Principal's Message

 

Dear Woodland Wildcat Families,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2026–27 school year at Woodland Elementary School! Whether you are returning to our school community or joining us for the very first time, we are excited to partner with you for another year of learning, growth, and memorable experiences.

At Woodland Elementary, we are dedicated to providing every child with a positive, nurturing, and engaging learning environment where students feel safe, respected, and inspired to do their best each day. We are fortunate to have some of the most talented, dedicated, and professional teachers and staff, whose passion for education and unwavering commitment to children make Woodland an exceptional place to learn. Together, our faculty and staff work collaboratively to ensure that every student develops the academic skills, confidence, and character needed to be successful both in and out of the classroom.

Our Kindergarten through Grade 2 program continues to emphasize strong foundational learning in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts. We are proud to continue implementing the Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) program, which provides students with explicit instruction in phonics, language development, reading comprehension, writing, and knowledge-building. By strengthening these essential skills in the primary grades, we prepare our students for continued success throughout their educational journey.

Just as important as academic achievement is the development of the whole child. At Woodland, we are committed to fostering a school culture rooted in kindness, responsibility, perseverance, respect, and empathy. Through our Wildcat Ways program, we focus each month on a different character trait that helps students grow into caring, responsible, and respectful members of our school community.

Each month, our students proudly wear their Woodland spirit wear as we gather for our Wildcat Way Assembly to celebrate positive choices and recognize students who exemplify that month's Wildcat Way. We also honor one Wildcat of the Month from every classroom for consistently demonstrating outstanding character and leadership. These students are recognized in a special school display, featured in our Wildcat News newsletter, and celebrated on our Woodland Instagram page. These traditions not only recognize individual accomplishments but also inspire all of our students to model the values that make Woodland a welcoming and supportive place to learn and grow.

The year ahead will also be filled with exciting opportunities for families to connect through school traditions, educational events, performances, celebrations, and community activities. These experiences strengthen the partnership between home and school while creating lasting memories for our students.

Our success would not be possible without the continued support of our Woodland Home School Association, the Morris Educational Foundation, the Morris School District Board of Education, our district departments, and our incredible families and community partners. Your involvement and support play an invaluable role in helping our students flourish.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education. I am excited for all that we will accomplish together and look forward to another outstanding year of learning, collaboration, and celebration at Woodland Elementary School.

Please be sure to follow our school Instagram page! We can be found under the user name @WildcatsofWD

Welcome to our new Wildcat Families! 

Warm regards,

Patrick A. Phalon
Principal