Dear West Oak Intermediate Families,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year!  I am thrilled to have the privilege of joining the Diamond Lake District 76 team as the proud principal of West Oak Intermediate School. We hope you had a relaxing and joyful summer and are ready for another fantastic year of learning, growth, and community. Our educators here at West Oak Intermediate have been diligently preparing for our upcoming school year and cannot wait to welcome your children to our first day of school on Monday, August 18th.

At West Oak Intermediate School, our district mission — Embrace, Empower, Excel…Each Child Each Day — guides everything we do. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and inspiring learning environment where every child is cared for, challenged, and supported to reach their full potential.

We believe strong family-school partnerships are key to student success, and we want to make it easy for you to stay informed and involved. Here are a few important ways you can stay connected throughout the year:

• 📧 Weekly Family Updates: Every Friday, you’ll receive a digital newsletter featuring upcoming events, important dates, and highlights from our classrooms.
  
  

• 🌐 District Website: Visit www.dist76.org for school news, calendars, resources, and district-wide updates.
  
  

• 📱 Social Media: Follow us on Facebook and on X (formerly Twitter) using the hashtag #SparkleOn to stay engaged with the latest happenings in and around our school community.

We also invite you to join us for two evenings to kick off the 2025-2026 school year: 

Additionally, we are looking forward to welcoming new staff members to the WOIS family.  Please join me in welcoming:

• Ashley Ahrens- 5th Grade Teacher

• Celeste Cortes- 4th Grade Teacher

• Cyndi Gomez- 5th Grade Teacher (joining us from WOMS)

• Cintia Maldonado- Administrative Associate

• Eli Schramko- 5th Grade Teacher

• Dawn Washington- 4th Grade Teacher

If you have any questions or ways we can better support you and your child, feel free to contact our amazing front office staff or reach out to me directly. Let’s work together to make this school year one filled with meaningful learning, joyful moments, and personal growth for every student. As proud members of the West Oak Wolf Pack, we support one another, celebrate each other’s successes, and grow stronger together—because we are not a wolfpack without YOU!

Here’s to an amazing year ahead!

Natalie Kalette

Principal 

nkalette@dist76.org

847-388-2595

Bus Information and Homeroom Teachers: Homeroom teachers and bus route information was given out at the residency fair this week.  If you were unable to attend the residency fair to pick up your bus route and homeroom teacher letter, please check the PowerSchool portal or contact West Oak Intermediate’s front office at 847-970-3544 and the front office staff will assist you. Please click here to see the bus routes.  

Arrival & Dismissal Procedures: Please click here to view WOIS arrival and dismissal procedures. Thank you in advance for following these procedures and the guidance of our bus supervisors to ensure a smooth and safe arrival and dismissal! 

WOIS Schedule and Calendar: The West Oak Intermediate school day starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 2:55 p.m. Please click here to view additional details regarding the WOIS schedule, as well as late start, early release, and non-attendance day calendar. You may also access a printable district calendar here. 

After School Activities:  There will be several after school activities available for students starting in late September. More information and sign ups will be coming soon.

Band and Choir will also be available for 5th graders who sign up.  While Band and Choir are considered a daily class, they will happen after the school day, and students will take their assigned bus at 3:25 along with the middle school students. Families can also choose to pick up their students from Band.  Please keep an eye out for permission slips to join Band or Choir.  Band and Choir start for 5th graders in mid to late September.

D76 CARES: At D76, the well-being of our students and families is our top priority. Understanding the critical role mental health plays in student success, we have launched D76 CARES - a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving access to quality mental health services across our community. D76 CARES stands for Community, Advocacy, Resilience, Engagement, and Support. Treatment services are initially provided free of charge to district families for up to 8 sessions. Click HERE for treatment request.

As we begin a new school year, your support at home sets the stage for a strong and positive start. Here are three simple ways to help your child transition smoothly into the school routine:

• 🕒 Establish consistent routines for bedtime, wake-up time, and morning preparation to help your child feel rested and ready to learn.
  
  

• 🎒 Talk positively about school—encourage excitement about meeting new teachers, making friends, and learning new skills.
  
  

• ✅ Help your child get organized by reviewing their backpack and materials with them prior to the start of the year and each evening. 

Your student's classroom teacher should be your first point of contact. For building-related information, please call the front office at 847-970-3544 or contact the following individuals via email: 

• Front Office Staff: Ms. Kailey Leon: kleon@dist76.org & Cinthia Maldonado: cmaldonado@dist76.org 

• Principal: Natalie Kalette: nkalette@dist76.org 

• Nurse: Julie Marchese: jmarchese@dist76.org 

Tuesday, August 19th: Our first PTO Meeting of the year is Tuesday August 19, 6:00pm in the Diamond Lake School Library. All are welcome to attend to hear how you can be involved. 

Save the Date: The annual Back to School Bash will be on September 5 from 5:30-7:30! 

Spirit Wear: The Spirit wear store is open. Click here to order your school spirit wear now! 

Please visit the D76 PTO Website for upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and more!