2018 –2019 Annual Report
OUR MISSION The Woodstock Academy prepares all students by providing diverse opportunities through a rigorous curriculum and a variety of programs in order to cultivate the necessary skills to become lifelong learners and global citizens.
2018–2019 ANNUAL REPORT 2 From the Head of School 4 Program Highlights 6 Our Faculty & Staff 8 Our Community Partnerships 10 Teacher of the Year 11 Staff Member of the Year 12 Giving Summary
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Christine Swenson President
Barbara Child Assistant Secretary
Edwin Higgins Vice President
David Teed Treasurer
Philippa Paquette Secretary
Paul Kelly Assistant Treasurer
Samantha Asikainen Robert Blackmer Martha Beckwith James Bellerose Cary Bentley Garry Carabeau Cliff Davis
Nancy Duvall Hans Frankhouser Kevin Johnston David Morse Jeffrey Larrow Jay Livernois Gerald Marmat
ADMINISTRATION Christopher Sandford Head of School
Amy Favreau ’93 Assistant Head of School for Enrollment
Karin Hughes ‘01 Dean of Students
Holly Singleton ’86 Associate Head of School
John Rigney Assistant Head of School
Sean Saucier Director of Athletics
William Guillot Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations
Jocelyn Morse Director of Student Services
Jonathan Sturdevant Associate Head of School for Advancement
Michael Harten Dean of Academics
Walter McGinn Joseph Musumeci Hans Rhynhart Joan Trivella Brent Tuttle Scott Young
An investment in knowledge pays the best interest —Ben Franklin
Dear Woodstock Academy Community: As we have finished our 218th year, I want to thank all of you for your support of our mission as we continue to prepare our students for success in their next chapter. Each year, we hold several gatherings for alumni and friends. Whether in a larger group or on an individual basis, we continue to hear about the impact The Academy and its faculty and staff have had on the lives and careers of countless students and families. Their experiences were made possible because of the support the larger Academy community has provided our students over the years. These collective stories, whether they are about a sports team, a particular teacher, a trip or interactions with friends, are woven into the narrative of this historic institution’s history. This past year, The Academy had some exciting successes because of people like you. With your support, we were able to provide programming and facilities that allow our students the opportunity to reach toward their dreams. Ben Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Those of you who supported our mission this past year have invested in our students and our future. Recently, we received a gift of historic proportions which will significantly impact our students and the arts for years to come. The Loos Center for the Arts will be the cornerstone of South Campus and expand cultural opportunities throughout our surrounding community. I want to personally thank all of you for your support over this past year. Whether your donation was financial or of your valuable time, we could not do it without you. The dividends from your investments can be seen in the enthusiastic and accomplished faces of our grateful students. Thank you for helping us change lives,
Christopher J. Sandford Head of School
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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS The Academy’s program is the foundation of this historic institution. This past year, we updated our mission statement for the first time in many years to further align our overall program to the vision and goals of The Academy. The new mission states that The Woodstock Academy prepares all students by providing diverse opportunities through a rigorous curriculum and a variety of programs in order to cultivate the necessary skills to become lifelong learners and global citizens. Our diverse curricular offerings allow us to nurture connections with students which strengthens confidence and allows them to discover who they are.
• 100% of the Class of 2019 graduated and 90% of the class went on to further their education. • Academy students participated in many trips around the world, including Peru, Spain, Italy, France, and Switzerland. • Music program students performed at the Governor’s Mansion, in front of 10,000 people at the Pentatonix Concert held at the Mohegan Sun Arena, in Virginia Beach, and at Rotary Park in Putnam. • Students won several awards in many regional festivals, including the Quiet Corner Film Festival where an Academy student took home the highest award given. • Several athletic teams earned state and national rankings and titles, including the gymnastics team which won another state title and came in third at nationals. • The inaugural class of the Science National Honor Society was inducted. • The music department earned many awards, including “superior” and first place rankings at various festivals around the country. • The E-sports team made it to the Collegiate League of Legends Tournament, where over 38,000 people watched online. Additionally, the team was the number one seed in the National High School Scholastics Tournament and won their first-ever state championship. • Several teams earned sportsmanship awards, including the baseball and hockey programs. • The Loos Center for the Arts hosted several nationallyknown performers, such as Lenny White, The Guess Who, and the United States Coast Guard Band. Student performances included the annual winter concert and Footloose, The Musical. 4
• Students in the Human Rights class hosted The Academy’s first-ever Human Rights Conference where students from around the state heard from the Connecticut attorney general and other speakers on a variety of human rights issues. • The Music Department hosted the New England Music Festival Association Concert Festival where 420 students from all over New England participated. • Many student-athletes earned individual honors, including one player who was named Connecticut's Gatorade Player of the Year. Many players were selected for all-academic, all-state, and all-New England teams. • The Model United Nations program earned the ranking of fifth in the United States and placed first in the national competition in New York City. • The robotics team won several state-wide first place honors and was invited to the national competition. • Over 180 students earned college credit while enrolled at The Academy and more than 200 students earned a 3 or higher on their Advanced Placement exams. • Students from FRESH, The Academy’s student-led nonprofit, presented on youth-led efforts to end homelessness for unaccompanied minors in Connecticut at the CT Coalition to End Homelessness Training Institute and hosted a community awareness program at the Bracken Memorial Library.
OUR FACULTY & STAFF The bedrock of our program is our faculty and staff. The relationship between faculty, staff, students, and the academic content is the basis of all our success. Through college acceptances, student achievement, and annual survey data, it is obvious that the faculty and staff play a significant role in who we are as an institution. Whether students spend their days with us or live on our residential campus, the faculty and staff continue to provide a safe and nurturing environment. Our continuous goal is to place students at the forefront of every decision.
• Melissa Beck, World Language Department Head, had reviews published in the Music & Literature Magazine and her translation of a Suplicia poem was used by British composer, Jessica Curry, as the front piece of her musical score written for the Oriana Choir in London. • Eric Chalupka, the interim Director of the Loos Center for the Arts, was nominated for the Broadway World’s regional Best Lighting Award. • Kelly Danielson, a member of the English Department and Michael Harten, the Dean of Academics, presented at the New England Association of Teachers of English (NEATE) Conference about using literary games in the classroom. • Robert Derrico, who recently retired and returned to join the maintenance staff, has worked tirelessly on many landscaping projects this year and helped figure out how to get the bell in The Academy building to ring on time each day. • Sara Dziedzic, Social Studies Department Chair, was selected for UConn Early College Experience's Instructor Award for Excellence in Instruction. Dziedzic also received a grant from the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness to fund a hunger and homelessness awareness project. • Richard Telford, English Department Head, took part in a panel discussion, “Preserving Land and Legacy - Writers and Artists Connecting to Nature at Edwin Way Teale’s Trail Wood” at Yale University. Telford also published an article on Teale in the Connecticut Sea Grant’s Wrack Lines, a publication of the University of Connecticut.
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• Brendan Ostaszewski, Strength and Conditioning Coach, was named the Connecticut High School Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. • Valerie May, a member of the Science Department, in connection with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, was selected to present at the National Science Teachers Association’s national convention in April, developed and facilitated a two-day pilot workshop “Enhancing Data Literacy Skills in AP Biology,” created a new ecology resource, and developed and facilitated six Saturday workshops for several school districts in partnership with science and natural history museums. Additionally, Val helped plan and host the first New England AP Biology Professional Learning Community, and worked with higher-ed faculty to develop a quantitative skills checklist with activities as a part of a three-day meeting “Enhancing the Introductory Biology Course”. • Marc Allard, Sports Information Director, was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. • John Rigney, Assistant Head of School, applied for and received a grant for school security of more than one million dollars. • Sharon Geyer, a member of the Science Department, presented workshops at two conferences, ChemEd an international conference for chemistry teachers and a local conference for the New England Association of Chemistry Teachers (NEACT).
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS At the core of who we are as an institution rests our relationships with the larger community and around the world. We continue to strengthen and build partnerships with many groups and organizations in the region which help us to better meet our mission and provide our students with an outstanding program. These partnerships allow our students to earn college credit, get work experience, undertake community service projects, and participate in countless other opportunities. We believe that activities off-campus help students with their collegiate and other post-graduate successes.
• Members of The Academy faculty and staff are involved in many regional organizations; the Hale YMCA, Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, TEEG, SERAC, Daily Bread, Putnam Rotary, Woodstock Business Association, Putnam Business Association, Bradley Playhouse, and the Juvenile Review Board. • The Unified Sports team joined the Connecticut Special Olympics and more than 10 student-athletes participated this first year. • We strengthened our relationship with EASTCONN, thereby providing exciting opportunities to all types of students who choose to attend The Academy. • We worked with Professor Michele Back and the Office of Early College Programs at UConn on a pilot program to enhance world language teacher education. • Victoria Despres and a team of student volunteers hosted an Out of Darkness Walk for suicide prevention. More than 300 people participated in the event and more than $14,000 was raised. • The girls hockey team hosted their first community skate event where 32 pre-k through 8th grade students joined
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the team for a night on the ice. WA athletes continued the Be A Reader, Be A Leader program at local elementary schools. The inaugural fire technology class established connections with eight local fire departments to provide students with hands-on knowledge of fire technology in northeast Connecticut. Woodstock Academy students moderated a debate at a Meet the Candidates Night for the 50th district state representative seat and the 35th district state senate seat. In partnership with The Three Cs, The Woodstock Academy hosted more than 7,000 elementary school students from Connecticut and Massachusetts, for five shows in the Loos Center for the Arts. FRESH nonprofit raised and donated more than $7,000 for camp scholarships for local students to attend community programs. We hosted The Quiet Corner’s Urgent Conversation, an event to discuss opioid and substance abuse in northeast Connecticut.
2018–2019
Sara Dziedzic Social Studies Department Chair & Teacher Since starting at The Woodstock Academy in 2002, Sara Dziedzic has helped start a non-profit, led a nationally ranked Model UN team, organized dozens of community service events, started a food pantry, traveled around the world with students, and the list goes on. So what is the secret ingredient to her dedication and determination?
“By ‘all in,’ I mean that she gives all she has, at all hours of the day throughout the year (even Sundays and summers), to creating, perfecting, and implementing positive learning experiences for students,” clarified Singleton.
In 2010 an independent study on NGOs and non-profits led students to found Family Related Effective Solutions for Humanity (FRESH), a community-based and student-run non-profit that supports other community organizations. In 2017 and 2018, an independent study on food insecurity turned into what is now Caring Continues, a program that provides bags of essential pantry items for over 75 local families on a weekly basis. Dziedzic wants to implement real, practical change, and she expects the same of her students.
Through classes like Human Rights, International Relations, and U.S. Government and Politics, she raises awareness of important issues and then empowers students to become leaders and agents of change in their community. The time she invests in individual students creates ripple effects in the community.
She has been described as demanding, but it is often with gratitude that students reflect and see that she pushed them to achieve more than they thought was possible. One student wrote that, “Ms. Dziedzic sets high standards for her students, however, she knows we are capable of achieving them.”
As chair of the Social Studies Department and an active leader among Academy faculty, Dziedzic has helped to develop
Dziedzic said there are inevitably days that are difficult, but it is often on those days that a former student reaches out to
“She’s all in for all kids,” said Holly Singleton, associate head of school at The Woodstock Academy.
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curriculum and programs that connect students with their community and the world. Dziedzic has a way of unlocking passion and curiosity in students, which is why many students have turned to her to guide their independent studies.
share something exciting they are doing. Seeing students pursue their passions is what keeps her going. She often reminds students that “it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Through set-backs and difficult times, she keeps in mind the big picture of investing in students’ lives. The time she spends with students on these trips and in the classroom leaves a lasting impact, which is why a parent who nominated Dziedzic for Teacher of the Year wrote, “She is committed to the development of her students, not only as scholars but as human beings and global citizens.” Dziedzic’s “all in” mentality inspires and empowers students to put in the work to make real change happen, which is precisely why she is very deservingly named The Woodstock Academy’s 20182019 Teacher of the Year.
2018–2019
Lori Wajer Director of Human Resources When you walk into Lori Wajer’s office, you are welcomed by her bright smile, a cheery “hello,” and decorative letters across the top of her filing cabinets that spell K-I-N-D. As director of human resources, nearly every employee at The Woodstock Academy has stepped foot in Lori’s office to ask a question, fill out paperwork, or just to say hello and grab a treat from her candy bowl. “I put candy in my office because I really like people to stop by and have a piece or two. I find that sometimes if we chat a little I can change their frown to a smile. People vent a bit, get it off their chest, and then go out and make a difference with the students they are teaching and change lives,” said Wajer.
One of Wajer’s favorite parts of The Woodstock Academy, apart from the kids and the staff, is the view from the Student Commons overlooking the valley. “When I arrive at work every day I look out to our beautiful vista and have such a grateful heart that it is one of my first visions in the morning,” said Wajer. In the 40 years Wajer has been at The Woodstock Academy she has worked for seven heads of school and has seen a lot of changes. “When I started in 1980 we had about 300 students. Now we have students from all over the world. We are killing it!” said Wajer.
Wajer was an obvious choice to be the very first recipient of The Woodstock Academy’s Staff Member of the Year award. When the award was presented on the last day of the 2017-2018 school year, she shared what keeps her going every day, “I start the day before I get out of bed thanking God that I made it through the night, offering my day to God, and for allowing me to go to the best job in the world.”
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GIVING SUMMARY This was the most successful fundraising year in the history of The Woodstock Academy, highlighted with the establishment of the Loos Center for the Arts, our first Giving Day when 55 people made their very first gifts to WA, and support of a wide variety of other programs and facilities across our campuses. We are extremely grateful to our alumni, parents, friends, and others who contributed, and we will continue to build on this momentum.
$15–$99 Jerry Guo Jennifer Fritz Benn & Jessica Hoover Christopher & Kristen Karkota Steve & Melissa Richards Clayton Singleton Kara Singleton William & Ruth Kimball Andrew & Taryn Tomkins Brendon & Alison Weiss Amanda Potts Peter & Carrie Lupoli Sarah & Jason Catrambone Jeffrey & Beth Hill Jessica Apley Lisa Shrayer Sarah Chuck Stacy Williams Collin Singleton Justin DuPuis Katherine Gonzalez Bill & Cheryl Pekarovic Danielle Flagg Richard & Debra Nielsen Diane Ortyl Donald Cutler Donald & Dorothy Bressette James & Susan Funaro Jennifer Green John & Kathleen Carlson Lydia Gullifer Stephen & Deborah Ekholm Steven Baldino Sylvia Illinger Terina Fay Theresa Nahil Amanda Tosetti & Jay Amy Lusa Christina Caggiano John & Jamie Scandalito Joshua & Ashley Welch James & Kristine DiNoia Jon & Lucinda Trudeau Robert & Lynn Blackmer-Frink Keith & Mackenzie LeBlanc Meaghan Robbins Fred & Molly Marshall
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Nicole Anderson Daniel & Tara Bastura Wendy Warren-Cudworth Rachael Budd Samuel & Lynn Resnick Christopher & Nicole Desmond Beverly Champany Blake Willis Charles & Peggy Harrington David Rosadini Jeffrey & Kathryn Coppola John & Kathleen Koller Jonathan & Laura Ingalls-Muollo Linda Whiteley Matthew & Pam Teja Michael Guile Ryan & Michelle Salvas Stefan & Nancy Nagel Nathan Raboy Norma Luppi Norman & Joan Dumas Patricia Harrington Peter & Christine Benoit Raymond Murphy Richard & Mary Place Richard & Diane Tremblay Senexet Grange #40 John & Susan Swan Timothy & Karen Ward Trent Peters William & Lois Brower Cynthia Preston Eric & Holly MacLeod Hope Wayman John Seaward Julia Budd Kristen Donovan John & Monique Peabody William & Sonya Finch Wenbin Ai & Xuexia Song Kristen & John Xeller Colin & Alexandria Billings Bryan Taylor Ken & Kathleen Andrews Valerie May
$100–$249
Joseph & Jill Silvestri Paul & Beverly Spink Adam Porter-Price Cableworks Inc. Alice Roos Michael & Carla Kenny Apiwan Buckner Carol Hurlburt Jay Livernois & Marie-Paule Marthe Town of Canterbury Christian Luppi Charles & Carol Newman Daniel Emerson Charles Puffer David & Suzanne Merrill Dollie Hunt Deborah Boldry Gloria & Dennis Hanczar Douglas & Gail Porter Jeri Musumeci Michael & Erin DeCarli Jerry & Kathleen Kuper Jeffrey & Terri Boshka Jonathan Wakely Joahn Dowling Kevin & Margaret Johnston John & Darlene Miller Laframboise Water Services, Inc. Judith Schumacher Lavoe Davis Kent & Mary Weaver David & Lynn Converse Linda Colangelo & Laura Crosetti Michael & Lori Cozzolino Michael Bertulli Minutemen Home Services Putnam Rotary Club New England Plasma Development Corp. Richard & Kristen Johnson Northeast Oil & Propane Richard & Melissa Telford Putnam Lodge #46 Ronald & Donna Coderre Performing Arts of Northeast CT Sean & Bobbie-Jo Saucier Quiet Corner Storage Walter & Susan Birge Richard & Patricia Mellen Wayne Edwards Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Weiss & Hale Financial LLC Robert Borski Melany & Anthony Gronski Savings Institute Bank and Trust Erik Bellerose Allen & Susan Horn Gregory & Ann Marie Tyimok The Law Offices of Nicholas Mancuso, LLC Jason O'Brien Tom Irwin Inc. Nicole Racine The Woodstock Academy Hill Singers Leisel Cording Kristen Brandriff Gerald & Nancy Marmat Emcor Services David & Pamela Morse Willimantic Waste Paper Co., Inc. Barbara Child Guy & Jane Grube David & Renee Plastino Marsha Lavoie James & Nancy Weiss Gary & Karen Osbrey Gan Li & Lina Zhong Thomas Doherty Carl & Samantha Asikainen Eric Chalupka The Woodstock Academy Soc. Studies Dept. Doreen & Ken Holt Christopher & Jennifer Green Susie & Jerry Racine Joseph & Jean Campbell Janet & Ken Rohan Cheryl Colbert Scott & Lisa Young Garry & Audrey Carabeau Dale & Maria McClelland Network For Good S & B Portable Toilets Inc. Joseph & Michelle Delaney Willimantic Waste Paper Co. Elizabeth & Thomas Coleman Thomas & Traci Nelson
GIVING SUMMARY $250 - $499
$500 - $999
Erin Macey Garcia & Ortiz, P.A. Gregg Breen Jeffrey & Susan Durst Jeffrey & Sarah Larrow Judy Serio Kerri & Fred Nagle James & Cynthia Bellerose Daniel Beatson Jay & Kim Goodier Jesse & Kathleen Goodier Patrick & Erica O'Brien Dale Aldieri Glenn & Diane Converse Joan Trivella Barry & Jean Davis Suzanne Lavoie Coreplus Credit Union Stephen & Victoria Despres William & Mary Connolly William & Donna Guillot The Benevity Community Impact Fund Christine & Christopher Swenson Alice Theodor Gerardi Insurance Services Hilda Blodgett James & Eleanor Warren Jay Cantor Bachand, Longo & Higgins Edwin & Peg Higgins Joseph Botta Mark & Marta Collins Mathieu & Ellen Silberman Joseph & Karen Musumeci Charter Oak Federal Credit Union Jean Boisvert Stadium Systems, Inc. Brent & Jackie Tuttle
Archambault Insurance Carlton Fields Emily Nester & Cherra Wheeler ERW John & Gretchen Garceau-Kragh Cliff & Linda Davis Foye A. Smith Mattimore Family Charitable Foundation Northeast Flooring & Kitchens Phillip & Stacey Willis Suzanne Cross Paul & Anna Dalbec John & Kirsten Rigney Aaron & Michelle Patterson Lathrop Vending Linemaster Switch Corp. Lori Wajer Noreene Stehlik Jocelyn & Seth Morse Karin & Jeremy Hughes John & Mary Rauh Brad & Amy Favreau The Crossings Restaurant $1,000 - $2,499 Apex Technology CME Associates, Inc. Alfred & Pamela Roberts Bradley O'Connor Christopher & Lisa Dyer Clara Tobacchi Katharine Hellman Newell Hale Foundation Robert & Karen Blackmer The New York Community Trust Michael Harten & Kelly Danielson
Edwin Tyler Adam Troy Hans & Christina Koehl Courthouse Bar & Grille, LLC Yuhang Yang David Teed Walter & Carolyn McGinn P. Willis Construction Inc. Robert & Debra Ekman Rodney Green & Brook Dittmer Venture Communications Dean & Amber Bierkan Cary & Sarah Bentley Martha & Robert Beckwith Philippa & Richard Paquette David & Elisabeth Sturdevant Jiacheng Ying $2,500 - $4,999 Grill 37 Restaurant Zhixuan Zhang Xuan You Haitong Lyu Jose Perez Tover Lingxiang Gao Michael Ledonne Quality Resourcing Services Ruiyang Liang Yuanrong Chang Yukun Zhang Yunqing Wang Zhi Zhou Holly & Tyler Singleton Dorothy Beatson Lynne Suprenant Jonathan & Amanda Sturdevant
$5,000 - $9,999 Feng Cao & Huanglong He One Digital Insurance, LLC Jun Xu & Lan Jin Christopher Sandford Sara Dziedzic Bank Hometown Leonard Samborowski $10,000 - $24,999 Paul Kelly Putnam Bank Carl & Cheryl Plassmann Spirol International Corporation M. Salo Siebel Jennifer Randall Male $25,000 - $49,999 Clifford Spelman Beagary Charitable Trust $50,000 - $99,999 Wei Qian Charles & Joy Bentley Undisclosed Joan Loos