Dear Woodland Community,

With beautiful graduation ceremonies marking the end of the 2024-25 school year, I would like to reflect on the meaningful and productive year we had at our Woodland Joint Unified School District.

Once again, our families, staff and community have shown what it means to come together in support of our students.

We’ve seen our students thrive, and our teachers and classified staff go above and beyond to provide high-quality instruction and a safe, caring and supportive environment where every student can grow.

Together, we celebrated several milestones and firsts that reflect the spirit of innovation, community, and inclusion in our District.

Here are a few highlights:

Measure Y: This year, our first group of schools received Measure Y facility upgrades, thanks to our community’s investment in safe, modern and welcoming learning environments. Next, Measure Y safety and beautification improvements will begin this summer for the next group of schools, including Plainfield, Woodland Prairie, Maxwell, Sci-Tech, Freeman, Douglass Middle School, Adult Education and Woodland High School.

Cool Schools: To supplement Measure Y projects, we also launched our Cool Schools outdoor design initiative to create greener, more inviting outdoor spaces for students to learn and play, even when it’s hot outside. Thanks to a $10 million grant from CalFIRE, we’ll begin these Cool School projects at Beamer, Dingle, Woodland Prairie, Freeman, and Whitehead elementary schools this summer.

Electric buses: We received a fleet of electric school buses, a big step toward cleaner, more sustainable transportation.

School Recycling Program Partnership with City of Woodland: We partnered with the City of Woodland to continue improving how we reduce waste at schools and support students in leading the way in environmental responsibility.

Knights Landing Community Park Partnership with Yolo County: We partnered with Yolo County and community leaders on the creation of a new outdoor recreational space, marking the fulfillment of a long-held vision for the Knights Landing community.

First African-American Senior Celebration: Our African-American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC) hosted our District’s first-ever African-American Senior Celebration, honoring the accomplishments and cultural pride of our graduating African-American seniors.

Community Schools Grant: Our District was awarded $5.2 million to transform four campuses into community schools, including Dingle Elementary, Whitehead Elementary, Woodland Prairie Elementary, and Lee Middle School. Community schools provide an integrated approach to schooling, connecting students and families with needed resources.

New Freshman High School Course: We approved a new high school Freshman Seminar course required for all freshmen that supports students in their transition to high school by providing life and leadership skills to prepare them for a successful high school experience.

New Student-led Grant Program: We launched our District’s new Superintendent’s Youth Advisory Council (SYAC) Grant program, designed to uplift and empower student voice through youth-led service projects.

Dual Immersion Celebration: Beamer Park Elementary School celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Dual Immersion Program, one of the longest-running in the state.

Multilingual Achievement: We recognized over 600 students at our multilingual achievement celebration, including our first-ever quadrilingual student.

New Science Curriculum: We launched the implementation of a new science curriculum across our District to help better prepare our students for college and career.

Teacher of the Year: Pioneer High School teacher Mary Park was selected as the Yolo County Teacher of the Year for 2024 — 2025 by the Yolo County School Boards Association (YCSBA).

Classified Employee of the Year: Norma Vega, Payroll and Benefits Technician, was selected as Yolo County Classified Employee of the Year for 2024 by the Yolo County School Boards Association (YCSBA).

To all our WJUSD families and staff: Thank you for your partnership this year. It is a privilege to serve our community, and I look forward to all we will accomplish together in the future.

And to our graduating seniors: Congratulations! We are so proud of you, and we can’t wait to see what you do next!

Thank you for being a valued part of WJUSD!

Elodia Ortega-Lampkin is the proud Superintendent of Woodland Joint Unified School District