Interact Club returns after multi-year hiatus

By Kaitlyn Burres
Interact Club President

This year the Interact Club run by Lori Adams and Kim Carey was able to re-form after a multi-year hiatus. Interact has been a club dedicated to giving to our community and our world. We are a club made up of freshmen through seniors with a strong connection to the Rotary. After a quick start up at the beginning of the year Interact jumped quickly into how we could give back to our community. We have been fortunate enough to be supported by the Rotary throughout this year as well as connect with an Interact Club in Thailand. As Interact gains more funds and strength we hope to give to those in need in Thailand and organize trips there as well. Interact is committed to selfless acts of kindness to all those who need it and will continue to carry this commitment out.

Interact Club chose to kick off our first year back by organizing a canned food drive for those affected by the removal of snap benefits. Interact did a one day drive and gained over $100 worth of donations as well as multiple bags full of canned goods.

Above is a photo of Kaitlyn Burres Speaking at the Rotarian’s Night of Giving as well as the letter sent from the Rotary Club inviting students to accept their generous donation

Although Interact has not been running for long Interact was able to accept a generous donation from Max Comins. Interact was invited to speak at the Rotarian’s Night of Giving and Kaitlyn Burres and Mimi Kanda-Olmstead said words to give their immense thanks to the Rotarians.

Interact members also went to the Reading Elementary School to decorate food donation boxes with the 1st through 4th graders. A large aspect of Interact is building up the community and ensuring kindness and selflessness throughout the younger generations. This was executed perfectly throughout a two hour window organized by Kim Carey. Both Interact members and the Reading Elementary school enjoyed this special event.

Currently, Interact is running a winter clothing drive. In the main lobby every day Interact members collect old winter items that students donate. Many people in the community are not able to afford the necessary items to keep warm this chilly winter. Interact plans to hand these articles of clothing out to those who need them the most.

George comes to WUHS

George the therapy dog visited with his owner Polly Stone this week. Polly and George traveled one hour and 40 minutes one way from southern Vermont to visit with students during ARE time and middle school lunch. George is a certified therapy dog from Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Therapy Dogs of Vermont have been outstanding in connecting us with therapy dogs around Vermont to support our students. Rain, the Bernese Mountain Dog, will be returning later this month with his owner Buffy Bell.

Hacky sacks are making a comeback

Principal Cinquemani and several high school students circle up to enjoy kicking around the hacky sack before the holiday break... This cooperative "sport" has been making a fierce comeback here at Woodstock!

December library news and book club festivities

In this week's From the Library newsletter, learn about the Young Adult Diverse Books Book Club's winter party and book swap, see a snow-themed book display and read about Red Stars, the new Middle School Book Club book by Davide Morosinotto. 

Young Adult Book Books Book Club

On December 9, members of the Young Adult Diverse Books Book Club gathered for a festive winter celebration during ARE time. The cozy event combined delicious treats, literary discoveries, and the joy of sharing favorite reads with fellow book lovers.

Schuyler Hagge brought a homemade hot cocoa cake, while Maya Sluka contributed tasty toffee for everyone to enjoy. As students sampled the sweet treats, they dove into discussions about this year's National Book Award finalists and winner in Young Adult Literature, exploring what makes these books stand out in contemporary teen fiction.

The group also looked ahead to Teen Lit Mob in April, an event that celebrates young adult literature and brings readers together around powerful stories. Students shared enthusiastic book recommendations with each other, highlighting diverse voices and perspectives in YA literature, before participating in a book swap where everyone could take home a new-to-them title.

The Young Adult Diverse Books Book Club continues to create a welcoming space for students to discover stories that reflect a wide range of experiences and identities while building community around their shared love of reading.

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Middle School Book Club

The Middle School Book Club is just finishing up The Lost Year by Katerine Marsh and looking forward to their next book Red Stars: The Case of Viktor and Nadya's Notebooks by Davide Morosinotto. During the first quarter students have been reading The Lost Year, discussing Russian and Ukranian history during the 1930s and journaling in their notebooks about the characters' experiences and their own. With this background knowledge, students will be learning about Russian history during World War II in the 1940s through the notebooks of Viktor and Nadya. Red Stars is translated from the Italian into English and is told through journal entries, photos, maps and documents. The publisher's note states, "... this fictionalized account of the Nazi siege of Leningrad during the Second World War, this heart-stopping story of danger, courage and bravery emphasizes the power of truth and what it means to be a hero."

Introducing Spirit Club

The Spirit Club is a newly formed club for the 2025/26 school year. Led by a group of passionate students, their club mission is to encourage support of student activities and create spirit.

Pictured are two of the members who, along with the club created a poster for all Winter Sports and Arts Activities.

There is so much to be spirited about in our School.

WE ARE WOODSTOCK!

We are incredibly fortunate to have Noelle Nunes championing our students and school community. Through Noelle's dedication in organizing Spirit Club, she's empowered students to lead, build connections, and foster the spirit that makes our school special. Noelle's commitment to student voice and school pride doesn't go unnoticed—thank you for all you do to make our school a better place!