School news
WUHS student earns honorable mention at AVA High School Exhibition
Congratulations to WUHS student Mimi Kanda-Olmstead ‘26 for earning Honorable Mention in AVA Gallery and Art Center’s 18th Annual High School Exhibition.
This annual regional exhibition highlights outstanding artwork from high school students across Vermont and New Hampshire. Art teachers nominate students whose work demonstrates creativity, strong technical skill, and a unique artistic voice. Mimi’s work stood out among many impressive submissions and was recognized by the exhibition judges.
Mimi is a student in the Advanced Digital Photo and Design class taught by Dr. Susannah Gravel, where she continues to develop her artistic voice through photography and digital design.
We are incredibly proud to see Mimi’s work recognized and exhibited in a professional gallery.
Eco Art students launch ice books
The Ottauquechee River thawed just in time and lived up to its Abenaki name meaning 'swift mountain stream' for Eco Art students to launch ice books into the current this week.
Inspired by artist Basia Irland, students froze water into book shapes, then used Dremel tools to carve symbols and letters into the ice. Garden manager Abbie Castriotta guided them through the role of native riparian plants in biodiversity and erosion control, and students carefully embedded seeds — harvested by Regenerative Agriculture classmates — into the carvings before sending them downstream.
As Irland describes it, the project emphasizes "communal effort and scientific knowledge" in addressing climate disruption and watershed restoration. As the ice melts and seeds take root, the river does the rest.
It's a project that's equal parts art, ecology, and hope.
VT Supreme Court Justice visits 8th grade class
VT Supreme Court Justice Harold Eaton and his intern, Camille, visited with the 8th grade class as part of our study of the Bill of Rights & the US Constitution. Students are reading the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson as part of their study of the judicial branch of government. Justice Eaton answered student questions about his work and the role of the judiciary in our state and national governments.
Justice Eaton is very much a homegrown Woodstocker. His parents both graduated from WUHS, as he himself did in 1973, and then also his son, Matt. He went on to attend UVM and Vermont Law School and he was appointed to Vermont's highest court in 2014. We were able to dig out his yearbook from our archives!
WUHS Finance and Investing Club welcomes local guest speaker
Last week the WUHS Finance and Investing Club welcomed local financial advisor Derek Pierce to speak about investing fundamentals. Members came away with practical insights on building smart habits early, the kind that pay off over time.
A big thank you to Mr. Pierce, Mr. Wolfe, Dr. Duff, and Mrs. Hudson for making it happen. Join us for Finance Friday Meetings — 2nd ARE time, every Friday in Mr. Wolfe's room!
Many 'Big Stories, Small Sentences: Room 206'
There's a new book in the school library, and it was written by students right here at WUHS.
Brenna Bridwell's class spent six weeks mastering one of the most deceptively simple forms in writing: the six-word story. The format asks writers to say something true and complete in just six words — no more, no less. Every student contributed a story, and together they became Big Stories, Small Sentences: Room 206.
A few that will stay with you:
If Heaven had a phone number...
One man's joy; Another man's sorrow.
The book is available in the school library for anyone in the community to read.
