Winter Break is here!!!!

I would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.

Here is Mr. Grana's holiday wish list...

I would like Woodlawn peace (and world peace).
I would like for parents to park in actual parking spaces in our lot and not park along the sidewalk.
I would like for cars to not sit in the no parking zone while waiting to pick up their kids.
I would like for parents to call their students in absent on the Friday before break.
I would like the PowerSchool SBR field test to be easier to understand (we are working on it).
I would like no bus issues in the new year.
I would like students to realize how lucky they are to go to this school.  
I would like for everyone to have a great Winter Break.

Please help me make all of my dreams come true.

Greg Grana

December 14, 2012

Much like everyone else, I am saddened and disgusted with the school shooting in Connecticut today.  Everyone in the Woodlawn community sends our heartfelt sympathy to the victims, families and school community in Newtown, Connecticut.  Safety is and always has been our top priority.  As a school, we are prepared to handle emergency situations.  We hope that our practice emergency plan will never be tested,  but we continue to do our drills just in case.  Resource Officer Janet Freeman has been a part of our practice drills, gives us points for improvement and all of the current trends in law enforcement related to school disturbances.  Please know that we are doing everything possible to keep your children safe while they are here at school.  In light of this tragedy, any District 96 student that has questions or would like to talk to our counselor, professionals will be made available.  

If you have a small chunk of time, check out this link for Standard Based Report Cards.  One of the teachers in the district created this website, which helps parents see how to follow reporting practices within SBR.  This is a valuable asset for parents and students to navigate the parent portal for PowerSchool.  

With the holidays approaching quickly, there are times when you simply do not know what type of gift you should give to certain people.  Worry no longer! The band and orchestra holiday gift fundraiser is here.  Click here to see the numerous organizations that you can purchase gift cards through. This link can also be found the homepage of our D96 website.

Here is a quick reminder that Artsonia is up and running again this year. Check out artsonia.com to see what your student and Mrs. Kile has been doing in the Art Room. You will find items to purchase that feature your child’s artwork and creative expressions. I cannot think of a better way to find an inexpensive, unique gift this holiday season.  Additionally, the school receives a percentage of any orders you place which goes toward enriching our students’ art and specials programs.

Please click on the link to the PTO newsletter at the top of this blog.  

I hope that everyone has a great weekend. 

Greg Grana

Woodlawn Today

From the Greg Grana parent file…Realizing that I am probably the last one to know this, there is a new app called "snap chat" that allows kids to send a picture to someone, which disappears in five to ten seconds after viewing.  It is apparently very popular among kids.  My senior in high school showed this to me last night and was having a lot of fun sending goofy pictures back and forth with his friends. As I thought about this with my principal hat on, it made me a little bit nervous. After researching this further today, there are already “workarounds” to capture the picture before it disappears. As always, talk with your children about the benefits of technology, but know that a captured picture can be very dangerous.  My kids are tired of hearing this message, but I always say that digital is forever.   

On Monday and Tuesday this week, Mr. Murphy and I met with each of the grade levels and had honest discussions about Standards Based Report Cards and how they are going to impact students.  I am very proud of our students and the thoughtful discussions we were able to have.  Students discussed their SBR experiences thus far and brought up questions like “how will this transfer to a college application?”.  I loved the forward thinking of our students.  We are going to continue having these meaningful discussions with students and inform the students how the targets are tied directly to our new reporting system.  

With the holidays approaching quickly, there are times when you simply do not know what type of gift you should give to certain people.  Worry no longer! The band and orchestra holiday gift fundraiser is here.  Click here to see the numerous organizations that you can purchase gift cards through. This link can also be found the homepage of our D96 website.  

In previous blogs, I have mentioned that our 8^th graders are a terrific group of young adults.  Here is a picture where our 8^th grade girls created an impromptu mirror of support.  Parents, this is truly an amazing group of 8^th graders.  The messages included phrases like, "You rock", "Never give up", "Girl Power!"...This group of students really understands how to treat each other .  

I hope that everyone has a great weekend.  This group of students has really set my weekend in motion.  

Take Care,

Greg Grana  

 

Writing Introductory Paragraphs

Mrs. Gord's 6th grade Language Arts classes came up with a couple of interesting ways to remember what information is most essential to include in an introductory paragraph.  The idea to write songs (and dance routine) came right from the students.  Check them out... the clips are brief and should bring a little holiday cheer to you!

Have a great week!

Chris

Woodlawn Principals' Blog 11/30/12

December here we come! 

POWERSCHOOL UPDATE

Due to system updates, the PowerSchool parent portal will be down from Wednesday, December 5 through Monday, December 10. We're sorry for this inconvenience! 

STANDARDS-BASED REPORTING "Question of the Week" 

Why do my child's grades seem low to start the trimester?

Great question! We all have to think differently about grading. It seems that, since the dawn of time, grades have been calculated using a straight average of all assignments over the course of a grading period. This new system will show you where your child starts, how they grow, and when they achieve mastery...or beyond. 

As we've shared, the fundamental purpose of standards-based reporting is to accurately reflect student growth related to targets over time. Since a trimester is the beginning of a new cycle of instruction, we expect students to need time and support to show progress toward the learning standards of focus. For that reason, it's not surprising that students may struggle at the beginning, showing that they are below mastery (scores of 2.0 or 1.0). They simply need time to learn the new concepts. Please keep watching for more data, though...growth will be reflected in their grades! Also, remember that the overall course letter grade is an average of the most recent standards-aligned data, so letter grades may look low at the beginning of the trimester, too. With effort, instruction, and growth, the students' grades will improve to accurately reflect their learning over the course of the trimester. 

For more specific information related to the field test, please take a few minutes to listen to the podcast of the Standards-Based Reporting Field Test Parent Information Night presentation. As always, feel free to contact your child's teachers, Mr. Murphy, or me if you have questions or would like more information. 

As winter weather has arrived, now is a good time to remind your children not to share hats, headbands, scarves or earmuffs with their friends as this can lead to an increased transmission of head lice. Head lice continues to be one of the most common communicable conditions among children, and outbreaks are possible whenever and wherever children gather. Since the onset of head lice is typical this time of year, it is a good idea to watch for signs that your child may have lice such as frequent head scratching. If your child has lice, there are a variety of treatments available. Please check the District website, www.kcsd96.org, under the “Family Resources,” “Student Health” link for specific information on head lice and District 96 practices.

With the holidays approaching quickly, here is a quick reminder that Artsonia is up and running again this year. Check out artsonia.com to see what your student and Mrs. Kile has been doing in the Art Room. You will find items to purchase that feature your child’s artwork and creative expressions. I cannot think of a better way to find an inexpensive, unique gift this holiday season.  Additionally, the school receives a percentage of any orders you place which goes toward enriching our students’ art and specials programs.

An outstanding program from our Cultural Arts Committee was presented to our Woodlawn students this week when Linda Gorham told her amazing stories.  Students were mesmerized as she tapped into the creative side of story telling.  Thanks PTO! 

Standards Based Reporting Info

I hope you've all enjoyed a relaxing Thanksgiving, and you avoided the much of the chaos that ensues on Black Friday by shopping online, as I have.  Now with the celebrating, traveling, and shopping done, it's time to highlight one of the big changes at Woodlawn and Twin Groves Middle Schools.

We're incredibly excited about the official beginning of the District 96 middle school standards-based reporting field test, which began at the start of Trimester 2 on the Monday of last week.  With that came more opportunities for you to learn about the progress of your student(s) specific to academic learning targets and work habits.

Here is a letter that we made available at Parent-teacher conferences earlier this week that explains how to access your students' standards-based grades on PowerSchool.

As always, don't hesitate the call or stop by the Woodlawn office if you have any questions.

Thanks, and have a great weekend,

Chris

This Week at Woodlawn

Please click on the PTO Newsletter link above.   Look up and click…I will wait.  

Attention parents of 8th grade students…Stevenson High School begins its incoming placement for freshmen in December, with the first part of the Spanish placement exam.  This year, along with our annual placement tests, Stevenson is asking all feeder schools to include the EXPLORE test, which is a nationally normed exam that is suitable for 8thgraders.  I am attaching a link for parents to see the letter from Troy Gobble, Stevenson High School Principal. (Please click here to read the SHS EXPLORE letter).  Among the schools that feed into Stevenson, Woodlawn and Twin Groves have elected to give this exam in our home schools, during the school day on January 25th, 2013.  Please contact me directly if you have any questions.

In the PTO Newsletter (I know you looked, remember, I waited for you?), you will see information on the food drive and the toy drive.  At this time of year, I like to reflect about how fortunate I have been, and how lucky I am to have my family safe, happy and healthy.  Please try and find a few items to send to school and make Thanksgiving and the holiday season special for someone else.  

There is still time to sign up for conferences!  Conferences are Monday, November 19th from 5-7p.m and Tuesday, November 20th from 2-7p.m  If you are not able to attend conferences, you can request a phone conference this year.  In years past because we ran into a very difficult situation after conferences where parents wanted to meet with teachers and a lot of time planning/meeting time was lost.  Once again, please note the wording in our current handbook.

Per the D96 handbook:

"The intent of scheduled conference days is to provide an opportunity for parents and teachers to come together to share information in a brief conference–not to replace the opportunity for these same people to come together whenever needed.Should you be unable to schedule a conference during the conference times identified on the school calendar, a parent may request a brief phone conference with the student's teacher and individual team members when appropriate. It is not the expectation of the District that teams re-create the conference experience outside the dates/times identified on the calendar."

GOOD NEWS FOR D96 PARENTS WHO PREPAY THEIR STUDENTS’ LUNCHES ONLINE

District administrators shared your feedback with the staff of MealsPlus and the following improvement is the result: The $100 payment cap on LunchPrepay.comhas been removed. Parents will no longer need to make multiple payments for amounts over $100. (Note: The $1.95 transaction fee per

payment still applies however)

Have a great weekend, and Go Bears!

Chris

Talent show tonight, remember to bring canned goods!

We are really looking forward to our students on display tonight, showing off their talents for family and friends!  Please use tonight as an opportunity to bring canned goods for our food drive or bring a toy to donate for our toy drive.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone tonight and we hope that you enjoy the show.

Mr. G-

November 9th, 2012

Please visit the PTO Newsletter and click on the link above! 

November is here and we are steamrolling toward our Thanksgiving Break.  Things at school are going well and I am very proud of the students and staff for all of their hard work up to this point of the school year.  My fantasy football teams are a disaster, but things could be worse.

Sign up for your conference time this week!  Remember that conferences are coming up on Monday, November 19^th from 5-7p.m and Tuesday, November 20^th from 2-7p.m.  It is very important that you get your sign up time early so that you can get information about your student and their performance to date.  If you are not able to attend conferences, you can request a phone conference this year.  In years past because we ran into a very difficult situation after conferences where parents wanted to meet with teachers and a lot of time planning/meeting time was lost.  Please note the wording in our current handbook.

Per the D96 handbook:

"The intent of scheduled conference days is to provide an opportunity for parents and teachers to come together to share information in a brief conference–not to replace the opportunity for these same people to come together whenever needed. Should you be unable to schedule a conference during the conference times identified on the school calendar, a parent may request a brief phone conference with the student's teacher and individual team members when appropriate. It is not the expectation of the District that teams re-create the conference experience outside the dates/times identified on the calendar."

Click here to read the Standards-Based Report Card Field Test Podcast from our meeting on the evening of October 18^th, at Twin Groves Middle School.  This podcast gives you another level of understanding as we move toward Standards Based Report Cards.  I hope that everyone takes the time to listen to this podcast, it is very informative and worth your time. 

Here is a cool opportunity for parents…

On Tues., Nov. 13, 9:30 – 11 a.m., you are invited to the Ivy Hall School Mat Room to participate in the facilitated discussion of the book we've been reading as a district: Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings. Parents who have not yet read the book, which addresses social/emotional learning (SEL) for our children, are welcome and encouraged to attend, as well. The interactive discussion will be facilitated by Student Services Director Kimberly Dahlem and Asst. Student Services Director Kim Lechner and is presented in collaboration with our District 96 Parent-to-Parent (P2P) Network. Though walk-ins are welcome, your RSVP is appreciated.

Special Directions for entering Ivy Hall School for the Nov. 13 program: 

Ivy Hall School is located at 1072 Ivy Hall Lane, Buffalo Grove. At the intersection of Arlington Heights and Route 83 (McHenry Rd.), take Arlington Heights Rd. south to Alden Lane (first street on left). Turn left onto Alden Lane and follow to the Ivy Hall School parking lot. Park in available lot spaces or curbside on the streets surrounding the school. 

Enter the Ivy Hall School through the double doors facing Clohesey Lane, near the playground area. Please do not enter through the main office. Staff will be in place throughout the program to monitor hallways and direct attendees to the Mat Room.

Questions? Call the public info coordinator at 847.459.4260, ext. 7722, or send email to bfresen@kcsd96.org

I hope that everyone hast a great week and remember to sign up for your conferences!!!!

Greg Grana

Blog 11/2/12

Please visit the Woodlawn Principals’ Blog at the top of this page!!!!

NO SCHOOL THIS COMING TUESDAY!!! 

Parent-Teacher Conferences are November 19th and 20th

We are looking forward to sharing your child's progress with you so far this year at our upcoming Parent-Teacher conferences to be held Monday, 11/19 from 5-7pm and Tuesday, 11/20 from 2-7pm.  Please begin call this Wednesday, November 7^th for conference sign up times. Each family can call the Woodlawn office and request a conference with one teacher that your student has for class.  We do hope that you will be able to attend conferences in person.  If you cannot, you may request a phone conference with your child's teacher and team members when appropriate.  It is not the expectation of the District for teachers to recreate the conference experience outside the dates/times identified on the District calendar.

Cultural Arts

Woodlawn Middle School is happy to announce we will be hosting nationally known, award-winning speaker and story-teller, Linda Gorham.  She will be presenting to our 7th grade classes on Tuesday, November 27th for 2 performances, 8:32 - 9:16 a.m. and 9:19 - 10:05 a.m.  Linda energizes her audiences by using movement and humor.   She does "storytelling with attitude!"  Performances will be held in the Learning Center, and parents are invited to attend.  Please remember to bring a state issued ID as part of the guest sign in procedure in the office.  

Hope you can come!  Everyone is sure to enjoy!

Homework hotline reminder

You can get all of your homework information in one spot.  One the Woodlawn Middle School home page, please click on the homework hotline link on the left hand side of the page and go to your specific grade level.  One stop shopping.

Monday is mock election day

All Woodlawn students will get a chance to vote for the presidential election on Monday.  Students are registered, will be voting on Monday during the lunch period at their specific precinct.  Selected 8^th graders will act as election judges.  We will share the election results with the Woodlawn community on Monday before the end of the school day.  7^th & 8^th graders have been researching unbiased on line sites and will be studying the electoral college this Monday as well.

  

PTO Food Drive/Toy Drive

Go to the PTO Newsletter at the top of this page!!!!

Fall Party Recap 

Good times!!!!

Old Man Winter Reminds Us of His Power

The Fall Party is Tonight, from 6-8:00pm.  If you haven't already purchased tickets, they are $8 at the door.  A raffle, drink, and snack tickets are included with admission.  Please promptly pick up your students at 8pm.  Please.

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Please click the link above, or here, to visit the PTO Newsletter.

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We had an action-packed week this week here at school.  Besides the run of the mill fun that comes with middle school life, the 6g students were treated to the mathtastical wizardry of Mike Byster, and all students took part in CAMFEL; The Pledge assembly.  Camfel is a visual/audio bonanza with the solid message of encouraging students to value one another.  

This is one of the follow up questions that students were encouraged to think about after the show: "What can you pledge to do that would make your school a more welcome and safer place?"  Ask your child... what would they pledge?

Mike Byster, 6g students, and many parents

Thanks to the PTO Cultural Arts committee for their continued support.

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The 2012 ILLINOIS STATE SCHOOL REPORT CARDS are now online on the District 96 website. State and federal laws require public schools to release report cards to the public annually, providing the opportunity to compare data–including academic, financial, and demographic information–statewide.  Each State School Report Card also includes information on areas of success and planned improvement.

Illinois students in Grades 3 – 8 take the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). Reading and math are tested in Grades 3 – 8; science is tested in Grades 4 and 7 only. In overall student performance on the ISAT administered March 2012 in reading, math, and science, 96.6 percent of District 96 students in Grades 3–8 meet or exceed the Illinois Learning Standards.


See STATE REPORT CARDS for each District 96 school, as well as a STATE REPORT CARD FOR THE DISTRICT.

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STANDARDS-BASED REPORTING "Question of the Week" 

What are the Common Core Standards?

We've spoken a great deal about the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) to which our learning standards in District 96 are directly aligned. As indicated on the CCSS website, the Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. You can see the standards themselves for all grade levels by visiting the CCSS site (linked above). 


But how are these standards changing our work, and how do they fit in with standards-based reporting? The CCSS are far more rigorous that previous versions of the Illinois State Standards, the research-base that we have historically used to develop our learning standards and curriculum frameworks.  The chart below illustrates the standards in place for 8th graders in the past. This was our list of reading standards, based on the past version of the Illinois State Learning Standards:

Reading Standards--8th Grade

Identify the best summary of a fiction or nonfiction passage.

Draw literal meanings and inferences about text   and support them with textual evidence.

Determine inferential meanings within a poem.

Compose an extended response by combining details from a text (stated ideas) with inferences and connections (unstated ideas).


The chart below illustrates our current standards for reading at the 8th grade level. As you can see, there are many more standards! More importantly, the complexity of what we expect students to do is clearly at a new level. These are the mastery level, or 3.0, targets for ALL 8th graders in District 96. 

CCSS-Aligned Reading Standards--8th Grade

LITERATURE

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text explicitly says.

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of inferences drawn from the text.

Determine a theme or central idea of a text.  Analyze the theme or central idea’s development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot.

Provide an objective summary of the text.

Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings and verbal irony.

Compare and contrast the structure of two or more texts or media.

INFORMATIONAL TEXT (NON-FICTION)

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text explicitly says.

Determine the central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.

Evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text assessing whether the evidence is relevant and sufficient.

Determine an author’s point of view (perspective) or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.

Analyze a case in which two or more texts provide conflicting information on the same topic.


Clearly, the rigor and clarity have increased, which is good for kids! Now, consider the fact that, for  learning standards where it is appropriate, we have created scales to clarify what it looks like for a student who has already mastered the standard to truly extend their learning. This "4.0" thinking helps us differentiate to truly take our students to new levels. Our new reporting format will allow us to clearly articulate for students--and parents--what specific standards students have mastered, where they need additional instruction, and where we have been able to extend their thinking. This level of specificity will truly impact student learning and take our communication to new levels!

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Don't forget to check the Homework Hotline for daily lists of assignments.

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Mr. Grana reading to students in the ILC program.

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Students, and teachers, are all encouraged to dress up in their favorite costumes on Halloween day next week.  Stop by, and perhaps you'll see me and Mr. Grana dressed up, too.

Bundle up, and have a great weekend,

Chris