Woodside High School

L to R: WHS Seniors Madeline Lee, Ishan Harbury, Astra Adams, Natalie Arai, Kate Stevenson and Grace Coffee are among the16,000 high school students in the graduating class of 2025 — less than 1% of all U.S. seniors — who were named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

The semifinalists, announced on Sept. 11, qualified based on their scores on the Preliminary SAT. About 95 percent are expected to attain finalist standing on the strength of an application detailing academic performance, participation in activities, employment and leadership. About half the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, to be announced in the spring. Go, Wildcats!

Cross Country had a strong outing at the Lowell Invitational at Golden Gate Park last weekend. Girls' Tennis is off to a 2-0 start in league action. Girls' Volleyball teams started league play last week, and they've competed in two tournaments (Spikefest and the Bay Area Classic). Boys' Water Polo bounced back from a loss to M-A and defeated Carlmont and won the Sequoia tournament on Saturday with multiple players contributing offensively and defensively. Will Stevenson scored a half-court shot with one second on the clock to break the tie and defeat Sequoia! Goalie Calvin Pfeffer contributed with a goal of his own. Girls' Water Polo suffered a loss to M-A in their season opener, but they had a commanding win over Carlmont last week. They host Aragon on Tuesday. The Girls' Flag Football team is looking forward to hosting Terra Nova on Wednesday, September 18th for our first Flag Football home game on our beautifully updated turf at Bradley Field!

Go, Wildcats!

A Sense of Belonging. Participate. Get involved.

Woodside High School has something for everyone. Club Rush took place last week on the Quad where students could learn about and sign up for any of the 40+ different clubs or programs proposed and led by students. Students who connect in at least one extracurricular activity in high school develop a stronger sense of belonging, self confidence and leadership skills than those who don't. If it's not a club, we encourage every Woodside Wildcat to find their place in one of the four "A"s this year! The photos in this week's gallery focus on Activities and Athletics.

Our students have access to a rich array of academic classes, a broad set of electives, and smaller class sizes thanks to the WHSF Annual Campaign. Donations from our Woodside families are crucial to making our school the thriving hub of teaching and learning it is today. The goal for 2024’s Annual Campaign is to raise $1,750/student. We know that this is not possible for some families, while other families can do more. Every gift makes a difference!

The WHSF Annual Report should be hitting your mailbox this week if you haven’t already received it. The report explains how the funds raised from parent donations last year are helping all students this year.

Now, it’s time to turn our attention to funds for next year! To donate, visit https://www.whsfoundation.org/donate.

To learn more about the Woodside High School Foundation, please visit www.whsfoundation.org

Dear Woodside Students, Families and Staff:

Donating to the WHS Foundation

The message above from our WHS Foundation is one that I hope you will take to heart and thoughtfully consider what you value in a school community. Each year that my daughter was in high school, I set aside my donation to the programs that directly impacted her public school experiences. As a single parent, I placed great trust in her teachers and coaches, recognizing that they provided for my daughter's academic, athletic and mental wellness in partnership with me. There were years when I could give more and years when I could not offer much, but I always made a commitment to give something. Since joining Woodside HS in 2021, I have set aside my donation to the WHS Foundation in addition to my daughter's school's fundraising efforts. It's because I can see that every dollar the Foundation raises goes directly to supporting our students with additional electives, enrichment opportunities and experiences, teacher grants that fund cutting edge STEM lab equipment, the College Access Program that provides free SAT and College Essay / Personal Statement workshops and multi-day tours of SoCal and NorCal college campuses. I have pledged my donation and I hope you will, too!

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Students AND Parents-- a Wellness Check

Last Friday, the 13th, marked the end of the Quarter 1 Progress Report Period. This week is a very good time to hit the pause button and check-in with your teenager. We are officially one month into the first semester and there has already been quite a bit of teaching and learning, reading, writing, testing and in some cases, some procrastinating, delaying and avoiding going on. Parents, make time to check Canvas to see how your kids are doing in all their classes. Students, be proactive and transparent, and show your parents how you are doing now rather than avoiding the topic. In many cases, you should be super proud of completing your assignments or show that you have a plan for getting back on track if you have been slacking. Parents, enter these conversations with an open mind and heart, offering time to listen and offer support and encouragement. While we often overemphasize the grade or the points of a quiz or a lab, shift the focus toward how your teen is able to show what they are learning and how they are using their resources to get support to reach understanding.

Make time this week for a "time out" as a wellness check. What I have observed in my 31 years as an educator is that parents of high school students let too much time pass in the first semester before checking in on their child's academic and emotional well-being. Or, some parents hover over every assignment and check Canvas incessantly. Somewhere in this extreme, there exists a sweet spot and hopefully, you can avoid the screaming, the door slamming and the tears. Yes... they need their space, but they also need some guardrails and reminders that while they push for more independence, you are their partner in this sometimes wild high school journey. Parents, it's natural for your teenager to challenge you and push you away, but be present, listen and feed them. Literally, food can change the mood of a teenager.

THIS is an ideal week to check-in with each other. Why? To make any adjustments to one's patterns or habits, teens need to pause, reflect on what is working and what's not, eliminate the distractions, and have a support system who can help keep them accountable and get back in control of reaching their goals. October 11th is the end of the 1st Quarter. The last week of October is busy with Homecoming activities and the Homecoming Dance on Bradley Field. You are going to want to stay on top of your classes so that you can have access to these privileges. For anyone who plans on participating in a Winter sport or be part of the Fall Play or continue to be eligible in your fall sport, your grades must meet the minimum eligibility. Students, this is a message for you, too. Be kind to your parents and be gracious.They are trying their best, too.

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Graduation Honors - *UPDATED!

We are writing to inform you of an important update to our graduation honors system effective this academic year 2024-25 *to inform the freshman class, the Class of 2028. The honor of Valedictorian is usually awarded to the highest academic ranking in a graduating class, and one student is typically given the title based on their grade point average (GPA). Previously at Woodside, every student with a cumulative GPA above a 4.1 was a valedictorian. *Starting with the Class of 2028, we are now shifting to a more accurate representation of our distinctions .

Woodside will now use the Latin Honors system of Summa Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude distinctions to honor the academic achievements of our students at graduation. *The current freshman class, the Class of 2028, will be the first group of Woodside HS seniors who will be recognized with the following distinctions:

Summa Cum Laude is a Latin phrase that translates to "with greatest praise" and this will be the highest academic award designated for students in the top 5% of a class or those above a 4.3 GPA
Magna Cum Laude translates to "with great praise" and will be the second highest academic honor, after summa cum laude. Magna Cum Laude will be awarded to students with a GPA within the 4.1-4.29 range.

The weighted cumulative GPA will be used for both distinctions. Recognitions are awarded at the end of the first semester of the student's senior year.

We are very proud of all our students' accomplishments and look forward to accurately honoring them moving forward. *We are providing this information now so that all 9th graders understand how they might aspire to reach the highest levels of academic distinction. *The Class of 2025, 2026, and 2027 will continue to follow the Valedictorian model.

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With Gratitude,

Karen van Putten, Principal and Woodside HS's "Hype Woman"

You may have noticed that last week, the PTSA sent out their "eNews". I will publish my Wildcat News every other week. Please join the PTSA!

Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter and click on the "Subscribe" button.

STUDENTS:

PLEASE LOOK UP AND PAY ATTENTION WHEN CROSSING ALL STREETS AND ROADS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN ARRIVING OR LEAVING WOODSIDE HIGH SCHOOL.

PLEASE USE THE CROSSWALKS AND AVOID JAY-WALKING FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS.

PARENTS OR GUARDIANS:

DROP OFF EARLY ON CAMPUS AND AVOID USING THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS OF HULL & CERRITO AND HULL & SANTIAGO.

STUDENTS and PARENTS and DRIVERS:

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL IN YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS TOWARD OUR NEIGHBORS.

THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING WOODSIDE HIGH SCHOOL POSITIVELY!

Photo "Make Up Day" is September 19th in the MUR: 9AM - 3:30PM.

September 16 - 20 is a "B - A - B - Wildcat A - B Schedule"

• Click Here for the Weekly Calendar of Events and Sports Schedule
• September 15th - October 15th: Hispanic Heritage Month
• September 17: UBC University of British Columbia: College Rep Visit in C6 during Lunch
• September 17: Oberlin College: College Rep Visit in C5 After School

• September 17: Music Boosters Meeting--7:30-8:30PM, zoom

• September 18: Every Wednesday is Wear Your College Gear Day!
• September 18: University of Denver: College Rep Visit in C6 at Lunch

• September 18: Fall Play Auditions, 3:30 - 5 pm, PAC

• September 18: March Into College - Senior Style in the PAC--7:00PM
• September 18: Special Film Screening of KINTSUKUROI in the PAC--6:00PM - Part of the BIG READ

• September 18: Athletic Booster Meeting--Wildcat Room 7:00 - 8:30 pm

• September 19: Photo ID Make-up Day in the MUR
• September 19: The BIG READ - Wildcat Schedule -- Make sure you have finished reading your summer reading of one of the four books -- students can check out a title from the library.
• September 19: University of California, Santa Barbara: College Rep Visit in C5 during Tutorial
• September 19: Special Film Screening of KINTSUKUROI in the PAC--6:00PM w/ Cast & Crew - Part of the BIG READ
• September 20: Whittier College: College Rep Visit in B17 during Brunch
• September 20: Drexel University: College Rep Visit in C6 during Lunch
• September 20: College of the Holy Cross: College Rep Visit in B17 during Tutorial
• September 20: Special Film Screening of KINTSUKUROI in the PAC--6:00PM - Part of the BIG READ
• September 21: Special Film Screening of KINTSUKUROI in the PAC w/ Cast & Crew Q&A--1:00PM - Part of the BIG READ

September 23 - 27 is an "A - B - A - B - A Schedule"

• September 23: University of Rochester: College Rep Visit in B17 during Brunch
• September 23: University of California, Santa Cruz: College Rep Visit in C5 during Lunch
• September 23: University of Oregon: College Rep Visit in C5 during Lunch
• September 23: University of Washington: College Rep Visit in C5 after school
• September 24: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: College Rep Visit in B17 during Brunch
• September 24: Gonzaga University: College Rep Visit in B17 during Tutorial
• September 25: Drama Boosters Meeting--7pm in the MUR
• September 26: University of California, San Diego: College Rep Visit in C6 during Brunch
• September 27: Western Washington University: College Rep Visit in C5 after school

Save the Date!

• September 28: Parent Meeting on Saturday: 9:00AM in J--3
  
• September 28: Cafecito with the Counselors: 10AM in the MUR
• September 30: SUHSD Staff Development - No School for Students
• October 2-4: Rosh Hashanah
• October 9: College & Career Day at Woodside - SAT, PSAT, Job Shadow, College Bus Trips
• October 11: End of Quarter 1 (Academic Eligibility for Athletics!!)
• October 11-12: Yom Kippur
• October 14: Indigenous Peoples Day - NO SCHOOL
• October 21 - 26: HOMECOMING WEEK Activities

Mentoring Program: Woodside HS is looking for career mentors. The mentor program will pair students with professionals to discuss both academic and career goals. The student's career interests are wide-ranging from graphic design and marketing to soil science and green building. I'm hoping that you, or someone that you know, might be able to participate in this program as a mentor, we will be offering a flexible hybrid approach.

Commitment: Approximately 2 hours per month from January to May 2025, with a set curriculum that is focused on career exploration and developing the students' business communication goals. Key deliverables include an elevator pitch, SMART goals, resumes, mock interviews, and a job shadow.
Signup: Please contact us at WHS Mentor <whsmentor@seq.org>

Woodside's Engineering Class

Who: Professional engineers, electricians, welders, machinists, fabricators, robotics, etc.

What: Speak to WHS Engineering classes

When: Pick a date that works for you, we do ask that you try to speak to at least 2 classes, but will work to find a time that fits your schedule

Where: 199 Churchill Ave., Woodside CA 94062

How: Sign Up Here or email Faith Velschow with any questions.

The Woodside High School PTSA is an all-volunteer organization that supports the school community through monthly meetings and various activities and programs which include:

• Supporting teachers with Mini-Grants for Classroom Needs

• PTSA Student Scholarships

• Senior Grad Night

• Concession food sales benefitting the Student Body & Senior Class funds

• Staff Appreciation

• Meet the Principal, Karen van Putten

• Hear from the student leadership committee

If you can’t attend meetings but want to get involved with Woodside High School PTSA there are several ways to do so, use the links below.

Become a member (no volunteering required)

https://jointotem.com/ca/woodside/woodside-high-school-ptsa

Donate money

https://woodsideptsa.membershiptoolkit.com/store/product/DONATE

Email us at whsptsa199@gmail.com with any questions/comments/concerns

STAFF APPRECIATION CHAIRS WELCOME YOU TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR!

Hello Wildcat Families - We are the PTSA Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs, Saya & Lisa. We put together the special lunches/brunches throughout the school year for our dedicated Wildcat Teachers & Staff! Volunteers are always needed and the sign up link(s) will be posted here. Be on the lookout 🙂 We definitely couldn’t do this without parent participation so thank you in advance for your help! Lisa

At our past two meetings (June and August 2024), the ABO approved several Grant Requests for a total of $10,500 to support uniform and equipment purchases for Girls Flag Football, Boys Football, Cross Country (boys and girls), and Girls Volleyball for the fall season. The board also approved a request to pay $10,000 (50% of the cost) for a new scoreboard in the “New Gym”.

Parents and coaches who are working on behalf of fall, winter, and spring sports teams are encouraged to collaborate with Tim Faulkner and the board to submit ABO Grant Requests. The ABO Grant Request Form is the easiest way to begin the process to get ABO financial support.

Parents who would still like to make a team donation should visit WHS Team Donations to find your athlete’s team sport. You will need to sign in to our website to make this team donation. THANK YOU so much to the parents, grandparents, friends, and guardians who have donated!

Our ABO social media manager “graduated” her last senior athlete from WHS last June. We are doing our best to keep the ABO Instagram and Facebook channels updated in a timely manner. If you have photos or stats to submit for a specific sports team, game or match, please submit them to socialmedia@woodsideathletics.org so we can post them to our social media channels. We can no longer accept submissions via DM messages to IG due to policy changes at Meta.

A huge THANK YOU to those parents and students who are submitting photos and scores this early in the season. Please keep them coming!!

Ticket package includes 4 tickets to all regular season home games for football (fall) and boys & girls varsity basketball (winter). Click here to purchase.

Wildcat spirit wear is now on sale at the student store on campus and on the refreshed WHS website. Visit our Spirit Wear Store to make online purchases that can be picked up at WHS. Our next in-person spirit wear sales event will take place at our home football game on Friday, October 4, when the boys will take on Santa Clara High at 4 pm (JV) and 7 pm (Varsity).

Welcome to another great year with the Woodside Drama Boosters Club! We cordially invite you to attend our September meeting on Wednesday, 25 September, at 7pm in the MUR (Multi-Use Room). Come mingle with the team and find out more about what's planned for the 2024/25 school year. Volunteers do not need to have a student in the cast or crew—just an interest in our drama program.

Aspiring actors: Try out for the fall play, Daddy's Girl, a comedy by Gary Ray Stapp, on September 18th from 3.30 - 5pm in the PAC.

Or, if you'd rather make a difference behind the scenes, come join our Tech Crew meetings at Thursday lunchtimes in the PAC. Newbies welcome!

To learn more, visit https://whsdramaboosters.org or email info@dramaboosters.org

Support the Music Program by dining out with Panda Express Nationwide on Wednesday September 25, 2024. The fundraiser is only for online orders for pick up/delivery from their website or app. Enter fundraising code 925950 and 27% of the proceeds will go to the WHS Music Boosters.

Here’s the order link to participate in this great Music fundraiser:

https://www.community-fundraiser.com/virtual-fundraiser/events/promotions/b467b03b-ad54-3fa0-2c51-b833bae96448/en/landing

This is a nationwide program so be sure to share the code 925950 -- our local school program will benefit from all purchases from extended family/friends across the country.

The next meeting for all WHS music program parents will be Tuesday September 17th at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom:

https://seq-org.zoom.us/j/93162993658?pwd=uOJtJVLxu02dONqwSbXn8TSeYkHLGM.1

We will discuss fall performance opportunities, ongoing fundraising, and the potential SoCal spring trip.

Please check our website (https://www.woodsidemusic.org) for calendar updates and other information.

Team100 is off to a strong start with a new class of rookies learning the ropes under the guidance of veteran students and coaches. The training will culminate in the students competing at Mechanical M-Ayhem on November 23rd. Students interested in joining the team or learning more can email us at Team100wildhats@gmail.com or stop by J-1 on Mondays (3:40 - 6:00 PM), Wednesdays (2:40 PM - 6:00 PM) or Saturdays (9 AM - 3 PM). Interested parents may attend an informational meeting on Saturday, September 28 at 9 AM in J-3.

In addition to training new team members, competitions and community outreach, Team 100 must raise at least $63,000 to pay for materials, parts, tools, travel and registration fees as we do not collect dues from our team members. The vast majority of our operating budget is provided by generous donations from WHS’s families and friends. Donations of any size are greatly appreciated. Please use this link to make a tax-deductible donation today - https://www.team100.org/4800. Thanks for your support!

Upcoming events:

Community outreach event at the Portola Valley Town Picnic: Saturday, September 21, 11 AM - 2 PM at Portola Valley Town Center

Parent Meeting: Saturday, September 28, 9 AM in J--3

• Students have a chance to start homework and ask for help within the school day

• Students can make up work from absences without using brunch/lunch

• Access to all of a student’s teachers in one given time period-- all teachers are in their rooms.

• Do the things that might normally interrupt class time like surveys, counselor meetings, school-wide activities, etc.

• This is the BEST time to start or complete HW, make up or finish labs or assessments, meet with teacher(s) for clarification, meet with members of a group project -USE THE TIME EFFECTIVELY!

Our teachers will use Canvas to post information about their courses, including assignments and day-to-day grades. In class and below, you will find more information about Canvas, specifically for students and families. Students will learn about Canvas in the first week of school.

If you have lost your Canvas login credentials, please reach out to our school’s Guidance Information Specialist (GIS), (650) 367-9750 x40096.

• Logging into Student Accounts Overview

• Canvas for Parents/Guardians & Students / Canvas para Padres/Tutores y Estudiantes

• Setting up the Canvas App (Parents/Guardians) / Configurar la Aplicación Canvas (Padres/Tutores)

The Age of Grievance: A Conversation with Frank Bruni

Frank Bruni, Bestselling Author of Grievance, New York Times Writer, Duke Professor

Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Virtual Event (Live)

Register: https://frankbruni2024suhsd.eventbrite.com

Renowned author, NY Times writer, and Duke professor Frank Bruni will discuss his new book, The Age of Grievance, in the specific context of topics relevant to the Parent Education Series, including teen behavior, family dynamics, and college admission.

Parents/caregivers, students, educators, health professionals, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission.

This special presentation is sponsored by the Menlo-Atherton PTA, Sequoia Union High School District, Sequoia Healthcare District, Peninsula Health Care District, and The Parent Venture.

Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, MEd, Co-Founder and CEO, The Parent Venture (The Parent Education Series), at cmargot@parentventure.org.

La era del agravio: una conversación con Frank Bruni

Frank Bruni, autor del bestseller Grievance, escritor del New York Times, profesor de Duke

Miércoles 18 de septiembre de 2024, de 5:30pm a 6:30pm (hora del Pacífico), evento virtual (en vivo)

Registro: https://frankbruni2024suhsd.eventbrite.com

Autor de renombre, escritor del New York Times y profesor de Duke franco bruni hablará sobre su nuevo libro, La era del agravio, en el contexto específico de temas relevantes para la Serie de Educación para Padres, incluido el comportamiento de los adolescentes, la dinámica familiar y la admisión a la universidad.

¡Bienvenidos padres/cuidadores, estudiantes, educadores, profesionales de la salud y miembros de la comunidad! Habrá interpretación simultánea en español disponible. Entrada gratis.

Esta presentación especial está patrocinada por la PTA de Menlo-Atherton, Distrito escolar secundario de Sequoia Union, Sequoia Healthcare District, Distrito de atención médica de la península, y The Parent Venture.

¿Preguntas? Comuníquese con Charlene Margot, MEd, cofundadora y directora ejecutiva, The Parent Venture (Serie de educación para padres), en cmargot@parentventure.org.

The Many Lives of Mama Love (Oprah Book Club Selection)

Lara Love Hardin, Author, Literary Agent, Co-Founder, The Gemma Project

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Virtual Event (Live)

Register: https://laralovehardin2024suhsd.eventbrite.com

An Oprah's Book Club Selection, The Many Lives of Mama Love is a heartbreaking and tender journey from shame to redemption, despite a system that makes it almost impossible for us to move beyond the worst thing we have ever done.

Parents/caregivers, students, educators, health professionals, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission.

This special presentation is sponsored by Sequoia Union High School District, Sequoia Healthcare District, Peninsula Health Care District, and The Parent Venture.

Las muchas vidas de Mama Love (Selección del club de lectura de Oprah)

Lara Love Hardin, autora, agente literaria, cofundadora de The Gemma Project

Jueves 19 de septiembre de 2024, de 5:30pm a 6:30pm (hora del Pacífico), evento virtual (en vivo)

Registro: https://laralovehardin2024suhsd.eventbrite.com

Un Selección del club de lectura de Oprah, Las muchas vidas de Mama Love es un viaje desgarrador y tierno desde la vergüenza hasta la redención, a pesar de un sistema que nos hace casi imposible ir más allá de lo peor que hemos hecho.

¡Bienvenidos padres/cuidadores, estudiantes, educadores, profesionales de la salud y miembros de la comunidad! Habrá interpretación simultánea en español disponible. Entrada gratis.

Esta presentación especial está patrocinada por Distrito escolar secundario de Sequoia Union, Sequoia Healthcare District, Distrito de atención médica de la península y The Parent Venture.

¿Preguntas? Comuníquese con Charlene Margot, MEd, cofundadora y directora ejecutiva, The Parent Venture (Serie de educación para padres), en cmargot@parentventure.org.

Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, MEd, Co-Founder and CEO, The Parent Venture (The Parent Education Series), at cmargot@parentventure.org.

Email: kvanputten@seq.org
Website: woodsidehs.org
Location: 199 Churchill Avenue, Woodside, CA, USA
Phone: (650) 367-9750
Facebook: Woodside High School

Instagram: @wildcatspirit