How nice is it that Valentine’s Day falls on a blog day. If you are reading this and you just remembered that it is Valentine’s Day, you have big problems. For everyone else, we had a lovely week here at Woodlawn. The students made inspirational messages, were rewarded with heart stickers for saying something nice to a classmate and wore pink or red today. What says I am in the spirit more than a Blackhawks home red jersey? (That is what I wore today)
No School this Monday, February 17th. President’s Day!
Spring Conferences - Sign Up This Tuesday!
The electronic sign up link will be e-mailed this Tuesday, February 18th at 2:45p.m. Set your alarms!
Spring Conferences are coming on Thursday, March 12th from 5pm-8:30pm and Friday, March 13th 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 at the middle school.
Grades 6-8
Families will sign-up for a 15 minute conference. Grades 6-8 collaborative conferences will be structured with up to 4 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 greet families and 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?
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Provide reinforcement, encouragement and praise
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Listen and ask questions
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Help students look realistically at quality of work
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Facilitate student’s self-reflection and goal setting
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Be a partner in learning
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See school through their student’s eyes
Questions Families Can Ask During the Collaborative Conference
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What is your favorite piece of work? Why?
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Describe your favorite activities or subjects.
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What experiences at school do you find the most exciting?
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Are there experiences that frustrate you, if so why?
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What goals have you set for yourself for this spring?
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How can I help you at home?
DON’T FORGET TO SIGN UP TUESDAY!
Click here for the NEW PTO Monthly BLOG!
Late Bus Changes
Due to large numbers of students on our late buses, the district has made changes as to the route each bus will be taking our students home. I apologize for the inconvenience that this has already caused. Your student may be delayed in getting home because of the new changes. Along with the bus company, we tracking the amount of time it will take our students to get home.
GCI Student Survey
The Guiding Coalition of interculturalism is looking for student input. Have your student click here if they would like to take a quick survey! It will help us gather data and student perspective.
Band Concert
Congratulations to our band program for an outstanding show last night! I am really proud of the jazz, concert and symphonic bands for how they performed. Mr. Craw did it again! Our band program is really strong and I admire the work of Mr. Craw and our students.
KCSD96 Offers a Dual Language Opportunity
Parents are invited to consider the Dual Language Program for their incoming Willow Grove kindergartner. The program’s purpose is to give children the opportunity to develop a deep academic proficiency in two languages. Fifty percent of the academic day instruction is delivered in Spanish and 50 percent in English. Following their kindergarten year at Willow Grove, Dual Language participants continue at Country Meadows for Grades 2–5 and transition to Woodlawn for Grades 6–8.
To be included in the public lottery that will be used to select the 2020–21 Dual Language kindergarten class, an Interest Form (ENGLISH or SPANISH) is due to the Willow Grove Early Learning Center office by 3 p.m. on Mar. 18.
LEARN MORE about the KCSD96 Dual Language program and attend a Parent Education Evening on Feb. 12 or Mar. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Willow Grove Early Learning Center to hear a presentation from District faculty/administrators and ask questions.
SPANISH TRANSLATION:
KCSD96 Ofrece una Oportunidad de Lenguaje Dual
Invitamos a los padres a que consideren el Programa de Lenguaje Dual para los estudiantes que entrarán al kindergarten de Willow Grove. El propósito de este programa es darle la oportunidad a los niños para que desarrollen una capacidad académica profunda en dos idiomas. Cincuenta por ciento de la enseñanza académica se implementará en Español y 50 por ciento en Inglés. Después de kindergarten en Willow Grove, los participantes continuarán en en Programa de Lenguaje Dual en Country Meadows para los grados 2–5 y pasarán a Woodlawn para los grados 6–8.
Para poder ser incluido en la lotería pública que se usará para seleccionar la clase de kindergarten de Lenguaje Dual del año escolar 2020–21, debe completar el Formulario de Interés y entregarlo en la oficina de Willow Grove Early Learning Center para el 18 de marzo a las 3 p.m.
APRENDA MÁS sobre el programa de Lenguaje Dual de KCSD96 y asista a la Noche de Educación para Padres el 12 de febrero o el 16 de marzo a las 6:30 p.m. en Willow Grove Early Learning Center para la presentación de los profesores/administradores y para hacer preguntas.
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Finally, I have to go get something for Valentine’s Day! Not for me, that would be weird, for the wife...I am sure all the cards are picked over, the flowers are just stems and candy hearts are the only thing left. There is a look the guys who are searching for the last minute card give each other at the store. You kind of nod at each other and with know no words spoken, shrug your shoulders and realize that you are both in a heapload of trouble if this doesn't work out. As you pass each other on the way out of the store, you wish each other good luck. I am slightly in a panic. If all else fails, I will make a card. Right? I’ve gotta go!