In this Edition Health & Safety
Parents Connecting
Around Woodlands
Global Education
Development Office
WAPA
A Note from Associate Head Dear Woodlands Families,
On Monday, we gathered as a school community in prayer for our May Crowning service. As you well know, this year has been unlike any other. One of the things I have missed the most is our ability to gather as a full school community; I have especially missed doing so for communal prayer.
After listening to a moving reflection on faith from senior Natalie Williams, the weather cooperated, and we gathered as a full school community outside to witness the crowning of the Mary statue at the edge of the ravine. This marked the first time we had all been together in one physical space all year. The parents of those students elected into the Senior Court and Honor Guard also joined us; what a joy it was to welcome familiar and new faces alike.
Mary serves as an enduring symbol of grace. She calls us to remember to accept circumstances beyond our understanding and control with the faith that God will guide us. I extend a deep gratitude to each of you as we begin to close a year unlike any other. You continually show faith in school leadership as together we navigate circumstances well beyond our control.
I rejoice at the idea of gathering in prayer with each of you in person next school year.
Sincerely, Chris Schmidt Looking Ahead Next Week
Upcoming
Health & Safety Health Update We are asking for some information from our families regarding student COVID-19 vaccines. If your daughter has received her vaccine or is waiting for the second vaccine, please let us know so we can have that information on file. This will greatly assist us if contact tracing is necessary. The vaccine name and date/dates of administration can be sent to cgrasenick@woodlandsacademy.org . Thank you for helping us in keeping our school community healthy and safe and to those who have already submitted this information. Life as a QuaranTEEN May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and there are many opportunities for families to learn more about mental health matters. As part of their speaker series, Family Action Network will host a virtual youth-centered conversation, "Life as a QuaranTEEN: Youth Mental Health Post-Pandemic," with youth leaders and psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour. Lisa Damour, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Laurel School's Center for Research on Girls and the author of the New York Times bestselling books Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood and Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls.
The evening's discussion will address mental health concerns of adolescents, strategies for supporting teens, and tips for building resilience. This free event is on May 25, 2021, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Learn more and register for this educational event! Please contact Dr. Kincaid if you would like additional information on the Family Action Network .
Parents Connecting Final Parent Wildchat of the Year! Join Meg Steele and Chris Schmidt for this school year's final Wildchat on Monday, May 10 at 3:00 pm. Topics include graduation, end-of-the-year events, and more. They hope to see you.
Around Woodlands Fine Arts Evening The fine arts department decided to take on an ambitious new idea, to have a theme for the Fine Arts Evening that would drive content across all classes in the fine arts department. This year's theme is Water.
We are excited to showcase the work of our talented artists in two formats this year.
From Tuesday, May 18 to Thursday, May 20, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm, we will have artwork and recorded musical performances in-person at the Gloria Dei Center for students, faculty, and staff. This exhibition will be a fantastic show of collective creativity highlighted in a beautiful venue.
On Thursday, May 20, we will have a virtual opening of our professional online virtual gallery space; this will feature the same artwork and music recordings as the in-person show but in a compelling online format. Madeleine Sophie Barat Prayer Service & Senior Honors Assembly Wednesday, June 2nd Madeleine Sophie Barat Prayer Service and the Senior Honors Assembly, a virtual event at 10:00 am
Annually, the MSB service is one of the most special events of the school year. Members of the senior class reflect on the Goals and Criteria, and we honor the faculty and staff for their years of service to the school. We will especially recognize those who will be departing Woodlands, including our Head of School, Meg Steele. The honors assembly provides the opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of the Class of 2021. The seniors will be in cap and gown in the beautiful chapel as we announce the major school honors.
9th, 10th, and 11th grade students and their families are encouraged to view the Madeleine Sophie Barat Prayer Service and the Senior Honors Assembly from home. Students may also sign-up to view the service from the student dining room, if they prefer. Please be aware that shuttle service to and from the train stations will not be provided on this day.
The prayer service will begin promptly at 10:00 am and the link to this event will be shared in the May 21st and 28th Wildcat Connection. Rwanda Peace Project (Part II) The Rwandan Peace Project (Part II) is a short commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This event will comprise two guest speakers including a survivor, candle lighting, and a message of peace. The event will be held on tomorrow, May 8, at 1.p.m on Zoom. The Woodlands community and other guests are invited to participate by lighting a candle of their own in the time of lighting candles. We hope you join this event of remembering and learning from the history of Rwanda with hope that you take with you a lesson of peace and unity.
This program is hosted by senior Kayla Imanzi Saturday, May 8, 1 p.m. Meeting ID: 926 6681 2575 Residence Life Adventures This week we got outside to roast hot dogs and veggie dogs over a campfire. For dessert boarding students either wrapped cinnamon roll dough around a stick or built waffle pies in a pie iron and placed it over the fire. What is the tastiest treat you've ever cooked outside?
Around Woodlands Global Education Sacred Heart Global Academy Hopefully you read the recent communication about our upcoming summer programs offered through Sacred Heart Global Academy. Woodlands is excited to continue this partnership with Forest Ridge school and hope to expand to more schools as well. Please contact Jessica Campbell if you have any questions about this new program.
Through Sacred Heart Global Academy, Woodlands will continue to offer exciting virtual exchange opportunities for all students next year. Please have your daughter complete the virtual exchange applications that were emailed to her this week (and will be available in the morning announcements next week) to communicate her specific interests for next year. There is something for everyone and the more the merrier! Additionally, Woodlands' membership with the Global Education Benchmark Group provides us with some exciting virtual exchange and virtual dialogue opportunities for students this summer. Please go to their website to learn more about these exciting programs.
From the Development Office The results are in! Woodlands Academy is so incredibly grateful to the generosity of all of the families who donated during the 100% of Ice Cream Contest! Congratulations to the Freshman Class who won the participation contest! An ice cream truck has been reserved for lunchtime on Thursday, May 13th for all Freshmen and their advisors. This was a very competitive and close contest. Well done Freshmen!!!
In addition to increasing current parent participation by 35% during the contest, you made the match! As you know, an anonymous donor offered a $10,000 match if we could raise at least $10,000 during this contest. You did it and then some! During the contest our families donated $17,496 which instantly became $27,496! Thank you to the anonymous donor and all the families who donated!
The generosity of Woodlands families exceeded all expectations. The donations to the Woodlands Fund will do so much to offer even more scholarships and equip our school and classrooms with the things that make us truly great! Thank you! Thank You! Thank You!
WAPA Thank You for Tacos! Parents, thank you for providing a special taco lunch for all Faculty/Staff last Tuesday! It was delicious!
Thanks to Michele Sparks and Jill Pace for organizing the event. WAPA Volunteers for 2021-2022 During the current school year, most volunteer opportunities were either cancelled or looked much different than in the past. We are looking forward to a great year of possibilities to get together and to plan some great events! Please look for WAPA communication in your mailbox very soon. In the meantime, if you want to reach out NOW to volunteer, please contact Alison Bartusiak, WAPA President 2021-22, or Kathy Fivelson. Class Parents Please let us know if you would like to serve another year as a Class Parent, or if you prefer to do something different next year. Email Sarah Hindman. Welcome Picnic Volunteers We are looking for a couple of families to organize the Welcome Picnic in August. Also, we are in need of some GRILL MASTERS! Please let us know if you can help! Email Sarah Hindman.
Purity of intention is our safeguard. In success, it keeps us from presumption, and in failure, it prevents discouragement. -Mary Aloysia Hardey, RSCJ |