Woodland D50 News and Information
Sept. 2, 2022
REMINDER: Today is a School Improvement Planning (SIP) Day
- Friday, Sept. 2 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.
- Monday, Sept. 5 is the Labor Day Holiday and the district is closed.
Superintendent Update: Message from Dr. Machak
Dear Woodland Families,
It's been a busy and productive first full week of school. Classrooms and hallways across the District are filled with students asking questions, making connections, and the joyful laughter that accompanies friends seeing each other again after a summer apart.
It's also been so great having the opportunity to meet parents and guardians across the district at our various Back-to-School events. These conversations have provided me the opportunity to talk about the many new initiatives happening around Woodland that will make all of our schools more effective places in which to teach and learn. Most of these projects are, or will be, obvious to any visitor to our schools: the new roof at middle school, for example. Some, however, are occurring "behind the scenes" but are no less important to the effective administration of our schools and district. One of these less obvious changes involves a restructuring of the District's Educational Services department. This summer, I asked the leaders on this team to take on new responsibilities or expand their roles. Reasons for these changes included increasing the effectiveness of our level of service to Woodland staff and students, the elimination of the duplication of services, and increasing efficiencies in specific areas.
For example, I recommended the merger of the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education, a position formerly held by Dr. Lanée Walls, and the Associate Superintendent of Education, my former position. Dr. Walls will absorb many of the responsibilities that were previously split between the two roles with a new title of Associate Superintendent of Educational Services.
As we analyzed the two positions, we saw the potential for aligning some of the responsibilities under Ms. Risa Cohen, who will now be the Director of Educational Supports and Innovation. In addition to her previous job responsibilities, she will now serve as the district 504 Coordinator, and supervise the District Health Office teams.
I am also pleased to welcome Dr. Yesenia Jiménez-Captain as the new Director of Educational Services. She will complete the Educational Services team by joining Dr. Walls and Ms. Cohen in service to our learning community. In this role, Dr. Jiménez-Captain will be responsible for the supervision and evaluation of school-based special education programs, services, and personnel. She will guide the district in ensuring Special Education program compliance with district, state and federal guidelines, and she will work to provide a continuum of services to meet the specific needs of the students and the district.
Dr. Jiménez-Captain was approved by the Board of Education to join our team at the July 2022 monthly governing meeting. Before coming to Woodland, she served as the Elementary Special Education Coordinator for the Round Lake Area School District for the past six years while working on her doctorate. She also served as the Coordinator of Special Services in Wauconda Community Unified School District 118, and as an Educational Consultant/TPI Itinerant with the Special Education District of Lake County before that.
Dr. Walls explained, "Dr. Jiménez-Captain is ready to serve. Not only as an educator, but also as a member of the Gurnee community for the past 15 years. A conversation with her leaves me energized because I can feel her excitement, and our families deserve someone with her passion to join their child's team of support."
There are many more dedicated, wonderful professionals at the Educational Support Center (district office) and across the District who have volunteered to take similar leaps of faith with me and take on new roles to serve our students and families better, including Dr. Vicki Kieffer, Elizabeth Sanchez-Szepesi, Tiffany Myers, Laura Campanella, Yuliana Yucus, and Tara Becker - more about these dedicated folks in the weeks to come.
Wishing you all a safe and happy Labor Day holiday weekend!
Sincerely,
Dr. Robert Machak, Superintendent
Woodland D50
Dr. Lanée Walls
Ms. Risa Cohen
Dr. Yesenia Jiménez-Captain
Important Dates
- September 2 - School Improvement Planning (SIP) Day, Early Dismissal
- September 5 - Labor Day, No School
- September 7 - 4th Grade Curriculum Night
- September 8 - 5th Grade Curriculum Night
- September 13 - 1st Grade Curriculum Night
- September 14 - 2nd Grade Curriculum Night
- September 15 - 3rd Grade Curriculum Night
- September 19 - Kindergarten Curriculum Night
- September 20 - Dual/EC/WELE Curriculum Night
- September 22 - Board of Education Meeting
Did You Receive This Newsletter By Text?
Woodland is now offering text alerts in addition to email. The link to this newsletter was the first text we sent. If you did not receive it, please log-in to Skyward Family Access and sign-up today. The instructions to sign-up were sent on Wednesday, but in case you missed it:
- Please log-in to Skyward Family Access and enter Text Message Information in the “Skylert” tab. (Find the Skylert tab in the left column).
- Do NOT uncheck your email address. Email will still be our primary tool for communicating with families.
- Enter your phone number and check the boxes for “School Hours Emergency”, “Non-School Hours Emergency”, and “General - Primary Phone and Email”
We want to make sure you have access to the information you need, and we realize you may not have time to check your personal email throughout the day. We hope that receiving a text message will signal to you that new information is available. Text alerts will also be important for emergency communication. We plan to utilize text alerts to send urgent information should the need arise. We will continue to use email and robocalls as well. Learn more English / Spanish.
Free Adult English and Computer Classes
Woodland D50 has partnered with the College of Lake County to provide free classes for district families. Registration will take place in-person on Sept. 7, 2022 at 6 p.m. at Woodland Intermediate. There is no cost to participate and childcare will be provided on site.
- English as a Second Language
- High School Equivalency (HSE), also known as GED in Spanish
- Computer class
Classes begin in September and they are held in-person at Woodland Intermediate.
For more information, please call 847-543-2485.
Learn More (flyer in English and Spanish).
Upcoming PTA Events!
- Spirit Wear Sales at Curriculum Night:
Look for the PTA table at each of the upcoming Curriculum Nights to join the PTA, find out what's happening this year, and purchase spirit wear. They are also looking for volunteers to help staff the table. Sign-up to Volunteer.
- ROAR RUN:
The Woodland PTA is very excited to bring back the ROAR Run! This is a Woodland family favorite event in the fall. During this event, families can participate in a 1 mile or 5K run/walk.Learn More and Register Here - September 23, 2022
Interested in volunteering? The PTA needs volunteers to help with packet pick-up the day before as well as multiple stations on the day of the event. Sign-up to Volunteer.
ROAR Run, photo from Sept. 2019
ROAR Run, photo from Sept. 2019
Virtual Backpack
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. Right now you will find information about a Warren LAX clinic and a Warren Poms clinic in October, Girl Scouts, a Study Skills Workshop, and a Time Management Workshop. Did you know? September is Library Card Sign-up Month and the Warren Newport Public Library is a great resource for your family.
Webinar: Running for Office in 2023
Are you interested in running for office in 2023, or do you know someone who's thinking about it? The IL State Board of Elections is holding a free webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 6. This would be a good resource for anyone considering running for the Woodland D50 Board of Education. The webinar will walk you through the process of running for office, and they will have staff on hand to answer questions.