Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up and we asked our Woodland teachers to share their best advice, tips, and helpful ways families can prepare. Their goals are to make these conferences as meaningful, encouraging, and helpful as possible for both families and students. Stay tuned over the next few days for more insights from our teachers!

"As educators, we are truly wanting to work with you. If there is a parent concern, please reach out to us sooner rather than at a conference. We want to make the most of the designated time, especially when students are present for the conference."

- Elementary Teacher

Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up and we asked our Woodland teachers to share their best advice, tips, and helpful ways families can prepare. Their goals are to make these conferences as meaningful, encouraging, and helpful as possible for both families and students. Stay tuned over the next few days for more insights from our teachers!

Woodland Elementary had some amazing visitors today who helped show our Wildcats that Leaders are Readers!

Family members, Community Partners, District and School Leaders, and even hard working service dogs visited classrooms to read stories, and talk about the importance of reading and how it helps them in their lives and jobs.

Thank you to all of the leaders who took the time to read, talk with, and encourage our students!

School Social Workers Week is March 1-7, 2026!

We want to say the biggest thank you to all of our amazing Woodland Social Workers. The work they do each and every day is so important and has a meaningful impact on our students, their families, and our staff. Their care, dedication, and support make a difference, and we are truly grateful to have them as a part of the Woodland learning community.

#LifeintheW

True or False:
Ms. Balogh’s 1st grade students are really good at math.
TRUE!

We are looking for an amazing administrator to join the Woodland Middle School Team. Check out this opportunity for a Middle School Assistant Principal position! hashtag#LifeintheW

Friendship Parties at Elementary!

Today, our Elementary Wildcats celebrated Valentine's Day and Friendship! It was such a great morning celebrating the season and friendship.

A big thank you to our Parent Volunteers for helping make these parties so special!

Students throughout the district have been making Valentines for seniors in the community. Today is the day! We are on our way to join the Village of Gurnee and the Gurnee Police Department to spread the love and deliver the Valentines. 💌

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the February Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) meeting with special guest Dr. Mario Guzman Sescosse. Dr. Guzman Sescosse's presentation was "Parenting: A Relationship of Love and Discipline" and attendees found it to be very informative and interactive. We also raffled off copies of his book and he was gracious enough to sign copies for the winners.
While the adults were learning, the children in attendance created crafts with a few of Woodland's Dual Language teachers and volunteers from the “Avanza” student group at Warren Township High School. Our friend Tobias Comfort Dog was there too!
Thank you to Community Trust Credit Union and Starbucks Gurnee for donating additional prizes for the event! We appreciate your support. #LifeintheW

Wow!!! Thank you for coming to Woodland's Black History Month Celebration this past Saturday! It was a great event full of music and togetherness, amazing performances, wonderful support from our community partners and volunteers, and beautiful artwork by our talented students. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. #LifeintheW

We look forward to seeing you this Thursday, Feb. 5, at Woodland Intermediate for a presentation by Dr. Sescosse (6:30 p.m.). We will be raffling off signed copies of his books, gift cards, and bilingual books and games. There will also be crafts for the children, refreshments, and many more surprises!
Topic - Parenting: A Relationship of Love & Discipline
Learn More & Register HERE: https://app.smore.com/n/3v2d4
Thank you from the Bilingual Parenting Advisory Committee!

Hip, Hip, Hooray - it's the 100th day!
Happy 100th Day of School Wildcats. Ms. Santos is using the excitement about 100 Days in a fun math activity for partners. Great job 1st graders 🤩 #LifeintheW

Celebrating Groundhog Day in Art at Woodland Elementary! Students listened to a Groundhog Day book, then learned to draw their own groundhog in Mrs. Wilinski’s art classes. Shadow or not, these are some great artists! #LifeintheW
So... did the groundhog see his shadow?
2026 Groundhog Day Results:
Woodstock Willie (IL) - No shadow (Early Spring)
Punxsutawney Phil (PA) - Shadow (More Winter)

A classroom visit full of Kindness, birthday celebrations, and winter poetry! Thank you to Ms. Buckland's class for sharing your day with us. #LifeintheW

Many thanks to State Representative Joyce Mason who met with us this week to review several pieces of legislation she is drafting to address our state authorized charter school funding issue. We are grateful for Representative Mason’s support and her unwavering commitment to the children of Woodland CCSD 50! #LifeintheW
To see more news and announcements, check out the Woodland ROAR Report for Friday, Jan. 30 - https://app.smore.com/n/sc8y0v

Black Dads Rock! on CLC Lancer Radio
The Music That Made Us: Black Fathers, Culture, and Community with Black Dads Rock
In a powerful and uplifting episode of CLC’s Lancer Radio, Professor Jay Wiltshire and Dr. Brent Steffens sit down with members of Black Dads Rock, a Woodland District 50 initiative dedicated to celebrating Black culture and challenging harmful stereotypes about Black fatherhood. Blending conversation with a thoughtfully curated soundtrack, the guests share songs that have shaped their lives and communities, using music as a springboard to explore identity, fatherhood, resilience, and representation.
Episode on CLC Lancer Radio - http://www.lancerradioclc.com/Show_Archives/Black%20Dads%20Rock%202026.mp3
Spotify: Black Dads Rock! Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2wq0RIv5T1cYU22ulWDUQK?si=a20c213b0c8f4c56&nd=1&dlsi=ffa2a44141a24d7e
Black History Month Celebration at Woodland, Feb. 7 - https://aptg.co/TV_3L_

Help us give a warm Wildcat Welcome on this very cold day!
Woodland welcomed three new #LifeintheW team members at last night’s Board of Education meeting: two new Board of Education members, Dr. Virginia Tate and Ms. Gabriela Valverde Strobehn, were sworn in at the meeting; the Board also appointed a new Elementary School Principal, Dr. Christopher Harmon, to start July 1, 2026 when Mr. Reardon moves into his new District-level Human Resources position.
See the rest of ROAR Report here: https://app.smore.com/n/4qk6y

WINTER FEST POSTPONED!
The Parent Mentor Winter Fest event has been rescheduled due to the extreme winter weather impacting our area tomorrow. The new date is Feb. 20, 2026. We hope to see you there! 🤩❄️
Event Flyer: https://aptg.co/zy4qVQ

Woodland D50 is closely monitoring the weather forecast for Friday, Jan. 23, which currently calls for extremely cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills. Please read this Winter Weather Update for more information - https://app.smore.com/n/2zx36

Congratulations to Ms. Wilinski and Ms. Hunt and their incredibly talented art students on your show opening last night in Gurnee! Muller Honda of Gurnee is currently featuring 89 pieces of Woodland Elementary student artwork throughout their showroom. The artists toured the art gallery opening last night with their families and celebrated with classmates on the success of the show. The students were so excited when they found their artwork and couldn't wait to show their supporters!
Thank you to Muller Honda for supporting the arts and celebrating student talent in our community! #LifeintheW