1970-1979

Renovation, not expansion, was the hallmark of the 1970s. In 1972-74 classrooms were modernized, the library was moved to the central building (where it is now), the kindergarten and administration areas were expanded and air conditioning was added. The passageways between the three buildings still were not enclosed; that item was deleted due to cost.

For the first time in 25 years, the school's population was getting smaller. Even so a few more specialists arrived: art and music teachers; in 1972, a full time librarian; in 1979, Woodlin's first ESOL teacher. Full-day kindergarten began in 1979.

Food was a fond memory for staff and students both. The 70s brought the "satellite lunch" with food prepared at a central site for all the system's schools. Prior to that event, Mrs. Mazzie baked homemade sticky buns, homemade soup, huge cookies and wonderful spaghetti sauce.

From 1978 to 1982, Woodlin was "paired" with Woodside Elementary, now closed. During that period, the school symbol was the "Caring Pair" represented by two overlapping pears, with the colors green and white. Earlier, it had been the Woodlin Owls, in blue and white. A school song, to the tune of the Mickey Mouse theme, started "What's the place that wins the race/In schools from A to Z."

Some personal memories include:  

• Staff/sixth grade softball games with the principal (Dr. Leverenz) traditionally dressed in overalls and straw hat.
• Halloween evening carnivals at school, in lieu of trick-or-treating, with bobbing for apples and other games, plus a haunted house complete with witches.
• Joint outdoor activities with the Hebrew Academy.