Elementary School

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. Cardella shared a picture of her music class getting ready for their first grade music concert! Thank you for sharing this happy Elementary moment! #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. Daudelin took a few selfies with her friends at Elementary. Selfies featuring a student, Ms. Hunt, Ms. LeClair, and Wiley! Thank you for sharing these happy moments from Elementary!

Now Hiring! We have an opportunity to join the #LifeintheW team. Check out this position, and others on our Careers page: https://www.applitrack.com/dist50/OnlineApp/default.aspx

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. Marler is showing her Woodland School Spirit! Thank you for sharing this happy Primary moment! #LifeintheW

Please Join Us for the Last BPAC Meeting of the Year, May 21! Nicasa Behavioral Health Services will be sharing information about youth vaping and gambling - two areas of concern in the community. While parents participate in this valuable discussion, children in attendance will be supervised by Woodland Dual Language Teachers and student volunteers. Resources: English Flyer - https://5il.co/38pqh Spanish Flyer - https://5il.co/38pqj Learn more about the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC): https://www.dist50.net/o/dist50/page/bpac

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. Amoa submitted this awesome photo, saying: "Mrs. Veronie’s 5th Grade Class having fun in the library with Mrs. Maria and Mrs. Erica." Thank you for sharing this smiley Intermediate moment! #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's a photo from Ms. Herren showing some Wildcat pride and "Twinning with a student!" Thank you for sharing this happy moment from Intermediate!

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. Abbey submitted this photo of her and Ms. Page, saying: "Double Duty! Staff that are also parents in the district, volunteering time to make Middle School student testing rewards." Thank you for sharing this happy moment from Intermediate! #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. As of today, Dr. Reizman has 50 days left before she retires from Woodland D50. To note the occasion, she did a ride along on Bus #50 with Ms. Sue and her Intermediate students this morning. Thank you to Vicki for sharing this great moment from the District Office & Transportation! #LifeintheW 💚

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

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!

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

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

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.