Steve Lazona receives McLaughlin Award from student council

The Student Council awarded Steve Lanoza with the James T. McLaughlin Co-curricular Award. The McLaughlin Award is named after Jim McLaughlin who was a former science teacher, administrator and winning football coach at WUHSMS. Students nominated Steve Lanoza, who works in the cafeteria, for this award for his dedication to supporting and encouraging students during sports events, concerts, theater productions, chaperoning the prom and his genuine interest in students' well being.

Upon receiving the award, Steve Lanoza expressed his gratitude by saying, "I would like to thank everyone involved in choosing me for this award. It was a complete surprise to me that left me humbled. I will miss all of the seniors very much. I wish there was a way to stay in touch so I could hear of all their future endeavors. And, I look forward to seeing everyone else next school year!"

Woodstock Envirothon team places second

Schuyler Hagge, Kody Lantiegne, and Pippa Shaw won second place in the Vermont Envirothon Competition. They rotated through four stations where they worked as a team to complete hands-on tests about Aquatics, Soils, Forestry, and Wildlife. They also presented about Nonpoint Source Pollution in our watershed and potential solutions. The team enjoyed spending the day at Buck Lake Conservation Area, showcasing the knowledge they've gained in their science and agriculture classes, and getting to talk with professionals in the field. 

If you are interested in joining the Envirothon Team next year, please reach out to Abbie Castriotta (Room 27 or abbie.castriotta@mtnviews.org).

8th grader Norah Wolfe wins 2026 Lincoln Hildene essay contest

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Congratulations to Norah Wolfe, who won first place in the annual Hildene Essay Contest this spring! The contest is open to 8th graders around Vermont, and this year's prompt asked students to apply a value from the Declaration of Independence to a current issue in our nation. Norah's essay was titled Frozen Liberty, and it tackled the controversy around ICE, whose "recent actions regarding illegal immigration, including aggressive enforcement maneuvers and unwarranted searches in the U.S. are uprooting the country's founding value of liberty." Norah was honored at a luncheon at the Lincoln Family Home in Manchester, Vermont, last weekend, where she was awarded with $500. Congratulations, Norah!

Equitable climate action partnership at VINS

Middle school and high school students presented at the third annual ECAP\(Equitable Climate Action Partnership) at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science on May 8. Students got to experience some activities, check out the birds and trails, learn about birds and climate change and present their projects.

Middle school students Reese Fenity, Isa Contarino and Annabelle Park presented about their food system project from wellness. The girls gathered local foods from Annabelle’s garden, cooked over 80 healthy meals and served them to people in need in Rutland. 

Middle achool atudents Reese Fenity, Isa Contarino and Annabelle Park presented about their food system project from wellness. The girls gathered local foods from Annabelle’s garden, cooked over 80 healthy meals and served them to people in need in Rutland. 

High schoolers Pea Richardson, Bethany Thorburn, Sadie Boulbol, Owen Whalen and Brody Allen shared about their immersive semester work at the King Farm this past fall where they created a permaculture design for future use of the land and made and planted air pruning beads with native trees.

Nick Cellini competes at the Presidential 1776 Award for Civics

On May 2, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston served as the backdrop for an intense competition and powerful celebration of civic engagement and leadership. At the regional finals for the Presidential 1776 Awards was Woodstock’s own Nick Cellini, standing as one of three representatives for the Green Mountain State, selected in the basis of their scores in the “impossible civics test” earlier in the year. Nick was competing against students from 9 other states and showcasing his commitment to excellence in Civics as part of the nation’s birthday celebration.

The competition involved answering a series of rapid fire open response history and government questions on stage by a panel of judges, spelling bee style. Nick equipped himself admirably, and scored the highest number of points from Vermont.

The Presidential 1776 Award is a 2026 national civics competition for U.S. high school students (grades 9-12) celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Organized by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education, it tests knowledge of the American Revolution, founding documents, and early history to promote civic literacy and award significant scholarships.