Woodland Wildcats News

All Families and Parents are invited to join us at the Technology and Infinite Campus Workshop

Date: Thursday, February 22, 2024

Time: 5:30 pm

Location: Woodland ES Cafeteria

The technology portion of the workshop will cover understanding the harms of copyright piracy and online safety. We will also have volunteers available to assist with accessing and setting parental controls on personal devices such as tablets and phones.

The Infinite Campus portion of the workshop will cover accessing the platform, checking your child’s academic progress, updating phone number, email, and emergency contacts, withdrawing a student, and signing important documents.

For more information contact Mrs. Ingram

Phone: 470-254-0878

Email: jaimeingramz@fultonschools.org

Interpreter services will be available upon request.

Greetings Wildcat Families!

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES

Please note the upcoming dates for school attendance. Please make note and plan accordingly.

· Monday, February 19, 2024 School holiday, no school for staff and students

· Tuesday, February 20, 2024 Professional Development Day- no school for students

· Thursday, February 22, 2024 Principal’s Chat -12pm-1pm in our media center

· Thursday, February 22, 2024 Technology & Infinite Campus Workshop for Parents- 5:30pm

SGC ELECTIONS

It is time for the election of new members to our School Governance Council. The School Governance Council (SGC) has parent/guardian positions open for election. Parents or guardians of students who will be attending our school during both the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years are eligible to run for the parent/guardian SGC position.

Our School Governance Council (SGC) plays a critical role in the success of our school. The SGC works with school leadership and the community to help determine the long-term direction of the school, design innovative solutions to increase academic achievement, and serve as school ambassadors to the local community. Specifically, the School Governance Council supports in the following areas:

· The implementation of the school strategic plan

· The Request for Flexibility process

· The annual budget recommendations and related allocations

· Participate in the hiring of the principal, in the case of a vacancy

· Provide annual feedback to the Area Superintendent

If you are interested in running for a position on the School Governance Council, please complete and submit a Parent/Guardian Candidate Declaration Form.

We are very excited about the work and value-add of our SGC. We hope that you will consider running for a position! The Candidate Declaration period ends March 29th and voting will take place April 17 – April 24, 2024. More information about becoming an SGC candidate can be found here in the SGC candidate guide.

PRE-K REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

The Lottery Application for the 2024-2025 Pre-Kindergarten Lottery application is now open and will close at 11:59 pm on March 8, 2024. Parents may ONLY register for Georgia’s Pre-K classes through the lottery application process.

Woodland’s school lottery will be held March 25, 2024, with notification of results posted to our school website by 12:00pm on March 25, 2024.

HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION IN INFINITE CAMPUS

The health and safety of our students is always a top priority at Woodland Elementary School. Please review your Parent Portal account and make the necessary adjustments including emergency contact information. This is the only way we can ensure we have current, correct information in our system in the event of an emergency or if/when we need to release your child to someone other than the parent (upon verifying identification). Thank you for your prompt attention on the matter.

Fulton County Schools Hardship Transfer Application

Applications are available for parents who wish to apply for a 2024-2025 hardship transfer or to renew a current hardship to another Fulton County Schools (FCS) elementary, middle or high school.

Parents will use an online form, available through the school system’s website, to enter and submit their information. Hard copy applications are not required, with the exception of medical transfers which require pertinent medical provider’s signatures and documentation.

The deadline for submitting a transfer application is Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2024, by 4:30 p.m., with no exceptions or extensions granted. All requests must be received or postmarked by this date and time. In addition, school system employees who have children receiving an employee hardship transfer must renew their request.

The February 29 deadline applies to students and parents seeking a hardship transfer for medical reasons, curriculum differences, and childcare situations or for employees’ children.

Schools participating in open enrollment, a separate transfer process that allows students to move to a school with available space, will be announced in early May.

Parents with questions or who need more information about hardship transfers can contact the FCS’ Student Assignment Office at 470-254-5550 or visit https://www.fultonschools.org/hardshiptransfers

Please see below for additional recurring school information!

With Extreme Wildcat P.R.I.D.E,

Ms. Toomer, Principal

COMMUNITY MEETING

Each member of the Fulton County Board of Education sponsors a monthly meeting open to all members of the community. The sessions provide an opportunity for direct contact with community members and give Board members a chance to listen to local issues and concerns. Please join Dr. Morancie for the next community meeting on February 14 at 9:30 am at Spalding Drive Elementary School.

STRENGTHENING THE HOME-TO-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP

The start of a new calendar year is always a good time to revisit and reflect on strategies we may employ to kick-off a great second semester. Please review the article below for information on how your role and participation in your child’s education makes the difference.

· Parents Make the Difference (English) https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:dbccdb1b-44fc-4846-8b68-860ea30b25a2

· Parents Make the Difference (Spanish) https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:8da754b8-4b6f-41c7-96db-2ec40f7f588d

LUNCH VISITORS

The sign-up genius is now open for you to sign-up to visit your child during lunch.

All lunch visitors are required to check-in at the front desk. If eating lunch with your child, please use the designated area available outside of the cafeteria. No other student(s) other than your own, is allowed to accompany you and your child at lunch. You will need to sign-up for a day and time. If you will not be able to attend on a day reserved, please remove yourself from the sign-up to allow others to reserve a day and time. The sign-up process is on a first-come-first serve basis due to our limited cafeteria area to accommodate.

REMINDERS

· Arrive at least 5 minutes before time.

· Check in at the front desk. You will need to provide your identification if you are checking in for the first time.

· Refrain from bringing in fast food items.

· At the end of your lunchtime with your child, you will check-out at the front desk.

Please use the links below to reserve a time!

Prek: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4BA5AD2FA0FA7-47266376-prek

Kindergarten: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4BA5AD2FA0FA7-47265884-kindergarten

1st grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4BA5AD2FA0FA7-47264427-1stgrade

2nd grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4BA5AD2FA0FA7-47265624-2ndgrade

3rd grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4BA5AD2FA0FA7-47266158-3rdgrade

4th grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4BA5AD2FA0FA7-47265270-4thgrade

5th grade: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4BA5AD2FA0FA7-47266763-5thgrade

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Our school clinic is staffed by a trained clinic aide to care for injured or sick students and to notify parents when pick-up is necessary. If a child is not well enough to return to class within 20 minutes of entering the clinic, the parent or guardian will be called to check-out the child from the office and take him/her home.

Students should not come to school with a fever, cloudy discharge from the nose, goopy red eyes, earache, or stomach/intestinal distress. Children must be free of vomiting and/or fever for 24-hours, without the aid of medication, before returning to school as per the American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines. When returning to school following an absence due to illness, parents must send a written, signed note, explaining the illness and provide the number of days and dates the child was absent. This is necessary for State Attendance Reports.

If an illness or injury requires immediate medical attention, 911 will be called.

Please be sure the school has your current phone number/contact information as well as updated emergency contact information so you can be reached in case of an emergency.

CELLPHONES DURING SCHOOL DAY

The Fulton County School district prohibits the use of personal communication devices (PCD) during school day. Please see the rule below:

18f.II Prohibited Use of Personal Communication Devices (PCD) During School Day Possession of Personal Communication Devices (PCD) (e.g., cell phones, tablets, recording devices) by a student at school during school hours is a privilege that will be forfeited if a student fails to abide by the Student Code of Conduct.

***Multiple and/or prior infractions could lead to increased consequences***

Behaviors that implicate Title IX regulations (as implemented) will be managed as discussed in www.fultonschools.org/titleix. The use of PCDs during the school day is not allowed in grades Pre-K through 5. In grades 6 through 12, the use of PCDs is not allowed during instructional time and will only be allowed when explicitly instructed to do so by a teacher or other school staff member. ***Please Note: If a student violates this rule which leads to the student’s personal communication device being confiscated by school personnel, it will only be released to the parent or guardian who must come to the school to personally retrieve the device.

ATTENDANCE

Did You Know?

· Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.

· Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.

· Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.

· Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available.

Fulton County Schools Attendance Policies

JBD Absences and Excuses

JB Attendance Operating Guidelines

CARPOOL SAFETY

We are noticing students are being released from vehicles in undesignated areas for unloading. Please ensure you are allowing students to exit the vehicles in the

designated areas only! Help us by ensuring you are engaging in safe and timely arrival and dismissal practices. Students may begin entering the building as early as 7:05am. Our carpool traffic is not heavy, at this time. You may also consider utilizing the buses and alleviating the traffic, in and around our campus!

Other reminders include:

· Pick up and drop off occur in the front of the building.

· Getting in the carpool lane, parking, and walking your student to the sidewalk contributes to the congestion of our carpool line.

· Students are safe (and dry on rainy days) and not marked tardy when they arrive on the bus.

Thank you for helping us keep our students and staff safe!

DRESS CODE

Just a reminder, Woodland ES follows a uniform policy for dress code. Please ensure your student is dress in uniform each day. Crocs and ripped jeans are not appropriate or in the uniform policy listed below.

UNIFORM POLICY

All students wear the Woodland uniform. Please see the details below about the uniforms:

· Shirts: Collared shirt, long-sleeved or short, with or without the Woodland logo. Colors are red, white, or navy. Turtlenecks are acceptable.

· Pants: Navy or khaki shorts or pants. Shorts should be mid-thigh to knee length. Pleated or elastic waist pants are acceptable. Jeans, sweatpants, or tight leggings are not acceptable. Girls may also wear navy or khaki skirts, skorts, or jumpers, provided they are mid-thigh to knee length. During colder months, tights of uniform color (red, white, or navy blue) may be worn underneath skirts.

· Shoes & Socks: Closed-toed athletic (sneakers) with red, white, or navy socks will ensure that students are properly dressed for P.E. and recess. Shoes should be in neutral colors such as black, brown, or white. Small colored accents are acceptable but should not be the primary color of the shoe.

· PE: Athletic style shoes are required for PE. Students will not be allowed to participate in PE if they are not wearing appropriate shoes and their grade may be negatively impacted for failure to participate.

· Accessories: Purses, caps, headphones, etc. are not permitted at school unless authorized by principal or teacher.

We look forward to seeing all students arrive dressed in school uniform and ready to learn!

COMMUNICATION

Every effort is made to ensure open communication between home and school. Teachers and parents should communicate regularly regarding questions or concerns that arise during the school year. To stay connected, please read all correspondence that comes home with your child and/or is sent electronically. It is extremely important that your email is up to date in Infinite Campus. Most of the communication from the school will be sent using the email address we have on file. You can update this information by logging into your parent portal account. We are committed to providing all stakeholders with clear and transparent communication. Please see below for our forms of communication.

➢ Principal’s Newsletter a direct communication from the principal sent on Thursdays. Please be sure we have your email on file so that you will receive this communication.

➢ PBIS Rewards helps you stay informed about what is happening in your child’s classroom. Each teacher will observe a quiet hour notification between the hours of 8:00am – 2:30pm, during instructional time. During this time, they will be unable to respond to messages. In most cases, you will receive a response within 24-48 hours

.

➢ Samples of Work are sent home to keep you updated on your child’s progress. All classroom teachers will send Thursday folders for graded work.

➢ Infinite Campus/Parent Portal is available for you to monitor your child’s grades. We encourage you to utilize this system to stay current with your child’s progress. Usernames and passwords are valid from year to year for continuously enrolled students.

➢ Written Notes: Most communication can be handled through written notes. Please be sure to let your child know that he/she has a note for the teacher.

➢ Email: All teachers have county provided email addresses. Please note that teachers are not able to check email during instructional time. In most cases, you will receive a response

➢ Phone Calls: Teachers are unavailable to take phone calls during instructional day. Please be aware that it may be late in the afternoon before your message is received and your call returned. In most cases, you will receive a response within 24-48 hours.

➢ Conferences: We encourage regular communication to discuss your child’s progress at school. Conferences may be initiated by the parent, teacher, or administrator and held at a mutually agreeable time.

➢ Website – the school website is https://www.fultonschools.org/woodlandes. Please visit our site regularly for the most current information and resources.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

· If your student is a car rider for dismissal, please remain in your car, for the safety of your students and our staff members. Exiting your car to meet your child delays our ability to expedite the dismissal process and keep students and staff safe.

· Our school day begins at 7:40 am and ends at 2:20 pm daily. Students may begin arriving at 7:05 am and should be in the classroom at 7:40 am. Students arriving after 7:40 will be marked tardy. Parents will need to escort your student in for check-in at the front desk, if arriving after 7:40 am. Let’s work together to establish a consistent, timely routine for your student.

· If you are riding the school bus, please make sure you arrive at your bus stop at least 5 minutes before the pick-up time. Your bus information may be found at https://www.fultonschools.org/transportation.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Our Cafeteria may provide, at a cost to the parent, frozen treats, $1.25 each for your child, and their class. All treats are big 9 allergen-free, unless indicated. There are a variety of flavors and a non-dairy option. The birthday treat meets USDA requirements for smart snacks in school, and the Cafeteria Staff delivers to your child’s class for all to enjoy!! Be sure to sign-up and pay for this convenience through our cafeteria.

Fulton County Schools Attendance Policy

Attendance Matters- Click here to learn more!

Documentation when a child is absent

· Parents should email or send a note in to the child’s school letting them know why their child was absent.

The following must be included in the note/email:

✔ Student Name ✔ Student FCS ID Number (Lunch Number) ✔ Parent/Guardian Name ✔ Parent/Guardian Email & Phone Number ✔ Reason for Excuse

A school may request additional documentation if a student has reached the following benchmarks.

· After 3 consecutive ill absences, a doctor’s note will be required

· 7 or more days for any reason (not including assigned remote)

· 10 or more late arrivals or early checkouts

2nd notification: If your child was referred for testing (based on data. click link for info Screening and Referral Process) a “TAG Consent to Test” form in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal became available on Friday, Feb 9th. If you are not connected to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal, sign up using the info from Fulton County Schools https://www.fultonschools.org/infinitecampus. (The TAG teachers cannot help you with this). For more information on the referral process, click here. Please note, we must receive your consent BY FEB 16th. The testing schedule will not be shared. The window for testing is Feb 19th-Mar 8th. Reach out to Ms. Leah Smith SmithL1@fultonschools.org or Ms. Quanda Foster FosterQR@fultonschools.org for questions.

Email: joneshj@fultonschools.org
Website: http://school.fultonschools.org/es/woodland/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 1130 Spalding Drive Sandy Springs, GA 30350
Phone: 470-254-5890
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WoodlandWildcats13
Twitter: @weswildcat