Woodlawn Principal's Blog 5/18/18

One more week for our 8th graders. I have enjoyed this group of students and I know that they will be successful in high school. There has been so much happening around the school and district, including last Tuesday night when we had our student recognition night with the School Board. I am always amazed at how great our middle school students are both inside and outside of the classroom.


SHS Consortium Competition

Woodlawn took 3rd place overall at the annual SHS Consortium Competition! It was a fun day filled with math & problem-solving! Some of the other highlights from the day included:

  • 7th grade written individual competition: Michael Movmyga received 2nd place
  • 7th grade written team competition: Woodlawn received 3rd overall
  • Eight-person team competition: Woodlawn received 1st place
  • 8th grade two-person competition: Joy Qu & Jonathan Abraham received 2nd place
  • Relay Competition: Nivali Musunuri, Ryan Liu, Aayush Kashyap & Arin Larecha received 1st place

Our team consisted of team members Jason Zhao, Advaith Thimmanchera, Arnab Roy, Luke Cuasay, Joy Qu, Yifan Zhao, Jonathan Abraham Arin Larecha, Michael Movmyga, Blake Duvall, Ender Starr, Nitika Goswami, Aayush Kashyap, Kevin Zhang, Rikin Thakkar, Luke Barber, Ryan Liu, Nazar Kushnir, Timothy Yu , Sean Li , Aidan Ji , Danny Shepin , Kashyap Rajesh, Richelle Shi, Nivali Musunuri, Nikita Musunuri.


PTO

VISIT THE PTO BLOG!


Special Lunch

Woodlawn had a our final Special Lunch today. Thank you to all of our PTO volunteers who have given up their time to be a part of our Woodlawn community. I am so thankful for our families and all they do to make Woodlawn a great place. The PTO also provided popsicles to all students as a thank you for being so patient with our pizza snafu a couple of weeks ago.


Supply Kits

You can still order a supply kit for the 2018-19 school year. PTO will take orders until May 31st.


Food Drive

This Monday, May21st is the last day to bring in non-perishable food for our Food Drive. The homeroom that collects the most will win a party! Send in a canned good on Monday.


DOES YOUR 8TH-GRADER HAVE A POSITIVE LUNCH ACCOUNT BALANCE?

Positive lunch account balances (any amount) may be transferred to a younger sibling enrolled in District 96, Grades 1–8, for the 2018–19 school year.

Make or request your transfer NO LATER THAN Fri., June 8.

To make the transfer online:

Log into your K–12 PAYMENT CENTER account and select “Transfer Funds” on the left side of the website home page. OR

To request a transfer if you have not yet established an account:

Send a “Transfer Request” email to Michelle Mize in the Business Office. Include the following info: Names of BOTH the graduating 8th grader AND the remaining D96 sibling whose account should receive the transferred amount.

Note: All un-transferred positive lunch account balances in excess of $10 will automatically be refunded. A check will be issued on June 20 and will be mailed to the home address included in our database.


Just Thinking

A couple of things that I need to look at for next year include something our School Board members said to me during a visit they made to Woodlawn about a month ago. The members asked how I could inform the community of the positive things that are happening during flex and in the classrooms. I know students come home and point out the bad parts because my kids did the same exact thing. My idea is to bring in small groups of parents and let them see students in action. I will revisit this at the beginning of next year.

The other thing that I want to put together for this summer is a group of students who can be a part of a diverse group to help bring our student body closer in the future. We will meet at the end of July and just talk about what we can do to help students gain a better understanding of each other and how to be more respectful of each other’s cultures.


NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) REPORTS

The District will send a School Messenger Broadcast today

between 2:30pm and 4:00pm with instructions for accessing your child's MAP student progress report online. The message will include links to more information about understanding student growth, RIT scores and general information about the MAP assessment.

Please contact Jeanne Spiller, Assistant of Teaching and Learning if you would like more information about your child's report. (847) 459-4260 ext. 8010 [email protected]


FAMILY FUN OPPORTUNITY: BIKE RODEO – Sat., May 19

in the St. Mary's Church Parking Lot (South), at the northwest corner of Buffalo Grove and Lake Cook Roads, 12 – 2 p.m., Sat., May 19.

The Buffalo Grove Police Department is sponsoring a Bike Rodeo– a bicycle skills course designed by the office of the Illinois Secretary of State to help kids test their bike riding skills. The Bike Rodeo is open to children of all skill levels, ages 5–12 year old, and features multiple prizes by age group–and a new bike grand prize. MORE INFO


Train with Stevenson Coaches

Stevenson Athletics & the Patriot Recreation Education Program (PREP) are presenting Futures Night on May 21, 6–8 PM, at Stevenson for future SHS Patriot Athletes currently in Grade 7 or 8. SHS encourages 1st-time athletes to attend. MORE INFO


iPad Policy Change for 2018-19

There is a district wide change in our damaged iPad policy heading into next year.  You have been getting updates from most of the year related to broken iPads at Woodlawn. Here is the statement going to all schools for next year.

The end of the year is a busy time for everyone, but it's always good to get a head start and thinking next year. The policy concerning iPad damage will be different next year. This change is reflected on the flyer below and in greater detail in the 2018-19 Student Handbook. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.


8th Grade Events

 We are one week away from the last day of school for our 8th graders. The last day of attendance for them is a half day on May 25th. We have a lot planned right up to our 8th graders last day. Here our some important upcoming events so please mark your calendars!

  • Friday, May 18 - Bowling Party at Brunswick Zone in Vernon Hills (6:30 - 8:00)
  • Wednesday, May 23 - Locker Clean Out
  • Thursday, May 24 - Graduation Practice and Great America Trip
  • Friday, May 25 - PTO Sponsored 8th Grade Party (Includes Breakfast, a DJ and yearbooks will be handed out)
  • Tuesday, May 29 - Graduation 8p.m. at SHS

Required Summer Reading

School District 96 recognizes that summer reading is critically important for a student's continued academic growth.

Students entering Grade 6 or 7 or 8 in the 2018–19 school year have a required summer reading assignment that is due on the first day of school.

Please read this PARENT LETTER for more info.

Your student must read at least ONE BOOK from The Power of One SUMMER READING LIST.

CLICK ON THIS LINK (CLICK HERE FOR SPANISH) for details of the Middle School Summer Reading Assignment and the Parental Acknowledgment Form, to be signed by the student and his or her parent or guardian.

Please contact me with any questions.


Finally, an update on the month of May tag game with my friends. There was a tag scare last Saturday night when my son said, “I think that I just saw someone in the backyard.” Now you might think that I am crazy, but I told the family that no one was allowed in or out of the house as I went upstairs to get an ariel view to put eyes on one of my buddies. During May, I am constantly making sure that the garage door is shut, doors are locked and that there are no security breaches at the compound (my house). Look for another update next week. I am grilling in the backyard for a high school graduation party. Uh oh.

Tonight is the bowling party for our 8th graders. Just hanging out with 200 of my closest 13-14 year old friends.  Good times. I usually bowl about 110 point game. Too many distractions. I should be in the 130 point range. I have to beat our Science Olympiad coach, Mr. Alvarez. He beat me last year. Plus, I have to be worried about getting tagged. Lots going on here.

GOOD LUCK TO OUR TRACK TEAM IN PEORIA!!!!!!!