

Woodside Wolves Weekly
for the Families of Woodside Elementary - January 31, 2025
Dear Woodside Families,
Thank you for taking the time to read through this newsletter for important dates and events.
In partnership,
Christopher Chenault
Principal
Happy 100th Day of School!
Woodside Sweetheart Dance
- Date: Friday, February 7th
Time: 6-8 pm
Location: Woodside MUR
Price: $10/adult, $5/kids (students must attend with an adult)
Tickets:
Pre-purchase: Cash or Venmo at the table outside the office every Friday. Venmo (Jessica Harris - 0519, no fee) or Donorbox (processing fee).
At the event: Cash, credit card, or Venmo will be accepted for entrance, baked goods, and raffle tickets.Volunteers Needed! See the Sign-up Sheet here.
5th Grade Outdoor Education - Reminders and Departure/Return Information
Walker Creek Ranch 5th Grade Outdoor Education - Tuesday, February, 18th to Friday the 21st.
Who: 5th Graders
Where: Walker Creek Ranch, located in Petaluma, CA
When: February 18th - 21st (expected return time between 2:30-3 pm)
Why: For our 5th graders to have the rich experience of outdoor education, build community, and for our students to have this elementary school experience to look back on
Departure Preparation Information
Camp Departure Procedures for Students & Families from Woodside
at 7:30 am, Tuesday, February 18th
Woodside 5th-Grade Outdoor Ed. - Camp Electronic Device Policy
A Letter for Your Camper
While at camp, we would like to give your child a letter written by you. Letters from home are a source of comfort. Please give the letters to your child’s teacher by Thursday, February 13th. Place the letter in a sealed envelope with your child's name and note the day you wish the letter to be delivered. (Day 2 or Day 3)
In the event of an emergency and you need to contact your student while at camp, please follow these steps:
1st - Contact our office at 925-689-7671 if during the hours of 7:30 am and 3:30 pm
- We will help determine the best next steps to contact your child
2nd - Outside of school hours - Email Mr. Chenault at chenaultc@mdusd.org
- Mr. Chenault will assist with the next best steps to contact your child
3rd - Call Walker Creek Ranch directly at 415-491-6600
- Walker Creek Staff and/or Lead Teacher, Ms. Meneghetti will assist
If you have questions regarding outdoor education, please call Woodside's main office.
4th Grade Families!
Outdoor Education Fundraising for NEXT YEAR Can Start NOW!
Thank you to Mrs. Harris and other 4th-grade families that are taking the lead on fundraising for 5th-grade Camp NOW!
Upcoming Events to Fundraise for 2025-2026 5th Grade Camp
- Sweetheart Dance - Friday, February 7th, 5 to 9 pm
- Car Show, Saturday, May 3rd, Time TBD
- Movie Night - WE need a 4th-grade parent to take the lead
- Frito Friday - WE need a 4th-grade parent to take the lead
- Other ideas to close the year...
Why Start Now?
- Walker Creek gives us our date to attend... this year's 5th-grade classes date was moved up to February. If our date gets moved up even more in the year, we'll have less time to fundraise
- If we start now, we'll have less pressure to raise funds during the 2025-26 school year
- It's never too early to start getting students excited about attending camp!
English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) - Next Meeting is February 24th
Woodside's English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)
- What:
- English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) Meeting
- In Person at Woodside MUR
- (Typically) the last Monday of the month, 8:05 am
- To ensure that we are supporting our emerging bilingual students
- To have a voice in your child's education
- To have a direct line of communication with your school
- Learn how to better support your students, resources, & more!
- Spanish Translation will be available at every Woodside ELAC meeting.
- Please email me directly at chenaultc@mdusd.org if you plan on attending and require Chinese, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, or any other translation
Future Woodside ELAC Meeting Dates (the last Monday of the month):
-January 27, 2025
Future DELAC Meeting Dates:If you have any questions or require more information regarding ELAC, please contact Maria Tsakoyia at 925-689-7671.
Our Next Parent Faculty Club (PFC) Meeting is Monday, February 24th
Woodside PFC
Join us for our next Woodside PFC meeting.
- Monday, January 27th
- 7 pm to 8 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://inshape.zoom.us/j/84648813675
Meeting ID: 846 4881 367
Connect with us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/WoodsideElementaryPFC
We are looking forward to an exciting school year. Go Woodside!
Future PFC Meeting Dates:
January
The Woodside PFC Board
Keri Hallin – President, Melissa Spurlock – Treasurer, & Jenna Croy - Secretary
Woodside Spirit Days 2024-2025
Student Council Sponsored Spirit Days
Fridays-Woodside Gear/Colors
- February 28th- Class Colors Day
- TK/K red,
- 1st orange,
- 2nd yellow,
- 3rd green,
- 4th blue,
- 5th purple
- March 17th -Wear Green
- March 28th- Go Crazy! crazy hair, hats, socks, shades
- April 25th- Disney Day
- May 30th- Hawaiian Day
2024-2025 Student Council Officers and Classroom Representatives
School Counselor's Corner
From the Counselor:
Kimber Kaiser, School Counselor, LMFT
Woodside Elementary -Mondays and Fridays, ext. 85932
Strandwood Elementary- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, ext. 86623
Dates To Remember
Woodside Calendar of Events:
February
Feb. 1: First Day of Black History Month
Feb. 7: 6-8 pm Woodside Sweetheart Dance
Feb. 7: Deadline for Kindness Banner Contest Entry to your Teacher
Feb. 10-14: Candygrams
Feb. 14: Valentine's Day
Feb. 17: President's Day - NO SCHOOL
Feb. 18-21: 5th Grade Outdoor Education - Walker Creek Ranch in Petaluma, CA
Feb. 20: 5:30 pm District English Language Advisory Committee meeting
Feb. 24: 8:10 am English Language Advisory Meeting (Cafeteria)
Feb. 25: 3-4 pm School Site Council meeting
Multilingual Students!
The Imagine Language and Learning website is now available for all English Language/ Multilingual Learners to use no matter what level!
A trophy will go to the class that has the highest percentage of Imagine Language Lessons passed in the month.
Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Representative
Woodside needs to identify a Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) representative for monthly meetings. This can be shared and split among more than one family. If you like another way to be connect to your student's school and the Mt. Diablo District, this is for YOU!
Thank you Mrs. Westfall our Resource Specialist for attending our past PAC meeting to represent Woodside until we can find a Parent/Family Rep.!!!
Meetings are held at Willow Creek Center. PAC meetings will be monthly and will focus on gathering parent feedback for our district-wide goals.
Future Meeting Dates:
January 28, 2025
February 25, 2025
March 25, 2025
April 22, 2025
May 27, 2025
If you are interested in being Woodside's PAC representative or sharing the responsibility, please contact Mr. Chenault by calling the office at 925-689-7671 or by email at chenaultc@mdusd.org
School Site Council (SSC) - Next Meeting is Tuesday, February 18, 2025
What is the SSC?
A school site council is a group of teachers, parents, classified employees, and community members that works with the Principal to develop, review and evaluate school improvement programs and school budgets.
SSC Members:
Mrs. Cleveland (parent)
Mrs. Alvarez (parent)
Mr. Richett (parent)
Mrs. Westfall (staff)
Ms. Fuenzalida (staff)
Mr. Chenault (staff)
What is the purpose of the school site council?
The School Site Council serves as the school community representative body for determining the focus of the school's academic instructional program and all related categorical resources.
What: School Site Council Meeting (SSC)
Where: Woodside, room E-1
When: Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Why: Public Hearing to Approve Woodside's School Site Safety Plan
Who: SSC Members and ALL parents/guardians and community members are welcome
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Coffee and Tea with Mr. C
WOODSIDE COMMUNITY GATHERING - COFFEE OR TEA WITH MR. C
Please check in at the school office and don't forget to bring your coffee or tea and join me for an opportunity to “meet and greet” one another. There's no agenda, just an opportunity to chat and answer any questions or hear any concerns that you may have.
SLOAT GARDEN CENTER - GROWING UP WEEK FUNDRAISER
DOING SOME YARD WORK THIS WEEKEND? SHOP AT SLOAT AND SUPPORT WOODSIDE!
Shop at any Sloat Garden Center location during the Growing up Green weeks, mention Woodside to the cashier, and our school will receive 10% of purchases back in the form of a Sloat gift card, which can go towards our school’s beautification projects, fundraisers or classroom activities. Please note: Purchases of gift cards do not apply. Just mention your school to the cashier!
2025 DATES
Feb 7 - Feb 16
Mar 14 - Mar 23
Click HERE for the Flyer with 2024-25 Growing Up Green Weeks
Woodside Morning Care for TK & Kindergarten PM Friends
For PM Kindergarten & TK Families ONLY
If your student attends TK or Kinder PM session, Woodside morning care is available. NO pre-sign-up is necessary.
- This is not a drop-in service, please regularly drop off and sign in your student between the hours of 7:30 and 8:05 am.
- Classroom C-1: 7:30-8:05 am Drop off and student sign-in
- After 8:05 am please come to the office to sign in your morning care student
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Woodside office at 925-689-7671.
Please Note:
Woodside Morning Care has no affiliation with the CARES Expanded Learning Program
Please click HERE for the MDUSD Food and Nutrition Information and Menus
District breakfasts/brunches & lunches are currently FREE to ALL MDUSD students.
MDUSD is 1-1 Student Devices for Grades 2nd - 5th at the elementary level
Please see the attachment regarding obtaining Chromebook Insurance
- Insurance is optional but highly recommended.
- The insurance term lasts one year from the purchase
- You will need your student's device number to register for insurance
- If your student is new to the district & Woodside (Grades 2-5), they will be getting their device by the end of next week
- 2nd-grade students will be assigned a 1-1 device as soon as possible. Please be on the lookout for additional communication from your student's teacher.
Click the link below to view the attachment.
Upcoming Regular District Board Meeting Dates
LOCATION: School District Board Room-1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord CA 94519
DETAILS:
The Closed Session (no public access) will begin at 5:00 PM. Open Session (public access) will begin at 6:00 PM. Broadcast viewing, public participation, and interpretation information will be posted at mdusd.org/boardmeetings on the meeting day. Approved minutes will be published to mdusd.org/boardmeetings.
Student Health
In order to keep our school community healthy, keep students home if they have had a fever (>99.5 F), vomiting, or diarrhea within the past 24 hours; or if they are feeling unwell and unable to participate in usual school activities. As we move into the flu season and are facing RSV and COVID, We need to remind students about universal precautions - good hand washing after blowing nose, proper cough into elbow, etc..
Woodside Attendance Hotline
925.682.8000
ext 7755
Woodside Elementary Contact Information
Thank you to our office staff Annabel Vazquez, Office Manager & Maria Tsakoyias. School Secretary. We could not operate without you!
Email: Chenaultc@mdusd.org
Website: woodside.mdusd.org
Location: 761 San Simeon Dr, Concord, CA 94518, USA
Phone: (925) 689-7671
Twitter: @WoodsideEL (I'm still working on gaining access)
Twitter: @MrChrisChenault