Woodland Elementary School
Weekly Update for Thursday, December 1
What a great week at Elementary!! It is always so nice this time of year at school. The weather officially changes and becomes a little cooler and there is such excitement for the coming Winter Break. Winter Break signifies that we are almost halfway done with the year already! I cannot believe that but it also means that we are going to be assessing our students in the coming weeks. Please see below for more details.
The Woodland D50 Board of Education will soon begin developing a new 5-year Strategic Plan. Before the development work can begin, we need to hear from our Woodland stakeholders. There will be other feedback opportunities along the way, but we are asking everyone to help us kick-off the process by joining the online conversation today! Learn more: https://www.smore.com/35dtn
Our annual Food Drive is still underway as well. If you are a district family who would like to receive a little extra food support over winter break or during the holidays, please register using THIS FORM (confidential). Deadline to register is Dec. 5. You will be invited to come shop the Woodland Food Pantry in December!
There are several other ways to get involved, and we will be collecting non-perishable food donations through Dec. 9. Learn more: https://www.smore.com/2z78m
Two of our first-grade dual language teachers need your help! As you all may be aware, we have started a new Math Curriculum this school year called “Bridges”. This math curriculum has engaging games that help students practice the skills they have been learning in class. Our wonderful math specialists have put together instructional videos for students to watch when they need a refresher on the directions. We would love for students to readily have access to these videos through QR codes. After brainstorming some possible ways to help, we thought families would be able to help by contributing old spare smartphones that have a camera QR reading function. If you have any of these technological devices at home that you are wanting to get rid of we’d be happy to take these donations and put them to good use. Please make sure to completely wipe any data from your old phone and send it in with your child in a ziplock bag along with the charger. Please label the bag with "donation" and send it in with your child and they can drop them off in our main office. Thank you so much for your help and consideration!
Lastly, tomorrow is a SIP Day and on behalf of our staff, we thank you for this time. Students will be dismissed at 10:50 and please plan accordingly for parent pick-up or buses to arrive shortly thereafter.
I hope everyone enjoys their weekend and thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Ryan Wollberg
Principal, Woodland Elementary
Shop With an Educator
Winter Assessments
The testing window is open on Monday, December 5. Should you need specific dates/times, your child’s teacher can provide specific times and information for each test. Please know that children will not take more than one test session each day. Non-testing days and the remainder of the testing days will be devoted to instruction.
You can help your child do his/her best on MAP or any assessment by:
Make sure that your child attends school on the days of testing.
Ensure he/she receives a good night's sleep the night before testing.
Provide breakfast on the mornings of testing (snacks will not be provided due to allergies).
Let him/her know that you have confidence in his/her ability to do his/her best.
Advise him/her not to worry about the test and to do the best he/she can.
Feel free to contact your child’s teacher or me if you desire additional information or have further questions about the MAP assessment.
Equity and Inclusion at Elementary
For the month of December, Woodland Elementary will celebrate Universal Human Rights Month. Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.
During the month of December, students will learn about some of the 30 articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in a child-friendly manner. Please visit the United Nations website found here for additional details regarding the Declaration of Human Rights. We have also included a video below that is kid friendly and teaches about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Attendance Matters
What is Bullying?
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.
In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
- An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
- Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.
Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.
Theme days at Elementary
Quick Tips and Text-A-Tip
Visit our school website and click on the "Quick Tips" icon, to access Quick Tip. Quick Tips is an anonymous and confidential reporting system for students. I have included a link to the URL below.
Tips may be submitted via Quick Tip 24 hours a day. However, tips may not be received and acted upon until the next school day. If your tip is regarding an emergency situation, please call 911.
Text-A-Tip - Anonymous, 24/7 Mental Health Support.
To be connected with a licensed mental health counselor: Text WTHELP to 844-823-5323 or download Lake County Help from the app store
More Volunteer opportunities
Covid-19 Mitigation Strategies
COVID-19 Information
This year we are excited to return to closer to normal operations after a long journey navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Students can look forward to working in small groups, moving around more freely during times of play, and sitting with friends in the cafeteria. While things will look and feel more normal, we will continue to have a few safety precautions in place to help keep everyone safe, much like we would during a typical cold/flu season.
- 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 this week acknowledging that COVID-19 is here to stay, but reflects a shift toward returning to normalcy. Woodland will be evaluating the new guidance and we will communicate any changes to our procedures with families as needed.
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. We have added an option to Opt-Out via Family Access. If you log in to Family Access parents can make that designation. If easier, you may also contact the school office for assistance or please see your welcome back packet with a letter from me for more details. 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. 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.
Health Reminders for the 2022-2023 School Year
Medication Drop Off
All medications, prescription and over-the-counter, require both a physician and parent signature.
The Medication Authorization Form on light blue paper will be used for all medications.
The Asthma Action Form and Food Allergy Action Plan are also used. Copies of the forms are available in our school office and on our website https://www.dist50.net/STUDENTFORMS/pages/default.aspx
Allergy Awareness Policy. Woodland continues to be allergy-aware. All classrooms will be safe for all students. In order to ensure food safety during snack, please make sure you check with your child’s teacher or the health office and follow all food guidelines or restrictions.
Please also consider sending in an extra set of clothing in case of accidents.
Dental Reminders for Second Grade
School Hours
- Bus Drop Off/Breakfast - 7:20 a.m. - 7:40 a.m.
- Class Begins - 7:45 (students are marked tardy at 7:45 a.m. and must be signed in at our Main Office)
- Dismissal Begins - 2:05 (last bus leaves by 2:15)
Please also note that new for this upcoming school year Parent Pick Up location and times have been slightly modified based on previous years to allow for better traffic flow. All students who ride the bus will be dismissed first and students who are being picked up by parents will be dismissed from classes last. If you need to pick up your child early from school please plan on doing so by 1:35 otherwise in order to avoid congestion in the parking lot, we ask that you pick your child up from the parent pick-up lane.
As in years past, we request that all changes to your child's pick-up be made prior to 12:00 p.m. by contacting your child's teacher or our front office.
School Breakfast and Lunch
Student Drop Off/Pick Up
Please review specifics regarding parent drop off and parent pick up
Student drop-off will be at the Northeast side of the building between 7:20 a.m. - 7:40 a.m.
If you arrive after 7:40 a.m.., we ask you to park your vehicle in a legal parking space in our lower lot, to avoid receiving a ticket from the Lake County Sheriff, and walk your child into the office. Students will be marked tardy if they arrive after 7:45.
Parent pick-up will again take place at approximately 2:25 p.m. at the Northeast side of the building. We want to make sure everyone is safe, and ask that you have your Curbsmart tag ready. We will open the doors at approximately 2:25 p.m.
Additional information, including maps, will be sent electronically as we get closer to the beginning of the school year.
Parent Pick Up/Curbsmart Pick-Up Tags
Now that Curbsmart is running very smoothly, we would like you to update your weekly parent communication with the following reminders.
- Please be in line no later than 2:15
- Have placard ready
- Continue working with your child on buckling themselves in
- Please refrain from getting out of your car
- If you arrive after 2:30, your child will be brought to the office and wait there
Thank you for your help and understanding!
Additional Information Regarding Busing
PTA News
12/8 - 12/9: Holiday Shop is almost HERE!! Coming next week on Thurs 12/8 and Fri 12/9, the holiday tradition will be returning! Intermediate students will shop during their PE classes and all students and families are invited to attend from 5:30-8:30 on both days. The shop will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room at Intermediate. For more info and/or to volunteer, click HERE.
12/15: December PTA Meeting, 9:30am at ESC
Hiring in the W
Have you ever considered working for the school district where your child (or children) attend school? You don't have to be a teacher to work for a school. Working for the district could mean similar hours and days off as your child depending on the type of position. We have more than 800 employees and we are one of the biggest employers in Gurnee. Please view our current job openings on the district website under the "Careers" tab or follow @WoodlandCareers on Twitter.
We are currently hiring for:
- Network System Engineer
- Student Support Technician
- Paraprofessionals
- Bus Drivers
- Administrative Assistant
- Nurse
- Payroll Specialist
- Guest/Substitute Teachers
- Playground/Lunchroom Supervisors
- And more...
Join the #LifeintheW Team Today!
Virtual Backpack
Get the latest news from Woodland and Elementary
Woodland has a variety of social media channels to help families stay up-to-date on the latest news and updates:
Woodland Elementary School
Gages Lake, Illinois 60030
Phone: 847-984-8800
Fax: 847-549-9806