Maybe it’s your first day of high school, or your last first day of high school. You look around and sure you have friends, but everyone seems to share a connection. They have inside jokes, memories and common interests. It’s not uncommon to feel alone in a school of hundreds.
Luckily, loneliness isn’t terminal and a quick fix to boredom or loneliness is joining clubs. As long as you find the right club, you can gain friends and memories instantaneously. But clubs can be intimidating especially if you don’t know what clubs even exist at Woodland. This simple guide to joining clubs will let you know what the many amazing clubs at Woodland stand for, what you will do in each club, information on where and when they meet, as well as who you can talk to about joining.
[su_accordion]
[su_spoiler title=”Journalism Department” style=”fancy”]
News happens fast and often. They say “the news never sleeps” and they may be right (whoever “they” are). Just check out our website, hawkheadlines.net; stories are being posted all the time. Look at the Facebook page and the Twitter feed—comments and replies are posted both day and night. That’s the beauty of journalism and what these concentration courses are all about. From today’s interaction through social media like Twitter and Facebook to the major news outlets like CNN and washingtonpost.com, these concentrations introduce the student to the world of news recognition and news gathering through the use of current news dissemination techniques. Emphasis is placed on writing, its rationale, and its basis for all things journalistic including sports broadcasting, newspaper production, online media and social media. Students will be immersed in a fast-paced world that will teach layout and design, video editing, photo journalism, copy writing, press release, social media interaction and live broadcasting. An interactive class with dynamic content, the Hawk Headlines Journalism Department gets you ready to be a multitasking, multifaceted, modern day journalist armed with real world skills that translate into all career paths.
AVAILABLE JOBS:
Social Media Journalists
Photographers
Layout and Design editors
Managing Director, Katie Minutillo; Adviser, James Amato
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”Best Buddies” style=”fancy”]
Best Buddies is a one on one friendship program. According to George Myers, the advisor of best buddies, the first thing the club does is mingle and get matched up in one to one friendships. One activity Best Buddies hosts all year is crafts, like making christmas wreaths this December. The students within the club will take part in team driven activities such as movie watching, snack making, eating, and tailgating at a football game.
“Rather than Woodland having the club, Best Buddies, the club has Woodland.The goal is for everyone to join, and it’s a very realistic goal,” said Myers “We also strive for the awareness that people with disabilities have the ability to do anything that anyone else can do. We are against discrimination and exclusion. It’s more than a club, it’s a way of life.”
For more inforamtion, you can go to www.bestbuddiesct.org or talk to one of the group’s leaders. (George Myers, Paige Brown, Mike Roulanaitis, Chloe Ariola)
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”Drama Club” style=”fancy”]
The drama club meets at least once a month. When there is a production going on, however, the club meets less frequently due to the drastic amount of effort put into the production. The club itself, aside from performing on stage, organizes fundraisers and other events that solidify the membership in all sorts of ways. The long term goal of the club is to have a gala to support and expand the club. According to Susan Cinoman, the club advisor, you should join drama club if you have any interest in creating memorable experiences, making friends and discovering more about yourself through the Arts. By joining drama club, you will transcend from your normal routine to something you will have and remember your whole life.
“This fall we’re doing a big musical followed by a play in the spring. If you’re not an actor or singer don’t despair! There are many other aspects of the club that are vital to the productions such as lighting/sound, backstage ‘crew’, makeup, costumes, publicity and more! There’s room for everyone in this club and by the end of the year, the members truly are a family.”
Listen for announcements regarding the club and if you have additional questions you can ask Susan Cinoman, David Jonikas, or Sarah McVeigh.
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”Woodland Worldwide” style=”fancy”]
“Woodland Worldwide is a school-and-community based organization that works to raise awareness about issues facing women and girls. Our mission is to move women and girls, locally and globally, from situations of oppression to situations of opportunity. Awareness campaigns, fundraisers, educational opportunities, leadership training, and empowering activities are integral to the club’s mission. One of the major events of the club is the 5K superhero run happening soon so be sure to keep an eye out for specifics.”
Meetings are in Room 203 on Tuesdays after school. The group usually meet 1-2 times each month.
Advisors are Lisa Olivere and Meghan Geary.
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”DECA” style=”fancy”]
The mission of DECA is to enhance the co-curricular education of students with interests in marketing, management and entrepreneurship. DECA members can begin their experience as early as the ninth grade. As part of a high school chapter, DECA members can take full advantage of DECA activities while preparing themselves to be college and career ready upon graduation. In DECA, students will have the opportunity to participate in leadership opportunities, community service, fundraising for club activities, competitive events at the local, state, and national level, plus do group activities of the organization’s choosing, go on fieldtrips, run the school store.
Meetings are the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month in RM231 or the school store.
Advisor(s): Jenna Broadbent and Chris Tomlin
Student Leaders: Sonia Sousa, President; Alexa Casimiro, Vice President; Val Vinca, Treasurer; Eliza Smith, Secretary.
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”GSA” style=”fancy”]
GSA stands for Gay-Straight Alliance, and this club is for anyone who believes in equality regardless of gender identity or preferences. Its purpose is to provide a welcoming environment for anyone whether they identify as straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. In additions to meeting two Thursdays a month in room 209, the club also participates in discussions, listens to guest speakers, and attends movie events. The GSA also attends the “True Colors” conference at UCONN every year in March.
They have a leadership team comprised of Advisor: Liason Zyria Newman, Communications Coordinator: Autumn Strachan, and Events Coordinator: Sarah Pozarlik along with Maddisyn Mircsev, Abigail Meliso, James Kelly, Alexa Hughes, and potentially others.
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”CSI Woodland” style=”fancy”]
The purpose of CSI Woodland is to encourage students to be creative in deductive reasoning and problem-solving, while fostering leadership, character and teamwork. We spend time preparing for a realistic, hands-on competition with the opportunity to conduct a full-scale investigation of a fictional crime scene in room 303 twice a month. CSI Woodland hopes to foster an environment where students can develop working relationships with each other by setting goals, developing real world skill sets and connecting with the scientific community through a shared love of forensic science.
(Cassie Dupre, Sarah Dupre, Donovan White)
Advisor: Tom Feige
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”Interact Club” style=”fancy”]Interact is a nationally-recognized community service organization that works with the Beacon Falls Rotary Club to serve our local and international community. If you want to be involved in your community or earn community service hours this is the club for you! For more information you can talk to Mrs. Murdy, (Faculty Advisor), or Sarah Bryden, (President). [/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”Hawk Productions (Video Club)” style=”fancy”]
Students who join Hawk Productions Video Club will learn the procedures of video and audio production in a “live” and “live to tape” format. Students will learn to operate cameras and mics, work with a director, lighting, and will practice these skills by recording live acoustic music played by Woodland staff and students in an open “jam” format. Each open jam will feature two or three songs weekly that players bring to the group in order to teach and play together on the spot. Meetings are Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 219/TV Studio. Players, singers and prospective production people are welcome!
(Chris Desiderio/Ian Romanski/Katya Agamy/Serena Dowski)
Advisor: Ralph Riello
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”Hawkwings/ Peer Helpers” style=”fancy”]A natural helper facilitates trust, openness, comfort and empathy. The Hawkwings club accepts people as they are while listening and helping others see alternatives for decision making. They give support and encouragement to take positive action, validate people without being phony and respect confidentiality.
Meetings are every other thursday and the officers are Donovan White, Sarah Dupree, Kaylee Walsh, Ashley Norton
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”News Magazine” style=”fancy”]
Sometimes stories just need more time and space to be told. Sometimes those layouts need to be dynamic and exciting. And now those stories have a place to be told. Introducing, The Wing, Woodland’s first news magazine that focuses on current students, faculty and community members and highlights alumni who are making Woodland proud now that they have left the nest. Learn elements of photojournalism, layout and design and feature writing in this journalism concentration.
Magazine Director, Katie Minutillo; Adviser James Amato
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”Yearbook” style=”fancy”]
In YEARBOOK, you will find yourself planning for a year of covering everything Woodland for the course of year. Collecting and documenting the memories of your fellow classmates and designing an innovative product are the hallmark of this concentration. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then just imagine what a book filled with over a thousand pictures must say. It’s your yearbook; might as well earn class credit while making it.
So whether you’re an experienced senior or a newly arriving freshmen it can be difficult to feel involved in the social aspects of high school. Lets face it, clubs can be intimidating. But when you join a club, the possibilities of discovering talents, interests and friendships you never knew could form can be endless.
Meetings are on Tuesdays at 2:15pm in RM229. Yearbook Director, Julia Caruso; Yearbook Coordinator, Andrea Hansen; Adviser, James Amato.
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”Broadcast Sports and News” style=”fancy”]
SPORTS: Take me out to the ballgame! Or the track! Or the pool! Or the court! Maybe even an away game! That’s your homework when you sign up for this journalism concentration. Learn the ins and outs of covering various high school sports from all media perspectives. Work behind the camera, on air, in print and online, tweet sports updates, maybe photograph a feature on a specific athlete; make your mark by broadcasting Woodland athletics. It’s game time.
Meetings are as needed and all sports are attempted to be covered. Sports Director, Taylor Amore; Sports Broadcast Director, Krista DeTulio; Hawks Sports Broadcaster, Jack Pectrucci; Advisor, James Amato
NEWS: Live and on air, from behind a desk or a remote broadcast, Hawk Headlines is going to up the ante and start a broadcast news network, and all they need is you. Get in on the ground floor as HHL News launches the Morning Minute, News@Noon and Friday Features. Work the cameras, write the copy, anchor the desk or work as a live reporter from outside the building.
Broadcast News Director, Jenn DaSilva; Advisor, James Amato
[/su_spoiler]
[/su_accordion]
