Woodland Wildcat News
March 12, 2018
REMINDER - STUDENTS HAVE SCHOOL TOMORROW - March 13, 2018
Important Information - Please Read
As you plan for your summer vacations and trips, please read the following BEFORE you book your tickets. Staffing for each school year takes place prior to the school year using projections such as current enrollment, historical data, changes in housing developments, etc. However, final staffing for a school year takes place within the first two weeks of the school year. Therefore, it is critical that all students are registered and enrolled within the first week of school! A student will not be counted as enrolled in our school, even if he/she attended the previous school year, unless the student is physically in attendance at school.
Our goal is to be able to keep students in their assigned classrooms from the first day of school. However, should our numbers be less that our projections, we could have to make adjustments in classes, including possibly adding or collapsing classes. While making these adjustments may be necessary to balance class sizes or based on specific student needs, our goal is to keep students in their originally assigned class as much as possible. We need your help in doing this by ensuring your child is enrolled and at school within the first week of school.
The 2018 school year starts on August 6th, 2018. PLEASE be sure your child is at school on August 6th or no later than August 10th.
Thank you for your understanding and adherence!
Tara McGee
Principal
Calendar of Events
March 14th - STEAM Showcase
March 14th - PTA Exec. Board Meeting 7:30AM
March 15th - School Governance Council Meeting 7:30 AM
March 19th - 23rd - Staff Appreciation Week
April 2nd - 6th - Spring Break
April 11th - PTA Exec. Board Meeting 7:30AM
April 12th-26th - GA Milestones Testing (3rd, 4th and 5th)
April 19th - Chick-fil-A night
April 21st - Volunteer for a Better Sandy Springs
Exceptional Children's Week
DOLLARS FOR DARLINGS
Each year during Exceptional Children’s Week the ECW Committee collects dollars to donate to the Fulton Co. Special Olympics in May. This year from Monday March 12th to Friday March 16th the ECW Committee will once again be collecting donations to be shared between Fulton Co. Special Olympics, and Special Education students at Woodland Elementary School. Donations will be collected during AM and PM car pool, at the front desk, and where bus riders enter the school. ALL students who donate can wear jeans to school on Friday March 16th!!
Thank you very much in advance for your donations!
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week
UP
Teacher and Staff appreciation Week
Our theme for the week is “UP” because our staff helps lift us “UP”
DearParents,
During the week of March 19th-23rd, the PTA and students will show their appreciation to all Staff and Teachers at Woodland. We have some of the best teachers and staff in the world here at WES and this is our chance to “Lift them UP”!
This year we are asking Woodland families to donate $5.00 or more for goodies to give to the staff throughout the week. Please send in your donations to your homeroom teacher by Tuesday, March 13th.
Here are a few suggestions on how our students can help make each day special:
Monday: Wake UP - Color, make or clip a flower to bring to your teacher.
Tuesday: Read UP - Bring a new or gently used book for your classroom
library.
Wednesday: LIft UP - Have your child fill out the note attached to this flyer and give to staff and teachers on Wednesday
Thursday: Bubble UP - Bring in your funniest
joke to share with your class or teacher.
Friday: Pop UP - Everyone wears a smile and
speaks words of kindness.
Georgia Milestones - Important Information
Georgia Milestones is the end-of-grade test that 3rd-5th grade students will be taking this school year. The testing window is April 12 - April 26. Students will not test on all days consecutively but will have five full days of testing within the window. Make-ups will be given on April 20, 25 and 26, as needed. The most optimal testing experience for students is for them to assess with their usual testing group, rather than on make-up days; therefore, it is very important that students be present each day.
Students in 3rd -5th grades will take tests in ELA (English/ Language Arts) and Math, and 5th grade only will also take assessments in Science and Social Studies. The assessment will be composed of a combination of selected response (multiple choice), constructed response (short answer), and extended response (a longer written response in ELA) question items. Please contact the school if you have additional questions regarding the Georgia Milestones assessment.
Below is a list of links to websites or ideas to practice the following skills to prepare for the GA Milestones:
Mouse skills
Minimouse.us/
http://www.tvokids.com/games/beesandhoney
http://www.abcya.com/take_a_trip.htm
http://www.abcya.com/make_a_face.htm
http://www.abcya.com/build_a_house.htm
http://www.abcya.com/take_a_trip_jr.htm
http://www.abcya.com/pizza.htm
http://www.abcya.com/counting_sorting_comparing.htm
http://www.abcya.com/make_a_cake.htm
Keyboarding/typing skills
Learning.com (found through student Launchpad)
http://www.tvokids.com/games/keyboardclimber
http://www.tvokids.com/games/keyboardclimber2
http://www.tvokids.com/games/readysettype
http://interactivesites.weebly.com/typing.html
http://www.abcya.com/kids_typing_game.htm
http://www.abcya.com/typing_race_cars.htm
http://www.abcya.com/cup_stack_typing_game.htm
http://www.abcya.com/keyboarding_practice.htm
Experience Online assessment:
http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Documents/Video/EOTG.mp4
Woodland’s School Governance Council
Woodland Families & Teachers:
We have one week until our School Governance elections begin! This is an exciting year for our SGC with two parent candidates for one available seat and three teacher candidates for one available seat.
Jerry Ethridge, Parent Representative, EthridgeJ@FultonSchools.org
Woodland ES Candidate Statements (Spring 2018)
Parent Candidates
I have always worked with children in church since a teenager. I have an Autistic son and I know that with my knowledge in dealing with children and new knowledge in helping my son. I can be a great help to this board to work together and alongside of other to make our community and schools better.
Lara Griffin
I have been an active parent in the PTA for the past three years. I love the school and am always excited to see it get better and better. I would like to join the SGC so that I can play an even bigger part in the school, and my daughter's school career.
Teacher Candidates
Lauren Girard
I graduated from Georgia State University in 2013 with a BFA in Art Education. My background in art is in charcoal drawing and metal sculpture, but I have always thought of myself as an educator first, and an artist second. I am deeply passionate about my work in education, and my favorite thing about teaching art is helping students to learn and be successful in non-conventional ways. I also appreciate that my subject area has so many opportunities for incorporating other subject knowledge and social skills. I have been at Woodland for four years and I am interested in serving on our School Governance Council because I am always looking for new ways to bridge gaps between my subject and others at Woodland and in the community. I would like to work more closely with others who also have the same drive to make Woodland the best school it can be, and share my insight and experience through my unique perspective as a member of the Woodland team.
Mary Magas
I am a veteran teacher with 35 years of experience in public schools. I have taught Kindergarten, 1st, 5th, and 6th grades. During these years I have had many interactions with students, parents, administrators, community leaders, and teachers of varied socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and religions. The one and only constant is the desire by everyone to do the best for the children. I am a staunch supporter of my students and their needs. I am not afraid to speak up to make sure that the children are provided the very best of everything they need to grow to be responsible, educated, and productive human beings. I truly feel that I have a lot to offer to our School Governance Council. Thank you for your consideration.
First and foremost, I am an educator. While I have only been teaching for 3 years, I have found my calling in life and work hard to continue developing my craft. I am grateful to work in a school that values collaboration. For example this year, I have had the pleasure helping to lead our school's Design Thinking Team . This experience has made me a better overall educator, and now I am seeking to broaden my experience beyond the classroom and Design Thinking. I am intrigued by the work of the SGC and know I could have a positive impact on Woodland by serving.
PreK Registration
Parents,
Are you interested in your 4 year-old attending Pre-K next year? Registration is occurring on March 27th, and the lottery date is March 30th, 2018. Please see the flyer below for information on registering and entering the Pre-K lottery for Woodland.
Contact Information for Woodland Teachers and Staff
Hello Wildcat Parents!
It has been discovered that non-homeroom teachers and support staff are not receiving messages that are sent through Class Dojo Messenger. This is due to the fact that message boxes specific to non-homeroom and support staff are separated by homeroom teacher, thus requiring them to click on each class in order to view the message.
In order to maintain open communication, please refer to the below guidelines when sending a message to Woodland Teachers and Staff:
ALL TRANSPORTATION CHANGES – WoodlandTransportationChange@fultonschools.org
To Contact TEACHERS:
- Homeroom / Team Teachers: Class Dojo Messenger or email
- IRR Teachers: Class Dojo Messenger or email
- EIP Teachers:
- Math – Barbette Brannan brannanb@fultonschools.org
- Reading – Harriet Blair blairh@fultonschools.org
- ESOL Teachers:
- Audrey Ellis ellisa@fultonschools.org
- Cecelia Go goc@fultonschools.org
- Tracey Wilken wilkent@fultonschools.org
- Kimberley McClure mcclurek@fultonschools.org
- Tagreed Arman armant@fultonschools.org
- Special Area Teachers:
- Art – Lauren Girard girardl@fultonschools.org and Jeannie Corradino corradinoj@fultonschools.org
- Music – Rachel Plate plater@fultonschools.org and Damarys Wichowski wichowskide@fultonschools.org
- PE – Samantha Jones joness9@fultonschools.org and Jarrett Smith smithjm@fultonschools.org
- Technology – Tammy Felton feltont@fultonschools.org and Rita Hudson hudsonr1@fultonschools.org
Gardening and Gardening Club – Rita Hudson hudsonr1@fultonschools.org
- TAG – Leah Smith smithl1@fultonschools.org and Cheri Mills millsc2@fultonschools.org
To Contact STAFF:
- Parent Liaison / Parent Academy Coordinators – Laura Moseley moseleyl@fultonschools.org and Sofia Ewing ewings@fultonschools.org
- Media Specialist / Librarian – Jessy Garris garrisj@fultonschools.org
- STEM Coordinator – Cheri Mills millsc2@fultonschools.org or Class Dojo Messenger
Reading Coach – Elizabeth Sapp sappe@fultonschools.org
Math Coach and Extended Day Coordinator – Iris Im im@fultonschools.org
- Curriculum Support Teacher (CST) – Caroline Rawls rawlsc@fultonschools.org
Counselor – Aimee Range rangea@fultonschools.org
- Administrators:
- Principal – Tara McGee mcgee@fultonschools.org
- Assistant Principal – Hardray Dumas dumash@fultonschools.org
- Assistant Principal – Jill Osmerg osmerg@fultonschools.org
We appreciate your support in this matter and look forward to supporting you and your child.
-Woodland Teachers and Staff
Transportation Change Form
We have two new transportation change forms and a new transportation change email address.
The forms below are for either general transportation changes or an after school activity transportation change.
This forms need to be emailed to WoodlandTransportationChange@fultonschools.org and also to your student's teachers.
General Transportation Change Form
8th Annual SSEF STEAM Showcase
Help our school win a $1000 Grant for an
interactive student STEAM experience of our choice!
Don’t miss Sandy Springs Education Force’s 8th Annual STEAM Showcase on March 14th from 6-8 pm at North Springs High School! This award-winning exhibition is free for adults and kids of all ages. Enjoy a fun-filled, hands-on robotic and Internet of Things (IoT) wonderland! Try your hand at exciting MakerSpace activities and coding robotics. Experience real Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) tools and examine your own fingerprints! Take a selfie while filmmaking professionals demonstrate how they’d light you on a movie set. And there’s much, much more! Join SSEF to network with community, education, business and government leaders and learn more about science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) initiatives in Sandy Springs' 11 public schools. Invite your friends and be sure to sign in at the Showcase to help our school win the $1000 grand prize for best attendance! SSEF appreciates all event sponsors, including Provost-Level sponsors: Google Fiber and Mercedes-Benz.
Learn more at www.SandySpringsEducationForce.org or on Facebook and Twitter at #SSEFGa.
Woodland's Spirit Store
Our Spirit Store is now online! Check it out today!
https://agpeservices.com/estore/PSWEAR/WoodlandElementary/JAN2018
Also -
The email for Spiritwear inquiries is :
Woodland Elementary School
Email: joneshj@fultonschools.org
Website: http://school.fultonschools.org/es/woodland/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 1130 Spalding Drive Sandy Springs, GA 30350
Phone: 470-254-5890
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WoodlandWildcats13
Twitter: @weswildcat