An EKG test can detect about 40% of those at risk for sudden cardiac death.  We feel that this is a beneficial test for our students.  To that end, Centegra Health System and District 200 would like to celebrate National Heart Month by offering EKG testing to all high school students during physical education classes on the following dates:

• Woodstock High School:  Feb. 3rd & 4th
• Woodstock North High School:  Feb. 5th & 6th

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.  Children will come home with a postcard of their results as well as a flyer displaying the cardiology services available to the community at Centegra. 

Registration forms were sent home with student report cards earlier this month.  If you are interested in having your child participate in this voluntary screening and did not receive a registration and consent form, please contact your school's nurse, or click here to visit the article on the District website and download the form. All forms, along with a check for $5 made payable to District 200, should be sent to school with your child by January 23rd.  Only students with written permission will be tested.  Test results will be given to the students the day of the screenings.  For more information, please contact Connie Happ at Woodstock High School, (815) 206-2261 or Nadine Grismer at Woodstock North High School, (815) 334-2122.

BACK TO TOP

Woodstock High School graduate Brandon Frisbie began volunteering with the FIRST LEGO League teams at Northwood Middle School two years ago. He never imagined he would be a part of a professional group that could help them get a grant. Brandon's employer offers grants for programs such as the FIRST LEGO League and, late last fall, Brandon submitted information about the District 200 teams for consideration. Recently, the students were notified that five teams will be receiving $1,000 each.

While District 200 Gifted Facilitator Gigi Carlson is grateful for the additional funding, she also appreciates the work Brandon is doing with the students. "Brandon is teaching the students to problem-solve programming issues by handing them the tools they need to analyze the problems and fix the issues themselves."

Over the course of the next year, the funds will be used to purchase EV3 robots. These robots are an upgraded version of what the students are currently using. They're more kid-friendly relative to programming, have better mechanics and include extra motors, which is essential in competitions. Other uses for the funds include software licenses, travel as it relates to FLL and registration for next year's season.

BACK TO TOP 

All District 200 families are invited to a nutrition workshop on January 27 at Woodstock North High School from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  McHenry County College and Woodstock North High School culinary teacher Chef Simon Pedersen will begin the evening with a culinary demonstration about how to prepare healthy meals for your family. 

There will be breakout sessions for families to attend on topics such as composting, starting seeds for your garden, nutrition guidelines and creating and planning healthy meals. 

Child care will be available for pre-school through first grade students.  Breakout sessions are kid-friendly and will have activities for older children.

Get rid of the winter blues when you attend this active workshop and learn how to plan your spring garden and prepare healthy meals!

BACK TO TOP

This year the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered to

students in grades 6-12. The survey is designed by the University of Chicago and is being used by the Illinois State Board of Education as part of the state's school accountability process. The survey gathers information about the school's learning environment from the perspective of the teacher and student.  

Please know that the identity of your child will be completely confidential and only summaries of the responses will be made available as part of the annual school report card. If you do not want your child to participate in the survey, please contact your child's principal by Friday, January 23, 2015.  The following website contains more information about the survey and some sample survey questions: https://illinois.5-essentials.org/2014_public/.  We appreciate your continued support. Please don't hesitate to contact your school if you have any questions.  

BACK TO TOP

The Theater Departments at both Woodstock and Woodstock North High School have new productions opening soon.  Come and enjoy these fine performances by our very talented students.

At Woodstock High School, Friday January 23rd is opening night for Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel. This extraordinary play is the study of five unmarried sisters, named for Friel's mother and sisters, who live in a modest cottage in Donegal. Performances are as follows:

Dancing at Lughnasa - WHS Auditorium

• Friday, January 23 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, January 31 at 7:00 p.m. 

The WHS Casalino Black Box Theatre is the setting for the children's show, Frog's Magic Twanger.

Frog's Magic Twanger - WHS Casalino Black Box Theatre 

• Friday, January 30 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, January 31 at 2:00 p.m.
• Friday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, February 7 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  

At Woodstock North High School, the Theater Department will present Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, beginning on February 13th.  This comedy is one of Shakespeare's most popular works for the stage and  follows the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest.

A Midsummer Night's Dream - WNHS Performing Arts Ctr

• Friday, February 13 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, February 21 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.

In addition to the performances, WNHS thespians are offering several additional special treats:

• On February 14, they will be serving specialty coffees, hot chocolate and delicious treats at the "Sweet Treat Café." 
• On February 21, come at 1:00 p.m. for "Fairy Fest" before the show.  Children can come dressed as their favorite fairy or woodland creature and enjoy games, snacks, face painting and reading around the forest campfire. Then stay after the show and meet, greet and get photos with your favorite characters.

WNHS Tickets: students/seniors $5, adults $10

Tickets may be purchased the day of the event or by calling the WNHS box office (815) 334-2127. 

Staff Spotlight on Creekside Teacher Scott Rogganbuck

When Scott Rogganbuck was a student, he and his friends often played Dungeons and Dragons after school.  Scott's love of gaming continued into adulthood and he now hosts gaming nights at his house and plans gaming events at the Woodstock Public Library.

Now in his 16th year of teaching in District 200, Scott is the 21st Century Skills teacher at Creekside Middle School.  He works with students on career modules that pinpoint where their interests lie.  He assists students with projects related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and also guides them in the use of technology when doing research projects or creating presentations using PowerPoint.

Two years ago when one of Scott's colleagues transferred to another school, Scott volunteered his time to take over as coordinator of the school's gaming club.  Under his management, the club grew from 8 or 10 members to its current 23 members.  Students  from all grades come to the library from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. every Wednesday to play traditional strategic games such as Chess, Strategy and Mastermind, and new games such as Knightmare Chess, 7 Wonders, or Magic: The Gathering.

Gaming Club is beneficial for students in several ways.  The

Scott Rogganbuck and students work together during a meeting of Creekside's Gaming Club.

games students play during gaming club help them think strategically, plan ahead and problem solve.  Scott also understands the importance of the social aspect of the club, "This is the only extra-curricular activity in which some of these students participate and they have a sense of belonging when they come here.  I wish I had had a club like this when I was growing up."

Four students who attend on a regular basis said they didn't know each other prior to coming to the club on Wednesdays.  They are now friends because of their shared interest in gaming.  They said the best part of the club is, "hanging out with people we like, playing games and relaxing after a hard day at school."  They also said that Mr. Rogganbuck, "is really nice and gently gets us back on track if we talk too loudly or get off topic!"