sent each Saturday at 4pm.
Willows uses the BrightArrow notification system to send text messages or robocalls and emails in case of a school closure or emergency. This system syncs with the information in WillowsWeb. Each individual must opt in after the first text message to continue receiving messages.
Our school day goes from 8-3. Attendance is taken in homeroom at 8:05am.
High school bonus period classes meet from 3:04-3:46pm
The building is open from 7:15 AM – 5PM during the school year. During summer and breaks, the building is open Monday-Thursday 9am-3pm and Friday 9am-12pm.
We ask that student cell phones be off and away from the time they enter the building until the final bell rings at 3pm. If you need to give your daughter a message, call the front office 847-824-6900 or email frontoffice@willowsacademy.org and we can give a message to her. Students are permitted to use the front office phone during break and lunch to make a call home.
All drivers are asked to treat Rose Avenue as a one-way street westbound in the morning and afternoon. Cars should turn onto Rose from First Street and be mindful of blocking any driveways. Upon exiting the lot, please proceed left (west) to Second Street.
Willows has partnered with Marla’s Lunch to provide hot lunch delivery from popular restaurants on a daily basis.
For safety reasons, students are not permitted to order or receive other food deliveries during the school day.
Click here for more information about our lunch program.
Parents should email attendance@willowsacademy.org or call the Front Office at 847-824-6900 before 8:00 a.m. each day their daughter will be absent. She can find out her missing work by contacting a classmate or talking with her teacher when she returns to school.
Visit our bus servvices page for more information or contact Alicia Garcia, garcia@willowsacademy.org.
The School Directory is available on WillowsWeb. The directory lists each family and their addresses. It has a list view and a map view.
We have several point people that can help you navigate your daughter’s transition to Willows.
Lead Teachers. Each grade has 2-3 Lead Homeroom Teachers who coordinate the student life for the class.
Class Coordinator. Each grade has 2-3 parent volunteers who facilitate communication and friendship among the parents of each grade.
Mentors. Your daughter’s mentor is a resource for you and a partner throughout the year.
Middle School Point Person: Angela Fortunato, Assistant Head of School
High School Point Person: Suzanne James, High School Academic Dean
Mentoring: Maida Fernandez, Dean of Student Life
Health & Medical: Katie Stangel, Interim Head of School
Athletics: Rachel Meiner, Athletic Director
College Counseling: Nancy Brinckerhoff, Director of College Counseling
Tuition & Financial Aid: Alicia Garcia, Business & Development Coordinator
Volunteer opportunities: Katie Stangel, Interim Head of School
Student email accounts: Therese Chin Lee, Director of Events & Technology
High school student activities & clubs: Maida Fernandez, Dean of Student Life
Middle school student activities & clubs: Kate Cusack, Director of Middle School Student Life
Opportunities to Connect with Other Parents:
- Class Coordinators
- WhatsApp chat for each grade
- Class Get-Togethers
- Family Picnic
Parent Formation
- Raising Great Girls
- CanaVox for Moms
- Mass
- Monthly Evenings of Recollections for Moms at Willows and Dads at Northridge
Opportunities to Connect with Teachers & Mentors:
- Back-to-School Night
- Parent-Teacher-Mentor Conferences
Interested in volunteering? Contact Katie Stangel, Dean of Students and Parents, stangel@willowsacademy.org, 847-824-6900, ext 240.
The best way to get involved is show up – parents are always welcome at daily mass, bring the family to watch a game or a play, come out and hear one of our speakers in our Raising Great Girls series.
Willows hosts two major fundraisers for the school:
Annual Fund
Holiday Prelude Dinner, November 11, 2023
Student Council sells pizza coupons in the fall to raise money for student activities.
$1 Jeans Days and Bake Sales raise money for clubs and class activities throughout the year.
Hosting an international student is a great way to build cross-cultural friendships and offset the cost of tuition. Contact Lucia Pardilla, International Program Coordinator.
FAQs for Girls
Course schedules will be posted in WillowsWeb near the end of the summer. An Email notification will be sent to parents that schedules are available. There is an add drop period at the beginning of each semester.
The first day of school is a half days to allow time to get acquainted, meet all of her teachers, meet her mentor, and come together for an all school mass.
Your daughter’s mentor will be published in WillowsWeb along with her schedule. She will have the opportunity to meet her mentor during the first week of school.
Textbooks are distributed during the first days of school. Textbooks are the property of Willows and covered by the Comprehensive Fee. Each student is responsible for returning all of her books in good condition at the end of the year.
Students are responsible to purchase any summer reading materials or check them out from the library.
The Willows lunchroom has microwaves available for student use. All students have a full-period for lunch. This allows enough time to eat, play in the gym, or go outside if the weather is nice. Many clubs and other student groups schedule meetings during lunch to allow students to participate.
All students are assigned a locker in the high school or middle school hallways. Students enrolled in PE are assigned a gym locker. In general, locks are not used. However, the Dean of Students has locks available for rent. Two standard locker shelves are recommended for high school lockers and one shelf is optional for middle school.
Locker assignments will be posted in time for the Family Picnic and Locker Set Up.
Willows offers daily mass at 9:45.
Two lost and found bins are in the lunchroom and middle school hallway. Items that remain unclaimed are eventually sent to a charitable organization. Remember to label all of your belongings with your name, especially your blazer!
New students in grades 7-12 will receive information about their email address in an email to their parents before school starts. New 6th grade students will receive their email address when school begins.