Woodside Wolves Weekly
for the Families of Woodside Elementary - April 12, 2024
Dear Woodside Families,
Please take the time to read through this newsletter in its entirety when time permits for important dates and events taking place next week and beyond.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely Yours,
Christopher Chenault
Principal
Parent Faculty Club (PFC) - Meeting Monday, April 15th, 7 to 8 pm
PFC Meeting April 15th - 7 pm to 8 pm
Click HERE to join the Zoom Meeting
Connect with us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/WoodsideElementaryPFC
The Woodside PFC Board
Keri Hallin – President, Melissa Spurlock – Treasurer, & Jenna Croy - Secretary
PFC Auction - April 16th through April 27th!
PFC ONLINE AUCTION STARTS APRIL 16th
We are so excited that the Woodside PFC is hosting its first auction in four years!
This online experience will run from Tuesday, April 16th to Saturday, April 27th.
With over 100 items to bid on from family activities, gift baskets, teacher time experiences, Woodside gear, and more - we are sure you will find something you like!
Visit the auction site to REGISTER TO BID: https://givebutter.com/c/woodsideauction/auction
5th-Grade Outdoor Ed. Students LEAVE for Camp THIS Tuesday 4/16!
We Need Your Letter to YOUR CAMPER!!!!
A Letter for Your Camper
While at camp, we would like to give your child a letter you wrote. Letters from home are a source of comfort. Please give the letters to your child’s teacher by Monday, April 15th!!!
Click HERE for Camp Departure Procedure Details on Tuesday 4/16/24.
- Arrive at campus at 7:30 am with all necessary gear
- Check in at the cafeteria
Who: Woodside 5th Graders
Where: Walker Creek Ranch, located in Petaluma, CA
When: April 16th - 19th (expected return time between 2:30-3 pm)
Why: For our 5th graders to have the rich experience of outdoor education, build community, and for our students to have this elementary school experience to look back on for years to come.
https://www.walkercreekranch.org/
Departure From Walker Creek Ranch on 4/19/24
Students will depart Walker Creek Ranch between 11:45 AM and 12:00 Noon on the final day of the
program, April 19th. We estimate that students will arrive back at Woodside between 2:30- 3 pm. Mr. Chenault will send out Parent Square notices to update parents on the student's estimated return time.
Friendly Reminder that ONLY Service Animals are Allowed on Campus
Please remember that our MDUSD Board policies only allow registered service animals to be brought on campus during the school day, including drop-off and dismissal.
Dates To Remember
Woodside Calendar of Events:
APRIL
April 15: 7 to 8 pm Parent Faculty Club Meeting (PFC) Click HERE to join the meeting!
April 15: State Testing Window Opens (CAASPP)
April 16-19: 5th Grade Students Leave for Outdoor Education -Walker Creek Ranch Camp
April 16-27: Woodside PFC Online Auction
April 18: 5:30 pm District English Language Advisory Committee meeting
April 19: Student Council Sponsored Spirit Day - Disney Day!
April 22-25: Woodside Spring Book Fair (Volunteers needed, see below)
April 24: 6 to 7 pm Woodside Open House
April 26: School Recess (NO SCHOOL)
April 29: 8:10 to 9 am Woodside English Language Advisory Committee Meeting
April 30: 3 to 4 pm School Site Council Meeting (ALL WELCOME)
MAY
May 1: First Day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May 3: Street Smarts Diablo Assembly
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 12: Mother's Day
May 27: Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)
May 28: 3 to 4 pm School Site Council Meeting (ALL WELCOME)
May 31: Student Council Sponsored Spirit Day - Beach Day!
May 31: 10:15 am Kindergarten Celebration (Woodside Cafeteria)
JUNE
June 1: First Day of LGBTQ+Pride Month
June 3: 9 to 10 am 5th-Grade Celebration
June 3: EARLY DISMISSAL (Wednesday dismissal times)
June 3: 12:35 to 3 pm 5th-Grade Pool Party
June 4: Last School Day for Students
Character Trait Awards Assembly Photos
Spring Book Fair - April 22nd to April 25th
The Book Fair is coming in April and we're in need of volunteers to run it!
The Book Fair will be open April 22nd to April 25th, after school and during Open House. If you're a district approved volunteer, please see the link for available shifts.
Order Your YEARBOOK Today!
Order your Woodside 2023-24 Yearbook Today!
Questions about the yearbook? Please contact Mr. Lee kepilee@gmail.com
5th GRADE STUDENTS!... If you haven't already provided a baby photo to Mr. Lee, please do so immediately (the deadline was 2/1/24)!... or your photo won't make the yearbook :-(
English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) - Monday 4/29/24 at 8:10 am
Woodside's English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)
- English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) Meeting
- In Person at Woodside MUR
- The last Monday of the month, at 8:10 am
- To ensure that we are supporting our emerging bilingual students
- To have a voice in your child's education
- To have a direct line of communication with your school
- Learn how to better support your students, resources, & more!
- Spanish Translation will be available at every Woodside ELAC meeting.
- Please email me directly at chenaultc@mdusd.org if you plan on attending and require Chinese, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, or any other translation
Woodside ELAC Meeting Dates (the last Monday of the month)
If you have any questions or require more information regarding ELAC, please contact Maria Tsakoyia at 925-689-7671.
Invitation to Complete Online Survey of Parents & Student Survey Opt-out Form
Dear parents/guardians:
The Mt. Diablo Unified School District is partnering with the Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California to evaluate California’s School Meals For All (SMFA) program. As part of this evaluation, known as the SMART-MEALS study, the University is asking all parents/guardians at this school to take a short, anonymous, and optional online survey to help identify the benefits and challenges of SMFA. Please share your experiences and perceptions of SMFA and its impacts on your student and family.
Response Deadline: April 22, 2024
Approximate Length: 15-20 minutes
The survey will ask you to agree to participate prior to answering any questions. Your participation is voluntary and will in no way affect your child’s or family’s access to school programs or benefits. We value your input, and your responses will be kept confidential and not linked to your name or school in any reporting.
All parents/guardians, regardless of participation in the survey, are eligible to enter a raffle to win one of four electronic gift cards valued at $50 each.
To take the survey and/or enter the raffle, click on this link: Parent Online Survey
If your child is in grade 4, 5, 7, or 9, they will be invited to complete a similar online survey during class in the coming weeks. The survey will ask about their experiences and opinions related to school meals. We appreciate their participation. If you DO NOT want your child to take the student survey, please complete the opt-out form no later than Monday, April 22, 2024. Click this link, Student Survey Opt-out Form to access the form.
Questions: The Nutrition Policy Institute is leading this study. If you have any questions, please contact Wendi Gosliner, Principal Investigator, at SchoolMealStudy@ucanr.edu. For more information, you can visit the study web page at https://npi.ucanr.edu/smart_meals.
Your feedback is important. Thank you so much for participating.
Sincerely,
Christopher Chenault
Principal, Woodside Elementary
STAFF ONLY Past the Cones PLEASE
STAFF ONLY Past the Cones PLEASE
Students with Birthdays - Come Help with Morning Announcements!
If it is your student's birthday week, they are welcome to report to the office at 8:05 am to help the student council officer with the morning announcements.
If your student's birthday has already passed or if it falls during the summer and they would still like to help, no problem!... just report to the office and say you're celebrating your birthday.
School Site Council Meeting-April 30th -3pm
Thank YOU Parent & Staff SSC Representatives!
We couldn't have SSC if it wasn't for:
- Robin Reed (parent)
- Nicole Cleveland (parent)
- Masoud Juya (parent)
- Dena Westfall (Staff)
- Diana Zimmer (Staff)
ALL Woodside families and community members are welcome to drop in for any and all SSC meetings!
Counselor's Corner
Contact Woodside's school counselor, Kimber Kaiser at kaiserk@mdusd.org
On campus Monday & Friday
Student Council 2023 -2024
Smartwatch & Cell Phone Policy
Communication Devices- Cell Phones & Smartwatches
District policy permits communication devices at school, however, we require that students with communication devices keep their devices “off” once they arrive on campus and until they exit for dismissal.
Communication devices may be collected if they interfere with the instructional day. If collected, communication devices will only be returned to a parent/guardian at the end of the school day. This same policy applies to wrist-type devices (smartwatches) that can be used for texting, calls, etc. Students should not receive calls, text messages, or use these devices for anything other than a timepiece during the school day.
Any communication with your student during the school day needs to go through the main office. Please feel free to call us at 925-689-7671 and we will relay emergency messages to your child.
CARES Expanded Learning Program!
If you have questions, or concerns, or want to learn more about the program, don't hesitate to contact Woodside's CARES program coordinator Nicolette Lewis.
Nicolette Lewis
Program Coordinator
C.A.R.E.S. Expanded Learning Program
Woodside Elementary
nlewis@bacr.org
(925)689-7671 ext. 85936
CARES ELP - Summer Program Information
Coffee and Tea with Mr. C - Every Last Wednesday of the Month
WOODSIDE COMMUNITY GATHERING - COFFEE OR TEA WITH MR. C
What's for Brunch & Lunch?
Please click HERE for the MDUSD Food and Nutrition Information and Menus
District breakfasts/brunches & lunches are currently FREE to ALL MDUSD students.
NEW THIS SCHOOL YEAR - Wednesday Breakfast is served from 7:45 to 8 am
MDUSD is 1-1 Student Devices for Grades 2nd - 5th at the elementary level
Please see the attachment regarding obtaining Chromebook Insurance
- Insurance is optional but highly recommended.
- The insurance term lasts one year from the purchase
- You will need your student's device number to register for insurance
- If your student is new to the district & Woodside (Grades 2-5), they will be getting their device by the end of next week
- 2nd-grade students will be assigned a 1-1 device as soon as possible. Please be on the lookout for additional communication from your student's teacher.
Click the link below to view the attachment.
District News
District Transfers
Intradistrict Transfers:
- Intradistrict transfers are for students who reside inside the MDUSD boundaries requesting to transfer to another MDUSD school
- Please click HERE for more information
Upcoming Regular District Board Meeting Dates
LOCATION: School District Board Room-1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord CA 94519
DETAILS:
The Closed Session (no public access) will begin at 5:00 PM. Open Session (public access) will begin at 6:00 PM. Broadcast viewing, public participation, and interpretation information will be posted at mdusd.org/boardmeetings on the meeting day. Approved minutes will be published to mdusd.org/boardmeetings.
Student Health
In order to keep our school community healthy, keep students home for a minimum of 24 hours if they have had a fever (>99.5 F), vomiting, or diarrhea within the past 24 hours; or if they are feeling unwell and unable to participate in usual school activities. As we move into the flu season and are facing RSV and COVID, We need to remind students about universal precautions - good hand washing after blowing nose, proper cough into elbow, etc..
Woodside Attendance Hotline
925.682.8000
ext 7755
Woodside Elementary Contact Information
Thank you to our office staff Annabel Vazquez, Office Manager & Maria Tsakoyias. School Secretary. We could not operate without you!
Email: Chenaultc@mdusd.org
Website: woodside.mdusd.org
Location: 761 San Simeon Dr, Concord, CA 94518, USA
Phone: (925) 689-7671
Twitter: @WoodsideEL (I'm still working on gaining access)
Twitter: @MrChrisChenault