Woodstock Union Middle School

The Woodstock Union Middle School is a school community that recognizes and understands the special needs of early adolescents.  Students at this stage of growth, which spans the transition from childhood to adolescence, are at a critical turning point in their lives.  We are committed to helping each of our students experience success and growth, both personally and academically.  The school environment emphasizes respect; it is everyone’s right and responsibility.

 

Woodstock Union High School Profile

Woodstock Union High School is a comprehensive, fully accredited public high school offering a course of studies for four years as described by the Department of Education in Vermont. Our district is composed of the six towns: Barnard, Bridgewater, Pomfret, Reading, Sherburne, and Woodstock. Our school also accepts tuition students from other towns. We participate in Vermont’s School Choice Program. The enrollment this year is 420. The Windsor Central Supervisory Union has a total population of about 7900 (at the last census); each sending town has a local elementary school.

In our recent history, we have been awarded recognition for excellence by the United States Department of Education and we have earned a Public School Medallion from the Vermont Business Roundtable. Our school was awarded the Creative Schools Distinction Award from the Kennedy Center Alliance for our comprehensive arts program in the year 2000-2001. Our students frequently place in the Region 5 annual Mathematics Competition (sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America), and our Foreign Language students typically earn recognition in national contests. Last year, 33% of our instrumental music students participated in the District 6 of the Vermont Music Educators Festival.

Our school is guided by an administrative team consisting of the Teaching Principal, a Teaching Associate Principal, three Student Deans, and three Program Coordinators. In addition, we have three full time School Counselors, a full time School Nurse, an Emergency Medical Technician, and a part time Nurse. We have approximately 50 teachers. 50% of the professional staff holds one or more advanced degrees beyond the bachelor’s level. All departments have chairs and are further guided by Program Coordinators. Our regional Career and Technology Center is located near White River Junction, in Hartford, Vermont. We have an off site program, Options, designed to assist at-risk students.
Our teacher-pupil ratio is 15:1.

We recognize the value of community participation, and students are urged to participate via extra and co-curricular activities, a Supervised Work Experience Program (SWEP), Career Exploration, and Kid Power. Community Service is encouraged but not required for the diploma; about 40% of our students are active in volunteer work. All Grade 11 students participate in a Junior Transition Seminar. All students have a small advisory group led by an Advisor who is also a faculty member. The school community enjoys a monthly meeting called “Best Thursday” which is managed by our Student Council.

A course description and syllabus is available for every course of study offered in our school. Advanced Placement opportunities this year include Environmental Science, Calculus, Computer Science, Statistics, English, United States History, European History, French, Spanish, Latin, and Studio Art. At the end of the 2008-09 first marking period, 113 students were enrolled in AP courses of study. Honors classes are available in all academic areas.

Most students exceed the minimum number of required credits for the diploma, and many seek opportunities for Independent Study, travel and exchange programs, and early collegiate study. Our school works closely with the wider community; parents, family members, and other community supporters are often present for various activities sponsored by the school, especially in athletics competitions, Art Exhibits, Yoh Theatre productions, musical concerts, and Cabarets. We enjoy the adjacent Union Arena Community Center on campus where the Class of 2004 and 2005 held their Graduation ceremonies.

The Campus

• Located just 1 mile west of the village of Woodstock, Vermont, the school campus is situated on 38 acres along the banks of the Ottauquechee River.
  
• The Rhoda Teagle Library has a large collection consisting of over 20,000 volumes, 500videos/DVD, 130 books on tape/CD, 30 magazine subscriptions and five newspapers). Considerable time and effort is spent in selecting only the very best books for the students, books that are authoritative, up to date, appealing, and that support the curriculum.
  
• There are 21 computers and an informal reading area available in the library.
• In 2004, $100,000 was spent on two state-of-the-art science laboratories.
• Our Union Arena is a $4,000,000 year-round ice hockey arena and field house

Standard Measures

• In 2009, 92 students took AP exams in 10 different subject areas.
• WUHS students have consistently exceeded the national and state averages on the SAT, The New Standards Reference Exam, and Advanced Placement exams.
• WUHS has always exceeded its "Average Yearly Progress" goals as defined by The No Child Left Behind Act.
• From 2001 through 2009 WUHS was identified as one of the top 6 schools in Vermont based on our students' scores on state standardized exams.

The Arts

• Our Yoh Theatre Program has been recognized at both the state and national levels and has garnered many awards.
• Annually our students put on 6 dramatic productions, 4 concerts, and 1 art show.
• Visual arts students may study drawing, sculpture, ceramics, painting, photography and graphic arts.
• Performing arts students may study choral and instrumental music, including voice, guitar, jazz band, and concert band.

Technology

• Students have access to both Mac and Windows computer labs.
• WUHS offers many computer-related courses for students to choose from and is one of only six Vermont high schools that offers AP Computer Science.
• The current student to computer ratio is 4:1.
• Our two mobile wireless labs provide great flexibility and allow teachers to use technology in their classrooms, close to their other valuable classroom resources.
• A series of wireless access points throughout the building allows students and teachers to take advantage of wireless Internet access throughout selected areas of the campus.
• WUHSMS uses both Edline and Google Apps to make course content available online as well as enhance communication among teachers, students, and parents.