Trojan Talk

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As we approach the holiday season, it is a perfect time to push pause and reflect on all the people in our lives who help bring us joy and purpose. I am extremely grateful for the WHS community – the students, the staff, and our families. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to share one of my favorite quotes with you that I share every year at this time. I hope you all have a holiday focused on the most important things – your glass balls.

“Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity. And you’re keeping all of them in the air. But one day, you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls – family, health, friends, and integrity – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of a life of gratitude.”

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving! I hope the laughter and pie are both plentiful!

P.S. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram - @ProudToBeWHS

The students in this year’s fall drama were the best yet! (Do I say that every year?) On November 8 and November 9, the audience in the Audion enjoyed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. The cast and crew put on a show to remember. Thank you to Mr. McClelland for his leadership and commitment. I think we are going to see some WHS students with their name in lights! Check out the pictures for a taste of the talent on our stage!

Congratulations to Angela Walden, WHS Classroom Assistant, who was selected as an award semi-finalist for the Recognizing Inspiring Schools Award (RISE). Ms. Walden was nominated by me and enthusiastically supported by more than a dozen administrators, teachers, school psychologists, and community members. The Pennsylvania Department of Education created the RISE Award to recognize and promote the commitment and excellence exhibited by public school support staff (paraprofessionals and school-related personnel) who provide exemplary service to students. When I received information about this award, there was not a moment of hesitation before I knew I wanted to nominate Angela Walden. She connects with and brings out the best in our students and in our colleagues. Ms. Walden’s co-workers describe her as a “great advocate for students with special needs” and “a quiet cheerleader doing everything she can to support students and their families.”

She is recognized as being responsible, patient, caring, honest, proactive, forward-thinking, and knowledgeable. She is applauded as an exemplary role model and mentor who builds strong relationships based on trust with students, families, and staff alike.
Ms. Walden said she works hard to demonstrate excellence in the school and community “by viewing my support staff role at Wissahickon High School as not only my job but also as my mission. I believe that if I am entrusted with someone’s child/student for seven hours a day, it is my obligation to use every moment of that time to give everything within my power to build up our students, whether it be academically, socially, or emotionally.”
Read the full press release, including other accolades about Ms. Walden

On Election Day, 9th grade student Neil Rastogi volunteered at Temple Hospital Jeanes Campus to help admitted patients cast their vote. Neil believes that everyone should have the right to vote, and their health condition should not stop them from voting. Neil was assigned the role of handing out absentee ballot forms to those who became physically ill or disabled after the deadline to apply to vote had passed. He was excited to do this because he enjoys talking to patients and helping them in any way he can. Neil guided the patients on how to complete their ballot. He showed them how to fill it out and seal it in the privacy envelope so it could be dropped off at the polls. I commend Neil for spending his day off servicing our community!

On Thursday, November 14, 117 students were inducted into WHS’ Chapter of the National Honor Society. The students were recognized for their academic and scholastic achievements, their service work, their leadership, and their strong character. I was so proud to see so many hard-working students earn this recognition. Additionally, the students select teachers to recognize for each of the four pillars of the NHS. This year, our students selected the following four teachers because they are exemplary role models: Mr. Crofton (Character), Dr. Neubert (Leadership), Ms. Moore (Scholarship), and Mr. Rooney (Service). Thank you to Ms. Lotty for all of her hard work in making the evening such a wonderful celebration. It’s one of my favorites!

Shoutout to our WHS World Language Department and our students for hosting a fun and educational World Language Fair to introduce other students (grades 4-12) to the languages taught and spoken in Wiss Nation. The fair included food, games, and educational displays. Students from WHS clubs, including the new Italian Cultural Club, were on hand to share information about the culture in different countries as well as club activities. The event was scheduled on an early dismissal day to make it easier for elementary students to attend with their families after school. It was a huge success!

WHS was proud to celebrate Veterans on Monday, November 11. Our National Art Honor Society students decorated the doors of our Veteran teachers at WHS; our students saw the decorations and recognized the heroism and patriotism of their teachers. Additionally, our Camerata performed patriotic pieces recognizing the Armed Forces at our Memorial on campus. And finally, our students engaged in a discussion during the We Have Space time about the importance and meaning of honoring our country’s Veterans. Thank you to all Veterans for their heroism and patriotism.

It wouldn’t be a complete newsletter if Mr. MacMinn didn’t share a shout-out to his classes! He is by far the most dedicated WHS Newsletter contributor! Students in his AP Physics 2 class recently mapped out equipotential lines using a voltmeter to locate points on a conductive surface that have the same voltage. The students also had the chance to draw the electric field lines which are perpendicular to the equipotential lines. I hope this just sounds way harder than it really is! Keep up the great work!

Students in our Advanced Ceramics & Photography classes recently visited Moravian Tile Works in Doylestown. Students toured the historic facility, spoke with the artisans about the process of making their famous tiles, explored the grounds, and documented the experience with amazing photographs! No one invited me!

America Education Week was November 18 through November 22. This is a time to celebrate our school community! During this week, it is important to recognize all of the people who make each and every school day possible – bus drivers, maintenance and facilities workers, cafeteria staff, support staff, teachers, administrators, counselors, School Board members, and countless others. We are all part of Wiss Nation with our focus on all of our students!

Our Photography students have really been enjoying the warm temperatures this fall with walks in the trails behind WHS to capture the beautiful and vibrant colors in their photographs! I think I hear National Geographic calling!

Forensics students in Ms. Shahbazi's classes recently used a Geiger Counter in a toxicology lab. Students used their chemistry skills to perform presumptive testing to see which toxins and poisons were used in some clever scenarios written by Mr. Shultz. The students enjoyed learning about how ricin, arsenic, cyanide, and polonium can be detected and which tests to run based on the evidence. Sounds like a very interesting episode of CSI!

On November 2nd, Team 341 hosted its 24th annual off-season robotics competition, Ramp Riot. Our team hosted 34 FIRST Robotics Competition teams, along with 14 FIRST Tech Challenge teams from a total of 5 states. The day was filled with high-energy game play, an engaging robot driving zone at Sparky's Robot World, fun raffle prizes, and silly face painting. Our live stream was, once again, top notch (duh!), with two field-side commentators, Jeff Bunca and Vedant Makkar, and attracted over 2,500 online views. Our event hosts were some of the best, with emcee Mike Rizzo, and game announcer Eric Del Santo. All of these people contributed to the "show" that is Ramp Riot, which is a big part of why teams come back every year. Team 341 was delighted to facilitate a Ladies in FIRST event, alongside Team 4575, GEMINI, that included a panel of notable women in STEM, including a special Rosie-the-Riveter guest. Participating teams collected over 300+ items to donate to the Mattie Dixon community cupboard, assisting our local community in need. To top it all off - Our Team actually won Ramp Riot! Focusing instead on the experience of our guests, our team's performance at our own event is never prioritized yet somehow, the small crew of students who kept the robot operational, and made it perform on the field, did so at a level that proved to be winner-worthy! I am so proud of Team 341, Coach Jahn-Richardson, Coach DiGregorio, and all of the other coaches and supporters of the program! If you want to check out pictures from the event, click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/team341/albums/72177720321759680.

Mark your calendars! Commencement for the Class of 2025 will be held on Thursday, June 5th at 6:00PM in the Wissahickon High School stadium! Believe it or not, planning is already underway for this big event to celebrate our graduates' accomplishments. In the event that it rains on June 5, our rain-date is set for Friday, June 6th. Same time, same place! If it rains on June 6, we will hold graduation indoors that evening. More information will follow in the months to come. We are already excited and can’t wait to celebrate with our Class of 2025 students, families, and friends!

Our seniors enjoyed the traditional Spirit of Philadelphia excursion on November 4. It was a fun night with a lot of memory making. Dr. Woodland-Smith posed with her students in her Honors Calculus class. It’s the first of many fun senior celebrations to come this year!

Each month, our staff will be focusing on a different SEL skill with our students; these skills foster connection, celebrate individuality, promote a collective community, and highlight the importance of relationships. Our theme for the month of November is Gratitude. Though it seems that there are never enough hours in the day to do all the things that require our attention, I encourage all of our community members to take a few minutes each day to express their gratitude for the blessings and “good” that surrounds all of us. Gratitude is one of those wonderful feelings that bounces right back to you. At WHS, we start all of our monthly Faculty Meetings by journaling about three things we are grateful for and I think this is a healthy practice that helps us be the best versions of ourselves for our students each and every day.

Each month, we are selecting one student from each grade who has been an exemplary model of the PROUD (Perseverance – Respect – Ownership – Unity – Dignity) norms in his/her classroom. Teachers are giving one student in each of their classes a PROUD ticket. At the end of the month, we pick one lucky winner from each grade and those four students get a gift card to a local restaurant. Thanks to the HSA for their support with this! We are really excited about celebrating and recognizing positive behaviors. View our list of October PBIS PROUD students.

Additionally, we are popping into classrooms randomly for “Caught in Action” moments; students who have their cell phone in the phone hotel and students who are using their agenda book in the hallways (without their phone) are eligible for a surprise candy reward. This is done to continually reinforce our school-wide norms. I have been so PROUD of our teachers and students for their commitment to upholding norms that help us have a better learning environment for everyone.

Wiss Nation is proud to acknowledge Native American Heritage Month throughout the month of November. We will commemorate the accomplishments of the original inhabitants, explorers, and settlers of the United States. While acknowledging the rich and diverse cultures, traditions and histories, we will also employ this time to learn about the bias, discrimination, and unique challenges faced by Native American and Indigenous people both historically and currently. Additionally, on November 20th, WHS recognizes Transgender Day of Remembrance. This day of memorial is held in November to honor Rita Hester whose murder in 1998 started the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a candlelight vigil in 1999 in San Francisco. Wiss Nation honors the lives of transgender people lost to transgender bigotry and violence and stands against victimization. WHS continues to promote an inclusive community for all of our students and community members.

Join us in celebrating our WHS Students of the Month! We are so proud of each of you!

With the conclusion of our regular fall sports season, we celebrated our seniors and wished them the best of luck as they played on their home fields for the last time.

Girls’ Water Polo finished 8th place at the 2024 Pennsylvania State Championship Tournament. This was the 7th season in a row that the girls have qualified for States. The following players were recognized for their excellent play this season:

• Mia Bananis- 3rd Team All-State, 2nd Team All-Conference, 2nd Team All-League
• Casey Burden- Honorable Mention All-State, 3rd Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-League
• Maddy Radell- Honorable Mention All-State, 2nd Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-League
• Sydney McGinley- 3rd Team All-Conference
• Michelle Yang- Honorable Mention All-Conference
• Sydney Legower- Freshman All-State Team

Boys' Water Polo ended their season with a Conference Record of 8-7 and an Over-All record of 11-9. Stand out players this year were Captains Jack Johnson, Logan Bruno and Dean Bowers. Field players Sage Mack, Enda Colgan, Elon Hobart, Henry Weir and Jack Weiss contributed both offensively and defenslively. Both Dan Ulmer and Kyle Mair did a fantastic job in goal creating over 200 saves combined. Congratulations go out to Jack Johnson, Sage Mack, Logan Bruno and Dean Bowers for earning SOL - All League, Eastern Conference All - Conference and Jack Johnson and Sage Mack for earning All - States team recognition.

The Wissahickon Girls’ Soccer season came to an end with a 2-0 loss to the #5 seed Spring-Ford. The team achieved their preseason goal of making the playoffs and put up a good fight against a talented side. Seniors Sophia Yeh, Olivia Lore, Ellie Stein and Emma Greenberg had excellent senior seasons and leave the girls program in a good place moving forward.

The Girls’ Cross Country Team ended their season at Districts placing three places higher than last year. Once again, these competitive and KIND ladies won the Sportsmanship Award for the League. Special thanks and congratulations to our Seniors!

Wissahickon Field Hockey ended their season as SOL Champions who finished in 6th place for PIAA's Division One. Our season was marked by incredible leadership and skill from Riley Ball, Kayla Mullin, and Audrey Walsh. Camilla Lutte brought an exciting new energy to the field while talented returners Sam Farno, Carly Lehman, and Regan Szczepkowicz performed consistently well under pressure. Freshman goalie, Rae Stiteler, ended the season with an 86% save rating - the best in SOL's Liberty Division! This season was full of exciting competition as we navigated new opponents and traditional school rivals alike. Practices were full of laughter and focus, while games showed our grit and determination. We will miss our Seniors as they move on to their next chapter following graduation: Christine Aemisegger, Riley Ball, Noelle Koop, Christina Lafferty, Kayla Mullin, Ava Rocco, and Audrey Walsh. Let's go, Wiss Field Hockey!

The Girls’ Tennis Team ended another extremely successful season qualifying for the PIAA State Championship and finishing in the top 8 in PA with an overall 16-5 record. The team also won the SOL Liberty Division Championship as well. The team posted impressive and numerous individual and doubles accomplishments as well:

• Yiyi Huang – PIAA State Qualifier and Top 8 finish (4th in District 1), 1st Team All-League in the SOL Liberty Division
• Nicolette Agassi - 1st Team All-League Singles in the SOL Liberty Division, District 1 Singles and Doubles Qualifier
• Elise Lombardot – Honorable Mention Singles in the SOL Liberty Division, District 1 Doubles Qualifier
• Hannah Yum/Sevin Wang - 1st Team All-League Doubles in the SOL Liberty Division
• Alexa Bowers/Sophia Cheng - 1st Team All-League Doubles in the SOL Liberty Division, Top 8 in District 1 Doubles
• Kareeita Kumar/Lexi Frutkin - Honorable Mention All-League Doubles in the SOL Liberty Division
• Juliet O’Farrell/Skylar Rostolsky - Honorable Mention All-League Doubles in the SOL Liberty Division

This season, the football program displayed grit and determination, never backing down no matter the challenge as we finished with a 5-5 record. Our team was resilient as a group and refused to give up, even in the toughest moments this season. Our Seniors, in particular, set the tone with their dedication and leadership, inspiring their teammates to continue to push forward. Their contributions have helped to continue to move our program in the right direction, and we’re excited to continue to build on this foundation as we take the next step together.

Team First.....Always!

Each month, our Counseling Department will share information to help support families and students. Thank you to Ms. Schiff, our Resource Counselor, for her efforts in putting together this information.

This time of year can bring out a range of emotions in us—whether it's joy, stress, sadness, or excitement. It's important to acknowledge and honor whatever feelings you may be experiencing. This holds true in your interactions with others, especially family and friends, during moments of togetherness. As we focus on cultivating gratitude, one of the most meaningful actions we can take is to practice kindness toward those around us. Often, instead of truly listening to what someone is going through, we may inadvertently dismiss their feelings or distance ourselves. At other times, when we try to fix the situation, frustration can arise, leading to disapproval. Research shows that the most helpful approach is simply to offer your presence and let the person know you're there for them. By listening with empathy, we can validate their emotions without intensifying the situation. Sometimes, just feeling heard gives someone the clarity they need to resolve the issue on their own. Click here for social-emotional resources for the family.

STARS Tutoring is now up and running! STARS is a student-to-student tutoring initiative. Tutors provide academic support in subject areas that they have excelled to those in need of extra help. Students will be paired based on subject and scheduling availability. Students will meet on a 1:1 basis or within a small group. Meetings will occur during Study Hall, I/E, or after school by appointment with Mr. Fleming. Late buses are available. Applications are available in the Counseling Office and the Library. Please contact Mr. Fleming with any questions.

Our Math Lab is open during the school day in the Library. Students can visit the Lab for extra support, re-teaching, pre-teaching, and/or second chance learning opportunities.

Additionally, our weekly schedule for ELT (Extended Learning Time) will be posted for students on Schoology each week; ELT is an after-school tutoring program designed to provide academic support in our core subject areas. It’s an opportunity for students to get extra help from a content-area teacher. Any student can plan to attend ELT for help with assignments, homework, projects, re-teaching, pre-teaching, extended time, or second chance learning. Please encourage your WHS student to attend. Our Tuesday ELT Sessions are in-person from 2:45-4:15 PM in the Library. Students will be assisted by a teacher and/or an NHS or STARS student with their subject. Our Thursday ELT Sessions are virtual from 7:00-8:00 PM via Teams. This is an online homework helpline with live WHS Teachers. Each Thursday, a Teams link will be posted to Schoology by 1:00 PM for that Thursday’s ELT session(s). Only subject area(s) with a scheduled teacher will be posted to Schoology.

Vaping continues to be a growing concern of mine – I don’t think our students recognize the significant dangers associated with it and it is manufactured in such an appealing and inviting way for young people. If you have concerns about your student vaping, please check out these resources. In addition, if the school can help support you with your efforts to help your student make healthy choices, please do not hesitate to reach out.

We are happy to provide an opportunity for our students to receive breakfast (in the Lower Café) each morning. Please encourage your student to get the day started off with the nutritious options available each day. If they miss the chance to grab breakfast in the Lower Café, they can grab breakfast items in the Library before homeroom each day!

I know our community was rattled by the safety scare we had on September 12th. I want to reassure our community that nothing is more important to me than the safety and well-being of our community. It is important that our students know that they play a pivotal role in the safety of WHS too – when they see something concerning, I continue to encourage them to say something to a trusted adult. Please help me reiterate the importance of that through conversations at home. Together, we can keep our students and staff safe!

As a reminder, Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” before it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.

Here’s how it works:

• Submit an anonymous tip report through the Safe2SaySomething system
• The Crisis Center reviews, assesses and processes all submissions
• The Crisis Center sends all submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement for intervention
• If needed, the Crisis Center may contact the tipster anonymously through the appYou can also access Safe2Say via our district website: https://www.wsdweb.org/about-wsd/school-safety/safe2say-something.

As a reminder to all of our students, together, we need to keep our community safe. Please be sure not to open any outside doors and please alert a teacher or administrator about any concerns you have. Thank you for the teamwork!