The Wonderful World of Woodbury
Weekly Update for Families: February 13th
It's been a busy time! Enjoy!
A Note From Mrs. Kern....
Happy weekend, Woodbury Families! I just wanted to take a moment to extend my sincerest gratitude to all of you for the continued support you provide to our little school. Recently, I was in a staff members classroom and she pulled out a little box and referred to it as her "It's Worth It" box. I was immediately curious. She went on to share that she had received the box from a previous colleague. The box has a poem on it and is filled with little mementos that represent precious moments in time with students, staff and families and she keeps it close by. My immediate reaction was, gosh, we all need one of those! I have a little board in my office where I keep special little mementos from students and teachers and also many little pictures of my family or things my own children made. They remind me often of my why as an educator, spouse and a mom. I am now referring to it as my "It's Worth It." board. I want to encourage
you to all make your own little "It's Worth It" box or board. Fill it with all the things, big and small that fill your heart with the joy that your children and others bring to you. Take it out or or look at it once in a while as a reminder that you matter, your life matters and that it's all worth it even when times are tough.
Getting to host our Family Reading Night last night was one of those "it's worth it" moments. A big thank you to our staff, and especially Mrs. Riley & Mr. Mlot on their planning and organization. It was so wonderful to have so many families in attendance. Many of you I have known for a few years now and some for many more! Either you have a second or third grader now or you have had multiple children come through our school. January and February can be hard times as these are cold and slow months. We are all surviving the initial burst of a new year after the holidays and the hustle and bustle of after school activities and cold and flu season. We are craving sunshine, fresh air and just a little more calm. Last night though, was a joy to see so many smiling faces and I know how much our staff appreciated hearing your feedback on both the event and the sense of community you feel being a part of our school. Please know that for us, it is all worth it. We loved every minute seeing our families fill up the hallways of our school. Thank you for coming!
Illinois 5 Essentials Survey
This month, parents/guardians and teachers across Illinois will have an opportunity to participate in the eleventh annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
- Effective Leaders
- Collaborative Teachers
- Involved Families
- Supportive Environments
- Ambitious Instruction
Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5 Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.
All of Woodbury Teachers, and Professionals will have the opportunity to complete a staff member survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. Additionally, if at least 20 percent of Woodbury parents/guardians complete this survey, a parent supplement report will also be generated. These reports will be sent to schools and districts in May 2023 and will also be included in the State School Report Card.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey linked below and provide Woodbury with valuable feedback! Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will remain open until March 31, 2023. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same timeframe. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.
For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.
Dates to Remember
2/10: Fastbridge Winter Family Reports Sent Home
2/14: Valentine's Classroom Parties
2/17: 11:10 Dismissal
2/20: No School, Presidents’ Day
2/23: Parent Presentation, Bullying and Online Safety 6:00-7:00 p.m.
3/1: First Grade Hoover Field Trip
3/2: Trimester II Report Cards go home, Coffee with the Principal, Social Emotional Learning 7:45-8:45 a.m.
3/6: Kindergarten Registration Begins
3/8: Spring Pictures
3/10: 11:10 Dismissal
3/17: FV Therapy Dogs Visit
3/21: School Board Meeting
3/27-31: Spring Break
Updates & Friendly Reminders
Be sure to scroll through to check out important information and updates on future events and student celebrations. Also, new information in district news on registering your child for kindergarten.
Rosati's Night is coming up on the 13th! Heart shaped pizzas will be available!
Valentine's Parties will take place on the 14th. Please be sure to check in with the office if you have signed up to volunteer.
PPA Bundt Cake pick up was Friday. We have a few orders saved in our cooler for those who were unable to pick up.
We had an awesome time at our YMCA field trip! Thank you to Mrs. Martin & Mr. Adeoti for planning such a fun outing! Exercise and play is an important part of child development!
Third grade students had a great time on their field trip to the Sandwich Opera House to attend the Laser Black History Tribute. The show celebrates African American icons, including civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, singer Aretha Franklin, and scientist George Washington Carver. The audience witnesses historic events, such as the formation of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a Dream" speech through advanced laser technology and included music from African American musical legends.
Archie & Wiley Tiberi were the winners of the scavenger hunt basket. They were the only ones who found all 33 dragons!
Mckenzie Ko was our family raffle basket winner!
These fabulous 2nd grade scholars attended the board of education meeting on Tuesday night to demonstrate to board members and the audience how our Wilson Fundations program works with Mrs. Cryer & Mrs. Sam. They did an outstanding job, were brave speakers and represented Woodbury well! We are so proud!
Our students have been working hard with Mr. Anderson and practicing for our spring music concert!
Reminder: This date is quickly approaching! We will be hosting a bullying and online safety parent presentation at our school on February 23rd (details below). This is a hard topic for kids and a worrisome topic for parents of kids of all ages. We hope to see you there! This is an adult presentation and a student presentation will also be scheduled in March.
You're invited! We will be hosting our first Coffee and Conversation on Friday, March 3rd from 7:45-8:45 a.m. Our first topic will be on social emotional learning and behavior. Come grab a warm cup of coffee in the staff lounge after you have dropped off your student on the playground and join Mrs. Kern and a few staff members for conversation centered on social emotional learning. This will be a great opportunity to learn and support each other! Watch for a flyer in your child's folder and please RSVP below!
Check out our great work!
Get to know our Woodbury Staff!
New Procedures for Kindergarten Registration
Mission Kindergarten:
We are excited to welcome our new class of kindergartens to the school district. We will have several events to help these learners and their families build relationships with the school district. To begin the process we need all incoming kindergarten families to prove residence and sign up for our “Preparing to Launch” event.
Starting on Monday, March 6 please contact Jody at the district office to find out what you need to prove residence (Residence Paperwork). Once you have proven residence you can sign up for the first event at your elementary school. No families will be given a screening time at “Preparing to Launch” without proving residence first.
Kindergarten Registration Process
1. Contact Jody at the district office at (815-786-2187) starting on Monday, March 6
2. Complete the proof of residency: https://drive.google.com/.../1IkhptNE1jsR8RyhnlJB.../view...
3. Complete online registration in Teacher Ease
You will receive this link once residence requirements are met.
4. Sign up for a screening time slot at our “Preparing to Launch” event on April 12 or 13.
Contact Jody at the district office at (815-786-2187)
5. Attend “Preparing to Launch” event on April 12 or 13
6. Attend “Blast Off” orientation event the week of May 8th.
2023 Sandwich Education Foundation Casino Night
The Sandwich Education Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed in 1994 to enhance the educational opportunities for the students of Sandwich C.U.S.D. #430. The Board of Trustees is made up of parents, teachers, and local business owners who volunteer their time to help support and enrich our schools.
Our biggest fundraiser this year is our Casino Night and Silent Auction, which will be held on April 15, 2023, at the Fox Valley Older Adults Community Center in Sandwich. Doors open at 6:00 and the casino games will open from 7:00-10:00. At the event, you will be able to test your luck on popular casino games like craps, roulette, and blackjack. Don’t worry you won’t be playing for real money so you can take a risk and bet big to help our students. We will also have dealers on hand to help teach games to our less experienced guests. Appetizers will be served and there will also be a silent auction and raffles. This event is always a fun night and a great way to support our schools. Tickets are $25 each and are available in the main office of each school or online by clicking this link.
Superintendent's Notes
Please Click Here to access the most recent Superintendent's Notes. The purpose of these notes is for stakeholders to gain district-specific information that may not be included in building-level monthly newsletters.
Woodbury Elementary School
