Month: March 2025

Posted on

ST. ANDREW’S INVITATIONAL 2025

Welcome to your special edition newsletter for our first travel regatta, the St. Andrew’s Invitational! Lots of details below. The current forecast looks favorable with partly cloudy skies, a low of 55 degrees and a high of 78 degrees. Wind will make it feel colder than the actual temperature though, so spectators and athletes should plan accordingly.

1. NOXONTOWN POND REGATTA, AKA ST. ANDREW’S INVITATIONAL
2. REGATTA PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
3. RESTAURANT NIGHT TOMORROW, FRIDAY, MARCH 28
4. PRACTICE TIMES NEXT WEEK (March 31 – April 4)
5. SPRING BREAK PRACTICE SCHEDULE (April 14 – 18)
6. HELP US HELP YOU!
7. GET YOUR SWAG
8. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
SUPPORT THE TEAM!

1. NOXONTOWN POND REGATTA, AKA ST. ANDREW’S INVITATIONAL
Visit our special website page (under the Regattas tab) for ALL the information you need to plan for this event: St. Andrew’s Invitational.

    Headlines: 

    • Carpools should plan to leave the Fairfax area around 7 AM. Dress for practice.
    • Unload boats and Practice from 9:45a-12p.
    • Races from 1-3p(ish)
    • Make sure athletes are prepared with plenty of water, portable battery pack for phone charging and things to occupy their down time.
    • Many more details here.

    2. REGATTA PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
    Thank you to so many parents and athletes who are taking photos and videos at our regattas! The BEST way to share your photos, save them for posterity, AND get them off your camera roll is to get them to the Woodson Rowing SmugMug site.

    Find the EASY UPLOAD LINKS for all your photos and videos on our website:
    Woodson Rowing photo upload links.

    Any photos or videos from St. Andrews this weekend can be uploaded here: https://woodsonrowing.smugmug.com/upload/SC4VPf/2025standrews

    Questions, problems or photos from previous years to upload? Contact our new team photographer, Matt Olman, via Slack. THANK YOU, MATT!

    3. RESTAURANT NIGHT TOMORROW, FRIDAY, MARCH 28

    Don’t bother messing with dinner while you’re getting the family ready to drive to Delaware the next day! Come to Noodles & Co. on Main Street or Order for Pickup to benefit the team and make your life easier!

    4. PRACTICE TIMES NEXT WEEK (March 31 – April 4)
    There are some adjustments to practice times next week:

    • MONDAY, MARCH 31: Practice will be held 3:30-6:45p. The early arrival allows for time to unload the trailer after St. Andrew’s and still get a full practice in.
    • TUESDAY, APRIL 1 – THURSDAY, APRIL 3: Regular practice times (4:15-6:45p).
    • FRIDAY, APRIL 4: No practice. The Director of Student Activities has cancelled all Woodson athletic practices since that is the night of Woodson Prom.

    5. SPRING BREAK PRACTICE SCHEDULE (April 14 – 18)
    From a physiology training perspective, ideally there would be 2 practices a day over spring break. However, from a logistics perspective, coaches understand that one large practice block may be easier to manage for families and carpools. As a result, the spring break schedule will be a compromise between these two forces. The spring break schedule is as follows:

    • MONDAY, APRIL 14: 8:30a-12:30p
    • TUESDAY, APRIL 15: 8:30a – 10:45a AND 4p-6:30p
    • WEDNESDAY APRIL 16: 8:30a-12:30p (Bull Run row. This is a long row out with a picnic lunch at Bull Run before the long row back. Stay tuned, we may need parent volunteers to meet the team at Bull Run with food and coolers).
    • THURSDAY, APRIL 17: 8:30a – 10:45a AND 4p-6:30p
    • FRIDAY, APRIL 18: 8:30a-12:30p practice, then Team Dinner at Woodson (6:30p report time for volunteers, 7p for athletes).
    • SATURDAY, APRIL 19: Ryz Obuchowicz Regatta at Sandy Run. Race and report times will be released on the Thursday or Friday before.

    6. HELP US HELP YOU!
    The St. Andrew’s Invitational is an amazing opportunity to get to know other parents/guardians because there is A LOT of downtime at this regatta. In addition, many Board members will be in attendance, so it’s the perfect time to learn about what we do and how we support the team. In other words, this weekend is the perfect time for the nominating committee to begin their work! 

    We need AT LEAST 2 parents, one representative from the boys’ team and one from the girls’ team, to serve on this year’s nominating committee. But the more the merrier. The nominating committee identifies parents with interest in serving on the Board in the 2025/26 school year and beyond! This is a great volunteering gig if you like to talk to people. To find out more, please contact Catherine Backmeyer on Slack or introduce yourself at St. Andrews!

    7. GET YOUR SWAG
    Our Uniform/Sportswear Chair, Cheryl, will be bringing some Woodson Rowing items to the St. Andrew’s Invitational, so be ready to grow your swag collection this Saturday! Check out options and more on our website at Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear. Please feel free to share the website and links with family members so that they can also sport their support near or far.

    8. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
    This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

    Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
    Winter Conditioning (October through February)
    On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
    2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

    Important dates: 

    MARCH:

    • Fri, 3/28: Noodles & Co. Restaurant Fundraiser, 4-8p, 10296 Main St.
    • Sat, 3/29: Noxontown Regatta, St. Andrew’s, Middletown, DE

    APRIL

    MAY

    SUPPORT THE TEAM!

    VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

    REP THE TEAM WITH PRIDE!

    There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!

    SPONSOR WOODSON ROWING!

    Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

    FEELING GENEROUS?

    No amount is too small or too big and is a HUGE part of our successes!!
    Visit our Donors page for information on how your donation will be used!

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

    Posted on

    March 25, 2025 Newsletter

    What a weekend! We had a fun parent social AND a highly successful first regatta of the season with all of our varsity boats performing well. The racing was followed by several scrimmages for our lower boats, helping them prepare for their first regatta this coming Saturday at Noxontown Pond in Delaware. Read on for more Woodson Rowing happenings, this week!

    1. SPRING SPORT PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!
    2. ST. ANDREWS – NOXONTOWN POND REGATTA INFO
    3. RESTAURANT NIGHT, FRIDAY, MARCH 28
    4. TIME CHANGE FOR PRACTICE ON MARCH 31
    5. SPRING BREAK SCHEDULE
    6. AVAILABLE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
    7. SHOW YOUR SPIRIT!
    8. *RSVP* SENIOR NIGHT – FRI, APRIL 25, 7p
    9. *RSVP* END-OF-YEAR AWARDS BANQUET, WED, MAY 28, 7p
    10. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
    SUPPORT THE TEAM

    1. SPRING SPORT PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!
    The spring sports photos that our athletes took on March 6 are now available for purchase. Any questions re: these photos should be directed to the Victor O’Neill Studios customer service team at [email protected]: 

    BOYS TEAM: https://shop.imagequix.com/s1740266205

    GIRLS TEAM: https://shop.imagequix.com/s1516150167

    2. ST. ANDREW’S – NOXONTOWN POND REGATTA INFO
    Your next newsletter will be chock full of ALL the specifics you need to know about our travel regatta this weekend. HOWEVER, we know how many of you are planners, so you can take a sneak peek at the tentative details on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/noxontown/

    Athletes are responsible for their own transportation – a bus will NOT be provided. So, get to planning your carpools. Despite the distance to this regatta, it is a wonderful experience for spectators and rowers. Spectators will be right on the race course without the big hike from the parking area that we experience at Sandy Run. It is an all day affair, though, so be prepared for all things!

    3. RESTAURANT NIGHT, FRIDAY, MARCH 28

    Don’t bother messing with dinner while you’re getting the family ready to drive to Delaware the next day! Come to Noodles & Co. on Main Street or Order for Pickup to benefit the team and make your life easier!

    4. TIME CHANGE FOR PRACTICE ON MARCH 31
    There will be practice on Monday March 31st (school holiday). However, practice will begin at 3:30p and go until the normal finish time of 6:45p to provide time to unload the trailer after St. Andrew’s and still get a full practice in. Practice on Tuesday, April 1 (teacher workday) will be at the normal times.

    5. SPRING BREAK SCHEDULE
    From a physiology training perspective, ideally there would be 2 practices a day over spring break. However, from a logistics perspective, coaches understand that one large practice block may be easier to manage for families. As a result, the spring break schedule will be a compromise between these two forces.

    Spring break is April 14th through 18th. The spring break schedule will be as follows:

    M, W, F: 8:30a-12:30p
    (Bull Run row on Wednesday – this is a long row out with a picnic lunch at Bull Run before the long row back.)

    T, Thu: 8:30a – 10:45a AND 4p-6:30p

    6. AVAILABLE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
    VOLUNTEER CREDIT REMINDER: Each family is required to do 5 volunteer shifts/credits, one of which should be a VASRA task. Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering, sign up to participate or just keep up with the current volunteering opportunities, visit our website: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

    A. ST. ANDREW’S VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: There are still some official slots for “clean-up” at St. Andrew’s. If you’re going to be there, get your volunteer credits in! Sign up here: St. Andrew’s Volunteer Sign Up

    B. NOMINATING COMMITTEE: We are seeking volunteers to serve on this year’s nominating committee. The nominating committee will identify parents with interest in serving on the Board in the 2025/26 school year and beyond! The nominating committee would submit recommendations for future Board members by mid-May 2025. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow parents and to also get a feel for what each Board member does. Ideally, we would have a MINIMUM of 2 parents step up for this role, one from the boys’ team and one from the girls’ team. But, the more the merrier. If you are interested in serving on the Nominating Committee, please contact Catherine Backmeyer on Slack to find out more on what the responsibilities entail.

    C. SHADOW BOARD MEMBERS TO LEARN THEIR ROLES! While the Board is thankfully, fully staffed this season, there will be several roles available next year due to term limitations and graduating athletes. If you are at all interested in being on the board, you can see a list of roles that we already know will be available next year (with others potentially arising) here: https://woodsonrowing.org/board-of-directors/

    7. SHOW YOUR SPIRIT!
    We have a limited number of 2025 sponsor t-shirts and tank tops available to purchase for $20 a piece! Check out these options and more on our website at Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear! Share the website and links with family members so that they can also sport their support near or far!

    8. *RSVP* SENIOR NIGHT – FRI, APRIL 25, 7p
    Senior Parents! We want to be able to fully plan for Senior Night, which will be held in conjunction with the Friday Night Team Dinner on Fri., April 25 at 7p. Please check your calendars and RSVP here: Senior Night RSVP

    9. *RSVP* END-OF-YEAR AWARDS BANQUET, WED, MAY 28, 7p
    RSVP and help out at the End-of-the-Season Banquet on Wednesday, May 28, 7p at Woodson Cafeteria A. Please join us in celebrating all the whole team; athletes, coaches AND parents/guardians! This is more than just an end-of-season celebration. Coaches will present awards, we will recognize our seniors and attending parents will have an introduction/vote for next year’s new board members!

    10. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
    This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

    Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
    Winter Conditioning (October through February)
    On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
    2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

    Important dates: 

    MARCH:

    • Fri, 3/28: Noodles & Co. Restaurant Fundraiser, 4-8p, 10296 Main St.
    • Sat, 3/29: Noxontown Regatta, St. Andrew’s, Middletown, DE

    APRIL

    MAY

    SUPPORT THE TEAM!

    VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

    REP THE TEAM WITH PRIDE!

    There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!

    SPONSOR WOODSON ROWING!

    Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

    FEELING GENEROUS?

    No amount is too small or too big and is a HUGE part of our successes!!
    Visit our Donors page for information on how your donation will be used!

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

    Posted on

    POLAR BEAR REGATTA 2025

    Welcome to a special edition newsletter on our first regatta of the season! Lots of details below, so take your time reading through and ask questions!. The weather is set to be sunny and cool. Fingers crossed it stays that way! Spectators should plan accordingly – lots of layers – as the grandstands are open to the elements.

    1. REGATTA VOLUNTEERS

    2. POLAR BEAR REGATTA THIS SATURDAY, 3/22
    A. ATHLETE ATTENDANCE
    B. REPORT TIMES

    3. REGATTA PARKING AND GETTING TO THE GRANDSTAND
    A. OFFSITE PARKING FOR SPECTATORS
    B. ONSITE PARKING

    4. FOOD

    5. SPECTATOR TIPS AND CHEERING

    6. DON’T FORGET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR!

    7. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

    SUPPORT THE TEAM!

    ACTION ITEMS BEFORE THIS REGATTA

    1. Fill out a VASRA waiver for your athlete. This is a new requirement this season, but it is REQUIRED before your athlete can race. Many thanks to those who already completed this requirement.
    2. RSVP for the Parent social taking place Friday, 3/21 from 6-9p

    1. REGATTA VOLUNTEERS
    Gentle reminder that if you sign up, you’re expected to volunteer. If it is a regatta weekend and you are unable to fulfill your duties, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Veigel, so that she can try to help you find a replacement for your shift.

    All volunteer slots for the regatta this weekend are full. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS! Sign up here to help at future regattas. Feel free to check back frequently, even if shifts appear to be full, in case others are unable to fulfill their duties. If you sign up to drive a launch, you must have completed the recent launch driver training AND have practiced with a coach!

    2. POLAR BEAR REGATTA THIS SATURDAY, 3/22
    Our first regatta for our varsity boats is this Saturday. Woodson will be racing 5 boats between, approximately, 9am to 1p. According to the current TENTATIVE event list, smaller boats will be racing first. So, all of our boats should be prepared/plan to be the later races of the day. Specific race times will be finalized and shared with coaches late tonight. Athletes should anticipate hearing more about timing by practice on Friday, 3/21.

    Feel free to check here for more information: Regatta Central – Polar Bear Regatta.

    Results and heatsheets will be posted here, when available: VASRA website.

    A. ATHLETE ATTENDANCE
    While no novice boats row at this regatta, novice athletes are highly encouraged to attend, if available. Regattas are a unique experience and familiarity with how they run will help the athletes as they prepare for their first regatta, next weekend. Learning the mechanics and rhythms of a regatta before they participate builds confidence and experience. Plus, it’s fun to watch your teammates race without dealing with your own nerves!

    Novices should plan to be at the boathouse about 1 hour before Woodson boats hit the water. 

    Returning Athletes will hear from your coaches what boat you will be on. Unless told otherwise by a coach, athletes are advised to be at the boathouse no later than two hours before their scheduled race, and coxswains must be there for the coxswain’s meeting.

    B. REPORT TIMES
    Will be communicated via Slack as it becomes available. If you aren’t yet on Slack, send a message to [email protected]. Official lineups will be posted on Slack and social media after the schedule is set.

    3. REGATTA PARKING AND GETTING TO THE GRANDSTAND
    This is always a big deal and a big issue until you realize what the system is like, so we highly recommend that you plan lots of excess time to get to where you need to go. As we all know, Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance, so a little goes a long way. All of the information below, and more, is located on our website. If you’re nervous or curious, to learn more visit our website: Sandy Run Park Info.

    A. OFFSITE PARKING FOR SPECTATORS: There is no spectator/visitor parking at Sandy Run. As a result, families should plan accordingly.

    ❖ Parents driving athletes can drop athletes off at Sandy Run and then proceed to the offsite parking area. If you are only dropping off your rower, plan on arriving on site at least 15 minutes before your rower needs to report because Hampton Road and Van Thompson Road are often backed up with cars. Tell the parking volunteers that you are dropping off a rower, and they will direct you.

    ❖ OFF SITE PARKING IS LOCATED AT SOUTH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. South County High School is located at 8501 Silverbrook Rd, Lorton, VA 22079.

    ❖ Spectators will park at South County High School and take a shuttle bus to the regatta. The cost of the shuttles is $10 EACH WAY ($20 total). Please bring cash. You will pay at South County prior to boarding the bus AND AGAIN at the bus pick up spot in Lot C at Sandy Run. Athletes in uniform can ride the shuttle for free. Families should plan for a 15-20 minute walk or a shorter shuttle ride between where the buses stop (Lot C) and the grandstand.

    ❖ The shuttles are scheduled to begin at 7:00 am (2 hours before the first race) and will conclude running from Sandy Run NLT 1 hour after the last race. 

    To get to the grandstands from Lot C, you have two options:

    1. You can walk. The path is unpaved and very hilly. It is about ¾ of a mile and takes about 20 minutes to walk.
    2. You can take the shuttle van which costs a small fee each way. In the past this fee has been $5 EACH WAY. Cash is preferred. Please plan accordingly. The shuttle runs continuously and takes about 5 minutes.

    B. ONSITE PARKING: Onsite parking is limited to the groups below only. There is no fee for these groups to park at Sandy Run.

    ❖ ATHLETES: parking is available in the Loisvale Lot until the lot is filled. Please plan for the short walk from parking to the water!

    ❖ VOLUNTEERS: Lot D (larger gravel lot that is to the right as you pass the gated entry to the park)

    ❖ COACHES: Lot D. There will be designated parking. Please display your green coaches hangtag.

    ❖ STAFF / LOC: B lot, second row from the back. This is the paved lot closest to the water on the right.

    ❖ REFEREES: B lot, back row

    ❖ HANDICAPPED: Lot C, as designated.This is the smaller gravel lot to the left as you pass through the gated entry.

    4. FOOD
    For athletes, the team provides snacks. If your athlete has food restrictions, those will have been accounted for by the team – but if they have specific nutritional needs we recommend packing them what they need. They may buy from the Headquarters concession stand, but may not have the time or opportunity to do so until after their race, so plan accordingly.

    For spectators, there is a concession stand at the grandstand. Bring cash to make your life easier because mobile payments are notoriously hard due to spotty wi-fi coverage on the water.

    You can find concession menus on the VASRA website here: https://www.vasra.org/regattas/concessions-menu

    5. SPECTATOR TIPS AND CHEERING
    Check out a list of tips for regatta watching here: https://woodsonrowing.org/regatta-spectator/.

    All the Woodson families try to sit together as a team. So, where is the team? Well – look for the swag. We know it’s challenging when you’re new to the sport and new to the team, but trust that everyone is friendly and interested in meeting you!

    Cheering is one of our primary duties as spectators! When a Woodson boat goes down the course on their way to the start, all the parents get together to yell “HEY, WOODSON!” as loud as possible. We will know that the kids hear us when a coxswain or rowers take a moment to wave at us.

    If you’re interested and brand new to the sport of rowing, we have a lot of resources on our website to help you feel “in-the-know” once you get to the grandstands. Some suggested reading:

    6. DON’T FORGET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR!
    Purchase Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear to show your support and benefit our team!

    7. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
    This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

    Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
    Winter Conditioning (October through February)
    On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
    2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

    Important dates: 

    MARCH:

    • Fri, 3/21: Parent social, 6-9p
    • Sat, 3/22: Polar Bear Regatta (Varsity Only), Sandy Run
    • Fri, 3/28: Noodles & Co. Restaurant Fundraiser, 4-8p, 10296 Main St.
    • Sat, 3/29: Noxontown Regatta, St. Andrew’s, Middletown, DE

    APRIL

    MAY

    SUPPORT THE TEAM!

    VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

    REP THE TEAM WITH PRIDE!

    There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!

    SPONSOR WOODSON ROWING!

    Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

    FEELING GENEROUS?

    No amount is too small or too big and is a HUGE part of our successes!!
    Visit our Donors page for information on how your donation will be used!

    FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

    Posted on

    March 18, 2025 Newsletter

    Welcome to your first-of-many Tuesday newsletter! Practices have been coming along and we are speeding into our first regatta this weekend! There are lots of things to do in support of and leading up to competition season. Check out the info below to learn more.

    1. *REQUIRED* VASRA WAIVER, COMPLETE NLT WED, MAR 19
    2. *RSVP NOW* PARENT SOCIAL: FRI, MARCH 21
    3. SPRING SPORT PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!
    4. POLAR BEAR REGATTA INFO
    5. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
    6. SHOW YOUR SPIRIT!
    7. *SAVE THE DATE* SENIOR NIGHT – FRI, APRIL 25, 7p
    8. *SAVE THE DATE* END-OF-YEAR AWARDS BANQUET, WED, MAY 28, 7p
    9. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

    SUPPORT THE TEAM

    ACTION ITEMS FOR THIS WEEK

    • Fill out VASRA waiver for your athlete
    • RSVP to parent social (Friday, March 21)

    1. *REQUIRED* VASRA WAIVER, COMPLETE NLT WED, MAR 19
    For our athletes to attend VASRA regattas, a waiver form must be completed before they will be allowed to compete. This process will take you about 3-5 minutes per athlete, so please complete these steps NO LATER THAN COB on Wednesday, March 19. NO ATHLETE will be allowed to compete without this waiver being completed. NO EXCEPTIONS.

    (1) Visit https://waivers.regattacentral.com/VASRA2025

    (2) Search for and select “Woodson High School Rowing”

    (3) Fill in your athlete’s last name and birthdate. Then click “Next”

    (4) Your student’s name should appear. Select their name and click “Next”

    (5) The next page calls for your athlete’s information. After filling out the info and selecting “Next” you will find the waiver in its entirety. Check the acknowledgement on the bottom left and submit. You will receive a copy of the waiver at the email address provided..

    Please note, if your athlete is 18 or older, the waiver should be filled out and acknowledged by the athlete. If they are under 18, then a parent/guardian must complete the waiver.

    2. *RSVP NOW* PARENT SOCIAL: FRI, MARCH 21
    We hope you can join us at a Parent/Guardian Social on Saturday, March 21 at the home of Maz and Fredy Chinoy from 6-9p. This is an opportunity to get to know other parents, meet some coaches and members of the board and learn more about the sport and season. This gathering is a potluck! Please RSVP and bring something to share. Wine will be provided by our hosts, but feel free to bring any other beverage of choice. The RSVP Sign Up Genius lists the location and directions, so make sure you check it out!

    3. SPRING SPORT PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!
    The spring sports photos that our athletes took on March 6 are now available for purchase. Follow the links below: 

    BOYS TEAM: https://shop.imagequix.com/s1740266205

    GIRLS TEAM: https://shop.imagequix.com/s1516150167

    Any questions re: these photos should be directed to the Victor O’Neill Studios customer service team at [email protected]

    4. POLAR BEAR REGATTA INFO
    Your next newsletter will be chock full of ALL you need to know about the Polar Bear Regatta this weekend. Specific details (such as parking, timing and line ups) will be sent out by this Friday. Please note that while no novice boats row at this regatta, novice athletes are highly encouraged to attend. Regattas are a unique experience and familiarity with how they run will help the athletes as they prepare for their first regatta, next weekend. Learning the mechanics and rhythms of a regatta before they participate builds confidence and experience. Plus, it’s fun to watch your teammates race without dealing with your own nerves! For spectators, it’s a great way to get a feel for the off-site parking, the walk to the grandstands and to just get into the energy at a regatta.

    Generally speaking, this regatta is shorter than others since it is only varsity boats racing. So, please plan to set aside your Saturday morning (or arrange carpools now) to get athletes and spectators to Sandy Run!

    If you’re interested and brand new to the sport of rowing, we have a lot of resources on our website to help you feel “in-the-know” once you get to the grandstands. Some suggested reading:

    5. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
    VOLUNTEER CREDIT REMINDER: Each family is required to do 5 volunteer shifts/credits, one of which should be a VASRA task. Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering, sign up to participate or just keep up with the current volunteering opportunities, visit our website: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

    A. TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER
    Have you seen our collection of team photos on SmugMug? Wonder how you can get those cool racing photos of your kids at regattas? Whether you’re a professional, hobbyist or amateur photographer, we want your help in turning this season’s events into memories. The team photographer will work with the VP Communications to take photos at events they attend as well as collect photos from parents and athletes to post to the team SmugMug. Contact Jenn McRobbie, VP Communications, via Slack if you are interested in taking up this role. P.S.: This role will fulfill your volunteer requirements for the year.

      B. NOMINATING COMMITTEE
      We are seeking volunteers to serve on this year’s nominating committee. The nominating committee will identify parents with interest in serving on the Board in the 2025/26 school year and beyond! The nominating committee would submit recommendations for future Board members by mid-May 2025. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow parents and to also get a feel for what each Board member does. Ideally, we would have a MINIMUM of 2 parents step up for this role, one from the boys’ team and one from the girls’ team. But, the more the merrier. If you are interested in serving on the Nominating Committee, please contact Catherine Backmeyer on Slack to find out more on what the responsibilities entail.

        C. SHADOW CURRENT BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
        While the Board is, thankfully, fully staffed this season, there will be several roles available next year due to term limitations and graduating athletes! If you are at all interested in any of these roles, please contact the current committee member (just search the role on Slack and the current member’s name will pop up). All would love a “shadow” to help learn the ropes so that there can be a smooth transfer of information throughout the season! Roles that we already know will be available next year (with others potentially arising) are:

        EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

        • Treasurer
        • Secretary
        • Senior VP (non-voting, has interest in potentially becoming the Board President in 2 years)

        COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

        • Membership
        • Fundraising
        • Sportswear/Uniforms
        • Booster Liaison

        KEP SUPPORT ROLES:

        • Craft Show Coordinator (shadow needed ASAP for this role. This person would start right away shadowing Gail Lee, who has several years of experience with one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. The Craft Show takes place at Woodson in early November.)
        • RAFT Coordinator
        • Restaurant Night Coordinator

        6. SHOW YOUR SPIRIT!
        We have a limited number of 2025 sponsor t-shirts and tank tops available to purchase for $20 a piece! Check out these options and more on our website at Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear! Share the website and links with family members so that they can also sport their support near or far!

        7. *SAVE THE DATE* SENIOR NIGHT – FRI, APRIL 25, 7p
        It seems so early to be talking about how our very large group of seniors (16!!!) will be moving on from the team next year! Plans are clearly in the very early stages, but parents of seniors – mark your calendars now! Senior night will take place at the team dinner on Fri., April 25 at 7p.

        8. *SAVE THE DATE* END-OF-YEAR AWARDS BANQUET, WED, MAY 28, 7p
        RSVP and help out at the End-of-the-Season Banquet on Wednesday, May 28, 7p at Woodson Cafeteria A. Please join us in celebrating all the whole team; athletes, coaches AND parents/guardians! This is more than just an end-of-season celebration. Coaches will present awards, we will recognize our seniors and attending parents will have an introduction/vote for next year’s new board members!

        9. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
        This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

        Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
        Winter Conditioning (October through February)
        On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
        2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

        Important dates: 

        MARCH:

        • Fri, 3/21: Parent social, 6-9p
        • Sat, 3/22: Polar Bear Regatta (Varsity Only), Sandy Run
        • Fri, 3/28: Noodles & Co. Restaurant Fundraiser, 4-8p, 10296 Main St.
        • Sat, 3/29: Noxontown Regatta, St. Andrew’s, Middletown, DE

        APRIL

        MAY

        SUPPORT THE TEAM!

        VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

        REP THE TEAM WITH PRIDE!

        There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!

        SPONSOR WOODSON ROWING!

        Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

        FEELING GENEROUS?

        No amount is too small or too big and is a HUGE part of our successes!!
        Visit our Donors page for information on how your donation will be used!

        FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

        Posted on

        March 13, 2025 Newsletter

        REMEMBER: newsletters will begin coming out TWICE per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) beginning next week. Generally, Tuesday newsletters will be full of “things to do” while Thursday newsletters will be more regatta focused. If there are other people in your family that need to be added to the newsletter list, please make sure to send an email to [email protected] to be added to the newsletter list. In the alternative, you can always view our newsletter archives on our website.

        1. *LAST CALL* DOES YOUR ATHLETE HAVE ALLERGIES/DIETARY RESTRICTIONS?
        2. *RSVP NOW* PARENT SOCIAL: FRI, MARCH 21
        3. *NEW* SEEKING A TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER
        4. REGATTA VOLUNTEER NEEDED, SAT. MAR 22
        5. *NEW* NOMINATING COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
        6. *NEW* BOARD AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR SHADOWING!
        7. NEW SPIRIT WEAR AVAILABLE
        8. *SAVE THE DATE* SENIOR NIGHT – FRI., APRIL 25, 7p
        9. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

        WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

        1. *LAST CALL* DOES YOUR ATHLETE HAVE ALLERGIES/DIETARY RESTRICTIONS?
        If so, we need you to fill out this form ASAP: Dietary Restrictions & Allergies Form. You only need to fill out this form if your athlete needs some accommodation for their food allergies or dietary restrictions. Please contact Gloria Totten, Team Dinners Coordinator, via Slack with any questions.

        2. *RSVP NOW* PARENT SOCIAL: FRI, MARCH 21
        We hope you can join us at a Parent/Guardian Social on Saturday, March 21 at the home of Maz and Fredy Chinoy from 6-9p. This is an opportunity to get to know other parents, meet some coaches and members of the board and learn more about the sport and season. This gathering is a potluck! Please RSVP and bring something to share. Wine will be provided by our hosts, but feel free to bring any other beverage of choice. The RSVP Sign Up Genius lists the location and directions, so make sure you check it out!

        3. *NEW* SEEKING A TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER
        Have you seen our collection of team photos on SmugMug? Wonder how you can get those cool racing photos of your kids at regattas? Whether you’re a professional, hobbyist or amateur photographer, we want your help in turning this season’s events into memories. The team photographer will work with the VP Communications to take photos at events they attend as well as collect photos from parents and athletes to post to the team SmugMug. Contact Jenn McRobbie, VP Communications, via Slack if you are interested in taking up this role. P.S.: This role will fulfill your volunteer requirements for the year.

        4. REGATTA VOLUNTEER NEEDED, SAT. MAR 22
        It’s an early morning shift, but it sets you up to be in the PERFECT place to watch races while satisfying a VASRA volunteer credit. We are still looking for a volunteer to work Grandstand Concessions from 6:30-9:30a at the Polar Bear Regatta on Saturday, March 22. If you are interested, sign up here: 2025 VASRA Regatta Sign Up.

        This is also a gentle reminder that if you sign up for a position at a regatta, you’re expected to show up. If it is a regatta weekend and you are unable to fulfill your duties, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Veigel, so that she can try to help you find a replacement for your shift.

        VOLUNTEER CREDIT REMINDER: Each family is required to do 5 volunteer shifts/credits, one of which should be a VASRA task. Athletes are also expected to volunteer (3 credits for novice athletes, 5 for returning athletes). Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering, sign up to participate or just keep up with the current volunteering opportunities, visit our website: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

        5. *NEW* NOMINATING COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
        We are seeking volunteers to serve on this year’s nominating committee. The nominating committee will identify parents with interest in serving on the Board in the 2025/26 school year and beyond! The nominating committee would submit recommendations for future Board members by mid-May 2025. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow parents and to also get a feel for what each Board member does. Ideally, we would have a MINIMUM of 2 parents step up for this role, one from the boys’ team and one from the girls’ team. But, the more the merrier. If you are interested in serving on the Nominating Committee, please contact Catherine Backmeyer on Slack to find out more on what the responsibilities entail.

        6. *NEW* BOARD AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR SHADOWING!
        While the Board is, thankfully, fully staffed this season (https://woodsonrowing.org/board-of-directors/), there will be several roles available next year due to term limitations and graduating athletes! If you are at all interested in any of these roles, please contact the current committee member (just search the role on Slack and the current member’s name will pop up). All would love a “shadow” to help learn the ropes so that there can be a smooth transfer of information throughout the season! Roles that we already know will be available next year (with others potentially arising) are:

        EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

        • Treasurer
        • Secretary
        • Senior VP (non-voting, has interest in potentially becoming the Board President in 2 years)

        COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

        • Membership
        • Fundraising
        • Sportswear/Uniforms
        • Booster Liaison

        KEY SUPPORT ROLES:

        • Craft Show Coordinator (shadow needed ASAP for this role. This person would start right away shadowing Gail Lee, who has several years of experience with one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. The Craft Show takes place at Woodson in early November.)
        • RAFT Coordinator
        • Restaurant Night Coordinator

        7. NEW SPIRIT WEAR AVAILABLE

        We have a limited number of 2025 sponsor t-shirts and tank tops available to purchase for $20 a piece! Check out these options and more on our website at Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear! Share the website and links with family members so that they can also sport their support near or far!

        8. *SAVE THE DATE* SENIOR NIGHT – FRI., APRIL 25, 7p
        It seems so early to be talking about how our very large group of seniors (16!!!) will be moving on from the team next year! Plans are clearly in the very early stages, but parents of seniors – mark your calendars now! Senior night will take place at the team dinner on Fri., April 25 at 7p.

        9. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

        This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

        Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
        Winter Conditioning (October through February)
        On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
        2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

        Important dates: 

        MARCH:

        • Sat, 3/15: VASRA Work Day #4, 8a-noon or 1-4p, Sandy Run
        • Fri, 3/21: Noodles & Co. Restaurant Fundraiser AND parent social
        • Sat, 3/22: Polar Bear Regatta (Varsity Only), Sandy Run
        • Sat, 3/29: Noxontown Regatta, St. Andrew’s, Middletown, DE

        APRIL

        MAY

        WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

        RECRUITMENT:

        Direct interested athletes and their parents to our interest form or have them send an email to our membership team at: [email protected].

        STAY UP TO DATE: Join the newsletter by sending an email to [email protected] or view the newsletter archives on our website.

        INTERESTED IN SPONSORING WOODSON ROWING?

        Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

        Can’t sponsor but want to donate?Check out our Donors page for instructions and information on how your donations benefit our team!

        NEED SWAG?

        There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!

        VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

        FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

        Posted on

        March 6, 2025 Newsletter

        On-the-water is in full swing!! With regatta season upon us, your newsletters will begin coming out TWICE per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) beginning March 18. Generally, Tuesday newsletters will be full of “things to do” while Thursday newsletters will be more regatta focused. If there are other people in your family that need to be added to the newsletter list, please make sure to send an email to [email protected] to be added to the newsletter list. In the alternative, you can always view our newsletter archives on our website.

        1. *TODAY* SPRING PICTURES FOR ATHLETES!!
        2. LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING, CHECK YOUR EMAIL BEFORE MARCH 8
        3. ALLERGIES FORM DUE MARCH 12
        4. WEATHER NOTES, FROM YOUR COACHES
        5. REGISTRATION & NOVICE REFUND POLICY
        6. VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
        7. GET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR BEFORE THE FIRST REGATTA
        8. ENSURE YOUR SLACK APP IS UPDATED
        9. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
        WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

        1. *TODAY* SPRING PICTURES FOR ATHLETES!!
        All athletes should report to the Main Gym at 3:05p to have your pictures taken for the yearbook. Your team shirts will be handed out at that time. Once in the gym, all girls should head to Photographer 1, boys to Photographer 2. Seniors should have a separate senior headshot taken with photograph 3. SENIORS: please make sure you take TWO photos before you leave!

        Carpools should be staged in front of the school (by the big rock is a good place to meet) so that athletes can hustle to the water as soon as photos are finished.

        2. LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING, CHECK YOUR EMAIL BEFORE MARCH 8
        If you have already signed up for the launch boat training, you should have received an email  with an attachment and video to review prior to attending the training. 3 spots still remain, however! If you are interested in participating, all parents/guardians are welcome to learn from our very own Coach Joe! Sign up to attend training right after our Saturday practice, here: Launch Boat Driver Training.

        If you have already completed launch boat driver training in a previous season and are willing to be a driver again this year, please join the #launch-boat-drivers channel on Slack.

        3. ALLERGIES FORM DUE MARCH 12
        To ensure everyone can safely enjoy our Friday Night Team Dinners and snacks at regattas, we need to know about any food allergies, intolerances, or religious dietary restrictions. If your athlete has any dietary needs, please take a moment to fill out our Dietary Restrictions & Allergies Form.

        Your input helps us plan meals that accommodate everyone. Please complete the form by March 12 so we can make the necessary arrangements. Thank you for your help in keeping our team dinners safe and inclusive! Please contact Gloria Totten, Team Dinners Coordinator, via Slack with any questions.

        4. WEATHER NOTES, FROM THE COACHES
        While weather forecasts have gotten quite good, they generally do not have the level of granularity to tell us exactly what is going to occur at the exact location we are rowing, especially with regards to thunderstorms. If there is a high level of uncertainty in the forecast, generally the team still goes down to the boathouse so that the weather conditions can be evaluated real-time. Options can be delayed launching and/or stay on shore and work out on land. In rare instances, practice will be canceled ahead of time. Weather certainly is unpredictable for any outdoor sport, but know that our coaches are diligent in balancing athlete safety as well as the need to have consistency in training! If there is impending weather, decisions will be made as soon as possible and disseminated via Slack, social media, and, if needed, announced over the PA system at school. Thank you, as always, for your flexibility!

        5. REGISTRATION & NOVICE REFUND POLICY
        All the information you need to know is located on our registration website: https://woodsonrowing.org/registration/.

        Novice athletes are granted 2 weeks on the water to fully commit to Woodson Rowing. As a result, any first time athlete must submit a written withdrawal to Woodson Rowing Membership by this Friday, March 7, 2025 to receive a refund of all fees minus a credit card fee.

        Still have questions? Reach out to Catherine, Membership Chair, via Slack or at [email protected].

        6. VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
        Each family is required to do 5 volunteer shifts/credits, one of which should be a VASRA task. Athletes are also expected to volunteer (3 credits for novice athletes, 5 for returning athletes). Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering, sign up to participate or just keep up with the current volunteering opportunities, visit our website: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

        7. GET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR BEFORE THE FIRST REGATTA
        Sport your support AND help the team financially (portions of all proceeds are donated back to the team) with Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear!

        8. ENSURE YOUR SLACK APP IS UPDATED
        Beginning March 15th, 2025, Slack will be ending support for older app and browser versions. As a result, users will need to ensure they are using the most updated version of Slack. Click here for information on how to update your app: Slack Update.

        In addition, some operating systems (OS) will no longer be supported. Users on an unsupported OS will still be able to access Slack if they’re using a supported app version, but they won’t receive future updates. For the best experience, it is recommended that you update the following OS as soon as possible: Redhat 8, Windows 10 Version 21H2 and Android 10.

        Questions? Contact Slack help at [email protected]

        9. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
        This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

        Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
        Winter Conditioning (October through February)
        On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
        2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

        Important dates: 

        MARCH:

        APRIL

        MAY

        WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

        RECRUITMENT:

        Direct interested athletes and their parents to our interest form or have them send an email to our membership team at: [email protected].

        STAY UP TO DATE: Join the newsletter by sending an email to [email protected] or view the newsletter archives on our website.

        INTERESTED IN SPONSORING WOODSON ROWING?

        Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

        Can’t sponsor but want to donate?Check out our Donors page for instructions and information on how your donations benefit our team!

        NEED SWAG?

        There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!

        VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

        FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA