Doing away with the all-too-common, "Oh, yeah, that school” comment, Traverse Bay Community School has a new name: Woodland School.
Earlier this month, the 11-year-old charter school changed its name to the Woodland School in order to alleviate confusion with all things Traverse in the region. The no-tuition school, which serves 190 students in grades K-8, wants the name to reflect their beautiful 250-acre grounds situated in the corners of Union and Whitewater townships. As well as echo the extensive outdoor and environmental opportunities for students that go with the location.
"After ten years of having that name, we were finding that so many of the people in the community were confusing us with so many different Traverse-named things in the area,” said Dr. Mark Child, founder and director of the school. "So we finally decided why don't we name ourselves something that's more distinctive and says more about who we are and what we do.”
As far as staff, students and parents are concerned, it's business as usual as
they swung into Intensive Week Monday, one of three annual weeks where students immerse themselves in a topic of particular interest. Thirty-two students in grades 4-8 chose the school's popular play production option and Thursday and Friday they will present "The Wizard of Oz” for four public performances.
"This is such a wonderful school experience, to choose something that you feel passionate about and do it for a whole week,” said Marilyn Tilley, the school's theater and choral music teacher. "The days just fly by and it's a good time that is really bonding.”
The school, which debuted their new 200-seat auditorium last spring, has a rich tradition of plays with students presenting two or three each year. Tilley chose "The Wizard of Oz,” which the students performed four or five years ago, because she knew she had talented younger singers and actors as well as older ones to fill the cast.
"We had some really strong kids in the 3-5 village and some older students, too,” said Tilley, noting the school's grades are arranged in multi-age villages. "I try to do all classics, I really think that kids get excited when they know it is something that adults do, too.”
Students in "The Wizard of Oz” have been rehearsing twice a week since January and will put the finishing touches on the play this week during the all-day rehearsals. Double cast and featuring props and sets that art classes helped make — including the Wicked Witch's polymer clay nose — students are eager to present the play.
"I've seen 'The Wizard of Oz' a lot of times so I'm really excited about this,” said Helen Groothuis, a sixth grade student who plays Glinda, the Good Witch and other roles. "It was hard work this year since we had less time to do it.”
Jordan Gunderson, an eighth grade student at Woodland School, will play four parts, including the Wicked Witch of the West. A fan of Intensive Week in part because "you don't have to do math,” she has been in five plays at the school.
"We do one every term,” said Gunderson, whose mom and siblings help her memorize her lines. "If you don't know you lines, it's really hard.”
Show times for "The Wizard of Oz” will be 7 p.m. on Thursday and 9:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday. The community is welcome and admission is $4 per person. The Woodland School is located at 7224 Supply Road.