Welcome!
Welcome Wood Families to the start of the 2023-24 school year! I hope you enjoyed the summer and are ready for an awesome school year! Whether you are returning to Wood from your summer break, or if you are new to our school, we are pleased to welcome you!
Innovation is our theme this year. We are excited to begin our journey in becoming a Project Lead the Way school (see here for more information about the program)–with engineering and computer science opportunities for all of our TK-5 students. This will also provide a TK-12 STEM curriculum continuum for Central Area Torrance students matriculating from Wood Elementary to JH Hull and Torrance High School. Teachers will begin training in August with implementation occurring once we return from Winter Break.
We continue to focus on Wood’s mission– Success for ALL Learners! Although we are focused on academics, we realize that success covers much more. This is why we are excited to be partnering with The Friendship Foundation (see here to read more about it) to bring more inclusion opportunities to our students. The Wood Staff and I look forward to partnering with families to make this upcoming school year successful for all children. At this time, Wood Elementary has 357 students enrolled.
Wood’s Ice Cream Social is Wednesday, August 23 from 3pm-4pm near the cafeteria - I would like to welcome families on campus the day before school starts to our Ice Cream Social, sponsored by the Wood PTA. Class lists will be posted, a cold treat will be provided, teachers will be here! You’ll be able to join the PTA, look at our spirit wear, register for PowerSchool and complete the meal application on chrome books, make a pledge for the Skechers Walk and catch up with friends. We hope to see you there.
Important Parent/Guardian Homework!!! 2023-24 Registration on PowerSchool by Friday, September 1 - Every year families must make sure student contact information is up to date in case of an emergency and all enrollment forms are completed online. Please register for the 2023-24 school year on PowerSchool prior to the first day of school. If you need help creating or accessing your account, please see the help sheet or call Thalia or Kathy in the front office for assistance at (310) 533-4484.
Important Parent/Guardian Homework!!! Even though all students will get free meals this school year, please visit the TUSD Nutrition Services website to complete this year’s meal application and find monthly menus.
PTA - Become a member of Wood PTA!
Volunteers - To truly reap the benefits of a strong home-school connection, I hope you will consider joining us as a volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering, the application process is available online at TUSD.org. Click on the families tab for the Volunteer application.
Class Assignments - Tentative classroom assignments will be accessed through PowerSchool starting Monday, August 21. Class assignments are tentative and will not be finalized until after the first five days of school. Due to the amount of considerations that are taken into account to create balanced classes for the upcoming school year, requests/changes will not be accepted. We have a hard-working staff that will work with you and your child to ensure a successful school year.
First Day of School - The first day of school is Thursday, August 24. The campus opens for students to eat breakfast and play on the playground at 8:30 AM every morning.
August 24-25 Schedule - The beginning of a new school year is always filled with mixed emotions of excitement and nervousness. In order to provide our TK/K students an opportunity to smoothly transition to elementary school, the first week of school will end at 11:59.
TK & Kindergarten 8:59 -- 11:59
1st - 3rd grades 8:59 -- 3:12
4th - 5th grades 8:50 -- 3:12
New! Regular Bell Schedule begins Monday, August 28 -
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
10:30-10:45 AM RECESS - Grades K – 5th
11:45-12:30 PM LUNCH – TK-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
ELOP - We are excited to have ELOP on campus again this year. Please make sure to complete the meal application in order to determine eligibility. Additionally, you must apply (or reapply) for ELOP every year. If interested in ELOP and your family meets eligibility, please reach out to our office to let us know. ELOP will not begin for the 2023-2024 school year until Monday, August 28, 2023.
Back to School Night - Please save the date of Thursday, September 21. It is a minimum day of school. TK and Kindergartners will be dismissed at the regular time of 1:59, but 1st through 5th graders will get out an hour earlier at 2:12 pm. More information will be out shortly.
YMCA Childcare - I am happy to report the YMCA is open at Wood. Please click on this link for the YMCA childcare program that is offered before and after school.
Flag Assemblies - Flag assemblies will occur every Monday at 9 am on the blacktop. We encourage students to wear their Wood Spirit Wear or Blue to show their school spirit.
Follow us - Please visit our website at Wood.tusd.org follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HowardWoodTorrance and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/howardwoodtorrance
Family Resources - We are here for you and your family. Please see the TUSD resources and/or reach out to your child’s teacher, our school counselor, or any member of the office if your child or family is in need of support.
I look forward to another great year at Wood Elementary!
Shawn M. Johnson, Ed.D., Principal
