Woodland D50 News and Information

Friday, Sept. 30 is a School Improvement Planning (SIP) Day and an early release day for students.

• Primary - 10:40 a.m.
• Elementary - 10:50 a.m.
• Middle - 11:35 a.m.
• Intermediate - 12:20 p.m.

Dear Woodland Families,

Happy Friday! I have three important topics to cover in my message this week: School Safety, Parent/Guardian Engagement, and SHIELD Testing Results.

• School Safety: The physical and emotional well-being of our Woodland students and staff remains my top priority; some of the initiatives on which we are currently working will come together during Safe Schools Week, observed nationally October 16 - 22. On Wednesday October 19, four area school districts - Woodland, Gurnee D56, Warren Township HS District 121, and Millburn SD 24 - are co-hosting a Parents’ Safety Seminar from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Warren Newport Public Library. This free event is open to the public. The evening will feature presentations from Warren Township Youth & Family Services and our School Resource Officers to offer parents and guardians in or community tips and information on mental health resources, warning signs regarding vaping and our children’s easy access to drugs, safe weapon storage in the home, and more. Event Information English / Spanish
  
  
• Parent/Guardian Engagement Survey: Last week in this space I mentioned upcoming opportunities to gather parent/guardian feedback to help guide us in our plans for the future of the district. The first opportunity is a Parent/Guardian Engagement Survey to help us better understand areas of interest for our families, and possible barriers to participation in district events and activities. In the survey, you will also see a few questions about technology preferences and our website. Please complete this short, communication survey; your feedback is important to me! English / Spanish
  
  
• SHIELD Testing Results: After working through a variety of issues since last winter, I am pleased to report that parents/guardians of children participating in Woodland’s weekly SHIELD testing program may now have direct access to their child(ren)’s test results. Please review the story block below for more information and step-by-step instructions. Thank you for partnering with us to help us keep our learning community healthy!

As always, if you have any suggestions, questions, or concerns, please contact me any time at rmachak@dist50.net. This weekly message is my way of sharing with you my priorities and thoughts for the week; if there are other topics you are interested in and would like to read more about, please let me know.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,

Dr. Robert Machak, Superintendent

Woodland D50

• Sept. 30 - School Improvement Planning (SIP) Day, Early Dismissal
• Oct. 7 - Teacher Institute Day, No Student Attendance
• Oct. 10 - Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day, No Student Attendance
• Oct. 13 - Woodland Board of Education Committee of the Whole Meeting, Strategic Plan

Along with sharing some of the great things happening across our district, each week, one of my favorite things about this weekly communication is the opportunity to highlight people who make #LifeintheW better for all of us.

This week is no exception, and I invite you to celebrate our amazing Operations and Facilities staff with me today. Sunday, October 2, is national Custodians' Day across the country, and there isn’t a better time to celebrate this amazing group of District employees and what they mean to the successful operation of our school district.

Our Operations and Facilities folks don’t get snow days; when the roads are treacherous and blizzard conditions make it such that schools can’t open, our crews find a way to make it in to clear parking lots and salt and shovel sidewalks so that we can open school when the storm has passed. You might recall a few years ago when we had a string of multiple days in a row where the real temperature was in the -50 degrees below zero range. Schools were closed, but our maintenance crew was in any way, walking the buildings to make sure the boilers were working, the heat was on, and our pipes hadn’t frozen.

Weather is not the only challenge that our Operations and Facilities team tackles successfully. Every fundraiser, every meeting, every PBIS celebration, every guest speaker, and every lunch time requires some type of set up and take down before and after the event. These things don’t happen magically; they require the hard work, sweat equity, and the dedication of our custodial staff to make them happen.

When I was growing up, my parents used to tell us that character is how you behave when no one is looking. By definition, then, the collective character of our Operations and Facilities team is impeccable, as their work is almost always completed anonymously, and in the shadows. They are such a humble group that I don’t think they would want it any other way. Today, however, we place this team front and center to recognize them and to thank them for the many contributions they make to support teaching and learning across our district each day. (See a few of these dedicated team members in the photo collage!)

Thank you,

Dr. Machak

If you have consented for your child to participate in weekly SHIELD testing, we are excited to share that you may now create an account through SHIELD Illinois to be able to view and print the test results for your student(s).

Please follow the instructions below to create your account in the SHIELD IL portal:

• Visit the SHIELD Illinois Portal and "sign-up for an account" in the parent's name.
• Use the Woodland District 50 SHIELD Community Agency Code: df5brbrj to create your account.
• When adding your student(s) as a dependent, the following information must match exactly the value entered in the patient roster:
• First Name
• Last Name
• Unique Woodland student ID number issued by the school district. To find your student’s ID number you will need to log into Skyward Family Access. The student ID number is a seven-digit number located under the Student Information section, listed in the “Other ID” field. (see photo)
  
  

You can also find detailed instructions on creating parent portals and answers to other questions HERE. If you have any questions, please contact the SHIELD Patient Support Line at 217-265-6059.

The Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) has a collection of resources for individuals that are interested in running for school board positions.

• Qualifications and Characteristics of School Board Candidates
• How School Boards Work
• Key Dates for School Board Candidates

IASB is also offering a series of webinars this fall for candidates and potential candidates. Topics include Petition Circulation, Statements of Economic Interests, Petition Filing, and Understanding the Board Member's Role.

Potty Training is a critical step in your child's development. This workshop will provide time-tested methods that address the learning differences of children with special needs. Alice Belgrade will share two approaches to potty training - "quick and intense" or "slow and steady".

Date: Thursday, Oct. 13

Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. (with an optional Q&A from 7:30 - 8 p.m.)

Location: This is a virtual event offered through Zoom

Registration Required English / Spanish

Alice Belgrade is the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at Woodland. Her workshop will provide a blend of sound behaviorist theory with practical, accessible techniques, realistic goals, and real life applications.

Warren Township Youth & Family Services is excited to bring back Friday Night Alternative (FNA) for 6th - 8th graders. Join your friends for an open gym, DJ and dancing, karaoke, dodgeball, or just to hang out. This is a great opportunity for kids to socialize in a space with plenty of activities, supervised by staff from Warren Township Youth & Family Services, volunteers and parent chaperones. Friday, Oct. 28 from 7 - 9 p.m. Open to middle school students who attend Districts 50 and 56 only. Fee is $10 and includes a slice of pizza and soda/water. Must register in advance. Visit the website for more information and to register.

Visit the Virtual Backpack to find events and activities in the community to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month! Newly Added: Champions Floor Hockey (registration deadline extended), and a Parenting Workshop at the Grayslake Area Public Library.

Please remember to visit the Virtual Backpack throughout the year to see other events and activities for children and families in the area. We will be making more of an effort to post information here to reduce the amount of flyers sent home.