We are off and running! Having all of our students here energizes me and makes me appreciate seeing a full classroom in action. Just like the beginning of any school year, we are working through things and finding out what our best systems will look like. There are a few items in the blog today, so read through it at your leisure and get caught up on all things Woodlawn.
PTO
If you missed any of the items for sale at Locker Setup Day - Gym Clothes, Locker Shelving, Spiritwear, Special Lunch and/or Dessert Day - it's not too late...go to Membership Toolkit now!
Also, check out the NEW PTO blog to see information on upcoming special lunch/dessert day deadlines and all other PTO happenings.
Picture Day- Save the Date
Picture Day will be Wednesday, September 1st. The picture forms will be coming home with your student early next week.
6th Grade Curriculum Night
Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 at 7:00 PM
Woodlawn Gym
We will be offering a hybrid option for this year’s curriculum night for all parents. If you would like to attend in person, we are asking that only one parent from each family attend.
The in person Curriculum Night will be a fully masked event.
If you would like to attend virtually, please use THIS ZOOM LINK.
Meeting ID: 893 0350 0016
Passcode: 309066
Please note this is for parents only.
Program- Please meet in the LARGE GYM.
Welcome and Woodlawn overview from Mr. Grana and Mrs. Garlick
Introductions of related services staff and instructional coaches.
Presentations from classroom content teachers, Spanish teacher, wellness teacher, and exploratory teacher.
7th Grade Curriculum Night
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 at 7:00 PM
Woodlawn Gym
We will be offering a hybrid option for this year’s curriculum night for all parents.
If you would like to attend in person, we are asking that only one parent from each family attend.
The in person Curriculum Night will be a fully masked event.
If you would like to attend virtually, please use THIS ZOOM LINK.
Meeting ID: 867 7492 0094
Passcode: 594557
Please note this is for parents only.
Curriculum Night Program
Welcome and Woodlawn overview from Mr. Grana and Mrs. Garlick
Introductions of related services staff and instructional coaches.
Presentations from classroom content teachers, Spanish teacher, wellness teacher, and exploratory teacher.
8th Grade Curriculum Night
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 at 7:30 PM
Woodlawn Cafeteria
We will be offering a hybrid option for this year’s curriculum night for all parents.
If you would like to attend in person, we are asking that only one parent from each family attend.
The in person Curriculum Night will be a fully masked event.
If you would like to attend virtually, please use THIS ZOOM LINK.
Meeting ID: 868 1834 8898
Passcode: 027624
Please note this is for parents only.
Curriculum Night Program
Welcome and Woodlawn overview from Mr. Grana and Mrs. Garlick
Introductions of related services staff and instructional coaches.
Presentations from classroom content teachers, Spanish teacher, wellness teacher, and exploratory teacher.
Transportation Update- Message from the District
PLEASE NOTE: There continues to be a workforce shortage on a national and local level. This is significantly impacting the ability of all transportation companies to fill driver openings. First Student continues to have unfilled driver positions for District 96 bus routes. They have been using substitute and "borrowed" drivers from other regions to fill our needs the last few days but the reality is that the positions remain unfilled and a "band-aid" plan is being created for each day. Our Director of Transportation continues to meet with First Student multiple times per day to problem solve. We will continue to keep you updated on what is likely to be an ongoing challenge.
NEW *NWEA MAP Assessment*
All students in grades K-8 will be participating in NWEA MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) assessment. The MAP assessment is a normed referenced, computerized adaptive test which helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child's academic growth. Like in previous years, all students will be taking the MAP test in reading and math during the school day. Testing will take place during the MAP window, August 30-September 10. The specific dates of testing will be communicated in next week’s principal message.
Parking Lot Drop Off/Pick up
Thank you to the parents who have been dropping off and picking up your students. When you are dropping off, please make sure your child is ready to go and exits on the sidewalk side. The safer and more efficient we make this happen, the better off it is for everyone.
Please click HERE to access the Superintendent’s recent message.
FREE MEALS IN SCHOOL: Under the waivers to USDA Nutrition Programs currently offered, the District is able to provide free meals to all students. One reimbursable daily meal will be provided free of charge to each student that chooses to participate on school days.
SNACKS FOR PURCHASE IN SEPTEMBER: Snacks will start being offered at the beginning of September. If you wish your child to be able to purchase snacks at that time, please be sure to have their account prepaid on the K12PaymentCenter. This site will allow you not only to monitor balances but also transaction history. There are no transaction fees related to this account. To create an account you will need your student's 7 digit ID number, which will be emailed to you this evening with the subject line of D96 Food Service Information.
ORDERING PROCESS: Each morning, students will tell their teachers which entree they will order and those numbers will be shared with the food service staff. Please encourage your students to take the entree they ordered to ensure that all students receive the desired meal. Menus can be viewed on the District website.
FINAL DRIVE THROUGH MEAL HANDOUT: Now that all students will be in person, the final drive through meal handout will occur on Monday, August 16th and will contain four days of meals.
Activity Bus Dismissal Procedure
Starting on Monday, August 30th, the Woodlawn Activity Bus routes will begin.
Students board the buses starting at 3:15 PM. The buses typically leave at 3:25 PM.
All students must wear a mask on the bus at all times.
**Please note that due to bus driver shortages in Illinois, we are unable to guarantee the activity buses will be available to start the year or that the activity buses will be on time. At this time, the bus company is estimating that the buses will be leaving Twin Groves up to 30 minutes late. This means that students will not be leaving Twin until 3:50 PM.
***It is highly recommended that parents arrange for rides if a student is staying for clubs, activities, and study halls.
Clubs, Activities and Study Halls
Information on our 21-22 clubs, activities, and study halls will be updated on the Woodlawn Website. Activities and Study Halls will start on Monday, August 30th.
The activity period for clubs, activities and study halls is from 2:30PM-3:15PM.
**Please note that due to bus driver shortages in Illinois, we are unable to guarantee the activity buses will be available to start the year or that the activity buses will be on time. At this time, the bus company is estimating that the buses will be leaving Twin Groves up to 30 minutes late. This means that students will not be leaving Twin until 3:50 PM.
***It is highly recommended that parents arrange for rides if a student is staying for clubs, activities, and study halls.
Click here for the Woodlawn Daily Announcements
Finally, my lifelong battle with the phone continues. I am about to show my age here, but in the 70’s, I was the official answering machine for the family. As the youngest in the family, it was my job to get up off the floor and answer the phone as the couch was reserved for the older siblings. I was the youngest by 5 years so I didn’t even attempt to “seat save, golden chair” myself a spot. I was also the human remote control but that will be another blog post. As I think of it, I also called the “hump” seat in the station wagon because that is where I was destined to be anyways. I digress... the phone. As technology developed, call waiting was a battle as I often hung up on both people or forgot the person on the other line. When the mobile phone began, I was the king of the accidental or “butt dial”. This is a family blog so I hope that doesn’t offend anyone. The struggle continued with the early days of texting when I couldn’t manipulate the letters, having to hit a certain number over and over to get the letter I needed. I sent multiple incoherent messages. My latest struggle is the interpretation of the single word text response. I am really struggling with single word responses to my text messages. I am asking simple questions and getting responses like, “Sure or Fine or Yep” and I cannot determine if the person really means it or is being sarcastic. It is a tough call. Let me fill in the question:
Text to my wife... Can I go shoot 9 holes of golf? Response was “Sure” No punctuation, and I question whether she means it or not. Since it was golf, I just ran with it and would take my medicine later.
Text to my sister...Can I give you a call? Response was “Fine”. No punctuation and I cannot remember if I had irritated her. That is a whole different hornet's nest.
Lastly, a text to my son...Wanna go to the Cubs/Sox game. “Yep”. Does that mean yes, I am loving this opportunity or yes, until a better offer comes along…
The struggle is real.
Have a great weekend.