WOOLWICH CENTRAL SCHOOL

The Woolwich Way: Respect. Responsibility. Honesty. Compassion. Courtesy. Quality.

2/13 - 2/17 - SPIRIT WEEK!

2/20 - 2/26 - February Vacation - NO SCHOOL

3/1 - 8th Grade Family Info Night at MHS: 5:00pm

3/3 - WCS Middle School Dance - 5-8:30pm

3/17 - Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL

3/23 - Half Day of School (Conferences)

3/24 - Half Day of School

3/30 - Battle of the Books 5-8PM

Great things are happening at WCS!

This week the WCS Basketball season came to a close for both the Boys and Girls teams. This year we saw tremendous growth of skills from new players and a clear display of good sportsmanship. We are so very proud of all that both teams have accomplished!

The Arctic (and all cold weather places, really) are challenging locations to live in and

require some special skills, awareness, knowledge and equipment. On Wednesday, February

8th, the gifted and talented teachers took fourth and fifth grade students to Hidden Valley Nature

Center in Jefferson, Maine to spend a day outdoors in the winter weather, fortunately avoiding

the extreme cold of the prior weekend.

Students learned about various methods for travel on the snow and ice and tested out

special gear provided by the center. Kids chose between snowshoes, kicksleds, or microspikes,

and many students were able to test out multiple types of equipment before the day was done.

After a 0.3 mi hike in our new gear, we reached the learning barn. Mr. Kovacs had an

array of gear set up on a picnic table and began discussing if traveling to an area with

avalanche risk, people may carry a beacon, probe, and shovel in order to conduct the search

and rescue operation. He showed students each piece of equipment and modeled its use. We

then split into two large groups, and while one group trekked around in the snow, the other

group stayed and practiced mock rescues using the avalanche beacon (one buried in the snow

and one in hand), probe, and shovel.

Before the group headed back to the center, one more lesson was provided. In order to

haul heavy loads (or in emergency situations, such as rescuing someone from a crevasse), you

need to use a pulley system and ropes. The “Z-Drag” creates a three-to-one mechanical

advantage hauling system, allowing heavy loads to be much more easily pulled than a rope tied

directly to an object. Groups of students tried pulling other students in a sled without the

assistance of the “Z-Drag” and then with the help of the system to compare the two methods.

We found that weight that was hard to drag directly for three able-bodied young people could be

pulled, one armed, with moderate effort, by one student with the implementation of the “Z-Drag.”

Of course, the more people pulling with the “Z-Drag,” the faster and easier the load could be

moved. Students enjoyed taking turns either hauling or being hauled, and then it was time to

pack up our belongings, head back for the center to return gear before boarding the bus!

We would like to thank the Midcoast Conservancy, Hidden Valley Nature Center, and

Andy Bezon, the Director of Hidden Valley Nature Center & Community Programs, for the use of

the equipment and learning barn, free of charge. It was a wonderful day for staff and students,

behavior and participation were excellent as usual, and we hope through experiences like this,

students will always love, appreciate, and become stewards of the great outdoors!

For more information about the Hidden Valley Nature Center, please visit https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/lands

Just a short little review for ALL: If your student is not feeling well, note their symptoms and consider if your student is healthy enough be in school. This is also good practice for adults who might be working in or volunteering at a school. If you do test for covid and the results are positive, you will need to be out of school and in isolation. This means no stores and no visits for 5 days from the start of the symptoms. If the person has no symptoms, it's 5 days from the positive test. You may return to school after the 5 days of isolation, wearing a well fitting mask for an additional 5 days. Covid is still about and these are the guidelines we must follow. If you do not have a covid test and wish to have one, please contact the nurse. You can also reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

~Roberta Sherwood, R.N., BSN, M.Ed

Recently we learned about the Caldecott Medal, which is given annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Our K-5 students participated in a Mock Caldecott contest; we read several contenders for the medal, discussed the illustrations and then students chose their favorite. They cheered when they learned that Hot Dog by Doug Salati won the top prize this year!

• Volunteers from Sagadahoc Preservation Inc. came this week to do a presentation for the 4th grade. Students explored the characteristics of local architecture found throughout Sagadahoc County dating back to the Colonial style in 1670. Fourth grade was shown realistic models of specific styles, many of which are found in Bath, Maine so students could be immersed in the topic and get real 3-D visuals. SPI will be back next week, to wrap up their presentation with students!

• Pre-K finished their unit on the Gingerbread man. They read 4 or 5 different versions of the story to notice similarities and differences between the books, and they concluded the section with a booklet that they colored. This week they worked hard on personalized bags to collect their valentines.
  

Email: jpratt@rsu1.org
Website: https://woolwich.rsu1.org/
Location: 137 Nequasset Road, Woolwich, ME, USA
Phone: 207-443-9739
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Woolwich-Central-School/100063500803359/