We had a really good week here at Woodlawn. The students were focused on their work and we are one week away from our Winter Break. I am always amazed at how fast our school year goes. I mean where did the time go between the middle of August and now?
Woodlawn Spirit Week
We are doing a spirit week here next week and I hope that you encourage your student(s) to participate. The only day that I am not sure what to wear will be Wednesday. I am not sure that I can pull off the middle school boy look. Maybe a T-Shirt with “I’d rather be playing Fortnight” on it could do the trick.
Monday: School Spirit Day (Elementary, Middle, High School or College
Tuesday: Hobby Day (Sports, Video Games, Music, Hobby)
Wednesday: Teachers/Students switch clothes day
Thursday: UGLY Sweater Day
Friday: PJ’s and Slippers Day
Absentee Awareness
Students are considered chronically absent when they miss 10% of the school year for any reason, including both excused and unexcused absences. As we approach the middle of the school year, we are reviewing our attendance records and informing families if we have a concern with their student’s current attendance. Letters will be coming home in the next few weeks to any student who has missed 10% or more of this school year.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
• Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student’s academic success.
• Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.
• Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Make school attendance a priority
• Talk about the importance of showing up to school everyday, make that the expectation.
• Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
• Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day.
• Don’t let your child stay home unless truly sick. Complaints of headaches or stomach aches may be signs of anxiety.
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5Essentials
District 96 parents are asked to complete online the parent portion of the Illinois 5Essentials Survey by Jan. 18, 2019. Access the survey: https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/
As a parent, this is your opportunity to share your thoughts on important elements of your child’s school’s effectiveness. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or [email protected] or Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Jeanne Spiller
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Current Patriot Consortium Mathematics Placement Process
Over the last few years, Stevenson High School and the feeder middle schools have created a scope and sequence and aligned the curriculum to the Common Core Standards for Mathematics, as well as created common benchmarks for the end of each unit for both the Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 courses. The consortium has created criteria that defines the four strands of mathematical proficiency to highlight the attributes of a proficient mathematical thinker. The criteria are grouped into three categories (See chart on second page):
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Procedural Skills & Fluency (How well you can correctly use mathematics.)
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Conceptual Understanding (How well you utilize mathematical ideas, transfer your knowledge into new situations, and apply it to new contexts.)
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Problem Solving with Adaptive Reasoning and Strategic Competence (How well you can apply strategies and sound reasoning.)
Over the course of the year, the mathematics teachers will be discussing these criteria with the students in class to create a portrait of each student. This portrait will be used to recommend the students into the mathematics course at Stevenson High School that matches their content knowledge as well as level of mathematics proficiency at this time.
As a district and consortium, it is our vision that each student move on to the next course in the sequence providing that there are not significant gaps in content knowledge. If there are significant gaps in content knowledge and a change in recommendation occurs, we will contact you. We feel that this process allows a mathematical picture of the student to develop over time, which will provide a more informed recommendation
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2018-19 |
Sequence of Courses |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th |
Algebra 1 |
Algebra 2 (AC) |
||
|
9th |
Algebra 2 |
Algebra 2 AC |
Geometry AC |
Geometry HN |
|
10th |
Geometry |
Geometry AC |
Precalculus AC |
Precalculus HN |
|
11th |
Precalculus |
Precalculus AC |
Calculus AB |
Calculus BC |
|
12th |
Calculus AB |
Calculus AB |
Statistics |
MV / Statistics |
| Procedural Skills & Fluency | Conceptual Understanding | Problem Solving with |
|---|---|---|
|
How well you can correctly use mathematics. skill in carrying out procedures flexibly, accurately, efficiently, and appropriately |
How well you utilize mathematical ideas, transfer your knowledge into new situations, and apply it to new contexts. comprehension of mathematical concepts, operations, and relations |
Adaptive Reasoning and Strategic Competence How well you can apply strategies and sound reasoning. capacity for logical thought, reflection, explanation, and justification and ability to formulate, represent, and solve mathematical problems |
|
I can identify and use the most efficient method for the problem. (MP7) I can use mathematical computations, terms, symbols, formulas, and language appropriately. (MP5, 6) I can recognize the algebraic structure in problems and use rules or procedures to solve or simplify. (MP7) I can solve problems with accuracy. (MP6)
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I can use diagrams, pictures, and symbols to justify my work. (MP4) I can understand and justify the “why” of the procedure. (MP3) I can justify solutions algebraically, graphically, and numerically. (MP3) I can explain my solution with sound mathematical reasoning using precise mathematics vocabulary and terminology. (MP3, 8) I can determine the reasonableness of my answer. (MP2) |
I can select and use all the pertinent information to solve the problem. (MP2) I can determine a solving strategy by forming logical relationships among concepts and situations. (MP7, 8) I can represent a situation mathematically using modeling. (MP4) I can retain and apply information and skills from previous units to solve problems alongside new concepts. (MP7,8) I can make connections between multiple mathematical concepts to solve problems in unfamiliar situations. (MP7,8) I can persevere when encountering new and difficult concepts.(MP1) |
Finally, as we head toward our long (even longer than my wife’s long weekend) Winter Break, I cannot help but to think about how fortunate I am to lead this school. I have been reflecting on 2018 and am thrilled with how our school year went. Since January 1st, we have received an international award, welcomed in many new staff members, students and families, worked to improve our practices as teachers, hosted a cultural celebration, band, chorus, orchestra concerts, a memorable musical and talent show, established a new parent/teacher conference protocol, all the while, keeping middle school fun and challenging for our students. I am especially proud of the working relationship with our parents and how parents know that they can communicate with us about everything. It isn’t always easy, but we sit down and work to ensure student success. This Woodlawn staff is outstanding. They are a model for not only our school but for schools that come to visit us from around the world. Our PTO provides fun parties, lunches and dessert days for our students. Their support and caring for every Woodlawn student is amazing. The office staff at Woodlawn cares so deeply for our students, ensuring they feel comfortable and safe every day of the year. A school nurse who deals with a million things while keeping her sense of humor and a custodial staff that keeps our building sparkling clean. I know that there are countless things that I could have mentioned, but know that there is no other place that I would rather be. Thank you Woodlawn.