September 18, 2026

The Upper School trips are always one of the highlights of the fall, and this year was no exception. These trips give our students the chance to get out of the classroom, spend time together, try new things, and make memories with their classmates.

Our 5th and 6th graders spent their time at Camp Pecometh. They walked along the shoreline of the Chester River, took on the challenge course, played Gaga Ball, enjoyed a campfire, and had plenty of time to just be together. There is something special about seeing the students outside of their normal school routines and watching them work together, encourage each other, and have fun.

The 7th and 8th graders headed to Jamestown and Williamsburg. They enjoyed a hibachi dinner, took part in a ghost tour, and went sailing in Yorktown. They also had the opportunity to explore and experience history in a much different way than they can in a classroom.

As much as we love the activities, the real value of these trips is what the students learn by being away from home for a few days. At this age, students are ready for opportunities to become more independent. They have to keep track of their belongings, manage their time, make choices, solve problems, work through disagreements, and take care of themselves without a parent there to step in. They learn that they are capable of more than they sometimes realize.

Most importantly, these trips bring our students together. They laugh together, try new things together, and create memories that they will talk about long after the trip is over. These are the experiences that help build the sense of community we want for our Upper School, and I am so glad we are able to give our students these opportunities each year.

Our fourth graders had some fun with rhythm in Mr. Menz’s music class this week! Students created their own 8-beat rhythms and then brought them to life using body percussion.

If you’ve never heard the term “body percussion,” it’s exactly what it sounds like, using your body as an instrument! Students clapped, snapped, tapped, patted, and stomped their way through their original rhythms.

I love activities like this because the students aren’t just learning about rhythm and timing, they’re creating it, performing it, and working together. There was plenty of creativity (and probably a little noise!) happening in the music room as our Panthers found their own way to make music.

Our fourth graders have been learning all about the rock cycle, and this week they got to take their learning out of the textbook and into their hands!

Students examined a variety of rock samples and used clues from their observations to determine whether each rock was sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic. It was a great opportunity to put their science skills to work, make observations, and use evidence to categorize their findings.

Etiquette is still going strong at Woodland, and we started with an important skill for our Upper School students: how to tie a tie!

Our etiquette class covers a little bit of everything, from how to properly say hello and introduce yourself to setting a table, netiquette, and so much more. These are skills that I think are important for our students to learn as they grow into confident, respectful young adults.

This week, the students practiced tying their own ties and helped each other along the way. It was fun watching them figure it out, and I was impressed by how quickly they started getting the hang of it.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Back-to-School Night! We had a great turnout, and it was wonderful to see so many families on campus and connected with our teachers.

A special thank-you to our 8th-grade families for all their hard work helping the evening run smoothly. We appreciate all of their time and effort!

If you were unable to join us, no worries! I’ve included the slides from the evening so you can still get an overview of the information that was shared.

Pizza Fridays are back at Woodland! To make ordering easier this year, we’ll be using Zeffy for all Pizza Friday orders.

You can place your order for September 25th and October, or make things even easier by ordering Pizza Fridays for the entire school year!

If you have any questions about payment or placing your order, please call the Main Office. We’re happy to help!

Chick-fil-A lunches are back at Woodland! This year, we’re using Zeffy to make ordering and payment a little easier for everyone.

Our first lunch will be Wednesday, September 23, so be sure to get your order in by Monday, September 21st.

If you have any questions about ordering or payment, just give the Main Office a call. We’re happy to help!

Give your child the opportunity to grow their musical talents through private music lessons at Woodland Country Day School!

Lessons are available in the morning before school and after school. Lesson times will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and we will do our best to work around student and family schedules.

Lessons are $30 per 30-minute lesson and are billed through the Business Office. Enrollment is for the academic year, September 2026 through May 2027. Students may need to provide their own instrument depending on availability at Woodland.

Students participating in Woodland’s private lesson program will also have the opportunity to showcase their talents at our spring recital.

To register, please complete the attached Google Form. If you have any questions, please email Mr. Menz at menzj@wcdsnj.org.

Additional instructors may be added throughout the year, with updates shared with families.

Show Your Panther Pride! 🐾

Check out our brand new swag - perfect for school, sports, and beyond! Grab your Panther gym bags, beach towels, and water bottle stickers, and represent Woodland in style.

Items are in stock and ready to go home!

Every participant and volunteer will earn 100 Blue or White Points just for being part of the Panther Prowl!

Whether you run, walk, cheer on your friends, or volunteer, we want to see you there. It’s a great way to support our school, have some fun, and show off your Woodland pride!

We’re also looking for 8 volunteers for the Panther Prowl 5K on October 3. Volunteers should arrive at 8:30 AM and will be finished no later than 10:30 AM. Each volunteer will also receive a free Panther Prowl T-shirt.

Let’s make this a great day for our Panthers!

We’re excited to once again host the Stow Creek Healthy Kids Running Series this fall at Woodland! Races will be held on the following Fridays: September 25, October 2, October 16, and November 6 from 3:30–4:30 PM on the Woodland Country Day School athletic fields. Make-up dates are scheduled for November 13 and November 20, if needed.

A friendly reminder that this is a community-sponsored event, and we look forward to a season filled with fitness, fun, and encouragement. Please remember, if you are unable to be present at the start of Healthy Kids, you must make arrangements with another parent to supervise your child(ren).

September 2026

Sept 18: Upper School Trips Return

Sept: 23: Mums Delivered

Sept 25: Healthy Kids Running Series

Sept 26: Designer Bag Bingo: Doors Open at 6:00 pm

October

Oct 2: Sept 25: Healthy Kids Running Series

Oct 3: Panther Prowl 5K and Fun Run: 9:00 am

Oct 6: PICTURE DAY! (Students in K-8th: Please wear a white shirt): More info to come!

Oct 7: Fire Prevention Assembly: 8:30 am

Oct 9: K-8th Parents' Visiting Day (Preschool is in March): Dismissal at 12:00: No extended day!

Oct 9: Pumpkin Carving

Oct 10: Spooktacular: Tickets Coming Soon!

Oct 12: No School: Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day

Oct 16: Healthy Kids Running Series

Oct 22: 4th-8th Field Trip: Classroom to Courtroom

Oct 27: Morning Assembly: 8:30 am

Oct 30: K-4th: Halloween Party and Parade: 1:00

Oct 30: Costumes and Cocktails: Adult Event