March is here and by all reports, it is coming in like a lion! I remember being taught, "in like a lion, out like a lamb" in kindergarten. I wonder if that is still something that is taught at our D96 kindergarten center. The students are doing great and we are rolling along here at Woodlawn. Check out the blog this week, there are some interesting opportunities.
No School This Monday, March 4th.
Parents of D96 Middle School Girls
District 96 middle school girls can sign up of Dream Day 2019. The DreamGirls Initiative is a nonprofit organization committed to inspiring young women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) by exposing them to female role models.
This is a FREE workshop, however, you must register. Space is limited to the first 150 girls.
This event will take place Saturday, April 6th from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
REGISTER NOW! Click on this link to register! Spots will fill up fast.
Read the Woodlawn Daily Announcements
PTO MONTHLY BLOG -
Please check out the SPECIAL UPDATES to the PTO Monthly Blog for important news on our upcoming events in March including School Supply Kit Sales, Teacher Conferences Dinner, SPRING FLING, Nominating Committee and MORE!” CLICK HERE FOR THE PTO MONTHLY BLOG!
Also, thank you to the PTO for the wonderful 7th grade student lunch celebration on Wednesday. Students had pizza and were given skittles, a Woodlawn bag and an iPad cleaner, preparing them for the last trimester of the school year. FYI - 6th grade had their celebration at the beginning of the year and 8th grade will have their celebration at the end of the year.
Access Your Student's Report Card Online Today
Your student's report card is available for you to access online today after 3 PM. If you need assistance, please CLICK HERE for instructions to view your student's report card, to switch between your children's report cards, and more.
To help you better understand your child's report card, see MORE INFO on the typical progression of standards-based scores for standards included on report cards, including standards that repeat in more than one trimester.
Winter MAP Results Available By Video
Parents of students in Grades 3 – 8 will have a new and different opportunity to view their student's Winter 2018 MAP (Measures of Academic Progress)–via a video specific to their child.
To make this possible, District 96 is participating in a pilot program with the company Spotlight. Today (Mar. 1) parents/guardians were sent an email for each of their students in Grades 3–8. Each email includes a unique video link to that student's MAP results, explained using easy-to-understand visual information.
Please note that this is not new information. These Winter MAP results were already shared through a January 11th email from District 96 to parents, with instructions about accessing those scores online.
The MAP video link provided in today's MAP email offers another opportunity to review and understand your student's scores.
Your feedback after viewing is particularly appreciated for this pilot program. Please complete the brief survey you'll find linked at the bottom of your student's video report.
Parent Communication about Spring Conferences -
Spring Conferences are coming on Thursday, March 7th from 5pm-8:30pm and Friday, March 8th from 10am-1:30pm .
Spring Conferences are Collaborative Conferences!
Collaborative conferences means that your child will be leading the conference. The purpose of collaborative conferences is for educators, students and families to discuss, reflect and celebrate student work, and for families to experience school through their child's eyes. Students have been working hard to prepare for the conference, and we are excited for you to learn about your child’s progress directly from your child!
Teachers will be available in the room as guides and will be available to answer student questions or elaborate on a point a student is making, but we ask that all participants respect that this is the student’s opportunity to lead the conference by sharing progress and reflections about their own learning.
Please read below to learn specific information about how collaborative conferences will be structured for each grade-level.
Grades 6-8
Families will sign-up for a 20 minute conference. Grades 6-8 collaborative conferences will be structured with up to 6 students in the classroom at a time. Student/Family partnerships will sit in a private space to engage in the conference. The grade-level team of teachers will be in the classroom to guide the process, but students will lead the conference. Exploratory teachers, PE, Health, Spanish and Band and Orchestra teachers will host an exposition of their courses. More information coming soon. Students should plan to bring their iPad to the conference.
What is the Role of Families during Collaborative Conferences?
Provide reinforcement, encouragement and praise
Listen and ask questions
Help students look realistically at quality of work
Facilitate student’s self-reflection and goal setting
Be a partner in learning
See school through their student’s eyes
Questions Families Can Ask During the Collaborative Conference
What is your favorite piece of work? Why?
Describe your favorite activities or subjects.
What experiences at school do you find the most exciting?
Are there experiences that frustrate you, if so why?
What goals have you set for yourself for this spring?
How can I help you at home?
Click here to access the link to sign up for you Spring Conference.
Stand Strong - This looks interesting!
Keeping Teens Safe on the Internet is an informational program for all interested parents presented by Stand Strong on Mar. 14 at the Lincolnshire Village Hall.
Click here for the Band & Orchestra Boosters
Finally, I think that it is time for one of my lists. In the past I have listed favorite 80’s songs, my guilty pleasure songs, and other fun facts that give you a little insight into how my mind works. In honor of the Oscars last weekend, I am going to recognize my favorite comedies. There are a number of movies that made the honorable mention list: Anchorman, The Big Lubowski, Groundhog Day, Animal House, Office Space, There is Something About Mary, A Fish Called Wanda, Beverly Hills Cop, Happy Gilmore & Big. All great movies but couldn’t crack my top 10. Here are the movies that, in part, have shaped my sense of humor:
10. Family Vacation - “Holiday Road”
9. A League of Their Own - “There is no crying in baseball”
8. My Cousin Vinny - “The two yutes”
7. Airplane - “I am serious and stop calling me Shirley”
6. Dumb & Dumber - “What was all that one in a million talk?”
5. Trading Places - “Feeling good Billy Ray”
4. Caddyshack - “Former greenskeeper, about to become Master’s champion”
3. Spinal Tap - “It goes to 11”
2. Being There - (Peter Sellers last movie) “As long as the roots are not severed, all is well”
1. Young Frankenstein - “Abby Normal”
Please feel free to respond with any of the ones I may have missed. Have a great weekend! I am off to a destination wedding...yep, in Cleveland.