Dear Wildcat Families,
Welcome back Wildcats to the
start of the 2020-2021 school year. We
are thinking of you and miss seeing everyone at open house and in the halls. We
hope that you and your families are staying safe and well, but know this is a
very challenging time and many are struggling. We are thinking of you and
sending you our love and thoughts.
We wanted to share how the COVID-19 pandemic and response has impacted the Friends of Woodland PTO and our capacity to support the school and community. Normally, at this time of year, the FOW would be involved in open house and our PTO Sponsorship Drive. However this is simply not feasible at this time due to the uncertainty of sheltering.
Near the start of the school
year, we normally hold our biggest fundraisers; instead today we are facing a
possible shortfall in funds raised to help support the school. Most
importantly, it means we will not be able to host many of the
community-building activities that are an important part of our school culture,
such as the Fall Fun Festival, The Thanksgiving luncheons, The Book Fair, the
Prnicipal Coffees…
Many of you have asked how you can help – thank you. Here
are a few ways:
We have posted information about a local food pantry charity on our Facebook page who support those affected by COVID-19. Do you have another suggestion? Email a brief description and link to our parent Director of Communications, Mrs. Jeana Salman at [email protected]
For those who can, please consider a donation
to our school PTO. We need your financial contributions more than ever to help
close the budget gap caused by the disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given the fundraising shortfall, we will most likely see cuts to the programs
funded by the PTO, when in person schooling returns later on this academic
year, hopefully. Donations can be made via our PTO website at friendsofwoodland.com. Donations will have the
biggest impact on the school building this year. We will be working to repair
the playgrounds, outside classroom, painting bathrooms, gardens, teacher
grants, staff appreciation and helping
to create an overall more welcoming back to school experience for our Wildcats,
hopefully before the new year.
We are also excited to be planning a
scaled-back online auction later this year. Please help spread the word once
the auction is open. We will send more details out soon. If you’d like to help
with item’s or have questions, email Shannon Camp and Kim Squire at friendsofwoodland.com.
Please know we are still working hard and are here for
parents and students. We are holding our PTO Officers meetings via Zoom. As
always, if you have ideas or questions, or are interested in joining the FOW
PTO Executive Board for next year’s open positions, please don’t hesitate to
email us. We are also trying to keep the school website updated; however please
continue to visit us at friendsofwoodland.com
and Facebook/friendsofWoodland for
additional information or ways to help. We wish you and your families the very
best, and can’t wait to see you when school reopens and social distancing
restrictions are lifted hopefully in the fall.
Sincerely,
Shannon Camp and Becky Wright
Co-Presidents of the Friends of
Woodland Elementary PTO
We can be reached at [email protected]
and [email protected]