Woodland Wildcat News

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• Monday, 9/22 - Day C
• Tuesday, 9/23 - School Closed
• Wednesday, 9/24 - Day D
• Thursday, 9/25 - Day E
• Friday, 9/26 - Day F

We had a wonderful and productive week here at Woodland! On Tuesday, our students and staff successfully participated in an evacuation drill, walking to the Morris Township Firehouse with great focus and cooperation. We are grateful to Chief Nunn and Lt. Bizup for their assistance and the positive feedback they shared with us.

This week also marked the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. Our hallways are now beautifully decorated with displays honoring influential figures of Hispanic descent throughout history. Each morning, we highlight one of these notable individuals with a quote to inspire our students. Looking ahead, we are excited for a special Hispanic Heritage Assembly in September, generously funded by the HSA and MEF.

On Thursday, we held our annual Back to School Night, and it was wonderful to welcome so many families. We are especially thankful to our community partners, Morris Educational Foundation, Woodland HSA, Grow It Green Morristown, Cub Scout Troop 125, TEAMS, and Pomptonian, for joining us and sharing resources with our families.

The HSA Mums Sale wrapped up last week, and orders will be distributed on Thursday, September 25th, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. On Friday of this week, from 12PM to 10:30PM, there will be the HSA ice cream fundraiser at Beenie's Ice Cream - please stop by if you can to support!

As a reminder, there will be no school on Tuesday, September 23rd, and school pictures will be taken on Wednesday, September 24th. For those observing Rosh Hashanah or otherwise absent that day, the photo company will return on October 8th for make-up pictures.

We would like to thank all of our parents who signed up to be class parents on Back to School Night. On Friday afternoon, the HSA and I worked together to complete a fair and equitable process to select two parents for each classroom. The HSA will be reaching out soon to all parents who have been assigned to our classrooms. We are so grateful and excited to have each of you supporting and working with our students and teachers.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. It was such a joy to connect with so many of you at Back to School Night.

Mrs. Ropke is a wonderful first grade teacher at Woodland Elementary School. She is kind, generous, and truly cares about each of her students. A Morris Township resident, Mrs. Ropke and her husband are proud members of our community. Last year, she was on maternity leave as she welcomed a new addition to her family, and now her older son has just begun pre-K in our district.

We are so fortunate to have Mrs. Ropke at Woodland. Her dedication, warmth, and passion for teaching make a lasting impact on her students, and we are grateful for all that she does.

Planning for the 2025 Walk-a-ween is underway. We are planning for Friday, October 31st. I recently met with the HSA, and together we are working out the logistics to bring back the parade in a modified format. This year, each grade will have a designated, staggered time to participate in the parade.

For safety and organization, students will remain with their class for the entire event. We will map out specific areas for the children to march, while the HSA helps create a festive atmosphere with a balloon arch and DJ.

We are very excited to bring this beloved tradition back to Woodland, with safety as our top priority.

We are excited to share that Woodland will be celebrating Grandparents Day on Friday, October 3rd. This special event is a wonderful opportunity for our students to spend time with their grandparents or another special guest. We understand that not every child has a grandparent available to attend, so students are welcome to invite another special person in their lives, other than a parent. Each child may register up to two guests for the celebration.

Our event will begin in the cafeteria, where guests will enjoy coffee and morning treats with their Woodland student. Together, they will complete a fun activity, take a tour of the school, and then break off into groups to enjoy reading a story together.

Registration is required to attend this event. Depending on the number of participants, we will either hold one large celebration or stagger the event by grade level. Please complete the registration form no later than Friday, September 26th.

We will be hosting a similar event for parents closer to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in the spring. This is why we ask that the special guest for Grandparents Day be someone other than a parent. We look forward to making this day a memorable celebration for our students and their guests.

The safety of our students is always our top priority. In accordance with New Jersey State Law (18A:41-1), Woodland School conducts at least one fire drill and one security drill each month. Please know that these drills are practiced in a calm and age-appropriate way, using child-friendly language to ensure students feel safe and comfortable. Families will receive a notification at the conclusion of each security drill so you are always kept informed.

September Drills:

• Fire Drill: Completed September 11th
• Evacuation Drill: Completed September 16th

Woodland School would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to our wonderful students celebrating this week!

• Kerwin W. in Ms. Cadavid's class

• Charles M. in Ms. Sloan's class

• Anna V. in Ms. Pennetti's class

We are so proud of you and hope your special day is filled with joy, laughter, and fun!

On Sunday, September 21st, we would like to wish a very happy birthday to our 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Bozza! Happy Birthday Ms. Bozza!

From October 6th to October 10th, Woodland School is proud to celebrate Week of Respect, a special time dedicated to promoting kindness, empathy, and positive behavior throughout our school community. Week of Respect is observed annually across New Jersey schools to emphasize the importance of treating others with respect and creating a safe, welcoming environment for all students.

At Woodland, this initiative is led by our amazing School Counselor, Mrs. Stonebrink, who has a passion for social-emotional learning and works with students to build strong, respectful relationships. Throughout the week, students will participate in activities, discussions, and lessons that reinforce respect for themselves, their peers, and the broader community. For more details and a schedule of events, please see our flyer.

We are very excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month later this month at Woodland School! In partnership with our HSA, we will be bringing a special Cultural Arts Assembly in September to honor and celebrate the rich traditions, history, and contributions of Hispanic culture. The assembly will take place on September 29th, and is called, “Cuentos: Tales from the Latinx World”. We look forward to sharing this meaningful experience with our students and families as part of our commitment to celebrating diversity and building community.

September 2025 School Calendar (with letter days of the week).

Important dates to remember

• September 23rd: School Closed, Rosh Hashanah
• September 24th: School Picture Day
• September 29th: Hispanic Heritage Assembly
• September 25th: HSA Mum's Sale - pick up from 12:30-2:30 - order below in HSA corner
• October 9th: Woodland Fall Fling
• October 15th: First HSA meeting (in person, 6:30PM)

For students with more detailed or rotating dismissal plans, please email our secretary and clerk with the exact schedule so that we can ensure your child gets home safely.

Carla Figueroa: Carla.Figueroa@msdk12.net
Taty Trinidad: Taty.Trinidad@msdk12.net

The dismissal survey is now closed. For any dismissal changes, early pick-ups, or similar needs, please use our Digital Dismissal Change Form. The Main Office will notify your child’s homeroom teacher once a change is submitted.

Please complete the form by 12:00 PM on the day of the change.

As of last week, our K-2 students have started to take the DIBELS assessment. The DIBELS is a short, research-based assessment that helps us understand how children are progressing in the early stages of learning to read. The results will guide teachers in tailoring instruction and will also provide you, as parents, with valuable information on how your child is developing as a reader and what you can do at home to support continued growth.

In addition, we will continue administering the i-Ready Diagnostic assessment in Mathematics to monitor progress and ensure students are on track toward mastery. This math assessment will deliver similar information as the DIBELS, but will determine how your child is progressing in Mathematics.

Be sure to check in with your child's teacher about their progress on our internal assessments.

If you have any questions around testing, please reach out to me via email and I will be happy to assist.

The Morris School District (MSD) SEPAG is a parent-led group that seeks to encourage honest and effective communication, collaboration, understanding and mutual respect in a supportive partnership, inclusive of all students, parents, educators, and the community at large.

See the below images, and view this link for further information.

School Meals Application - Last year's application status will expire on October 15, 2025. If your family/students were eligible for free or reduced price school meals and a new application is not received by October 15, 2025, the eligibility status will be changed to full price.

Woodland School is now on Instagram and X! Please find us under the handle, @WildcatsofWD on both platforms, see you there!

As a reminder, per Morris School District policy 5516, students are not permitted to wear or use smartwatches during the school day. For transportation/tracking purposes, students may turn on their smartwatch device once they board the school bus.

Devices that fall under this policy are to be "off and away during the school day.” This means that they will be powered off and kept in the child's backpack if brought to school. We respectfully request that smartwatches remain at home as they are difficult for the teachers to monitor and are a distraction in the classroom if worn. If students are riding the bus, they may power their watch on when on the bus. It is also important to note that the school is not responsible for lost or damaged devices.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a focused learning environment.

Please visit the Pomptonian website to view Woodland School’s monthly breakfast and lunch calendar. Click the link below and search for Woodland School – Morris School District to see the daily meal options that students will be served.

To keep our families informed, we will send out newsletters, emails, and texts. ClassDojo is used as a primary communication tool between teachers and parents. I will also be attached to each teacher's classroom so that I can also communicate with parents.

Announcements, reminders, and upcoming events will be shared through the platform. During the first week of school, teachers will provide you with a sign-up code. It will either be sent home with your child or emailed to you so that you can join their Class Dojo class.

It is the mission of the Morris Educational Foundation to generate and distribute financial and other resources to and for the Morris School District for enrichment programs and other projects aimed at enhancing the quality of education and educational opportunities for students in the district.

The Fall 2025 edition is hot off the press and Morristown, Morris Plains and Morris Township residents should look for their copy in their mailboxes. View the digital version here>>>

Woodland MEF Video

The MEF is currently having a one dollar a day (180 days of school) drive to continue to create amazing programs for our school district. Please find information here.

The Woodland HSA (Home and School Association) is a volunteer organization, made up of parents and guardians working to promote the welfare of children in the home, school, and community. Through fundraisers and many volunteers, the HSA brings extra social and enrichment activities to the school.

Would you like to volunteer and sign up for the Woodland HSA? Click here!

Woodland Home School Association Officers:

• President: Brenda Lopez-Salas
• Vice President: Sarah O'Connor

The Woodland HSA will be selling hats this September. Order forms will be due by September 16th.

If you have any questions, please reach out to LaurenBrunt20@hotmail.com

September 19 HSA Newsletter

Spirit Wear Hat Order Form

Woodland School HSA Website

Patrick A. Phalon

Email: patrick.phalon@msdk12.net
Website: https://woodland.morrisschooldistrict.org/
Location: 21 Johnston Drive, Morristown, NJ, 07960
Phone: 973-292-2230