This may be my favorite day of the year. When Halloween comes and the students dress up, it makes for a fun day. Thank you to the parents and students for doing a great job and following all of my costume rules. So great! Amazing job this week by Mrs. Jessogne and our Stand Strong students who had Red Ribbon Week activities. We also had our Ms. Khan and our Student Council students working on Spirit Week. Mix in the amazing, 300 student, PTO sponsored Fall Party and I am going to hit the hay early tonight! Check out the blog and enjoy the weekend.
UPDATE
Country Meadows/Woodlawn Community:
In response to a recent parent concern, District 96 contracted with our Environmental Consultants from JMS Environmental Associates to do an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Survey. The IAQ analyses test for this IAQ included the following: 1) Airborne Microbial Spores;
2) Direct Microscopic Swab Examination; 3) Airborne Ultra-Fine Dust Particulates; and 4) Volatile Organic Compounds / Carbon Dioxide / Temperature / Relative Humidity.
In summary, during our consultation with JMS to review the results of the IAQ, the consultants indicated the following:
- A high level study was conducted.
- The ultrafine particles results indicate that the system is working very well and that a good filtration system is in place.
- The air quality indoors is excellent and presents no health risks or concerns.
- It is accurate to say that the indoor air quality inside our schools is better than the air quality outdoors, due to good ventilation and filtration.
In District 96, we have both processes and metrics in place as a part of our ongoing facilities-management plan that would trigger the need for any future assessment. As always, we will continue to implement and monitor those on an ongoing basis.
Below you will find a link to the full report as provided by JMS and a document where you can submit any questions that you may have regarding the results.
Link to Form to Submit a Question
Girls Soccer
The Woodlawn girls soccer team finished the season with a 12-0 record. The girls improved tremendously during the season in their passing, communication, chemistry, and aggressiveness. Congratulations to Lillah Hill, Cailyn Yan, Karissa Costabile, Hannah Diab, Anna Slyvych, Gwen Fisher, Angelica Siocon, Chloe Kwong, Karolina Narvaez, Natalie Owens, Morgan McKelvey, Kelsey Krull, Sarah Bende, Aanya Patel, Abani Mohanchandra, Elizabeth Boardman, and Diana Gasnikova on a great season. You made Woodlawn very proud!
(I have a picture but it isn't uploading!!! Ugh!!! Looks like next week for the picture).
Please visit the PTO monthly blog.
A Message From D96
Our top priority is to keep kids in school with as little disruption as possible and we need your help and support to do so. As we head into colder fall and winter weather and we begin to spend more time indoors, we encourage you to stay vigilant when it comes to health and safety measures. The recent interest survey indicated that the parents of over 1,600 District 96 students are interested in scheduling vaccination appointments for their 5-11 year olds as they become available in the coming weeks. However, we are mindful of the continued risks that COVID presents to the school community and families of KCSD 96. The Illinois Department of Public Health has released guidance on how to celebrate more safely during the 2021 Fall season.
Guidance on Celebrations from the IDPH
As we continue through Fall and head into the holiday season, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is issuing updated guidance to help people celebrate more safely as we continue to battle COVID-19.
Masks
Masks are currently required, per Executive Order, in all indoor public locations in Illinois. A costume mask is NOT a substitute for a well-fitting mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Wearing a costume mask over a face covering to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is not recommended because it could make breathing more difficult. Safer options include choosing a costume that does not come with a costume mask, or find a costume that incorporates a face covering.
Trick-or-Treat
Trick-or-treating outdoors in small groups is best, but if outdoors is not an option, there are steps people can take to make indoor trick-or-treating safer. Those handing out tricks or treats indoors should open doors and windows as much as possible to promote increased ventilation and wear a mask. It is also important for everyone handing out or receiving treats to wash their hands.
Alternatives to door-to-door trick-or-treating can include setting up tables in a parking lot or other safe outdoor area where individually wrapped treats can be set out or holding an outdoor costume parade for kids along with a parent/guardian.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, do not participate in any Halloween or Fall events.
More information on Halloween and Fall Guidance is on the IDPH website at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/Halloween.
Coffee Chat
Thanks to those who attended! For those of you who could not attend but would like the information here is a link to our presentation:
10/27 Alcohol and Drugs Coffee Chat
Please feel free to reach out with any comments, questions or concerns.
Thanks,
Michael Essig @ [email protected] & Jacqui Jessogne @ [email protected]
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.
Lake County STEM for Girls
Please see below for more information.
(Check out my blog from last week. Same information, having picture issues).
From a Woodlawn Student
Hi my name is Charlie and I am volunteering for Gratitude Generation. This organization volunteers their time to a food bank. The food bank is called Northern Illinois Food Bank and this year lots of people have only been donating food but they’ve also asked for personal care items like lip balm, Band-Aids and many more. Each month they are asking for different personal care items. This month they are collecting lip balms. If you have any new lip balm that you would like to donate there will be a box in the office. The donation time will be from Monday, September 1st to next Friday, November 5th. All donations will be much appreciated, thank you.
Click here for the Woodlawn daily announcements!
Finally, I love Halloween and my wife despises it with a burning passion. The weird thing is that my daughters love Halloween and my sons absolutely hate it. How do you figure that one out? Over the course of our marriage, we have only been to a couple of Halloween parties. I tend to create an elaborate costume while my wife chooses to hide from the world and goes as a ghost. When our kids were growing up, I would do the neighborhood trek, loading up the wagon, winter coats, hats, scarfs, etc., while my wife would stay home and dish out the candy. Let me tell you, two hours of candy hawking, multiplied by four kids, I made out like a bandit! As my kids grew, it was hard to let them go off on their own. We clearly set out rules but letting them venture out was an interesting parent moment. As a 6th grader, my son and 15 other boys had to hit every house in a one mile square block. It made me think of my crew of friends from that time in my life and how we sprinted from house to house. I am sure many of you remember having that same experience. This Halloween, my kids are all over the place. Living downtown, in college or getting together with their friends. I haven’t shared this with my wife, but I plan on dressing up a golfer and hitting the links for possibly the last time this year. Once again, she will be in charge of the candy bowl and I get to have all of the fun! Have a great weekend.