 Dear Woodward Families,
Frost in the mornings means winter is getting ready to arrive and it seems like a good time to share a few of my favorite things about Woodward students! As I walk the halls and the Commons during lunches, students are actively engaging with each other, sharing stories and just being their young energetic selves!
In classrooms, I get to see their more serious, studious and thoughtful sides:
- Working in teams creating models showing their scientific learning
- Discussing different ways to solve complicated math problems
- Sharing their ideas about the literature they are reading and how it relates to the real world
- Finding ways to bring more kindness into our school and to every student
- Preparing for the Cupcake Wars in Culinary Arts
- Publishing the second edition of the first ever Woodward Newspaper
- Showing their musical talent rehearsing for our Winter Choir and Band Concert next week
- Filming and producing the daily Wake Up Woodward episodes
- Showing off their physical health in PE and in our boys Basketball games
These are just a few of my favorite things about Woodward that I know you all would be so proud of if you could see what I see! You have wonderful students!
Woodward wishes you all a wonderful winter season and the best for 2024!
Sincerely,
Jeannie Donoghue
WMS Principal
jdonoghue@bisd303.org
A Note About Social Media and Your Student
Even though cell phones are not allowed during the school day, texting, Snapchat, and other social media apps are still a concern as we hear about it at school regularly. This is just a reminder to families that checking and reading your child’s texts, group texts and social media accounts on a regular basis is one way to teach them how to deal with potential problematic social situations. If students receive texts, photos or videos that are threatening to self or others, sexual in nature, or could be taken in hurtful ways, it’s difficult for them to process the information on their own. At this young age, these kinds of texts can be emotionally harmful in hidden ways. Students will tell you that it’s not a big deal, it was just a joke and that they don’t care, but we, as adults, know this is just not true. Children at this age don’t want to appear vulnerable or incapable of making and keeping friends, or unable to handle all that is thrown at them. Use these moments to have the difficult but necessary conversations with your child. It’s your open door to check in on their emotional health, what's going on in their circle of friends, and teach them the skills to opt out, stand up for what’s right, and build their self-confidence. These are lifelong skills your child needs for high school and beyond.
Cell phones have very little to offer students in the way of positive influence, but if your student has one, be sure to take the time to monitor and know how it’s being used and use it as an opportunity for conversation starters that will teach valuable lessons, strengthen your relationship and show them that you are paying attention. If you have any questions regarding this, please get in touch with our school counselors, Mrs, Mendoza or myself to talk more.
Student Led Conferences
January 24, 25 & 26 are non-school days dedicated to our Student Led Conferences specifically designed for students to take responsibility for putting together a portfolio that showcases their learning and achievements to be shared with their parents/guardians. We host these Student Led Conferences in classrooms here at Woodward in 30 minute time slots. We will also offer Zoom options for those families who cannot attend in person. More information will be coming out in January, including how to sign up and what to expect. These Student Led Conferences are an excellent opportunity for students to share their strengths, goals and take leadership in their own learning as well as prepare them for their high school years. You will enjoy participating in this excellent learning experience for students.
Dear Woodward Families,
The end of the year is always full of the hustle and bustle and excitement of family gatherings during the highly anticipated Winter Break. Your PTO has begun its Teacher and Staff Grants process and is already fulfilling Wish Lists. This process makes us very happy because it's exactly what we're here to do.
Please join us at our next PTO meeting this Friday, December 1st at 9:30 am via Zoom (link).
We are also looking for representatives from the Woodward community for the Emergency & Preparedness Committee and the Sustainability Committee. Please email me if you are interested.
Warmly,
Stephanie Page
Woodward PTO President
woodward.president@bainbridgeptos.org
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From the Counseling Department
Scholarships Funds Available to Support Students
At Woodward, we have scholarship funds for extracurricular activities as well as various school related activities and charges. If your family would benefit from this type of support, please contact your school counselor for assistance and more information.
Sue Constan - 7th Grade, sconstan@bisd303.org
Patti Beer - 8th Grade, pbeer@bisd303.org
Refusal Skills Lesson
During health class, WMS counselors are teaching a lesson called Learning Refusal Skills - Strategies to Handle Peer Pressure and Learn to Say "No”. Included in this lesson, we discuss difficult situations that 7th/8th graders find themselves in where they want to say ‘no’ (but it’s hard). We also discuss steps to take to get out of a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable, crosses a boundary or instinctually doesn’t feel right.
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SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING |
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 Social and Emotional Learning - December Seminar
This month in Seminar, Woodward’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) platform, students examine the impact that drama, rumors and gossip have on themselves and the Woodward community (December 4th) as well as digital citizenship and navigating digital dilemmas (December 11th) where students learn and discuss cyber bullying, photo sharing, screen shots and privacy.
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BUILDERS CLUB - TOYS FOR TOTS CAMPAIGN |
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Builders Club - Toys for Tots Campaign
Builders Club, students have enthusiastically launched their 4th annual Toys for Tots Campaign (November 29 - December 12) making Woodward an additional community drop-off location for this holiday season. During the pandemic, Builders Club members saw a growing need and jumped into action. For the past three years, students and families in the Woodward community have donated gifts including games, art supplies, toys, sporting equipment, and more. We hope to repeat this success for 2023. Please see the Toys for Tots Flyer for details and feel free to contribute. Students may bring their gift donations to the front office or any of the classroom donation boxes. Remember, all items must be NEW and UNWRAPPED. Thank you! |
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YEARBOOK ORDERS - LAST CHANCE |
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 | Deadline for Yearbook Ordering |
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If you would like a 2023-2024 Woodward Yearbook for your student, this is your last chance. To date, 68% of 8th graders have purchased one and 76% of 7th graders have purchased one. The deadline to purchase is Friday, December 15th. We will provide the total copies sold by that date to the publisher and there will be no extra copies available at the end of the year for students to purchase. You can order two ways:
- $25 check made payable to WMS or $25 cash delivered to the Attendance Office
- Online via the Woodward Homepage Site Shortcuts through Online Payments - In Touch. The online payment option will remain open through December 15th.
If you need to check to see if you purchased a yearbook already, please contact Kate Carr at (206) 780-4502 or kcarr@bisd303.org. Don't miss out at the end of the year! Order your yearbook now.
Note: If you need financial assistance for a yearbook, please click on the following link: Scholarship Application Form.
Girls Basketball - Winter Sport
Our 2023 Girls Basketball season begins 1/3/24 and goes until 3/6/24. Tryouts will be held on 1/3, 1/4, and 1/5 from 3:45 to 5:15. Practices will be held from 3:45 - 5:15 Monday through Friday in the gym. The game schedule can be found on the Woodward Girls Basketball page. With such a short season, please make sure your athlete would be available to make a full commitment to the team should they be selected.
All participants must be registered before turning out for practice. We will be using a new registration platform for registering your students; registration opens on December 11th. Information is on the Woodward Athletics website on how to register.
An up-to-date (within past 2 years) physical will need to be uploaded to the registration platform. If you are unsure if you have a valid physical, please call Katie Drovdahl at (206) 780-4504. This is our preferred clearance form, but we will accept any well-check that clears a student to play sports.
Medical Insurance is required to participate. Affordable Sports Injury Insurance is available through Myers-Stevens.
All athletes are required to pay $20 for an ASB membership and $150 per sport participation fee. Here are Payment Instructions but please do NOT pay until making a team.
We would like all Woodward students to access the many activities and academic opportunities that we offer. For financial assistance, click on this link.
Veterans Day Assembly - November 9th
We had our annual student-driven Veterans Day Assembly on November 9th that was meaningful for our students and guests alike. The assembly began with the presentation of the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance by Boy Scouts Jack Morgan, Phisher Rous and Mark Walker. Next, students informed the audience about why we recognize Veterans Day on November 11th. Five Woodward students spoke about the contributions and service that their family members have made to our armed services. Our own Tim Harris spoke about his service career in the U.S. Army and how his service ties in with Woodward's core values of Connection, Integrity and Compassion. The assembly concluded with Mr. Meehan's band students playing the "Marches of the Armed Forces" and 8th grader, Lilly Wilson, playing "Taps". Thank you to Julee Longridge for planning this meaningful assembly for our school; all students were well prepared for the event. Also, many thanks to the veterans who joined us on that day. Thank you for your service to our country. A few photos from the assembly follow. Photo 1: The Woodward Choir sings "The Star Spangled Banner"; Photo 2: Tim Harris addresses the student body about his Army career; Photo 3: Lilly Wilson plays "Taps" on her trumpet.
  
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WMS ASB and Leadership Class Spreading Kindness
The Woodward ASB and Leadership Class has been busy spreading kindness in our community! In November, we ran a successful Hygiene Drive; we collected 992 items for Fishline House in Poulsbo. Thanks to all who donated to the drive. For the first week of December, we are planning a Kindness Week with positive gestures each day. Here is our plan:
Monday, December 4th - Students give 3-4 Compliments to Each Other
Tuesday, December 5th - Words in Action - Positive Character Traits
Wednesday, December 6th - Positive Messages in Restrooms
Thursday, December 7th - Positive Messages in Books
Friday, December 8th - Thank You Cards
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BISD Winter Spirit Week!
The week of December 11th through the 15th, the entire school district is participating in Winter Spirit Week. Each day, students can dress for the theme of the day. See Winter Spirit Week Flyer.
Monday, December 11th - PJ Day
Tuesday, December 12th - Ugly Sweater Day
Wednesday, December 13th - Favorite Winter Character Day
Thursday, December 14th - Dress to Impress Day
Friday, December 15th - School Pride Day
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 DECEMBER
1: PTO Meeting, 9:30 am via Zoom
6: Winter Band & Choir Concert @ 6:30 pm WMS Commons
11-14: BISD Winter Spirit Week
14: Progress Reports
12/18 - 1/1: Winter Break - No School
JANUARY
1: New Year's Day - No School
2: School Resumes
3-5: Girls Basketball Tryouts After School
5: PTO Meeting, 9:30 am via Zoom
11: Progress Reports
15: MLK Holiday - No School
24-26: WMS Student Led Conferences - No School
29: Second Semester Begins
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NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT |
Bainbridge Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Kristen Haizlip, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator and Gender Inclusive Schools Coordinator, 8489 Madison Ave. N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110; 206-780-1058; khaizlip@bisd303.org
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