Dear Woods Community,

A warm welcome to the winter edition of WoodsNews. This edition will kick off a new format where we recognize alumni and our annual report in the winter edition and the summer edition will be dedicated to the past school year, graduates, and other stories. Capturing “All Things Woods” and sharing it with our full community is one of the great joys I have had here. Whether it be stories about our wonderful graduates, incredible teachers, or awesome students, WoodsNews is shared to celebrate this great community. A community that means the world to me.

On that theme, I have had the chance to do some deep reflection about my time at The Woods over the past few months. Many of you may already know that this school year is my last at The Woods. We shared this with the community back in the fall. After twelve wonderful years, I felt it was time to make a change. Change is never easy, but it is also a time to grow. I know for me that I still have gas in the tank and am excited to find a new school community to lead in the years ahead. I have come to work everyday with a smile on my face and am lucky to be surrounded by great educators and wonderful children and families. The Woods is truly a gem. The people and the programs are what make it shine.

The Woods is a community that cares deeply and puts its students front and center. Many of you found lifelong friends here, whether as parents or students. Many of you have shared the importance of the foundation you received at The Woods (see page 6 for some parent testimonials on just that). All of you have helped make The Woods the place it is today. It is a place truly built on relationships. Those relationships start from the moment you arrive, whether as a teacher, student, or family member. One of the greatest joys I have had as the Head of School is greeting everyone as they arrive each day. Seeing and greeting our people, both teachers and students, as they come to school each day is simply the best. It is the start of the day, and the start of a relationship. From special handshakes, to trying to be the first to greet a student with a special greeting (outstanding was our word this year), to sharing witness to a sports game or a class visit, there was no better part of my day each day. Simply put, I tried to bring a smile to everyone I greeted each morning. When you start your day with a smile and a spirit of joy, anything is possible.

As you read through this edition of WoodsNews, know that anything is possible. Just look at our incredible alumni and the work that is illustrated in these pages. I will certainly soak it all up in the coming months. Thank you all for being the reason that this place is so special. No matter how difficult or challenging the work, I will take all the great memories and friendships with me. The Woods is a special place.

Peace,

Joseph Powers Head of School

We need your help! We will be celebrating Joe’s 12 years of dedication to The Woods Academy as he embarks on his next adventure. Tell us your fondest memories and share your Joe photos! We’ll use them throughout our celebrations in the spring.

To share your memories, scan the QR code to be directed to our Joe’s Celebration form. You can also enter this URL into your browser to locate the form as well: https://forms.gle/8X66azroz4jW5rXW7

Thank you!