March 2025 Newsletter
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Freeski team on a very foggy day
March Madness is not just for college basketball. The schedule of Wy'East Academy is eclectic at the best of times, but in an effort to maximize opportunities and diminish risks, the month of March is packed on every front. The residential team gets creative with indoor activities like Thorns and Winterhawk games and indoor go karting. Our academics team administers our second annual SAT & PSAT exams to help the students prepare for that next step in life. Our athletic programs were busy competing at all levels. Podium performances continue to pile up from the local to the international level. We are preparing for our upcoming graduation ceremony, where we will see another batch of amazing young student athletes transition into the next phase of life. Let’s finish the semester strong!
Mike Hanley
ACADEMICS
Students enjoying nice weather and studying outside
Academic excellence is in full spring! As we move further into the semester, our students continue to demonstrate their hard work on the academic front. From great overall GPAs to engaging and often silly class discussions, it's inspiring to see their hard work pay off. A special shoutout to everyone heading to Nationals these next coming weeks. Keep striving for success, and remember, teachers, coaches, residential staff, administrators, and our grounds crew are always here to support you. Let's finish this year strong!
STUDENT LIFE
Snowboarders volunteering with local SnowDays Foundation
March was an action packed month, as always! Despite some stir crazy March Madness feelings, we attended some really fun weekend activities. K1 speed is always a hit, and the students love racing the course for the fastest times. Despite their efforts, it seems they can’t seem to beat our residential staff. We also had the chance to check out that new witty dystopian space film, Mickey 17, and also celebrated International Women’s Day in style at the nail salon. We have the strongest and most confident group of 14 female athletes at Wy’East this year.
Professional hockey and soccer games have also been on the docket, and the Winterhawks and Thorns teams never disappoint.
Wy’East has revived a partnership with the local SnowDays Foundation, and our students have been able to try their hand at volunteer coaching for high school and middle school students from both Hacienda CDC and IRCO’s Upward Bound program. We are excited to continue these volunteer efforts in the future years to come to support more kids on boards!
CULINARY
We have exciting news this month! We have hired a new employee, Max, and he will be working in the mornings for the department. He has already made an impact on the students, bringing great experience and different ideas to the table. He has taken the time to create fake bacon and seitan for our vegan students. Once he gets more into the routine, he will have a big impact on the lives of the students. In the evenings, Kellen has been doing a great job of creating great meals that the students love. This past week, he made the students’ favorite: Traeger smoked ribs, mac n’ cheese, and baked beans. He continues to keep the students on their toes on what he prepares.
This month we started another new addition to the cafe: a miso bar. It is nice to see the students hyped on it. It is also nice to have another item in the café that is hot and ready to go. As we enter the last month of winter term, we will be pushing hard to create new items for the student body as well as get ready for graduation in May.
ATHLETICS
Our theme for March is “victory comes from finding opportunities in problems”. This philosophy is at the heart of our academy. When faced with a problem, you have two choices: focus on the problem and why you can’t do something or focus on the things that you can control.
Some of the things we can control are:
Every student competes twice to make sure that every student at every level gains confidence when competing.
Resilience from living in the elements of the Pacific Northwest. Whether it's rainy, snowy or windy, we show up to train and compete every day.
7AM morning warm ups Monday - Friday. Showing up every morning to stretch, move our muscles, and build a baseline strength allows us to keep students strong, prevent injury, and maximize time in athletics.
Keeping on pace with academics while maintaining heavy athletic travel schedules.
We are very proud of all our students for showing up on time and working hard through this winter semester. We look forward to an even stronger finish to the school year, because it's not necessarily how you start, but how you finish that defines you.
FREESKI TEAM
Smiles and podiums on the Rev Tour!
Our freeski program is finding victories at every level this year.
FOCUS OF THE WEEK
Week 1: Practicing multiple run options and learning to utilize these at the right time for tactical success.
Week 2: Routinely train at a level beyond the level of planned competitions runs.
Week 3: Week of rest on campus to get caught up and ahead in academics.
Week 4: Reflection and emphasis on progression and trick acquisition.
HIGHLIGHTS
Calgary Nor Am
Anders Chapman - Bronze
Mammoth Nor Am
Anders Chapman - Silver
Great snow, great travels, great training for the whole team!
MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM
Mountain Bike Team enjoying the sights in Utah
This team continues to inspire the leadership team at the academy with its accountability, drive, and performance.
FOCUS OF THE WEEK
Week 1: Mt. Hood athletic club for some physical fitness, sauna recovery. Ran video review of Crankworx slopestyle events and talked about technical and tactical strategies.
Week 2: Trip to Salem and Euguene to get off campus and train on some different venues. Backyard digging and construction projects.
Week 3: Trip to Virgin, Utah for some big line riding and run choices, jump digging and construction, along with being a versatile rider on any terrain.
Week 4: Trip to Virgin, Utah for some big line riding and run choices, jump digging and construction, along with being a versatile rider on any terrain.
HIGHLIGHTS
The Virgin trip has been an insane opportunity for the students and they have been working hard!
SKATE TEAM
Skate team enjoying the sights of Phoenix, AZ
The skate team continues to innovate with how they tackle their time on campus during the winter semester. Students have the opportunity to join in with the snowboard and ski teams. It has been epic to watch their quick progression. They have also been taking advantage of the new local Sandy skatepark on nice days and will make their way down into Portland or the surrounding areas as well.
FOCUS OF THE WEEK
Week 1: Digital line contest along with mock competition scenarios. Built moveable skate feature to utilize in BOB.
Week 2: Seek contest along with debrief of digital line and Seek comp.
Week 3: Phoenix Am, compete and form connections in the skate community.
Week 4: Phoenix Am debrief and academic prep for New York trip coming up.
HIGHLIGHTS
Jimmy created Question skateboards which officially arrived at the beginning of this month. Cam competed in the Tempe Am, making him the first current student to do so. Cooper continues to lead by example with being such a well mannered and encouraging teammate. TJ has been the most improved since joining the winter semester. Sam is crushing it at the local Seek contests. Lila has some of the most grit and she continues to progress at a rapid rate as well. Robin always has a smile ear to ear when he is on a skateboard. He came in with a win at one of the mock events that happened this month.
SNOWBOARD TEAM
Snowboard team enjoying the sun in Copper, CO
This is a tight team that celebrates the progression of one another. The snowboard team is working its way up through competition with more practice under its belt.
FOCUS OF THE WEEK
Week 1: Multiple run options and utilizing these at the right time for tactical success.
Week 2: Routinely train at a level beyond the level of planned competitions runs.
Week 3: Emphasis on robustness and competitive mental skillset.
Week 4: Express yourself through competitive snowboarding, USASA Nationals.
HIGHLIGHTS
USASA Pipe 1 and 2
Lyric Hanseder - Gold and Gold
Elliot Hellem - Gold and Gold
Ella Grady - Silver and Silver
Estelle Clark - Gold and Silver
It has been a great month with tons of snow and epic training days for everyone!
