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 Dear Woodward Families,
Welcome to Woodward! We are ready for the 2024-2025 school year here at Woodward! I’m looking forward to meeting the new group of 7th graders and welcoming back our returning 8th grade students. We are also welcoming several new staff to WMS. I am excited to have Danielle Warman, our new Associate Principal, join our Woodward team! Danielle has served many roles in education including middle school associate principal and principal. She lives on Bainbridge Island and has 3 children. We are lucky to have her expertise and experience. Andrea Oliver will be our new French teacher, replacing Laura Devlin who is now full time at Bainbridge High School. Rebecca Bjorgen, Special Education teacher, is returning to Woodward this fall. Rebecca has been at several schools in the District and brings many years of experience. Kristin Gellert, long-time BHS Water Polo and Swim Coach, will be our Attendance and Athletic Office Professional. All are great additions to our team!
I would also like to welcome our new PTO Board! Laura Fulton, our PTO President, has a committed group of parents ready to support us this year. Please look at our PTO Board for 2024-2025 in the next section of this newsletter; we are so grateful to have these parents take on the roles that bring fun to Woodward as well as fundraising to support the many activities, clubs and supplies we have come to rely on from PTO. Thank you!
The Woodward staff is busy planning new activities and ways to help students feel safe and connected to their school and infuse our values of Connection, Integrity, and Compassion throughout the day. We will start out the year with our traditional Welcome Back Wildcats day.
Welcome Back Wildcats - Thursday, August 29th
We have two assigned sessions based on alphabetized last name to equally distribute students. Please arrive during your assigned time as this will keep our numbers predictable and will keep wait time as low as possible. All visitors will enter through our South (Flag Pole) Entrance.
9:00 - 11:30 AM: 7th & 8th Grade Last Name A-M
1:00 - 3:30 PM: 7th & 8th Grade Last Name N-Z
At this event, students will have the opportunity to complete the following items:
Pick up their class schedule Do a self-guided tour of the school to find their classes - there will be students present to help your child find their classrooms Meet our PTO and purchase Spirit Wear for students and families - please bring cash or check Complete the state required vision and hearing testing (7th graders and new to district 8th graders only) Pay fees such as: PE Uniforms ($14), Yearbook ($25), ASB Membership Card ($25), Science Lab Fee ($15) and Sports Participation Fee ($150). Fee payments can also be done online.
What if you can't attend?
We encourage all students and parents to attend if possible. We have planned an efficient experience that will help your student feel comfortable and prepared for their first day of school. If you are unable to attend, items like fee payments can be done online or at our cashier's office when school begins. Hearing and Vision screening for those who do not attend this event will be done by the nurse during the school year. Please note that school photos will not be taken at this event. School photo dates are September 19th with retakes on October 17th.I am looking forward to a wonderful year! Please don’t hesitate to call, email or stop by to visit or ask any questions you may have about Woodward Middle School. We want you to let us know how we’re doing and how we can help your student have a successful year!
Thank you,
Jeannie Donoghue
Principal
jdonoghue@bisd303.org
What I’m reading now:
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, Jonathan Haidt
An American Marriage, Tanyari Jones
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 We would like to introduce our PTO Board for Woodward this year! There will be a PTO table at our Welcome Wildcat event on August 29th where you can meet some of the members. We will have more information on PTO meetings and activities in upcoming newsletters.
President - Laura Fulton
Treasurer - Natasha Chang
Secretary - Jennifer Hemmingsen
Grants Coordinator - Alora Gale
Volunteer Coordinators - Claire Plehal and Erin Toner
Fallapalooza Fundraising - Stephanie Chamberlain Pirtle and Lara Deits
8th Grade Banquet Chairs - Renee Fitzgerald and Ali Keys
Spirit Wear Coordinator - Karen Walker
Sustainability Chair - Melanie Danelli |
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 Our Annual Back-to-School Check-In (ABC) process lets us know that your student(s) are returning to our schools for 2024-2025 and allows parents/guardians to review annual information.
The ABCs must be completed for all students attending BISD schools in 2024-2025 — this includes both new and returning students. Access the ABCs by logging into your Skyward account. It should take about 15 minutes (or less) to complete per student. Please note that class placement/class schedules will not be released in August until the ABCs are completed.
Start the ABC Process Here
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 The Woodward Counseling Center Welcomes You to Our School
Our office opens to families beginning August 19th. Below is the contact information for the Counseling Office which includes our counselor caseload distribution:
Molly Webber - Counseling Secretary/Registrar
(206) 780-4503 mwebber@bisd303.org
Patti Beer - Counselor 7th Grade
(206) 780-4507 pbeer@bisd303.org
Sue Constan - Counselor 8th Grade
(206) 780-4506 sconstan@bisd303.org
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 Woodward Middle School Hours for 2024-2025
Tuesday - Friday: Regular Schedule - 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
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| STUDENT DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP |
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 Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up
We will continue to utilize the snaking traffic pattern in the parking lot to minimize traffic backing up on Sportsman Club Road. The student drop-off and pick-up area is located in the South Parking Lot. While our main goal will always be student safety, we strive to make this as efficient as possible to respect your time.
- We need to get as much traffic off of Sportsman Club as possible. Once in the parking lot, minimize space between cars, like ferry parking!
- Pull as far forward in the loading zone as possible before coming to a stop. This allows more cars to load/unload at the same time.
- Students may only enter/exit cars in the designated area at the sidewalk next to the portables.
- We will be holding cars in the parking lot to let the buses out, maybe up to a five-minute delay. Please be patient.
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Please be courteous to staff. We are working together to keep kids safe before and after school.
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 Health Room Updates
Health Care Plans At School
If your child has an Asthma, Allergy Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan or a 504 Health Plan that was not completed last spring, it needs to be completed and turned in before the first day of school. You will need to provide emergency medications and/or equipment needed for your student prior to or on September 3rd. Washington State law (RCW 28A.210, Section 1) requires that all students with life threatening health conditions have medical orders, medication and/or equipment, and a nursing care plan in place, before the child may attend school.
Medication At School
A medication at school form must be on file for ANY medication taken at school, even if it is over the counter. Medication orders at school need to be renewed each school year. The form must be completed by a physician and parent before the student may take medication at school. Medication Permission Forms are available in the school office and also on our district website.
TDAP Reminder for 7th Grade
Students must have a Tdap immunization BEFORE the 1st day of 7th grade. To update your child’s Tdap immunization (or other vaccine) record at the school, you will need to turn in a medically verified immunization record. Your child’s health care provider can print this for you, or you can print it from MyIR, which is a free Department of Health online tool that allows families to view and print their official immunization records themselves. Go here to begin the sign-up process.
Finally, If your student has a medical need or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Health Room at (206) 780-4511.
Theresa Raleigh, RN
traleigh@bisd303.org
 WOODWARD ATTENDANCE LINE (206) 780-4579
ABSENCES
Please report absences via Skyward (Attendance - Absence Requests) or by calling the Attendance Line (206-780-4579) the day of each absence. If you do not report your child's absence, you will receive an automated phone call that evening asking you to call in the absence.
LEAVING EARLY
If your student needs to leave school early, you can excuse your child three ways:
- Call the attendance line in advance. Your student will receive a pass to sign out and will meet you outside by the flagpole at the designated time.
- Send a note to school for your student to give to the Attendance Secretary. By sending a note, instead of calling the school or simply dropping in, we avoid disrupting the classroom. Your student will sign out and meet you outside by the flagpole at the designated time.
- Enter the information in advance into Skyward (Attendance - Absence Requests).
ARRIVING LATE
Students arriving late to school must sign in at the Attendance Office as soon as they arrive. A parent may excuse late arrivals by calling the Attendance line, entering the information into Skyward, sending a note with the student, or signing in with your child.
If you have any attendance questions, please contact Kristin Gellert in Attendance at (206) 780-4504 or kgellert@bisd303.org.
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BISD FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES |
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 Food and Nutrition Services at Woodward
Applications for free or reduced lunch are available on-line and paper copies will be at our Welcome Wildcat day, August 29th. If you have any questions regarding your student's account, please contact the Food & Nutrition Services office at (206) 780-1844.
Meal Prices 7th/8th Grade for 2024 - 2025 are:
Breakfast $2.25
Lunch $4.50
Milk/Juice $1.00
Soy Milk $1.50
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 School Supplies
Our 7th and 8th Grade Recommended School Supply list for 2024 - 2025 can be found below. Students will not have lockers and will carry their supplies in their backpacks through out the day. We recommend that you keep backup supplies at home and re-supply during the year, especially for the second semester.
7th and 8th Grade Supply List
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 Summer Reading
Summer Reading Lists for 7th and 8th grade are available on the Woodward Website and can also be accessed below. We ask that all Woodward students read at least one title from their reading list and be prepared to discuss on the first day of school, September 3rd.
Summer Reading List for 7th Grade
Summer Reading List for 8th Grade
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 WMS Fall Sport - Track
Woodward's fall sport is Track & Field which is a co-ed, no-cut sport with practice starting on the first day of school, Tuesday, September 3rd. The season concludes on October 22nd. Practices are held Monday through Friday at Woodward from 3:45 - 5:15 pm. Registration includes: 1) a completed Sports Participation Form on file, 2) ASB Membership Card ($25) and Sports Participation Fee ($150). To register, click here. For more details, see Track Program Information page. Go Wildcats!
NOTE - Students must complete their registration before the first day of practice. Please contact athletic director, Luke Ande, lande@bisd303.org, with any questions related to Track. |
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AUGUST
19: Woodward Office Opens to Families
29: Welcome Wildcats - (Last Name A-M 9:00-11:30 am) and (Last Name N-Z 1:00-3:30 pm)
SEPTEMBER
3: First Day of School/First Day of Track
19: Picture Day
OCTOBER
15: Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians - 6:30-8:00 pm
17: Picture Retakes
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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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