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Woodland Regional High School » From the Principal

From the Principal

December 12, 2022

Dear Woodland Family Members:

 

It is hard to believe, but we are past the midpoint of the second marking period. As the saying goes, "Time waits for no one". Included with this letter is a schedule of our mid-term exams which are scheduled to begin on Friday, January 13th, as long as we don't have any more days off of school due to bad weather.

 

Online Grades and Communication:

Posting students up to date grades and student assignments via Schoology has been a tremendous asset to both students and parents. PowerSchool is still utilized to access attendance and historical grades. Our goal is to continually improve the quality of information available to our students and parents. If you need help with accessing information from either Schoology or PowerSchool, please call the main office and we would be glad to assist you.

 

2023 - 2024 Course Registration:

We will follow the same process for course registration as last year. All of the appropriate information will be distributed to students in mid-January and students will register for classes on January 30th and January 31st during advisory. Woodland's updated Program of Studies will soon be available online at both the Region 16 website and on Schoology.

 

Student Drivers and Inclement Weather:

Very important! Please utilize the utmost caution when allowing students to drive on days of inclement weather and please help us to keep everyone safe on days of early dismissals. The safest ride to and from school on a bad weather day is on the bus!

 

Future Testing Dates:

PSATTesting = Wednesday, March 22nd. This testing is for all students in both grade 9 and 10. 

SAT Testing= Wednesday, March 22nd. This testing will be administered to all grade 11 students in

Connecticut on this date. This test will cover the areas of English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics.

Please note: Makeup SAT Testing is scheduled for Thursday, March 23rd and Tuesday, March 28th.

Next Generation Science Standards Test (NGSS) = Monday, April 24th and Tuesday, April 25th. This 90-minute test is for students in grade 11 only and will be given during science class.

 

The Woodland family wishes you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy

2023! If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at 203-881-5551 ext. 5 or

[email protected].

 

Respectfully, 
Kurt Ogren
Principal
Believe it or not ... your son or daughter will graduate from Woodland in approximately 10 ½ months! Senior year will be an exciting, eventful and possibly anxious period of time for your child as they plan and prepare for their life after high school. Over the course of the next several months, students will be making important decisions about their immediate future while working towards graduation. Please rest assured that our Administrative Team and Guidance Department will offer assistance, counseling, advice and experience in order to make your child's senior year as rewarding and fulfilling as possible. We will communicate with parents on a regular basis to keep you informed of the many senior events and any issues or concerns that may arise during the year in order to keep your stress level as low as possible. 
 
The main purpose of this summer letter is to remind and inform you of two major graduation requirements for all members of the upcoming graduating class. Community Service and Senior Capstone Project have both been graduation requirements at Woodland since we first opened our doors 21 years ago.
 

COMMUNITY SERVICE 

Every member of the class of 2023 must volunteer and document the completion of at least 40 hours of community service to be eligible for graduation. Our goal is to help all of our students appreciate, respect, and get involved with the community around them in a positive manner. Most students have met, or far exceeded this obligation and need not worry. However, we are concerned about a number of students who have either just begun or who have not yet begun to meet this requirement. Also, many students have completed the community service hours, but have not documented these hours. Credit for the hours is not official until all paperwork (with proper signatures} is completed and submitted to Mrs. Janine Murdy, Department Chair for School Counseling. Community Service hours can be obtained through a myriad of activities including the following: 
 
  • Participate in various school-wide projects such as food drives, clothing or blood drives.
  • Donating time at a senior center, animal shelter, Special Olympics or a soup kitchen.
  • Helping out a needy neighbor or relative with a household project such as raking leaves or shoveling snow for no pay.
  • Participating in any local fundraising project such as a car wash, walk or run, or any event where the funds go to charity.
Now is the perfect time for students to complete their community service requirements. We have attached a blank Community Service form for students to log their hours. It is my hope that our students have a lifetime of rewarding community service!

 

Every senior must successfully complete a Senior Capstone Project in order to graduate from Woodland Regional High School. The purpose of the Senior Capstone Project is to provide each student with the opportunity to create a personalized, comprehensive and meaningful learning experience that is built on interest and ability. Senior Capstone Project titles will be added to each student's official transcript, allowing future employers and college admissions officers the opportunity to see the independent work of each student. Each senior will submit a project proposal, conduct a minimum amount of research, produce the project and finally, present the process and outcome of the project to members of the Senior Project Committee. 
 
All of the requirements for the Senior Capstone Project are detailed online and will be reviewed with all Seniors in early September during an assembly led by Senior Capstone Project Advisor Mrs. Kaitlin Acabbo. It is our hope that all students will spend time reflecting on their interests and design a proposal for a Senior Capstone Project that will be meaningful. 
 
Senior Capstone Project topics may be very diverse, but must be approved by the Senior Capstone Project Committee. For example, one student may design and build picnic tables for our courtyard that are handicap accessible, another student might create a project that acknowledges the local members of our military and another student might decide to write a critical analysis of the novels of William Faulkner. Another option is for Seniors to conduct a Portrait of a Graduate Senior Defense. 
 
Students have until October 3, 2022 to decide on their project and complete a project proposal form online. Once the proposal is accepted by the Senior Capstone Project Committee, students will have the majority of senior year to complete their project with the help and guidance of their advisor and mentor culminating with a final presentation of the project in April. 2023. Students who do not follow the established timeline for completion are subject to failing this requirement which will result in a delayed graduation. The Senior Capstone Project proposal form is found on Schoology (Courses -Woodland Capstone 2023). 
 
I anticipate this letter helps to clarify the two major student responsibilities and opportunities of Community Service and Senior Capstone Project which are requirements for graduation. If you have any questions of concerns, we are available throughout the summer break at 203-881-5551. 
 
Respectfully, 
Kurt Ogren
Principal