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Woodland Watch
A Woodland Wildcat Always R.O.A.R.S.
April 19, 2024
A Message from the Principal
Dear Woodland Families,
With the warmer weather and longer days, Woodland is buzzing with the energy of springtime. The playground is filled with laughter and play as our students embrace the opportunity to spend more time outdoors. From games of tag to imaginative adventures in our play structure, there is no shortage of fun to be had.
Our hallways are also starting to show signs of Spring! Students have been working hard all year and their amazing artwork will be displayed at the Woodland Art Show on Thursday, May 9th. This year Ms. Green focused on studying the various styles of art from across the United States. The work that they have accomplished has been pretty amazing! I hope you all mark your calendars to come and stroll our hallways and enjoy an ice cream treat anytime between 5:00pm and 8:00pm. Woodland Leadership Team will also be selling Smencils, if you didn't have a chance to get one during our before school sales this week.
I am also looking forward to Mrs. Hockman's and Mrs. McNaughton's music concert on Tuesday, May 7th at 6:30pm and Ms. Casolari's, Mrs. Jalkanen's and Ms. Wheeler's music concert on Wednesday, May 29th at 6pm. Mrs. Petipren has been busy preparing our musicians and I know that the kids are going to put on a great show!
Our 3rd and 4th graders have now completed the MSTEP for ELA and Math! Our 5th graders will continue to finish their testing next week. They will have their Science test on Tuesday and Social Studies on Thursday. I am so proud of the hard work and perseverance that all of our students have shown!
Enjoy your weekend,
Mrs. Katalin Rosinski
Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
April
- 24th - Woodland Talent Show Tryouts
- 25th - First Grade Field Trip to Michigan Science Center
May
- 2nd - Woodland Talent Show @ 6pm
- 3rd - NO SCHOOL - Teacher PD
- 6th-10th - Woodland Staff Appreciation Week
- 7th - Mrs. Hockman's & Mrs. McNaughton's Music Concert @ 6:30pm-7:30pm
- 8th - Second Grade Field Trip to Stoney Creek Nature Center
- 9th - Woodland Art Show @ 5pm-8pm
- 13th - "Dine to Donate" Fundraisers at Noodles & Company, Salsarita's & Oberweis
- 14th - Kindergarten Screening for incoming Kindergarteners; PTO Meeting @ 6pm
- 16th - Boys Bonanza @ Classic Lanes @ 6pm-8pm
- 17th - Fifth Grade Field Trip to Urban Air
- 24th-27th - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
- 29th - Third Grade Field Trip to Top Golf; Ms. Casolari's , Mrs. Jalkanen's & Ms. Wheeler's Music Concert @ 6pm-7pm
- 31st - Field Day
June
- 6th - HALF DAY OF SCHOOL - 11:45am Dismissal - Teacher Records
- 7th - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - End of Quarter 4 - HALF DAY - 11:45am Dismissal
M-Step Testing
This week, we administered the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) to students in 3rd-5th grade. The M-STEP will measure student knowledge of Michigan’s high academic standards in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
We all want your child’s state assessment experience to be as stress-free as possible. Your positive outlook and supportive manner going into these assessments also will influence your child’s experience.
Remember, testing is a part of learning. State assessment results do not impact student grades. They are designed to provide information on student knowledge and ability to be career- and college-ready upon graduation. Schools and districts use the results for curriculum planning and school improvement initiatives that benefit all students.
The state has provided specific windows for our students to participate in these assessments. We have decided to spread the assessments over several days to allow for as many classroom routines to continue normally. (Make up sessions or opportunities to finish may be held on different days).
We would very much appreciate it if you could do everything possible to have your child in attendance on these days, make sure they are well-rested and have had a good, well-balanced breakfast. Also, on testing days, please keep cell phones and electronic watches at home. This ensures the integrity of the testing process. We encourage you to view the preview test and sample items that are available online at https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi/ott1, opened in a Google browser.
We are confident that our students will do well and our goal is to provide a positive testing experience. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school.
Grade Level Placement
After we return from Spring Break, I begin the planning process for next school year. I would like to share our procedures for moving students to their next grade level teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. We use a comprehensive procedure to determine grade/teacher placement. The process is outlined below:
- Teachers will fill out a student profile on each student in his/her class. The profile will allow teachers to identify each student’s strengths and needs.
- A team consisting of the grade level teachers, principal, and other pertinent staff such as the specials teachers, reading specialist, special education personnel, and/or ELL teacher will meet to place students into classes based on information from the profile sheets, and any additional input. The class lists will be constructed so that each class is relatively equal with regards to the following factors:
- Balance of male and female students.
- A range of reading, writing, and math abilities in each room.
- Consideration of learning needs.
- Separation of behavior conflicts.
- Balance of students with strong leadership qualities.
- Balance of students with independent study habits.
In analyzing all these factors we strive to develop balanced classrooms, which will be minimally affected by the addition of new students as they move into our area.
We do not accept specific teacher requests. Parents are cautioned not to request placement or non-placement based on what they may have heard about a teacher from other parents. Just as each child is unique, so is each teacher. An experience that other parents may have had with their child may be totally different from what your child could have with the same teacher. However, if there is a concern, parents may send an email with information regarding their child’s learning style and specific educational needs. I need to receive this information by April 26th.
Please help your child understand that he/she may not be with the same friends next year, or with a teacher a sibling may have had. Help them know they are capable of working with new friends and teachers, that they are skillful youngsters, and able to handle new situations. Creating a mindset with your child to develop new friendships is imperative to a successful transition to middle school later in his/her educational journey. That mindset doesn’t just begin in fifth grade. It is a mindset that needs to be developed early on. It can help ensure a smooth transition now and in the future. We value your help and appreciate your consideration.
Thank you for your time and interest regarding the Grade Placement Procedures. We are looking forward to using this process and feel confident that each student will be placed in a classroom that will allow him/her to have a successful school year!
Woodland Staff Appreciation Week
We will be accepting donations at school until Friday, May 3rd. Please remember that Woodland is a tree nut/peanut-free school. We will be feeding approximately 60 staff members. All donations can be dropped off in the Main Office to Ms. Caton or Mrs. Montano.
Please click on the link below to sign up. We appreciate your contributions and helping us support and celebrate our Woodland staff.
Teacher Appreciation Week
National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-10, 2024. The Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) Office of Educator Excellence (OEE) wishes to celebrate teachers across Michigan for the entire month of May.
MDE invites parents to submit 15-30 second videos of their students recognizing and thanking a specific teacher for their impact. Nothing fancy is required—cell phones can capture the videos. Please follow the directions on the flyer. Videos and parental consent may be submitted via the Teacher Appreciation Video Project Google Form. Videos are currently being accepted until Friday, April 19, 2024.
Submitted videos may be posted on the Teacher Appreciation Month webpage and the MDE’s YouTube channel. The Office of Educator Excellence Facebook (@MIeducator) and X (formerly Twitter) social media pages will be promoting the videos throughout the month of May.
If you have a child with great things to say about a teacher, don’t hesitate—use the instructions found on our website to submit a video today!
Instructions to submit video (Arabic) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FGOsFm2UqssthvOfR_map5ghBr8AeqCh/view?usp=sharing
Instructions to submit video (English) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UOLzeH7wTWukRhwy2IZKdNmCmUYUGp8M/view?usp=sharing
Instructions to submit video (Spanish) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/17_uXaEop73z_bhaVJKAUZtB094MGFtLl/view?usp=sharing
Avondale School District would also like to share your video with our community. Please send your video to Annette McAvoy at 248-217-1759.
Woodland Art Show - Thursday, May 9th
Woodland's Art Show & Ice Cream Social will be held on Thursday, May 9th from 5:00pm-8:00pm. We hope to see everyone there!!
Avondale 2024-2025 School Calendar
Updates from the Woodland Cafeteria
Cafeteria and Hot Lunch
School breakfast and lunch is FREE this year.
Hot Lunch
Monday 4/22: A) Greek Chicken Flatbread B) Egg Salad Sandwich C) Sun Butter & Jelly
Tuesday 4/23: A) 4 Cheese Enchilada B) Egg Salad Sandwich C) Sun Butter & Jelly
Wednesday 4/24: A) Pizza Crunchers B) Egg Salad Sandwich C) Sun Butter & Jelly
Thursday 4/25: A) Popcorn Chicken Bowl B) Egg Salad Sandwich C) Sun Butter & Jelly
Friday 4/26: A) Stuffed Shells B) Egg Salad Sandwich C) Sun Butter & Jelly
Avondale Food Services would like to remind you of the importance of sharing any allergies that your student may have with our Food Service Department. If your student has any food allergies, please fill out the form here and email it to megan.haase@avondaleschools.org.
Please click on the link below for information regarding free breakfasts and lunches for Avondale students for the 2023-2024 school year.
Important Lunch Information
ALL students have the opportunity to receive free breakfast and lunch this year through the Community Eligibility Program (CEP).
It is important to note that Avondale School District families should still complete the CEP Education Benefits application https://avondale.familyportal.cloud which helps ensure ongoing state funding and can qualify your child’s school or community for other special programs.
To View lunch menus, visit https://avondale.nutrislice.com or download Nutrislice from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and search Avondale.
Happy Birthday!!
Make sure to take a birthday picture next to the electronic sign outside in front of the school!
April
April 20: Riley K., Ms. Sarah
April 21: Aubrey B.
April 22: Bailey R., Dayton R., Ms. Kayla
April 23: Mrs. Tenuja
April 24: Laira N., Mrs. Bev
April 25: Mrs. Keller
April 26: James A., Devlin (DJ) C., Griffin D., Carlianne F., Ronan F., Karter L., Joey L.
April 27: Mrs. Mergener
April 30: Haemin L.
Positivity Project
This week, we worked on Humor as part of our P2 Positivity Project. This means you like to laugh and bring smiles to other people.
Humor is a sense of playfulness and lightness. It is a way of looking at and describing the world that brings laughter to people. A person with the strength of humor is skilled at seeing the funny side of things, bringing smiles and laughter to others, and identifying and communicating the absurdities in life. People with this strength don't specifically need to be joke tellers, although many are.
Why Does It Matter?
For individuals, humor has important health benefits, both mental and physical. Humor stretches the mind to look at different perspectives, keeping people mentally agile and alert. Making people laugh also produces positive emotions and happiness for the initiator. Scientists have shown that laughter reduces stress, promotes connection with other people, and can even improve focus. Laughter is contagious and bonds us to other people.
To practice and encourage the character strength of integrity with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
Next week, we will focus on Purpose as part of our P2 Positivity Project.
Wear Your Gym Shoes
As the weather gets warmer, PE with Mr. Daniels will be heading outdoors to run. Please have your child wear their gym shoes every day (maybe not their new ones, because the ground is still muddy!).
Please Pack an Extra Change of Clothes
Text "Yes" to Receive Woodland Text Messages
Text "YES" to 67587
If you are not receiving text messages from Woodland Elementary or Avondale School District and would like to in the future, text the word "YES" to 67587.
WOODLAND AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
Young Rembrandts
WOODLAND PTO CORNER
Woodland Talent Show - May 2, 2024
"Dine to Donate" Fundraisers at Noodles, Salsarita's & Oberweis Monday, May 13th
Boys Bonanza - Thursday, May 16th
The Woodland PTO is still on the hunt for passionate individuals to join us on our mission to create amazing events! Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or new to the game, we have a place for you!
We've got some awesome events lined up and need YOUR help to make them happen. Check out the links below, to see the dates available and find the perfect fit for your schedule. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a community that cares! Head over to the signup genius link and Let's create some magic together!
Boys Bonanza
http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/.../RgRngtFUP0REaHR0...
Woodland Field Day
Kroger Community Rewards
Do you have a Kroger Plus card? If so, you can link your cad to our school and Kroger will donate a percentage to Woodland! You still get all the great savings and all the fuel points! Link your card online at www.kroger/communityrewards by entering our account number: SQ402 or searching for Woodland PTO.
Oakland University - "Doctors Back to School"
Please save the date for our second annual "Doctors Back to School™" event on Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 10am-1:30pm at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. Bussing from ITA. Lunch provided. Grades 5 - 8 (contact ragutier@oakland.edu with questions).
Doctors Back to School™, created by the American Medical Association Minority Affairs Consortium, aims to inspire children to consider the medical field as a profession. Medical students will lead discussions and activities with middle schoolers related to the path to medical school, careers in medicine, and a snapshot of what medical students are learning related to organs and the dangers of vaping/tobacco.
Registration is now open for Doctors Back to School™on Saturday, May 11th at the OUWB School of Medicine!
Families can register at https://bit.ly/OUWB-DBTS-2024.
Please share with any youth who might be interested - if families have questions about older/younger siblings attending, please have them reach out to me at 248-505-9137 via text or ragutier@oakland.edu.
AVONDALE HAPPENINGS
SpringFest 2024 - Everyone is Welcome!
This year's Springfest will be on April 26th from 5:00pm-8:00pm at Avondale High School and is open to all of the Avondale School District staff, students, families, and community members! Tickets are being sold at the door. Tickets are $10 and there is a ticket deal of 3 tickets for $25 and will include participation in all the booths, inflatables, and leadership-sponsored treats!
There will be plenty of FREE fun games and treats such as:
- Mario Kart-themed bounce house
- Wacky castle
- Putt golf
- Bowling
- Basketball
- An atomic slide
- Hungry Hippos
- 65-foot Obstacle course
There will be snacks included with your ticket (snow cones, popcorn, and cotton candy). There will also be food trucks on site such as tacos and Kona Ice, but these will not be included with your ticket, so please bring extra cash for them!
Please reach out to Samantha.Boltonavondaleschools.org or Kathlen.Osborn@avondaleschools.org if you have any questions!
4-H Discovery Day 2024 - Saturday, April 27th
Avondale Town Hall Meeting - Thursday, May 2nd
Blessings in a Backpack Charity Golf Scramble
Avondale Blessings in a Backpack is teaming with SFL Companies to host a Golf Scramble Fundraiser on May 6, 2024. Please consider participating in this great (and fun) event that supports our Avondale students!
$800 / foursome
$200 / single golfer (will be paired with other singles or to complete a team)
Includes: 18 holes of golf, cart, practice facility, lunch, dinner, and non-alcoholic beverages
Learn about sponsorship opportunities here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OdMEpclvzpYkOmJ9sguk91VJYDZi3c3c/view?usp=sharing
You can register for the outing at this link: https://blessingsinabackpackmi.org/events/.
Avondale ELC Summer Camp Registration
Enrollment for Summer Camp and the 2024-2025 school year is open! Click on one of the following links to start the enrollment process for your student:
- If you want to enroll your student in the ELC Summer Camp, please fill out this form.
- If you want to enroll your student in a 3 Year Old classroom, please fill out this form.
- If you want to enroll your student in a 4 Year Old classroom, please fill out this form.
All current ELC students are only eligible to attend the ELC Summer Camp, not the Busy Bee Summer Camp. Busy Bee Summer Camp is for students who have completed a year of TK/Kindergarten.
Busy Bee Summer Camp Registration Open
Avondale Youth Theatre Summer Camp Registration
Avondale Busy Bee is Hiring!
AHS School Based Health Center
FREE Covid Tests Available to Avondale Families
We have a shipment of COVID tests from MDHHS that arrived this week. These are available free of charge to all Woodland students and families. Please contact our main office at 248-537-6900 if you are in need of any tests, and we will get them to you!
Avondale School District Calendar UPDATED
Please note - there has been a small update to the Avondale District Calendar as of 9/5/2023. The testing, day off, and half day that were originally scheduled for April 18th have been moved to April 11th. Changes have been made on the calendar below. Please disregard any previous versions of the calendar.
Blessings in a Backpack
Considering the tough economic times and the rising food costs facing our area, we are attempting to help Avondale families by making sure all our children have enough food.
“Blessings in a Backpack” is a program designed to provide students on the free and reduced lunch program with enough food for three meals a day during the weekends.
Click below to sign your child(ren) up online to receive Blessings in a Backpack.
More Information:
**If you would like to contribute food or snacks to help with Blessings in a Backpack, there is an Amazon Wish List set up below to purchase from. Thank you so much for your help and please feel free to share this list with others who may wish to donate!
Gleaners Mobile Food Pantry Schedule
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
Staying Connected
Please see the the Woodland Elementary website and the Avondale School District website as resources for valuable information. We also post reminders and information on our Woodland Facebook Page. Please like us to stay connected with Woodland and the community.
Woodland Elementary School
Email: katalin.rosinski@avondaleschools.org
Website: avondaleschools.org
Location: 6465 Livernois Road, Troy, MI, USA
Phone: 248-537-6900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodlandROARS/