The liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Charles Chaput. At the conclusion of the liturgy the students being honored recieived a medal from Archbisop Chaput. The medal features Saint John Neumann, the fourth bishop of Philadelphia and founder of the parochial school system in the United States. The students from Archbishop Wood who recieved the medal are Adeline Schlussel, Jacklyn Emrich, Jill Snyder, Timothy J. Schisselbauer, Viktoria A. O’Donnell, Peter S. Czerwonka, Jacquelyn M. Valori, and Megan Suder. Like the rest of the students when their names were announced they went to Archbishop Chaput, received their medal, and were photographed.

A student Jonathan Weyand from Bishop Shanahan High School was the student speaker at the 2013 Academic Honors Convocation. He reminded us about the importance of circles and how circles represent the unity and love present in school, family, and church. Archbishop Wood Principal Mrs. Harkins says Jonathan was one of the best speakers she has heard. The students then processed out of the Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul and met with their parents who congratulated them.

Recently some of the students of Archbishop Wood were polled from each of the three remaining classes: Juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. They were all asked the same question in regards to the classes they took—”What will be your hardest exam this year?” The results were based on a poll of 30 different students from each of the three classes. These results can be found below.

Freshmen:
English 6%
History 43%
Algebra/Geometry 26%
Biology/ Exploration21 23%
Religion 0%
World Language 2%

Sophomores:
English 3%
History 40%
Geometry/ Algebra II 27%
Biology/ Chemistry 27%
Religion 0%
World Language 3%

Juniors:
English 0%
History 27%
Algebra II/ Pre calc 43%
Science 13%
Religion 0%
World Language 17%

“With three kids at home and a full courseload of work with my classes, I did not feel that I was giving NHS the attention it deserved,” said Mrs. Morton in an interview. Mrs. Morton has an 8-year-old son, Joey, and two daughters — Erin, 5, and  Abigail, 7 months.

Mrs. Morton will still teach at Wood.

“I have enjoyed working with the National Honor Society for the last four years and it has been an honor getting to know so many of Wood’s students outside of the classroom.”

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Senior Christine Abbott reads the letter she wrote to herself when she first arrived at Archbishop Wood High School as a ninth-grader back in 2009. The seniors received the letters May 29 at graduation practice. Each year the incoming freshman are asked to write about what they hope to do during their four years at Wood.

 A handful of Archbishop Wood seniors, wearing the shirts of the colleges they will attend this fall, celebrate at the end of the school day Tuesday. Seniors examinations began this week. The Class of 2013 graduates June 3 at Villanova University.

Some students that I know that may have cheated have a good
enough mind to worry about being caught. Even though they’re my
friends, I don’t think they should have cheated to begin with. I see
now that the cheating in our school is getting out of hand. How can
Archbishop Wood reduce the excessive amount of cheating going on?
Some students might feel they made the best choice not cheating
on the test that people were caught cheating on because they should
know that it is always better when they make the choice to put hard
work into learning material while still achieving a good grade on
their test. Are the students who are not cheating be cheated out of
the recognition that they deserve?

I am a student who decided not to cheat on the quiz, on which
many got caught. I can’t deny that I did get an ear full on answers
from many other students. I just made the choice that others may have
not: to ignore the answers and go with my own. I understand what the
others, who cheated thought. Such as ‘What if I am going to fail?’ or
‘It just seems so much easier.’ So what is the problem with everyone
cheating if they’re intentions are good?

So Wood has an issue with the cheating going on, but really
we’re not the only school. I’m sure each of us have heard of test done
on cheating, they are seem to make the problem the society we live in.
Now each student is excepted to be an A student while participating in
activities and get into a excellent college that leads to a job that
can provide any need one might have. These exceptions are a constant
reminder for each one of us. With all the work we are suppose to do
when it comes down to one test, copying doesn’t seem to harmful in the
main picture. So cheating is labeled as awful, but to us it may not.
If only the teachers could look a little closer or be a lighter on us
it may help.

The spring performance is not any less thrilling. “The Music Man” was a show that everyone would love. And apparently everyone did love, because when I attended the show on Saturday night, the auditorium was almost full!

For those of you who don’t know the story, here’s a brief summary: Con-man Gregory, or “Professor Harold Hill”, waltzes into every town that he can find to sell band instruments and uniforms to the youths of that town. But before he has to teach the kids a note, he runs off with the money to the next town. This plan worked perfectly until he landed himself in River City, Iowa. Not only does Mayor Shinn want his head on a silver platter, but also Marian the librarian is trying every way she knows how to get him out of the town. Though with everyone hypnotized under this music man’s spell, it’s rather difficult.

The cast was utterly perfect for the performance. Sean Heggan, President of the Performing Arts Department, has the just the right amount of confidence and charisma to become Professor Harold Hill. Maura Gricoski, the Girl You’d Least Suspect Be On Stage, brilliantly performed Marian Paroo, and sang beautifully. Emil Berbakov, the Most Level Headed Boy Ever, scared me when he took on the hotheaded role of Mayor Shinn. All of the actors really made this show worthwhile.

If you’ve never been to an Archbishop Wood Performing Arts show, you’re really missing out. We have a lot of talent at school. Please go see the next performance.

Following the performance, was another moving talk by David Tuck, an actual Holocaust survivor. I never thought in my life that I would get the chance to see a Holocaust survivor, so getting to see one speak about his experiences during that horrific time period was both a special treat and a great educational experience. David Tuck’s presentation was centered on not only his teenage years when he lived in the Holocaust, but also the importance of respecting one another and finding the good in everything.  We all must take into consideration that men, women, and children sacrificed their own lives. Everyone that I spoke to about the assembly really found hope in Mr. Tuck’s speech, including me.  It’s essential for adults like us to hear these motivational speeches because as high school students we must constantly be reminded of the great privileges that we have in our lives.

Altogether, the Butterfly Project presentation was a great experience for everyone at Archbishop Wood.  I think it would be a great idea to have more of these speakers in the future.  After all, just a few inspirational words of wisdom can help us change the world for the better.

The club may not be what many have in mind when they hear animation club, but it is still really interesting to stop in. For a club that’s only in its second year and just entered its first competition it seems as though the team has been together forever. You can tell, when you ask them why people should join you will get things like, ‘it’s fun and laid back,’ and, ‘it’s a unique club and they enjoying doing it.”  So next time you pass room 220 after school, stop in and look at the animation club.

 On Jan. 6, when the Blue Ribbon Commission announced the closing of four Diocesan high schools, the Archbishop Wood Community was asked to prepare to welcome students from the closing schools. Over the past seven weeks, parents, students, faculty and staff have gone above and beyond in extending hospitality, interest, concern and support to the families of the schools slated for closing.

Over these weeks we have heard time and again, how welcoming the Wood community has been. On Friday, Feb. 24, Archbishop Chaput announced that the schools would remain open. We join in celebrating with these communities that fought so hard to remain open.

While one might feel that these past few weeks of open houses, shadow days and meetings to prepare for the future were wasted. That is not the case. Over the past seven weeks many students and parents who did not know the Wood Community found out why we are so special.

Your time, generosity of spirit and concern for the students and familiesfacing a great sadness has marked our school as heads above the rest.