In like a lion...

Happy Friday!  

My, oh my, flipping the calendar to March this morning was an odd feeling.  I can’t believe how fast the year is flying- today also marks the end of the second trimester!  And while I’m sure your students have reminded you many times, don’t forget that there is no school on Monday, March 4, as we recognize Casmir Pulaski Day. 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE PTO NEWSLETTER

WASHINGTON D.C

Safe travels to our 8th graders and staff members who are traveling to visit our nation's capital this weekend.  Learn lots, and have a blast!  (Teachers, drink lots of coffee!)

INFORMATION COMING YOUR WAY

Parents of 6th and 7th graders, please check your child's backpack for their winter MAP scores. Parents of 8th graders, please check your mail, as EXPLORE access codes have been mailed home to you. Should you have questions about either MAP or EXPLORE, feel free to contact Greg or me to discuss. 

On March 13, we will publish Trimester 2 report cards online. We will email you directions for accessing the report card via PowerSchool. Please note that report cards will NOT be printed in hard copy, as you will be able to see all the fabulous information right on PowerSchool.  We will still send home a report card envelope which will contain directions for accessing the report card as well as a Standards-Based Reporting parent guide. I'd ask you to sign and return the envelope to us in order to confirm that you got the information and accessed the report card. 

Finally, be sure to check PowerSchool now in order to monitor your child's midterm Specials grades in Art, Communications, FACS, and Music. 

Click here for an informational video on how to navigate the PowerSchool parent portal.

DISTRICT 96 FOUNDATION NEWS

We are proud to announce the name of a Woodlawn student who is one of the recipients of the 2013 K.I.D.S Grant Awards sponsored by the District 96 Foundation. Woodlawn’s winning grant stood out from a pool of fourteen applicants.  Four student groups from Kildeer Countryside, along with Woodlawn sixth-grader, Saurav Chandra, won grants because they had outstanding ideas to help their fellow classmates learn. Saurav’s grant is to use an Elenco Snap Circuit Green Alternative Energy Kit so he and his fellow classmates can learn about environmental concepts like green and alternative energies. Saurav confidently stood up to be recognized when the foundation Prize Patrol arrived at Woodlawn.  Foundation representatives informed me they liked the versatility of his idea when he wrote, “This kit can create 129 different electronic projects related to energy using circuit boards.” 

More information about K.I.D.S. Grants can be found at www.96foundation.org.

2013-14 DATES

At Tuesday night's Board of Education meeting, the calendar for the 2013-14 school year was approved.  Click here to take a peek at next year's dates.  

ISAT SCHEDULE

As you may be aware this year's ISAT (Illinois Standards Achievement Test) will take place next week. Our schedule will be as follows:

Wednesday, March 6: All 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade (Reading/Math)

Thursday, March 7: All 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade (Reading/Math)

Friday, March 8: All 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade (Reading/Math)

Monday, March 11: 7^th grade only (Science)

While students cannot study for the ISAT, they will certainly benefit from getting a good night's sleep and eating a healthy breakfast. It will also be important that students arrive on time each day, as we'd like as few make-ups as possible. Please visit the D96 website to see the ISAT question structure or to access practice questions. If you have specific questions regarding the ISAT, please contact Greg or me directly. 

Attention parents of fifth-graders...

The D96 Parent-to-Parent (P2P) Network is partnering with Woodlawn and Twin Groves Middle School principals and staff to present a brand-new transition program for parents whose current fifth-grade students will be attending middle school in August 2013. 

This don’t-miss program on Tuesday, Mar. 12,  @ 7 p.m., Woodlawn Middle School Gym, for ALL District 96 parents of current fifth graders will feature a student panel for Q&A and practical transition tips, middle school staff, and Principals Heather Friziellie and Greg Grana. 

Please note that this program replaces the school-based programs presented in previous years. One program/one date for ALL parents of current D96 fifth-grade students: Tues., Mar. 12, 7 p.m., Woodlawn Middle School gym, 6362 Gilmer Rd, Long Grove 60047.

That's all folks, enjoy the long weekend!

Chris