Student Videographers

With high school basketball season beginning this week, it's time to take a look at one of the things that goes on behind the scenes to help improve a couple of our athletic teams: videography.  At each basketball game, a student videographer tapes the action and puts it on a DVD the following day.  Coaches have a chance to review the game and make adjustments in practice as the season progresses.  This service takes place not only during basketball season but also in the fall during football season where students have a bit more required of them.  They upload the footage to an online video service called HUDL, making each game viewable from anywhere. They can then share the video with coaches from other teams, as required by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Beyond the videography experience, these students are receiving real world technology skills in the classroom.  

How Students Get a Homepass

With Thanksgiving this week and the Christmas holiday season next month, a number of Woodward Academy students will have an opportunity to spend that time with family back home. Not all students will be at home, however, but will spend the Thanksgiving and holiday breaks on campus at WA. Getting a home pass is a part of the transition process and often occurs as a students enters the final phases of their individual programs. Although every student's situation at Woodward Academy is different, getting a home pass is a part of the process of returning home and generally requires a student to be a Knight and is successfully moving through their program. Check out the graphic after the break.

Fall Sports Recap // Part 2 // Wall of Fame

Over the past 6 years, Woodward Academy has participated and excelled in high school athletics.  To commemorate these accomplishments, an athletic wall of fame has continued to grow along the ceiling of the primary education building. State and National champions line the hallway in all sports and only decorated teams and individuals who have received honors are mounted. This fall, four additional prints have been added between the football and cross country state qualifying teams. After the break, see the additions.

Fall Sports Recap // Part 1 // Video

The fall sports season at WA has been incredibly awesome! Both cross country and football competed in the post-season with cross country winning the conference title and qualifying for the State Meet as a team and the football team winning their final regular season game to qualify for the Class A State playoffs. You can view images from both seasons at our Knight Pics website by clicking here. But sometimes photos are just not enough.  After the break, watch videos from both seasons. Go Knights!

Drumline Poster 2012

The Woodward Academy drumline was recreated this fall semester after taking the summer off. Pictured is the official poster of the musicians who are rocking the drums in 2012. Drumline instructor, Christine Sherrod, has placed an emphasis on students acquiring the fundamentals of drumming. When that takes place, she believes it can then be put together as a tight unit. Starting from scratch at the beginning of the semester, the crew already sounds better than they did a year ago. They played at a couple football games this season with more events getting lined up. Preparations are already being made for high school competition after the new year with the more hectic drumline season arriving next spring and summer.

State Bound // Fall Sports

In what has been a remarkable fall sports season at Woodward Academy, both fall sports teams (football and cross country) are extending their season after qualifying for their respective state events. The cross country team has had their best season to date after recently winning their conference title and being ranked 10th in the state.  After inclement weather postponed the district state qualifying meet, the Knights ran yesterday and finished second as a team and have qualified for the State Meet that will be run this Saturday in Fort Dodge.  This marks the third time that a WA team has qualified for State with the last time being in 2007.

After a win this past Friday against Martensdale St. Marys, the WA football team is playing their first round state playoff game this Wednesday at Griswold.  After a shaky start to the season, the Knights finished 4-3 in the District, which qualified them for the playoffs.  This marks the first time that a WA football team has played in the tournament.

WCAC Coach of the Year

Congratulations to head cross country coach Jason Anderson on his being honored as the WCAC Cross Country Coach of the Year. This honor continues a season of accolades for the XC team that has included being ranked in the top 10 in the state in Class 1A, earning a record number of 2nd place finishes in very difficult races, and just last week winning the West Central Activities Conference meet both as a team and where Juanito Hernandez was crowned individual champion. The 2012 season continues later this week at the State qualifying meet in Ottumwa. Learn more about Coach Anderson and the cross country program after the break.