Woodland Wildcats News

Letter from the Principal

Greetings Wildcat Families!

As we enter Week 5 of the school year, we are excited to continue strengthening the connection between home and school through our upcoming Academic Partnership Nights. Formerly known as Curriculum Night, these special evenings provide families with an opportunity to visit classrooms, meet teachers, learn about grade-level curriculum expectations, review daily routines and schedules, and engage in meaningful goal setting with their child. We look forward to partnering with you to support your child's academic success throughout the year.

Please mark your calendars for the following Academic Partnership Night events:

September 2, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• All Program Classes
• Grades 1, 3, and 5

September 3, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Grades K, 2, and 4

Additionally, please take a moment to review the important information included in this week's newsletter. I would like to specifically highlight our Device Protection Plan and Uniform Policy. We encourage all families to carefully read these sections, along with the other important updates and reminders.

We look forward to seeing everyone at Academic Partnership Nights next week and continuing our strong partnership in support of every student's success!

DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN UPDATE

Families are encouraged to review the District's Device Protection Plan, which can help minimize out-of-pocket costs for accidental damage, loss, or theft of student devices. Enrolling in the plan provides affordable coverage and peace of mind throughout the school year. Please review the details carefully during the Online Enrollment/Verification process in Infinite Campus to determine if this option is right for your family.

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 athletics (sneakers) with 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!

ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP NIGHTS

We are looking forward to welcoming you to our classrooms during our upcoming Academic Partnership Night Events, formerly known as Curriculum Night. Historically, our Academic Partnership Nights events provide you and your child an opportunity to come to school, meet with the teacher, learn of grade level curriculum expectations, daily routine/schedule, and participate in some goal setting with your child. We look forward to highlighting the goal setting part of this event to solidify our academic partnership with you and your child!

Please mark your calendar for our upcoming Academic Partnership Night events that will take place as follows:

September 2, 2026 5:00pm – 6:30pm - All SEC Program Classes and Grades 1, 3, 5

September 3, 2026 5:00pm – 6:30pm - Grades K, 2, 4

Please see below for additional school related information and reminders!

Sincerely,

Dr. Marcquez Haley - Principal

MORNING ARRIVAL AND ATTENDANCE

Our school day begins promptly at 7:40 AM and ends at 2:20 PM. Students may begin arriving on campus at 7:10 AM and should be in their classrooms and ready to learn by 7:40 AM.

Students arriving after 7:40 AM will be marked tardy. If your child arrives after the tardy bell, a parent or guardian must escort them to the front office to complete the check-in process. Establishing a consistent morning routine helps students start their day successfully, minimizes disruptions, and maximizes valuable instructional time.

We encourage all families to review the Fulton County Schools Attendance Policy for important information regarding:

Excused and unexcused absences
Late arrivals and early checkouts
Participation in remote learning
Pre-approved absences
Attendance expectations and procedures

Attendance Matters:
https://www.fultonschools.org/students-families/attendance-policy/attendance-matters

TRANSPORTATION CHANGES

As a reminder, due to our district's enhanced email security measures, transportation changes must be submitted within the designated timeframe using WoodlandTransportationChange@fultonschools.org. If you do not receive a confirmation or response within one hour of submitting your request, please contact the front office at 470-254-5890 to verify that your transportation change has been received and processed. This helps ensure your child is dismissed safely and according to your instructions.

CARPOOL DISMISSAL

To help our afternoon dismissal process run efficiently, please make sure your carpool tag is clearly visible and displayed correctly as you enter the pickup line. The tag should remain visible until your child has been loaded into your vehicle. Your cooperation helps our staff quickly identify vehicles and maintain a safe, smooth dismissal process for all students.

DAILY SNACKS

Students are encouraged to bring a nutritious snack for classroom break time each day. If your child requires a morning and afternoon snack, please pack accordingly. The following items are not permitted as snack items at Woodland ES: candy, cakes, sodas, and gum. Students should also refrain from bringing glass beverage containers and glass water bottles.

UNIFORM APPROPRIATE CLOTHING DONATIONS NEEDED FOR CLINIC

From time to time, students may need a change of clothes during the school day. To help support these needs, our clinic is currently collecting gently used uniform appropriate clothing.

If your child has outgrown any of the following items, we would greatly appreciate your donations:

· Boys Pants & Shorts (sizes 7/8, 10/12, 12/14, 14/16, especially elastic waist)

· Boys Shirts (sizes 9/10, 10/12, 12/14, 14/16, short and long sleeve)

· Boys and Girls Underwear (small and medium, new, unopened packages only)

Donations can be sent in with your child and delivered directly to the Clinic.

Thank you for your support and generosity!

Remember to say connected through our school website, https://woodlandes.fultonschools.org, our PTO website, https://www.friendsofwoodland.com, and our district website, https://www.fultonschools.org.

DAILY TRANSPORTATION/DISMISSAL CHANGES

To help ensure a safe and smooth dismissal process for all students, any changes to a student's regular afternoon transportation must be submitted before 1:00 PM. Requests received after 1:00 PM cannot be guaranteed, and students will typically be dismissed according to their normal

transportation arrangement.

Parents/guardians should submit transportation changes as early as possible by sending a written note or emailing both the student's teacher and

WoodlandTransportationChange@fultonschools.org. Transportation changes will only be made after the school has received written confirmation of the request.

When submitting a transportation change request by email, please include the following information:

Student's first and last name
Teacher's name
Date(s) the transportation change will begin and end
For bus transportation changes: Bus number or color/animal designation and the subdivision, apartment complex, or address
For carpool changes: Current carpool number or a request for a temporary carpool number
For daycare transportation changes: Name of the daycare provider, contact person, and phone number
For after-school activities: Name of the activity, days of participation, and dates the activity begins and ends
Parent/guardian name and contact phone number

We strongly encourage families to submit transportation change requests via email to WoodlandTransportationChange@fultonschools.org. A confirmation email will be sent for each request received. If you have not received confirmation by 1:00 PM, please verify that the email address was entered correctly and resend the request. If confirmation is still not received, contact the front office at 470-254-5890 to ensure your request has been received.

In the event of an emergency after 1:00 PM and before 1:45 PM, parents should call the front office at 470-254-5890 to request an emergency transportation change. Following the phone call, parents are still required to submit the request via email to WoodlandTransportationChange@fultonschools.org.

Thank you for your partnership in helping us maintain a safe and efficient dismissal process for all Woodland students.

BUS TRANSPORTATION
Students who ride the school bus should arrive at their assigned bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Current bus route information, stop locations, and other transportation resources can be found on the Fulton County Schools Transportation website at:
https://www.fultonschools.org/transportation

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure a safe, timely, and successful school experience for all

Woodland students.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

A trained clinic aide is available each day to care for students who become ill or are injured during the school day. When necessary, parents or guardians will be contacted and asked to pick up their child. If a student is not well enough to return to class within 20 minutes of arriving in the clinic, a parent or guardian will be called to check the student out through the front office.

To help maintain a healthy learning environment, students should remain at home if they are experiencing symptoms such as a fever, cloudy nasal discharge, red or draining eyes, earaches, vomiting, or stomach/intestinal distress. In accordance with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, students must be fever-free and/or free from vomiting for at least 24 hours without the use of medication before returning to school.

When a student returns to school after an illness-related absence, parents should provide a signed written note explaining the reason for the absence, including the dates and number of days missed. This information is required for state attendance reporting purposes.

If a student experiences a serious illness or injury requiring immediate medical attention, 911 will be contacted and emergency procedures will be followed.

To ensure we can reach families promptly when needed, please make sure the school has your current phone numbers, contact information, and updated emergency contacts on file. Accurate information is critical in the event of an illness, injury, or emergency situation. Thank you for partnering with us to keep all Woodland students safe, healthy, and ready to learn.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Looking for a convenient way to celebrate your child's birthday at school? Our cafeteria offers birthday frozen treats that may be purchased for your child and their classmates. For a fee paid by the parent, the cafeteria will provide and deliver the treats directly to your child's classroom for everyone to enjoy.

All birthday treats are free from the Big 9 allergens, unless otherwise noted, and are available in a variety of flavors, including a non-dairy option. In addition, these treats meet USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition guidelines, making them a fun and school-approved celebration option.

Families interested in participating should sign up and submit payment through the cafeteria. Thank you for helping us celebrate our students in a safe, convenient, and inclusive way!

🎉Show your Wildcat some birthday love on the digital marquee at the front of the school! Proceeds benefit the PTO and directly support Woodland students and staff. And birthdays aren't the only reason to celebrate! You can also use the marquee to recognize achievements or give a special shout-out to a teacher for their birthday or just because 🥰. Reserve your marquee message here: 🔗https://www.friendsofwoodland.com/marquee

COMMUNICATION

At Woodland Elementary, we believe that strong partnerships between home and school are essential to student success. We encourage regular communication between families and teachers throughout the school year regarding questions, concerns, and celebrations of student learning. To stay informed, please review all correspondence sent home with your child as well as communications distributed electronically.

It is extremely important that your email address and contact information remain current in Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Much of our school and district communication is sent using the email address on file. Families can update their information at any time through their Parent Portal account.

To support clear and transparent communication, Woodland utilizes the following methods:

➢ Principal's Newsletter
A weekly communication from the principal is sent each Thursday and includes important school updates, events, and reminders. Please ensure we have an active email address on file so you can receive this newsletter.

➢ ClassDojo
Many of our teachers use ClassDojo as a communication platform to share classroom updates, reminders, photos, and important information with families. Parents are encouraged to connect with their child's teacher through ClassDojo and check messages regularly to stay informed about classroom activities and announcements.

➢ Infinite Campus Parent Portal

Parents can monitor attendance, grades, and academic progress through Infinite Campus. We encourage families to check the portal regularly and use it as a tool to stay engaged in their child's learning. Usernames and passwords remain active from year to year for continuously enrolled students.

Teacher Response Times
Teachers observe uninterrupted instructional time between 8:00 AM and 2:30 PM and may not be able to respond to messages during these hours. In most cases, families can expect a response within 24-48 hours.

➢ Samples of Student Work
Teachers will send home graded assignments and classroom work through Thursday Folders to keep families informed of student progress.

➢ Written Notes
Many routine communications can be handled through written notes sent to school. Please remind your child to deliver the note directly to their teacher.

➢ Email
All teachers have Fulton County Schools email accounts and may be contacted electronically. Please note that teachers are unable to check email during instructional time.

➢ Phone Calls
Teachers are generally unavailable to answer phone calls while teaching. Messages may be left through the front office, and calls will be returned as soon as possible. In most cases, responses can be expected within 24-48 hours.

➢ Parent Conferences
We encourage ongoing communication regarding student progress. Conferences may be initiated by a parent, teacher, counselor, or administrator and scheduled at a mutually convenient time.

➢ School Website
The Woodland Elementary School website serves as an important source of information for families. Please visit https://www.fultonschools.org/woodlandes regularly for school news, resources, calendars, and announcements.

Device Protection Plan Update

To help protect student devices and reduce unexpected repair or replacement costs, families are encouraged to enroll in the District's Device Protection Plan during the Online Enrollment/Verification process in Infinite Campus.

Coverage Costs

$50 per student for a full year of coverage
$25 per student for students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch

Coverage Details

$50 deductible per damage incident
$150 deductible for devices that are lost, stolen, or deemed unrepairable
A police report is required for all stolen device claims

Without Device Protection Families are responsible for the full cost of repairs or replacement. For example:

Cracked screen repair: approximately $270
Lost or stolen device replacement: approximately $500

The protection plan premium will be applied to student accounts in the fall, and payment is due within 30 days of the start of the school year. We encourage all families to consider this affordable option to help protect against unexpected device-related expenses.

For questions or assistance, please contact the Technology Support Center at 470-254-4357.

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure students have the technology resources they need for learning.

🙌Stay Connected with the PTO!

We’d also love to have you in our Friends of Woodland Elementary (PTO Group) on Facebook! The group is a place for Woodland parents and teachers to stay connected, get PTO and school-community updates, ask questions, share helpful information, and connect with other Woodland families.

Search “Friends of Woodland Elementary (PTO Group)” on Facebook and join us!

🎉 We Did It, Woodland!

Thanks to our amazing families, we reached our $9,000 PTO membership goal—which means Pajama Day is coming!

Haven’t joined yet? There’s still time! Every membership means even more support for our teachers, students, and school community.

🔗Join here: www.friendsofwoodland.com/membership

💪Volunteer Fridays Are Back!

Volunteer Fridays are starting back up on Friday, September 11th! Sign up to lend a helping hand to our teachers anytime between 7:45 AM and 12:00 PM. We’d love your support!

🔗Sign up here: https://www.friendsofwoodland.com/volunteer/170019

Yearbook Early Bird Sale - 10% Discount! 🎊📕

Enjoy 10% off your order when you purchase your yearbook by October 31st during the Early Bird Sale event. You get 2 FREE custom pages that will be printed only in your yearbook. Additional custom pages are only $1.99 per 2 pages. Prices start at $28.01 plus tax.

To purchase your yearbook go to https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=101536347184858 or scan the QR code.

¡Oferta especial para quienes se inscriban antes del anuario: 10% de descuento! 🎊📕

Disfruta de un 10 % de descuento en tu pedido al comprar tu anuario antes del 31 de octubre durante la promoción de preventa. Recibirás 2 páginas personalizadas GRATIS que se imprimirán exclusivamente en tu anuario. Las páginas personalizadas adicionales cuestan solo $1.99 por cada 2 páginas. Los precios comienzan en $28.01 más impuestos.

Para comprar tu anuario, visita https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=101536347184858 o escanea el código QR.

Recycle Electronics & Support Our Schools

Turn old electronics into new opportunities for public school students in Sandy Springs. Bring unwanted electronics to Sandy Springs Education Force’s Electronics Recycling Drive, and Novus Solutions will responsibly recycle your devices and securely wipe the data.

When: Saturday, August 15, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Where: North Springs High School Parking Lot, 7447 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs

A $25 donation per car helps Sandy Springs Education Force (SSEF) provide programs and resources that enrich learning, support teachers and create opportunities for students across Sandy Springs' public schools. Thank you to Cox Enterprises for sponsoring this event.

Some items, including TVs, CRT monitors, alkaline batteries, media discs, tapes and printers, have additional recycling fees that SSEF covers. Please consider making an extra donation to help offset these costs. Learn more: https://www.sandyspringseducationforce.org/electronics-drive/

First Day of School Photos for the Yearbook 🏫📸

First Day of School Photos for the Yearbook 🏫📸

The first day of school is a special milestone in your child's life! If you would like your child's first-day-of-school photo to be included in this year's yearbook, please send your best photo to julie@friendsofwoodland.com by August 22nd.

We look forward to celebrating this special day with our school community!

Fotos del primer día de clases para el anuario 🏫📸

¡El primer día de clases es un momento muy especial en la vida de tu hijo/a! Si deseas que la foto de tu hijo/a en su primer día de clases aparezca en el anuario de este año, envía tu mejor foto a julie@friendsofwoodland.com antes del 22 de agosto.

¡Estamos deseando celebrar este día tan especial con nuestra comunidad escolar!