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Paul J. Meyer

President

Russ Goerlitz

Vice President

Camille Goodwin

Secretary

Bob Birchfield

Carl W. Gilmore

David Shinherr

Dr. Katherine Welch  

Ellyn Wrzeski 

There are a number of new events and activities 

posted, including:

• WNHS Tumbling Clinic
• D200 Music & Theatre Faculty Concert
• Music Boosters Discount Cards
• Music Boosters Night at Buffalo Wild Wings
• Winter Coat Drive
• Haunted Hayride
• Learn About 4H
• NISRA Fall Recreation Programs

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

National Merit Commended and Semifinalist Students Named

Three Woodstock High School seniors have been named National Merit Commended and Semifinalist students in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.  The students are: Zach Bellavia, Semifinalist; Mallory Bellairs, Commended; and Graham Ellinghausen, Commended.

These talented scholars are three of the 34,000 seniors

WHS Seniors, from left: Zach Bellavia,  Mallory Bellairs and Graham Ellinghausen

from across the nation who entered the scholarship program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (SAT/NMSQT).  Zach is in a nationwide pool of semifinalists which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.  He will now have the opportunity to advance to the finalist level in early 2014.

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Parent-Teacher Conferences are October 9 and 10

Parent-Teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday, October 9 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Thursday, October 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in all District 200 schools.  Information has been mailed to parents regarding conference sign-up. 

Elementary schools have contacted parents with information about how to secure a time slot.  At the Middle and High School level, parents may sign up for conferences using the online Pick-A-Time system.  Links to the system appear on the schools' website homepages.  If you have any questions or concerns about conferences, please contact your school(s).

Conferences are a time when parents and teachers can set educational goals, discuss student strengths and create problem solving strategies for any challenges a student may be facing.  Parent attendance at conferences helps to build relationships with teachers that will enhance the educational process for students.  

WHS Student Named National LULAC Student President

Woodstock High School sophomore Roman (Romey) Rodriguez has been elected as National League of United Latin

Roman Rodriguez

American Citizens (LULAC) Youth President for 2013. Since it was founded in 1929, LULAC has focused heavily on education, civil rights, and employment for Hispanics. In addition, LULAC councils provide more than a million dollars in scholarships to Hispanic students each year.

Romey is the first Youth President from the Midwest, and at 16 years old, is one of the youngest.  As part of his duties, Romey will attend all the "adult" LULAC board meetings to represent the youth, including a meeting in Washington DC in early October. His biggest responsibility is to supervise regional student vice presidents as they plan the summer youth event in New York City.  In addition to his LULAC role, Romey is an honors student who also participates in Student Council, tennis, and sophomore class council.

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Code of Conduct and Pure Performance Events Provide Valuable Information to Parents

In August, over 1500 adults whose children participate in extracurricular activities attended Code of Conduct sessions that included a review of the policies, as well as a presentation by Dr. John Underwood about making healthy choices.  It is our goal to have 100% participation by parents whose children participate in extracurricular activities.

If you did not attend a session in August, we hope that you will show your commitment to your student about the importance of this program by attending one of the following sessions:

• October 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Woodstock High School Auditorium
• October 10 at 2:00 p.m. in the Woodstock North High School Auditorium
• October 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Woodstock High School Auditorium
• October 19 at 9:00 a.m. in the Woodstock North High School Auditorium

Please note that if your middle or high school student is planning to participate in an extracurricular activity or sport any time during the year, it is expected that all parents will attend. 

WNHS Students Attend Youth Symposium

Seven Woodstock North High School students attended McDonald's Multicultural Youth Symposium on September 7 at the company's corporate training and development facility, Hamburger University, in Oak Brook.  The purpose of the event was to provide students with information about what they need to compete in a global marketplace.  Participants learned how to prepare for a job interview, how to dress and what kinds of questions to expect during an interview.  Industry leaders from all career levels and backgrounds gave real-life examples about overcoming obstacles, achieving dreams and building a successful career.

Seven WNHS students were among those attending the McDonald's Multicultural Youth Symposium.

McDonald's believes that diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of its business and that when they create an inclusive environment where differences are seen as strengths and everyone feels valued and respected, we become better as individuals and collectively we contribute to making this a better world. 

Northwood 8th graders debate events   from the novel The Outsiders.

The book is set in the 1960's and describes the relationship between two distinct groups - the greasers and the socs (as in socialites).  Student partners researched their responses to six major events in the book and debated another set of partners about the events.  As a way of enhancing the experience, students dressed in clothing from that era during their debates.  

Recently, WNHS students listened to the first of four presentations by Samantha Allen of The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) that introduced the agency and outlined future meeting topics:

• October 2 - College 101 - This presentation for juniors and seniors will help familiarize students with the best ways to find a college, tips on how to choose a major, the importance of college visits, and examples of careers.   
• October 16 - Vocational and Trade Schools - This presentation will provide information to students who are interested in studying toward a specific career.  Students will learn about trade schools, community college program offerings, apprenticeships and questions to consider before deciding on a program.  
• October 23 - Headed to College - This is a practical discussion about what to expect during freshman year and is presented by staff members who have recently experienced college.  Topics include what to bring, classroom etiquette and where to find academic support. 

Additional programs for seniors and parents about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms and the importance of completing the forms early will be presented in early 2014.

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Each year, LUCHA students attend the Latino Empowerment Conferences at McHenry County College to learn about leadership, how to gain skills they will need to have a successful post-secondary life, and where to find resources to help pay for college.

Club Advisor Carolina Giraldo encourages other teachers to tell their students, especially freshmen, about the club in an effort to recruit new members.  Often new members tell her that their older siblings were members and encouraged them to join.

LUCHA's Co-Presidents Julio Puga and Brayham Martinez bring ideas back from the MCC conference and brainstorm ideas with other members about community service projects they can do.  The group has made lunches for PADS, held a food drive for the food pantry and volunteered at the Family Health Partnership Clinic run for breast cancer. 

Julio said that being involved in LUCHA has helped him overcome his shyness by giving  him the opportunity to have conversations with people he doesn't know.  He also feels that his skills as an orator have improved because he watches others making speeches and uses their techniques when he has to speak in public.  Mostly, Julio likes helping other students find a place where they can learn and grow in high school. 

For more information about joining LUCHA, please contact Carolina Giraldo at Woodstock High School by emailing cgiraldo@wcusd200.org.

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Fifth Annual Faculty Concert to Benefit LAM Foundation

District 200 has a long history of producing outstanding music. 
Over the years a large number of D200 student musicians, both choral and band, have earned all-state honors from the Illinois Music Educators Association. IMEA District 7, in which D200 students compete, is comprised of schools in most of McHenry County, all of Lake County, and also some parts of Cook and DuPage Counties.  It is generally considered to be the most competitive of the nine districts in Illinois.  In addition to individual student achievement, the district's choral and band programs have earned top honors in the IHSA Music Organizational Contests. 

On Sunday, October 27 the community will have the opportunity to enjoy performances by the "behind the scenes" talented individuals who share the credit for the outstanding success of these programs - the district music faculty.  Music and theater faculty members will perform a wide variety of pieces, both choral and instrumental, at 3:00 p.m. in the Woodstock High School Auditorium. 

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. In addition to the music, a raffle and silent auction will be held.  All proceeds benefit The LAM Foundation, a 501c3 organization dedicated to funding research into a treatment and cure for the rare disease lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).  Please arrive early to purchase tickets and enter the raffle.  For advance tickets, contact Kathy at 815-245-8616 or Kate at 815-337-7730.  

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At Verda Dierzen Early Learning Center, riders learn the importance of respecting traffic signals.

Mary Endres Elementary School purchased 30 bikes and helmets, and 3 bikes racks aimed at encouraging students to ride their

Mary Endres Elementary students practice safe riding with their PE teacher, Steve Ryan.

bikes to school.  The school provides bike safety training for students prior to allowing them to ride their bikes to school. 

Northwood middle school is using the 28 bikes it purchased during physical education classes.  Students learn rules of the road and bike safety before riding through the neighborhoods around Northwood.  Northwood students also participate in bike safety training before riding their bikes to school.   

A Northwood Middle School rider checks his bike before class.

A Safe Routes to School brochure was developed for parents at all three schools that outlines drop-off and pick-up procedures for car riders, walkers, bus riders and bike riders.  The purpose is to ensure that all our students arrive at school safely in the morning and arrive at home safely in the afternoon.  

This is the second time the District has received a Safe Routes to School Grant.  In 2011, Dean Street Elementary School received funds used to provide equipment and training for 5th grade students who are in safety patrol, purchase bike helmets that will be given to students who participate in the bike skills rodeo, and create the Dean Street walking month that offers incentives to students for walking during their lunch period during the month of October.  Students complete a punch card with the number of miles they walked, which makes them eligible for prizes. 

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Mary Endres students sketch the grasses and wildflowers at the school's tallgrass prairie.

games, creating watercolor paintings of the prairie, reading books about the prairie and singing prairie songs. 

Grant funding to build the prairie was received from several conservation associations in 1998.  Native Illinois prairie plants such as forbs, grasses and coneflowers have been planted over the years.  The prairie is also home to many butterflies, birds, toads and insects. 

The prairie continues to remind staff members and students about the once dominant prairies that covered the State of Illinois.

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Northwood Middle School students have mastered sitting on stability balls during Health class.

staff members that promote healthy living.  The District is fortunate to have a partnership with the McHenry County Department of Health that helps fund health programs in all schools through the We Choose Health Grant.   After the district received the grant, each school completed a school health index that was used to create a plan for how the funds would be spent. 

At Northwood Middle School the funds were used to purchase stability balls for use by students in Todd Burkoth's Health classes.  The stability balls help improve posture and blood flow to the body and brain, and strengthen students' core and back muscles.  In addition, active sitting allows students to release extra energy, which increases students' focus and eliminates behavior issues. 

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