Woodlawn had a bunch of first time events for the 17-18 school year this week. We had our first dessert day as the PTO sponsored DQ blizzards for our students. We also had our first week of pulling students for intervention time (additional help in classes), our first soccer and basketball games and our first assessments. It is time to get down to the business of school.
Community Service Club
The Community Service Club will have our first meeting on Monday, September 11th, afterschool in room 818. This is a great opportunity to look at the needs of our school and community, making a solid partnership and showing off our amazing middle school students. Everyone is invited.
iPad Update
Great job by our students this week as there were no broken iPads! Woo hoo. As is the new normal, observe and remind your child that there is an expensive device in sits in their backpack.
Hurricane Relief
Many, many students have been asking me if we are going to have something where students can contribute to the hurricane relief effort. The Community Service Club and Student Council will be teaming up to help victims of Harvey and Irma. Our first relief effort will include collecting donations of new and unused clothing items, shoes, underwear, socks, school supplies, as well as canned food and water. We will also be having an everyone gives something cash rally to show our support. That can be a penny to whatever amount the students feel comfortable giving. The cash donations will be given to the American Red Cross Relief Efforts.
Visit the PTO BLOG!! Visit the PTO BLOG!! Visit the PTO BLOG!!
D96 Parent Review Committee
Woodlawn has an opening for our district level Parent Review Committee. Here is a brief description of the purpose of the committee. Ideally, this would be a two year commitment.
- To share with parents information regarding district goals and initiatives, curricular and instructional innovations, programs and other informational topics. (i.e. District Goals, MAP and PARCC Results)
- To review school board or school code required topics (i.e. Handbook, Discipline Policy, Grants, Calendar)
- To understand parent perceptions and solicit feedback on school district topics to assist the district in communication and planning.
Friendly Reminder
Remember the 24 hour rule. If your child is feverish (100 degrees or higher), has diarrhea (ugh) or is vomiting (double ugh), keep them away from school for 24 hours after the last bout of the illness. Everything else is fine, we have plenty of hand sanitizer.
Daily Announcements
Click here to see the Woodlawn daily announcements. The announcements come out each day at around 10a.m. Bookmark this link, you will be glad that you did.
PARCC Results
Today your student is bringing home his or her PARCC data for the PARCC assessment administered in April 2017. Please check your student’s backpack for these assessment results.
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is the assessment and accountability measure used for students enrolled in Illinois public schools. Students in Grades 3–8 take this assessment in the academic areas of English language arts and mathematics.
PARCC results show whether your student met grade-level expectations and is on track for the next grade level. Please note that PARCC is only one measure of how your student is performing academically.
For more information and support in understanding your student’s PARCC assessment results, please refer to the following:
- DISTRICT 96 RESOURCES FOR PARENTS (including parent letters in multiple languages)
- ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PARCC PLACE
- UNDERSTAND THE SCORE
Also, please feel free to direct your questions about your student’s results to the principal of the District 96 school your student currently attends. (That is Woodlawn in case you forgot that you were reading my blog)
KCSD96 Text Message Opt-In Process
District 96 uses the School Messenger system to communicate with our parent community by email and–in some instances–also by text message and/or phone call.
If you would like to receive text messages from School District 96 when the subject and nature of the communication warrant our sending them (to advise you of a late-returning bus, for example), it’s necessary for you first to have sent a text message of Y or YES to this District 96 short code number: 67587. Or, if you prefer, use your mobile phone to scan the QR code in this School Messenger FLYER (English & Spanish) and send your Y or YES reply.
To opt out of our text messages, simply reply STOP to any text message District 96 sends you.
Please be advised that standard message and data rates for text messaging may apply, depending on your mobile carrier and plan.
Parent to Parent Network Presents
Better Outcomes for Your Kids–Sept. 12
As a principal and a parent, I know that as children grow, parenting challenges change.
A great opportunity for KCSD96 mothers and fathers to build on their own parenting skills is presented by District 96 on Tues., Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. This parent program featuring guest speaker Dr. Michael Maniacci–a longtime favorite of District 96 parents–will be held at Twin Groves Middle School, 2600 N. Buffalo Grove Rd., Buffalo Grove.
Dr. Maniacci’s presentation is appropriate for parents whose students are in grades KDG–8. He will talk about discipline that’s effective–that is, that does not use punishment or intimidation–to lead children to better outcomes. He’ll also answer your questions. MORE INFO
Please park in the large lot south of the school on Buffalo Grove Road and enter through the doors facing that parking lot. Watch for signs inside directing you to the Learning Center.
This program for parents begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m., but arriving late or leaving early as your family schedule requires is fine.
Questions? Call 847.459.4260, ext. 8022.
One More Time Newcomers!!
An Invitation to Newcomers to Our District 96 Community
Has your family recently moved to the United States or are you and your student(s) new to this area?
On September 13th at 7 p.m., parents of registered students in Kindergarten–Grade 8 are invited to Woodlawn, for a program to welcome you to our community and introduce you to our District 96 culture.
Learn about and understand our home-school connection, classroom dynamics, patterns of communication to expect from our teachers and administrators, and more. Ask questions and help us understand how we can best support you as newcomers acclimating to the culture of a new school district, neighborhood, and community.
While all interested parents are welcome, please note that the focus of this evening is not specifically curricular and general procedural information, which will be shared with all District 96 parents on their students’ designated grade-level Curriculum Nights.
Rather, this is an informational opportunity for parents who–like their students–are experiencing our social customs and practices for teaching and learning for the first time.
Questions? Please contact Director of Language and Early Literacy Katie Sheridan at [email protected]
Finally, when I was in 7th grade, my parents sold our house and we moved. I went from being one of the kings of my school to being “that new kid”. Awful. I have never lost that feeling and when new students move into Woodlawn, I always have my eye on how they are doing. After a year and a half, I made my friend group and it was off to high school. The only problem was, my junior high had boundaries where half the kids went to one high school, while the other half wound up at my high school. Needless to say, all of the guys I befriended, wound up at the other high school. Great. Thanks mom and dad. Here we go again.
While waiting in line at freshmen registration, one of the football coaches approached me. Clearly noticing the future potential on my 5’2” 120 pound frame, he asked if I was going to try out for football. Although I had never played, I agreed to play and went to ask my mom to sign the permission slip. She flat out refused. We argued back and forth until I played the card that would hit her hard, “Mom, you made me move and I don’t have any friends”. She signed the form. It was a dirty thing for me to do, but I really wanted to try it.
I wound up on the freshmen “B” football team. We were bad. We lost our first three games by a combined score of 105-0. The good is that I made friends. I met Gordie, Hammer, Milk Man (his dad owned a dairy), VD (Van Deeren), Nina (pronounced 9 ah), and those guys introduced me to TC, Moshi, Gene, Squish, Red and Roe. I do not believe that we ever intended to be close, close friends, but it happened. We have all gone on to be successful in our own way and on very rare occasions, we all gather and don’t miss a beat.
Tonight, I get to see one of my buddies get honored. He is a true visionary. He took a town by storm, imposing his will on that town by starting a youth football program and working tirelessly to show everyone that it could be done. In the meantime, hundreds of young football players were given an opportunity to learn, play and enjoy the game of football. Before the start of the Vernon Hills Football game tonight, my buddy (Nina - 9 ah) Mark Peterson will have his name up on the scoreboard for future generations to see. I am really proud of him and so very happy.
When your middle schooler hangs with his/her friends, you could be looking at a group that they will be with for a long, long time. Lots of wonderful memories can be starting.
By the way:
Gordie - Is a graphic design artist
Moshi - Is a high school english teacher
Nina - Is highly successful in many different businesses
Milk Man - Is a aeronautical engineer
G-Man - Is just a principal
Have a great weekend. Go Pack Go!