Woodrow - Academics - Arts - etc.

[Lakewooder]

http://www.woodrowwildcats.org/images/play05-051z.jpg

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=760 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle width=427 bgColor=#ffffff> Fall Play 2005-2006: </TD><TD width=269 bgColor=#ffffff></TD></TR><TR><TD width=23 bgColor=#ffffff> </TD><TD width=427 bgColor=#ffffff> http://www.woodrowwildcats.org/images/NoisesOff.jpg</TD><TD width=269 bgColor=#ffffff>This years Fall Play is Michael Frayn’s notoriously hilarious comedy Noises Off. The play tells the story of a troupe of actor’s putting on a play where everything seems to go wrong. The cast will include Woodrow favorites Evan Faram, Matthew George, Zach Buchanan, Rick Powers, Sian Hardie, Meredith Guenver, Alyssa Potasnik, Cece Looney, and Jonathan Vowell. The production will take place October 14 and 15th (Friday and Saturday nights).

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Lakewooder]

Extra Performance added October 17th!

Flyer: http://www.woodrowwildcats.org/NoisesOff_Flyer.pdf


CAST PHOTOS:

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[texman]

Theatre Kids...future Urban hipsters.

[Lakewooder]

New National Merit Semi Finalist list:

Woodrow 3 (*one is part-time and listed under Science/Engineering magnet), so you might say 2.5

approx. 250 seniors

Some numbers from suburban high schools about 3 times as large:

Lake Highlands 3
L. D. Bell 2
R. L. Turner 2
Wylie 2
Frisco Centennial 2
McKinney 1
The Colony 1
Frisco High 1

Large Catholic high schools:

Jesuit 3
Bishop Lynch 3


Other private schools:

Dallas Christian 1
First Baptist Academy 0
Lakehill 0

Home schooled in Dallas: 1

* part-timer came up through Woodrow feeders and was part of the math team at J. L. Long Miiddle School which beat St. Mark's at state a few years ago

[msutton]

you might should add St. Mark's to that "Other Private Schools" list with 17 semi-finalists, with less than 100 students in the grade. other private schools also did much better than those private schools that you listed.

[Columbus Civil]

I was a National Merit Finalist and look how I turned out.

[monogodo]

I was a National Merit Scholar.

I make photocopies for a living.

[Agnus Dei]

Michael Frayn fan representin'.
Holla.

[Lakewooder]

Gee, how about a little praise instead of raining on my parade? My point is that most who disdain DISD would consider it impossible that a little DISD school could outshine ANY suburban school.

The other private schools I listed are ones most associatied with the East Dallas/Lakewood area, therefore the 'competition'.

I also did not list the much larger DiSD school, W.T. White, in Far North Dallas. White excelled with 6 semi-finalists (we've also had that many in past years).

Also, Highland Park and the gigantic Plano schools are just not comparable.

I have never denied accolades to truly elite private schools such as St. Mark's, Hockaday, Greenhill, etc. However, I do think those kids make a tradeoff for being in such an insulated coterie. I have a problem with private schools which were 'established' at the time of the integration of the Dallas Schools.

Parents who are paying just to avoid DISD rather than those with a child prodigy should ask themselves if they are wasting their money - especially those who are at Bishop Lynch, DC, FBA and Lakehill.

p.s. msutton, how do you explain J. L. Long besting St. Mark's in state math competition?

[Agnus Dei]

^As someone who went to a private school, I'll say that there are definite tradeoffs for choosing any school, not just private vs public. But I'm also committed to sending my (hypothetical and probably won't ever happen) children to private school because there are certain things about them I see as benefits. Some things required or allowed in private school would not be acceptable in public schools for various but good reasons. Though, I would only send them to the right school, not all are equal (ie I would never send them to same-sex only schools).

[Lakewooder]

A private school is certainly the perogative of the parent. I can see where some students could not 'hack it' in public schools and visa versa.

However I think we can all agree that having and supporting good public schools is important to our society at large, the kids in the neighborhood, city image, home values and the tie which binds us together as neighbors and friends.

[msutton]

My problem was that you didn't mention anything about these being schools in the same area, etc. You simply said "Some numbers from suburban high schools about 3 times as large:" followed by "Other private schools:" which implies none of your additional comments. And since those public schools are certainly not those just those in the area or associated with it, indeed they were often quite far away and a nice broad selection of public high schools, to someone unfamiliar with the private schools of Dallas, they might think that those, too, were a broad, metroplex wide selection.

A better guage, anyway, is percentage of students that are semifinalists. Then the size of the school wouldn't matter, and those other schools would not be 'incomparable.'

Also, you made the comment about the student beating St. Mark's in the math competition, which already kind of brings it in, competition wise, even if you didn't intend it that way.

The way the math competition can be explained is that many extremely bright students do not go to private schools, and the majority of the bright math students at St. Mark's never participated in the math competitions. And the way the competitions work, one really genius math student can basically win the competition on their own. So, one brilliant student in private school (which certainly happens fairly often) could beat a very competitive, intellegent private school team on an off year, or even in an on year if that student were smart enough. Not to mention that math competitions are more "tricks" than true mathematical knowledge.

This isn't to say that that team beating St. Mark's isn't commendable, but there are always teams (athletic or academic) that do really well not because of their coaches but because of a few star players.

[Lakewooder]

No, I was not doing any kind of statistical analysis, just throwing out a few examples. I wasn't on the math team, but I did take a couple of statistics and marketing research classes at SMU, so I guess I am capable of doing such.

Do we really have to pick it to death with sophistry or can it just be acknowledged that YES, A FEW DALLAS SCHOOLS PRODUCE NATIONAL MERIT-SEMI FINALISTS at a rate better than many if not most suburban and private schools?


Only about 100 schools are listed in the paper (no, I did not do an exact count). How many public and private high schools are in the Metroplex area? It seems quite a few produced no semi-finalists at all...

[Lakewooder]

"the majority of the bright math students at St. Mark's never participated in the math competitions."

Lakewooder nonplussed...

[msutton]

Sorry, man, didn't mean to create such a heated discussion. i'm just pointing out that, statistical analysis or not, if you're going to do a comparrison that is not broad based, make sure you mention any specifics (like, private schools that tend to be associated with the same area).

I have no problem admitting that Woodrow did a nice job with semi-finalists, but still, since most of the arguments raised against DISD are about putting kids in public schools like those you ended up not mentioning (Plano, HP, for example) or the more competitive private schools (St. Mark's, Hockaday, ESD, Ursaline, Greenhill, etc.), it really was more of a "look how cute we are here at Lakewood" than a "look, we acutally stand up to those schools/districts in the region that everyone raves about." I don't live in Dallas now, so I dont know the actual numbers (except for St. Mark's since I get alumni emails), so I'm not claiming that these schools did better or worse than Woodrow. I'm just letting you know how it came across to me. An attempt at constructive criticism, if you will.

[Lakewooder]

Yes, I did do a bit of cherry-picking -- but I simply chose some of the better-known larger suburban schools from different areas because it also shows that while we may have done better than some expect, those cited also did much worse than the general perception by those critical of DISD.

Sorry if I came off heavy-handed...constructive criticism should always be welcomed. However, when you are a DISD graduate, volunteer and proponent, it's sometimes hard to see the constructive flotsam among the tides of tirades...

[hamiltonpl]

Also, Highland Park.... [is] just not comparable.

Why?

[Lakewooder]

I knew that bait would hook you hamilton!

Woodrow is not for everybody, but anyone can go there...

[hamiltonpl]

I knew that bait would hook you hamilton!

Woodrow is not for everybody, but anyone can go there...

Indeed, it did bait me.
http://www.offthemarkcartoons.com/cartoons/1996-03-16.gif

HP had a decrease in the number of National Merit Semifinalists this year. Only 17. :p

Do these kids really look that "rich?"
http://www.hpisd.org/images/uploads/images/National.Merit3.jpg

[Lakewooder]

Congratulations, looks like they slipped on diversity as well...

[hamiltonpl]

Congratulations, looks like they slipped on diversity as well...
Diversity? There's blonde haired and brown haired. Some are anglos and other are saxons. What's your point?

What is the racial makeup of the 3 Woodrow Wilson semifinalists?

[Columbus Civil]

They look more diverse than the cast of Noises Off.

[Lakewooder]

Ha..ha.. it's so much fun parrying with y'all

[ksig121]

Where did you get your list of National Merit Scholars?

[Lakewooder]

I got mine from the Dallas Morning News, pg 4B, October 3, 2005.

[CEHughes]

Congratulations, looks like they slipped on diversity as well...
That's amazing. From the guy that is still bitter that nonwhites go to his high school, but they don't go to Highland Park!

You either complain about the lack of diversity of Highland Park, or the forced diversity of your former high school.

And since you went to WW you can have it both ways. Brilliant!

[LDSR]

I send congratulation to Woodrow Wilson...



I have never denied accolades to truly elite private schools such as St. Mark's, Hockaday, Greenhill, etc. However, I do think those kids make a tradeoff for being in such an insulated coterie. I have a problem with private schools which were 'established' at the time of the integration of the Dallas Schools.

Parents who are paying just to avoid DISD rather than those with a child prodigy should ask themselves if they are wasting their money - especially those who are at Bishop Lynch, DC, FBA and Lakehill.



However, I take offense to the last paragraph. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect you have limited experience with private schools. I went to Bishop Lynch since my parents wanted to avoid Bryan Adams (and I'm Catholic). I can't thank them enough for sending me there. I knew many kids who went to Bryan Adams, Skyline, etc, in the 1980's and it wasn't a pleasant experience for them.

By the way, Jesuit and Bishop Lynch have ~1,000 - 1,100 students each. I think Woodrow is in the 1,350 range.

[CEHughes]

I send congratulation to Woodrow Wilson...



However, I take offense to the last paragraph. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect you have limited experience with private schools. I went to Bishop Lynch since my parents wanted to avoid Bryan Adams (and I'm Catholic). I can't thank them enough for sending me there. I knew many kids who went to Bryan Adams, Skyline, etc, in the 1980's and it wasn't a pleasant experience for them.

By the way, Jesuit and Bishop Lynch have ~1,000 - 1,100 students each. I think Woodrow is in the 1,350 range.

I don't think you understand. There is no Heaven but Lakewood, and Lakewooder is its prophet.

[psukhu]

If I live anywhere in DISD, can my kids go to Woodrow Wilson?

[Lakewooder]

Right now I believe those in the Hillcrest and Bryan Adams districts can transfer into Woodrow because they were designated low-peforming. In addition, if there is a course that Woodrow offers that your home school doesn't (for instance there are 20 AP classes at WW) I think you can transfer. Also there used to be an M-M (majority to minority) transfer where if your race is in the majority at your school you can go instead to a school where it is in the minority. Not sure if that one still exists since the court order was lifted.

BTW, I am not bitter that my school was 'forced' to integrate. The first African-American students came in the middle 1960s, which was before the bulk of the case in the 1970s. Even back in the '70s our diversity was treasured by the community. We raised money to intervene in the desegregation case to keep our natural integration status, because it was unique in Dallas. Since our school opened in 1928 we have had Hispanics and there was always a large presence of Greeks and Italians. There was some Jewish representation as well, back when Jews were not admitted into certain organizations and country clubs (I hear that still happens). Lawrence Marcus was elected to many offices in organizations, including the vice-presidency of his class in 1934. Woodrow had a Japanese cheerleader in the 1950s.

Woodrow has always been a school of vast economic differences. Many times it seems the ones from the 'wrong side of the tracks' (literally, the Santa Fe Railroad) have done very well and exceeded the accomplishments of those rich kids on White Rock, in Lakewood and Swiss Avenue/Munger Place. Trammell Crow, Carroll Shelby and Jack Evans come to mind.

Woodrow provides lessons not learned at one-race, one-class schools.

My bone of contention with HP is that they originally fought tooth and nail (as did DISD) to fight the desegregation case. Since Judge Taylor was HP born, reared and a resident, some of us will always wonder if that had anything to do with HPISD being excused. Hamilton pl and others have argued that the district was perfectly within its rights...perhaps they were. The vehemence of their arguments may reveal what I mean.

Back in the 1980s when it was proposed that most of Woodrow's black population (along with a good number of Hispanics) be sent to another school, the Woodrow intervenors petitioned to keep them and we were successful, after a journey which led all the way to the Supreme Court.

When DISD was integrated, values in HP took off and still climb: part of that reason is because it is a haven for white people.

I am unaware of any effort HP has made to diversify its student body, as have leading private schools, colleges and universities. I feel that it has shirked its duty to society and to its own students.

[Lakewooder]

Apologies to LDSR - I would not blame anyone for not wanting to go to BA or Skyline!!!

[Lakewooder]

On a lighter note, photos of a recent rehearsal of "Noises Off":

http://woodrowwildcats.org/images/NOISES-275b.jpg

http://woodrowwildcats.org/images/NOISES-282b.jpg

http://woodrowwildcats.org/images/NOISES-804b.jpg

http://woodrowwildcats.org/images/NOISES-865b.jpg

[Columbus Civil]

Noises Off is bad luck. Look what it did to John Ritter and Christopher Reeve.

[Columbus Civil]

I wanted to go see this, but it's on a bad weekend for me :(

[Lakewooder]

Well let's say that the cast of TV's Bewitched wasn't too charmed, either..

There'll be a one-act play competition and the musical this spring. They are doing "City of Angels", unusual fare for high schools.

CC, I hope you make it, but please promise me you won't utter the word 'macbeth' anywhere in the vicinity of the stage!

[Lakewood Mom]

As a parent who has fled the private school system ( yes we exist in greater and greater numbers and believe it or not, the education there isn't so fabulous) I find obtaining information on DISD and its various programs to be a bit of a maze. There is no "newcomers guide" to the system. Can someone out there tell me more about TAG? I thought this was for "out of the box" thinkers, yet the entire testing format seems "in the box". I have been told through the grapevine that if you truly want your child in TAG and they did not "pass" the tests that you can demand they be put in as it is your tax dollars supporting the program etc etc. Is there any truth to this?

Also what is this nonsense about, if you break up a fight between two kids, you can be banned from campus for a year? One Mom said this happened to her when she pulled a kid off of her child as her child was being beaten up? This was in elementary school. What was she supposed to do, let her kid be beaten? I'm beginning to wonder what I've gotten us all into?

[Lakewooder]

I don't know about the apocryphal contretemps, but I have no doubt that it may be difficult to get info on magnet schools from those fiercely loyal to their neighborhood schools. Try this:

http://www.dallasisd.org/schools/mags.htm or seek out a parent already involved in those other schools.

[psukhu]

Lakewooder, did your kids go to Woodrow? (or currently going there/going in the future)

[Lakewooder]

No, I don't have kids. But many of my classmates and others from my era have kids there now -- I've watched them grow up so I feel that they are almost mine!

[Lakewooder]

Principal is right at home at alma mater



Dallas: 'It's my job, but it's also part of my life,' Woodrow chief says




08:04 AM CST on Friday, November 4, 2005



By ELIZABETH LANGTON / The Dallas Morning News



Ruth Vail started preparing for her job as Woodrow Wilson High's principal 18 years ago.

<!-- image1 starts here -->

http://www.dallasnews.com/bi/images/clikEnlarge.gif http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/v3/11-04-2005.NMC_04VAIL.GP51O11NI.1.jpg RANDY ELI GROTHE/DMN
Ruth Vail graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1991 and returned this year as the school's principal.

<!-- image1 ends here -->She just didn't know it at the time.

Mrs. Vail, who assumed the leadership role at Woodrow this year, grew up in Lakewood and attended the school for four years.

"It's really like coming home," Mrs. Vail said. "It's my job, but it's also part of my life."

Woodrow PTA president Helen Delph said parents and students feel excited about having a principal with such strong connections to the school and community.

"You can tell she enjoys what she does, and I think the students and parents have picked up on that," she said. "You can just feel it when you're talking to her. She's really involved, and the kids notice that."

Mrs. Delph said the principal shows up for school functions, such as pep rallies and the homecoming parade. And she shows obvious pride in achievements such as the football team's undefeated record.

"I think she is as excited about that as anybody," Mrs. Delph said.

Dallas school officials do not know how many teachers and administrators work at schools they attended. But district spokesman Donald Claxton mentioned one high-profile Sunset High graduate employed in the district – Superintendent Michael Hinojosa.

Mrs. Vail graduated from Woodrow in 1991 and earned a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University. She started teaching in Dallas elementary schools and later earned a master's at Texas Woman's University.

While serving as a district reading specialist, Mrs. Vail worked at 23 campuses. Her first administrative post was as assistant principal of Foster Elementary.

A year later, the district assigned Mrs. Vail to an assistant principal post at Woodrow. In 2002, she landed the principal job at Milam Elementary and worked there until last spring, when district officials said they wanted to interview her for another post.

"I knew it was a high school, but DISD doesn't tell you what you're interviewing for," she said. "It was a really nice feeling" to be offered the job.

Mrs. Vail, who lives in the Forest Hills area with her husband, Mike, is a second-generation Woodrow alumna. Her father, Edward Allen, graduated in 1965. Her uncles and sister also attended.

Mrs. Vail's 10-year-old daughter, Karissa, plans to be a third-generation Wildcat.

"All my other schools, to her that was just Mommy's work," Mrs. Vail said. "But she already says she wants to go to Woodrow."

Mrs. Vail said her goals for Woodrow including raising academic standards, acquiring grant money and reinvigorating school spirit.

"We want it to be the best public school. We want the best teachers, the best funding," she said. "I want the students to feel confident and learn in the best environment possible. ... I want the community involved.

"We can be an exemplary school."

E-mail elangton@dallasnews.com

[Dallasite]

Having gone to both Bishop Lynch and Bryan Adams in the 80's, I am glad my parents quit wasting their money at Lynch. BA had a far superior educational program than Lynch. BA was able to diversify for the educationally advanced students whereas BL wasn't able to accomodate.

I had a really pleasant experience at BA and since I still talk to the majority of my high school friends quite often, I feel confident in saying that they did too! :)

I send congratulation to Woodrow Wilson...



However, I take offense to the last paragraph. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect you have limited experience with private schools. I went to Bishop Lynch since my parents wanted to avoid Bryan Adams (and I'm Catholic). I can't thank them enough for sending me there. I knew many kids who went to Bryan Adams, Skyline, etc, in the 1980's and it wasn't a pleasant experience for them.

By the way, Jesuit and Bishop Lynch have ~1,000 - 1,100 students each. I think Woodrow is in the 1,350 range.

[Dallasite]

So...What exactly is the word on the street about how Ms. Vail is doing as principal of her alma mater?

[Dallasite]

Seventeen DISD seniors were selected National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists in September. As semifinalists, the seniors have the opportunity to compete for 2006 Merit Scholarship awards. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship, the semifinalists must fulfill several requirements and advance to the finalist level of the competition.

The DISD school with most semifinalists six was W.T. White High School. The other five schools are Bryan Adams and Woodrow Wilson high schools, the School of Science and Engineering and the School for the Talented and Gifted at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

[Lakewooder]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=text12clear style="COLOR: #b4711c; PADDING-TOP: 10px" width="13%">Host (http://www.evite.com/pages/gt/people/view.jsp?eUserID=5anYmIZ/5qE4bH5FeKeWKkvMcQ6F5_9UZylrr28yvPk=): </TD><TD class=text12clear style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" width="87%">Gustavo Ipiña Memorial Scholarship<!-- Print Invitation (javascript:window.print();)--></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=text12clear style="COLOR: #b4711c; PADDING-TOP: 10px">Location (javascript:popupWin('/app/mapping/mapPrivateEvent.do?eventId=NHVZJBRFHNMHPZPRZYWG','700','680','yes','yes','no','no','DependentWindow','no','no','center')): </TD><TD class=text12clear style="PADDING-TOP: 10px">Bodega Bar at Chateau Wine Market
4514 Travis Street, Dallas, TX View Map (javascript:popupWin('/app/mapping/mapPrivateEvent.do?eventId=NHVZJBRFHNMHPZPRZYWG','750','680','yes','yes','no','no','DependentWindow','no','no','center')) </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=text12clear style="COLOR: #b4711c; PADDING-TOP: 10px">When: </TD><TD class=text12clear style="PADDING-TOP: 10px">Friday, December 2, 8:00pm</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=text12clear style="COLOR: #b4711c; PADDING-TOP: 10px">Phone: </TD><TD class=text12clear style="PADDING-TOP: 10px">214.528.9463</TD></TR><TR><TD class=text12clear style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 10px" colSpan=2>Please join us in celebrating the inaugural event to benefit the Gustavo Ipiña Memorial Scholarship. Gustavo was an amazing young man and his untimely death should not go unnoted. We need your support to create a perpetual endowment in his memory.

Click here for more information about the Gustavo Ipiña Memorial Scholarship:
http://www.phprinc.com/Releases/2005-images/Gustavo-Ipina-Scholarship.pdf (http://www.phprinc.com/Releases/2005-images/Gustavo-Ipina-Scholarship.pdf)

Join us at the Chateau Wine Market December 2nd to mix & mingle and kick off the holiday season!

$10 per person - admit
$15 per person - admit & 2 drinks
$25 per person - admit & 2 drinks; wine-tasting

Complimentary soft drinks & appetizers from Cafe Madrid.

Special thanks to: Amier Taherzadeh of Chateau Wine Market; Paige Hendricks; Hugo Aguilar; Bill Cox; The Honorable Vickers Cunningham, WWHS Alumnus; Nabila Haffar; Bret Martin; Joseph Miller, former WWHS faculty member; Jim Moore; Dan Patterson; Camelia and Mike Sargent; Ted Shoemaker; Toby Shook, WWHS Alumnus; Barbara and Tom Sonn; and Tom Uglialoro of Aviation Services.

</TD></TR><!-- gift exchange--></TBODY></TABLE>

[Lakewooder]

[

Woodrow Wilson shows off National Mert Scholars


By LIZ MACKINNON

Several Woodrow Wilson students were honored recently in this year’s National Merit Scholarship competition.

Woodrow seniors Zach Buchanan and Evie Crabb were among an estimated 16,000 students nationwide to qualify as National Merit Semi-finalists. Woodrow students Matt Brown, Alyssa Potasznick, Jonathan Vowell, Kelssea Everett and Dylan Bumford received National Merit Letters of Commendation.

While only the Semifinalists continue in the competition for National Merit Awards, students receiving commendation often are in the running for many corporate and nonprofit sponsored scholarships.

High-school students qualify for the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in the fall of their junior year. Woodrow Wilson’s top achievers were notified of their honors in September. Woodrow cheerleader and Townview part-time student Ginny Hardwick also made it to the semifinals.



Liz Mackinnon is a Woodrow Wilson parent and is in charge of media relations for the school.

[Lakewooder]

From dad to son, a monumental tribute



Dallas: Architect designs plaza to honor child who died in March


12:00 AM CST on Sunday, November 20, 2005



By ALLEN HOUSTON / The Dallas Morning News



Willis Winters' fingerprints are on some of the most stunning projects in Dallas city parks, from the restoration of Fair Park to exhibits at the Dallas Zoo. But he never imagined that his legacy would one day include a memorial to his only son. <!-- image1 starts here -->

http://www.dallasnews.com/bi/images/clikEnlarge.gif http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/v3/11-20-2005.nmc_20memorial.GMU1OENGK.1.jpg NATHAN HUNSINGER/DMN
Janice and Willis Winters hope the memorial plaza near Woodrow Wilson High School, where their son was a student, will give the Randall Park project more meaning.



<!-- image1 ends here -->Through private donations and a matching grant from the city, the assistant director of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department is developing a central plaza in Randall Park, across from Woodrow Wilson High School, to honor his son, Will.

The Woodrow student died March 31 after a blood clot pierced his lungs and went to his heart.

"I wanted to add something of significance to the park, and certainly this is in his memory," Mr. Winters said.

The plaza will open in April as the last section of a major renovation project in Randall Park.

Mr. Winters' plan calls for a "cable staid" structure of galvanized steel tubes with stainless steel suspension cables holding metal slats that will shelter the plaza and still allow sunshine through. The tubes will form two W's, for Woodrow Wilson.

"This is something that will make Randall Park a landmark in the way a baseball or softball field won't," said Janice Winters, his wife and an architect herself. "It's the glue that will pull it together and give it a sense of place."

Sculptor Brad Goldberg will make benches for the plaza from Indiana limestone, the same material used at the school's entrance.

"We're like a close family," said Paul Dyer, director of Dallas Park and Recreation. "It's especially gratifying that we will have a part in honoring someone as close to us as Will was."

Loss and pain fill Mr. Winters' voice as he reflects on his son, a quiet giant who at 6 foot, 5 inches and 278 pounds appeared shy and withdrawn when first meeting people, but once opened up, shared his passion for University of Texas football, displayed an encyclopedic knowledge of movies and wore his love of animals on his sleeve.

Being so much larger than most children his age took its toll on Will's health. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and suffered manic bouts during which he became angry. Twice he was admitted to the hospital to learn how to manage his behavior and stabilize his mood swings.

He also had trouble walking and wore specially made shoes and ankle braces. Will was eventually diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome, a condition that causes muscle degeneration in the lower extremities.

In spite of all that, Mr. Winters believes his son had finally conquered his demons when he transferred as a freshman to the Old East Dallas high school.

"He loved it there," Mr. Winters said. "He made a lot of friends, liked the classes, and the football team embraced him."

Woodrow coach Bobby Estes said, "Will was like a lot of big guys.

"He was soft-spoken, but the more we messed with him and showed him we cared, the more he came out of his shell."

At the end of his sophomore year, Will decided to have surgery to correct his foot problem.

"His foot had caused him problems for a long time, and he wanted to have the surgery so that he would be ready to go at the start of the next school season," said Floann Chapman, a longtime family friend.

The first three weeks after the operation, everything appeared fine. Will's leg was in a cast while it healed. Late one afternoon after watching the JV team scrimmage, tragedy struck.

Mrs. Winters picked him up and took him home, unaware that anything was wrong. Will had complained the day before of not feeling well but hadn't wanted to see a doctor.

"He started complaining of his chest hurting once he sat down, and then the breathing problems began," she said.

Seconds later, Will went into cardiac arrest.

Paramedics rushed him to Presbyterian Hospital, where doctors tried unsuccessfully to revive him. The day of the funeral, the Woodrow football team went to the Winters' home. A group of players found themselves in Will's room, which was decked out in UT memorabilia.

Sergio Kindle, considered a top high school football prospect in the state, had been wavering between his college options. Seeing Will's love of the University of Texas helped solidify his decision.

"It pushed me over the hump. I got the opportunity to go to the school that was Will's dream," he said. "He's never going to get to fulfill it, but I'm going to fulfill it for him."

Woodrow retired Will's jersey for the season, and the team wears the number 71 on its helmets. It's been a banner year for the Wildcats. The team was undefeated in regular season play, finally losing Friday night to Wylie in the second round of the playoffs.

Not that it is any consolation to coach Estes.

"Anytime you walk by the front of the school and see his picture, there is a sense of loss," the coach said. "It puts athletics in perspective. Individuals, families and relationships are way more important than sports. I'd trade all our wins to bring him back."

E-mail ahouston@dallasnews.com

[Lakewooder]

French exchange student experiences high school in the U.S.



12:16 AM CST on Sunday, December 4, 2005



By ZACH BUCHANAN

Despite its diverse student body, Woodrow Wilson High School’s hallways aren’t typically populated by someone like Flavie Benard.

Benard, a 17-year-old exchange student from France, joined Woodrow’s junior class at the beginning of the school year.

Through the program Student Travel School, Benard followed the footsteps of her older siblings. Both her older sister and brother spent a year abroad in Canada and the U.S., respectively. Inspired by the opportunity to immerse herself in another culture, Benard made the leap over the Atlantic.

“Living one year away from my home is a different experience,” she explained in well-spoken English.

Besides enduring the unfamiliarity of being a stranger in a strange land, Benard also coped with the uncertainty of her destination. She didn’t enjoy the privilege of pinpointing her preferred location in the country. STS chose a state and a family for her, based on a profile and questionnaire that Benard completed while still in France.

Fortunately for Woodrow and Benard, STS chose well. The Pleasants family, whose son, Jordan, is a junior at Woodrow, met her at the airport in August following her daylong flight over the Atlantic. Benard has been very happy in her family situation, and surprised by the general kindness of Americans.

“The people are very nice,” even where she least expected it, in New York City, where the Pleasants took Benard for a weekend sightseeing trip, she said.

But the major curveball thrown to Benard has been the difference in schooling between the two countries. In France, students attend school solely for academic purposes — no extracurricular activities.

Benard was amazed at all of the events surrounding Woodrow’s recent homecoming game and dance.

“[Here] you can practice sports, and there are clubs,” said Benard, a participant on the Woodrow Wilson varsity girls’ soccer team. “It’s cooler.”

Athletic competition in the U.S. has become a favorite of Benard’s. She never misses Woodrow football games and frequents volleyball games as well, enjoying both teams’ district championship seasons. When asked why she likes it, Bernard put it plainly: “[It’s] not boring.”

Woodrow is more interesting thanks to Benard. She brings a French flair to campus while assimilating extremely well into American culture. Much to the loss of the neighborhood and school, Benard will return to France in June.



Zach Buchanan is a student at Woodrow Wilson High School.

[Dallasite]

Don't really know where to post this, but Toby Shook who is running for District Attorney is a Woodrow alumni.

[Lakewooder]

Actually both candidates for DA in the Republican party are Wildcats: Toby is class of 1976 and Judge Vick Cunningham is class of 1980. Vick has a daughter at Woodrow now and his father, City Plan Commisioner Bulldog Cunningham is class of 1949.

There's a legacy here because Henry Wade hired Toby and Henry's kids all went to Woodrow from the late 1960s to the early 1980s -- one is now a judge, Hank Wade.

It's difficult to chose one over the other when they are both like family, but I'm working on Toby's campaign because I feel his 22 years of prosecuting experience and successes make him the best man.

A lot of people in Lakewood are torn over whom to support...

[Dallasite]

I will be supporting Toby as well. He has done a great job as a prosecutor.