All school and district offices will be open to the public by Mon., Aug. 23

A new school year rapidly approaches Woodland students with the first day on Tue., Aug. 31. Woodland Public Schools offers the following information, resources, and upcoming events.

All school offices open to the public by Mon., Aug. 23

All school and district offices will be open to the public by Mon., Aug. 23. Regular non-student office hours for each building are as follows:

District Office and Business Office: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Woodland High School: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Woodland Middle School: 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
All Elementary Schools: 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Mask mandate in effect for all students and staff regardless of vaccination status

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has mandated universal facemask wearing in public schools for the start of the 2021-2022 school year. This mandate follows the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and guidelines set forth by the National Institute of Health, and the American Academy of Pediatricians.

The mandate stems from a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, likely a result of the more contagious delta variant combined with the FDA not yet approving the use of the vaccines on children under the age of 12. While many among us find masks constrictive and frustrating, an overwhelming majority of medical professionals agree that masks are a highly effective tool in preventing the spread of the virus.

The state education agency, OSPI, has made it very clear that the decision to wear masks is not a choice being left to local school boards. The mandate has the power of law. To further punctuate the point, the state has indicated that it will withhold funding for any district that refuses to comply with the mandate, in Woodland that would equal about 84% of our revenue. There is no local option for replacing any withheld funding.

We are all in this together and we can continue doing our part to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. Our efforts are objectively making a difference as efforts made by Washingtonians have resulted in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths half that of the U.S. average on a per-100,000 population.

We hope that this mandate will be revised as the virus becomes less prevalent. K-12 Superintendent Chris Reykdal released a statement saying, “I believe in time we can move towards a family choice about this particular preventative measure, but not until there is much higher evidence that mask removal won’t spike cases, close school buildings, or contribute to additional deadly variants.”

Additionally, Reykdal has requested the governor mandate that all public education employees be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19. For more information, please watch this briefing to the media where Reykdal presented the scientific data, reasoning, and justification for requesting executive action: https://bit.ly/ReykdalBriefing2021-8-13.

To stay updated on the status of COVID-19 in your Woodland Public Schools, please visit our dedicated website at www.woodlandschools.org/covid-hq]www.woodlandschools.org/covid-hq.

Stay up-to-date with your Woodland schools!

Parents and students needing additional information can visit the district’s website at [www.woodlandschools.org]www.woodlandschools.org. In order to stay up-to-date on the latest news events at Woodland Public Schools, follow the district’s Facebook page at [www.fb.com/WoodlandPS]www.fb.com/WoodlandPS, follow the district’s Twitter account at [www.twitter.com/WoodlandPS]www.twitter.com/WoodlandPS, sign up for weekly feature stories from Woodland Schools Weekly at https://goo.gl/4pVZ91, and receive district news alerts from Flash Alert at https://goo.gl/GAUtDx.

The entire staff of Woodland Public Schools looks forward to an exciting year and can’t wait to welcome the return of our students for the 2021-2022 school year on Tue., Aug. 31!

Back-to-School Event Calendar

Athletic Registration (WMS / WHS) now available!

Students planning to participate in school athletics need to register in order to participate. Additional information about registration and other requirements is available from the district’s website at: www.woodlandschools.org/athletics

Back-to-School Bash provides free backpacks and school supplies for families in need on Sat., Aug. 21

The Back-to-School Bash is this Saturday, Aug. 21 from 3-6 p.m. outside the front of Woodland High School located at 1500 Dike Access Road where students can receive free backpacks and school supplies.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, advance registration is required.

You can register online at www.woodlandschools.org/BTSB or call Gabby Meador, the FCRC Coordinator, at 360-841-2718.

This event is possible thanks to grants from local businesses as well as generous donations made by area churches and communities.

Medication Check-In

Parents with students requiring medication administered by school professionals check in their medication before the first day of school.

Columbia Elementary School

2021-2022 Class Placements

All families will be notified of class placements as early as Fri., Aug. 20, 2021. Class placements will be put into Skyward at 3:00 p.m. starting Aug. 20. Additionally, class placements will be sent out via USPS mail on Fri., Aug. 20.

Drop-In/Drop-Off Event – Thu., Aug. 26, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Students and parents can drop in anytime between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Thu., Aug. 26 to meet teachers, see their classroom, get any questions you may have answered, and drop off supplies.

Kindergarten WAKids Conferences – Aug. 30; Sept. 1-2

Kindergarten teachers will call families to set up conferences with parents and their students. These one-on-one meetings are intended to welcome families to school and to provide a safe environment for families to speak freely with teachers. The conferences will help families and teachers begin to build relations so they can work together to help their children be successful in school.

Supply Lists

CES will be providing all needed school supplies for the 2021-2022 school year. If you are interested in donating to our supplies, we welcome any items from our supply lists (direct link: https://www.woodlandschools.org/ces-supply-lists). Please note, all supplies will be community supplies and will be divided out among your child’s class. Please do not place your student’s name on their supplies.

North Fork Elementary School

Drop-In/Drop-Off Event – Thu., Aug. 26, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Students and parents can drop in anytime between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Thu., Aug. 26 to meet teachers, see their classroom, get any questions you may have answered, and drop off supplies.

Kindergarten WAKids Conferences – Aug. 30; Sept. 1-2

Coffee & Conversation with the Principal – Mon., Aug. 30, 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

Each month Principal Denise Pearl offers an opportunity for parents to meet and connect with her to discuss anything about North Fork. Each monthly meeting is held in the North Fork Library.

Open House & Curriculum Night – Thu., Sept. 23, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Parents and guardians are invited to attend North Fork’s Open House & Curriculum Night where teachers will share the year’s curriculum and special programs that will be offered. This event provides an opportunity for parents to look at the curriculum, ask questions, and learn what is being taught in their child’s grade level as well as throughout the school.

Supply Lists

Students can find supply lists for the 2021-2022 school year on the North Fork Elementary School website by using this direct link: https://www.woodlandschools.org/nfes-supply-lists

Yale Elementary School

Drop-In/Drop-Off Event – Thu., Aug. 26, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Students and parents can drop in anytime between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Thu., Aug. 26 to meet teachers, see their classroom, get any questions you may have answered, and drop off supplies.

Kindergarten WAKids Conferences – Aug. 30; Sept. 1-2

Mrs. Cortez will call families to set up conferences with parents and their students. These one-on-one meetings are intended to welcome families to school and to provide a safe environment for families to speak freely with their teacher. The conferences will help families and teachers begin to build relations so they can work together to help their children be successful in school.

Woodland Middle School

Schedules and Snacks – Fri., Aug. 27

Due to pandemic restrictions, we will not have “Lunch and Lockers” like past years as we cannot serve a sit-down lunch and maintain social distancing.

Instead, this year’s event, Schedules and Snacks, will be a drop-in event. Students with last names starting with letters A-L will arrive in the morning between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and students with last names starting with letters M-Z will arrive from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

During their visit, students will be able to pick up their schedule, take a self-guided tour of the building using maps, meet their teachers, and get a grab-and-go snack.

This is a drop-in event, so families can come and go at any time during the previously mentioned time windows. We ask that families not bring siblings in order to limit guest to the student and parents/guardians.

Please note: Masks are required for entry into the building regardless of vaccination status.

Supply Lists

Students can find supply lists for the 2021-2022 school year on the Woodland Middle School website by using this direct link: https://www.w o odlandschools.org/wms-supply-lists

WMS Athletics

Mon., Aug. 23 – First day of practice for football, cross country and boys golf
Mon., Aug. 30 – First day of practice for girls soccer and volleyball

Woodland High School

Back-to-School Event Calendar

Tue., Aug. 24 – Family Night / Parent Orientation starts at 6 p.m. via Zoom
Thu., Aug. 26 – Beaver Camp for freshman and new students starts at 9 a.m.

WHS Athletics

Wed., Aug. 18 – First day of practice for football
Mon., Aug. 23 – First day of practice for dance, cheer, volleyball, cross country, girls soccer, boys golf

Information provided by Woodland School District.