The Woodland Middle School Robotics team was in action on December 5^th at Salmon Creek Elementary School against 18 teams from Oregon and Southwest Washington. The Middle School team, once again, defended its championship title at the qualifying tournament and is bound for the Oregon State First Lego League Championship Tournament at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Oregon, on January 16^th. This is the fourth time in the last five years that the Middle School has had a team that has qualified for the State Championship Tournament; and it is the third year in a row that it has won the Qualifying Tournament. Last year's team finished 2^nd place at the State Tournament. The first place team at the State Tournament will either go to the North American Championship in Dayton, Ohio or the World Championship in Atlanta, Georgia.

Woodland, WA - November 24, 2009  The Woodland Public School Board of Directors voted unanimously to put a renewal of an expiring Maintenance and Operations Levy on the February 9^th ballot.   The two-year levy funds about 13% of the current educational program.  It provides for everything from current textbooks, up-to-date technology, activities, athletics, additional teaching and other school-based and support staff, student transportation and many other important and essential services.

The replacement levy will collect $ 2,950,000 in 2011 and $3,100,000 in 2012.  The 5% increase in collection from one year to the next will help the district maintain current programs by accounting for anticipated inflation and enrollment increases.  It is estimated that the cost to taxpayers will be $2.13 per $1000 in assessed valuation in 2011 and $2.17 per $1000 in 2012.

This year Woodland Middle School is once again fielding a team to compete in the annual FIRST Lego robotics competition. This will be the fifth year that we have done so. On Saturday, December 5^th students who are on the Lego Robotics team will be competing at Salmon Creek Elementary school against eighteen teams from Southwest Washington and the Portland area in a local tournament. The top three teams will advance to the Oregon state championships that will be held in January. Again we are competing in the largest league in the United States with 332 teams signed up at the moment. The league has a history of past successes including at least one world championship.

Woodland Public Schools is now using Twitter to keep you all updated on everything from school closures to important upcoming events. Follow us at www.twitter.com/WoodlandPS

With budget reductions this year Woodland High and Middle Schools began charging students from other Woodland Schools to attend home athletic contests. One of our parents approached us with the idea of offering year-long athletic passes for athletic contests. Beginning with next sports season student passes will be offered to all students in Woodland.

2009-10 Woodland Middle School Trojan Athletic Passes will be available for $10. Passes will affix to student ASB/ID cards and will give students admission to all home Woodland Middle School athletic contests for the remainder of the year.

We expect that sometime this fall the Swine Flu will appear in Woodland Schools. We are monitoring student health and absence rates closely. You can help.

1) Emphasize the importance of hygiene with your child. This means washing hands regularly and thoroughly and sneezing into the elbow.

Woodland Public Schools were recognized by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) for being the first school district in the state to complete its entire emergency preparedness report.

Keith Merritt, Fire Commissioner for Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, presented Superintendent Michael Green and Woodland District administrators with a "Best-In-State" card and cake on behalf of the Safe Schools Healthy Students (SSHS) program. "The recognition comes at a good time in light of the tough incidents Woodland has dealt with lately," said Merritt, "They were delighted." The WASPC reviews school districts' completion of the reports, but recognizes that Woodland Public Schools have completed its school reporting where some districts still have a long way to go.

Vancouver, WA-October 23, 2008-Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson designated two Woodland Public Schools as "Schools of Distinction" on October 22.

Woodland Intermediate School and TEAM alternative High School were two of 98 schools to receive the award. "Students, teachers and schools continue to make incredible progress," Bergson said. "This award celebrates the real gains these schools have made, gains that aren't recognized by the Federal No Child Left Behind Act or its ‘Adequate Yearly Progress' calculations."