Woodland D50 News and Information
Oct. 21, 2022
Superintendent Update: Message from Dr. Machak
Dear Woodland Families,
Thank you for joining us all week as we celebrated National Safe Schools Week and National School Bus Safety Week! I hope you learned more about what we are doing to keep our students safe and about what you can do at home to support us in this important work.
Safety is part of everything we do. As a school district we are building training programs, increasing security measures, practicing safety drills, and implementing other less-publicized safety initiatives that are considered best practices across the country. All of these safety measures are, sadly, a necessity in our desire to keep all of our students and staff as physically safe as we possibly can here at school. Still, because our children are statistically more likely to be adversely impacted by being bullied, teased, or feeling isolated and misunderstood than they are by a catastrophic event while they are at school, our school to home connection has become more important than ever.
Even prior to the pandemic, one of the cornerstones of a Woodland education was the commitment the District made to supporting the needs of the whole child. This commitment means fostering positive relationships, getting to know one another, and keeping the lines of communication open. As a learning community, we need to equip our students with the ability to recognize and manage “big” emotions and teach them how to handle challenging situations. We continue to work at cultivating an atmosphere at #LifeintheW where everyone feels like they belong. We can continue to improve in this area by showing care and concern for one another. (See More in the National Bullying Prevention Month story block below)
From home, parents and guardians can support these same ideas: talk to your child about their feelings; advocate for your child when they need additional academic or social-emotional support; reach out to your child’s teacher or principal if your family has other needs or concerns we can help you with.
As a member of our learning community, every student has the right to feel physically and emotionally safe at school. I appreciate your partnership in creating a safe and healthy environment for all.
Dr. Robert Machak, Superintendent
Woodland D50
Important Dates
- Oct. 21 - PTA and Gurnee Demons Dunk Fest!
- Oct. 24 - Jimano's Fundraiser, all day
- Oct. 27 - Woodland Board of Education Meeting (The Agenda will be posted HERE on Tuesday)
- Oct. 28 - Friday Night Alternative for 6th, 7th & 8th graders
- Nov. 4 - School Improvement Planning (SIP) Day, Early Dismissal
- Nov. 8 - Election Day, District Closed
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
All week long at Woodland we focused on different aspects of safety in honor of Safe Schools Week. A big component of safety is creating a culture of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion in our learning community. No conversation about safety is complete without addressing bullying prevention.
During National Bullying Prevention Month, we want to emphasize that no one deserves to be bullied, and all students deserve to feel safe and supported. National statistics show that one out of every five students will be bullied this year, and bullying directly affects a student's ability to learn. Students who are bullied often do not want to go to school, and they may find it difficult to concentrate. Bullying is addressed in the Student Handbook, all District 50 educational staff receive training on Bullying, and our students are taught acceptance and inclusion through our Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) program to work on the prevention of bullying at Woodland.
In the newsletter heading you will see staff from the Transportation staff wearing orange for Bullying Prevention. The staff at Woodland Primary also got into the spirit and wore orange to show they are united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. When you see orange, we hope you will see the universal message that no child should ever experience bullying.
PTA News
Membership - Do you want to support the PTA, but you know you don't have time to volunteer? Membership to the Woodland PTA does not require a time commitment. You can show your support by paying membership dues once a year, or with a donation. See options HERE.
Spirit Wear - The Online Spirit Wear store is now LIVE! Anyone can order Woodland spirit wear from the online PTA store Now - October 30th!
Jimano's Fundraiser: Save the Date! Jimano's Fundraiser - Monday, Oct. 24, All Day! Order from Jimano's in Gurnee any time on Oct. 24 and a portion of the sale will benefit the PTA.
WSRA Trunk or Treat: The PTA will be participating in Trunk or Treat hosted by the WSRA on Sunday, Oct. 23. Registration is required. Learn more.
Events from Around the District
Here is just a peek at some fun things happening in our schools. If you want to see more photos, please click the links!
- First Grade Music Night at Elementary
- Latino Literacy at Primary
- Digital Citizenship Peace Paw Pledge at Intermediate
- Lab Safety Training Facility at Middle School
Warren Township Youth & Family Services
HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN HANDLE BIG FEELINGS - VIRTUAL
This workshop will address your child’s emotional and social development, emotional awareness, self-regulation, responding to anxiety and the development of calming behaviors.
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Registration
Friday Night Alternative (FNA)
Warren Township Youth & Family Services is excited to bring back Friday Night Alternative (FNA) for 6th - 8th graders. Join your friends for an open gym, DJ and dancing, karaoke, dodgeball, or just to hang out. This is a great opportunity for kids to socialize in a space with plenty of activities, supervised by staff from Warren Township Youth & Family Services, volunteers and parent chaperones. Friday, Oct. 28 from 7 - 9 p.m. Open to middle school students who attend Districts 50 and 56 only. Fee is $10 and includes a slice of pizza and soda/water. Must register in advance. Visit the website for more information and to register.
New in 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. Newly Added: Visit the WNPL Bookmobile!