Westwood Weekly

Email: fossittc@nice.k12.mi.us
Website: https://nice.k12.mi.us/
Location: 300 Westwood Drive, Ishpeming, MI, USA
Phone: 906.485.1023
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/niceschools

Back (L-R): Samiah LaFreniere, Hayden LaMere, Makayla Fisher, Manny Edelson, Matthew Ostola,

AlisonErdman, Emily Hytinen, Gavin Comero, Nathan Gray, Andrew Ostola

Front (L-R): Riley Hietikko, Samantha Ruby, Michaela Watson, Kaylee Massie, Grace Tossava, Taylor

Keranen, Lauren Michaud-Richards, Makenna Olson, Eliisa Doney, Kaylin Doney, Lucy Ostola

Upper Peninsula business students converged on Bay College in Escanaba for the 2026 Business Professionals of America Regional Leadership Conference on Friday, January 16. These high school students from across the Upper Peninsula gathered to compete in contests relating to finance, business administration, management/marketing/communications, information technology, and digital technology skills. Twenty-one Westwood High School student members, along with teachers Rachel Perala and Sabina Villar, participated in this regional competition, and eighteen Westwood students have qualified to compete at the state level of competition. Westwood’s state qualifiers and awards earned are:

GAVIN COMERO

1st – Advanced Accounting

1st – Prepared Speech

3rd – Digital Marketing Concepts – Open

3rd – Management, Marketing & Human Resources Concepts – Open

ELIISA DONEY

1st – Basic Office Systems & Procedures

KAYLIN DONEY

1st – Database Applications

1st – Integrated Office Applications

MANNY EDELSON

1st – Personal Financial Management

3rd – Financial Math & Analysis – Open

4th – Banking & Finance

ALISON ERDMAN

2nd – Meeting & Event Planning Concepts – Open

4th – Advanced Office Systems & Procedures

4th – Health Administration Procedures

MAKAYLA FISHER

1st – Advanced Office Systems & Procedures

3rd – Health Administration Procedures

NATHAN GRAY

1st – Extemporaneous Speech

EMILY HYTINEN

1st – Health Administration Procedures

3rd – Advanced Office Systems & Procedures

4th – Administrative Support Concepts – Open

TAYLOR KERANEN

2nd – Legal Office Procedures

4th – Meeting & Event Planning Concepts – Open

SAMIAH LAFRENIERE

3rd – Intermediate Word Processing

3rd – Legal Office Procedures

4th – Digital Marketing Concepts – Open

HAYDEN LAMERE

2nd – Basic Office Systems & Procedures

4th – Intermediate Word Processing

KAYLEE MASSIE

2nd – Fundamental Word Processing

6th – Basic Office Systems & Procedures

LAUREN MICHAUD-RICHARDS

1st – Fundamental Word Processing

MAKENNA OLSON

1st – Intermediate Word Processing

4th – Basic Office Systems & Procedures

LUCY OSTOLA

1st – Advanced Interview Skills

1st – Legal Office Procedures

5th - Administrative Support Concepts – Open

MATTHEW OSTOLA

1st – Advanced Word Processing

1st – Fundamental Accounting

5th – Management, Marketing & Human Resources Concepts – Open

SAMANTHA RUBY

2nd – Advanced Office Systems & Procedures

2nd – Integrated Office Applications

3rd – Health Administration Concepts – Open

MICHAELA WATSON

1st – Meeting & Event Planning Concepts – Open

2nd – Intermediate Word Processing

2nd – Presentation Individual

These students will represent Westwood High School at the 2026 BPA State Leadership Conference in March at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, where they will compete with students from across Michigan, attend workshops designed to aid in professional development, and gain valuable skills. Top students at the state conference will advance to the National Leadership Conference to be held in Nashville, Tennessee in May.

The following students were selected for the 2025 WSMA Menominee River Conference Honors Band on January 16th and 16th at Niagara High School in Niagara, WI. Each student was nominated and selected for participation in this year's honors band because of their outstanding musicianship and leadership within the Westwood High School Band.

The Menominee River Conference Honors Band is composed of more than 80 students selected from many Upper Peninsula and Northeast Wisconsin schools. Students are nominated by their member school and selected by a committee of conference directors. These students spent two long days rehearsing and improving their musicianship with award-winning band composer and music educator Chris Evan Hass from Western Michigan University. The Menominee River Conference Honors Band weekend culminated with a tremendous performance by the Honors Band on Saturday, January 17th in the Niagara High School auditorium.

We congratulate these students for this terrific achievement!

Elizabeth Bureau, Flute

Grace Shandonay, Flute

Evynn Seablom, Clarinet

Jared Waterman, Trumpet

Oni Heinzel, Baritone

Wyatt Steele, Tuba

Isaiah Whitaker, Percussion

Maggie Johnson has been selected as the music department student of the month for her musical achievements, unmatched work ethic, and excellent leadership skills. Maggie is a student in high school chorus, Voices in Motion, The Pit Stops, and drama and is consistently positive and engaged in class. She isn’t afraid to ask clarifying questions in order to better herself and her section and constantly works on improving her abilities. She doesn’t shy away from a challenge and has shown time and again that she is capable of difficult music and tasks. Maggie has consistently chosen difficult repertoire for the WSMA solo and ensemble festival and has qualified for states each year. She has been tasked with principal roles in several musicals and dramatic productions. She is also one of the chief and founding keyboardists for The Pit Stops backup band. Outside of class she carries that same positivity and ambitiousness to everything else she does. It is due to her positive attitude, dedication, and perseverance that she is a standout student and deserving of this recognition!

Jared Waterman has been selected as the Music Department Student of the Month for his exceptional musical achievements and positive attitude. Jared is an incredibly hard working, talented and enthusiastic student. He has participated in band for all four years of high school and this year joined Morning Chorus to expand his musical talents. Jared is always fully engaged in class, and works to improve each and every day. He maintains a positive attitude even when some of the music may be challenging. This attitude and drive has a positive effect on the class and he has become one the leaders in the bandroom. Because of his hard work and attitude, Jared has been nominated and accepted in the Menominee River Honors Conference Honors Band for the past two years! Outside of his work and talent in the music program, Jared is a terrific young person. He is thoughtful and kind to everyone around him and his presence has a positive impact on the people he is around. His dedication, hard work, and uplifting presence make him a standout student and a deserving recipient of this recognition.

The Scholastic Awards are the nation's longest-running recognition program for creative teens. Each year, more than 100,000 teens across the U.S. and Canada enter their art and writing for a chance to receive opportunities for recognition, exhibition, and scholarships

Congratulations to the following students on their Scholastic Writing Awards:

Olivia Letson:

• "Solitary Confinement or Cruel and Unusual Punishment?" (Critical Essay) --Honorable Mention
• "The Psychological Background of Criminal Aging" (Critical Essay) -- Gold Key (will move on to be judged at the National Level)

Evynn Seablom:

• "Family" (Personal Essay & Memoir) --Silver Key

Lucy Ostola

• "The Flower Lady" (Flash Fiction) -- Gold Key (will move on to be judged at the National Level)

Isabelle Moebius

• Honorable Mention, "Why I Hate School" (Personal Essay & Memoir)

The Venturing Crew is a new opportunity for students in the western part of Maquette County. It is open to students ages 14-20 and involves activities such as hiking, camping, mountain biking and more. For more information, click on the flyer below. Information is also available in the Westwood High School Office.

New this year is the Patriot Press website where you can access the digital version. Go to

https://sites.google.com/nice.k12.mi.us/the-patriot-press/home for access.

We encourage both parents and students to read the student handbook carefully. It provides important information about school expectations, rules, and available resources, helping everyone understand their rights, responsibilities, and how to create a safe, respectful, and successful learning environment together. Click on the link below to access the WHS Student Handbook.

The Lunch Menu are not posted yet. Once the school year starts, click on the picture for that month's lunch menu.

All school districts in Michigan are required to share the Sexual Harassment and Information Guide with students in grades 6-12. I have attached the information guide as and some additional informaton including the districts Title IX coordinator information and specific school policies related to sexual harassment and sexual assault.