Award recipients attend the Symposium on Music in Schools, held every two years at the Yale School of Music as part of its Music in Schools Initiative. The honors will be conferred at the Symposium's Awards Dinner on Saturday, June 8. 

Every year tragic stories of seemingly healthy young adults dying from hidden heart conditions capture our attention. Many potentially life-threatening hidden heart conditions are detectable through a simple EKG and, once detected can be treated. An electrocardiogram (or EKG) can detect markers of certain serious heart conditions, undetectable by a stethoscope.  

Centegra Health System and District 200 will be offering EKG testing to all high school students for a $5 fee during physical education classes on the following dates:

Woodstock High North High School:  August 19th and 20th

Woodstock High School:  August 21st and 22nd

While Centegra's Cardiac Screening test will be conducted at your child's school, it will be performed by the Centegra Wellness Department and reviewed by an on-site physician. Your child with have clinical professionals performing the EKG and, in the case of any abnormalities, an Echocardiogram (Ultrasound) will also be performed. Testing will be clinically managed by Centegra with the cooperative efforts of the schools and parents.  Testing will be conducted in private booths set up in designated areas at both high schools and every effort is made to respect privacy and modesty. 

Information about the testing will be sent home in registration packets.  If you would like to have your child tested, please complete the forms and send a check for $5 made payable to District 200 back to your child's school by July 1. 

For more information, contact Lisa Tate, Health Services Coordinator at (815) 206-3014.

Young Athletes is an innovative sports program for children ages

2-7 with disabilities, and their peers of any age. This program was designed to introduce students to the world of sports while they have fun and learn some basic skills. The program focuses on activities that help children to improve physically, cognitively, and socially. The program also raises an awareness of Special Olympics in our district and surrounding areas.

Students at Prairiewood Elementary School, Dean Street

Young Athletes at Prairiewood Elementary School celebrate their  sports accomplishments.

Elementary School and Verda Dierzen Early Learning Center participated in the culminating events which let them showcase their talents in the areas of foundational skills, walking/running, balance, striking, kicking, jumping, catching, throwing, and an obstacle course. Students, along with peer partners, all received t-shirts as well as participation ribbons and certificates.

It is no small task getting more than 400 Kindergarten students ready to sing and dance on stage.  Even though the performances were in late April, music teacher Chris Rausch and physical education teacher Jackie Anderson begin teaching the songs and dances to students after winter break. 

The theme of this year's performance was "When I Grow Up," featuring songs about possible professions the students could

The kindergarten students at Verda Dierzen  perform a song and dance routine during  their Fine Arts program.

have in the future such as,  "When I'm A Firefighter," "Peanut Butter and Jelly" (chef), "Old MacDonald," (farmer), "The Lady with the Alligator Purse" (doctor), and "The Green Grass Grew All Around," (conservationist).  All the songs involved hand motions and movements, and most featured individual students either speaking or singing solo parts.

The two teachers work separately with the students until the week of the show.  During the program week, both gym and music classes are held in the gym giving the students the opportunity to get familiar with the space and the decorations. Part of their learning also included rules about talking, properly using the risers and program etiquette.

Parents and siblings, staff members and District administrators were on hand at each of two performances to watch the students perform their songs and dances.  

Studies show that students who continue to learn during the summer break are better prepared for school in the fall.  Governor Pat Quinn, Secretary of State Jesse White and State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch today are encouraging all students across Illinois to access a free online tool designed to promote summer reading and keep students' brains active before school resumes in the fall.

"By reading during summer months, students can build a strong bridge from one school year to the next," Governor Quinn said. "This free online tool is a great way for children to spend time with their parents while sharpening reading skills and preparing for the year ahead."

The online "Find a Book" utility at www.lexile.com/findabook provides a way for parents and children to quickly and easily search books that match a child's reading level and interests as well as locate a local library carrying each title.

The "Find a Book" utility at www.lexile.com/findabook uses a student's reading score, reported as a Lexile® measure, from state standardized tests, including the ISAT, to provide a Lexile range and corresponding list of texts within that range.

Users of the "Find a Book" search tool can also find appropriate books without a Lexile measure through a search using the child's grade level and comfort with the typical reading materials at that grade level. The search utility will produce a starting Lexile range that can be further refined.

"Reading builds knowledge and is crucial to students' long-term success," State Superintendent Koch said. "Good reading habits begin at home. Parents can help their children develop strong reading skills by using the 'Find a Book' site to find age-appropriate materials that will keep their students engaged and excited about learning."

"Find a Book" also offers a Spanish option that allows users to search all of the titles with Spanish Lexile measures. More information on Spanish Lexile measures is available at http://www.lexile.com/about-lexile/el-sistema-para-leer.