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Wildcat Weekly Entries
Week of August 21Top of Page
Dear Upper School Families,
It has been such a pleasure to see so many of you and to welcome our students and their families back onto campus last week. I am always amazed at the way our Upper Schoolers walk confidently back onto campus, smiling and chatting as if no time has passed at all. It is clear that our students feel at home here, and that sense of comfort and belonging makes all the difference in their school experience. The sense of community is one of the things I cherish most about our school!
In the first few days, our students got to know their teachers and visited the various classrooms that they will be learning in. Our 5th graders established relationships with their homeroom classes, and also met with their Music, PE, Art, and Science teachers. Our 6th-8th graders spent the first day together, reviewing schedules, expectations, and doing team building activities. All of your children should have brought home our Upper School student expectations document to review with you and to have you sign. Our staff has worked hard to create and implement policies that keep all students safe and happy here at school. If you haven't had a chance to do so, please read through that document with your child.
I am so happy to see our campus abuzz with students, parents, and staff again, and I know that this is going to be a wonderful year for your children. Thank you for your partnership in getting your students ready for another year!
Warmly,
Jenn
Week of June 12Top of Page
Dear Upper School Families,
On behalf of myself and our staff, I want to thank you for an incredible year. One of my favorite parts of June is taking a moment to reflect back on where we started in August. Most of our students are taller now, some of them have different voices, different styles, or even different friends. Some of them may be going on new adventures next year, and many will be returning. While there are so many variables in a young adolescent's life, one thing that is true year after year is the amount of progress that our students make. This progress is evident in their writing, their ability to comprehend more complex texts, their presentation skills, their computation and problem-solving skills, the ways that they interact with others, and in so many other facets of their life.
I hope that your child left school on Friday with a sense of pride for all that they have accomplished, both academically and personally this year. This can be a tough age range for students, and I am continually in awe of the way that our students, families, and staff members work together to provide our children with the best opportunities for learning and growth within a safe and supportive environment. I am so proud of our school and our students, and I am grateful for your partnership throughout this year. I hope that you all have a restful and safe summer and that you are able to make lasting memories!
I look forward to seeing you in August!
Warmly,
Jenn
Week of December 12, 2022Top of Page
Dear Upper School Families,
It certainly has felt like we are beginning to move into Winter this week! It's hard to believe that it's just around the corner. As we start to look ahead to this next season, one of the things that we are excited to bring back this year is our annual Talent Show. This is an amazing event where 6th-8th graders can showcase their talents for a live audience on February 8th. We had our informational meeting last week, and forms are due this week. Please see the timeline below. I hope that many of our students will consider performing in this fun event and that many of you will attend as audience members, too! Please let Dr. D. or me know if you have any questions.
It certainly has felt like we are beginning to move into Winter this week! It's hard to believe that it's just around the corner. As we start to look ahead to this next season, one of the things that we are excited to bring back this year is our annual Talent Show. This is an amazing event where 6th-8th graders can showcase their talents for a live audience on February 8th. We had our informational meeting last week, and forms are due this week. Please see the timeline below. I hope that many of our students will consider performing in this fun event and that many of you will attend as audience members, too! Please let Dr. D. or me know if you have any questions.
- Forms Due – Wed., Dec. 14 to Dr. D. in Rm 36 (no late forms).
Students must turn in the signed registration form to Dr. D directly. Do not turn it into the office! - Rehearsal #1 – Wed., Jan. 4 at LUNCH meeting
- Rehearsal #2 – Week of Jan. 9 at lunch or Wednesday 2:30 pm in Room 36
- Rehearsal #3 – Week of Jan. 16 at lunch or Wednesday 2:30 pm in Room 36
- Rehearsal #4 – Week of Jan. 23 at lunch or Wednesday 2:30 pm in Room 36
- Rehearsal #5 – Week of Jan. 30 at lunch or Wednesday 2:30 pm in Room 36
- All MP3’s Due – Fri., Jan. 20 (emailed to Dr. D’Ambrosio)
- Sound Check/Final Rehearsal – Wed., Feb. 8th at 2:30pm in gym (mandatory)
- Talent Show Roll Call: 6 pm – Wed., Feb. 8 at 6:30pm; Sellman
Warmly,
Jenn
Week of December 5Top of Page
Our 6th graders had an incredible time in the Marin Headlands last week. I want to thank Jenn Parker for her tireless efforts in planning and executing this trip for our kids, as well as Alicia McLaughlin and Jonathan Schneider who chaperoned the trip. Our teachers go above and beyond to provide meaningful, fun, and educational experiences for our students, and that is one of the things that makes Woodside Upper School so special! Our 6th graders learned about the ecosystems in the Headlands, explored a World War II battery, hiked to Point Bonita Lighthouse, and braved the elements as Thursday's storm hit the Headlands. I know that our students will remember this amazing trip for years to come!
Thank you to the 4th and 5th grade families who attended Meet the Upper School last Wednesday, and thank you to our staff who presented at the event. It was wonderful to meet so many families and students, and we hope that you will all continue to choose Woodside as your child moves into their 6th-8th grade years. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me should you have any questions about our program.
Have a wonderful week!
Thank you to the 4th and 5th grade families who attended Meet the Upper School last Wednesday, and thank you to our staff who presented at the event. It was wonderful to meet so many families and students, and we hope that you will all continue to choose Woodside as your child moves into their 6th-8th grade years. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me should you have any questions about our program.
Have a wonderful week!
Week of November 21Top of Page
Dear Upper School Parents,
As we head into this week off, I want to express my appreciation for our special community. This week, our students and staff worked on gratitude trees, where we wrote down things we are grateful for on paper leaves. It was amazing to watch the barren paper trees come alive with gratitude, appreciation, and love as the leaves were hung. These trees are up behind the school office, and I hope that you all have a chance to come by and see our students' reflections.
As a reminder, I would like to invite all 4th and 5th grade families to attend our annual Meet the Upper School event. This event will take place on Wednesday, November 30th, from 2:00-3:30pm in Wildcats. This is a great chance for you to tour our 6th-8th grade and to hear from our amazing staff about the unique programs that we offer. Woodside Upper School is a special place, and we pride ourselves on making sure that our students are prepared for high school and the world beyond. The afternoon will begin with classroom tours at 2:00pm, where you will get to see what it's like when class is in session in our 6th-8th grade rooms. After the tours, we will hold a presentation where we review the highlights of our Upper School experience, as presented by our amazing group of teachers. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here so that we get an idea of the headcount for tours. I can't wait to show you what makes our Upper School so special!
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Jenn
Week of November 7Top of Page
I would like to invite all 4th and 5th grade families to attend our annual Meet the Upper School event. This event will take place on Wednesday, November 30th, from 2:00-3:30pm in Wildcats. This is a great chance for you to tour our 6th-8th grade and to hear from our amazing staff about the unique programs that we offer. Woodside Upper School is a special place, and we pride ourselves on making sure that our students are prepared for high school and the world beyond. The afternoon will begin with classroom tours at 2:00pm, where you will get to see what it's like when class is in session in our 6th-8th grade rooms. After the tours, we will hold a presentation where we review the highlights of our Upper School experience, as presented by our amazing group of teachers. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here so that we get an idea of the headcount for tours. I can't wait to show you what makes our Upper School so special!
Week of Oct. 31Top of Page
Dear Upper School Families,
Happy Halloween! I hope that your children enjoyed our celebrations here at school. It was great to see so much joy on campus today. A big thank you to our PTA for coordinating our all-school pumpkin painting event, and to Dr. D for setting up a great assembly for our community.
I would like to invite all 4th and 5th grade families to attend our annual Meet the Upper School event. This event will take place on Wednesday, November 30th, from 2:00-3:30pm in Wildcats. This is a great chance for you to tour our 6th-8th grade and to hear from our amazing staff about the unique programs that we offer. Woodside Upper School is a special place, and we pride ourselves on making sure that our students are prepared for high school and the world beyond. The afternoon will begin with classroom tours at 2:00pm, where you will get to see what it's like when class is in session in our 6th-8th grade rooms. After the tours, we will hold a presentation where we review the highlights of our Upper School experience, as presented by our amazing group of teachers. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here so that we get an idea of the headcount for tours. I can't wait to show you what makes our Upper School so special!
Regards,
Jenn
Week of Oct. 24Top of Page
Hello Upper School Parents,
As we wrap up our celebration of World Bullying Prevention Month, I wanted to share a resource that might be helpful. This Family Media Agreement is a great tool for having productive conversations at home around appropriate media usage, which in turn leads to decreases in cyberbullying. As a school, we strive to teach students to be upstanding digital citizens and emphasize the need for digital etiquette. This starts with education and conversation. I hope that this tool is useful for you as you navigate your own guidelines around media use at home.
Thank you all for your participation in Fall conferences. Our teachers worked hard to prepare for these meetings, and they enjoyed getting to know you more and providing updates about your child's progress in person. It has been wonderful to see campus alive again with conferences, Gardenfest, and so much more to come!
Have a wonderful week,
Jenn
Week of Oct. 10, 2022Top of Page
Hello Upper School Parents,
I want to thank our amazing PTA and parent volunteers for putting on our first Upper School BBQ last Friday! The kids had so much fun eating burgers and socializing with their friends, and it was great to see our 5th-8th graders come together as a community. This is one of my favorite Upper School traditions, and something many of our students look forward to each year. Thank you, PTA!
Our staff is looking forward to seeing you at Fall conferences this week and next week. 5th grade teachers will meet with parents in their classrooms, and 6th-8th grade teachers will meet with parents in the school library. Each teacher will be stationed at a table, and you can go take a seat when it is time for your conference. Our teachers are excited to share about your child's progress and to meet with you in person this year!
Have a wonderful week,
Jenn
Week of Oct. 3, 2022Top of Page
Dear Upper School Families,
Thank you for your participation in Spirit Week last week! It was great to see the first student council event go so successfully, and we look forward to celebrating our students and our school in many different ways this year.
Today we kicked off World Bullying Prevention Month and we wore blue in solidarity for the cause. We will be focusing on kindness, responsibility (our word of the month!), and inclusion this month as a school. Students will have a focus each week, with this week's focus is making new friendships and reaching out to others. We are looking forward to talking about how we can make sure that all students feel valued and welcome, and putting those ideas into practice this month.
Have a wonderful Wednesday off this week, and I wish a good holiday to our families observing Yom Kippur!
Warmly,
Jenn
Week of Sept. 26Top of Page
Dear Upper School Parents,
We officially entered Fall last week, and our school year is in full swing. Students are well into the first trimester in all of their classes and we have Fall sports up and running. It's great to see so many students enjoying themselves on our volleyball and flag football teams!
It is great to see so many of our students biking, walking, or scootering to school this year. Unfortunately, we have received some feedback from community members about students riding unsafely, and we ask that you discuss routes and safety expectations with your children at home. When students enter campus, they need to walk bikes to ensure the safety of themselves and others. We have seen an uptick of students riding their bikes through parking lots and riding against traffic, often without helmets. Our school staff addresses these students when seen, and we appreciate your partnership in making sure that students make it safely to and from school each day, while also looking out for the safety of other community members traveling through town and campus.
I hope that you all can join us for an all-school lineup this week on Wednesday, September 28th at 8:25 am as we introduce our next theme of the month!
Warmly,
Jenn
Week of Sept. 19Top of Page
Dear Upper School Families,
Our teachers are looking forward to seeing you at this year's Fall Conferences. All families are invited to sign up for a time slot with their child's teachers. This is a great opportunity to discuss your child's progress so far and to build a relationship with your child's teachers. 5th grade teachers will meet with families in their classrooms, while 6th-8th grade conferences will take place in the school library. Teachers will be stationed at tables around the room with name placards so that you can sit down to conference during your chosen 10-minute window. Should you have any questions about availability or questions related to your child's class conferences, please reach out to teachers directly. If you have any questions about the event, please let me know how I can be of assistance.
We look forward to welcoming you back to our first in-person conferences since 2019 and hope that you will find this time with your child's teachers to be productive. Thank you for partnering with us to give your child a great year!
Warmly,
Jenn
Week of Sept. 12Top of Page
Hello Upper School Families,
It was wonderful to see so many of you at Back to School Night last week! Our teachers were so excited to welcome you into their classrooms and to share the exciting learning that they have in store for your children this year. It felt so nice to have everyone back on campus together, and I enjoyed the great community feeling of the night.
As we get further into the school year, you will notice that the academic demands of Upper School begin to ramp up. I highly recommend that you encourage your child to check Powerschool regularly to stay on top of missed assignments. Additionally, all Upper School teachers hold weekly office hours where students can drop in to receive extra support, make up assignments, or ask questions. I highly recommend that all students utilize these opportunities as much as possible.
Fall conferences are coming up on October 11, 12, 20, and 21. You will have the opportunity to sign up for a conference with each of your child's teachers. We are excited that conferences will be held in person this year. This is an excellent opportunity to get updates on your child's progress and to get to know your child's teachers better. Sign-ups will go out on Friday, September 16th in Mr. Frank's weekly communication.
Our first all-school lineup will be on Wednesday, September 28th, where we will introduce the next theme of the month that we will be focusing on. Parents are welcome to join us at this community event on the blacktop behind the office.
Have a wonderful week!
Jenn
Week of Sept. 5Top of Page
Hello Upper School Families,
Thank you again for your partnership in preparing your child for the 22-23 school year! We have been off to an exceptionally smooth start, and it has been incredible to see our students smiling, laughing, and learning together inside and outside the classroom.
We are looking forward to returning to our typical Back to School Night format this year and welcoming you into the Upper School classrooms. I know that you will be impressed by the wealth of knowledge that our staff has to offer, as well as by the thoughtful planning that they have put into the evening's presentations. 5th grade families will attend an information session hosted by Ms. Baumgartner and Ms. Kim, while 6th-8th grade families will follow their child's schedule, traveling to 7 core classes. Your child will help to create that schedule for you, and it will be brought home prior to Thursday.
I look forward to seeing you on campus next week, and I hope that you are able to stay cool over the long weekend!
Warmly,
Jenn
1st Week of School ...Top of Page
Hello Upper School Families,
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! I hope that the first days of school went extremely well for your child. On behalf of the whole Upper School team, I want to thank you all for your preparation and flexibility. The first days of school went off without a hitch, all because you took the time to review the information about the new school year and to prepare your child for the new school year. We appreciate you dropping off your child prior to 8:25am each day and your caution in the drop-off lanes. Drop off and pick up are getting easier every day! Your partnership is invaluable, and we are so grateful for all that you do to help the school day run smoothly.
I would also like to thank our incredible staff members, who spent countless hours, days, and weeks preparing for the return of our students. We truly have the best team around, and your students are in the most capable hands! Watching the teachers create their magic in the classroom has been a highlight for me, and it’s incredible to see our students so engaged. It was also wonderful to see students together in their grade level groups on the first day of school, participating in community-building activities and reengaging with one another!
While everything has still not returned to “normal” as we once knew it, the progress that we have been able to make since the last year is truly remarkable, and it is clear that the changes in guidelines have been refreshing for both staff and students. The middle school courtyard is abuzz again, as students move between classrooms and follow their normal middle school schedule. Teachers are very happy to be back in their own classrooms, and students are doing a fantastic job learning their schedules. This is no easy feat, and I know that by the end of this week, they will all have their schedule down pat!
Recess and lunch have been another highlight for all of our students. I have so enjoyed watching them get to enjoy all that our campus has to offer again. Upper School students have access to the play structure, the turf field, the blacktops, and the softball field. There is no shortage of room to run and play, and the smiles on our students’ faces says it all!
Thank you again for your support, and here’s to a successful and joyous school year!
Warmly,
Jenn