It has been a great start to our school year! The students are finding their way around the building, getting to know their teachers and each other, and going over classroom expectations. I am so excited about our students and staff, realizing the promise that this year holds for all of us. It is so much fun to have our students back at Woodlawn, filling our hallways with energy and friendship. We have a few really important items in the blog this week.
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MAP ASSESSMENTS AUGUST 20–29
District 96 students in kindergarten through Grade 8 will be participating in MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments in the areas of math and reading/language arts during portions of their school days August 20–29.
The MAP assessment is given three times during the school year to equip our teachers with data they will use to identify their students' current understanding as well as opportunities for support and extension. Students do not need to study for their MAP tests; sufficient sleep and nutrition are, as always, the best preparation. This assessment serves as a benchmark–a point in time from which to measure academic growth through the academic year.
For more information about MAP assessments, please see the following resources:
PARENT’S GUIDE TO MAP GROWTH (Need a TRANSLATION?)
In September KCSD96 parents will receive info by email with directions for accessing their child’s MAP assessment results online.
If you have questions about MAP assessments, please contact your student’s principal.
MAP TESTING
READING GRADES 6,7 & 8 THURSDAY, AUGUST 23rd
MATH GRADES 6,7 & 8 FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH
Picture Day
Picture Day is this coming Wednesday, August 22nd. Forms will be coming home with your child either today or on Monday so that you can choose a specific package. Pictures will be taken during P.E. classes.
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Approved Snacks: What Parents Need to Know
The District has revised the APPROVED SNACK LIST, adding more items to this list to give families more choices. The items the list includes are free of the Top 8 allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.
This list includes the foods that are approved for students' Daily Snacks. It also includes (for children in Grades 1–5) foods approved for Special Events such as birthday treats for a class or for PTO Halloween, Winter, or Valentine's Day parties.
IMPORTANT: All items for Daily Snacks, with the exception of fruits and vegetables, MUST be prepackaged to allow staff to easily check that snacks meet the approved requirements.
Director of Educational Services Amy Gluck also has provided responses to FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) about foods approved for daily snacks/special events.
For your convenience, find links to the District 96 Approved Snack List and Approved Snack List FAQs on the homepage of the District 96 website and the homepage of each school.
Curriculum Nights
Come and meet all of the teachers your child will have this year. Each night begins in the gym at 7p.m. for an informational talk with Mr. Grana & Mrs. Garlick, followed by parents going through the schedule of your child.
6th grade will be Monday, August 27th
7th & 8th grade will be on Tuesday, August 28th.
iPads-Technology Information for the 2018-2019 School Year
The students will receive their iPads during class on the first few days of school.
The policy concerning iPad damage will be different this year. This change is reflected below and in greater detail in the 2018-19 Student Handbook. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Woodlawn students trying out for a fall sport (Soccer, Cross Country, Girls Basketball), must have a current physical (within the year from the time the season ends) on file with the nurse. Students will not be allowed to tryout or join a team without a current physical.
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Finally, I like to end the blog with a little story or message. I feel like you get to know me and/or my sense of humor a little better. Clearly, after being a middle school principal for 13 years, you have to find things a little comical or you might go crazy. I will do my best to make the blog enjoyable to read.
I’ve been thinking about my life as a principal (16 years + 2 as an assistant principal) and looking at the highlights. One of my favorite memories happened in my first year as a principal. I attended my first P.T.O. meeting at Kildeer Elementary and was presented with a very challenging decision. As a fundraiser, the P.T.O. had been finalizing plans for hosting a boutique on the night of our fall conferences. In addition to the boutique, my P.T.O. president asked if they could bring in a children’s author to sign copies of her book. As a brand new principal, I had no idea if I could authorize such a decision. I immediately went into a “I’m not so sure this is allowed” when my P.T.O. president said, “The author is Cindy Crawford”.
I immediately responded with, “We can have her come. Yes, absolutely!” I figured that if I were fired, at least I was able to meet Cindy Crawford.
When the big night came, I was asked to greet Ms. Crawford to kick off the festivities. It was a sacrifice but remember, I am here to work for the good of the community. Because I was in a meeting that went a little long before the event started, yep, Cindy Crawford had to wait on me. Gold.
Upon meeting Cindy Crawford, we had a nice chat about something that I couldn’t tell you the first thing that either she or I said. My only thought was, “WOW! She is really pretty!” (I guess the supermodel title could have clued me in on that before we started). It was now time for the picture. When we stood next to each other, Cindy went into business mode. She put her arm around me and immediately went into a pose. I just smiled. Since this was the early days of the digital camera, my tech director at the school was having all kinds of issues and said that she needed a moment. When I went to disengage from the pose, Cindy grabbed me and said, “Don’t move”. The only words that I could muster up were directed at my tech director when I said, “Take your time”. For the next 2 minutes, I was locked in the arms of Cindy Crawford. I thought to myself, “This principal gig isn’t so bad!”
This picture has been in my office for almost 16 years.
Have a great week!