Elementary School

Last week, Elementary hosted a fantastic Family Fun Night! Students, families, teachers, staff, and even Wiley came together to enjoy an evening full of excitement, fun, and connection. There was popcorn, snacks, and delicious options from local food trucks for our families to try. The night featured a variety of fun activities, including slime making, mini-golf, volleyball, and a Wildcat dance party. The Woodland PTA also held a book fair for everyone to enjoy. It was a great night at Elementary filled with fun for everyone!

Please Join Us - The final WISE Meeting of the 2024-2025 School Year is happening this Wednesday! WISE stands for Woodland Inclusion and Special Education Empowerment. This is a Special Education Resource Group for parents. Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Topic: Academic Transitions at Woodland District 50 This session will outline what our Woodland teams do to help students adjust to new school environments, schedules, and expectations! Learn more & RSVP: https://secure.smore.com/n/aug5nr

Happy Assistant Principal Appreciation Week! We want to give a huge THANK YOU to our incredible Woodland APs for everything they do for our schools, students, and staff. Every day, these passionate educational leaders go above and beyond; advocating, problem-solving, supporting, and showing how much they care. It’s an honor to celebrate them this week and every week. Thank you for all that you do!

Woodland is honored to be featured in the Lake County Regional Office of Education #34 April Newsletter! Thank you to our followers for being part of our Belonging and Inclusion story. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Lake-County-ROE-April-2025-Newsletter.html?soid=1141969542112&aid=_TiGn0AkIAY

Hi there! My name is Truett, and I am a very good boy. I am a service dog and my job is to help students at Woodland District 50. This is Wildcat territory, so I need help working on my ROAR. Will you cheer me on for my birthday? Thank you #LifeintheW friends! 🥳

Happy Paraprofessional Appreciation Day! We are incredibly grateful for our paraprofessional educators for their dedication and support for our students, teachers, and staff. You are champions, mentors, leaders, advocates, and heroes—you make a difference every single day. Thank you for all that you do! 💚

Angelo White is a real Woodland Superhero!!! 👏 👏 👏 Woodland is proud to partner with the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center in support of the Blue Kids campaign again this year! The Blue Kids campaign is an annual event to raise awareness and share resources in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. The campaign kicked off last night with an awards ceremony to acknowledge valuable partners in law enforcement, healthcare, and the community. During the ceremony, a beloved Woodland crossing guard was honored. Read the description of the award and you will instantly think of ANGELO WHITE!!! Community Superhero Award The Community Superhero Award is a heartfelt way to honor those who make their neighborhoods, towns, or cities a better place to live through their acts of kindness, bravery, and leadership. This award celebrates someone who consistently demonstrates dedication, compassion, and action in serving others, often in ways that are not publicly acknowledged but make a significant difference in the lives of those around them. They may not wear a cape, but their efforts are often superhuman in terms of their selflessness, courage, and determination to bring about positive change. Please join us in congratulating Mr. White for the love and joy he is spreading to the Woodland learning community, and all those who drive by his little corner of positivity at the Washington and Almond intersection in Gurnee!!! Thank you for keeping children safe, and being a positive light in our community.

Join Us for Parent University – April 5! Woodland District 50 invites you to our free, in-person Parent University event focused on Keeping Kids Learning Over Summer! ✅ Sessions for families & students ✅ Spanish sessions available ✅ Community resources ✅ Childcare, snacks, and raffle prizes! - April 5, 2025 - Woodland District 50 - Register now! Don’t miss this great opportunity! See the flyer for details.

The final Parent University event of the 2024-2025 school year will be April 5, 2025. This will be an in-person networking and learning experience with a focus on Keeping Students Learning over Summer. Event includes: Childcare, Food, Raffle Prizes! Event attendees have the chance to win free registration for the 2025-2026 school year. There will be 10 winners. ‼️ New Opportunity at this Event! ‼️ Sessions for Students: See the schedule for "Student Offerings" times and topics. https://www.dist50.net/page/parent-university (Pictures from the January 2025 Event)

Now Hiring! Today we are highlighting two recent openings to join the #LifeintheW team. Check out these positions, and others on our Careers page: https://www.applitrack.com/dist50/OnlineApp/default.aspx

Happy Spring Break Wildcats! 🐯🌷 As a reminder, the district office will be open next week during Spring Break. Please call ahead as some staff members may be taking time-off during the week.

March Madness at Elementary is a Tournament of Books! The books used in this bracket are all Monarch nominated books that the students have read this year. The students will vote for their favorite to see which book will win the tournament 🤩📚

REMINDER: There is a modified schedule on March 19 & 20 for Conferences! No student attendance on Friday. No student attendance during Spring Break, March 24 - 28 https://5il.co/2h2li Conference Schedule: Half Day Primary - 10:40 a.m. Elementary - 10:50 a.m. Middle - 11:35 a.m. Intermediate - 12:20 p.m. The district office will be open during Spring Break. Please call ahead as some staff members may be taking time-off during the week.

Registration for the 2025-2026 School Year is now open! New This Year: Registration opens for ALL students (returning students, incoming kindergarteners, and new students) for the upcoming school year on Monday, March 17, 2025. For more information on registering a new student or a returning student for the 2025-2026 school year, visit the Woodland Website. There you will find detailed instructions, important deadlines, and helpful resources to ensure a smooth registration process. If you have any questions or need assistance, the Registration Department is available to help! https://www.dist50.net/page/registration

Another great after-school activity at Elementary is Art Club! Mrs. Wilinski and Ms. Hunt welcome these creative Wildcats to come to the art room after school to make beautiful artwork. The students in these photos are working on a project inspired by Iris Scott and her Shaking Dog artwork. As the art teachers guide students through the lesson, they always offer multiple opportunities for "artist's choice" when describing ways the young artists might personalize their work. #LifeintheW

The March BPAC Meeting was a huge success! Thank you for joining us to learn more about the importance of Mental Health in Education. Save the Date for the final BPAC meeting of the 2024-2025 School Year on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Follow the BPAC webpage for additional information: https://www.dist50.net/o/dist50/page/bpac #LifeintheW

One of the great after-school activities at Elementary is Game Club! Together with Mr. Roth and Mr. Ballesta, these Wildcats get together and play a variety of new and classic games. Recently, the club learned how to play Catan Jr., a kid-friendly version of the popular game Catan. The students had a great time learning how to trade resources, build settlements, and strategize with their friends. The Game Club is a fun way for students to unwind after a busy school day while learning new skills and making friendships. Whether it’s Catan Jr., a classic board game, or a competitive card game, the Wildcats are always excited to see what new games the club has in store.

Join us for the next Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) Meeting! Date/Time: March 12, 2025, 7 - 8 p.m. Location: Woodland Intermediate Topic: Mental Health English: https://5il.co/38pqh Spanish: https://5il.co/38pqj Join us for an informative and engaging BPAC Meeting with SGA Youth & Family Services discussing the importance of mental health in education. There will be crafts and games for the kids in attendance organized by Woodland teachers and Warren Township High School student volunteers from “Avanza”.

Ms. McGinn’s 3rd grade class had a special visit from a former Wildcat and current Blue Devil—Miss Metro East, Brooke Herod! She spent time with our wildcats and shared an important message about keeping your heart healthy. Brooke talked to the students about how they can use their unique talents, along with activities they enjoy, to keep their hearts healthy and make a positive impact in their community. Thank you Brooke for taking the time to help our Wildcats stay healthy!