Woodland Parent University

Woodland is excited to continue to provide another opportunity for parent involvement with Parent University. We are currently developing programming designed specifically for our families to give you the tools and resources you need to best support your child from home. You will see this is a continuing theme throughout the 2024-2025 school year because we have made a commitment to building a sense of belonging in #LifeintheW. This is a cornerstone of many of the initiatives in the strategic plan, and we strongly believe that parent/guardian involvement is a key indicator for student success.

Woodland Parent University Logo

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Parent Universities for the 2024 - 2025 school year. In the meantime, consider FAN Network for increased opportunities.

Parent University 2024-2025 School Year Presentations

Date

Format

Focus

1/13/25

Zoom at 6:00 pm - Register

Keeping Kids Safe Online Presented by Dr. Justin Patchin, Cyberbullying Research Center, Criminal Justice Professor

1/25/25

In Person (Woodland Middle School)
8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Register Now! English/Spanish

Supporting your Students Learning (see topics below!)

3/10/25

Zoom

Partnering with school to improve student outcomes

4/5/25

In Person (Woodland Middle School)

Keep Kids Learning over Summer

Jan. 25, 2025 - In Person Parent University Event:

Date: Jan. 25, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: Woodland Middle School, 7000 W Washington St., Gurnee
Enter at B1 Doors!

Register Now!

English
Spanish

TOPICS:

  • Visual Supports for Prompting and Building Independence

  • Helping Your Child with Middle School Literacy

  • Supporting Children in their Hardest Moments

  • Device or vice? What you need to know to keep your child safe in a digital world

  • Understanding Behavior and Setting up a Calm Space

  • Schoology for Parents

  • Belonging: The Key to Children's Resilience

  • Vaping and Drugs in the Community

  • "Executive Function Essentials: Strategies for Success at Home"

  • The Securely Parent Dashboard

  • Collaborative Problem Solving

  • How to support Mindfulness at Home

SCHEDULE:

8:30 - 8:50 - Breakfast and Registration

9 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions

10 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions

10:50 - 11:10 a.m. - Coffee and Snack Break

11:10 a.m. - Final Sessions

*You are not required to stay for the entire event.

CHILDCARE:
Childcare is available but you must register in advance. Childcare will be provided by Warren Township High School student volunteers from the National Honor Society (NHS). Woodland Middle School National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) members may also be onsite to help with activities. We appreciate our student volunteers for helping make this a great event!

Event Childcare

Wildcat Saturday Study Hall is another option for childcare on Saturday, Jan. 25. This program will have extended hours on Jan. 25 to accommodate families who wish to attend Parent University!

Sessions at a Glance

Breakfast and Registration Begins at 8:30 a.m.

Parent University Sessions Jan. 25, 2025

Interested in Working for Woodland?

The Woodland Human Resources Department will be hosting a Recruitment table at this event! Please stop by to learn more about career opportunities and what it means to be part of the #LifeintheW Team.

Parent University 2023-2024 School Year Presentations

Past Event: Parent University Mini-Conference, April 2024

Parent University Presentation April 2024

The April 2024 Parent University Event was also set up like a mini-conference.

Keynote: Stress Management for Busy Families!

School administrative teams hosted transition talks to answer frequently asked questions about their school for students transitioning to the next school.

Other Highlights: Student Safety at Woodland, Gun Violence Prevention, Equity and Belonging, Middle School Standards-Based Grading, and more!

Links:

Past Event: Teen Technology Use and Misuse (Virtual), February 2024

Dr. Justin Patchin

Dr. Patchin provided an overview of cyberbullying, including issues parents, educators, and teens need to know about how youth use and misuse technology to cause harm to their peers. The presentation defined and provided examples of cyberbullying and discussed the role of parents in preventing and responding to inappropriate online behaviors. Dr. Patchin also explained many of the online environments popular among adolescents today and strategies to make sure they are used safely and responsibly.

Past Event: Parent University Mini-Conference, January 2024

Parents attend a session about student safety

Parents were invited to attend a variety of sessions on supporting their students, safety, and navigating school technology and systems. The format was similar to a mini-conference with concurrent sessions on different topics relevant to parents and caregivers.

  • Supporting your Young Math Learner

  • Supporting Student with ADHD at Home

  • Social Media and Teens

  • Early Literacy Interventions for Parents

  • Seesaw for Parents

  • Schoology for Parents

  • Securly for Parents

  • Cyberbullying

  • Vaping and Drugs in the Community

  • How to Support Your Child and Their Rights

  • Building Connections to Foster Self-Esteem

  • Belonging: The Key to Children's Resilience

Past Event: The Three Myths that Undermine our Parenting (November 2023)

Missed the event? Watch the presentation by Dr. Bolton by clicking on the link below.

Presentation Recording

Event Description:
Our children are struggling emotionally in unprecedented ways and as parents, we are struggling to know how to best support them. Parents are experiencing the pressure of raising children at a time when academic demands are increasing, colleges are becoming more selective, and income inequity is placing greater pressure on financial success. Drawing on research from brain science, social sciences, education and 30 years of practice within schools, Dr. Doug Bolton will identify three parenting myths that create unnecessary pressure on parents and their children. Let's refocus our parenting energy on the things that support wellness in our children and ourselves!

Dr. Bolton is a very dynamic and engaging speaker, and he presented to our district families in the spring. He has continued to work with key staff and administrators at the Middle School for a strong start to this school year, and he genuinely understands many of the special qualities that make our district unique.