Woodrow - Academics - Arts - etc.

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow Students Compete in World Quest Competition
Posted February 27 2007 by Sam Bohmfalk '09
http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/747

This past Saturday, eight Woodrow Wilson studentes participated in the World Quest competition at SMU. The academic World Quest tests the students in the areas of world affairs, geography, history, culture, flags, sports, current events, leaders, economics, international organizations, and more.

The competition is open to any high school student of any high school in the DFW area. On Saturday, the eight Woodrow students divided into the Woodrow Wilson Red and Grey teams. The Red team consisted of Woodrow seniors Matthew George, Ryan Gunter, Jared Muston, and Thomas Simpson. The Grey team was comprised of Woodrow juniors Sam Bohmfalk, Lizzie Cochran, Eric Godat, and Spencer Miller.

The competition was divided into ten sections with students answering ten questions per section for a total of one hundred. Competing against thirty-eight other teams, the Woodrow students performed well.

Woodrow teams battle each other as well
At the midway point, the two Woodrow teams were tied at thirty points, ten points behind the leader, Jasper High School of Plano, but in the midst of many teams fighting just behind the third place Plano West team that had thirty-three.
The Woodrow teams started out the second half strong but would fade towards the end. When it was all said and done, the Woodrow Wilson Grey teams edged the Woodrow Red team by the score of 59-58, good enough for 14th and 15th places respectively.

Woodrow sponsor, AP Human Geography teacher Bette Miller was proud of her students' effort and joked, "Just imagine how you could have done if you had studied!"

Thomas Simpson was the only returning member of last years team that finished the competition in second place. However, with a team full of Juniors this year, Woodrow looks poised to finish closer to the top in the future.

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow Wilson High School's Variations show choir held its annual Gala at the Texas Hall of State in Fair Park this past Sunday.

The Gala is an annual tradition and marks the last major performance for the year, and the last performance ever for the seniors who will soon graduate.

The seniors were featured singing, "Here I Stand," composed by one of their own number, Matthew George. With hands linked, the group sang the ode to endings and new beginnings, leaving few dry eyes in the house.

The event also showcased the entire choir, small groups, and solo performers. As is traditional, the Gala previewed a number from the upcoming Woodrow musical, Fiddler on the Roof.

It is a bittersweet moment for seniors and a source of great pride for the choir members, their parents, directors Sean Morrison and John Beaird, and the choir alumni and community members who came out to see the show.

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow Thespians Bring King Lear's Suffering to Stage
Posted March 10 2007 by Steve Crozier

http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/762

Woodrow drama teacher John Beaird and his team of high school actors is bringing the tragedy of King Lear to the stage for One Act Play Competition this year.

Theme of public responsibility

“What drew me particularly to King Lear this year is the theme of responsibility in public office,” says Beaird, noting that several directors and actors are taking on the great Shakespearean tragedy this year (including Kevin Kline as Lear at the Public Theatre in New York, and Ian MacKellen as Lear at Royal Shakespeare in Stratford).

Cutting a classic drama down to the required maximum of forty minutes is always a challenge, but King Lear proved particularly difficult, Beaird says.

The one act play this year is a cutting of Shakespeare's King Lear, which is a particularly difficult play to cut down to the required performance time of 40 minutes.

Nonetheless, Beaird says that the "amazing young cast" has crafted a really interesting production. They have high hopes for their chances in the competition this year.

Tough district competition

“DISD tends to have a very strong presence in UIL's One Act Play, and our district has some really intense competition,” he says. “Hillcrest High is always splendid, as is Lincoln. We are also dealing with a new situation this year with Conrad High, the new high school, which is in our district. The director there has years of experience with One Act, so this district competition could go any number of different ways.”

The choice of King Lear is something of a departure for Woodrow. Beaird is pleased to be working with "such an amazing classic" this year. “I have tended to focus more on comedies in the last few years, so this is something completely different. It is a violent play, so it's not for everyone. But, the timeless themes in this play make it an amazing thing to explore in this day and age.”

Paring down a classic
Beaird says that the cutting of a play down to forty minutes is a long process. “It starts with cutting as much as you can without losing the integrity of the story or the author's intention. ” He says that the first cutting generally ends up being well over an hour in length.

Then, during the rehearsal process, Beaird begins to “remove other bits here and there. ”

“As we get very close to contest time, the last of the cutting becomes exceptionally difficult, trying to decide between several things that are both loved by the cast and important to the story. In order to fulfill the contest restrictions, the play must run under forty minutes—otherwise you face disqualification.”

[Lakewooder]

http://www.peoplenewspapers.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=2E6F0B77C01D4A33B80DDFFA6D799F6A&AudID=0C60FF0FEDEB42CAA527EA9D73BBC489

Issue Date: April 20, 2007, Posted On: 4/20/2007

Tradition Takes Stage at Woodrow
'Fiddler on the Roof' marks 50 years of musicals at school
By Bruce Felps
Staff Writer


Woodrow Wilson theater director John Beaird finds the opening song of his latest production especially appropriate, given that the high shool is celebrating its own history of 50 years of musicals this week.

The student cast of “Fiddler on the Roof” will sing of “Tradition” when they take the stage next Thursday.

“You know, we have a whole lot of alums coming back for the [April 29] performance,” Beaird said. “There is a little bit of pressure with folks coming back now to see what we’re doing.”

Beaird and musical department director Sean Morrison, himself a Woodrow alumnus, head the show, which features 90 students.

Matthew George and Sian Hardie star as “Tevye” and “Golde,” respectively, heads of a Jewish household in a Russia under Tsarist rule as the Bolshevik movement gains momentum.

Valerie Reynolds portrays “The Fiddler,” a character born of Tevye’s declaration, “Without our traditions our lives would be as shaky as, as … as a fiddler on the roof.”

A sense of history brings back Woodrow graduates to help out with each year’s performance, according to Stephen Cargile, a 1982 graduate who performed in “Babes in Arms” and “Anything Goes.” Cargile now works as principal show designer with Walt Disney Imagineering.

“Not many schools do big musical productions any more because it’s expensive and you need an army of volunteers,” he said. “Woodrow musicals have multigenerational families involved.”

Woodrow Principal Ruth Vail, herself a Woodrow graduate from 1991, said volunteer work of former students and parental involvement help make each successive year’s production better than the year before.

“There are high points and low points every year,” she said. “Every year, you learn from your mistakes and those lessons are passed on.”

Vail also said the dedication of parents, some of whom participated in musicals when they attended Woodrow, returning alumni, and the community exceeds that of other Dallas Independent School District campuses.

“I don’t hear from a lot of my peers about pulling late nights to put together a musical,” she said.

Lacy Montgomery graduated from Woodrow in 2001. She appeared in “42nd Street” her senior year, following in her mother’s footsteps. She stepped in this year to write biographies for the students in the musical.

“I loved that program when I was in high school,” she said “My mom was in it when she was at Woodrow in the ’60s. The community support, all the mothers of those kids up there all the time to help out, is just tremendous.”

Montgomery and Cargile said their stints with the musicals produced by their own classes yielded lifelong friendships. A group of Woodrow alumni plan a wine-and-cheese party at Professional Bank of Lakewood after the curtain closes on the final performance, which starts at 2:30 p.m. April 29.

Montgomery said the finale will be difficult for the performers.

“The community, the friendships, the discipline — it’s all fun, and it’s all worth it,” she said. “Particularly when it’s the last Sunday and the last performance, and you can’t even get through the last song because you’re crying because you know it’s all over. I turned my microphone off.”

"Fiddler on the Roof" Showtimes:
April 26 - 7:30 p.m.
April 27 - 7:30 p.m.
April 28 - 7:30 p.m.
April 29 - 2:30 p.m.
Tickets $15 at door

E-mail brucef@peoplenewspapers.com

Photo: Michael Broadbent
Senior Liz Halasz, sophomore Sarah Merino, junior Lizzie Cochran, and senior Jordan Law during rehearsals for Woodrow Wilson's production of ‘Fiddler On the Roof,’ which opens Thursday.

[Lakewooder]

The Woodrow Wilson Jazz Band and Band alumni teamed up this past Saturday for the 2nd Annual Saturday Jazz Brunch.

http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/813

[Lakewooder]

"The Coolest Kid in Town"

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2007/04/the_coolest_kid_in_town.php

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow Celebrates Tradition With Show About "Tradition!"


Story and pictures: http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/885?page=1

[Lakewooder]

Yale-bound Matthew George doing his turn as "Tevye" in "Fiddler":

http://www.woodrowwildcats.org/MusicalMovie_1.avi

[Lakewooder]

Excerpt from:

Candid moments enliven mayoral campaign
DMN
11:38 AM CDT on Monday, May 7, 2007


Sunday, 1:55 p.m.

The main attraction at Woodrow Wilson High School in East Dallas is a matinee performance of Fiddler on the Roof. It may just as well have been Gary Griffith, a 1966 graduate who seemed to know just about everyone filing into the school's auditorium.

Although he's sporting a red lapel ribbon reading "Go Gary! Let's elect a Woodrow mayor," just about everyone already seems to know Mr. Griffith.

"Gary! How are you!" a woman shouts from across the foyer, bumping into the refreshment table as she tries to give Mr. Griffith a hug.

"Hey! It's the mayor of Dallas!" a nearby man says, patting Mr. Griffith on the back.

"In school, he was the man. Even then, we'd say, 'He's going to be mayor some day,' " said high school classmate Mike Looney, whose daughter CeCe, a senior at Woodrow Wilson, is participating in the production.

Mr. Griffith beams. He's clearly enjoying this campaign stop.

"You try to stay up with everyone. I've tried to stay connected to Woodrow since I've left. Guess I've done OK with that," he says, sheepishly.

[Lakewooder]

Just received this email from a friend and classmate who now teaches at Woodrow:

"The preliminary TAKS results are in and Woodrow has been great strides. Compared to other Dallas schools, Woodrow went from 11th to 4th in Reading, 7th to 3rd in Math, 14th to 9th in Social Studies and 4th to 5th in Science. W.T. White is first in all four categories (again) and Hillcrest is 3rd in Reading and 2nd in the other three categories.
Among 11th graders (the test that they must pass to graduate) 90.3% passed Reading, 81% passed Math, 69.4% passed Science, and 96.2% passed Social Studies. Among the economically disadvantaged 11th graders (represents almost half our students) 85.3% passed Reading, 77.8% passed Math, 62.1% passed Science, and 93.5% passed Social Studies. Those numbers climbed dramatically over last year except for Science which is stagnant.
We still have work to do, but we have the largest gains in Reading and the second biggest gains in Math compared to the other Dallas schools. So things are looking up for us."

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow Sophomores Throw "Senior Prom" at Juliette Fowler Nursing Home:

http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/900

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow Wins Best Musical, Best Actor:


Cappies rewards high schoolers

09:13 AM CDT on Tuesday, May 15, 2007

By NANCY CHURNIN / Staff Writer


There were easily identifiable rooting sections at Monday night's Cappies annual gala at Dallas Children's Theater's Rosewood Center for Family Arts. Each of the 10 area high schools nominated for awards burst into applause when one of their own was announced.

But when the schools performed scenes from the 10 nominated shows – five for best musical and five for best play – the crowd reacted as one, tearing up for the winning performances of David Pendleton's Charly in Trinity Christian Academy's Flowers for Algernon, drinking in Greta Stetson's shimmering soprano in Hockaday/St. Mark's Brigadoon and laughing at Matthew George's wry Tevye in Woodrow Wilson High School's Fiddler on the Roof.

That unity crystallized the goal of this Washington, D.C.-based national critics and awards program, which took root in Dallas in 2000 as a way to give members of high school theater groups a chance to be reviewed and honored by their peers.

And honor them they did in a ceremony where tuxes and suits mixed with glitter and sequins. The more than three dozen winners thanked their teachers, parents and cast members. Mr. Pendleton called Flowers "a blessing of a show. We all learned so much."

Mr. George said he, too, had been touched by his part and he hoped everyone would get a chance to perform in Fiddler in the Roof because, he said, "It will offer you more than you ever knew it could."

Here are some of the winners:

Lead actress in a play: Katherine Reynolds, Wylie High School, Metamorphoses

Lead actor in a play: David Pendleton, Trinity Christian Academy, Flowers for Algernon

Lead actress in a musical: Greta Stetson, Hockaday/St. Mark's Drama Program, Brigadoon

Lead actor in a musical: Matthew George, Woodrow Wilson High School, Fiddler on the Roof

Best play: Laughing Stock, J. J. Pearce High School, Richardson

Best musical: Fiddler on the Roof, Woodrow Wilson High School

Creativity: Seanna Tucker of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts for her play, Don't Look Back, which was selected to be performed at the Cappies program in Washington D.C.

[Lakewooder]

School looks back on 50 years of musicals

Woodrow Wilson High is to be applauded


09:40 AM CDT on Saturday, May 5, 2007
By ELIZABETH LANGTON / The Dallas Morning News
elangton@dallasnews.com

When Duward Sumner graced the stage as Will Parker in Woodrow Wilson High School's 1958 production of Oklahoma!, he and his classmates had no idea what was coming.

Woodrow Wilson High presented Fiddler on the Roof last weekend. Candy Post, a volunteer, got a hug from senior Thomas Simpson, who played Lazar Wolf, the butcher. "We just knew that it sort of took over our lives that school year," said Mr. Sumner, a 1959 Woodrow graduate. "That's the funny thing about tradition – you don't know that's what you're doing when you start it."

Last week, Mr. Sumner stood on the Woodrow stage again, this time to introduce the closing performance of the school's 50th annual Broadway-style musical. Fiddler on the Roof was a grand production involving hundreds of students, dozens of volunteers and nearly a year of planning.

A cast of about 100, led by four-time musical actors Matthew George and Sian Hardie, opened the show with a fitting musical number, "Tradition."

"The tradition of Woodrow is these kids here onstage," Woodrow theater director John Beaird said before the curtain rose.

After Sunday's matinee, dozens of musical alumni gathered for a reunion. Though their experiences span five decades, they laughed heartily at the same inside jokes.

"I don't think we ever stole any lumber," said former Woodrow teacher Jerry McKinney, who directed the musicals from 1971 to 1975.

The crowd rumbled in disagreement before he added: "But the year we did South Pacific, there was a family who lived down by the lake who could never account for a rowboat."

Woodrow's musical era started with drama teacher Helen Eckelman, who ran the shows until 1970. She died in 2005 at age 92.

"She planted the seed for this incredible blossom we see today," said 1958 Woodrow graduate Suzanne Buhrer, student director of the first musical. "If Helen is here with us, 'God love you. Look what you did.' "

Choir director Marca Lee Bircher took over the musicals in 1976. Drama teacher Patti Hardman became her directing partner and choreographer the next year. Together, they produced 28 musicals, including 14 during years Ms. Hardman lived in California and traveled back to help.

"Woodrow is an unusual thing," Ms. Bircher said. "In all my life, I have never seen a school like it."

Ms. Bircher and Ms. Hardman retired together in 2003. Mr. Beaird and choral director Sean Morrison, a Woodrow alum who performed during the Bircher-Hardman years, assumed the helm.

Mr. McKinney, an educator for 41 years, said they have carried the torch admirably.

"I said this to my wife after the first five minutes, 'This is probably the best put-together high school production I've ever seen,' " he said.

He also credited parents and the community for their strong support of Woodrow's fine-arts programs.

"Woodrow is very, very fortunate to have you," Mr. McKinney told community members gathered at the reunion. "These kinds of programs are not happening in high schools anymore. With your last breath, you say: 'I want fine arts in my school, I want that musical happening, and I want support for these men.' "

[Lakewooder]

A Beautiful and Moving Baccalaureate:

http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/939?page=1

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow's Top Two - Yale and Princeton:

http://www.peoplenewspapers.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=75F7E19DED2F42E5B7D85DB3F44E2FF5&AudID=0C60FF0FEDEB42CAA527EA9D73BBC489

Woodrow’s Top 2 Look To The Future
Class of 2007 graduated Sunday
By Sarah P. Henry
Staff Writer

The seniors at Woodrow Wilson High School have officially graduated. The top two students owned those rankings starting the second semester of their junior year. Here are the Woodrow valedictorian and salutatorian.

VALEDICTORIAN

Photo: Marco Antonio Medina
Valedictorian Matthew George speaks to his fellow graduates.
Matthew George didn’t set his sights on the top rank in his class at the beginning of his high school career.

“Mainly, I just worked as hard as I could,” said George, who graduated with a 98.95 grade-point average. “I don’t think there ever was a point where I sat down and thought, ‘I want to be valedictorian.’

“It was a nice reward at the end of the journey, as opposed to inspiring how my journey was taken.”

George will attend Yale University in the fall. He does not yet have a major in mind, but is interested in history, English, and theater.

He applied for early decision at Yale and did not consider any other schools after he was accepted.

George was involved in theater and music at Woodrow and was senior class president, president of the Dallas Teen School Board, an anchor on School Zone Dallas, and co-founder and co-editor of Woodrow’s literary magazine, The Angler.

This summer, George plans to travel to Greece with his family, to Costa Rica on a mission trip, and to serve as a counselor at the summer camp he has been attending since he was 6 years old.

SALUTATORIAN
Thomas Simpson graduated with a 96.71 GPA and plans to attend Princeton University.

He chose Princeton, on one hand, because his father attended the school, and on the other hand, because he fell in love with its creative writing program.

“My idea of the perfect job would be lounging around, writing poetry, and reading and writing books,” Simpson said. “The idea of relaxation has always been enthralling to me. But I want to write. That’s the main idea — to write poetry, fiction, short stories.”

Simpson said he wanted to be at the top of his class, but not for the obvious reason.

“A big motivation for me was the idea of giving a speech of graduation,” he said. “I’d always liked that idea.”

Simpson and George are long-time schoolmates, and Simpson said their competition has continued over the years.

Even when they went to different schools, they kept tabs on each other.

Simpson played tight end and defensive tackle on Woodrow’s varsity football team, was a member of the mock trial team, and was co-founder and co-editor of The Angler, along with George.

This summer, Simpson will be a lifeguard at the Lakewood Country Club.

E-mail sarahp@peoplenewspapers.com

[Lakewooder]

New Seniors 'initiate' New Freshmen into Woodrow 'Fraternity':

http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/952

*** Not a school-sponsored event!

Note- one of the firemen featured is a 1977 grad.

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow Wilson High School’s top 10 students plan to go to Texas A&M, Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, Stephen F. Austin University, University of North Carolina, Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, Villanova University in Pennsylvania, United States Military Academy at West Point in New York, Princeton University in New Jersey, and Yale University in Connecticut.

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow Cheerleaders Helping Next Generation

http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/1076

[br.reese]

Looking good for DISD

[Lakewooder]

Principal Vail Goes to Harvard:

http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/985?page=1

[St-T]

Thank you, Lakewooder, for promoting DISD... most people have NO CLUE!

[Lakewooder]

From http://www.backtalkeastdallas.typepad.com


Woodrow unveils the 2008 musical: The Sound of Music

Each year, Woodrow Wilson High School's drama teachers — John Beaird and Sean Morrison — following the tradition of the school's famed drama teachers before them, announce the 2008 musical with considerable flourish and anticipation following the school's fall mini-school. This year, after tempting the crowd with a few tidbits about how the mystery musical was selected and how they were excited about doing things that they had never done, Beaird punched a button on the portable CD player, cueing up Julie Andrews singing "the hills are alive...with the sound of music" to the claps and cheers of perhaps 100 gathered Woodrow parents and students. On the heels of last year's hugely successful "Fiddler on the Roof" honoring Woodrow's 50th musical, I'm looking forward to seeing the mountains of Austria recreated right here in Lakewood by the hundreds of student and parent volunteers, along with many of Woodrow's education professionals, too.

Email this • Digg This!

Rick Wamre on Sep 10, 2007 at 10:46 PM in Arts, Education, Entertainment, Neighborhood | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: Austria, Fiddler on the Roof, Julie Andrews, musical, Sound of Music, Woodrow Wilson High School

[Lakewooder]

From Lakewood People:

Issue Date: September 21, 2007, Posted On: 9/21/2007

Schools Push AP Classes For Minorities
Numbers up in Lakewood, across Texas
By Sarah P. Henry
Staff Writer

Woodrow Wilson High School staff members strive for success in the Advanced Placement classroom for all students, but the latest push in the program is to enroll more minority students.

“Our goal is to get more participation in these classes,” said Patrick McGee, an AP English teacher at Wilson. “It’s important to us that we get a wide variety of students in. Not just to make numbers either. We want to reflect our community.”

A total of 414 were enrolled in at least one AP class at Wilson last year, and though the exact number of participating minorities was unavailable, school officials said it was up over last year.

A total of 52 percent of AP test-takers across the state are minorities, according to a recently released report from the Texas Education Agency.

Hispanic students make up 34 percent of Texas AP students. Nationally, 13 percent are Hispanic.

In the past, many schools have required prerequisites or certain grade-point averages to be enrolled in AP classes, though it has never been mandated by the College Board, the organization that regulates the program.

The recent focus on college readiness for all students has reversed that thinking.

“There’s a perception that they’re too hard,” McGee said. “And there has been a perception that it’s only for a select group of people. But that’s not true.”

AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a program that many districts, including Dallas, use to encourage minority enrollment in AP courses.

Since implementing AVID, there has been a 31 percent increase in students attempting to take an AP exam, according to Wilson Principal Ruth Vail.

Encouraging students to challenge themselves to take more rigorous courses is the first challenge.

The next step is to support them so they will take and pass the AP end-of-course exams.

At Wilson last year, 132 students passed one or more AP exams with a score of 3 or higher.

The grading scale is from 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Many colleges offer credit for scores of 3 or higher, which can save students and their parents hundreds of dollars in tuition — another benefit for minority students who traditionally make up a large percentage of the economically disadvantaged income bracket.

“It’s a build-your-own scholarship program,” said Bob Iden, principal at Lake Highlands High School. “You can literally go into your freshman year of college with all your credits by scoring well on the AP exams.”

Statewide, 47 percent of attempted exams received a score of 3 or higher.

Many colleges and universities also consider the rigor of students’ course loads in admission decisions, which gives students with a B or a C in an AP course an advantage over students with A’s in regular classes.

The AP program at Wilson takes serious commitment from more than just students. Much is required of teachers as well.

On top of additional professional-development sessions, the requirements are steep.

The curriculum is written by the College Board, and teachers must complete an intense, five-day training session in order to be eligible to teach AP classes.

After that, teachers are required to take a two-day maintenance course each year.

Teachers throw themselves into classes, pushing students beyond their comfort zones.

That’s where they count their victories.

“Either the bubble expands or the bubble breaks,” McGee said. “That’s what we like. It’s that change in world thinking that makes them look beyond themselves and beyond their neighborhood. That’s where we’re counting success.”

State funds are available for teacher training as well as to reduce the cost of exams for students.

There are also AP incentive programs that award schools $100 for each student who passes an exam with a score of 3 or higher.

The most popular exams taken by students in Texas last year were English language and composition, U.S. history, and English literature and composition.

E-mail sarahp@peoplenewspapers.com

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow's acclaimed Fine Arts Department, directed by John Beaird, puts its own spin on "Our Town," the Pulitzer prize-winning play by Thornton Wilder.

The production runs Oct. 18-20 in the Woodrow Wilson High School auditorium, and the curtain goes up on each performance at 7:30 p.m.

http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/1247?page=1

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow Scores Classroom Wins
Posted October 8, 2007, 3:15 p.m.Staff Report
http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/1265?page=1

Woodrow Wilson High School notched a few wins and awards unassociated with athletics or stage productions. More than two dozen Woodrow students or recent graduates have been named to prestigious academic lists because of their achievements in the classroom

National Merit Scholarship Program:
More than 1.4 million students nationwide took the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test last year. The following students from Woodrow are being recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the test used for entry.

Dante Silva was named a National Merit Scholar 2008 semi-finalist. Silva will advance to the finals competition for National Merit Scholarship to be offered in spring 2008.

Commended students in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program include Eric Godat and Rachel Kittrell.

Advanced Placement Scholars:
The College Board and Woodrow Wilson administration, faculty, and staff are pleased to recognize the best and the brightest Woodrow Wilson students who have earned AP Scholar Awards on the basis of their outstanding academic performance.

AP Scholar granted to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams: Michael Barton, Travis Cable, Addie Delph, Sarah Dickson, Jonathan Eason, Ryan Gunter, Siena Hickey, Hallie Kaplan, Gigi Kraynick, Caleb Larsen, Yichuan Lu, Jessica Meers, John Schuerger, Alexandra Simpson, and Matthew Young.

Scholars With Honor granted to students who receive an average of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams: Samuel Ashbrook, Eric Godat, Elizabeth Kaiser, Rachel Kittrell, and Ian Mackinnon.

Scholars with Distinction granted to students who receive an average of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams: Samuel Bohmfalk, Margaret Daume, Edna Ewere, Matthew George, Jared Muston, Alexandra Shapiro, and Thomas Simpson.

National Scholar granted to students in the United States who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and grades of 4 or higher on five or more of these exams: Matthew George and Thomas Simpson.

[Lakewooder]

http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/1310?page=1

Review of "Our Town"

Our Town' Would Make Wilder Proud
Posted October 23, 2007, 3:00 a.m.by Alexandra Bonifield

wonder if he had a clue. When Thornton Wilder typed the final word of his Pulitzer Prize winning play "Our Town" in 1938, I wonder if he envisioned the future reach and positive impact of his three-act depiction of life, love, and passage inspired by his close friend Gertrude Stein's "The Making of Americans."

If he had attended the production just staged at Woodrow Wilson High School, surely this globally educated, multiple Pulitzer winning author, friend, and confidante to countless intellectual and political leaders of the 20th century, would be pleased and humbled.

Woodrow's drama department is something of a local legend for the high caliber of its musical theatre productions. Given the promise shown at the opening night performance of "Our Town," the reputation should extend to its non-musical productions as well.

From the elegant simplicity of its bare essential set, enhanced by peaceful, ambient projection on an upstage scrim curtain, to the clever double casting of the omniscient Narrator character as an everyman-everywoman in modern dress, this is a classy and clean production. Set at the turn of the 19th century and dealing throughout with romantic love, it would be easy to go for saccharin, homespun treatment. Performed to death in the ‘60s and ‘70s with emphasis on sentimentality, "Our Town" warrants non-sentimentalized rebirth as one of the finest examples of American playwrighting. Director John Beaird's production shines.

Protagonist Emily Webb makes or breaks the play. We must trust each step taken by this positive, hope-filled, truthful young woman as she grows from curious adolescent, to vibrant adult in love with life, to wise spirit beyond the grave.

Senior Lizzie Cochran imbued Emily with a charming but grounded life force and enlivened every scene in which she appeared. The role of Emily presents a similar challenge as Juliet does in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." The characters are written for a young actor, one who may not have the life or stage experience to properly carry off the part. Under the superior guidance of director Beaird, Cochran created a totally lovable and memorable Emily.

As her "boy next door" friend George and later her husband, lean and lanky junior Bryce Romney sauntered about the stage with a James Stewart-like down home sincerity. The audience could see clearly why Emily falls deeply in love with him. They made a perfect universal love match, exactly what playwright Wilder must have envisioned.

There were no bad performances from the ensemble. The teenagers cast as "parents" to both leads conveyed the maturity and deliberation required with sensitivity and confidence, which speaks well for them as actors and, again, for their wise director. The brief intimate scene between George and his future father-in-law, played by senior Sam Scheurger, revealed the right blend of awkwardness and poignancy.

Community effort

Scheurger oozes natural stage presence; his adept expressiveness allowed him to convey believably the multitude of emotions a father might feel the day of his daughter's wedding when confronted unexpectedly with the young bridegroom. A fine accomplishment for a young actor.

Opening night, the sound system maintained an annoying hum throughout the show, which I learned was consequently corrected by a neighboring sound engineer who kindly donated his services. It was real pleasure to see the cheerful, devoted parents staffing the ticket sales and the refreshment table outside the auditorium.

The message of Wilder's play is to fully appreciate life and to value our relationships, as they will pass away all too soon. Woodrow's thespians created delightful magic on stage; their parents clearly cherish them and support their memorable accomplishment.

[Lakewooder]

Cast of "Our Town":

[Lakewooder]

Cast of "Our Town":

[img=http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/673/grouppiccroppedforpostccu6.th.jpg] (http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=grouppiccroppedforpostccu6.jpg)

[Lakewooder]

Texas study finds 39 model high schools in math, science

Common traits include larger class sizes, more certified teachers

09:31 PM CDT on Wednesday, October 31, 2007
By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News
tstutz@dallasnews.com

AUSTIN – A select group of Texas high schools – including eight in the Dallas area – is chalking up impressive results in math and science by utilizing slightly larger classes and paying teachers in those subjects more money than other teachers, according to a report released Wednesday.

The study by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, examined scores on several major tests – the TAKS, ACT, SAT and Advanced Placement exams – to come up with 39 high schools that have been largely successful in teaching math and science to their students.

Many of the schools have a large percentage of low-income students and enrollments range from rural and small (148 pupils) to urban and very large (4,872 pupils).

Researchers for the foundation, which is influential with state Republican leaders, conducted the study to identify the "best practices" that the high schools have in common so they can be shared with other schools.

Citing lackluster math and science performance in Texas high schools, the report said it is fortunate that "a number of Texas high schools are shining examples of places where students are achieving success in math and science."

Using standardized test and college entrance exam data from the Texas Education Agency, researchers noted that the 39 schools not only scored well in math and science, but also demonstrated "significant gains" over time. A total of 28 campuses were cited for math achievement and 29 for science achievement – including 18 that did well in both subjects.

Jamie Story, lead researcher, said the test score results also were adjusted for student body demographics, percentage of limited English-speaking students and geographic location. One of the "best practice" high schools has a student body that is nearly 85 percent low income.

Two Dallas high schools on the list – Carter and Wilson – have student bodies that are about 55 percent low income. Turner High School in Carrollton, also on the list, is 56 percent low income.

Among the common characteristics of the 39 best practice schools are:

•Class size – all had slightly larger classes in math and science – about 10 percent more students – than the average high school class in those subjects. That translated into an extra two to three students per class.

•Teacher pay – Math and science teachers at best practice schools typically earned about $3,000 a year more than other teachers at their schools. School districts paid those supplements using incentive pay or special stipend programs.

•Teacher certification – all had a high percentage of teachers certified in math and science. Only 3.8 percent of math teachers were teaching out of their field – compared with 14.3 percent statewide – and only 1 percent of science teachers were out of field – compared with 28 percent statewide.

•Spending per student – The best practice schools annually spent an average of $994 per student less than the state average – cited in the study as $7,229. The schools also spent more of their funds on instruction (68.4 percent) than the statewide average (57.8 percent).

•TAKS preparation – time spent preparing for the annual Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills was about half that of the average school in Texas. Best practice schools also targeted TAKS preparation to low-performing students.

The foundation also made a series of recommendations that researchers said can be implemented by school districts under current law. They included greater use of stipends to pay math and science teachers, and new district policies that reduce the amount of class time spent on TAKS preparation.

Richard Kouri of the Texas State Teachers Association said the finding that most of the schools have a high percentage of certified math and science teachers may be the most critical of all the best practices cited in the report.

"It all starts with having certified math and science teachers," he said.


BEST PRACTICE HIGH SCHOOLS, DALLAS AREA
School District Subject
Carter Dallas Math
Science & Engineering Dallas Math
Woodrow Wilson Dallas Science
Creekview Carrollton-FB Math
Turner Carrollton-FB Math and Science
Berkner Richardson Science
Richardson Richardson Math and Science
Lewisville Lewisville Math
*Based on test scores on TAKS, ACT, SAT and AP exams
SOURCE: Texas Public Policy Foundation

[Lakewooder]

http://backtalkeastdallas.typepad.com/back_talk/2007/11/woodrow-wilson-.html

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee279/lakewooder/school_front.jpg

Woodrow Wilson identified as one of Texas' model schools

An article in today's Dallas Morning News notes the findings of the Texas Public Policy Foundation that identify 39 Texas High Schools that are demonstrating particular success in teaching math and science. On that list is our own Woodrow Wilson, one of the three in DISD, for its progress in teaching science. According to the article, the foundation considered a variety of factors, including TAKS, ACT, SAT and Advanced Placement test results. The intention was to determine the "best practices" of successful high schools so that these techniques can be shared with other schools. The Foundation has noted particular concern with the lack of performance in these subjects by high schools across the state.

Congratulations to Principal Ruth Vail and the staff at WWHS. Learn more about the efforts at Woodrow Wilson by visiting the web sites of the Site Based Decision Making committee and the PTA.

[Lakewooder]

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee279/lakewooder/waynepierce.jpg

Wayne Pierce was principal of Woodrow Wilson High from 1971 to 1987, part of a 32-year Dallas ISD career. Last month, he was in Mount Vernon celebrating its 1954 state championship basketball team, which included future Cowboys QB Don Meredith.

Retired Dallas principal and coach is still a winner | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Lakewood/East Dallas (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/lakewood/stories/DN-elfocus_10met.ART.Central.Edition1.41de75c.html)

Seneca, an old Roman wise guy, said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Wayne Pierce figures in his case..

[Lakewooder]

Dr. G. Tom Shires, 81; operated on Texas governor struck in JFK shooting
template_bas
template_bas
The surgeon's research altered the treatment of trauma, surgical and burn patients in the U.S.
By Jocelyn Y. Stewart, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
November 1, 2007
Dr. G. Tom Shires, a nationally acclaimed surgeon who operated on the Texas governor wounded in the same attack that killed President Kennedy in 1963 and whose research altered the treatment of trauma, surgical and burn patients in the United States, has died. He was 81.

Shires, who attended to Gov. John B. Connally in addition to Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, died of gastrointestinal cancer Oct. 18 at his home in Henderson, Nev., said his daughter Jacquelyn Blain.

For the last 10 years Shires had been professor of surgery and director of the University of Nevada School of Medicine's Trauma Institute in Las Vegas.

"Dr. Shires was more than just an outstanding doctor," John McDonald, dean of the school, said in a statement. He "cared deeply about his students, patients and profession."

In the 1960s, Shires' research led to the now common practice of giving saline solution to surgical and trauma patients. Shires and a colleague found that saltwater helps blood cells maintain their shape, enabling them to effectively transport oxygen throughout the body. The development helped lower the mortality rate for such patients.

By 1963, Shires had become chief of surgical services at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. On Nov. 22, the day Kennedy was shot while riding in a motorcade through that city, Shires was in Galveston, Texas, giving a talk at a meeting of the Western Surgical Assn. It was also Shires' birthday.

Texas rangers found Shires at the meeting and put him on a plane to Dallas.

"He got there just as they were wheeling President Kennedy out," Blain said.

Shires operated on Connally who, along with his wife, had been riding in the same car as the president and first lady.

Connally survived and went on to serve two more terms as governor.

One colleague wrote a book about the Kennedy assassination, but for Shires, "it was one of those things he just never liked to talk about," Blain said.

Born in Waco, Texas, in 1925, Shires graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in 1944. Four years later he earned a medical degree at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School at Dallas.

Shires served two tours of active duty in the Navy, first as a research investigator at the Naval Medical Research Institute, National Naval Medical Center, then as associate surgeon on the U.S. Naval Hospital Ship Haven.

For 10 years beginning in 1965 Shires was consultant to the surgeon general of the Army. In 1975, after heading the surgery departments of the University of Texas and University of Washington medical schools, he moved to New York. There he served as dean of the medical college at Cornell University and surgeon in chief at New York Hospital.

Shires helped to establish major burn centers at Parkland, Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College.

Last year, Shires received a federal grant to develop technology that would allow doctors working on wounded soldiers to give faster blood transfusions and prevent hypothermia. Shires was the principal investigator.

"It's incredible the amount of people that he's touched without people knowing who he is," Blain said.

In addition to Blain, Shires is survived by his wife, Dr. Robbie Jo Martin; another daughter, Jo Ellen Shires of Portland, Ore.; and a son, George Thomas III of Dallas.

Information about memorial donations will be posted at drandmrsshires.com.

jocelyn.stewart@

latimes.com

[Lakewooder]

Scholarship Party at Bodega Bar on Travis Saturday Night:

http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/1622

[Lakewooder]

http://www.peoplenewspapers.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=BCE7E5BE2F8547AFBFFFDAE1C70AD3B7&AudID=0C60FF0FEDEB42CAA527EA9D73BBC489
Issue Date: November 23, 2007, Posted On: 11/23/2007

Woodrow Recognized in Statewide Study
Model for math, science programs, report says
By Christina Hughes Babb
Staff Writer

Woodrow Wilson High School was cited as a model school for math and science in a recent study by the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Woodrow and two others in Dallas Independent School District are among 39 Texas high schools that showed “significant gains” in math and science on various standardized and college admissions tests, according to the report by the Austin-based academic research institute.

The others are David W. Carter High School and the School of Engineering at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center.

The report called the three Dallas schools “shining examples of places where students are achieving success in math and science.”

Common traits among the 39 model schools include larger class sizes, higher teacher pay, more certified teachers, and high involvement from parents.

The study was based on student scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, Advanced Placement course exams, and college admissions test data from the Texas Education Agency.

Researchers also interviewed students, teachers, and parents, and collected data about schedules, teachers, and parental involvement.

“Lackluster math and science performance among Texas schools highlighted the need for reform in math and science education,” the report said.

The foundation also offered recommendations for educators and policymakers that include reducing the amount of class time dedicated to TAKS preparation and offering better financial incentives to math and science teachers.

Math and science is of growing importance in the workforce, researcher Brooke Dollens Terry said.

“As the economy continues to change more jobs require a higher skill level. Students need a firm grasp of math and science to meet the market’s demands,” she said. “Despite the demand, too few high-school and college graduates have the necessary skills.”

She said the study is part of an effort to help other school districts and campuses learn from these examples by offering a “best-practices” model for other Texas schools to emulate.

E-mail chughes@peoplenewspapers.com

[Lakewooder]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/obituaries/stories/DN-wilsonob_07met.ART.West.Edition1.37a6bca.html

John Brownlee Wilson Jr.: Remembered as a 'lawyer for the people'

08:56 AM CST on Friday, December 7, 2007
By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News
jsimnacher@dallasnews.com

John Brownlee "John Bad" Wilson Jr. devoted his legal career to helping clients he thought had been wronged, either by racial discrimination or inadequate compensation for workplace injuries.

The Dallas attorney developed a reputation as a "lawyer for the people" by handling workers' compensation claims and promoting civil-rights causes, often on a pro bono basis.

"A lot of lawyers' families live pretty well – we never did," said his son Christopher Rich, an actor in Los Angeles. "He never represented anybody famous; he was sort of a small-guy's attorney."

Mr. Wilson, 86, died Oct. 27 at his Tucson, Ariz., home.

In 1990, Mr. Wilson received the Southern Trial Lawyers Association War Horse Award in recognition of his untiring advocacy and innovative courtroom skills. In 1991, the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association gave him its War Horse.

"He was probably the pre-eminent workers' comp lawyer in Dallas, if not Texas," said Roger Williams of Wilson, Williams & Molberg in Dallas. "He probably tried more of those cases than anyone in the state. He tremendously cared for his clients and never gave up."

Mr. Wilson was a "first-class" litigator and mentor to many young lawyers, said Willie Chapman, communications director for the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

"John B. Wilson – or 'John Bad' Wilson as many of us knew him to separate him from another John B. Wilson – was a renowned trial lawyer in the '60s and '70s," Mr. Chapman said. "A true giant has left us."

Mr. Wilson tried at least two cases three times each. The first such case began with a courtroom victory, Mr. Rich said.

When Mr. Wilson won a partial disability judgment for a woman who had been injured on the job, the opposing counsel was furious, alleging that there was no merit to the case.

When the other attorney asked the judge to retry it "my father joined in the motion," Mr. Rich said.

A second trial followed and then a third, in which Mr. Wilson won total and permanent disability for his client, Mr. Rich said.

Mr. Wilson also got his law firm to waive the $10,000 in fees for the lengthy case.

"That was typical of my father," Mr. Rich said.

Mr. Williams said his colleague cared only about his clients and never worried about the economics of a case.

"He just saw right or wrong and charged off it like a bull to see that some guy's rights were protected," he said.

Mr. Williams said Mr. Wilson would have 25 to 30 cases on the trial docket on any given Monday morning.

"He would announce 'ready' on every one of them," Mr. Williams said. "The defense lawyers would scurry around, trying to figure out who was going to trial. A bunch of them would settle."

Mr. Wilson was also active in the civil-rights movement. His support included representing some of the people who integrated the Piccadilly Cafeteria in downtown Dallas in June 1964.

Mr. Wilson was born in Cebu, Philippines, where President Theodore Roosevelt had appointed his maternal grandfather as a judge. Mr. Wilson's mother met her husband in the island nation, where he was working for an oil company.

When he was 15 years old, John Wilson Jr. came to Dallas, where he lived with an uncle while attending Woodrow Wilson High School. He returned to the Philippines and graduated from the American School in Manila.

After high school, Mr. Wilson attended Stanford University, where he lived in the firehouse and attended classes on a firefighter's scholarship, Mr. Rich said.

During World War II, he served in the South Pacific as a Marine radar supervisor.

After the war, he received his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a student senator.

He married and moved to Houston, where he received his law degree from South Texas School of Law in 1951. As a law student, Mr. Wilson worked as an insurance adjuster.

"That's where he first decided that the insurance companies were taking advantage of the little guy," Mr. Rich said. "That's why he wanted to become a plaintiff's attorney."

He returned to Dallas in the early '50s and started his law career. Four decades later, in 1991, he retired from Wilson, Williams & Molberg, which still bears his name.

A private Dallas memorial service will be held Saturday.

In addition to his son, Mr. Wilson is survived by two daughters, Claire James of Alamosa, Colo., and Lucy Wilson of Tucson; two other sons, John B. Wilson III of New York and Mark Wilson of Austin; and six grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Woodrow Wilson High School scholarship fund.

[Lakewooder]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/opinion/stories/DN-central_sam_1207edi.ART.South.Edition1.36a8a77.html

Sam Bohmfalk : Paralyzed by the past

Why Woodrow Wilson High School is held back by its history, explains SAM BOHMFALK of Dallas


12:00 AM CST on Friday, December 7, 2007

Parent and alumni involvement is key at any high school, but at Woodrow Wilson and some other older schools, their attention can sometimes be excessive.

In 1976, the Dallas Independent School District proposed closing Woodrow, because it believed the school was too old and too costly to maintain. However, parents stepped in, and the building was saved.

Three years later, DISD allotted money to build a brand new fine arts wing, and the school grew instead of being abandoned. Ten years after that, Woodrow was designated as a historical site.

Woodrow was built in 1928, before the Great Depression tightened school spending. The district had money to spend, and it's evident in the small details in the stone outside, the Tiffany chandeliers on the inside and in the wood that lines the interior of the building. The parts of the school that are not protected by the Landmark Commission are protected by the parents and alumni, who wish the school to remain as it has been for so long. I learned this as a freshman, when I tried to put up a poster for a class activity. It was quickly removed, and I was given a stern talking-to – Nothing should ever touch the wood.

Now imagine when some real work has to be done, say, tearing out the part of the wood to place a new electrical outlet.

But that's exactly the kind of complication that faces bringing our historic school into the information age.

I truly appreciate the efforts made to save my school, but I have to admit that I benefit more directly from the efforts to finally bring the Internet to our journalism lab a few weeks ago. (And I'd benefit even more if all the computers were actually connected.)

Two years ago, DISD axed its hall monitors in favor of security cameras. Each school was supposed to get cameras, but Woodrow still goes without. The school has the cameras, but not the wiring required to install them. So the cameras sit in a box, all $163,560.60 of them. To the school's credit, they are trying to get a fiber optic network installed. However, like everything else, progress is slow.

The historical landmark designation and strong community following makes it hard to update the school while keeping its historical edge.

As soon as one improvement is done, another is needed – but the whole process of appealing to change the interior must commence.

Parents want their children to have the best possible education, but they want to keep the aura of the school as it is. It's unbelievably frustrating when you need the Internet for a school project, but can't find a place where it works anywhere inside the school, because there isn't a way to wire it up, or because the wiring doesn't work.

Wireless Internet perhaps? Good idea. The wires lining the hallway and the transmitters are in place, but of course this or that is missing, and the wireless Internet doesn't work.

Last year, I went to the new Emmett Conrad High School for a wrestling meet, and I saw just how much more advanced it was. Every room had computers. Everything was up to date.

It was scary seeing how huge the difference was between the two schools. Or, for that matter, compared with any of the older schools, whether it be North Dallas, Adamson or Sunset.

Don't get me wrong. Parents and alumni are instrumental in funding school activities, providing the students with support and generally making the school what it is. But maybe they should be more concerned with the heart of the school – the teaching and learning process – and less concerned with that historical wood. Hopefully, 80 years from now, Conrad will be dealing with these same problems.


Sam Bohmfalk is a senior at Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas and is a Student Voices volunteer columnist. To respond to this column, send an e-mail to voices@dallasnews.com.

[Lakewooder]

Good Kid: Lily Thompson

10:32 AM CST on Saturday, December 1, 2007


Lily Thompson

I live in: Dallas

Nickname: Bing or Lil


School and grade: Woodrow Wilson High School, junior

Community and school activities: cheerleading, Variations show choir, musical, French Honor Society, National Honor Society, Young Life and Meals on Wheels volunteer

My hobbies are: drawing, texting, card tricks and playing piano

The three words people use to describe me are: funny, altruistic and spontaneous

I'm most proud of: my ability to make weird faces and tongue formations

My favorite school subject is: history

The two people I'd most like to meet are: Oprah and Mozart

The best book I ever read was: Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

I wish I knew how to: do a flip

I get inspiration from: my parents

The best advice I ever received was: everything happens for a reason

Nobody knows I: collect the stickers off apples

If I could travel anywhere, I would go to: Paris

If I could change one thing about my school, it would be: that we could have off-campus lunch

E-mail East Dallas Good Kid suggestions to mddean@dallasnews.com.

[Lakewooder]

Go to Burger House on Mockingbird on December 19 (Wednesday) between 6 and 9pm and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Woodrow Rowing Team when you tell the staff you’ve come to support them. You can dine in or drive through. If you dine in, the Rowing Team members will carry your trays to your table, get refills for you and buss your tables. Plus, you'll be able to tip them!!

Support Woodrow Crew.

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee279/lakewooder/crewww-1.jpg


http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee279/lakewooder/CrewwWw.jpg


http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee279/lakewooder/creww.jpg


http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee279/lakewooder/Crewww.jpg






http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/1217?page=1

[Columbus Civil]

i always feel dirty reading this thread

[Lakewooder]

Issue Date: February 29, 2008, Posted On: 2/29/2008

Woodrow Mock Trial Goes To State
Bragging rights, cash prize at stake in 24-team competition
By Sarah Scott
Staff Writer

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7107/mocktrial08sa0.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mocktrial08sa0.jpg)

Courtesy photo
The Woodrow Wilson mock trial team is one of 24 schools to qualify and compete at the state competition March 7-8 in Dallas.

If you want to know the outcome of Dabney Hamlin v. Orange Inc., you’re going to have to wait.

So will the two teams of DISD high school students who tried the case.

Woodrow Wilson and Skyline competitors faced off last week in the George Allen downtown courthouse for the title of DISD mock trial champion.

Woodrow Wilson coach Joe Smith says both teams will continue to the state tournament. The winner, though, will get bragging rights, along with a cash prize. The results will be announced at an awards luncheon March 25 at the Belo Mansion.

Teams across the state get identical case packets in October and have until the last week in January to prepare arguments and “scrimmage” to go over possible scenarios.

Team member Ashley Ramirez said the students undergo exhaustive preparations.

“We’ve done everything,” she said. “We’ve had practice Saturdays, Sundays, after school. We have scrimmages every other weekend.”

Senior Valerie Reynolds, one of the plaintiff attorneys, has been on the team for four years. She said that unlike some other schools that have classes dedicated to mock trial, Woodrow Wilson students learn on their own time.

But local lawyers are glad to pitch in.

“[After] we start scrimmaging ourselves, from there we get various lawyers to critique us,” she said. “The Woodrow ‘thing’ is that the community helps.”

Smith and fellow coach Michael Buchanan, both lawyers, work on a strictly volunteer basis.

“We teach them how to think analytically, analyze facts, arrange things logically and sequentially and speak in a convincing and self-confident way,” said Smith.

Buchanan added that they also help with objections, prepared statements and interpreting rules.

The team has advanced to the state competition each year since 2002 and finished as high as third.

“We get a lot of support from parents, which makes all the difference in the world,” said Smith, adding that former team members now in college have helped over winter break.

Woodrow is one of 24 teams in Texas moving on to the state competition, said the Dallas Bar Association’s Amy Smith, who coordinates the state mock trial program.

One team will be selected to move on to nationals from the state competition.

The state contest will be March 7-8 at the Frank Crowley Courthouse in Dallas.

E-mail sarah.scott@peoplenewspapers.com

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow Mock Trial Team finishes second in State Finals:

http://backtalkeastdallas.typepad.com/back_talk/2008/03/woodrows-mock-t.html

We reported a few weeks ago that Woodrow Wilson and Skyline high schools had qualified for the state mock trial tournament; over the weekend, both schools competed against the top 24 high school mock trial teams in Texas, and Woodrow finished second to a team from Decatur. According to Woodrow principal Ruth Vail, who was among a large crowd of Woodrow alums and parents watching the final two championship matches — both held in federal courtrooms in downtown Dallas — this is Woodrow's best finish in the 29-year history of mock trial competition. Federal judge Barbara Lynn, who was appointed to the bench by former President Bill Clinton in 2000, presided over the final competition, and about nine of the state's top attorneys comprised the jury. (The team photo at this link is courtesy of Big Lou's Photos.) In the interest of full disclosure, our oldest son is a sophomore member of the team.

[TheMapman]

Mock Trial...I believe us on the debate team refer to that as "acting"

[Lakewooder]

In best Hyacinth Bucket tone, "Shouldn't that be we?

[TheMapman]

^^Substance > style. Silly actors.

[Lakewooder]

Here are the Cappie-Award winning Actors:

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9215/musical1te7.jpg
By lakewooder (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/lakewooder) at 2008-03-20


Tickets at http://www.woodrowwildcats.org/musical.htm

[Lakewooder]

More on Mock Trial Team's 2nd Place State Finish:

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/2001/mocktrial1od0.jpg
By lakewooder (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/lakewooder) at 2008-03-24

http://www.peoplenewspapers.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=2CC659C7A4A247F980815F692FBF3130&AudID=0C60FF0FEDEB42CAA527EA9D73BBC489

[Lakewooder]

Do you live in the vicinity of Woodrow, or close enough that your neighbors might venture out to see our musical? If so, and you would like to help us advertise The Sound of Music by allowing us to place a yard sign in your yard, please email Michelle Hopson at mmhopson@swbell.net with your name and address and we will make sure you get a sign in your yard while supplies last.



Thanks for you support of Woodrow and remember you can order musical tickets online now at www.woodrowwildcats.org !



Marsha Faram

Sound of Music Chair

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow One-Act Play at Competition Arthur Miller's "The American Clock"
--- see at Conrad High, Friday Afternoon, March 28

Details http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/2688

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/4402/oneact20085yw4.jpg
By lakewooder (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/lakewooder), shot with Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+EOS+DIGITAL+REBEL+XT&make=Canon) at 2008-03-26

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1825/oneact200834tk3.jpg
By lakewooder (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/lakewooder) at 2008-03-26

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6092/oneact200812bv3.jpg
By lakewooder (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/lakewooder), shot with Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+EOS+DIGITAL+REBEL+XT&make=Canon) at 2008-03-26

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/5319/oneact200826zw1.jpg
By lakewooder (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/lakewooder), shot with Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+EOS+DIGITAL+REBEL+XT&make=Canon) at 2008-03-26

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5262/oneact20081db9.jpg
By lakewooder (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/lakewooder), shot with Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+EOS+DIGITAL+REBEL+XT&make=Canon) at 2008-03-26

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/4325/oneact200825dp9.jpg
By lakewooder (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/lakewooder), shot with Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+EOS+DIGITAL+REBEL+XT&make=Canon) at 2008-03-26

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By lakewooder (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/lakewooder), shot with Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=Canon+EOS+DIGITAL+REBEL+XT&make=Canon) at 2008-03-26

[Lakewooder]

The One-Act Play advanced to area and will be in competition at McKinney North High School on Friday, April 4th -- details to come..

[Lakewooder]

Woodrow Rocks One-Act Play Competition story and photos:

http://lakewood-now.net/view/article/2724