Woodside High School

The Woodside High School Debate Club is seeking someone with debate experience and interest in coaching an up-and-coming debate team. This is a volunteer position because the club is new, but a stipend for tournaments may be negotiated.

Contact: jminglee1706@gmail.com, jess33lin@gmail.com, tessaniu06@gmail.com

• Click Here for the Weekly Calendar of Events
• Note: we added College/University Rep Visits in italics - Click here- College & Career Calendar
• September 25: Lawrence University in B17 (Brunch), SUNY Binghampton in C5 (Lunch), Whitman College in C5 (Tutorial)
• September 26: UNLV in B17 (Brunch), University of Rochester in C5 (Lunch), UC San Diego in C5 (Tutorial)
• September 27: NOTE the UPDATED Minimum Day Bell Schedule!; Tulane University in C5 (Brunch); Fall Play Auditions in the PAC (4:00 - 6PM); Last Day to Drop/Add a Class without Penalty; Drama Boosters Meeting in the MUR Conference Room (7PM)
• September 28: MATH ICA (Interim Comprehensive Assessment) - All Students; University of Vermont in C5 (Brunch), Johns Hopkins University in C5 (Lunch), St. Mary's in C5 (Tutorial)
• September 29: LITERACY ICA (Interim Comprehensive Assessment) - All Students

• October 2: Loyola University - Chicago in B17 (Brunch); SDMC / SSC (Shared Decision Making Council / School Site Council) Meeting in the MUR Conference Room (4-6PM); PTSA Meeting in the MUR Conference Room (7PM & Zoom)

• October 3: University of Puget Sound in B17 (Brunch); ELAC (English Language Advisory Council) Meeting in the Library (6:30PM)
• October 4: Occidental College in C5 (Brunch)
• October 6: University of Michigan in C5 (Lunch); NYU in C6 (Tutorial)
• October 9: NO SCHOOL in Recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day
• October 11: COLLEGE DAY Activities for ALL Grades 9-12
• October 12: ID PHOTO MAKE-UP Day
• October 13: End of 1st Quarter
• October 16 - 20 Homecoming Week Spirit Activities
• October 21: Homecoming Dance on Bradley Field

Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional promise. Woodside's eleven Commended Students placed among the top 34,000 students who entered the 2024 competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) on College Day last October.

"Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success," commented a spokesperson from NMSC. "These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success."

Congratulations to Woodside's Commended Students (alpha order): Leif Austin (not pictured - will add in next week's newsletter), Thomas Beasley, Audrey Chung, Lemons Hachigian-Kreutzer, Madeleine Kimbro Norman, Justin Lee, Alya Madhani, Natalia Richter, Tao SatoPerry, Eva Urbanek, and Megan Xu

Last week, we posted our National Merit Semifinalists who will apply for competitive scholarships.

Next week, we will post the recipients of the National Hispanic Recognition Award!

Note: Every junior and sophomore can take the PSAT on 10/11 for free through a generous community donor.

Juniors ONLY: You still have time to sign up for a free PSAT-Short Course Prep Session-Click Here.

For 9th and 10th grade families who identify Spanish as their primary home language, our school counselors hosted a translated English/Spanish information meeting over coffee and pan dulce on Saturday, 9/23, in the MUR. The focus was on communications between the school and home, while sharing several academic support programs for college access such as our partnership with Future Grads (Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula), AVID, and College Track. Wonderful energy and dedication from all our families.

Top: Green Academy 10th graders in Ms. Ortiz and Mr. Lee's classes explore marine life on Half Moon Bay while working on their communication and kayaking skills. The September 7th adventure is already one of their highlights of the school year. Center: NASA Ames hosted over 30 students from the Robotics team on Sunday 9/10. Students toured the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) and were able to check out the two largest wind tunnels in the world! In addition to learning about the amazing tests that are performed at the site, students were able to stand in the tunnel and see the fans that drive the wind. Bottom: The PE Department added four new inflatable Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs) to supplement their Swim Unit. Principal van Putten was invited to be a guest teacher on September 18 and 19 to share her love and knowledge of SUP and tips for correct positioning for balance and paddle technique. She was so proud of the students for overcoming their fears and getting up on their feet with some big smiles and a sense of accomplishment! *Just a typical day at Woodside!

Dear Woodside Students, Families and Staff:

Minimum Day Schedule UPDATED

The Minimum Day Schedule continues to evolve, but we believe we have it right, finally.

In May of 2022, we changed the 2022-23 Bell Schedule for Woodside High School which was updated to align with the statewide requirement (California Senate Bill 328) that all high schools begin no earlier than 8:30AM. The 22-23 schedule structure of the schedule was kept intact other than the 30-minute later start time.

At that time, we noted, “We will continue to review the effectiveness of this bell schedule in meeting the needs of our students and teachers next year.” In that spirit, the minimum day schedule for 23-24 school year was edited to satisfy 1) a consistent start time for students and families, 2) a consistent end time for staff with the previous year’s schedule and 3) the requirements for instructional minutes. This will also allow staff enough time to eat lunch and travel to any district-wide PD that would start at 1:30PM.

Following consultation with SDTA, Department Chairs and SDMC on 9/18, we reached agreement on the updated Minimum Day Schedule posted above in the Important Dates section and linked here.

SUHSD Board Study Session on Streamlining Courses

Last Wednesday evening, 9/20, I, along with the other principals in the district shared the historical context for the thoughtful changes in some of our courses over the years. Here is a summary of what I shared for Woodside's current and future commitment to academic excellence and access for all students:

• WHS is not making any changes to current or future curriculum. We will continue to offer a broad range of classes.

• We currently offer and will continue to offer 19 AP (Advanced Placement) courses, vetted by and approved by the College Board in all the core subjects, including all four world languages and visual arts. Based on ongoing discussions with department members and student interest, we engage in thoughtful, research-based discussions around adding any new AP course or revising current courses to be an AP course. In addition to AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics in math, our students can also elect to take college level math courses taught on campus by a Canada College professor: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra.

• We currently offer two AS (Advanced Standing) courses: AS English 2 for 10th grade and AS Chemistry for 10th graders and up.

• The one change we made last year was that AS (Advanced Standing) English now begins Sophomore year, and the Freshman English course was revised to be a College Prep English 1 class for all freshmen. It has only been one year, and this thoughtful change has been monitored closely by our teachers and administration at WHS with positive results. More students are developing confidence in ELA and Social Studies as they have maintained and increased enrollment in AS English 2 and AP World History coming out of 9th grade. *We continue to offer specialized English 1 intensive classes and ELD for students who are new to the country or still developing foundational English skills.

• Classes will remain open to everyone and there will continue to be no gpa or other requirements for enrollment, which is often common practice at most private schools and many public high schools, too.

• We encourage our students to embrace their four years at Woodside with a balanced approach to academic rigor and a life of physical and mental health and wellness! We encourage all Woodside students to take freshman year to balance their academics and all the other Four A's: sign up for activities, participate in athletics and explore the arts available at school. This is a critical time to explore and learn to collaborate with classmates with diverse life experiences and practice developing their confidence and their individual voices so that they can aspire to have the Confidence to Take Action and select one or more AS or AP courses throughout their high school career.

Math and Literacy ICA - Interim Comprehensive Assessments: Thurs/Fri 9/28 and 9/29

From District Message sent 9/7/2023:

Each year we strive to better understand how SUHSD students are progressing on state content standards and readiness for college and career. This September, we will continue to administer an Interim Comprehensive Assessment (ICA) in Literacy and Math. It is the only District assessment that allows us to measure student progress year after year, throughout our students’ high school career.

Focus skills assessed on the Literacy ICA include: developing claims, evaluating a speaker's point of view, citing strong and thorough textual evidence and determining the central idea of a text. The Math ICA will measure student progress in the domains of procedural knowledge, application and problem solving, and communicating mathematical reasoning.

The results are formative and will not impact your student’s grades. Students are able to best demonstrate what they know and can do when they have had a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast.

Students will take this assessment during a regularly scheduled school day and will receive instructions directly from school administrators and teachers about the schedule at their site. Please be sure to send your student with a fully charged device, such as a school-issued Chromebook, on the day of the assessment.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate in contacting me directly: kvanputten@seq.org

Go, Wildcats!

H. Karen van Putten, Principal

Be on the lookout in your mailboxes this week for the Woodside High School Foundation Annual Report! The report explains how the funds raised from parent donations last year are helping all students this year. Our students have access to a rich array of academic classes, a broad set of electives, and small class sizes. Donations from our Woodside families are crucial to making our school the thriving hub of teaching and learning it is today.

Our goal for 2023’s Annual Campaign is to raise $1,500/student. We know that this is a stretch for some families, and also know that some families can do more. Every gift makes a difference. Please make your gift now at https://www.whsfoundation.org/donate.

To learn more about the Woodside High School Foundation, please visit www.whsfoundation.org

The athletics program at WHS has 22 sports that include 45 athletic teams with over 700 student athletes. WHS athletics teams rely heavily on donations provided by WHS families, staff and community members to fund needs not provided by the school district.

Ticket package includes 4 tickets to all regular season home games for football (fall) and boys & girls varsity basketball (winter). Click here to purchase.

Get your WHS Spirit Wear! The ABO online shop is open.

More Information: https://woodsideathletics.membershiptoolkit.com/home

Come out and DANCE with us, Friday, October 13, 2023 from 6 - 7PM in the Old Gym! WHS Dance and Cheer are hosting a Dance Cardio Fundraiser with Coach Miggy and Angie Mercado leading the class. Get your tickets from a Dance or Cheer Team member. See you there!!

Stop by the New Gym to see Bay Area high school robotics teams compete in a friendly competition using last year’s robot designs and the FIRST Robotics competition course. Team 100 - Wildhats is hosting the event and its robot (Zeus) will compete. NOT TO BE MISSED!

WOODSIDE DRAMA BOOSTERS

Fall Play: Attention, performers!

Auditions for "Don't Try to Wake Him, Hand Me the Shovel," this year's full-length, comedy/mystery play, take place on Weds. September 27th from 4-6pm in the Drama classroom (TH-2). Callbacks are Thursday, September 28th. Sign up and find more info in the main office.

Drama Boosters: Please join us on September 27th at 7pm in the MUR, small conference room. Anyone with an interest in our drama program is welcome.

Follow us on Instagram: Be sure to follow WHS Drama Boosters on Instagram at @whsdramaboosters for all of the latest happenings.

Welcome to Woodside High School where ALL students can and will learn!

Email: kvanputten@seq.org
Website: woodsidehs.org
Location: 199 Churchill Avenue, Woodside, CA, USA
Phone: (650) 367-9750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Woodside-High-School-584534558341797/