Middle 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. 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.

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

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

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!

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.

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!

Technology Volunteers Needed This Summer! Did you know that a school district is a busy place in the summer? While teachers and students are on summer break, many district employees will be on site to get ready for the 2025-2026 school year! From technology updates and facility improvements, to planning for new initiatives, summer is an important time to make sure everything is ready to support students and staff when they return. This is where you come in! The Tech Team is looking for volunteers to help with the following: 🤩 Unboxing Chromebooks - a fleet of 1,000 Chromebooks need unboxing 🤩 Enrolling & Updating - All Chromebooks, new and already in use, will need to be enrolled and updated 🤩 Building Charging Carts - Chromebook charging carts need to be built for our schools No experience is necessary. Service hours available upon request. https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLScNHaoktLJ9ba.../viewform Questions? Please email Mrs. Reyes at mreyes@dist50.net or call her at 847-596-5676.

Celebrating 12 Years of Woodland’s Dual Language Immersion Program! This year marks an incredible milestone: Woodland’s first Dual Language students are graduating from high school! We are thrilled to have been part of these students’ academic and bilingual journeys—from their first steps in the program to this amazing achievement. This celebration is a tribute to the dedication, perseverance, and passion of everyone involved—our students, families, teachers, and staff. From the program’s humble beginnings to now, in 110 classrooms and serving more that 1,300 students, the Dual Language Immersion Program stands as one of Woodland’s proudest accomplishments. Today we honor the past, celebrate the present, and look ahead with excitement as we continue to support and grow this transformative program for current and future Woodland students. Watch our Dual Language Celebration Video NOW! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMfG2rSzprw

Woodland Board of Education News! On Thursday, April 24, 2025 the Woodland Board of Education held its April Governing Board Meeting and a Special Organizational Meeting to welcome new board members after the April 1 Election. The Board welcomes three new members, Julia Plescia, Keri Rasmussen, and Joel Zwiefelhofer who were elected to the Board in April. Dr. Carla Little was also sworn in after being re-elected to the Board to serve another term. Brianna Powvens, Amy Sabor, and Gari Matsey were not up for re-election this year and their service to our learning community continues. At the special reorganization meeting, the Board of Education selected new officers to leadership positions. Woodland D50 Board of Education Officers: • Brianna Powvens, President • Amy Sabor, Vice President • Joel Zwiefelhofer, Secretary Best Wishes to Members Leaving the Board: • Anna Bennett • Corey Holmer • Renea Amen Thank you for your service to our learning community! The Board also celebrated the WMS Science Olympiad Team, the annual Illinois Principals Association Student Leadership award winners, and Woodland’s Dual Language Immersion Program. Finally, Mrs. Katie Satterlee joins the WMS team to fill an Assistant Principal vacancy. For full details, see the weekly newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/80vkz

Woodland’s Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) visited the Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods for a nature hike. While they were there, members created custom painted umbrellas! The next BPAC Meeting is May 21, 2025 at 7 p.m. #LifeintheW https://www.dist50.net/o/dist50/page/bpac

Today, our amazing 8th Grade Lynx team at Middle School stepped up to make an impact in our community. Students volunteered their time to assemble emotional first aid kits for A Safe Place, designed to bring a moment of comfort and a little joy to individuals during an extremely difficult time. Together Middle School staff and students–with lightning fast teamwork–created as many kits as possible and used every available item. Thank you to these awesome Wildcats for taking the time to help others in our community. This is #LifeintheW!

Registration for Wildcat Summer Adventures closes on Friday, April 18! There is still time to register for Wildcat Summer Adventures! Our dynamic summer enrichment program offers students a wide variety of hands-on activities, learning opportunities, and outdoor fun. Learn more, see photos from last year, register - https://secure.smore.com/n/x3d0u We hope you will join us for a fantastic Summer in the W!

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