Woodlawn Principal's Blog 8/27/21

It is Friday!  The Crosstown Classic happens this weekend with my White Sox hosting the Cubs and as another perk, more hot weather is in the forecast.  Minus our current bus challenges (i’ll get back to that later), the students have been awesome.  They are listening, following the mask rules and truly enjoying being in school.  Check out the blog for important updates.  


Early Release. 

Dismissal is at 1:30p.m. on Tuesday, August 31st. HERE is the schedule for this coming Tuesday. 


Clubs and Study Halls

The Woodlawn Clubs and Study Halls will begin this Monday, August 30th. Our clubs and study halls run from 2:30-3:15p.m.. Students do not need to sign up for our clubs or study halls and they can attend in different weeks. 

  • Due to the bus driver shortage, Activity Buses will not be leaving Woodlawn until 4:30p.m. We will have supervision for students from 3:15 - 4:30p.m. in our cafeteria. This will be a supervised study hall for students who need to take the Activity Bus home. 
  • We strongly encourage parents to either…
  • Pick up their child at 3:15 PM
  • Find a carpool for your child
  • If your child needs to take the Activity Bus home, please note that they will not be leaving Woodlawn until 4:30p.m . 

Also, please note that the Woodlawn office closes at 3:30p.m. every day. 


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.


Woodlawn PTO

The PTO is hosting a 6th Grade Welcome Back lunch this coming week on Wednesday, September 1st during their lunch period (12-12:25p.m.).  If you would like to volunteer to help and meet other 6th grade parents, please email one of our co-vice presidents, Kristie Norvell - [email protected] or Julian Boardman - [email protected].  Plan to arrive by 11:50 to get checked in with the office.  Any current 6th grade parent is welcome to attend this event…be sure to wear your mask!

Also, stay up-to-date with any PTO happenings by checking out the PTO blog.  


Law Enforcement Safety Drill EDUCATION

This Friday, September 3rd, Woodlawn will be conducting the annual Law Enforcement Safety Drill EDUCATION. Students will be learning age appropriate safety procedures in their Flex class.

In compliance with the New Safety Drill Act, parents have the right to exempt their child from the Law Enforcement Drill EDUCATION.

If you do not wish your son or daughter to participate in the Law Enforcement Safety Drill, please contact me, Greg Grana <[email protected]>.

If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in the drill.


NEW *Covid Metrics*

To stay up-to-date this school year on local metrics, please visit the COVID DASHBOARD for District 96. Our priority remains to keep our students safe and follow guidance from the CDC. If your student is identified as a "close contact", you will be notified individually through the contact tracing process. 


Dismissal- Arrival 

Thank you for doing your part and having your student ready to jump out of the car.  Our system was humming today!  We experience a back up from 7:34-7:42a.m. with the amount of people trying to leave the parking lot and get on Gilmer Road.  Please stay patient and adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Do not park and stay in your car.  This is a new guideline, but I need to have a parking/drop off area for students who need extra time getting out of their cars.  
  • Do not park in the lot or go down one of the side isles.  We cannot have the students in the parking lot.  Plus, it irritates other drivers.
  • Slow down.  Seriously.  
  • Look out for the Woodlawn staff members.  They are slow walkers and I need them.  
  • Have your child ready to exit your car quickly.  

 

Dismissal- Parent Pick Up

I appreciate your support and want to keep every student safe at the end of the school day.  Please adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Stay in the pick up line.  Do not park your car and have your child going into the parking lot to meet you.  The line will move if you stay calm.  
  • Do not zip around other cars.  Again, safety first and honestly, is one car length going to make any kind of difference?  
  • Drive up to your student, do not have them go to you, especially if it means going into the street.  
  • Do not curse or use inappropriate hand gestures at the principal.  He is sensitive.
  • Let the busses leave the parking lot.  We have to get the busses back here for the elementary students.    

Picture Day

Picture Day is this Wednesday, September 1st.  Your student received a order form that you will be searching for on Wednesday morning.  If you cannot find it, use the following link:

www.ordercp.com

School Code: 10017601


NWEA MAP Testing

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 that 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 on Monday, August 30th and Wednesday, September 1st. 

Students who are quarantined during the testing days will take the MAP assessment after they return to school.

Woodlawn MAP Schedule:

August 30th

6th Graders will test at 8:30a.m.

7th Graders will test at 7:45a.m.

8th Graders will test at 7:45a.m.

**If we have a bus that is late, we will give your child the full time allotted for the test.  

August 31st- Make Ups

 

September 1st

6th Graders will test at 8:30a.m.

7th Graders will test at 7:45a.m.

8th Graders will test at 7:45a.m.

**If we have a bus that is late, we will give your child the full time allotted for the test.

 

September 2nd- Make Ups

September 3rd- Make Ups


Middle School Health Topics- 2021/22

Dear Parent/Guardian, 

District 96 provides a comprehensive health curriculum that addresses an individual’s physical, mental, and social-emotional well-being. Within these broad categories, health teachers cover the topics of body systems, fitness and nutrition, illness prevention, first aid, personal safety, consumer health, bullying prevention, and decision-making.

Illinois state law also requires all school districts with a comprehensive health curriculum to provide instruction on specific health topics including cancer education, AIDS education and prevention, human growth and development, sexual abstinence until marriage, contraception, dating violence, sexual abuse prevention, Erin’s Law, and the Abandoned Newborn Protection Act.  In compliance with these state mandates, your child’s health teachers will address these specific topics by the end of eighth grade.  The health curriculum is designed to introduce topics at the most age appropriate time.  Please visit http://www.kcsd96.org/curriculum/pacing-guides-middle-school for information on both general and specific health topics by grade level. 

District 96 recognizes that parents hold the primary responsibility for their child’s education. As parents, you may elect to excuse your child from instruction on any health topic. If you choose this option, please submit a request, in writing, to the building principal, asking that your child be excused from class during the specific period of instruction. 

Please note that parents may also arrange to preview instructional materials by contacting their school office.  If you have any questions, you may contact Andrea Penepacker, Health teacher at Woodlawn Middle School, at (847) 353-8500; or Ben Leven, Health teacher at Twin Groves Middle School at (847) 821-8946.

We hope you will find this information helpful as we begin a new school year.

Sincerely,

Julie A. Schmidt

Superintendent of Schools


Daily Announcements

Click here for the Woodlawn Daily Announcements


Finally, I need to get this list down for the world to see.  I am not sure why, but listing the top candy bars has been on my mind for a while now.  I am not talking about the fine chocolate of the world, I am referring to the grocery store selection at the checkout aisle.  The bars that you really want to buy, but you show those behind you in line that you have willpower and refuse their chocolaty goodness.  Mrs. Kupsco (greatest administrative assistant ever) has declared that white chocolate is not chocolate at all, so anything that has white chocolate is automatically disqualified.  

Let me break down the categories: 

5) Never would I ever - These just don’t even sound appealing.  If I were starving, I would probably take a pass.  

4) Just to remind myself that I shouldn’t have picked this - I feel sorry for this candy bar.  It is probably on sale and I picked one up to remind myself what it tastes like.  

3) Close to being at the top - These are very solid candies but I can wait for Halloween or some kind of party. 

2) At the top - Now you are talking!  These are the go to bars. 

1) Elite  - My absolute favorite bars. 


Level 5- Almond Joy, Baby Ruth, Mounds.  You may love these, I will take a pass.  

Level 4- Snickers, Charleston Chews, PayDay.  I always want PayDay to taste better.   

Level 3- 3 Musketeers, Heath Bar, Plain M & M’s, Hersheys Bar. I justify a 3 Musketeers by the "fewer clorie" prinicple.  

Level 2- Milky Way, Kit Kat, Twix, Peanut M & M’s, Peanut Butter Cup, 100 Grand.  These are all winning choices.  

Level 1-Butterfinger and Carmello.  If you pushed me, Carmello would be the answer.  

Feel free to rate your favorites with the family!  

Have a great weekend!