Dear Woodward Families,

Woodward March Madness is here—and it truly lives up to the name! With the excitement of ASB St. Patrick’s Day decorations, yesterday’s band concert and our choir participating in the OMEA Choir Festival, and today’s OMEA Band Festival, cross country up and running, and a little bit of snow and a lot of rain—there’s never a dull moment at Woodward. It’s one of the many things that makes this place so special.

Being part of this vibrant school community has been a true gift, which is why it is with mixed emotions that I share that I will be retiring at the end of this school year. Serving Woodward students and staff over the past five years has been an incredible honor, and I am deeply grateful for the experience.

Your students have taught me so much. They are caring, compassionate, generous, thoughtful advocates—and yes, goofy and unpredictable. They are the heart of this school. I also have immense respect for our staff, who show up every day with dedication, talent, and an unwavering commitment to students. It has been a privilege to be part of such an exceptional team.

Along the way, I’ve laughed a lot, built meaningful friendships, navigated challenges, and, of course, made mistakes. Each moment—whether hilarious, heartwarming, or even difficult—has shaped my journey and will stay with me for years to come. It has always been important to me to do work that brings both joy and purpose, and this role has given me more of both than I could have imagined.

Thank you for welcoming me into your community and for sharing your incredible students! Woodward will always hold a special place in my heart.

If you are interested, more information will be shared this week about the principal hiring process and ways families can be involved.

With tons of gratitude,

Jeannie Donoghue

What I’m still reading: Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

EXPLORE is designed for our 7th graders. Students will participate in Welcome to Your Future, an interactive budget-planning simulation based on various career choices. In addition, professionals from around Kitsap County will represent a wide range of careers. This hands-on experience allows students to engage in simulations and activities connected to different fields of work.

INSPIRE is our 8th grade program, where professionals from our community and beyond share their career journeys and the paths that led them there. Students will have the opportunity to hear from four different speakers throughout the morning, gaining insight and inspiration for their own futures.

Spring Sports are here! Cross country started this week and Volleyball tryouts will run next week Mon-Wed. Registration with updated physicals and online signatures need to be completed before students can participate in practice.

Visit the WMS Athletics Page to register, check out the season schedules, and find all pertinent information regarding the season.

Questions: Contact Kristin Gellert in the front office - kgellert@bisd303.org / 206-780-4501

If you participated in Track and Field this Fall and still have a team jersey lying around, please return it to the front office as soon as possible. These will need to be used for WMS Cross-Country this Spring. Thank you!

If you answered YES to one or both questions and you are a current 8th–12th grade student at BISD, you may be eligible to earn high school World Language credit by taking a language proficiency exam! 

Woodward Builder's Club is holding a Hygiene Drive for Women's Shelters. Dates are March 19-April 2, 2026. They need a wide variety of items. Some items needed (but not only these items) are listed below. We thank you in advance for helping others who need a little help right now. 

Toothpaste, toothbrushes, & floss

Shampoo (full size or travel), conditioner, bar soap

Feminine Hygiene, maxi pads, tampons

Deodorant

Baby diapers

Razors & shaving cream

Women's and children's underwear

Girls in grades 5-8 who are interested in math and science can check out this free event on Saturday, March 21 at the Olympic College - Bremerton campus.

There is also a concurrent parent/guardian workshop: Strength Based Parenting and Future Planning

This 3-hour interactive workshop helps parents and caregivers feel confident supporting their youth’s future planning — whether that path includes college, trades, workforce, or other post-secondary options. Participants will complete a Strength-Based Parenting assessment (book included), starting with their own strengths, then learn how to recognize and grow their child’s strengths to build hope and resilience. Together, we’ll explore how to plan with your child instead of for them, approaching next steps as a human journey shaped by identity, curiosity, and growth. You’ll leave with practical tools to encourage motivation, direction, and confidence at home.

Work directly with the BHS Football staff to build speed and power to elevate your game and prep for your future as a Spartan!

More information and registration can be found on the WMS website. All forms, including an updated physical, need to be completed in order to participate.

Eighth Grade Banquet planning is well underway and our Top-Secret theme is generating lots of excitement among our volunteer parents. If you haven’t signed up yet, but still want to be part of the fun, there’s still time to join our team! 

Please click this link to see the specific roles that we would like to fill this Spring. 

Over 100 volunteers work for a year to transform the school. If you don’t have the time, but still want to participate, please consider sponsoring a zone, a food item, a student ticket or a prize, or make a general contribution towards keeping costs manageable for our community. 

If you are a 7th Grade parent and interested in taking on a leadership role for next year's banquet and would like to start learning the ropes, please reach out to our event chairs Laura and Jen at woodward.banquet@bainbridgeptos.org to discuss. 

Thank you to our many volunteers and contributors! 

The next PTO meeting is:

March 25, 2026 - 6:00 pm, Conference Room

Online meeting: https://meet.google.com/rhc-poeu-zvn

Phone access: 1 262-682-3694‬ PIN: ‪337 801 443‬#‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Be sure to follow the PTO Instagram for fun images and friendly reminders.

If you are looking to contribute to the school year, check out the WMS Wishlist!

From caffeine for staff to Health Room supplies, we'd love your help to restock some shelves with commonly used items.

Check out the Community Events Page for fun and engaging activities around the island!