Friday, November 4, 2016

Fall Musical
Our fall musical this year, Willy Wonka Jr., was absolutely one of our best musicals ever! Our Woodlawn cast did a great job as the parents, the entire Woodlawn student body and 5th grade students from Country Meadows and Kildeer elementary schools enjoyed the show. Great job Wolves!

Page Break
Parents, please let your student know that Mrs. Flaskamp has extended the deadline for students to turn items for the Page Break competition has been extended to November 10th.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Sign ups for Parent/Teacher conferences began this week. Parents are asked to call the Woodlawn main office (847-353-8500) and set up one 15 minute conference with a teacher on the team of your child.  Conferences are an important time and I hope that everyone is able to come during the scheduled conference times which are Monday, November 21st from 5-7p.m. and Tuesday, November 22 from 2-7p.m.  Over the years, many families have taken the opportunity to go out of town for a family vacation over the Thanksgiving Break.  Because so many families do this, we cannot offer a face to face meeting with a teacher after the conference times.  Per our district handbook, “Should you be unable to schedule a conference during the conference times identified on the school calendar, a parent may request a brief phone conference with the student’s teacher and individual team members when appropriate.  It is not the expectation of the District that teams recreate the conference experience outside the dates/times identified on the calendar.”  Thank you for your understanding. 

Halloween - Staff Style
Last week I gave you student Halloween pictures, this week you get staff members:
The Spice Girls

Shark Week

Pac Man & Ghosts

Seasons

Mr. Kuhlio as the Principal 

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Finally, it happened.  It really happened.  Unreal.  The Cubs WON The World Series!  Wow.  I asked parents to send in how they felt when it did happen, but unfortunately,  I didn’t receive any feedback.  My next move was to ask the staff.  I was blown away by some of their responses.  You will not be disappointed by what they had to say.  Check that, Mr. Craw (our band teacher) took an interesting approach, but everyone else wrote from the heart.

My prompt was, “Describe what the Cubs winning the World Series meant to you.”  Read on…it is worth it.

The Cubs winning the World Series means so much to me. I can finally get back to watching TV without a baseball game pre-empting my shows. Mr. Craw

I'm not much of a sports fan, but I really enjoyed seeing all the pictures on social media of all the families bonding with their kids in Cubs gear as PJs, staying up late, cheering and celebrating together. Kids probably won't remember the specifics of the game, but they will remember the special memory with their families.

We are a house divided, the men are Sox fans, while my daughter and I are Cub fans. This World Series brought us together. My husband and son even wore Cub Swag. We cheered them on together and celebrate their win with pride and joy (not to mention loss sleep). The ending of an era of disappointment transcended arbitrary boundaries of allegiance. Throughout this series we were all Cub fans in our house. - Kristina Harvat

Having been through this with the White Sox in 2005, I watched the struggles and emotional swings of those around me throughout the playoffs. For Cub fans, noting '84 & 03' in particular, I witnessed the impact of crushing defeats and how it wounded those that I care about. This time around, it felt different to me as the Cubs clearly had the best team. My staff here at Woodlawn did their best to stay calm, but I could feel the mood swings with every win or loss. When the final out was made, I was surprised that I was actually happy for all Cub fans. Enjoy this and from the looks of things, you'll be doing it again very soon!! Greg Grana

I am a Sox fan but I can tell you that my life long Cubs fan husband was thrilled. I have come to appreciate his fanfare for the Cubs as he has stuck by them even through the worst of years. I am personally happy for all the Cub fans out there!-Mary Blair

Seeing my grandfather’s life long dream, that he talked to me about as a child, come to reality even though he has passed on. I'm sure he's cheering in heaven! Michelle Nadulek

The World Series has brought back wonderful memories of my grandfather, who was the biggest Cub fan ever. I remember going to his apartment and watching the game with him. He would eventually fall asleep and my brother or I would turn off the TV. He inevitably would wake up and "scold" us for turning off the TV. He complained that he was not sleeping, and always knew what the score was. He's smiling from above. Go Cubs Go!! Ellen Gartenberg

The Cubs have always been a constant in my life. My grandpa was a huge Cubs fan and I grew up watching games with him, listening to him yell at the tv and then singing along with Harry Caray in the 7th. It was a necessity that I lived within walking distance of Wrigley before I moved out to the suburbs. One of the wishes my husband shared when my children were born was that someday in their lifetime they would see the Cubs win the World Series; last night he got to see this happen with my oldest son in his arms. I am still in shock!-Erin Cooper

My 91 year old father was able to see this historical moment. His 4 daughters offered to come over and watch it with him, but he preferred to watch it alone so he wouldn't miss a moment (he knows how his 4 daughters can talk). Jody Seal

Though I myself am not a sports enthusiast, I hail from a long line of diehard Cubs, Bulls, and Hawk's fans. My father died nearly five years ago, and since then, my dreams of him are very vivid, but also very infrequent. Last night, in my dreams, I saw him cheering in a crowd, and it stirred me awake. ( I think, perhaps, because it was the first dream I've had about him since his passing where I haven't woken up in tears.) I had fallen asleep with the television on, but no sound. When I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and directed my bleary focus to the images on the screen, it was surreal to me. There were throngs of people crowding the streets outside Wrigley field. In my semi-sleep/semi-awake state, I was not sure exactly what I was witnessing, but then it hit me! I turned up the volume just as the camera shifted from Wrigley Field to Progressive. The announcer was recapping the game - and, yes, the very exciting win. I thought of my dad and the rest of my family who I love very, very much, and was thrilled for them all. As for me, last night's dream was one of the happiest I have ever had!

My Dad was a Cubs fan. He had fond memories of watching the 1945 World Series against Detroit. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in early January 1945 and was recovering in an Army hospital in Battle Creek, MI. He said those were exciting days for he and his fellow vets as they watched each game. That series was also decided in game 7 and unfortunately the Cubbies lost that won. He always said he hoped WHEN the Cubbies made it back to the "Big One" they would win it in game 7 - and this time they did! Rachel Peters

My dad is 86 years old. He grew up on the North Side of Chicago and has always been a diehard Cubs fan. He used to go to the park in the morning before a game to pick up trash and lift seats. He'd then get a ticket to the game. We lived 1 block from Wrigley Field and people from the games would park on our street. My grandfather would sit out front and water his lawn after games so that he could talk to all the fans. We had our own little business of "watching" people's cars while they were at the game and we'd get paid when they came back. My older brother was such a fan of Ernie Banks that he was upset when our little brother was born and they named him Tom instead of Ernie Banks. He went on to be an all-area, all-state baseball player and eventually a high school baseball coach. His number has always been 14. All of these memories are so wonderful and knowing my dad got to see the Cubs win the World Series is so special to all of us. He sure waited a long time!! So many of his family and friends who shared his passion didn't make it to see history being made. He didn't think he would either :)

I watched it in Wrigleyville with my sisters. I love my family and the cubs brought us together :)

I remember going to my grandma's house every summer while my parents worked. She watched every game, so I did as well. I remember Steve Stone and Harry Caray, Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg. I remember Wrigley getting the lights. To this day, if I watch a Cubs day game during the summer, it reminds me of my grandma, iced tea, and the terrible fake leather chair that she sat in to watch the games. Jason Keenon

Growing up on the Northside of Chicago and having my father from infancy telling me all about the history of the Cubs and the traditions of baseball in Chicago is what made me a Cubs fan. No longer having to listen to him tell me over and over again about the '84 Cubs team and how they blew their chance for a majority of my entire life...priceless...Eddie Benitez

My mom was always the big Cubs fan in our house growing up, and she made me and my brother and sister into fans as well. I can remember the game always being on in the summers as she was folding laundry, etc. I got her a "W" flag at the beginning of this year's playoffs and you would have thought I had given her a diamond. She has been so excited to fly it in Sun City in Huntley. (Following the proper protocol of course). Even though we couldn't be together last night, she, my brother and sister, and myself were all on a group text throughout the game. I am so proud of her for a) being 79 years old and texting on her iPhone like a pro, and b) staying up so late for all of these games. I am so happy that she was able to see this happen in her lifetime. :) And as someone who has gone to too many games to count, I am thrilled that I saw it too!! Ann Tripp

The Cubs World Series victory really was a victory for my dad who has been a lifelong fan, and my Papa Al (my grandfather who passed) who lived 97 years and never saw a championship. My dad said this morning that the rain delay was the tears of all of the Cubs fans who are no longer here who were crying out for a victory. Their tears are what brought the team together in the locker room, and what ultimately allowed the Cubs to be the most resilient team ever claim the championship! I am so grateful that my dad and all the other fans who have waited so long got the victory they've yearned for. Watching my dad, the die-hard Cubs fan, all these years has taught me the meaning of loyalty, dedication, and unconditional love. For him, and for my Papa Al, I will forever bleed Cubbie blue! - Kim Miller

One of the biggest Cubs fans and dear friend of mine past away a little over a week ago. We had taken many CUBS bus trips for many celebrations. At his memorial service, we all proudly wore our Cubbie gear (even the few Sox Fans who loved him.) With the final out, my husband, my two girls and I hugged and then cried for Ryan. I do believe he was pulling for them!

Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win the World Series. We are grateful that my 80+ years old in-laws witnessed the win and were able to stay up late into the night celebrating. To my family, this title extinguishes history and starts a new era. Gone are the frustrating memories of Durham’s ball between the legs, the Bartman ball, and the Greg Maddux trade. No more black cats or goats. Fond memories of the iconic Wrigley Field and Mike Royko’s humorous Cub’s columns remain. Today’s Cubs are a team that make Chicago proud both on and off the field. And suddenly, the phrase “wait ’til next year” has a brand new meaning. Gloria Ufheil

Finality. I knew when the Cubs were finally bought by an individual and not a corporation who cared about not only the fans, but the success of a team this day would come. That dreaded 5000 lb monkey is finally off my back and know I can stop hearing " 100 + years" and "lovable losers"

I have many childhood memories of Cub games both at Wrigley and afternoons on WGN and as an adult with my husband and kids! My first memory of a hope for a CUBS world series all started at my first Cub game in June of 1969. My dad bought 3 box seats on the wall right behind the bull pen. It was a surprise for my brother who being deployed to Viet Nam. I was only nine but remember every minute of the day. I wore my first cubs t-shirt and I got a pennant which hung in my room for many years. I met some players, Fergie Jenkins threw me a ball, Ron Santo and Don Kessinger signed it. That day my brother showed me how to fill out a scorecard, and talked with my dad about how THIS was going to be the year! It was not for any of us. A few weeks later, at the end of July, we received the news my brother was killed in action. I will never forget that day at Wrigley with my big brother and my dad...and I KNOW they are celebrating! Watching the Cubs win the World Series with my husband and children has been a "full circle" moment for me. Like every other CUB fan since 1969, we start every year with the Cubby optimism that this is going to be the year!
This time.....IT IS FOR REAL...IT IS THE YEAR and I was able share with my family, and with tears in my eyes, remember back to that day where my love for the CUBS all started.
~Debbie Feldman

I grew up a Sox fan and then married a die-hard Cubs fan. He played baseball through college and continued to play in summer leagues even as an adult. For him baseball is a way of life and being married to him, it became one for me as well. Over time my allegiance shifted, how could it not when I was watching every game and could easily rattle off statistics for half the players? While I will gladly root for any Chicago sports team, the Cubs have a special place in my heart. Many summer days (and a few nights) have been spent at Wrigley watching the Cubs play, and for many years, inevitably lose. Then something happened. I found out I was pregnant with my son and Theo Epstein signed on with the Cubs. Was it possible that my kid was going to grow up watching a Cubs team that were not lovable losers, but actually a winning team? This year my son caught baseball fever and my husband was over the moon. All afternoon on Wednesday my son would not stop singing "Go Cubs Go" as my husband paced nervously around the house. It was intense. When there were two outs in the bottom of the tenth we went upstairs and got my son out of bed. As a family we watched the final pitching change and the last out. The feeling in our house was electric. At four my son cannot possibly comprehend what he saw, but someday he will be able to tell his kids that he watched the Cubs win it all! - Rebecca Shanks

It's for my grandpa! He was a barber and Monday's were "Barbers Day" at Wrigley so we would go every Monday the Cubs were in town. He wanted this championship so badly!! Pam Kupsco

Many emotions come with celebrating the Cubs as World Series Champions for the first time since 1908! I immediately thought of two people that I wished could have been here to experience the excitement. First, my Grandpa, who was a diehard Cubs fan his entire life and never did get to see them win it all. I will be forever grateful to my Grandpa for passing down his love for baseball and the Cubs to me and will cherish wonderful memories...watching Sunday afternoon games together and taking the Skokie Swift and the "L" to Cubs games where he taught me to keep score by hand. Secondly, Ron Santo, my favorite Cubs player of all time. Not only was he an incredibly talented player, but he truly embodied the passion of Cubs fan. What an exciting time for Chicago! -Kelly Lynn

There you go.  Have a good weekend and CONGRATULATIONS!