A look inside: Woodview School

Woodview School

Address: 340 Alleghany Road, Grayslake

Phone: (847) 223-3668

District's name/Web site: Grayslake Elementary District 46, www.d46.k12.il.us

Number of students/grade levels offered:Serves about 450 students in kindergarten through fourth grade.

Number of staff: About 60

School mascot: Woody the Owl

When was school built: 1955. Since then, there has been two additions, in 1959 and 1991.

An interesting tidbit: Staff and students are excited about a new playground being installed in the near future.

Principal: Jeff Knapp

• Currently In his third year as principal. He's an 10-year veteran in Grayslake Elementary District 46.

• What is your favorite memory of Woodview? "There are several to pick from. The ones that stand out the most are the events that draw both parents and their children, which we do several throughout the school year. At our Back-to-School Kickoff, we have parents and their children lined out the door to be served ice cream by the principal and PTO, and then a concert to welcome in the new school year. We also host an annual family science night that has been very well attended by the students and parents where they work together to discover different ways hands on science can be fun. Events like these allow us to showcase our wonderful school along with the people that make a difference. We are always looking for ways to get our students connected with their learning and their environment to help make school feel like a second home."

• What are you most proud of? "I am most proud of the commitment that our staff has to their profession. We work very hard to keep the focus on the students and their learning. We set high expectations for all of our students and feel that at whatever grade level they are in, they will be appropriately challenged and cared for by all of the adults working with them."

• If you can get one thing accomplished between now and the end of May in your school, what would it be? "We have many goals that we are working on here at Woodview School. One of the areas that we look forward to working on is to gather the data from the Blue Ribbon assessment group. This group came to our school this fall to take an assessment. Through classroom observations, surveys of parents, students, and interviews with the administration, we were able to provide data for this assessment. We are excited to see the feedback from this group in order to celebrate the many great things going on here, and to focus our efforts in areas for improvement. This is a unique opportunity to get an outside assessment and we will work hard toward continuous improvement."

• What do you think is an unique aspect of your school? "Woodview is a very special place. It is difficult to explain until you experience it firsthand, whether it be as a parent, student, or staff member. We try as hard as we can to create a family atmosphere and put relationships first in the way that we treat each other. I am honored to be the principal of this school because of the support that we have from the parents and those involved as stakeholders in their children's education. We are a neighborhood school and we want everyone to feel ownership and that they are a valued member of the Woodview family. This makes Woodview a fun place for all those that come here each day and allows us to keep the focus on learning."