February 24, 2012

Welcome to the last Friday blog update for the month of February! 


Before you do anything else, please go to the PTO link at the top of this page!!!

Beginning at the start of the 2012-13 school year, the District 96 middle schools will be moving to TRIMESTERS instead of our past practice of reporting out on quarters.  This is a move that I am in favor of and have been wanting to pursue for a couple of years.  Heather Friziellie (Twin Groves principal) and I proposed this change to the D96 Board of Education earlier this month and it was approved at the board meeting this past Tuesday.  

Here are the major benefits of moving to Trimesters:

•                Calendar alignment for grades K-8

•                Reporting periods better align to Parent-Teacher Conferences

•                Longer windows of time to instruct, assess, provide intervention/enrichment on learning targets before issuing grades (three 12-week terms instead of four 9-week terms)

•                Decreased number of summative (end of term) assessments

•                Alignment to Stevenson HIgh School, where each semester is made up of 3 terms

Parents and students have used our PowerSchool system effectively to keep up with their academic progress.  The rigor of our curriculum will not change.  The use of our time will be organized more efficiently to support students doing their work.  If you have any questions surrounding this change, feel free to contact me directly. 

Here is something that has been on my mind for a while…Parents, please do not use your cellular device in the school zone.  The Lake County Sheriff has notified me that anyone driving and using their phone will be ticketed.  Another parking lot issue has come to my attention recently, students are walking up to Gilmer Road to be picked up by their parents.  This is a dangerous practice and I will be having students stay on the sidewalk here at school and not walk up to Gilmer Road.  Please come into the parking lot to pick up your student.

Last night, our band had an amazing performance in the Woodlawn gymnasium.  The Concert, Jazz and Symphonic Bands played a wide variety of challenging songs and entertained the crowd.  Great job to all of our band members and Mr. Craw!

From Mr. Murphy: 

We had a great week here at Woodlawn.  Our Conference Champion 7g Boys Basketball Teams were recognized at the District 96 Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday night.  Our Scholastic Bowl split its first matches on Wednesday, and the Orchestra and Band musicians from Kildeer, Country Meadows, and Woodlawn played phenomenally this week, as well.  And finally with the help from some fresh snow, our Ski Club should have a great night skiing and snowboarding tonight.

Above, Mr. Duggan conducts the 6g Woodlawn Orchestra.

Mr. Duggan conducts the combined 7/8g Woodlawn Orchestra.

3rd-Quarter mid-term reports will be posted on PowerSchool by Wednesday, February 29.  Teachers will be contacting the parents of students who are not passing class at that time.  As always, if you have any questions about academic grades or classroom work habits, we encourage you to contact the teachers.