Back-to-School Guide
Welcome Back, Centaurs!
We can't wait to see our students in just a few days! Please be sure to read all the information below carefully and do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
Upcoming Dates & Events
Family Traditions Day (New Students & Families Only)
Sunday, August 28 | 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
North Campus, 57 Academy Road, Woodstock
New Student Day & Picture Day (New Students Only)
Monday, August 29 | 7:35 - 11:30 a.m.
First Full Day (All Students) - Day A
Tuesday, August 30 | 7:35 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Early Dismissal - Day B
Friday, September 2 | 7:35 - 11:30 a.m.
• Picture Day for students in grades 10 & 11
• Shuttles will be available for all students to get from both campuses to the Woodstock Fair between 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
View the Full Academy Calendar
Lunch Accounts
The Woodstock Academy food service program functions differently than public elementary and middle school subsidized lunch programs. The Academy lunch program is run by FLIK Independent Schools Dining, an independent contractor that operates in our space.
FLIK Dining operates as a drawdown system, meaning that the system requires a starting balance from which students can use to pay for their food and beverages. Students will receive a unique pin number that they will use throughout their four years at The Academy. This is the pin that they will key in at the register to purchase food, and it should not be shared with anyone. We ask that parents and guardians please monitor the balance on their student’s account and keep it as current as possible. Students also have the option to pay for their food at the register using cash, credit card, or check (made payable to FLIK Dining).
If you are a returning family, please make sure your student's lunch account is current before the start of the school year. Payments can be made online through PaySchools or students can pay at the register with cash, check (made payable to FLIK Dining), or credit card. If you choose not to add funds to your student's lunch account, please have that conversation with them so they are aware of their payment options at the register.
If there is a need for financial assistance to help cover the food expenses from FLIK, we encourage you to fill out the Free & Reduced Lunch Application, which can be found in PowerSchool. Please note that this application needs to be filled out and submitted each year as it does not transfer from previous years. Please contact our Director of Human Resources, Lori Wajer, at lwajer@woodstockacademy.org with any questions regarding the application.
Set up your child's lunch account
For any questions regarding lunch accounts, please contact Director of FLIK Dining Michael DiMascio at mdimascio@woodstockacademy.org, or the business office at businessoffice@woodstockacademy.org.
COVID-19 Reminders
The Woodstock Academy will be following the recent recommendations of The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), State Department of Education (CSDE), and Office of Early Childhood Launching into Healthy Learning initiative for the start of 2022-2023 school year. The goal is to maximize in-person learning to improve the social, emotional, and physical well-being of students, staff, and their families to enhance learning recovery while also keeping health and safety a priority. We will be implementing a Test-Mask-Go strategy that allows the following:
1. Students or staff with MILD respiratory disease symptoms (infrequent cough, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, etc), no fever, and no known COVID-19 case in the household in the past 2 weeks should self-test at home for COVID-19 prior to leaving for school every day they have symptoms and can be allowed to attend in-person if their test result is negative and they feel well enough to participate, as well as one final test on the morning their symptoms have completely resolved.
2. Anyone with a fever (> 100 F) or who feels feverish should not report in person until their fever has resolved for at least 24 hours without the use of medication and should test for COVID-19.
3. Anyone with any respiratory disease symptoms should not report in person if they are symptomatic and live with a person who recently tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 2 weeks. These individuals should remain home until their symptoms resolve and test for COVID-19.
4. Students and staff choosing to report in person with mild symptoms, but a negative COVID-19 test should be strongly encouraged to wear a well-fitting mask indoors.
5. Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 should complete isolation according to the CDC Q/I Calculator. If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days. Day "0" is the day of symptom onset or day of positive test if asymptomatic testing occurred. You may end isolation after day 5 if:
- You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
- Your symptoms are improving
If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve.
6. Any student or staff returning to school after Day 5 of positive COVID-19 infection should continue to wear a face mask at school for the full 10 days post-infection (Days 5-10).
SELF-TEST KITS
Self-test kits will be available free of charge to all Connecticut schools for distribution. Woodstock Academy administration will have test kits available over the next few weeks during iPad pick-up, parking pass pick-up, Family Traditions Day, in the library, or through the health office on North and South campuses. You can contact the health office directly for self-test kits pick-up at any point during the year or have your child pick up kits at the end of any school day.
VACCINATION
Vaccinations continue to be the first and most important line of defense in preventing respiratory diseases like COVID-19 and influenza. We encourage all students and staff to get up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to the start of the school year and encourage the same for seasonal influenza vaccines when available.
COVID-19 COMMUNITY LEVELS
The Woodstock Academy will continue to monitor community transmission levels and per DPH recommendations will consider applying enhanced measures for the prevention of respiratory viral disease if needed. We ask that all students/families and staff continue to report all positive COVID-19 cases to the nurse's office directly so that we can monitor community data and put additional strategies in place as needed. The nurse's office can be notified at (860) 928-6575 option 4.
Attendance Policy
DAILY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Written documentation must be provided to excuse any absence. Note: “Proper verification” means an official card/letter from a professional office. Documentation for absences MUST be received within 10 school days otherwise they will be considered unexcused. This documentation should be emailed or faxed to absences@woodstockacademy.org and/or the Health Office at nurses@woodstockacademy.org.
Students must be in attendance for at least two (2) blocks during the school day to be considered present for the day. In the event that a student must be absent from school, there are two ways to report an absence:
- By phone, at (860) 928-6575 (option 1). Please leave a message if the office is not open. Please note that a phone call is considered sufficient notification, but DOES NOT excuse the absence.
- By sending an email to: absences@woodstockacademy.org. Because this is a written notification, absences reported in this manner by a parent/guardian will be considered excused for the first nine occurrences.
The entirety of the attendance policy is on page 83 of the Student Handbook. Please take the time to review attendance expectations, truancy, and loss of credit due to excessive absenteeism.
Effective July 1, 2021, Section 19 of Public Act No. 21-46 requires local and regional boards of education to allow any student enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve to take two non-consecutive days each school year as mental health wellness days.
DISMISSALS
A written request for early dismissal from school, signed by the student’s parent and/or guardians must be presented to the Attendance Administrative Assistant, Karen McGovern, prior to the first block on the day of the dismissal, or, emailed to absences@woodstockacademy.org. The request must state:
- Full name of the student
- Date and time
- Reason for dismissal
- Full name of the parent and/or guardian, as well as their signature
- Telephone number for verification
Students being dismissed early, or returning to school from an appointment, must sign out/in with the Attendance Administrative Assistant, Karen McGovern.
If no prior written permission for dismissal is provided, a parent or guardian must come into the school in person to dismiss their child. Please note: In an emergency situation, permission for early dismissal may be granted by the Administration, the Attendance Administrative Assistant, or the school nurse (medical reason), pending a parent/guardian phone call.
Community Lunch Update
New this year, Community Lunch is a unique opportunity that allows students to schedule their own time for 60 minutes. During this time, the Commons, Bracken Memorial Library, and the athletic facilities are available for student use, although food is not allowed in the library or gym. During Community Lunch, clubs and activities may meet. Faculty will be available for extra help and specific rooms will be designated for various academic support.
Seniors with privileges blocks 1 and 2 may not sign out for Community Lunch and are expected to stay on campus. Students with block 3 privileges do not need to return for Community Lunch; Students with block 4 privileges may sign out early. Dorms will remain closed during this time.
Drop-Off & Pick-Up Maps
For safety and efficiency, we have designated drop-off and pick-up locations for cars, buses, and shuttles between campuses. Please carefully review the drop-off and pick-up locations linked below.
North Campus Morning Drop-Off Map
North Campus Afternoon Pick-Up Map
South Campus Drop-Off and Pick-Up Map
School Calendar
The online school calendar designates A days, B days, and Advisory/Activity days. Find the calendar on the woodstockacademy.org homepage by clicking "News & Events."
View the Full Academy Calendar
Student Handbook
Many questions about on-campus operations can be found in the Student Handbook. It can be found on each student's iPad as well as on woodstockacademy.org.
Student Parking & Privileges
Juniors and seniors who wish to drive to school must have a school parking permit. To be granted a permit, the student's account must be in good standing. The student parking application is now available to all juniors and seniors and can be accessed in the forms section of PowerSchool after logging in.
Privileges are available for seniors only this year. Seniors who applied for and were granted privileges will see it reflected on their schedule in PowerSchool in place of a study hall. Students leaving campus early or arriving late because of their privileges must sign in and out using the check-out and check-in form on the student dashboard or using the QR code posted at building entrances on campus.
Social Media
The Woodstock Academy is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok! Be sure to follow our pages using the links in the footer to stay up-to-date with school events, daily student life, and athletics.
