News

Woodland Hills was thrilled to welcome short story writer and novelist Clare Beams to the Woodland Hills High School Library as the latest guest in the Woodland Hills Interaction Series.

Students in Mr. Maloney's 11th grade English class recently read Ms. Beams' debut collection of short stories, "We Show What We Have Learned." The students spent some time discussing some of the common themes and elements spread throughout the collection, and then brought some specific questions about those pieces for Ms. Beams to answer.

Ms. Beams pulled the curtain back on some of her creative choices, including how her personal experiences and significant life events have impacted some of the fictional short stories.

"We Show What We Have Learned" won the Bard Fiction Prize, which enabled Ms. Beams to have a stint as writer in residence at Bard College in New York. It was also a finalist for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham prize, which recognizes debut collections or novels.

She has also published a pair of novels - "The Illness Lesson" in 2020 and "The Garden" in 2024. Both were critically acclaimed. Ms. Beams shared that she's often drawn to elements of magical realism in her stories, including both novels. Not quite fantasy, not quite science fiction, her writing often has some small element of the extraordinary or supernatural while staying grounded in reality.

Along with questions about "We Show What We Have Learned," students asked Ms. Beams about more general aspects of being a writer, including what she draws inspiration from and the time it takes to write and produce a finished book.

Following the conversation, Ms. Beams graciously stayed around to sign copies of her books for the students and to chat with a few of them one-on-one about their own writing or creative projects. Thank you for visiting Woodland Hills High School and meeting with our students!

Woodland Hills High School student Xaiveyon McMillan-Taylor was recognized on Wednesday, November 12 for the courage and selflessness he displayed in helping rescue a neighbor from a house fire.

Woodland Hills families are invited to our K-8 VEX Robotics STEAM Night on Tuesday, November 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Woodland Hills Impact Center in Rankin.

The Fall/Winter 2025 edition of The Wolverine Newsletter is now available to read. From stories about student leadership and mentorship to exciting learning opportunities in our elementary schools, take a moment to catch up on things you might have missed and the exciting events to come in the Woodland Hills School District.

The junior musical has long been part of the Woodland Hills Performing Arts Department, but the role of student interns has expanded over the last few years. This year, 31 high school students in grades 10-12 are serving as student interns across 12 distinct roles. They are mentors and the standard-bearers of decades of tradition.

Donate now to support the Woodland Hills Foundation's Backpacks of Hope and help keep the school food pantry open all year.

Woodland Hills was honored to welcome back renowned author Sharon G. Flake to the Woodland Hills High School Library for another edition of the Woodland Hills Interaction Series.

Student representatives from the Woodland Hills Student Summit participated in the Global Impact Forum at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh on Tuesday, November 4, as they met with educators, policymakers, and business leaders to share more about the impact the Student Summit has had on them and their communities.

With the ongoing uncertainty regarding the availability of SNAP benefits for our students and families, the Woodland Hills School District has compiled a list of resources and services available to families in need.

The Woodland Hills High School Library will be hosting an All-You-Can-Read-Buffet on November 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in conjunction with the C.C. Mellor Memorial Library.