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Virtual Backpack
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Have You Liked Us
on Facebook?
Be sure to "like" the
D200 page so that updated information
from the District will appear on your
Facebook News Feed.
Click here to visit
D200 Facebook
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Looking Ahead
No School
Labor Day Holiday
Monday, Sept. 7
Board of Education Mtg
7:00 p.m. at Clay PDC
Tuesday, Sept. 8
SHAPE Woodstock
Family Workshop
Saturday, Sept. 12
One Hour Late Start
Wednesday, Sept. 23
WHS & WNHS Homecoming Activities
Sept. 25-Oct. 3
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.
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Learn More About Our Schools
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Board of Education
Camille Goodwin,
President
Carl W. Gilmore,
Vice President
Russ Goerlitz,
Secretary
Paul J. Meyer
Jerry Miceli
Bill Nattress
David Shinherr
Superintendent
Dr. Mike Moan
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At the all-staff kick-off assembly on August 12, D200 staff members demonstrate moves from "DrumFit," an innovative and fun fitness program brought to the district through the SHAPE Woodstock grant.
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Welcome Back!
A message from Superintendent Mike Moan |
Welcome back to all of our students, staff and families as we
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Dr. Mike Moan
Superintendent
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begin a new school year. There are many reasons why all of us in District 200 are looking forward to beginning the 2015-16 school year, but for me one of the most important is the opportunity to see all of our students and staff back in our buildings working hard to start another great year.
I am excited about implementing a number of new district initiatives this year. Over the summer, a team of District 200 stakeholders developed a new strategic plan to help align our district goals. The new strategic plan will be presented to the Board of Education for adoption in September. As we begin to take our technology commitment to a new level we have added technology devices in our classrooms as well as new curriculum in many of our schools and at many grade levels throughout the district.
I would encourage all District 200 stakeholders to continue to look for opportunities to join us at events throughout the year. I value being part of a school district that is so well supported by our entire community and I welcome your continued involvement.
Thank you and enjoy the school year!
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New Year Brings Exciting Innovations in D200 Technology
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The 2015-16 school year will usher in a number of exciting changes for our children with regard to their technology access and use. In Woodstock District 200, we have committed ourselves to providing our children a challenging and engaging learning environment that will prepare them for a future that is constantly evolving. Our students will focus on developing 21st Century Learning Skills and they will consistently focus on the 4 C's:
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Critical Thinking
- Creativity
To address these areas, we are implementing several initiatives that address not only the materials that our students and teachers use in the classroom, but also the infrastructure needed to provide high levels of technical dependability. Five of the initiatives are addressed below, and future e-Focus articles will provide in-depth explanations of each individual area.
1:1 Technology Adoption
At Mary Endres and Olson elementary schools, all students in grades 1-5 have received a Chromebook [grades 2-5] or
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Olson students receive their Chromebooks and begin to learn about proper care and handling.
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tablet [1st grade] computer. The students will use their device to access curriculum, collaborate with other students, and to demonstrate their learning in new and challenging ways. During the 2016-17 school year, the 1:1 technology initiative will include Dean Street, Greenwood, Prairiewood, Westwood, and all 6th grade students.
Canvas Learning Management System
This spring, the district adopted the Canvas Learning Management System [LMS] as the preferred method that students will use to access digital materials and classroom activities. With the large amount of digital resources available, Canvas will provide students with an organized and structured environment to make their learning experiences more effective. In the future, parents will be able to access the Canvas system to communicate with teachers and to have a clear picture of their child[ren]'s daily educational experiences.
ReadyGEN Reading Program
It is critical that our students and teachers have access to up-to-date and research-based learning materials. The ReadyGEN reading program will offer the students a rich mix of literary and informational texts that will challenge children at all levels. The program is full of interactive texts, engaging activities, and authentic literature that our students will enjoy for years to come. Mary Endres and Olson are implementing the digital version of this program and it will be delivered through the students' computers. Verda Dierzen is implementing the new program with standard texts and classroom resources. In 2016-17, the remaining District 200 elementary schools will implement the program.
Read 180 While the ReadyGEN program will address reading for all students at the elementary level, the Read 180 program will focus on supporting struggling readers at the middle school level. The program relies on a model that blends guided digital literacy experiences with small group instruction with a classroom teacher to accelerate our students' learning. This is a research-based program that will meet our students at their level in order to help them meet grade level expectations. Fiber Network Infrastructure In collaboration with the city of Woodstock and McHenry County Community College, we are installing a high-speed fiber infrastructure to ensure that our schools have fast and dependable internet. The new network will offer internet speeds up to 1 gigabit and will greatly surpass our current capabilities. The construction of the network is in full swing and it is expected to be completed in the summer of 2016. Professional Development for Teachers New reading materials and dependable internet connections are critical to our work, but our teachers are the ones that bring learning to life for our students. Over the last six months, the District 200 teachers have spent hundreds of collective hours focused on learning the new materials and sharpening their instructional strategies. They have worked diligently to transform the learning environment in their classrooms and our students will benefit from their hard work and commitment to student learning.
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Jeremy Schaaf and Jennifer Spear Step Into New Roles at NWMS and WNHS
District 200 is pleased to announce two new administrative appointments for the 2015-16 school year. Mr. Jeremy
Schaaf has been named Principal at Northwood Middle School. Mr. Schaaf is a familiar face to many District 200 students and families as he has served as the Assistant Principal at Woodstock North High School for the past six years. Prior to joining District 200 in 2009, Mr. Schaaf was the Assistant Principal and Athletic Director for the Hiawatha School District in Kirkland, Illinois. He also taught Middle School and High School Social Studies before assuming administrative responsibilities. Mr. Schaaf received his Bachelor's degree in Social Studies and Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
At Woodstock North High School, District 200 is pleased to
announce the appointment of Mrs. Jennifer Spear as Assistant Principal. Mrs. Spear fills the position vacated by Jeremy Schaaf. Mrs. Spear is also a familiar face to many in District 200 as she has served as an English teacher in District 200 for past 18 years beginning at Woodstock High School and transferring to Woodstock North High School when the school opened in 2008. Mrs. Spear has also served as the Chairperson for the English Department at Woodstock North. She received her Bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University and her Master's degree in Teaching and Instruction from Aurora University. In addition, she has completed a second Master's degree program in Educational Leadership at Northern Illinois University.
We are very pleased that Mr. Schaaf and Mrs. Spear have accepted these new leadership opportunities in District 200. Both have extensive teaching and leadership experience, and we are confident that they will help to guide both schools to a great future with the support of the staff, students and parents.
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Community's Generosity Helps Ensure Positive Start to New School Year
Once again, the Woodstock community opened their hearts and their wallets to provide D200 students with the tools they need for a successful start to the new school year.
Special thanks to Woodstock High School NHS Advisor Dr. Heather Brown and the WHS students who organized and manned the "Stuff the Bus" supply drive in front of the Woodstock Wal-Mart store on July 30 and 31. Shoppers purchased crayons, pens, pencils, paper and numerous other basic supplies. Some community members donated cash, which allowed the District to purchase more of the "most needed" items.
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WHS senior Brecken Overly and freshman Michael Brown were among those students who volunteered their time to help others.
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The Illinois Federation of Teachers once again made a generous donation, this year providing much needed calculators, flash drives and zippered binders. St. Anne's Church provided backpacks, and a large quantity of other supplies, and members of The Vine Church also collected backpacks filled with supplies. At First Presbyterian Church, members gathered supplies for our youngest learners at the Verda Dierzen Early Learning Center. The team from Wells Fargo Advisors purchased calculators, flash drives, backpacks and basic supplies, and also made substantial cash donations that will be used to purchase additional calculators and other more costly items that are less frequently donated, and needed throughout the school year. Finally, there were numerous individuals who brought paper, scissors, backpacks and assorted supplies.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, 88 filled backpacks were provided to children before the first day of school, and additional supplies continue to be sent out to the buildings as they assess their needs. District 200 wishes to thank all these community members, area businesses and organizations, churches, staff members and students for their support. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
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| Two Schools Awarded "Tech it Up" Grant | |
Classrooms at Westwood Elementary School and Woodstock North High School will be using new technology this school year after being awarded a grant from Sharp Electronics Corporation. Both schools were among the 10 runner-up winners who were awarded 70" Class AQUOS BOARD™ interactive display systems. An AQUOS BOARD is an interactive whiteboard that is valued at $10,000.
Wendy Wicker, 1st grade teacher at Westwood Elementary School, and Steve Rick, Assistant Principal at Woodstock North High School submitted applications for their respective schools. Ms. Wicker's application discussed how the interactive whiteboards will provide her students with an additional tool to create and share presentations, reports, and stories, preparing students to face the demands of our technological future. Congratulations to both schools!
BACK TO TOP
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Heart-Healthy District Programs Earn Praise from National Association
The American Heart Association has honored District 200 for its continued participation in the Heart Association's annual Jump Rope for Heart program. American Heart Association Youth Market Director Kelly Wick-Bartesch presented a plaque to D200 Superintendent Mike Moan on August 4th, thanking him for the District's support.
Since the 1990s, District 200 schools have participated in the Jump Rope for Heart program, with students soliciting pledges based upon their time spent jumping. The program was integrated with activity and fitness goals from the physical education curriculum, and supervised by PE teachers who worked with Heart Association representatives to collect and log the pledge money. In addition, D200 schools have supplemented the rope jumping with additional activities like learning about healthy snacks, trying a yoga class, or working with the school nurse to learn about the human heart and how it functions. In recent years, the program in D200 has grown beyond the gym walls to include adult staff members who have generously pledged donations in support of the Heart Association's "Go Red Day," sporting "Go Red!" t-shirts, holding "heart healthy" luncheons, and challenging each other to reach healthy diet and fitness goals.
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American Heart Association Representative Kelly Wick-Bartesch presents an award to Superintendent Mike Moan in appreciation of D200's long-time support of Jump Rope for Heart.
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Wick-Bartesch praised the District's continued efforts, saying that the program has continued to grow and expand, and has served as a positive example for schools and businesses throughout McHenry County, demonstrating that Jump Rope for Heart is not only about physical activity, but also about "making a difference in the lives of others."
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City of Woodstock Recognizes Students for Contributions to Conservation Area
The Woodstock City Council at its meeting of July 21st recognized members of the Woodstock High School Engineering Design & Development class for their contributions in designing the Donato Conservation Area walkways. The walkways will be in place next spring. Woodstock Mayor Dr. Brian Sager, ComEd External Affairs Manager Dean Breuer and Woodstock Transportation Commission Chair Andrew Celentano honored 2015 WHS graduates Jon Cunningham, Jack Fischbach, Blake Kahoun, Zach Myers, and Cole Richter, along with EDD instructor Steve Thompson and Environmental Science instructor Bill Donato with a Certificate of Recognition, and a Proclamation which is now displayed at WHS. The project was made possible in part by a grant from the ComEd/Openlands Green Region program.
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L to R: Dean Breuer/ComEd External Affairs Manager, Woodstock Mayor Dr. Brian Sager, students Blake Kahoun, Jon Cunningham, Zach Myers and Cole Richter, EDD instructor Steve Thompson, Environmental Science instructor Bill Donato, Woodstock Transportation Commission Chair Andrew Celentano, WHS Principal Dr. Justin Smith. (Not pictured: Jack Fischbach)
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Health Records and Immunizations Due by October 14th
Parents are reminded that per Illinois State law, all student school physical and immunization records must be submitted by Wednesday, October 14, 2015. Records may be submitted to the child's school nurse. All children must complete a physical examination prior to entering Illinois schools for the first time, prior to the date of entering kindergarten or first grade, prior to entering sixth grade, and prior to entering ninth grade.
The State of Illinois requires vaccinations to protect children from a variety of diseases. For school entrance, students must show proof of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, haemophilus influenza type b, hepatitis b, and varicella, as well as pneumococcal and now meningococcal (depending on age) vaccinations. The meningococcal (meningitis) requirement is new for the 2015-16 school year. A meningitis vaccination (meningococcal conjugate or "MCV4") is now required for students entering grades 6 or 12. Sixth graders must show proof of one dose of MCV4; 12th graders must show proof of having received two doses. Twelfth graders who received the first dose after 16 years of age need only one dose.
For more information about immunizations, including vaccination schedules, visit http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/immunization, or contact your school nurse. | |
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SHAPE Woodstock Event Planned for  September 12th
All District 200 families are invited to the next event in the SHAPE Woodstock Family Workshop Series on Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 a.m until Noon at the Loyola University Retreat & Ecology Campus (LUREC), 2710 S. Country Club Road, Woodstock.
Here are some highlights of the day's events:
- Farm-to-table demonstration
- Food preservation: canning, freezing and drying
- Garden tour, harvesting and Fall garden maintenance
- Spikeball and DrumFit demonstrations
- Movement activities for kids of all ages
In addition to the above, there will be great door prizes, including: a vegetable basket, canning supplies, cookbooks, a slow cooker and a Spikeball game.
Come out to the beautiful Loyola Retreat & Ecology Campus and join us for a fun and informative program! For more information about SHAPE Woodstock, visit:
http://grants.woodstockschools.org/SHAPEWoodstock.
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