Below is the Woodside High School newsletter for parents, staff, and community members.
 Woodside Weekly PTSA Update
October 30, 2016
CALENDAR

THIS WEEK
  • Mon, Oct. 31: Winter sports practices begin
  • Mon, Oct. 31: WHS Band Parade at Selby Lane
  • Tue, Nov 1: Foundation Meeting, MUR Conference Room, 7 p.m.
  • Wed, Nov 2: 7th/8th Grade Information Night, PAC, 7 - 9 p.m.
  • Wed, Nov 2: Music Boosters, Band Room, 7 p.m.
NEXT WEEK
  • Mon, Nov. 7: PTSA Meeting, 7 PM, MUR Conference Room
  • Fri, Nov 11: NO SCHOOL
UPCOMING
  • Tue, Nov 15: Foundation Auction Meeting, Wildcat Room, 7 p.m.
  • Wed. Nov 16: Athletic Boosters Meeting, MUR Conference Room, 7 p.m.
  • Thu, Nov. 17: NCAA Night, MUR, 7 p.m.
  • Fri, Nov 18: Evening of Theatre, PAC, 8 - 10 p.m.
  • Fri, Nov 18: CSM Jazz Festival
  • Sat, Nov. 19: Evening of Theatre, PAC, 8 - 10 p.m.
School News
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Over the last two years, we have gathered on-campus data on student stress and ability to sleep, complete homework, and engage in activities (both on and off campus) through our 8 Conditions of Student Success surveys.  In September, we had a 10-person team of students, parents, staff, and administration participating in the Challenge Success conference at Stanford about redefining success for students.   Our participation with Challenge Success includes a Stanford coach to help us define our action.  I've said and published many times:  
I believe that the best and most-meaningful practices will come out of discussions on this campus and will focus on the quality and type of homework assigned and not just the quantity. 

Our Shared Decision Making Council reviewed the MyVoice data a year go and then conducted 16 student focus groups (separated by 11th and 12th grade and by AS/AP - Advanced Standing and Advanced Placement) and regular college-prep classes.  The purpose of the focus groups was to gather more info on our students' homework and stress levels.  We didn't forget the frosh and sophomore students in the data gathering, either.  As frosh/soph met with their counselor to review course selections, they were given five stickers to "vote" on statements on a bulletin board:

  1. Largest number of votes: "My own expectations of my school performance causes me stress" 
  2. Close second:  "School, homework, and family responsibilities don't allow me to get enough sleep" 
  3. Third:  "Participating in a sport or after school activity (music, drama, leadership, etc.) helps me cope with my other commitments."
Last January, on the teacher-only day before second semester begins, staff looked at these student-reported data points against the multitude of homework policies across teachers and departments on campus, and against the types of homework students are given.  I don't have a pre-ordained solution, but I do want a balanced student experience in high school.   We already have meaningful practices in place that promote student balance:
  • Finals taken before the winter break and no assignments between the semesters.
  • Block schedule where students are preparing for three classes per night instead of six per night. 
  • 60% of students begin school at 9 a.m., not 8 a.m   
The action taken by our Challenge Success group will be reported with recommendations to WHS Shared Decision Making Council throughout this school year.  

Principal Burbank
Cash for College Workshop for Seniors & Parents

The Cash for College workshop at Woodside is Thursday, October 27 at 7:00 PM in the library.
At this workshop, parents and seniors will be at computers filling out the FAFSA or Dream Act. Financial aid experts will be there to help and answer questions.
Please bring your FSA ID and a copy of your 2015 taxes if possible.
To get your FSA ID, please visit fsaid.ed.gov.

SAT and ACT practice tests

There will be a mock SAT test and a mock ACT test at Woodside in November. They are realistic practice and allow the students to try their hand at the types of questions that are on the actual exams. Then in December, students will receive their personalized score report pinpointing strengths and weaknesses.

SAT Practice Test
Saturday, November 5
9 AM -1 PM Woodside library

ACT Practice Test
Saturday, November 19
9 AM -1 PM Woodside library

Scoreback Strategy Session
Wednesday, December 7
7 -8 PM Woodside (location TBD)

If students would like to participate, they must sign up (for either one test or both). Sign up by emailing Zorina Matavulj at [email protected] with student's first and last name, ID number, email, and which test (or both) they'd like to take.

Or sign up by calling Princeton Review at 510-295-0002.

College Fairs

There are several great college fairs and college open houses happening in the near future. Consider putting one of these fairs or events on your calendar. For a list of questions that you can ask college representatives, try the questions in this document.

Sunday, November 6, 11:00 am-2:00 pm
NACAC San Francisco STEM College and Career Fair (registration)
South San Francisco Conference Center, Grand Ballroom
255 South Airport Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94080

CSU AND UC Preview Days for Seniors and Juniors

Preview Days are open houses on campuses for prospective students (seniors and juniors) and their families. These are excellent opportunities to see the campus, speak to faculty and students, find out about student and campus life, and get information about the application process and financial aid.

HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY-Preview Day
Friday, October 28
Registration: http://www2.humboldt.edu/admissions/

CAL MARITIME-Preview Day
Saturday, November 19
Info and registration: http://www.csum.edu/web/admissions/preview-day
From the PTSA
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Your membership fee of $20 plus any donation to the PTSA general fund helps support programs such as: 
Consider joining and donating to the PTSA at http://woodsidehs-ptsa.org/.

Holiday Boutique


Start your holiday shopping early at Woodside's annual community-wide Holiday Boutique! 
Saturday, November 19, 10a.m. - 3p.m. in Woodside's Old Gym.
Open to the public! Help spread the word!!!
One of WHS's largest boutiques with almost 50 vendors selling unique, specialty items!
Holiday decorations, wreaths, handmade unique gift items, artwork, glass, clothing, scarves, jewelry, handbags, home d�cor, gourmet food items, spices, wine country gifts, books, toys, skincare, pet items, and much more! 
Raffle prizes and tamale lunch available. 
$1 donation entry fee benefits Woodside High School!
For more information and to see the complete list of items available, visit: http://www.whsgradnight2017.com/boutique-items.


Tamale Sale!!!

The Class of 2017 is taking pre-orders of half and full dozen tamales. Enjoy them now or freeze them for later!! They're great around the holidays! Bring them to parties! Serve to guests or just enjoy an easy family dinner!
The deadline to order is this Wednesday, November 4!!!
To place an order, email [email protected] with the following information:
Full name
Half dozen ($14) OR Full dozen ($28)
Chicken OR pork

All orders must be placed and paid for by Nov. 4. Orders will be ready for pick-up at the WHS Holiday Boutique on November 19. You can pay online, or with check or cash dropped off or mailed to Woodside High School PTSA ,199 Churchill Ave., Woodside, CA 94062
For more information or to place an order, visit: www.whsgradnight2017.com/tamale-sale Questions? Email [email protected].

Class of 2017 News

Purchase ADVANCE Grad Night tickets!
Grad Night, also known as Safe & Sober Grad Night, is a Woodside High School tradition for all graduating seniors. This all-night party is a once-in-a-lifetime experience where seniors get to celebrate with their class one last time.

We have a great venue and a variety of amazing entertainment and activities!! Woodside's Grad Night Party will be held on Friday, June 9th, 2017
 
Advance tickets are currently $50 and will increase in price throughout the year. For more information, to find order forms, parent release forms, and to purchase tickets, visit www.whsgradnight2017.com.  Students can also purchase tickets in room D7 or the guidance office. For financial assistance with the purchase of tickets, please have your student visit the counseling office. 
Foundation News



 The sun was shining on us and our coffers! Thank you to so many of you who donated last week. In addition to donations that were made in person, our online donation link was particularly active. And, we are excited to see so many additional cars out there that now sport a WHS magnet. The magnet conveys your pride in Woodside High and lets the community know that you care about your child's education. If for some reason you did not receive a magnet and want one (perhaps you did not make it to the school on Wednesday), please contact Lucia Tedesco, Foundation President, at [email protected].

If you missed donation day, please donate at www.whsfoundation.org or mail a check to:

Woodside High School Foundation
199 Churchill Ave.
Woodside, CA 94062

Donate an amount that you feel is meaningful and works for your family.
Sport News and Events

This Week

Saturday, Nov. 5
Cross Country PAL championship meet @ Crystal Springs

Next Week

Saturday, Nov. 12
Cross Country CCS meet @ Crystal Springs

Woodside Volleyball PAL Champion in the Ocean Division

Under the coaching and guidance of Coach Sonja Gavioli, the Woodside Wildcats won the PAL Ocean league title beating the San Mateo Bearcats in four sets (22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22).  
The whole team was firing on all cylinders and played exceptionally well, with blocking and defense making a huge difference in the outcome of the match.

Senior Jesse Crowley was on fire with 6 blocks, and senior Pascale Tregon had an impressive 13 kills and 2 blocks.  Junior Jennifer Buja was super consistent with her serve, giving San Mateo quite a bit of trouble. Junior Monica Klopp, senior Jordan Crevelt and freshman Elena Campell all worked tirelessly with incredible digs throughout the match.

Tryouts for WHS Boys' Soccer Teams start Tuesday Nov.1
 
Boys interested in trying out for the Varsity and JV soccer teams at Woodside High School need to come to the field with cleats and running shoes on Tuesday November 1, dressed to run. The tryouts are currently planned for either 3:30-5:30 or 5:30-7:30 depending on the coach's availability. Exact times and locations will be communicated early next week via the announcements, on the WHS website, and to the Google group.
 
Boys and families who would like email updates, please send your email addresses (and student name/grade) to woodsideHSsoccer+owner@googlegroups.com to be added to the  WoodsideHSSoccer Google group.
 
Tryouts will run from beginning Nov 1 through approximately Nov 18Monday through Friday. Only students who have submitted their full paperwork to the school are eligible. Please clear your detentions (and any fines) to be allowed to participate (check status on Infinite Campus).  No clearance, no participation.  No participation, no evaluation.

Regular season practice times are being finalized due to school construction activities but typically run 3:30-5:30 or 5:30-7:30 with games on Wednesdays and Fridays. Game schedule information available on MaxPreps. Parents are needed to provide transportation to away games.  Please register your car and insurance with the school if you can help drive players occasionally.
 
Families are encouraged to join or donate to the Woodside Athletic Boosters (https://woodsideathletics.org) to help support the team.
 
Go Wildcats!
Drama Booster Club

Just a quick reminder to put the Fall "Evening of Theater" on your calendar; Friday and Saturday, November 18 & 19. You will be treated to a fun production of "The Canterville Ghost". And we invite you to help spread the word by going to our Facebook Page and "Like" the post and "Share" it with your own friends. 
If you interesting in a back-stage experience, join us at 10:00 am this Saturday and Sunday to help build sets and paint backdrops. It's a great experience and when you sit in the audience, you will have a great sense of pride as you see your own handiwork right there in front of you. It's a fun time, too, and you'll meet some great people. Come and join us!

Jim Larkin - Drama Booster President
Community News

Thank you for donating over 6,000 books 
to the la entrada used book fair!
 
Come Shop for all of your favorite books!
Date: Monday, November 7th - Thursday, November 10th
Location: La Entrada Middle School in the MUR
               2200 Sharon Rd, Menlo Park, CA
Hours: 7:30 AM� - 4 PM
Book Prices:  $1, $3, $5, $8
Cash and checks only accepted.
 
Choose from over 6,000 books in all genres ranging from children to adult books.  Fiction, non-fiction, picture books, board books, early readers, young adults, biographies, business books, mysteries, cookbooks...you name it, we got it!

Tribute Marks Five Years for Menlowe Ballet

Menlowe Ballet marks its five-year anniversary with TRIBUTE, a celebratory program featuring world premieres, a classical jewel, and the revival of a signature company work, November 3, 5 & 6 at Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton, CA. Performances take place Thursday, November 3 at 7:30pmSaturday, November 5 at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday, November 6 at 2pm. Tickets ranging from $30-$60 are available at www.menloweballet.org or by calling 800-595-4TIX (4849). Group tickets rates are available.

Freshmen Louise Hautefeuille, Milena Raeber, and Daniela Thorne  are among the few Menlo Park Academy of Dance students invited to perform alongside the company members this season.

Stanford Splash

Splash is the program that brings high school and middle school students from everywhere to Stanford's campus for a two-day learning extravaganza. Classes are taught by Stanford undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral associates.

Splash Fall 2016 will be on the weekend of December 3-4, 2016 and student registration will open at 5:00 PM on Thursday, November 3, 2016.

Click here to learn more.

Volunteers for PASA Invitational Swim Meet

The Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics (PASA) swim team is looking for responsible high school students to volunteer for our upcoming PASA Invitational swim meet. PASA is a non-profit and volunteers can earn community service hours.

DETAILS:
We need 30 very responsible Timers for
Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6

Start 4:30PM - 8:30PM (4 hours)

Dinner, snacks and drinks will be provided, plus you'll get to watch some awesome swimming.

Please contact Maria GREGORIO at [email protected] if interested.

From the Weekly Update Editors

  • The deadline for submissions is Wednesday at 4 PM for publication on Sunday evening.
  • If you are one of our regular contributors, you will be receiving an email every Monday night reminding you to send in your news. If you want to be added to the "regulars" distribution list, please email us at [email protected].
  • Please keep articles short and focused. Include the event, date, time, location, and contact info, including URL if available.
  • Please do not send attachments: send article content in the body of the email. If you send us a flyer, we will include it only as a link to a downloadable document, so the readers will have to click to open and read it. They probably won't, so again: do not send us flyers.
  • Please spell check and proofread submissions.
  • The PTSA Weekly Update Editorial Team reserves the right to edit or reject submissions.
  • No special or additional editions of Weekly Update will be sent out unless the subject matter impacts the ENTIRE school population. Such special editions are exclusively at the discretion of the Weekly Update editors, the PTSA President, and the school administration.