Originally formed as the Plainfield School District in 1861, Plainfield is one of the oldest institutions in the region, with a long history of serving the children of farmers and migrants, their children, and grandchildren. From 1926 through 1965, Plainfield went through a series of unifications with other districts to ultimately form what is today the Woodland Joint Unified School District. The
present site was established in 1949 on nine acres of farmland. Plainfield is currently the only school in the WJUSD that has a thematic focus -- environmental science and agriculture -- and is home to about 340 students. The teaching staff weaves science instruction into all other instructional areas. In addition, the school's garden has been a source of rich, hands-on learning. We also take great pride in the fact that our school is home to all elementary-age students in Yolo County who are either deaf or hearing impaired. Students in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) program participate as much as possible alongside other Plainfield students in all facets of school life. Through grants that have been obtained over the years, as well as from funds generated by our school's PTA, Plainfield has been able to provide all students with visual arts instruction via a credentialed art teacher, who delivers lessons to all classrooms on a rotating basis. Our school takes part in a State of California Early Mental Health Initiative (EMHI) grant, aimed at helping primary-age students with one-on-one time in unstructured play opportunities and interaction with trained child aides. Students who participate are identified by their classroom teachers, and, with parent permission, take part in this program for a ten to twelve week period. This is our second year as a grant participant, and the overwhelming majority of the students who have participated in the program have greatly benefited from it. Another component of Plainfield is our participation in a three-year grant, along with four other elementary schools in Woodland, as a Character Education school, where positive character is emphasized throughout the school. While the grant will come to an end at the close of this school year, our goal has been to make character education a fundamental part of who and what we are, staff and students alike. Finally, our school is also currently home to a federal After School Education and Safety (ASES) program, serving about one hundred students every afternoon after school.
