Woodland Public Schools offers resources and tips to students in prep for opening day of school

WOODLAND — With the first day of school for the new school year rapidly approaching, Woodland Public Schools is providing information about upcoming events and tips for parents and students to prepare for the first day back to school on Tue., Sept. 5.

On the first day of school, and all schools will run on normal schedule (except for kindergarten students who will have half-days from September 5-8). Parents and guardians needing to register their students may do so at the district office, not at the individual schools. For more information, contact the District Registrar Jody Brentin at (360) 841-2707.

Staff is back in the office on Mon., Aug. 21

Those who need to register a student for school, need access to their Skyward account, or need help from building staff, all building secretaries and the majority of school staff will return from summer break on Mon., Aug. 21 and will be ready to help.

Kindergarten Soft Start at Woodland Primary School

All kindergarten students will begin school this year with a “soft start” by only attending half-days during the first week of school from Tue., Sept. 5 through Fri., Sept. 8. The school day will begin at 8:50 a.m. and end at 12:20 p.m.

“Attending a full school day right off the bat can be a difficult transition for our youngest students who have never experienced school before,” explained Ingrid Colvard, principal of Woodland Primary School. “To ease our new students into their academic careers, the team felt starting with a few half-days will help kindergarteners get their feet wet.” Kindergarteners will begin a full-day schedule the following week.

Same-day Open House events for Woodland’s Primary and Intermediate Schools

The staff of Woodland Primary School and Woodland Intermediate School teamed up to make a more convenient evening time for working parents to attend this year’s Open Houses so students can meet their teachers and familiarize themselves with their schools.

“We received quite a bit of feedback that our previous afternoon time was very difficult for working parents to attend,” said Colvard. “The staff of both schools decided a new staggered time schedule on the same night would better serve our families.”

Both Open Houses will be held on Wed., Aug. 30, with Woodland Primary School’s scheduled for 5-6:30 p.m. and Woodland Intermediate’s running from 5:30-7 p.m. Parents can attend after their work day, and the combined evening will permit families with students attending both schools to visit both Open Houses in the same evening.

Get your student ready for Woodland Middle School

• Where middle schoolers should go on the first day of school. All students (fifth through eighth grade) will report to their assigned homeroom teachers from 8:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Tue., Sept. 5. Posters placed throughout the school will direct students with homeroom teachers’ names and class rosters to help guide students to the right place.

• Homeroom teacher assignments. All middle school students will receive an invitation to the Lunch and Lockers event on Thu., Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. with their homeroom teacher’s name. More details about Lunch and Lockers is available in the Back-to-School Event Calendar below.

• Class schedules. Students will receive their class schedules from their homeroom teachers on the first day of each quarter. Students need to report to homeroom for the first 10-15 minutes of school to receive their schedules and planners.  Students can discuss any questions or concerns about their schedules by signing up for a counselor appointment at the school office.

• Supply List. Parents and students can access the school supply list for the 2017-18 school year on the middle school website located at https://www.woodlandschools.org/node/4968

• Bell Schedule and other questions. The middle school website can answer many questions new or returning middle school students may have about the new school year. Visit the middle school’s homepage at https://www.woodlandschools.org/wms for more information.

Tips for Woodland High School students

• School Supplies. High school students do not need any other school supplies other than a notebook along with some pencils and pens. Woodland High School will ensure all students have any course-specific supplies they may need.

• Attend the Freshmen/New Student Orientation. Entering Freshmen and students who are new to Woodland High School should consider attending the Orientation Event on Thu., Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. in the WHS Commons for more information about the school and their teachers.

• Visit the Woodland High School website. Parents and students needing additional information can find the answers to many questions from the high school’s website: https://www.woodlandschools.org/whs

First Day of School Tips for all Parents and Students:

• Talk about school in a positive way. Share fun stories about your own past experiences with school, teachers, and staff with your kids.

• Start early. Begin a more routine and structured schedule the week before the first school day. Children thrive when they know what to expect with fewer adjustments at one time.

• Visit the school during Drop In/Open House. Open Houses really ease anxiety for both children and adults by making the school environment familiar and introducing students to their teachers.

• Demonstrate your confidence in your student. Assure your child that you are confident they will become an amazing student, and that they are ready to handle the independence that comes with attending school. If you believe in them and they know it, they will be confident and secure in no time!

• Make sure your students get plenty of sleep. Sleepy kids have much less ability to handle new or stressful situations. The importance of getting enough sleep cannot be overstated.

• Eat breakfast and lunch. Balanced nutrition really sets children up with the stamina needed for a full school day. A healthy breakfast and a nutritious lunch make a significant difference for young learners.

• Remember to relax. Make the first morning of school low-key and positive. Setting the tone right from the morning will help students remain calm and collected for the entire day.

• Model confident and positive behaviors. As the adult, you can model confidence and a positive attitude about the first school day. Although, it may be difficult and emotional for parents to separate from their child, children need to know you will be okay. Try not to cry in front of your child as they board the bus or when you drop them at school. Most tears from children on the first day of school are a result of the parents showing strong emotion. This is completely understandable, but do the best acting job you can! Separating quickly helps both parents and students stay calm and positive.

• School staff are looking out for you and your students. The school will call you if there are any issues or if your child is really struggling. Woodland Public Schools have a fantastic team of teachers and staff who are ready and skilled at assisting children with their transition to school. Your young learner is truly loved and will be cared for during their time at school!

  

Back-to-School Event Calendar:

Mon., Aug. 21

• School support staff returns! School offices open to the public with support staff on-hand to help parents with their students’ registration and school preparation needs.

Wed., Aug. 30

• Woodland Primary and Intermediate School Open Houses (WPS: 5-6:30 p.m; WIS: 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.): Woodland Public Schools introduces a new time for the Primary and Intermediate Schools’ open houses to accommodate working parents. With both events held on a single evening, parents can visit their student(s)’ schools, bring school supplies, meet teachers, add money to lunch accounts, and receive transportation information.

Thu., Aug. 31

• Woodland Middle School – Lunch and Lockers (11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at WMS): The annual Lunch and Lockers event invites students and their families to enjoy a free lunch, tour the school, meet homeroom teachers, and practice locker combinations as well as decorate their lockers any time during this two-hour event. Every middle school student will receive an invitation to the event with the name of their homeroom teacher where they will receive locker assignments and combinations.

• Woodland High School – Freshmen and New Student Orientation (6:00 p.m. at WHS Commons): Freshmen and new students along with their parents can attend the Orientation Event to meet teachers, tour the school, sign up for lockers, and receive additional information about the new school year.

Tue., Sept. 5 – The First Day of School

• Woodland Primary School – Coffee, Tea and Tissues (9 a.m. at the WPS Cafeteria): The Woodland Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) and Principal Colvard will host a first day of school kickoff event for parents including refreshments and support for parents sending their students to school for the first time along with a greeting from the principal. An optional school tour immediately follows the event.

Community Resources for Families and Students

• School supply assistance. With the cost of school supplies increasing, Woodland Public Schools’ Family Community Resource Center (FCRC) wants to ensure every incoming student has a backpack and school supplies. “Having the correct school supplies has a profound impact on our students’ and their learning experience,” said Leslie Mohlman, Community, Family, Student Resource Coordinator. “We encourage parents to contact us with any needs they may have for their students.” Families who need assistance providing school supplies for their students can contact the FCRC at (360) 841-2718.

• Low-cost Internet service. Local Internet Service Providers provide low-cost packages for families who qualify for the free or reduced-cost meal program:
  • Comcast offers Internet Essentials for families at $9.95 per month plus tax along with laptop or desktop computers available for $149.99. More information is available by calling (855) 832-9548 or from www.internetessentials.com.
  • CenturyLink offers Internet Basics for households who qualify beginning at $9.95 a month plus taxes and fees with iPad Mini 2s available for $150. More information is available by calling (866) 541-3330 or from www.centurylink.com/home/internetbasics

    

• Lunch Buddy Program returns to Woodland Intermediate School. The Lunch Buddy Program begins on October 3 at Woodland Intermediate School. Community members interested in becoming a mentor by participating only 40 minutes a week should contact Leslie Mohlman at (360) 841-2718 or via email at mohlmanl@woodlandschools.org. Mentor training will be held on Tue., Sept. 26 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Woodland Intermediate School Library.

• Our Kids, Our Business first meeting Thu., Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. The next meeting for the Our Kids, Our Business Task Force will be held on Thu., Oct. 5 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the location to be determined soon. Grandparents and family members raising relative’s children can learn about the Kinship Navigator Program which provides financial support, legal services, housing assistance, respite care, and counseling to families raising relative’s children.

• Use the Parent Toolkit. The Parent Toolkit is a one-stop website and mobile app providing tips and advice on how to support a child’s development through every stage of life, both in and out of the classroom. Offered in both English and Spanish, parents can get more information and support specifically for Back to School by visiting https://goo.gl/kaGNoN

• Where to find more information and assistance. Lists of providers and information of how to obtain free and low-cost resources of all kinds can also be found from the Community Resources webpage on the Woodland Public Schools website: https://www.woodlandschools.org/node/3

Stay up-to-date with Woodland schools

Parents and students needing additional information can visit the district’s website at 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, follow the district’s Twitter account at 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.

Information provided by Woodland Public Schools.