CUSD #430 > Schools > Woodbury School

 

 

Here's What's Happening in ...

The Wonderful World

of Woodbury  

                        May 2008

Woodbury Vision Statement:

Woodbury School is an active family learning environment where children are encouraged to grow socially, emotionally, and academically.  Our children will feel safe, challenged, respected, supported, and know they will be treated fairly. 

District Web Site www.sandwich430.org

And now a word from our principal … Dr. DeCorte—  

 

At the beginning of this school year I mentioned a book that we use each year to help the children understand the kind of caring responsible culture we try to nurture here at Woodbury.  It has a silly name, The Dog Poop Initiative, but a great big message.  Below my message today I’m putting a book review of Kirk Weisler’s book. When you read it I think you will see why I think the message is important. 

 

The reason I’m mentioning this book now is that we have repeatedly had problems with vandals, especially on the playground after school.  I do believe that all of our students help to care for Woodbury’s building and grounds but it is discouraging when we have repeated vandalism.  As some of you already know, over spring break we had a rash of incidents.  Broken windows, stolen signs, playground equipment stolen, glass bottles broken all over the area, plus several other problems.  Just replacing the windows and sign cost over $500.  There are additional costs in hours spent cleaning up after the vandals.  I, of course notified the police and our central office and they are aware of the problem.  The police are watching for problems but we continue to have things happening on the playground when school is out.  The book reminded me that we have a wonderful resource of families and neighbors that might be able to help in watching over our school community home.  I love that our playground is a community resource for basketball playing and meeting of young people but obviously some of them are not acting responsibly.  If you see people on the playground or around the school acting inappropriately please say something to them and/or call the police to investigate.  I know each of you want Woodbury to be a safe place for children to learn and play and we need your help keeping it safe for our children

Book Review: Dog Poop Initiative

Kirk Weisler's Dog Poop InitiativeBefore you think this is some silly little children's book, let me assure you, nothing could be further from the truth. While done in a children's book style, the lessons my good buddy Kirk Weisler writes about the power of dog poop and those who just point at the poop, and those who scoop up the poop.

To fill you in on the story, Kirk talks about his real life experience as a soccer dad who went to a soccer game, and was actually warned by many people to just step around a big pile of dog poop in the middle of his child's soccer field. So of course, being a scooper, Kirk and another dad found something to scoop the poop with, picked up the poop without any fanfare and threw it away.

Simple lesson really, but very powerful if you share it with your team like I've done. As a Help Desk manager, I must admit that sometimes it would be easier to just point things out and say, "Hey, this needs to be done!" and then never do anything about it. But that's just not right. You've got to take the initiative, and scoop up that poop, and find a solution for the problem.

My previous post was all about the Power of Positivity, and let me tell you; Kirk is far and away when of the most positive people I know. He's someone you've got to get to know, and he's easy enough to get acquainted with. The easiest ways are:

  • Go over to his website at KirkWeisler.com and sign up for his T4D (Thought for the Day). Kirk pours his heart out and shares his knowledge and love nearly every day with some fantastic insight.
  • Buy the book, heck buy a few copies so you can share it with your team, from the Dog Poop Initiative website and view the video of Kirk explaining the book.

Make it a great day!
Phil

Phil Gerbyshak
http://makeitgreat.org

 

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! 

Due to two (2) snow days used this school year and pending no other days used, the days of school have been set as follows:  
The last full day for all students will be Monday, June 2nd.  The last day for students in grades 1 through 3 will be Tuesday, 
June 3rd at 9:00am.  Please be advised that students may (however not required) attend school on June 3rd.  Bus service on 
this day will not be made available.  As past practice, K-8 report cards will be issued on June 2.  If report cards have not 
been picked up by June 3rd they will be mailed home.
 

 

Medication 

Please be reminded that medication not picked up by the last day of school will be discarded.  Medication must be picked up by a parent or guardian.  Students will not be allowed to take it home.

 

 

Dental Exam Reminder

 

The State of Illinois requires all children enrolled in Kindergarten, Second, and Sixth grade to have a dental exam on file with the school by May 15, 2008.  An exam from November 15, 2006 to the present will qualify.  If financial difficulties are preventing you from getting the dental exam, complete the waiver
form on the reverse side of the dental form and turn it in.  Any student not meeting this requirement will have their final report card held.  Any questions,
please contact your school nurse.

 

Physical/Immunization/Dental Requirements for 2008/2009

 

All students entering Kindergarten, Sixth, and Ninth grades are required to provide proof of a physical exam and up-to-date immunizations by the first day of school in August, 2008.  As of 3/6/08, an emergency rule was filed to allow students who had a physical in preparation for school entry into 5th grade fall 2007, to use that physical for school entry into 5th grade fall 2008.  Students will not be allowed to start school without a completed physical exam and up-to-date immunizations.  Appointment cards will not be accepted. 

All students enrolled in Kindergarten, Second, and Sixth grade are required to provide proof of a dental exam to the school by May 15th, 2009. 

A new law has been passed requiring a vision examination performed by qualified eye doctors for children entering kindergarten or enrolling for the first time in a public, private, or parochial elementary school in Illinois.  At the present time an approved form is not available. 

It’s not too early to schedule your child’s physical or dental exam to beat the summer rush.  Health forms have been mailed to current eighth grade students.  Anyone needing a copy of the physical or dental form may contact your child’s school.

  

 

Dear Third Grade Families

 

I heard that a few families were worried about the Annual Third Grade Bike Ride so I thought I better get a note out to you to hopefully help relieve those concerns.  Attached is the route we will take.  Although it sounds like a lot of riding it is an easy ride and of course parents are invited and encouraged to join us.  We will leave school around 8:30 and return in time for dismissal at 2:50.  Usually even children can ride a mile in less than 20 minutes, so riding almost 10 miles in 5 hours should be relatively easy.  Our trail is pretty flat and we have a sag van standing by should we run into any problems (flat tires, etc.)  The riding line will be very long and there will be enough adults and friends to encourage riders all along the way.  We ride to the Fairgrounds (first riding east to get our 10 miles in) where we have a picnic lunch, so on this day we ask all students to bring a lunch in a paper bag (marked with name). 

We take a nice break and have our lunch at the Fairgrounds and then head back to school.  The children feel proud of themselves for being able to complete the ride and the adults have a wonderful time watching and riding with the children.   

You can bring your child’s bike to school either the night before (we will keep them locked in the building) or the morning of the bike ride.  If your child needs to borrow a bike please let us know soon so that we can arrange that. 

The day before the bike ride we will have someone come in and talk a little about safety riding and bike maintenance.   

This is a fun learning experience that the children seem to remember long after school is out.  Please join us for the day if you can.  See you Friday, May 30.   Please call or email me if you have any questions.   

Dr. DeCorte

    

Track and Field Morning and Fun Afternoon

 

Wednesday, May 21, is our track and field day and fun afternoon.  Please consider helping out on this day.  Volunteer sheets have been sent home, but you can also call the office and let us know if you are available to help out.  It is a fun time to volunteer with the children and see them doing all the different events.  Ms. Meier and Mr. Erklin are coordinating the track and field day and fun afternoon is being sponsored by our PPA.  If you have questions regarding track and field day they can be directed to your child’s teacher.  If you have any questions regarding the fun afternoon just call the school office.  For those who volunteer to work both the morning and the afternoon, lunch will be provided.

 

Registration Packets 

A reminder that your registration packets for next year were due back by April 24th.  There will not be a scheduled date for registration in August for elementary students.  Please take advantage of this time not to take care of your registration for next year if you haven’t already done so. Our goal is to have 100% of our returning students registered before the end of this school year.  Please take care of this responsibility before school is out and the office is closed for the summer.  Any students not registered before the end of school will not be placed on a class list until one week before school starts.

 

Lost and Found 

Just a reminder that we have a large pile of lost and found items.  Anytime you come into school please check to see if your child may have anything in the pile.  At the end of the school year all items remaining will be donated to Goodwill.

 

Freecycling and Prairie View 

Written by Sandi Curtin, 2nd Grade Assistant at Prairie View School 

If you like the idea of keeping “good stuff” out of landfills, you will definitely want to learn about freecycling. 

My own online experience all started when I wanted a spare bike for my grandson to use at my house.  Through the months, freecycling has brought me many great “wanted” items, as well as being able to offer a lot of things that were no longer useful to me. 

In December, I was also able to freecycle a few things for Prairie View: a large collection of children’s favorite classic stories on tape, a half dozen binders for the teachers, and even some colorful skeins of yard for a classroom project All for free!

So the next time you “want” something (and don’t want to spend a cent!), simply join and keep it out of our landfills! 

Check out:  freecycle.org (type in Sandwich, IL)

It’s totally free and the benefits are unbelievable!

 

Dummer Fundraiser

The new hotel is having a grand opening over Memorial Day weekend.  There will be a dunk tank with Mr. Smart, Ms. Lampkins and myself on Monday, May 26.  Feel free to come and show your throwing skills.  The money earned will be used for technology upgrades at Dummer School.