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Woodstock Union High School We
are a diverse community committed to the discovery of promise
in each of us, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS: Mary Ellen
Gallagher, Superintendent; Greg Schillinger, Principal; Julian Underwood,
Associate Principal and Grade l2 Dean; Wendy Wannop, Director of Athletics;
Sherry Newberry, Director, Learning Opportunities; Heather Hansen,
Registrar COUNSELING SERVICES DEPARTMENT: Suzy
Hallock-Bannigan, Director; Robin Ellison, School Counselor; Stacy
Thomas, School Counselor; Vali Stuntz, Middle School Counselor, Mary
Beth Heiskell, Student Assistance Counselor; Janet North, Secretary;
Joni Kennedy, Student Records, Scholarship Coordinator SCHOOL
PROFILE 2008-2009
OUR 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. 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, and our Fine
Arts Department is referenced as a model by personnel in the State
Department of Education. 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. Each year at least one-third of our band
students participate in the Connecticut Valley Music Festival. Our
Superintendent believes that it is our job to “teach all children,” and
while we share “seriousness about our work, we shall also experience
the humor and joy of it with our students and with each other.” As
a school family, we welcome current brain research which “is
helping us help children learn.” Our district is
composed of the towns named above, and our school also accepts tuition
students from other towns. 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. The school community enjoys a monthly meeting called “Best Thursday” which is managed by our Student Council. ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES AT OUR SCHOOL include courses in required distributions which include Language, Literature and the Arts; Mathematics, Science and Technology; Social Studies; Physical Education and Health, and electives in Agricultural Education, Business and Computer Technology, Family and Consumer Science, Foreign Language,and some electives are offered on site in Technology Education. Our campus enjoys greenhouse facilities. Our students may apply for Early Graduation as a three year course of study program. Eligible students may study at the Vermont Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) at the Vermont Technical College in the Grade l2 year. A course description and synopsis is available for every course of study offered in our school. The school publishes a Program of Studies booklet annually. Advanced Placement opportunities this year include Calculus, Computer Science, English, World History, European History, United States History, Statistics, and Studio Art. Fifth year French and Spanish students have the option to take the AP exam; Latin students in the fourth year of study have the option. At the end of the first course selection and auditioning period, enrollments in AP courses totaled 88 in the courses other than foreign language, 136 with foreign language. Independent, self directed studies are available to learners who have demonstrated independence in scholarship; “mirrored” independent courses replicate a course of study as described in our formal curriculum. On line and Virtual High School courses are available to our students, but each must earn the approval of Mr. Bango, our educational technology specialist, the appropriate department chair, and our administration. The Class of 2008 is required to evidence 17 required credits and at least 8 electives. Most students exceed the minimum number of 25 credits for the diploma, and many seek opportunities for Independent Study, travel and exchange programs, and collegiate study in the area. We accept up to four foreign exchange students annually; by Policy, the school only approves students for which we have an appropriate program, and the organization must be listed by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel. Similarly, a small number of our students participate in foreign study, travel, or exchange programs and transfer credits earned. 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, the annual Art Exhibit, for Yoh Theatre productions, and at concerts). We enjoy a Union Arena Community Center on campus; the Classes of 2004 and 2005 held their Graduation ceremonies there, and the Classes of 2006 and 2007 held their Graduation ceremony on campus near the banks of the Ottauquechee River. Our Principal has a published Vision for our school. THE EVALUATION SYSTEM respects individual student’s needs, varied learning styles, and each student’s unique aspirations and goals. Since l998, GPA and RIC have been determined by averaging precise numerical grades and adding Quality Points for Honors (+5) and Advanced Placement Courses (+10). Our administration and faculty hope that this method best reflects performance and assists employers and college admissions personnel in candidate selection. A complete list of weighted courses is available in the Counseling Services offices and accompanies every transcript. The school is receptive to information about the usefulness of this data. Our ranking system does include all the arts, technologies, and electives. Students may seek approval for earning partial PE credits through participation in Dance and school sanctioned athletics. Though not required for the diploma, students are encouraged to study non-native languages. The Art Department assists students in the presentation of a Portfolio for alternative assessment. All departments in the school are encouraged to differentiate instruction and to engage in interdepartmental collaborative projects. Block scheduling began (after a self study and survey) during the 2002-2003 school year; most courses are offered in blocks of about 85 minutes which exceeds or replicates college class duration. THE CLASS OF 2008 consists of 102 (+ or -) students who have earned at least l9 credits prior to the senior year. The Principal assures the community that each graduate in June will have earned the following: At least 6 credits in ARTS, LANGUAGE, AND LITERATURE Each student’s course of study is indicated on an official transcript which bears the school’s seal and is signed by a school official. For more than a decade, the following evaluation system has been in use: Grade Standard 90-100 A Exceptional
Quality Occasionally, faculty and students may seek opportunities for independent study which may award credit but not bear an evaluation. Courses taken at area colleges, by correspondence with accredited colleges and universities, or are part of a foreign exchange program pre-approved by the Principal do not carry weight and are not included in the rank. Community service projects are similarly reported. The Pass acknowledgment (P) on a transcript does not reflect a minimum performance level. College personnel are urged to seek further explanation of this indicator on a candidate’s record. Often the indicator reflects personal and academic initiative or community service which is extraordinary. OUR DISTRICT enjoys certain characteristics which may be relevant when considering class rank. Given that much of recent research indicates that predictors of student success in school are parent income and parent education level, it may be important to note that our sending communities have a higher-than-average proportion (more than 50%) of parents with college degrees, post graduate degrees, and upper income status. Woodstock is well situated near the Ottauquechee River and the Killington Ski Area; it is a known tourist destination with a high percentage of employment in the resort and four season industries. The area is known for equine interests and history, small entrepreneurial businesses, art galleries, and restaurants. In recent years, ranges of 66 to 80% of our students were accepted
at college; of these, one out of four was accepted at a selective or
highly selective college or university (using “selective” to
describe an institution which admits 60% or fewer of the candidate
pool).
In a recent year, 80% of our students reported working part time; most believed the work had no adverse impact on school performance. It is possible that our students who apply for Work Study opportunities at college will have behaviors in place for time management. About one quarter of our college bound students choose to remain in state for continuing education post high school; three quarters accept placements out of state. Graduates who continued their education indicated that their most frequently sought majors were in the Visual or Performing Arts, Business, Marketing, and Management, and in Education. Others included Health professions, Engineering, and Natural Resources. College admissions officers report the most frequently declared major is “Undecided,” but only 10% of our student population in the Class of 2003 declared Undecided (the VSAC 2003 Actual Activities Report is the most recent study available at this time). Despite the educational status of our parent population and our students’ aspiration rate, we have socioeconomic diversity and we are grateful to community resources which presented 129 awards to students totaling $135,146 in scholarship aid (presented at the June 2007 Senior Awards evening). Some awards are need based, and others are merit and interest based. COUNSELING SERVICES in our district begin, for the most part, in elementary school with ample opportunity for group and individual guidance. The Middle School has a full time school counselor. In the high school, the Department Chair also serves as the Supervisor of the Peer Counseling Program; a School Counselor serves as the Coordinator of the Supervised Work Experience Program and facilitates students with documented learning challenges as they register for College Board examinations. Another School Counselor serves as Liaison with the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center and is a contact for military placement. All three high school counselors facilitate students in seeking post secondary placement in career and college, and all three welcome college representatives to campus. The counselors participate in consultation and supervision regularly. Members of the Class of 2007 filed, on the average, 5 to 6 college applications per student with a range of 1 to 20 (up from 12 in 2004) per student (to total 470 applications filed). Official school documents travel through the United States Postal Service and bear the school’s official seal; they are signed by a school official. The counseling staff works closely with a Student Assistance Program (which includes a counselor and a supervisor) in prevention, intervention, and postvention issues of substance abuse. The SAP program supervisor is a licensed master counselor in the state of Vermont. All three school counselors provide academic, career, and personal, social-emotional counseling to students. No student is coerced to use counseling services, yet the department reports high frequency of use with 98% student approval rating (2006 data, the last available at this time). All the counselors hold Master’s degrees and the department chair has earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Counseling Psychology. The department has membership in the American Counseling Association, the American School Counselor Association, and the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and The New England Association of College Admissions Counselors. The high school counselors serve on the Pupil Personnel Services Team and may attend the Woodstock Child Protection Team in the wider community. The counselor-student ratio is 150-1. The Department has a full time secretary who manages the school report packets for colleges and who assists the Principal’s secretary in arranging scholarship distribution from local sources. The Department has a full time Records Clerk who maintains the records for the department and who coordinates scholarship opportunities for students throughout the school year. Seven peer counselors provide outreach and support under the auspices of Counseling Services. The school counselors adhere to the Ethical Standards of the American Counseling Association and the American School Counselors Association; the peer counselors adhere to the National Peer Helpers Association standards and their own published code. ENDORSED SCHOOL ACTIVITIES include Earth Beat, Forensics/Debate, Senior and Intermediate Math Team, National Honor Society, Scholar’s Bowl, Speak Chorus, Student Council, VT Teen Leadership Safety Program/Students Against Destructive Decisions, Woodstock Newspaper (What’s the Buzz), Yearbook, Yoh Theatre Players. COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES includes Agriculture Exploration Club, Kid Power, Supervised Work Experience Program (SWEP), Rotary Interact, SOS Peer Counseling, Spectrum Teen Center. ATHLETIC PROGRAMS include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, rock climbing, skiing, snow boarding, soccer, softball, tennis and track. The Class of 2008 has some well defined senior privileges and responsibilities, an active group of senior officers, and class advisors. MEMBERS: National Association of College Admission Counselors, New England Association of College Admissions Counselors, American Counseling Association, American School Counselor Association. In accordance with Title VI, Title IX, and the rules
and regulations as defined by the Secretary of Health, Education,
and Welfare, it is a policy of Woodstock Union High School that
no person, upon the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual
orientation, creed or faith, sex or age shall be excluded from participation,
denied privileges, or be subjected to discrimination in any educational
program or activity in our school. A Policy Committee under
the auspices of our Board of School Directors reviews policies systematically,
and all staff are responsible to the policies of our school.
97 students graduating school
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