Woodland Wildcats News

Letter from the Principal

Greetings Wildcat Families!

As we complete the second week of the new school year, we are continuing to build momentum by establishing strong routines, fostering a positive and respectful learning environment, and engaging in our beginning-of-year diagnostic assessments. These assessments provide valuable data that will help guide our instructional planning and ensure we are meeting the needs of every student.

In the coming weeks, our district will complete the annual SEAT Count enrollment process. Once finalized, we will receive information regarding any necessary adjustments to class sizes and staffing allocations based on actual student enrollment. We will keep you informed of any updates and appreciate your flexibility and support as we work to ensure the best possible learning experience for all students.

POPSICLES ON THE PLAYGROUND

If you are looking for an opportunity to connect with other Woodland families, please join the Friends of Woodland PTO for Popsicles on the Playground!

Date: August 15, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Woodland Playground (enter through Door 3 and follow the signs)

We look forward to seeing you there!

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.

Please see below for additional school related information and reminders!

Sincerely,

Dr. Marcquez Haley - Principal

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

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.

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 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 for check-in. Establishing a consistent morning routine helps students start their day successfully and maximizes instructional time.

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!

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!

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.

Friends of Woodland PTO Membership Drive

The Friends of Woodland PTO Membership Drive kicks off Friday, August 7th, and we're already more than halfway to our fundraising goal!

Here's how you can help:

Join the PTO
Share the membership link with family and friends.
Encourage your child's classmates to join!

The class with the highest participation will earn a PTO-sponsored class party!

We're also working on a school-wide incentive if we reach our overall fundraising goal, so every membership gets us one step closer!

Every membership and every dollar directly supports Woodland students, staff, and school programs throughout the year. Thank you for partnering with us to make this another incredible year at Woodland!

Join today: https://www.friendsofwoodland.com/membership

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!