Celebrating 60 Years of Excellence at Archbishop Wood - Holiday Blessings and Highlights

Dear Friends,

As we enter into this joyous holiday season, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome I have received from all of you. The spirit of community and generosity that fills the air at Archbishop Wood truly makes it a special place, and I am honored to be part of this journey.

This school year marks a momentous milestone—60 years of excellence at Archbishop Wood. It has been a time of remarkable growth and countless blessings. As we reflect on the past and look forward to the future, we want to take this opportunity to highlight the achievements of our past graduates.

As we celebrate this season of giving and reflection, I am reminded of the beautiful words from the Bible that speak of peace, hope, and joy:

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." – Luke 2:14

May this season bring you peace, joy, and the warmth of God's love. May we continue to be blessed in all that we do, and may the spirit of community continue to guide us as we move into another year of growth and excellence.

Thank you once again for being part of our Archbishop Wood family. Together, we are building a future that honors our past and looks ahead with hope and faith.

Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Warm regards,

Kristin Conran

AWHS Director of Institutional Advancement

Throw Back Thursdays @ Archbishop Wood

Throughout this holiday season and into the new year, we will be shining a spotlight on our Graduating Classes—one class at a time. This week, we are thrilled to honor the Class of 1967 & 1968! These alumni are not only the pillars of our rich history but also the foundation upon which Archbishop Wood continues to thrive. You can expect to see these highlights across our social media channels, as well as in this newsletter.

Click on the button below to visit us on our social media channels to follow along our "Throw Back Thursday" journey down memory lane!

Throw Back Thursday @ Archbishop Wood!

Archbishop Wood Hall of Fame

Celebrating 60 Years of Excellence

Saturday, April 26, 2025

As we celebrate 60 years of excellence in education, leadership, and service, we are honored to invite you to participate in the Archbishop Wood High School Hall of Fame nomination process. This prestigious recognition is reserved for individuals who have exemplified the spirit and pride that defines our school, both during their time at Wood and in the years that followed.

Submit Your Nominations Online Here!

Celebrate 60 Years of Excellence. Nominate a Hall of Fame Inductee Today!

The Nomination Deadline is January 30th, 2025.

Honoring our Country's Veterans

Mr. Dillard's Adobe Multimedia classes spent Veteran's Day week working on projects that directly honored our country's Veterans. Their completed work was displayed in certain parts of the school and on TV monitors throughout the building for all to see. Way to go Vikings and thank you again to our Veterans for your service!

Performing Arts - Cinderella

A round of applause for Archbishop Wood's Performing Arts - Theater program for putting on a brilliant fall musical, Cinderella! The cast and crew worked tirelessly the past few months to prepare for opening night plus their weekend of shows this November, and they did not disappoint. BRAVO VIKINGS! Auditions have already begun for the spring musical: "Bye Bye Birdie" so be sure to mark your calendars for March 20th through March 22nd.

Fundamentals of Real Estate Course at Archbishop Wood

On November 15th, our Real Estate class visited Keller Williams Real Estate in Newtown, PA. The class had the opportunity to hear from top industry icons who shared valuable lessons on goal setting, overcoming resistance, and developing persistence. They also emphasized the importance of prioritizing what truly matters for success, not just in business but in life as well. A key philosophy at Keller Williams is the idea of "Coming from Contribution"—the belief that being a giver, rather than a taker, leads to greater fulfillment and success. By helping others, you not only make a positive impact but also enrich your own life. Thank you to Keller Williams in Newtown for taking the time to work with our students! Click here to see more photos from the class trip!

25 years of Service to Catholic Education

At our November faculty meeting, Rita Morton, Mike Gahagan, and Diane Antes were presented with gifts from the Office of Catholic Education for their dedication to Secondary Catholic Schools for the past 25 years. We are honored to have such wonderful teachers here at Wood who have unwavering commitment to Catholic education!

Faculty/Staff Retreat & Service Projects

On November 22nd Archbishop Wood Faculty & Staff had a Retreat Day! The morning started with community mass in the school chapel followed by service opportunities of their choice. Some faculty/staff decided to help touch up paint around the building, while the other half donated items to create 220 meals for “Caring for Friends” with St Jude parish in Chalfont, PA.

Learning Support Blessing & Celebration

On November 15th, Archbishop Wood Administrators, Faculty, Staff, Students and Parents gathered together for a very special dedication and blessing of our newly improved & updated Learning Support Center: The St. Joseph Center. We reflected on the example of St. Joseph the Worker, who showed us that faith and hard work go hand in hand. In this space, students will come seeking help and guidance, just as St. Joseph worked faithfully, day by day, to provide and protect. This center is a place where we recognize that each person’s journey is unique, and we offer support to help them grow in knowledge, self-confidence, and faith. St Joseph of Cupertino, the Norton saint of students, also reminds us that leaning is not just an intellectual pursuit, but a spiritual one. As he struggled with his studies, he relied on God’s grace to open his mind and heart. May all who come to this center follow his example of trusting in God, seeking knowledge with humility, and persevering through challenges. Let us pray that all who come here will find the support they need to flourish academically and spiritually, and that this space may be a true reflection of God’s love and care for each person. Click here to watch a highlight reel of the event!

Service to Others in the Season of Giving...

When it comes to those in need, Archbishop Wood and our surrounding community of Vikings can be counted on to answer the call! Knowing that there are individuals and families still in need in the wake of Hurricane Helene, Archbishop Wood partnered with the Jenkintown Food Cupboard/Garden of Health Food Pantry to help! Thanks to our additional partners: Malvern Prep, The West Caln Veterinary Clinic, Christ’s Home, Mary Mother of the Redeemer School, and St. Rose of Lima Church, we were able to work together to fulfill our promise of making tomorrow a little brighter for those still affected by this natural disaster. With the help of our partners and so many other wonderful supporters, we filled a 54 foot tractor trailer and sent it to Hickory, North Carolina to aid the victims of Hurricane Helene!!!

The Archbishop Wood community was involved in contributing:

$4,000 worth of donations to purchase items most needed
25,0000 lbs of water donated
10-12,000 lbs of food
500 packages of diapers and wipes
100 + bags of clothing, camping gear and PPE products

After gathering all of these amazing items listed above, the AWHS National Honor Society, Student Council. Community Service Corps, Senior Sibling Club, and Boys Basketball Team came together to load the trailer. In about 3 hours worth of work sorting and packing, they blessed the tractor trailer and sent it on its way to North Carolina. Way to go Vikings & our surrounding community. Thank you to everyone who came forward in this effort. It is amazing to see just how many people will rise to the call to help us, help those in need! Click here to watch a highlight reel of the AWHS community in action!