SCHOOLS & CAMPUS Aug 2009: The Woodlands School News, Info and Sports News

John Cooper School Seussical Cast Member and Costume Designer Receive Awards - Whitney Brandt, who will be a senior at The John Cooper School in the fall, has been named Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical in the 4th Annual National Youth Theatre Awards for her portrayal of Cat in the Hat in Cooper ’s fall 2008 production of Seussical. This year, more than 200 productions were considered for the awards, and winners were announced in three regions of the country.

Performing arts faculty member Elizabeth DeMonico was also awarded top honors for Outstanding Costume Design by NYTA, a national organization that honors outstanding work in youth theater. Nominated for Seussical’s scenic design, was Jon Shelledy, who is the lighting designer for the Loft Church in The Woodlands.

YMCA Child Development Center Hosts Pre-Kindergarten Graduation - The South Montgomery County YMCA Child Development Center hosted its annual pre-kindergarten graduation ceremony for the future graduates of the Class of 2022. The young graduates were the 23rd Pre-K class to graduate. The center opened in the fall of 1986.

The YMCA Child Development Center offers a fun learning environment focusing on the assessment and development of each individual child.

The John Cooper School Varsity Quiz Bowl Team celebrates a national victory following competition in Chicago. (L-R) Ben Donahoo, Christopher White, Ashley Green, Kevin Bennett, Caitlin O ’Neill, Alex Valderrama and Peter Theriot.

Cooper Quiz Bowl Team Named National Champions - The John Cooper School Varsity Quiz Bowl Team won the 2009 National Academic Championship. Seven team members returned undefeated from the national finals held in Chicago; the three brackets of Nationals include more than 100 of the best teams in the United States and Canada. Additionally, faculty advisor Shannon Hill was named Coach of the Year by the sponsoring organization, Questions Unlimited.

Team members Ben Donahoo, Alex Valderrama, Christopher White, Kevin Bennett, Caitlin O'Neill, Ashley Green and Peter Theriot played a series of six preliminary games, and then five playoff rounds culminating in the finals round for the title.

Theater Students to Perform at Festival Fringe - The Woodlands High School theater group has been selected by the American High School Theatre Festival as one of 38 schools from around the country to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Woodlands High School students will perform Musical of Musicals at the Edinburgh festival.

During Festival Fringe, as many as 100,000 artists from around the globe present 1,500 performances at traditional theater sights and unconventional sights, such as public restrooms and street corners, around the city of Edinburgh.

The students will fly to London on Aug. 10 and see the West end show of Billy Elliot and then travel by train to Edinburgh to attend and perform at the Festival Fringe.

The students will be accompanied by The Woodlands High School theater director Carlen Gilseth, technical director Tim Jackubek and musical director Lynn Bull.

Student Participates in Rotary Group Study Exchange Program - Raul D. Avalos from Lone Star College - Montgomery traveled to Argentina and Buenos Aires Province as part of the Rotary Group Study Exchange Program. He spoke to The Woodlands Rotary Club about his adventures in the program.