School news
9th grade snack club deemed a success!
A Farm to School vision grant from the Vermont Department of Agriculture supported an extension of the annual 9th grade Food Security project through the creation of a weekly Snack Club. 6 ninth graders gathered each Wednesday throughout the school year to prepare a healthy snack for their peers. They were guided by Annesonia Beardsley, through her senior Stewardship Action Project.
Annesonia planned the menu, researched recipes, helped source items from local farms, and facilitated the snack making. Snacks ranged from the popular energy ball to banana spinach muffins, to an entirely green snack of edamame hummus, cucumbers, and celery for St Patrick's Day. Champlain Orchards, VT Farmstead Cheese, and Maplebrook Farm generously supported this project with donations, and the Woodstock Farmer's Market offered a discount as well.
When surveyed, ninth graders reported that this program helped students discover new healthy snack ideas they could replicate at home and made them realize that they could also enjoy healthy food. Many respondents enjoyed the taste of the snacks, describing them as "delicious" or "tasty," and looked forward to the weekly delivery, which provided a positive break and "bursts of excitement" during class.
Students said: "When we get snacks I feel focused after a long day after lunch. It gives a little break in afternoon classes, while providing fuel to stay focused throughout the afternoon before the end of the day activities like sports or theater." The snack makers said: "WE make kids happy. We make kids full. It's really nice to give kids more food because I know everyone's super hungry even if we’ve just had lunch and it's really awesome to have all these kids who really want snacks and like them."
Thanks to Heidi, Violet, Annabelle, Wren, Astrid, Lux, Annesonia, Kat, and Mr Wolfe! We have enough funding for one more year of snack club!
Middle school salon club
The Middle School Salon Club added some flair to the first week of spring by hosting a free Pop Up Salon during lunch last Friday. Students and staff came to lobby for henna, hair tinsel, and nail art. Everyone left looking more glamorous!
Middle school students and teachers enjoy Winter Carnival
On March 5th, middle schoolers traded class for an afternoon at the annual Winter Carnival. The Spirit Club kicked things off with an assembly full of games and raffles, then students and teachers spread out across activities — ice skating, ping pong, Bingo, bracelet making, Just Dance, a movie, and more. The day wrapped up with cookies and cocoa outside as a whole middle school.
Students loved having the freedom to move between activities at their own pace — a detail that came up more than once. A well-earned thanks to the School Spirit Club for pulling it all together.
Spirit team celebrates fellow students
Members of the Spirit Team made poster for upcoming Sports and YOH theater.
It has been a wonderful winter season of spirit, celebrating and supporting all the activitiies in our school!
WE ARE WOODSTOCK!
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.
