What's Up at Wood

It is hard to believe that we have reached the final week of the school year! As we celebrate the accomplishments of our students and staff, we want to thank our families for your support, partnership, and encouragement throughout the year.

We have an exciting week ahead filled with special events and celebrations:

Tuesday

• 5th Grade Recognition Ceremony – 1:30 PM

Wednesday

• THS Senior Walk – 9:00 AM
• 5th Grade Field Day – 10:45 AM
• Kindergarten Performance – 1:30 PM

Thursday – Last Day of School

• Before our TNK Basketball Dunk Assembly, we will take time to recognize and celebrate three outstanding educators who are retiring this year: Mrs. Arquisch, Ms. Amano, and Ms. Rogers. We thank them for their years of dedication, service, and commitment to our students and school community.
• PTA will be hosting the fun and exciting TNK Basketball Dunk Program for our students.
• School will dismiss at 12:00 PM as we begin our summer break.

As the year comes to a close, we want to wish all of our students and families a safe, relaxing, and memorable summer. We are incredibly proud of all that our Woodchucks have accomplished this year.

To our 5th graders, congratulations on reaching this important milestone! We wish you the very best as you begin your journey to middle school. You will always be a special part of our school community, and we know you will do amazing things in the years ahead.

Thank you for a wonderful school year. Enjoy the final week, celebrate your successes, and make great memories with friends and family this summer.

Once a Woodchuck, Always a Woodchuck!

To help us prepare for lunch service on the last day of school, please indicate your child's preferred entrée choice for Thursday, June 11, 2026 here --> Lunch Survey

• Please note: On the last day of school, lunch will be served from 11:00–11:15 a.m. rather than at dismissal time (12:00 p.m.).
• To view what is included in the Yogurt and PB&J entree, click here --> TUSD Menu

Important Reminders from Nutrition Services:

• All meals will be served on cafeteria trays.
• Grab-and-go meals will not be available.
• Per California Department of Education (CDE) regulations, all school-provided meals must be eaten on campus and cannot be taken home or off-site.

Questions? Please contact Nutrition Services at 310-972-6350 or nutritionservices@tusd.org.

Thank you for helping us plan for a smooth and successful last day of school!

Howard Wood Elementary School Site Council is the advisory committee that makes decisions regarding our school budget, climate and policies.

Our school Site Council is composed of five community members (five parents/legal guardians) and five school members (one administrator, one classified employee, and four teachers).

As an advisory committee, we work to create an environment that meets the needs of all members of our diverse school community. The School Site Council meets four to five times a year after school at 3:20 pm usually on Mondays.

While there will only be 10 voting members, all members of the Howard Wood Elementary community are welcome to attend our meetings.

SSC members serve a two-year term.

Please complete this Google Form if you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else to serve on the Wood SSC prior to Friday, June 5, 2026.

Monday - 6/8

Tuesday - 6/9

5th Grade Recognition & Tea 1:30pm

Wednesday - 6/10

THS Flag Assembly

5th Grade Field Day 10:45am

Kindergarten Performance 1:30pm

Thursday - 6/11

Achievement Reports go home

Friday - 6/12

June & July

Summer ELOP June 22 - July 24, no school July 2 & 3.

Office closed from July 27-31.

Office opens August 3, 2026.

August

1 - PowerSchool registration for 2026-2027 opens

11-13 - TK & Kinder Summer Camp

19 - Welcome back popsicle party

20 - First day of school

Fall 2026 Afterschool Enrichment Programs

Now Enrolling TK-12 for the 2026-27 school year

Torrance Unified is now enrolling students in Transitional Kindergarten through Grade 12 for the 2026–27 school year, and we are also accepting incoming permit applications.

We encourage families to complete enrollment early and explore the many programs and opportunities available across our schools.

Learn more and begin the enrollment process at: https://www.tusd.org/enrollment/index

Sometimes families have occasional transportation issues resulting in children missing school. TUSD suggests checking with LA Metro’s “Get Moving with 20 FREE Rides a Month” program. Go to https://www.metro.net/riding/fares/life/ and sign up for more information. A student that is absent due to lack of transportation is not an excused absence. Please explore the LA Metro program and be prepared.

5th Grade Assembly

8:30 AM Campus opens/Breakfast begins for all grades

8:50 AM SCHOOL STARTS – Grades 4th-5th

8:59 AM SCHOOL STARTS – Grades TK-3rd

10:15-10:30 AM RECESS – Grade TK and K

10:30-10:45 AM RECESS - Grades 1st – 5th

11:45-12:30 PM LUNCH – TK & K

12:00-12:45 PM LUNCH - 1st & 2nd

12:15-1:00 PM LUNCH – 3rd-5th

1:59 PM DISMISSAL – TK & K

2:00–2:10 PM RECESS – Grades 1st – 5th

3:12 PM DISMISSAL – Grades 1st – 5th

2:27 PM PLC EARLY OUT WEDNESDAYS for grades 1st-5th

It's easy to report absences because we have so many options available:

Use the QR code and bookmark it on your phone.

Email: woodattendance@tusd.org

Online form: Wood Elementary Absence Notification

Website: https://www.tusd.org/schools/wood and click on Report an Absence

Call: 310-533-4484

In an effort to assist you in keeping track of your child’s attendance, we are going to inform you every time your child has three unexcused absences. In California, truancy is defined by the Education Code as a student having three or more unexcused absences, or being tardy or absent for more than 30 minutes without a valid excuse, on three or more occasions in a school year (California Ed. Code 48260).

Consequently, we will send you a first letter after three days of unexcused absence or when your child has been tardy for over 30 minutes three times without a valid excuse. We will send follow-up letters going forward for 6 unexcused absences and 9 unexcused absences. We will also inform you if your child has 10 or more excused absences. We hope being in close communication will assist your child in maintaining regular attendance.

We appreciate your partnership in keeping our campus secure. Please remember the following procedures for student arrivals:

• Late arrivals: If your student arrives after 9:30 a.m., please accompany them to the front office to sign them in.

• Returning during the school day: If your student is returning from an appointment, you must also come to the front office to sign them back into school.

We know how busy family life can be, but we want to remind everyone of the importance of keeping students in class until the final bell. Early pickups, even by just 10 or 15 minutes, can significantly disrupt your child's education and the entire classroom's routine.

The end of the day is a crucial time for learning. Teachers often use these last minutes to review the day's lessons, introduce tomorrow's topics, and give important reminders. By missing this time, students can fall behind or miss key information. Please make an effort to schedule medical appointments and other activities after school. Thank you for your partnership in ensuring every student gets the most out of each school day.

Do you have questions like…

What qualifies as an Excused Absence?

How do I know if my child is too sick to attend school?

What is an UNEXCUSED Absence?

What if my student needs to be absent more than 3 days in a row?

Then click on https://www.tusd.org/schools/wood/families/attendance for all the answers.

Link to the Pediatric TB Risk Assessment Form

Expanded Learning Program (ELOP) Application Now Open for 2026–2027

The application for next year’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) is now open. The program provides after-school care, academic support, enrichment activities, and a safe environment for TK- 6th grade students outside of the regular school day.

Space is limited. Priority enrollment is given to students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, foster youth, and students experiencing homelessness.

Families interested in enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year will need to complete an application.

Application Link: https://tusd.arux.app/

For more information, please visit our website.

New Program: Early Childhood Academy

• Supports TK/K students from dismissal at 1:59pm - 3:15pm.
• Only offered to students that have older siblings at Wood that are in 1st-5th grade. This gives TK/K students a chance to experience the ELOP program after they are dismissed until their older siblings are dismissed.
• Students enjoy a snack and structured play supervised by Expanded Learning staff.
• Families enrolled in the program must pick up their child by 3:15 PM.

ELOP inquiries please contact:

Jill Villalpando (Office Assistant)

Email: elop.wood@tusd.org

Phone: (626)757-5362

Click here to view allergen information

Summer is almost here, and we are getting ready for a season of learning, growth, and fun! Torrance Unified and our community partners have several opportunities to keep your kiddos engaged and learning this summer. We hope this initial overview makes it easy to choose the best summer option for your family. You can visit www.tusd.org/summer to click on the options that have registration available or coming soon.

TEF South Bay Enrichment

TUSD Summer ELOP

*City of Torrance Camps

*YMCA Torrance Camps

*These programs operate independently from Torrance Unified. Contact providers directly for registration details and updated pricing.*

Father’s Day

Did you know…?

Father’s Day (June 21 this year) is celebrated annually on the third Sunday of June to honor fathers and father figures. It was first celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by Mother’s Day and proposed the holiday to honor her father, a Civil War veteran, who raised six children alone. It became an official U.S. national holiday in 1972.

Juneteenth

Did you know…?

Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. On June 19, 1865, federal troops came to Galveston, Texas, to ensure all enslaved people were freed; this was over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a celebration of Black freedom, culture, and resilience, and celebrated with parades, family gatherings, and educational events.

June 1: National Say Something Nice Day, National Go Barefoot Day

June 2: National Leave The Office Early Day

June 5: World Environment Day, National Doughnut Day

June 6: D-Day Anniversary, National Yo-Yo Day

June 8: World Oceans Day

June 14: Flag Day, National Strawberry Shortcake Day

June 19: Juneteenth

June 20: World Refugee Day

June 21: Father’s Day, Summer Solstice, Go Skateboarding Day

June 30: Asteroid Day.

Website: https://www.tusd.org/schools/wood
Address: 2250 W 235th St. Torrance, CA 90501
General Questions: woodadmin@tusd.org

Attendance Office: woodattendance@tusd.org

Office Phone #: 310-533-4484