Woodland D50 News and Information

The Lake County Sheriff's Office will be holding a tactical training at Woodland Intermediate on Friday, Aug. 12. Access to the building will be limited. We are fortunate to have a strong partnership with the Sheriff's Office and proud to support the work they are doing in the name of school safety.

Dear Woodland Families,

One of the most telling signs that school is about to start is the crowded school supply aisles at our local stores. If you didn't pre-order a school supply pack through the PTA, and you are still in shopping mode, please consider participating in our School Supply Donation Drive.

I am thrilled to share that we are partnering with the United Way of Lake County, the Woodland PTA, and Warren High School's Students of Service to collect school supplies for our students! Not everyone is able to start the school year with a back pack full of shiny new supplies (or even a back pack) so we need your help. By giving students the tools they need, you are helping them prepare for their academic studies, building self-esteem, and setting them up for success.

Three ways to donate:

• Bring new school supplies to the district office, or back to school events such as “Popsicles with the Principals” and “Meet and Greet” (List of Events)
• Bring new supplies to PTA’s Kona Ice/Park Playdate, Aug. 27 at Woodland Elementary
• Purchase new school supplies from our Target Wish List

The United Way of Lake County will be gathering the donations and creating supply packs for our students. The packs will be delivered to the schools in early September, and our school principals will help connect the supplies with students who need them.

School Supply lists can be found HERE.

Together we can help make sure every student is ready to learn! Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Dr. Robert Machak, Superintendent
Woodland D50

• We will continue to provide enhanced levels of surface cleaning in high traffic and high touch point areas, including school buses.
• We will have visual reminders and signage reminding everyone to wash their hands, cover their cough, and respect personal space.
• Masks and physical distancing will not be required, but masks will be provided to anyone who would like to wear one. (Masks continue to be federally required in healthcare settings and for healthcare personnel, including school nurse offices.)
• We will expect that all staff and students will stay home when sick, especially if they are experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19.
• If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they will need to isolate for five days per the guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
• While we are no longer required to identify individual close contacts, Woodland will continue to monitor cases among our school population to understand the prevalence of the virus in our district. Parents will be notified of positive cases at the school through the COVID-19 Dashboard on the district website.

As we have learned over the past few years, guidance from our local, state, and federal partners can change at any time. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released new guidance for schools in August 2022 acknowledging that COVID-19 is here to stay, but reflects a shift toward returning to normalcy. IDPH also recently revised the Decision Tree Recommendations for Evaluating Symptomatic Individuals.

SHIELD Testing

Woodland will once again offer weekly SHIELD testing for any staff members and students who wish to participate, beginning the week of Aug. 29. Students are automatically enrolled in the program, but this testing is OPTIONAL. If you would like to opt-out of SHIELD testing for your child, you may contact the school office for assistance. If you have previously opted out of SHIELD testing, your child will remain on the opt-out list. If you wish to re-enroll in the program you are welcome to do so at any time. Students who participate in clubs, sports, and extra-curricular activities where there is a higher risk of exposure may be asked to screen. Learn More about SHIELD Testing.

Woodland COVID-19 Dashboard Updated Daily

Woodland created a COVID-19 Dashboard to help stakeholders understand the impact of the virus specific to Woodland. Please check the dashboard daily to see case counts for students and staff. This is a live document and the data will be updated throughout the day as new cases are confirmed. COVID Data Tracking is currently paused while school is not in session, but we will resume tracking the data on this dashboard the week of August 22nd.

Before school starts, please log-in to Versatrans e-Link from your computer or download the app. The bus app technology was updated during the summer and the app has increased functionality for tracking your child's bus!

To log-in, you will need your Family ID number which is both the login and password. This can be found in Skyward Family Access under “Student Information”. (View "My Child's Family" and look for "Family ID Number".)

Transportation delays are to be expected the first few days of school. Here are a few common things we see:

• We still have students enrolling in the district which means we are adding students and possibly bus stops to our routes. This may mean for small changes to timing all the way down the line.
• Many parents want to take first day photos during the morning pick-up, or it may take a little extra coaxing to get little ones on the bus for the first time. This may be a big transition for some. Our youngest wildcats often need help getting on and off the bus the first few days. The steps are big and the supplies are heavy (but they are SO CUTE).
• Traffic patterns will be very congested the first few days, so we recommend taking the bus if possible. We have a large volume of cars and buses trying to enter and leave our parking lots in the morning and afternoon. Even with traffic control support from Lake County, moving that many cars and buses through our parking lots takes time. The parent pick-up line usually begins to flow better after everyone gets used to the system and that can easily take a few weeks. We will go as slow as we need to in order to make sure everyone is safe.
• Remember, we have a multi-tiered system, so if there are delays with bus call at one school, this may make buses late to the next school. If a bus is rerouted, even a five-minute delay can easily turn into a 30-minute delay at the next school as the buses are staged for dismissal. While we do everything we can to tighten this up, other factors can throw a major wrench in the plan.
• Our bus drivers are working hard, and they want to make sure they get everything right. They will be checking rosters and seating charts and taking their time to get to know the students on their route. After the first few days, this process is quicker and more efficient. We would rather experience delays at first, if it means making sure students get on the right bus and make it safely home.

Please visit the Transportation website for more information. For further assistance, please call the main Transportation number at 847-856-3644, or email them at trans@dist50.net.

Warren Township Youth & Family Services is partnering with local school districts and Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth for a panel discussion to help prepare local students for the upcoming school year. Listen to school district representatives, mental health providers and child development experts discuss managing anxiety and getting ready for school. They will provide tips for establishing helpful routines and schedules, and take questions from meeting participants. This webinar will be FREE and we look forward to an interactive discussion. Dr. Lanée Walls, Woodland's Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, will be part of the panel.

Date: Monday, Aug. 15

Time: 6 - 7 p.m.

More information and registration link HERE.