Issue 2, 2012-2013 THEView from WOODS WOODS HIGH SCHOOL WOODS MIDDLE SCHOOL WOODS LOWER SCHOOL News from School of the Woods... a Montessori School WOODS BALLET EXPRESSION THROUGH MOVemeNT Notes about our cover Contents View from Summer 2013 School of the Woods THEWOODS Issue 2, 2012-2013 WOODS HIGH SCHOOL WOODS MIDDLE SCHOOL WOODS LOWER SCHOOL 2 Contents and News Bits News from School of the Woods... a Montessori School View from the Woods is published by 3 Last Day of School School of the Woods for its community 4-5 Annual Spring Picnic WOODS BALLET of friends. Editor, Eloise Rochelle. Associate Editors, Barbara Bends and 6-9 Woods High School - David Welling. Design, David Welling. Graduation happenings Executive editor, Sherry Herron, Head of School. Communications may be 10-11 Woods Middle School addressed to School of the Woods, 1321 Social Service-Kids Meals Wirt Road, Houston TX 77055, or online to 12-13 Woods Middle School [email protected]. Celebration, Dinner, Dance Telephone calls concerning the newsletter 14-15 Woods Middle School may be directed to the Advancement e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e Office, 713.686.8811. SeaCamp at San Diego 16-17 Sixth Grade Trip to Williamsburg The dance program and ballet recital has Founded in 1962, School of the Woods is Houston’s oldest continually operating been a mainstay of the School of the Woods. 18 Fourth Grade, Fossil Dig Adventure Montessori school, offering Montessori This year’s recital was a superb performance 19 Lower Elementary, Ancient Civilizations learning from age 2½ through High of The Nightingale. School (grade 12). School of the Woods 20 Sports: Track is a full member school of the American 21 Sports Banquet Montessori Society and is accredited by the Texas Alliance of Accredited Private 22-23 Dance Recital: “The Nightingale” Schools, and the Southern Association 24 Guitar and Drum recitals Passing of Board Member: of Colleges and Schools. Children of Margaret Sallans-Noecker, a former 25 Alumni News all abilities and talents, without regard School of the Woods parent and to race, color, creed, national or ethnic 26-27 First International Montessori current member of our Board of origin, are eligible for enrollment in Adolescent Summit Trustees, died on April 14, 2013. School of the Woods, a Texas nonprofit She was Head of School at The corporation. 28 Back Cover: WHS Alaska Trip Parish School. Photos in this issue are by Barbara Bends, Elizabeth Deden, Jeff Grass, Andrea Hafer, Russell Herron, Tim Lootens, Stephanie Romero, Yvonne Silva, Brodie Thomson and David Welling.. Board of Trustees Robert T. Deden, President David Dickinson, Vice President Daniel McGuire, Treasurer Chris O’Niell, Secretary Gary Eaton Joan Erickson Cheryl Fowler Russell Herron Margaret Sallans-Noecker* David Welling Mary Womack *Deceased Visit us at www.schoolofthewoods.org Learning the Montessori way The methods are purposeful but fun and Interesting. This young student is working with “Links,” making a length of chain. This activity helps develop a child’s fine motor skills. 2 Last day of school calls for celebrations he last day of school is always a very happy day with many significant Ttraditional celebrations. Our collective adreline was running at full speed. This year, it happened on May 30. First, the entire school community gath- ered in the gymnasium next door. Our talented African hand drummers gave a great concert just to make sure everyone was properly awake. Then the program. After all students had found their places to sit, faculty members called out their names by classroom as each one stood to be recognized. Each was acknowledged for completing their school year. The final event was the vaunted traditional International Luncheon, made possible through hard work by Elementary parents and teachers alike. Parents prepared delicious foods from all parts of the world. Upper Elementary fifth-grade students are always in charge of service at the food tables. This year at Woods High School, graduating seniors provided a picnic and inflatables for all their compadres. The accompanying photos tell all. v 3 An Anual Ritual Get all wet at the Spring Picnic he School of the Woods Annual Spring Picnic, sponsored by the Parents’ TOrganization, took place on right on time on Sunday, April 21. For several years now the theme has been “Spring Splash,” and that theme continues to be a very popular one. In fact, this year’s seems to have been splashier than ever, which means that everybody was happier than ever. All kinds of inflatables, some of which would get you thoroughly doused, were calculated to tickle the fancy of all the kids, plus the hamster balls and the Iron Man obstacle course. And there were those other activities kids like – face painting, tattoos, color hairstyling, fishing pond, carnival games and non- stop crafts. There were more of our favorite foods than the law allows. Our super-efficient Parents’ Organization outdid themselves by procuring briskets from Costco, taking them to Good Company who smoked and chopped them, then at the picnic, turned the beef into soft tacos and chopped beef sandwiches. Parent Raz Thomson took charge of getting all the potatoes prepped and baked right here at the School, ably assisted by parent Sharon Pastor and her mother, Angela Speer. Can you imagine handling such a project? The delicious salad was contributed by Sweet Tomatoes on the Katy Freeway, and other goodies from Fadi’s were contributed by Tara Zaafran and family. All that topped off by sweet treats, donated by Randall’s on Voss Road and Fiesta Mart on Wirt Road. Starbuck’s coffee, too, was available courtesy of Kroger on Wirt Road. These are the big raffle winners: Sol Sanchez (Alfie the Bear); Jack Oldham (Katy Freeway Dining); the McGuire family (MacBook Pro); Mitra Frank (iPad Mini); the Denichon family (Splash & Scoop); Mike Stepankiw (Georgia’s Market); and Aidan Jordan (Jumbo Hamster Ball). You can see by all those smiling faces in these photos that a great Sunday was had by all. Can’t wait till next spring. v 4 5 WOODS HIGH SCHOOL Woods High School graduates 22 in May 2013 he Woods High School class of 2013 is its 11th In the awarding of diplomas, teacher John Branch spoke Tgraduating class. These 22 bring the total number of the name of each graduate, one by one, who came graduates to 156. forward to receive the diploma from Dr. Coe. The graduation ceremony was again held in the Grand The ceremony was concluded with the Passing of the Foyer of the Wortham Center, beginning with the proces- Flame to the Class of 2014. Students participating in this sional of graduates, faculty and staff. The ritual Lighting of symbolic act were Caroline Catlin Johansson and Matt the Flame was performed by Claire Nobles, class of 2012. McAvey. This was followed by soprano Sarah Corley Smith singing “I’ll Be Seeing You,” accompanied by pianist Robert T. Deden, President of the Board of Trustees, Joanna Thornton, and then the recessional. There was a welcomed everyone attending. Then Dr. Betsy Coe, reception following the ceremony. v Principal of Secondary Education, acknowledged the graduates and their accomplishments. 6 WOODS HIGH SCHOOL Things get really surreal at Woods High School Prom Banquet for Graduates is a great success ur 22 graduates, their dates and everybody else made wenty-two graduates, their families, friends, school Oup a big crowd of about 100 people who attended Tfaculty and staff all gathered at the Junior League of the Woods High School Prom on May 18. The place to go Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, for their senior banquet. – the Red Oak Ballroom of the Norris Conference Center / City Centre (think Town & Country). Things got off to a great start by way of a grand buffet with two perfectly-prepared entrees – Chicken Piccata with The planners of this once-in-a-lifetime event were Aroosa Lemon Caper Butter Sauce and Baked Salmon with Dill Ajani, Johnathan Algeroy, Sarah Al-Sheik, Charlotte Sauce. Those were accompanied by rice pilaf, penne pasta Brannon, Claire Cooper, Soule Coram, Caroline Catline primavera, green beans, and carrot, leek and zucchini Johansson, Aresha Davwa, Kathryn Deden, Michelle medley. And of course wonderful desserts. Deden, Girija Chatufale, Alli Keys, Dean Neubek, Marina Smith, and Charlotte Wiesenthal.They termed themselves After dinner, the evening proceeded as all previous ones “The Orchestrators.” Motifs a la works by Salvador Dali have. Members of the faculty introduce each graduate defined the décor. (Mention Dali, a late-comer to the and facetiously announce the one word which best movement, everyone knows what you mean; mention describes (as an honor) the total entity of that graduate André Breton or Max Ernst, not so much.) and then offers a brief explanation. The graduates are duly “embarrassed,” as expected. Graduate Katie Miller even created an appropriately- designed artpiece for display during the evening. Did we These are the honor words for this class: Isaac Arch – note that slides of surrealistic nature flashed randomly honored for being Sagacious; Rebecca Arnold – Spunky; throughout the evening? Teachers Cassie Manley and Adriel Barrios-Anderson – Deliquescent; Lauren Bodron – Jessica Harper were chaperones. A fine DJ job was Sustaining; Caroline Connell – Unstoppable; Nik Crawford – handled by teacher Andrew McNally. v Barnstormer; Michelle Deden -- Devout; Rachel George – Artisan; Eric Grass – Explorer; Susana Hart – Apasionada; Daniel Howell – Transcendent; Nicole Kunkel – Diñamica; Rachael Leonards – Courageous; Daniel Jin Lang – Integrator; Christina Loos – Raconteuse; Katherine Miller – Cultivating; Hank Montgomery – Sculptor; Christopher Pfützner – Synergystic; Johnathan Scott – Rooted; Marina Smith – Tasteful; John Tofuri – Magnifier; and Lauryn Welling – Glissée.