Woodland School District 50

Woodland Bus Driver of the Year! Congratulations to Rick McManaman on being awarded Woodland School Bus Driver of the Year! Rick has been a dedicated member of our team since he joined Woodland in 2017, demonstrating perfect attendance and a consistently kind and helpful attitude. His quick willingness to assist others and his commitment to safety and excellence make him truly deserving of this recognition. We are proud of his achievements and grateful for his service. Before joining the #LifeintheW team, Mr. McManaman helped run his family's restaurant business for many years. He also worked for an electric supply company running the parts counter. Here at Woodland, he found his calling by working with students with special needs, and he is known for going above and beyond for the kids on his bus. He brings a cheerful demeanor to his work and this has a positive impact on his students and their families, his coworkers, and everyone who encounters him throughout the day. Rick was selected as Bus Driver of the Year by his peers and friends in the Transportation Department.

Happy School Communicators Day! Today is the perfect time to introduce ourselves and let you know that we're here for “EWE”—every day, in every way. We absolutely love sharing incredible #LifeintheW stories with our families and community. From inspiring classroom moments to awesome events that bring our learning community together, we are here to spotlight the amazing teachers, staff members, and students who make it possible! Thank you to the many wonderful educators who invite us into your classrooms to “catch” these moments, and to the Wildcats who love to pose for pictures for making this job so fun and rewarding.

Smile - Staff Selfie Challenge!!! We asked Woodland staff members to send in happy moments throughout the month of May to capture the last few weeks of school. Ms. Kampf & Ms. Fernandez are "Third Grade Dual Besties!" Thank you for sharing this friendship moment from Elementary 💚 #LifeintheW

Smile - Staff Selfie Challenge!!! We asked Woodland staff members to send in happy moments throughout the month of May to capture the last few weeks of school. Ms. Naveed submitted this photo saying: "You will be missed Mrs. Boring! I hope you have an amazing retirement and have great things ahead of you! You are one of the sweetest people I know." Thank you for sharing this happy moment from Intermediate! #LifeintheW

Woodland Elementary had six winners in the Law Day Coloring Contest! Mrs. Wilinski and the art contest winners attended a ceremony at the the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Waukegan on Law Day (May 2, 2025). Courtroom judges awarded certificates and gift cards to these young artists and explained that there were so many wonderful entries that it was hard to choose. A great showing from these Woodland artists! First grade: Maya L and Katelyn S. Second grade: Alexandria O. Third grade: Finley H., Ava R. and George E.

Smile - Staff Selfie Challenge!!! We asked Woodland staff members to send in happy moments throughout the month of May to capture the last few weeks of school. Ms. Sanchez and Ms. Kelley on a field trip with their students to Prairie Grass Nature Museum! Thank you for sharing this happy moment from Elementary 💚

You’ve seen the newsletters and watched the videos—but maybe you’re still unsure what the Parent Mentor Program really is. Maybe your child has mentioned a parent mentor in their classroom, or you’ve heard about one nearby, but you’re not exactly sure what they do. If you’ve been looking for a way to get more involved in your student’s school but aren’t sure where to begin, this is a great place to start! Join us for a virtual Town Hall on May 14 from 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. to learn more about the Parent Mentor Program. Now going into its fourth year, this quick and informative session will give you a clear understanding of how the program works and how you can be part of it. For more information on this program and the link to the meeting contact Tanya Abbey at tabbey@dist50.net

Happy Nurses Day to our amazing Woodland Health Teams! We’re so grateful for your compassion and the care you provide every day to keep our Wildcats safe and healthy. Thank you for all that you do! #LifeintheW

Smile - Staff Selfie Challenge!!! We asked Woodland staff members to send in happy moments throughout the month of May to capture the last few weeks of school. Here is a photo of Mrs. Berryman and her class getting ready to go on a Field Trip to the Dream Playground in Kenosha. She said it was a "Great day, great ROAR behavior from her students, and a great example of #LifeintheW 🤩" Thank you for sharing this happy moment from Elementary!

Making Mickey Mouse pancakes in cooking class at WMS! Who’s hungry?! #LifeintheW

Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week! We are so thankful for all of our Woodland teachers and staff for their hard work, dedication, and tireless commitment to our students and families. Thank you for everything you do for our learning community! Let's take a moment to give a huge shout-out to the educators, support staff, and all the behind-the-scenes heroes who go above and beyond every day. You make a difference in more ways than you know! #LifeintheW

This week, students at Intermediate were visited by Mr. Andy from the Farm Bureau. He talked to the students about the importance of nutrition and how different types of foods fuel our bodies in different ways. Students learned about the 5 different components of nutrition: Fruits, Grains, Vegetables, Dairy and Protein. Mr. Andy explained how each food group plays a unique and vital role in supporting our health—from building strong bones with dairy to boosting energy with grains and supporting muscle growth with protein. To bring this lesson to life, students built a giant, nutritious pizza together! Veggies for toppings, cheese for dairy, pepperoni for protein, a whole grain crust, and even fruit (Tomatoes are fruit!) The real takeaway from this presentation? Pizza is the perfect food for a balanced diet! Thank you Mr. Andy and the Farm Bureau for sharing your expertise with our Wildcats!

Lake County Forest Preserve in-house field trip at WMS! The students learned about reptiles and amphibians through hands-on activities. The instructor explained how specialized body parts help them grow and survive in this area. After learning about the different characteristics, the students were able to observe live animals and practice classifying them as either reptiles or amphibians. #LifeintheW

Proud Parents at WMS participating in Decision Day in support of their kids! These staff members have graduating seniors heading off on grand adventures in the fall. Congratulations to your kiddos!

Volunteer Appreciation Event at Woodland Elementary! The students in 1st - 3rd grade have so much support throughout the year from our community. They spend time with High School Mentors from Warren Township High School, Senior Readers from Warren Township Center, and One Hope United Volunteers. The volunteers often help by practicing skills in small groups or one-on-one. They work on reading, writing, and math, but they are also building relationships and practicing social skills. Both the students and the mentors light up when they see each other, and our students made thoughtful gifts and cards for their special people to show them how much they care! #LifeintheW At the event, Dr. Machak provided welcome remarks, Ms. Sauvé & Ms. Spillane explained the impact of the programs and handed out certificates, and everyone watched a video together of cherished memories from the year. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!! https://www.canva.com/design/DAGknRyWQRU/7tjIU_eUflYIZs7a3D59cw/edit?utm_content=DAGknRyWQRU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Thank you to the Grayslake Central Rambassadors for visiting with WMS 8th graders that will be attending Central next year! They did some fun icebreaker activities, discussed students' questions/concerns and highlighted the awesome things that are available at Central. The Rambassadors even brought some Central swag for the students!

The Village of Gurnee Teacher of the Year/Staff of the Year Winners from Woodland are... 👏👏👏 Announcement: https://secure.smore.com/n/j5sydb 💚 Woodland's Teacher of the Year: Ricardo Gómez Pimentel, 4th Grade Dual Language Teacher at Woodland Intermediate 💚 Woodland's Staff Member of the Year: Amanda Medina, Dispatcher, Woodland Transportation Thank you to all who submitted nominations as part of the annual contest. This is something we look forward to every year. NEXT STEPS: The two district winners (along with the winners from Warren D121 & Gurnee D56) will be recognized at the Village of Gurnee Board Meeting on May 5. The Woodland winners and finalists will then be recognized by the Woodland D50 Board of Education at the May 22 meeting. Read the full announcement for photos and additional information about the winners and the other finalists.

Middle School is ready to tackle an all-new intramural program this spring: Girls Flag Football! This is a very exciting addition to WMS intramural lineup and has generated a lot of buzz throughout the school. The roster is full, enthusiasm is running high, and students and coaches are excited for this season. Flag Football is a great way for these Wildcats to have fun, stay active, and make new friends in the W. We can’t wait to see how this season goes and how Flag Football will continue to grow at WMS.

Welcoming Future Wildcats at Kindergarten Information Night at Woodland Primary! 💚🐯 Thank you to our incoming Kindergarten families for joining us at Kindergarten Information Night. Starting kindergarten is a significant milestone, and at Woodland Primary, our staff takes on this milestone with enthusiasm, care, and commitment to supporting our youngest learners as they start their education. Incoming Kindergarten parents/guardians heard from teacher panels, middle school students, and administrators to get answers to their questions in preparation for this exciting new chapter. We are here to help every step of the way and look forward to partnering with new families during your time at Woodland.

It was fun seeing all the amazing photos from Warren Township High School Live Arts Festival over the weekend. Here are a few photos from the event featuring Woodland artists. Such talented young artists in our community - WOW 🤩 We heard of at least two special recognitions from the event. Congrats to Emma for her 2nd place overall finish in the 1 -3 grade category, and to Zoe for winning the Mayor's Choice Award!