VTLSP/OVX attend the Youth Leadership Summit in Burlington

This event provided an exciting opportunity for students to learn about mental health and nicotine use prevention while actively engaging in the process of becoming educators and leaders within their schools. Through engaging workshops, students discovered how to use social media for good with support from the Stanford REACH Lab. Students explored creative ways to share important nicotine prevention lessons, all while connecting with a supportive network of like-minded youth from across Vermont.

Allison Lanoza named HATCH student of the month

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Congratulations to Allison Lanoza who was named student of the month at the Hartford Area Career & Technology Center.

CRAFT grows with Pre-K students

By Sophia Rosenbach ‘26

Sometimes the most meaningful lessons do not happen in a classroom at all. This fall, CRAFT Immersive Semester students took learning outside by teaming up with Jacquelyn Thomason's pre-k class at Woodstock Elementary School to help restore Mt. Peg’s trails. Together, they worked to protect the trails of Mt. Peg by researching and planting native plants that can help reduce erosion, are deer-resistant, and can withstand harsh weather conditions. The project began in class, where CRAFT students investigated a variety of local plant species that could help address concerns such as reducing erosion and protecting habitats. With support from teachers and local environmental resources, students identified which plants would thrive on the steep terrain while strengthening the trail’s long-term health. 

Next came the teamwork. As a next step, CRAFT students visited the Pre-K classroom to introduce the young learners to these plants by explaining what native plants are, how they differ, and why they are crucial to an ecosystem. These concerns and concepts were then applied to rotating learning stations. Each station included a slide with images and simple bullets about each plant, designed to inform preschoolers and help them understand how native plants support the environment. The goal was simple: make this experience engaging, fun, and accessible for everyone. 

A week later, both groups met again; this time, outdoors on Mt. Peg. Students worked together in small teams to plant the species they had studied, transforming their research into real-world action. The Pre-K kids dug, planted, and learned right alongside their older student mentors, proudly contributing to the trails they love to explore. This collaboration showcased what can happen when education goes beyond the classroom: students of all ages gaining confidence, forming community connections, and making a positive environmental impact. The CRAFT students hope the plants they installed will grow strong and help keep the trail safe and sustainable for years to come.

* This project is also supported by the Equitable Climate Action Project program of the Upper Valley Teaching Place Collaborative.

Photo by Max Grudzinski

VTLSP'S Red Ribbon Week comes to a close for another year!

Woodstock Union High School's Vermont Teen Leadership Safety Program or VTLSP had their Red Ribbon Week this week: October 27-31. This campaign is devoted to the well-being of our students. We put the spotlight on nutrition, self-care, empowerment, and healthy choices.

Our leadership for our VTLSP Club of 23 members are Co-Presidents: seniors Aleks Cirovic and Eleanor Williams, and Vice President senior Mimi Kanda-Olmstead.

Special thanks to the Woodstock Farmers' Market for their generous donation of four cases of Red Empire Apples! To learn about Red Ribbon Week's national campaign go to: https://www.redribbon.org/

Football team helps restock WES’s recess toys

The football team made their biggest play of the week on Tuesday—and it didn't happen on the field.

Our players collected donations of recess toys for Woodstock Elementary and hand-delivered them to the school. But they didn't stop there. They spent PE and recess playing with second and third graders, creating memories that will last far longer than any touchdown.

The smiles said it all—everyone had an incredible time.