Woods Learning Center
500 S. Walsh
Casper, Wyoming 82609
Phone: (307) 253-3900
Fax: (307) 253-3950
School Website
Hours: 8:10 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Grades: K - 8
Supply List: Download PDF
Handbook: Download PDF
School Description:
Woods Learning Center is a K-8 academic program for motivated students committed to engaged, independent learning. Woods is a small school with a community atmosphere where students learn in multi-age classrooms. Instruction and learning at Woods is developmentally appropriate to each grade level, ensuring that students make the transition to high school equipped with maturity and higher-level thinking skills. Instructional emphasis is on educating the whole child through studies in language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, foreign language, art, music, and physical education. Assessments focus on state standards, project development, and portfolios.
Traditional letter grades are not given; students earn proficiency scores based on their performance toward meeting these standards.
Woods is a member of the League of Democratic Schools. Woods Learning Center has no principal, but rather is led by an administrative team consisting of certified and classified staff.
Families:
Parents are encouraged to join the parent-teacher cooperative. This group serves as an advisory body to raise and address issues concerning the school and to facilitate parent volunteer opportunities and participation. The PTC also voluntarily raises and expends funds for the benefit of students and staff.
Woods families also are required to spend 20 hours a year volunteering at school.
Conferences are held three times a year with teachers, parents, and students. Students also bring home a “Friday Folder” each week with work samples, notes from teachers, and other communications from the school.
The Woods curriculum promotes academics, creativity, and community, taught by teaching teams with a student to teacher ratio of 17:1.
Instruction focuses on the whole child. Individual student choices are part of an enriched curriculum for all students to encourage creative thinking. Circle Groups provide an environment for schoolwide enrichment activities, community service, and cooperative learning.
A variety of after-school activities are offered throughout the year. These have included Robotics, Cribbage Club, Storytelling Club, Chess Club, and Drama Club, depending on student interests.
Fifth- and sixth-grade students may participate in basketball and volleyball through the Casper Recreation Center. Seventh- and eighth-grade students may participate in after-school sports through other middle schools and junior high schools in the district.
Woods offers an enrichment facilitator to provide extra challenges for students who need them.
Special education students are served through inclusion and small-group models.
Early bird reading is offered before school.
Kindergarten through sixth-grade classes end at 12:15 p.m. on Fridays to allow staff members to collaborate and fulfill administrative responsibilities. These students may go to the Recreation Center on Friday afternoons. Before and after-school tutoring is available.
