TOPe Focus Header
August 2013 
In This Issue
Welcome Back!
EKGs Provided to Students
District Email Addresses Change
Thank You to Generous School Supply Donors
District Begins Superintendent Search
Handbook Acknowledgement Form
Student Immunization and Physical Reminder

 

More than 6,700...

...students attended classes on the first day

  

5,135...

...students were transported to school on a D200 bus 


4,459 ...

...miles were covered by D200 school buses

  

8,000...

...breakfasts were served by D200 Food Services staff

  

4,000...

...lunches were served by D200 Food Services staff  

  


Learn More About Our Schools

 Verda Dierzen

 

Dean Street 

Elementary School

 

Greenwood 

Elementary School

 

Mary Endres

Elementary School

 

Olson 

Elementary School

 

Prairiewood 

Elementary School

 

Westwood 

Elementary School

 

Creekside 

Middle School

 

Northwood

Middle School

 

Woodstock

High School

 

Woodstock North 

High School

 

Clay Academy

Quick Links

 

Board of Education

 

Paul J. Meyer

President

 

Russ Goerlitz

Vice President

 

Camille Goodwin

Secretary

 

Bob Birchfield

 

Carl W. Gilmore

 

Dr. Kathy Lechner

 

David Shinherr

Stars Spiral  

Superintendent

  

Ellyn Wrzeski 

 


 

 Virtual backpack logo

Don't Forget to check the Virtual Backpack

 

Remember to check the
 Virtual Backpack on the district's website for informational flyers on

a wide variety of 

programs and events

for D200 families.


Bryan White
Performance to benefit 
D200 Music Program
Saturday, September 7th

Tickets available at:


Thank you -
 to Verda Dierzen PTO, families, volunteers, school and district staff members, and everyone else who worked together to help make our new playground dream a wonderful reality!



Looking Ahead
 
No School -

Labor Day Holiday

Monday, Sept. 2

 

Board of Education Meeting

7:00 p.m. at Clay PDC

Tuesday, Sept. 10 

 

One Hour Late Start

Wednesday, Sept. 18 


Go to the Calendar or Upcoming Events sections of the district website for 
a detailed listing of all events by school, month, day or type.

D200 Logo on Gray 

 
Use the QR reader on your smartphone for quick access to the district website. 

Mrs. Gabrielson and her new 4th grade class get acquainted
on their first day of class at Mary Endres Elementary School

Welcome Back!

The halls of District 200 schools were once again filled with the sounds of children's voices and footsteps, teachers' lessons and students learning as school began on August 15.  We want to welcome all students and staff members to the 2013-2014 school year!

 

Two principals have moved to new schools at our elementary level, and we have two new principals and two new assistant principals.  Please welcome:

 

Mrs. Keri Pala to Mary Endres Elementary School - Mrs. Pala was most recently the assistant principal at Northwood Middle School.

 

Mr. Thomas Wollpert to Greenwood Elementary School - Mr. Wollpert was most recently the principal at Mary Endres Elementary School.

 

Mrs. Diana Frisbie to Olson Elementary School - Mrs. Frisbie was most recently the teacher facilitator at Verda Dierzen Early Learning Center.

 

Mr. Jason Eggert to Westwood Elementary School - Mr. Eggert was most recently the principal at Greenwood Elementary School.

 

Mrs. Bethany Hall to Northwood Middle School as Assistant Principal - Mrs. Hall most recently taught math at WHS.  

 

Dr. Art Vallicelli to a new position as Assistant Principal at WHS - Dr. Vallicelli most recently taught English at WHS. 

 

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EKG Screenings Offered at High Schools

 

District 200, in partnership with Centegra Health System provided EKG screenings for 393 high school students over a two-day period on August 20 and 21.  This is the first year that students had the opportunity to be tested for symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD), which is one of the leading causes of death for young athletes in the United States.  An EKG test can detect about 40% of those at risk for sudden cardiac death.

 

Technicians from Centegra Health System performed EKG screenings in nine private booths that ensured confidentiality for

WNHS students check in with Centegra staff 
prior to their EKG screenings

our students.  An additional booth was set up with an

echocardiogram machine that was used when any abnormal EKG readings were detected.  An on-site physician reviewed both the EKG screenings and the echocardiograms for any abnormalities.  Twenty-seven students had the additional echocardiogram but no abnormalities were detected.

 

District 200 Superintendent Ellyn Wrzeski said, "The District is very fortunate to have such a strong partnership with Centegra that allows us to provide this important, potentially life-saving, screening for our students.  The resources put into this program by Centegra made it possible for our families to pay a minimal fee and get peace of mind."

 

"Centegra's associates and physicians were delighted to partner with Sage Products and Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 to provide these screenings," said Celine Pope, manager of wellness for Centegra Health System. "We commend District 200 for encouraging teens to be screened. By working together, we may help prevent life-altering injuries and cardiac events and keep our community's children safe."

 

District 200 Director of Nursing & Health Services Lisa Tate stated, "The EKG screening programs at both high schools were well planned, and the students felt comfortable due to the compassionate and caring manner of all Centegra Health System's employees." 

 

District 200 plans to continue providing screenings for high school students in the coming years.  

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District Email Addresses Change  

Please note that all email addresses for District 200
employees have changed.  Most addresses use the first initial and last name followed by @wcusd200.org. For example: 
csmith@wcusd200.org.  

 

District employees can also be contacted via the email links found in the website Directory. 

 

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School Supply Drive Provides Students with the Proper Tools for Learning

 

Members of the Woodstock community once again opened their hearts and their wallets to help students start the school year with the right supplies. 

This D200 school bus was "stuffed" with schools supplies donated by generous community members

Woodstock High School students developed a plan to "stuff a bus" full of school supplies.  The District 200 school bus was parked in front of WalMart for two days while volunteers asked shoppers for supply donations. The response was overwhelming, with shoppers purchasing crayons, pens, pencils, paper, backpacks, calculators and glue that were then placed in the bus.  Some community members even donated cash so volunteers were able to purchase items that were needed the most.  The students sorted all the donated items and packed them in bags for each school.   

 

In addition to basic school supplies, the Illinois Federation of Teachers provided much needed calculators, thumb drives and facial tissues.  The District is fortunate to receive annual donations from IFT.

 

Members of the AT&T Pioneers and other employees brought 21 backpacks filled with school supplies to the District Administrative Center.  Families who requested supplies from the district were able to pick up filled backpacks before school started.  We are grateful to our neighbors for the help.

 

Members of the Wells Fargo Advisors investment team purchased enough supplies for 30 students. Their donations included calculators, jump drives, backpacks and basic supplies.  We appreciate that Wells Fargo Advisors worked hard to keep their donations in a local school district.  


Many thanks to the following volunteers and donors:

Jenifer Bazan and AT&T 

Becky Blaho and St. Anne's Church 

Tony Casalino and the Illinois Federation of Teachers

Cynthia Komarek & Anil Rathi and Wells Fargo Advisors

 

Woodstock High School Students

Elizabeth Acosta
Dillon Austin
Maura Beattie
Mallory Bellairs
Zach Bellavia
Evan Berg
Bree Choitz
Erica Christmas
Erin Davis
Anna Gabrielson
Chris Gabrielson
Meghan Hughes
Sam Hughes
Jacinda Kauffman
Emma King
Dylan Manke
Mary Grace Mathison
Dillon Nerland
Jace Pohlman
Maitiu Sexton
Riley Vogel
Natalie Zoia

 

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District 200 Board of Education Asks Parents, Staff and Community Members for Input on Superintendent Search

 

District 200 Superintendent Ellyn Wrzeski is retiring from her position on June 30, 2014.  The Board of Education is beginning the process of searching for a new superintendent, and has asked the firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to help with the process. 

 

Survey Information

As one of the initial steps in the process, the Board is seeking input from staff, parents, students and community members on the characteristics and skills desired in the next superintendent.  Please share your thoughts by responding to the survey linked below.

 

As you respond, please remember that all characteristics listed are desirable, but we are interested in knowing your perceptions about which characteristics are "most important" for District 200.

 

To access the survey:

  1. Click on this survey link and identify the group to which you belong
  2. Follow the directions on the survey
  3. Please respond by September 12, 2013

On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you for taking the time to respond.  We appreciate your willingness to participate and look forward to learning your perspective.  

 

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District Handbook Acknowledgement Form

Families should have received the District 200 2013-14 Parent and Student Handbook during the first week of school. 

Please remember to sign the acknowledgement form (found on the first page) indicating you received the handbook, and send it back to school with your child.  Please also be sure to review your school's building handbook.  If you did not receive a handbook, contact your child's school.

  


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Student Immunization and Physical Reminder

As required by the Illinois Department of Public Health, all children entering pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades, and any student entering District 200 from outside Illinois must present proof of a current physical exam. 


Students in grades 6-12 must show proof of receiving one dose of Tdap (Tetnus-Diptheria Acellular Pertussis).  In addition, the chicken pox vaccine is required for all students in kindergarten through 11th grade for the 2013-2014 school year.


Proof of physicals and immunizations is required by October 15, 2013.  Failure to provide this information will result in a student's exclusion from school until the required health forms are presented. 


If you have any questions, please contact the nurse at your child's school.

 

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WOODSTOCK SCHOOL DISTRICT 200 
227 W. Judd St. | WOODSTOCK | IL | 60098 | 815-338-8200  

 

e-Focus is published online every month by Woodstock Community Unit School District 200. 

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please contact the editor by 

phone at (815) 337-5147 or by email at csmith@wcusd200.org.