1. education
2. school

APRIL 2015
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
March has been a busy but exciting month. We recently celebrated our Inspire 2015 event
for our 8th grade class. Students heard from two different speakers during the first two
sessions which included guests with careers such as firefighter/paramedic, law
enforcement, artist, actor, public service, writer, adventurer, and medical doctor. The
third combined session featured BHS grad Zach Ingrasci who shared his experience of
“Living on One” dollar a day in Guatemala, making a second film about the refugee camps in
Syria and how even students can make a difference in the lives of people living in poverty.
It is always amazing to see the accomplishments of our current and former students.
In the past month, we have celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday, completed our girls basketball
and wrestling seasons, registered students for next year's classes, had a wonderful spring
band concert and competition, celebrated Classified Employee Appreciation Week, enjoyed
a fun ASB Dance, enjoyed a 7th grade field trip to Port Townsend and sent our choir to
contest. It has been quite a ride to spring vacation. Students will need to rest up over
spring break and come back ready for the final push through the end of the school year.
We also enjoyed our Incoming Parent Night on March 10th. 6th grade parents heard from
staff and students about the many opportunities and programs available to their students
at Woodward. One unique aspect of middle school is the strong encouragement to explore
other interests. We offer a multitude of elective choices including Spanish, French,
drawing and painting, sculpture, digital photography, computer technology, video
production, Achieve, pre-engineering, band, American Folk Instruments, choir, PE,
consumer science education, and leadership. Students have the opportunity to take many
different electives during their two years at Woodward. We hope that this provides them
with a relaxed yet challenging exposure to many different courses to broaden their
horizons and help them to become well-rounded citizens.
Students at Woodward have a talented staff which support the education of the whole
child and understand the developmental stages of early adolescents. We truly love what we
do! Thank you for supporting our programs and working together to make this the best
experience for your child. It is exciting to observe the growth in your students during
their time here.
UPCOMING
EVENTS
TRACK TURNOUT BEGINS
April 6 3:30 PM
SMARTER BALANCED
TESTING INFORMATION
NIGHT
April 7 7 PM WMS LIBRARY
BHS FOOTBALL MEETING
April 8 7PM BHS commons
BHS Football - Come learn about
the program, our safety precautions,
and the football calendar.
SBC MEETING
April 15 3:30 PM
PTO MEETING
April 16 9:30 AM
EARTH DAY 8TH GRADE
CLEANUP
April 17
HEALTHY YOUTH SUMMIT
BHS Commons
April 25 9:30-12:30
PLAN AHEAD
SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT INFORMATION NIGHT
SMARTER BALANCE
TESTING
May 4-8 ELA
May 11-15 Math
May 28-29 Science MSP
Assessment Director, Dr. Jeff McCormick will hold an information night for the upcoming
Smarter Balanced assessments. Please join us on Tuesday, April 7, in the Woodward Middle
School library. The presentation is open to all parents/guardians. Princpal Florian and Principal
Shockley will also attend to help answer your questions or concerns.
TEACHER
APPRECIATION WEEK
Mike Florian, Principal
More information is available on the district’s Assessment Web page. Questions? Please contact
Dr. jeff McCormick at 206-780-1058 or [email protected].
May 4-May 8
PTO NEWS
Here’s hoping you had a relaxing and energizing break! Now it’s time to get ready for all the April activities. If you have not yet
purchased your 8th grade banquet ticket but please take a moment and get that done right away. Chairpersons Julie Davis and
Karen hall are hard at work, along with an army of volunteers, ensuring that our 8th graders will have a memorable evening.
Thank you to Karolynn Flynn from Raising Resilience for being our guest speaker in March. What a great program! Don’t miss
the event on April 11th—Tween Territory: Expert Insights.
Please join us Thursday, April 16th, at 9:30 AM for our next PTO meeting. We will hear from Police Chief Matt Hamner. He will
share with us things to be aware of as our kids are entering high school and will answer questions you may have.
Finally, if you or anyone you know is interested in participating in PTO for next year, please contact any board member to learn
more about the various opportunities to volunteer at WMS that are so instrumental to supporting our students and staff.
Thank you for your support!
Michele Blackford, WMS PTO President
EIGHTH GRADE BANQUET NEWS
Important information and deadlines! Please read!
The 57th Annual 8th Grade Banquet will be held Saturday, June 6, 2015 from 6 to 10 pm at Woodward Middle School.
WHAT IS THE 8TH GRADE BANQUET?
The 8th Grade Banquet celebrates the culmination of the first eight years of education and is held in lieu of a graduation
ceremony. It gives our 8th graders a chance to celebrate together before they transition to high school and officially become
the Class of 2019. Each year a team of parents transforms the WMS Commons into a new world with a top-secret theme that
is only revealed to the students as they arrive. After being wowed by the creative genius of their party planning parents, the
8th graders enjoy a fun and memorable evening with dinner, dancing and entertainment. Historically, this event is so popular that
attendance has been nearly 100%. The 8th Grade Banquet is presented by the WMS PTO and is funded through ticket sales and
donations.
TICKET SALES
Ticket sales are on a roll! Our hard-working volunteers need to know the number of attendees in order to firm up the
budget..many items need to be purchased prior to the event. Please buy your student’s ticket as soon as possible if you haven’t
already done so. Tickets may be purchased either 1. online (see link on WMS and WMS PTO websites), or 2. by dropping your
check for $55, with your child’s name on it, in the payment box at the attendance window.
Please remember that scholarships are also available through the counselor’s office. Thanks to all parents who have already
purchased tickets! We also send a very warm thank you to the parents who have donated to this event while purchasing
tickets. Be advised that you only need a ticket for your student. Parents do not attend this event unless they have
volunteered in advance for a specific job that requires that they are in attendance the night of the Banquet. Please contact
Trish Franznick at [email protected] with any questions.
HOW CAN I HELP?
Thank you to all the volunteers who have signed up! You should have heard from Julie Davis or the chairperson for your area by
now. If you have not, email Julie [email protected]. We still have the following needs, so also email Julie ASAP if you want to be
a part of the magic:
1. Crew Lounge - Our chair is requesting 5 more volunteers to help procure food and man the Crew Lounge during the set up,
night of and break down of the Banquet on June 5th and June 6th.
2. Gym Floor Carpet - We need 2-3 more folks to come in on Friday, June 5 at 1:00 PM - 4 PM (may take less time) to assist the
custodian in laying down the protective gym carpet over the floor and then return Sunday Morning at 8:00 AM (it shouldn't take more
than 1 1/2 hrs) to put it away.
3. Lighting Crew - We also need 2 more folks to assist in hanging ceiling lighting and utilizing ladders and/or the school lift. This will
happen primarily Friday, June 5, 4PM-10:30 PM. Their may be some needs the morning of June 6th.
4. Helping Hands/Worker Bees - We will have many specific tasks Friday, June 4, 5:00 PM -10:00 PM or Saturday, June 6, 8:00 AM 2:00 PM. Please let Julie know if you are willing to help. She'll know exact jobs closer to the event, but we will need lots of hands on
deck to pull this off!
CHILDHOOD PHOTO OF YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER
**NOW ACCEPTING DIGITAL and HARD-COPY PHOTOS!**
We want to make this easy for you! Hard copy or digital - we're now set-up to take both!
Please either drop off a childhood photo of your son or daughter (include name on the back) at Woodward in the designated box OR
email your photo to [email protected] with your son or daughter's name. **Remember this photo is just of your child—
sorry, no group shots for this one—but can be of any time period in your child's life.**
Your child's provided photo will be displayed along with all the others in a vibrant collage! It will be displayed in the glass cases in the
WMS Commons as a ramp-up to the 8th grade Banquet. WMS students will be able to admire all of the photos and try to guess who's
who—it’s our version of #throwbackthursday for the 8th graders. And just like the Banquet itself, we’d love 100% participation!
Please note these important guidelines when selecting your childhood photo:
*One photo per student
*Photo should be no larger than 4"x6"
*Photos will not be returned
*Please print your child's/children's first and last name(s) on the back of your hard-copy photo OR indicate child’s/children’s name in
email if submitting digital copy.
*Photocopies or originals are gladly accepted, but please note that even original photos will not be returned
*Please make sure the submitted photo is just of your child/ren (no group photo shots)
*Your child's/children's photo may be incorporated into the slideshow
DIGITAL PHOTOS NEEDED FOR SLIDESHOW
We are preparing a fun and fabulous video for the students to watch during dinner at the Banquet. We need photos from your home
collection of your child during their school years to make the slideshow great! Our goal is to include EVERY 8th grader’’s picture in
the show. We would love pictures of:
*School sports
*School dances
*After school activities
*Class trips
*Weekend fun they have had with school friends over the years
*Group pictures are very welcome and encouraged!
Please note these important guidelines when selecting photos for the slideshow:
*The pictures should be clear and easy to distinguish the students
*Please include all the names of the students in the picture.
*1-3 pictures would be appreciated (please note that there is a possibility not all 3 photos will be in the video).
*Please email your digital photos to [email protected]. Deadline for photos to be submitted is April 15, 2015.
SPRING BREAK SHOPPING
If you are planning on shopping during Spring Break, here are a few guidelines we ask that parents and students follow. The Banquet
is not a formal dance, rather a dinner with entertainment and dancing among friends. The attire for the evening is dressy, but not
formal.
FOR GIRLS:
*Skirts or dresses must be mid-thigh or longer (at least to the fingertips).
*Dresses or tops should have a discreet neckline--no lower than 4 inches (a hand’s width) from the base of the neck.
*Straps on dresses may be spaghetti or halter style. Strapless dresses are acceptable if they meet the neckline requirement.
*Midriffs and undergarments must be covered at all times.
For safety reasons, shoes need to be worn at all times and as a result, we recommend that heels be no higher than 2 inches. If your
child does not think that they will be able to wear heels for the entire 4 hours, please have them bring an extra pair of flats to
change into.
FOR BOYS:
*A nice shirt and pants are appropriate.
*Suits and ties are optional.
There will be a check-in area for items such as coats, sweaters, purses, extra pair of comfortable shoes, cameras, etc. Backpacks
are not allowed.
Thank you for your support and help in making this year’s Banquet a special occasion for your son or daughter to remember for years
to come!
Your 8th Grade Banquet Co-Chairs,
Julie Davis and Karen Hall
8TH GRADE ALGEBRA PLACEMENT INFORMATION
Are you interested in how your mathematician is placed into 8th grade math next year? Students who are successful in Algebra in
7th grade will continue with Honors Geometry in 8th grade. Other incoming eighth grade students take one of two math classes:
Algebra or 8th Grade Math (Introduction to Algebra). Both classes focus on algebraic patterns and relationships. Both are
challenging programs that prepare students for the mathematics of high school. The main difference between the two classes is
the level of quick processing of abstract concepts. Woodward’s placement team (math teachers, administration, and counselors)
considers three factors when deciding the most appropriate 8th grade math class for your child. These factors are:
WORK ETHIC- Experience shows that successful Algebra students complete homework daily. Without this habit, students
struggle. The placement team looks to see if the student’s homework completion score is 80% or higher.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT– Understanding the learning targets of 7th grade math prepares students for the learning targets
of Algebra. Students with holes in their 7th grade learning struggle with the academic demands of Algebra. The placement team
looks to see if the student has met the learning targets of 7th grade with an assessment score of an A or B for 1st and 2nd
semester.
ALGEBRA READINESS AND STRONG COMPUTATION SKILLS - Student scores on an Algebra Readiness Assessment and
Computation Assessment in May provide information as to whether students are ready for the fast pace and abstract nature of a
high school level Algebra course.
Together, these factors indicate a student’s readiness to meet the demands of a high school Algebra class, support us in making
an appropriate placement for each individual student, and help to ensure a successful year of math learning in 8th grade.
WOODWARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS
WMS students continue to be diligent about sorting their food, recyclables, and trash at lunchtime. Bainbridge Disposal picks up
our compostable material every two weeks to be hauled to North Mason Fiber where it is composted into organic material to
enrich gardens, lawns, and landscapes. This effort also keeps organic material out of landfills, where its anaerobic decomposition
produces methane, a toxic greenhouse gas. http://www.northmasonfiber.com/
We encourage all efforts to reduce the use of non-recyclable plastic containers and bags. It takes fossil fuel to create these
plastics and when they break down in our landfills they will not turn into anything healthy for our soil, water, or air. We have
really appreciated the increased use of wax paper bags and re-usable lunch boxes. Keep up the good efforts!!
NEWS
Builders Club members will continue to work on our last major project of the year after Spring Break. We are making fleece
blankets for Winslow Animal Clinic. All future meetings will be on Fridays at 8 AM and will be announced via morning
announcemenets and emails from Madame Knell. If your child is interested in participating, please call Mme. Knell to add his/her
name to the listserv.
Builders Club members are welcome to help the Kiwanis organization at Shredfest this year but only under the supervision of
their parents. Shredfest will take place in the Columbia Bank parking lot across from Safeway from 9-4 on Saturday, April 25th.
It’s good exercise and fun to haul people’s papers to be shredded to the giant shredding truck. Community members are always
so grateful for our service and participation.
10th Anniversary...2005 to 2015
Circle of Friends ~
The Path to Inclusion
This article was included in the Circle of Friends 10th Anniversary Newsletter. We are so proud
of the WMS students who are participating in the program and make a difference in the lives
TESTIMONIAL CORNER
Students at Woodward Middle School within Bainbridge Island School District share:
"My Circle of Friends (CoF) experience taught me a lot about tolerance, and also,
I came to cherish a special friendship between myself and someone who
has a very different life than myself."
"This experience really opened my eyes, and I can relate to people who might
not be the same as me."
"It was meaningful to know I made someone smile and feel really special."
"I learned that everyone is different, and it's normal not to be the same as everyone. And my partner
showed me
that its always important to be yourself..."
"When I did CoF, I learned that our school has a whole new aspect to it and about 20 new kids that go
unnoticed at
Woodward. It was really cool to bridge a gapbetween groups, and I learned a lot from this experience.
"It made me feel really good to know that I had the ability to make my friend's day better just be spending my day with
him. It has really opened up my eyes to know that I can change someone's day for the better if I put my mind
(and my heart) to it."
...
BAND CONTEST RESULTS
CONGRATULATIONS to our 7th and 8th grade bands!! Woodward’s bands, led by Paul Meehan,
performed at the OMEA Band Contest in Poulsbo on March 18th. Both bands received a rating of
SUPERIOR, earning the second highest overall scores of the sixteen bands that performed!
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH—
March 2015
The Student of the Month Program recognizes students for meritorious conduct, academic accomplishments and other
positive qualities. The program is sponsored by Kiwanis Service Club of Bainbridge Island, the Bainbridge Review, and the
administration and staff of Woodward Middle School.
8TH GRADE STUDENTS OF THE MONTH:
7TH GRADE STUDENTS OF THE MONTH:
8A
8-B
7-A
7-B
Ben Galbraith
Josie Meier
Kendall Havill
Dylan Kobs
HONORABLE MENTION
EIGHTH GRADE: Corey Clarke, Dana Craighead, Jenny Freidman, Megan Ginder, Carolyn Najarian, Ricky
Reinke, Catherine Rolfes, Paloma Shepherd, Erin Thackray,
SEVENTH GRADE: Allison Boden, Thomas Defawe, John Devlin, Vanja Hagman, Andrew McDonald, Emily Parks,
Taryn Robinson, Erica Smedlie, Jack Williams,
(Picture to come)
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
INSPIRE 2015
On March 25 we hosted Inspire 2015 for our 8th graders. This event provides students an opportunity to
hear from a variety of speakers about a wide range of career and motivational topics. This year's event
included the following speakers: Larry Ahvakana, Artist and Sculptor; Dave Coatsworth, firefighter/
paramedic; Matthew Hamner, Bainbridge Island Police Chief; Matt Smith, Actor; Brad Lewis, Peace Corps
Statistician; Carol Cassella, Writer and Anesthesiologist; Mara Liebling, Doctor; Garrett Madison,
Mountain Climbing Guide; Jordan Hanssen, Ocean Adventurer as well as a panel from Bainbridge Island high
School.
In addition, all students had a chance to see a presentation from BHS grad, Zach Ingrasci on his film
“Living on a Dollar a Day: Extreme Poverty”. Zach released his documentary two years ago to promote
awareness of extreme poverty in the world and hopes to help meet the needs of the poor in Guatemala. His
film is available through NETFLIX. More information can be acquired at http://onedollaraday.weebly.com/
index.html
MORE 8TH GRADE NEWS…..
Not only did our 8th graders have the wonderful opportunity of meeting and hearing about many different
occupations through our INSPIRE day presentations, they also were invited to attend a special performance, “Snow
Falling on Cedars” at the BPA. This performance is based on Bainbridge Island author David Guterson’s book of the
same name. Thank you everyone for giving our students the opportunities to explore their world.
EARTH DAY
8th grade Earth day roadside trash pickup fieldtrip/service project will be on Earth
Day, Wednesday, April 22. Students will be recruiting drivers for this fieldtrip and all drivers
will need to complete the Volunteer driver checklist and include photocopies of their driver's
license and insurance card. Please be looking for the permission form and Volunteer driver
checklist to come home with your student after Spring break.
Woodward Track 2015
It’s time to start thinking about the upcoming track season. Lisa Draper, Sean Eaton, and Kris Tjemsland are all
returning coaches this year along with Paul Benton our volunteer distances coach.
The pre-season informational meeting was held on March 11 but it’s not too late to sign up. Signups are on the
webpage under Track. The season runs from April 6 to May 29 with practice daily from 3:30-5:00 PM. Parent pickup is at 5:15 PM.
To participate all students must have a “C” or better in all classes. Turn in all forms: Sports Physical (good for two
years), Activities Code of Conduct Agreement, and Insurance Waiver. These forms can be found on our WMS
sports web page at www.bainbridge.wednet.edu/woodward/Sports.
There is $150 participation fee due before the second week of practice. Make checks payable to WMS and have
your child turn them in to Ms. Mar before school or during lunch.
All athletes must have proper attire to attend practice, including shoes and sweats. We practice in all weather
conditions. Optional WMS Track sweats are available to order online. We are requesting all athletes wear black
sweat pants or shorts with a light color sweatshirt to meets. Any of the WMS sweatshirts and all types of black
sweatpants will be fine.
Volunteers needed. We are very fortunate to have a large turnout and there are many volunteer opportunities. We
need runners once a week to take the milers on a run, field event specialists, and home track meet volunteers.
We are looking forward to a great season.
More Questions?
Contact head coach Lisa Draper @ [email protected]
8TH GRADERS
Attention all 8th grade students who will be attending
BHS in the fall. Each student is required to complete 8
hours of community service during their freshman year in
their health class. The high school is accepting community
service hours that you complete during the summer prior
to entering 9th grade. For example, if you work at the
Rotary Auction this summer, those hours count toward
your 8 required hours for your health class freshman year.
Take a moment to view the community service
opportunities that are provided within our community and
linked online.
For those students who find community service a
passion, you can start earning service hours that can
be applied to your Presidential Service Award at the
end of you Freshman year. Check out the link online
to determine which award you may be eligible for.
http://www.bisd303.org//site/Default.aspx?PageID=5358
http://www.bainbridge.wednet.edu/bhs/staff/cmoore/
Community%20Service%20Projects/COMMUNITY%
20SERVICE.htm
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Parents, please check with your children to see if they
need to re-stock their school supplies and help them
maintain an adequate supply until the end of the year.
Students seem to be running out of supplies such as
pencils, paper, pens, erasers, etc.
Thanks for your support!
REMEMBER—Do not pick up or
drop off your student in the
north parking lot. Also, do not
park in the firelanes in the
south lot.
If you have any questions, contact Charisa Moore @
[email protected]
WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. WE
HOPE YOU HAVE A RESTFUL AND RELAXING SPRING BREAK AND
COME BACK READY TO FINISH THE 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR.
WE HAVE LOTS MORE TO COME!!