Blog
6th and 7th Graders learn that history is created from many perspectives.
By Georgia Chehade.In Humanities, 6th-grade students have been researching a Washington State History topic since October, a project culminating in a website that students shared with the WSA community on Monday, April 18th. The Extended Research Project (ERP) is a...
West Sound Theatre Company presents: The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon
By Susan Trower. West Sound Theatre Company presents the wacky sideways fairytales of The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon by playwright Dan Zolidis, May 13 & 14, 2022. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7 PM in the West Sound Academy Commons. Happy ever...
WNDB grant will bring diverse books and author visit to WSA.
By Susan Trower. West Sound Academy’s students will be reading more books by diverse authors next school year, thanks to an Educators Making a Difference grant from We Need Diverse Books. The grant will also pay for one of those authors to make a virtual visit to WSA...
Middle School students turn discarded materials into art.
By Sara Adams. Students in the 6/7th Exploratory Art class are finishing up their artwork sculptures created with repurposed materials. The requirement was a sculpture that is made solely from repurposed materials that Miss Sara has collected or that you bring in from...
Inspired by Maya Angelou, 6th and 7th Grade poets use their voices.
By Susan Trower Students in Georgia Chehade's 6th/7th Grade Humanities class read and analyzed the poem, "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou as part of their class celebration of Black History Month in February. They considered speaker and audience and how Angelou used...
Physics students learn about light and create their own holograms.
By Katelyn Van Antwerp Students in physics class have been working through a unit on light over the last few weeks. Our more recent labs have had us working on the refraction (bending) of light, as well as creating holograms while playing with the reflection of light....
Declaration Day 2021: Graduating seniors announce their fall plans
By Susan Trower. West Sound Academy seniors were on campus on May 17 for their last day of classes as WSA students. They also took time to make a special announcement to the school community. Barrie Hillman, WSA Head of School, had each senior come up to Baker Hall...
Running the World Should Be Modeled After the Kitsap COVID Vaccine Clinics
By Barrie Hillman. My mother always taught me to write thank you notes whenever anyone has done something kind or generous for me. Well, this is less a blog and more a thank you note to Kitsap COVID. Kitsap COVID is a grassroots partnership between Sound Family...
Mystery on Campus
By Karen Mattick.A few years ago, walking the long way back to my classroom from Baker Hall, I noticed a strange growth hugging the curb in the parking lot behind Ryan Hall. I stopped and checked it out. What was so startling was that it looked like seaweed. I...
How the West Sound Academy Pandemic Theatre was born
By Gretchen Nordleaf-Nelson. On March 16th of 2020 the COVID-19 Lockdown hit West Sound Academy, classes were moved into the virtual classroom indefinitely. The after-school theatre program was producing their first musical, Once Upon A Mattress. We had no choice –...
Put down your Comfort Goggles
By Barrie Hillman. In 2020 most humans are seeking comfort or seeking to comfort others especially as we a face a grim winter of COVID-19 statistics. Recently, a friend posted an oldie but goodie graphic on Facebook about the comfort zone seen here to the right. I...
WSA is Breaking Through Barriers
By Barrie Hillman. One of WSA’s greatest assets is its campus with 20 beautiful acres of fields, huge trees, and four charming buildings. Before March 2020, no one would have ever imagined we would not be able to use our own classrooms. One of the most significant...
¡Hola! ¡Bienvenidos a la fiesta!
By Susan Trower. Students in Jessica Outlaw’s 10th Grade Spanish class have been studying vocabulary related to food, clothing and celebrations during Mod B. Señora Outlaw decided that the best way to assess what students had learned was to have a party – actually, a...
Solutions, and Other Problems
By Barrie Hillman. I have started and stopped writing a new blog post for almost six weeks now. There is so much going on in the world and in my own life that I was struggling to find focus and meaning in the words I knew wanted to come out and land on the page. I...
Using Literature to Recognize Authenticity
By Georgia Chehade. As an English teacher, there are few things better than watching students read a piece of literature and become inspired about real world issues. In the 8th grade, we started this unusual year by reading Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah. In their...
Juggling with Jello
By Barrie Hillman. I have been trying to write my school year kick-off blog post for two weeks, and, much like the last six months, writing a compelling, relevant, and upbeat blog has been like trying to juggle Jello. The Jello represents all the things we want to...
Solving the puzzle in IB Theatre – by leaping in the dark.
By Gretchen Nordleaf. During my time at West Sound Academy, I have experienced one of the most exciting and challenging moments in my teaching career. Learning to teach and breathe the IB curriculum has been difficult and energizing all at the same time. As a...
That Feeling as a Leader When You Have to Disappoint People
By Barrie Hillman. As a leader and Head of School, I try to say "yes" as much as possible. Even if it is really a no, I work hard to find a mutually beneficial solution that feels like and really is a sort-of yes. However, lately, I have been a disappointing leader. I...
Announcing! College destinations for the Class of 2020
By Susan Trower. West Sound Academy seniors came back to campus on May 12 - not all at once, of course, but on a staggered schedule so they could maintain social distancing requirements. Barrie Hillman, WSA Head of School, met each soon-to-be-graduate at the door of...
Seniors reflect on their experiences at WSA – en español.
By Jessica Outlaw. Last week WSA seniors in IB Spanish showcased their language skills and reflected on their time as students at this school. Their presentations were heartwarming, funny, and very memorable. They shared pictures, videos, and stories about their...