Intermediate School

In honor of the Superbowl and the Olympics, Ms. Rakosnik's class competed in a series of activities and challenges. The students were encouraged to work as a team to help each other cross the finish line. Great job Wildcats! #LifeintheW

Mr. Sheldon brought BIG ENERGY to Ms. Wieland's class for a discussion about solar power. Did you know that Woodland Intermediate has solar panels on the roof? #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!

An interactive Math lesson with Ms. Del Campo! These 5th grade students were learning about cubic units, building models, and working in pairs. Way to go Wildcats 🤩 #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

The Intermediate Spelling Bee Has a Champion!

Earlier this week, the final four spellers of the Intermediate Spelling Bee went head-to-head, spelling some truly challenging and tricky words.

Congratulations to the Final Four:
4th Grade: Shrita and Beckham
5th Grade: Vikram and Jaysen

The final round came down to Vikram and Beckham!
After an intense back and forth, the winning word was piccolo, and the champion was Vikram–for the second year in a row!

We are so proud of all of our Wildcats who participated in the Spelling Bee! Amazing work!

Also, a big shout out to Ms. Silasiri for organizing the Bee, to our spell master, Principal Sheldon, and to our wonderful judges, Ms. Shiffer, Ms. Newman, and Ms. Kallal

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

Woodland Intermediate Spelling Bee Semifinals!
Each classroom sent their top speller to the grade level semifinals. A first and second place winner from 4th grade and a first and second place winner from 5th grade will compete in the final round next week to determine who will be the Intermediate Spelling Bee Champion for the 2025-2026 School Year. All of the spellers did a great job and it was a huge accomplishment to make it this far.
Congratulations to the following grade level winners moving on to the finals:
4th grade, 1st Place - Shrita
4th grade, 2nd Place - Beckham
5th grade, 1st Place - Vikram
5th grade, 2nd Place - Jaysen
Way to go Wildcats! #LifeintheW 🤩

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

Recently, two classes at Woodland Intermediate earned pizza parties to celebrate their classroom’s outstanding attendance!
Congratulations to Ms. Rosenblum’s class and Ms. Outinen’s class for their excellent attendance in December! We are so proud of your hard work, consistency, commitment, and dedication to learning.
Celebrations like these are a great reminder that being present every day makes a difference, and it’s worth celebrating! Other classes can earn fun rewards too, so keep showing up, Wildcats, and keep making every day count in the W!

January 9 is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day!

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Gurnee Police Department for all they do to support and protect our community.

We would also like to recognize and thank our incredible Woodland School Resource Officers (SRO) for the many ways they support our schools, staff, and students each and every day. Thank you for your dedication, partnership, and commitment to keeping our learning community safe. 💙

If you see Dets. Hansen, Tazzioli, or Gullifor make sure to say thank you and give them a high-five!

Thank you to our awesome Technology Team and the Tech Integration Specialists for creating this exciting EDTECH Camp for Woodland staff to kick off the January 2026 Teacher Institute Day! #LifeintheW

Count down to Winter Break! Part 2 of 2
Students at Intermediate celebrated the last day of school before winter break with fun and festive classroom parties. It was the perfect way to kick off winter break!
A huge thank you to our amazing parent volunteers for helping make these celebrations so special! #LifeintheW

Count down to Winter Break! Part 1 of 2
Students celebrated the last day of school before winter break with fun and festive classroom parties! Marshmallows sailed through the air, reindeer antlers were spotted throughout the halls, and there were lots of laughs as students enjoyed games, treats, and crafts.
It was the perfect way to kick off winter break!
A huge thank you to our amazing parent volunteers for helping make these celebrations so special!

Giving in the W! – Donation to Lurie Children's Hospital 💚🤍
Students at Woodland Intermediate had the opportunity to give back in a meaningful way. Instead of using the ROAR cash they earned for showing ROAR behaviors to buys little toys and rewards for themselves, they purchased items from the ROARazon store to donate to patients at Lurie Children's Hospital! The giving campaign was a huge success and the students donated nearly 500 items to children currently in the hospital.
In these pictures, 4th and 5th grade PBIS Student Leaders skipped recess to help pack the boxes, assemble activity booklets, and make cheerful cards to brighten a stranger's day. WAY TO GO WILDCATS!

Giving in the W! Thank you to our many volunteers for lending a helping hand to support the Woodland learning community on a chilly evening. We received so many generous donations over the past few weeks that helped make the Annual Food Drive event a success. Thank you to all who brought in non-perishable foods during the various donation drives and contests at each school, attended one of the food drive events in the community, donated online, or offered your time in support of this effort. We couldn't have done it without you! #LifeintheW

Woodland is currently accepting letters of interest and applications to fill two vacancies on the Board of Education resulting from the resignations of Board Members Amy Sabor and Michael Senol.

Please read the announcement to learn more about the opportunity and the application process:
https://app.smore.com/n/mzyns

Ms. Werner’s Social Studies class took part in a hands-on simulation to explore the daily lives of American colonists, the rule of King George, and the events that led to the American Revolution.
It was a fun and memorable way for students to connect with history… and enjoy some Skittles!