Woodland School District 50

Congratulations to the WMS Volleyball Teams on an excellent season and great performances in the conference championships!
8th Grade Boys White - Conference Champs!
7th Grade Boys White - 2nd Place
8th Grade Boys Green - 3rd Place
8th Grade Girls Green - 3rd Place
#LifeintheW

Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up and we asked our Woodland teachers to share their best advice, tips, and helpful ways families can prepare. We want 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!

"Since our spring conferences are student led, I'd like to encourage parents to ask open ended questions to their students during their conference. This allows students to open up more about things we've been learning in the classroom or share their desire to grow in a certain academic area. Support your child and their academic growth, celebrate their big and small wins!!"
- Lisette Sanchez, 2nd Grade Teacher
#LifeintheW

Check out these recently posted positions to join the #LifeintheW team:
Intermediate Assistant Principal / Special Education Supervisor
Intermediate Assistant Principal
Facilities Manager (2 Positions)
Learn more about Careers at Woodland and link to Employment Opportunities HERE - https://www.dist50.net/page/careers

Ms. Coda and her class have an amazing student teacher! Ms. Lazcano has been working with her students, learning alongside the students and gaining hands-on classroom experience. From teaching and supporting lessons, to building relationships with students, Ms. Lazcano has been a great part of this classroom!

We are so happy to have her at Woodland and are thankful for all her dedication and enthusiasm that she brings into the classroom!

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!

Band and Choir students from Woodland Middle School preformed this past Friday at the Nimcon Music Festival. Treble Choir, Concert Choir, Symphonic Band 1, and Symphonic Band 2 all took part and each group received high ratings and showed excellent musicianship.

Congratulations, Wildcats, for all your hard work and we can't wait to cheer you on at your concerts in May!

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!

Calling all Woodland Primary EC/WELE Families!
(Early Childhood and Woodland Early Learning Experience)
Join us on Thursday, March 5th from 6 - 7:15 p.m. for a Family Game Night. Doors open at 5:50 p.m. We have Bowling, Limbo, Jumbo Jenga, Giveaways, and more! Siblings are welcome.
RSVP - https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdV9eXZTjuZI2.../viewform
Learn more about using play to build language skills in this video:
https://youtu.be/t9TLWsIoBQ8?si=-BZnt_s9Dl7-qUo1

There are so many cool clubs at Woodland Middle School! Part 2

Black Student Leaders is an amazing club led by some amazing Woodland staff members.

In this club, students build leadership skills, find their voices, and learn what it means to lead with confidence and dedication.

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!

Tiffany Drake Recognized as NAUW Northshore Branch Educator of the Year
On Feb. 21, 2026, the National Association of University Women (NAUW) Northshore Branch held its 31st Annual African-American Educators Luncheon. The event was a celebration of excellence in education focused on “Moving Forward But Remembering Our Past”. Woodland Middle School (WMS) Principal Tiffany Drake received the Educator of the Year award for her role in educating students and serving as a leader and role model for the youth in our community.
Learn More: https://app.smore.com/n/dhve1z
Congratulations to Mrs. Drake! #LifeintheW

There are so many cool clubs at Woodland Middle School!
Did you know they have an ASL Club? Well, they do!
Students meet up to learn new vocabulary, practice having conversations in American Sign Language, and build communication skills. This club is a great way to build connections and learn something new.

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

Thank you to Woodland's amazing Parent Mentors and volunteers for putting on a HUGE party for our Wildcats on Friday night! Crafts, games, music, prizes, food trucks, community partners, Wiley - and bringing people together. We love these vibes. #LifeintheW
Learn more about the Parent Mentor program - https://www.dist50.net/page/parent-mentor-program

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. 💌

Spreading the love at Woodland Primary with parties to celebrate friendship! Thank you to our Wildcat families for volunteering and sending in fun crafts and games for the kids. #LifeintheW

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