The Woodlands School News, Info and Sports News

Conroe ISD Students Participate in Operation Leapfrog - Mitchell Intermediate sixth-grade students in Conroe ISD took a field trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Students participated in the educational program, Operation Leapfrog, at the museum ’s Challenger Learning Center.

EfTA Student Advisory Council Receives Financial Advice for Future - Education for Tomorrow Alliance Student Advisory Council members participated in Q&A session with Woodforest National Bank Regional President Dan Hauser, guest speaker, at their final meeting of the school year. As program sponsor this year, Hauser was invited to speak about money management and finance. Students asked about credit scores, online banking and current economic conditions.

The Student Advisory Council consists of 10th, 11th- and 12th-grade students from all campuses in Conroe, The Woodlands and Magnolia areas served by EfTA ’s programs. Students serve as on-campus EfTA program ambassadors and as volunteers for SCI://TECH and other nonprofit events and organizations.

Inducted into the Cum Laude Scholastic Honor Society are:
(l-r, front row) Jim Brock, Elizabeth Metts, Stephanie Camstra, Maddie Brown, Preeya Goradia, Donna Henderson, Annie Hsiao; (back row) Christopher White, Laura Brodhead, Ben Donahoo, Alex Valderrama, Bryce Poeter, Stephen Chernekoff, James May and Jenna Ott.

Oak Ridge High School Theatre Wins Best Actress - Judith Glatt, from Oak Ridge Theatre Department, won the prestigious Best Actress title at the University Interscholastic League One-Act Play District Contest. This is the first UIL OAP Best Actress win for the Oak Ridge High School senior who has won almost every other acting award in her career at Oak Ridge.

Judith played the villainous Mrs. Lynch in Coram Boy. While the play did not advance from the District Contest, three actors and one technician won awards. Paige Wharton won All Star Cast and Hannah Anderson was Honorable Mention All Star Cast. Monica Moraga, stage manager, was chosen as Best Technician.

Judith recently returned from Texas Forensic Association State Contest where she qualified in duet acting by making it to finals every time. She also won first place in UIL Poetry at District last year as well as 82 trophies from speech tournaments involving Oral Interpretation, Extemporaneous speaking, Prose, Poetry, Humorous, Dramatic, Duo, Duet Acting and Oratory.

Judith has been in You Can’t Take it With You, Into the Woods, Charlotte’s Web and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Cooper’s Seussical Nominated for Four Tommy Tune Awards - John Cooper School’s production of Seussical was nominated in four categories for the 7th Annual Tommy Tune Awards. The Tommy Tune Awards recognizes and rewards excellence in the production of musical theater by high school students and their teachers in the greater Houston metropolitan area.

The Cooper production is among 45 Houston-area high school productions evaluated during the 2008-09 school year. Out of 152 nominations overall, Cooper's Seussical received nominations in four of the 16 categories, for Best Scenic Design, Best Choreography, Best Supporting Actress and Best Featured Actress.

Whitney Brandt was nominated as best supporting actress for her role as the mischievous Cat In The Hat. With 11 years of competitive dance experience, Brandt choreographed the dance routines for her playful character.

Caitlin O’Neill was nominated in the Featured Actress category for her attitude-filled portrayal of Sour Kangaroo. O'Neill decided all she needed to do to play the character was to be herself, but take it up a notch.

The choreographer for Seussical was performing arts faculty member Elizabeth DeMonico, who also choreographed two other Cooper productions that were nominated for Tommy Tune Awards in the category of Best Choreography —Peter Pan and Hello Dolly!

Walking for a Cure - More than 1,200 Coulson Tough Flex School students walked countless miles during their physical education classes as a part of the American Diabetes Association School Walk for Diabetes.

Hoping to help find a cure for diabetes, hundreds of Coulson Tough students spent Thursday, April 9, walking for a cause. Their goal was to raise awareness as well as funds to support the American Diabetes Association. While raising money for the American Diabetes Association, students learn about diabetes and the importance of making healthy choices, including eating nutritional foods and exercising daily.

One of the incentives that the students could participate in was for each student to bring in a dollar for the opportunity to wear a silly costume or funny hat. All of the money raised from the costumes goes to help fund diabetes research, education, and advocacy in support of the mission of the American Diabetes Association.

Woodlands Prep Hosts International Day - The Woodlands Preparatory held its annual International Day celebration. Each year the students in the lower school research a particular country, learning crafts, language and cooking the foods prevalent in that particular culture.

With more than 80 countries represented at The Woodlands Preparatory School, the faculty and staff try to use every opportunity possible celebrate world cultures through the use of literature, science and mathematics.

Cooper Inducts 16 into Cum Laude Scholastic Honor Society- The John Cooper School Chapter of The Cum Laude Society inducted 16 students into the honor society at a ceremony held for fellow students, parents and faculty. Upper school math department chair Kim Larance gave the keynote address.

The following Cooper students were inducted to the Cum Laude Society: Laura Brodhead, James Brock, Maddie Brown, Stephanie Camstra, Stephen Chernekoff, Kathryn Child, Ben Donahoo, Andrew Ghazi, Preeya Goradia, Donna Henderson, Annie Hsiao, James May, Elizabeth Metts, Bryce Poeter, Alex Valderrama and Christopher White. Additionally, Jenna Ott was inducted as an honorary member.

Faculty and staff members who serve on the Selection Committee of the Cooper chapter of the Cum Laude Society are: Joe Broccoli, president; Anne Naman, secretary; Lilia Gallivan; Kim Larance; Anita Pilling; Tina Davies; Shannon Wiley and Mike Maher, head of school.

Sparks in the Park Wins at District - The Woodlands High School Theatre Department UIL One-Act Play competitors were named District Champions, along with Lufkin High School, and advanced to the Area University Interscholastic League One-Act Play contest. The Woodlands High School performed Sparks in the Park by Noble Mason Smith at District contest.

Four crew members including Jessica Canfield, stage manager; Marisa Vasquez, assistant stage manager/costumes; Steven Lanier, lighting designer; and Kris Jacobsen, sound operator; were named Best Crew at the Contest and Steven Lanier was named Best Technician of their show.

Will Rogers and Cody Due were named to the eight-member Honorable Mention All-Star Cast. Erica Rascon and Keith Hale were named to the eight-member All-Star Cast. Erica is a returning UIL stage veteran, a member of last year ’s All My Sons that advanced to State, as well as Craig Putman and crew members Marisa Vasquez and Kris Jacobsen. Other cast members of the ensemble are Vic Shuttee, Travis Meador, Collin Sims, Kelley Jones, Cecily Breaux, Gwenn Rosendale, Allison McKinney, Jessica Trinque, Shelby Escamilla and Tegan Dunnican.