WMS Newsletter - October 23, 2024

Dear Woodward Families,

PTO is working hard to raise funds to enhance your students' experience at Woodward and we hope you will consider helping to reach our goal of $60,000! We are 73% there and hoping to fill the final 27% in these last few days! Our suggested donation was $150 per child, but we appreciate donations at any level, far below and far above! Donate online here: https://go.rallyup.com/woodward2024fundraiser/Campaign/Details

This is what our WMS teachers say about how important your donations are for students:

“PTO funds provide honorariums for our guest speakers during the Values in Action Deep Dive in April as well as treats and candy for our Senior Citizen Seminar Tea and BINGO. We have also been able to purchase counseling and group counseling curriculum through PTO Funds. Your support provides a bridge to counseling initiatives at WMS. Thank you WMS parents and PTO! Sue Constan, WMS Counselor

“It is such a relief to know that the little extra things I purchase for my classroom and students do not have to come out of my own pocket. PTO sponsors my subscription to Gimkit which helps gamify learning and provides fun and engaging activities for students. PTO has purchased white boards of all different sizes for my room. WMS Math Team gets to attend two competitions thanks to PTO. Thank you!!!!” Debra Gindeland, WMS Math Teacher 

"Over the years, PTO has been instrumental in helping me to grow my nonfiction library. Students now have nearly a hundred choices of high-interest, up-do-date titles to choose from when we study memoirs, biography, and the amazing true stories in the world around us." Carrie Newman, WMS Language Arts Teacher 

Thank you for all you do for our WMS Students. We greatly appreciate your continued support and generosity.  

Jeannie Donoghue

WMS Principal

Don't forget! This Friday, we celebrate the completion of our annual giving campaign, Fallapalooza, with a whole school celebration for students - The Great Woodward Hangout! The event begins right after school; please arrange a ride home for your student.

Who: Woodward Students

Where: Woodward MS

What: Inflatable Obstacle Course, Games and Activities, Karaoke, Cotton Candy and Snow Cones! Above all, it's a chance for all Woodward students to come as they are and hangout with their friends!

A few volunteer spots still remain: Sign-Up-Genius If you plan to chaperone at the event, please make sure you are a cleared and current volunteer. Here is the link to become a BISD Volunteer. To check on your volunteer status, contact Kate Carr at kcarr@bisd303.org.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Woodward.Fallapalooza@bainbridgeptos.org.

Fallapalooza Co-Chairs

We would be honored to have all parents and family members who have served in our armed services join us for our annual Veterans Day Assembly on Friday, November 8th at 9:45 am. This student-led assembly features guest speakers from active and retired military branches, our Woodward Band and our student Boy Scout Color Guard. Please RSVP to Susan Waite at (206) 780-4501 or swaite@bisd303.org so we can reserve a seat for you.

Each Monday during 4th period your student participates in Woodward Seminar, a social emotional learning (SEL) platform designed by a dedicated group of Woodward teachers. We use the WMS newsletter to highlight the Seminar lesson themes that will be taking place for the upcoming month. 

At the beginning of the month, we highlighted lessons for October’s National Bullying Prevention Month. In the 7th grade lesson, we re-introduced and/or reminded students about the various roles in a bullying situation. In 8th grade, students participated in a self-awareness exercise where they reflected on the roles they have played and/or witnessed in a bullying situation. The focus of the October 14th Seminar lesson was email etiquette and how to use Skyward. Students will end the month with lessons on the power of words (negative and positive) in 7th grade and a discussion about bias and the impact of bias in 8th grade. The last Seminar lesson of the month will be about our school’s namesakes, The Woodards and their modeling of allyship in action.

As you may recall from our last newsletter, we are challenging you to participate in Family Character Dares this year! Here are our next two challenges.

Most of our student clubs have begun. They have been advertised to students during morning announcements. Clubs meet both before and after school hours. Here is our list of what we currently offer to WMS students:

We ended Spirit Week last Friday with an all school Spirit Assembly. Below are pictures from the event: 1) Ms. Katie Gibbs directs the Spirit Choir, 2) Paul Meehan conducts the Spirit Band and 3) the Leadership Class shows their school spirit.

Woodward's Fall Band Concert is Tuesday, October 29th at 7:00 pm in the Woodward Commons. Our 7th and 8th grade bands are performing fun, adventuresome music about castles, storms and "Dark Adventures." Our jazz band will be performing small jazz combo music and a blues tune! Invite your family, friends and neighbors and come support our amazing student musicians!

This is a reminder that Boys Basketball tryouts are next week - October 28, 29 and 30 from 3:45 to 5:15 pm. All athletes must be registered and have a completed physical form to tryout.

In late September, School Board President Mark Emerson and Vice President Kelly Cancialosi shared a message about the hiring process for the permanent BISD superintendent. The Board wants your feedback! You can provide input through this Parents/Guardians/Community Survey. In addition, a community meeting open to all will be held on November 7th at 5:45 pm in the Board Room.

25: Fallapalooza - 3:30 - 5:30 pm @ WMS

28, 29 & 30: Boys Basketball Tryouts

29: Fall Band Concert - 7:00 pm WMS Commons

3: Daylight Savings Time Ends (Fall Back)

8: Veterans Day Assembly

11: Veterans Day Observed - No School

13: PTO Meeting @ 6:00 pm WMS Library

27-29: Thanksgiving Break - No School

4: PTO Meeting @ 6:00 pm WMS Library

17: Winter Band Concert @ 7:00 pm WMS

12/23-1/3: Winter Break - No School