Elementary School

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

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!

Last week, Elementary hosted a fantastic Family Fun Night! Students, families, teachers, staff, and even Wiley came together to enjoy an evening full of excitement, fun, and connection. There was popcorn, snacks, and delicious options from local food trucks for our families to try. The night featured a variety of fun activities, including slime making, mini-golf, volleyball, and a Wildcat dance party. The Woodland PTA also held a book fair for everyone to enjoy. It was a great night at Elementary filled with fun for everyone!

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

Happy Assistant Principal Appreciation Week! We want to give a huge THANK YOU to our incredible Woodland APs for everything they do for our schools, students, and staff. Every day, these passionate educational leaders go above and beyond; advocating, problem-solving, supporting, and showing how much they care. It’s an honor to celebrate them this week and every week. Thank you for all that you do!

Woodland is honored to be featured in the Lake County Regional Office of Education #34 April Newsletter! Thank you to our followers for being part of our Belonging and Inclusion story. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Lake-County-ROE-April-2025-Newsletter.html?soid=1141969542112&aid=_TiGn0AkIAY

Hi there! My name is Truett, and I am a very good boy. I am a service dog and my job is to help students at Woodland District 50. This is Wildcat territory, so I need help working on my ROAR. Will you cheer me on for my birthday? Thank you #LifeintheW friends! 🥳

Happy Paraprofessional Appreciation Day! We are incredibly grateful for our paraprofessional educators for their dedication and support for our students, teachers, and staff. You are champions, mentors, leaders, advocates, and heroes—you make a difference every single day. Thank you for all that you do! 💚

Angelo White is a real Woodland Superhero!!! 👏 👏 👏 Woodland is proud to partner with the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center in support of the Blue Kids campaign again this year! The Blue Kids campaign is an annual event to raise awareness and share resources in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. The campaign kicked off last night with an awards ceremony to acknowledge valuable partners in law enforcement, healthcare, and the community. During the ceremony, a beloved Woodland crossing guard was honored. Read the description of the award and you will instantly think of ANGELO WHITE!!! Community Superhero Award The Community Superhero Award is a heartfelt way to honor those who make their neighborhoods, towns, or cities a better place to live through their acts of kindness, bravery, and leadership. This award celebrates someone who consistently demonstrates dedication, compassion, and action in serving others, often in ways that are not publicly acknowledged but make a significant difference in the lives of those around them. They may not wear a cape, but their efforts are often superhuman in terms of their selflessness, courage, and determination to bring about positive change. Please join us in congratulating Mr. White for the love and joy he is spreading to the Woodland learning community, and all those who drive by his little corner of positivity at the Washington and Almond intersection in Gurnee!!! Thank you for keeping children safe, and being a positive light in our community.

Join Us for Parent University – April 5! Woodland District 50 invites you to our free, in-person Parent University event focused on Keeping Kids Learning Over Summer! ✅ Sessions for families & students ✅ Spanish sessions available ✅ Community resources ✅ Childcare, snacks, and raffle prizes! - April 5, 2025 - Woodland District 50 - Register now! Don’t miss this great opportunity! See the flyer for details.

The final Parent University event of the 2024-2025 school year will be April 5, 2025. This will be an in-person networking and learning experience with a focus on Keeping Students Learning over Summer. Event includes: Childcare, Food, Raffle Prizes! Event attendees have the chance to win free registration for the 2025-2026 school year. There will be 10 winners. ‼️ New Opportunity at this Event! ‼️ Sessions for Students: See the schedule for "Student Offerings" times and topics. https://www.dist50.net/page/parent-university (Pictures from the January 2025 Event)

Now Hiring! Today we are highlighting two recent openings to join the #LifeintheW team. Check out these positions, and others on our Careers page: https://www.applitrack.com/dist50/OnlineApp/default.aspx

Happy Spring Break Wildcats! 🐯🌷 As a reminder, the district office will be open next week during Spring Break. Please call ahead as some staff members may be taking time-off during the week.

March Madness at Elementary is a Tournament of Books! The books used in this bracket are all Monarch nominated books that the students have read this year. The students will vote for their favorite to see which book will win the tournament 🤩📚

CURSO DE INFORMÁTICA PARA PADRES EN ESPAÑOL Objectivo: Que nuestros padres que nuestros padres aprendan a utilizer las herramientas de comunicación digital utilizadas en Woodland y navegar en nuestro sitio web. Será impartido en español por maestras bilingües del Programa Lenguaje Dual de Woodland Primary School. https://5il.co/3b1cj DÍAS LUNES Y MIÉRCOLES A PARTIR DEL 14 DE ABRIL AL 14 DE MAYO Contact: Maria Balsamo mbalsamo@dist50.net, 847-596-5624/847-650-0486

REMINDER: There is a modified schedule on March 19 & 20 for Conferences! No student attendance on Friday. No student attendance during Spring Break, March 24 - 28 https://5il.co/2h2li Conference Schedule: Half Day Primary - 10:40 a.m. Elementary - 10:50 a.m. Middle - 11:35 a.m. Intermediate - 12:20 p.m. The district office will be open during Spring Break. Please call ahead as some staff members may be taking time-off during the week.

Registration for the 2025-2026 School Year is now open! New This Year: Registration opens for ALL students (returning students, incoming kindergarteners, and new students) for the upcoming school year on Monday, March 17, 2025. For more information on registering a new student or a returning student for the 2025-2026 school year, visit the Woodland Website. There you will find detailed instructions, important deadlines, and helpful resources to ensure a smooth registration process. If you have any questions or need assistance, the Registration Department is available to help! https://www.dist50.net/page/registration

Another great after-school activity at Elementary is Art Club! Mrs. Wilinski and Ms. Hunt welcome these creative Wildcats to come to the art room after school to make beautiful artwork. The students in these photos are working on a project inspired by Iris Scott and her Shaking Dog artwork. As the art teachers guide students through the lesson, they always offer multiple opportunities for "artist's choice" when describing ways the young artists might personalize their work. #LifeintheW