The Willow High School

Save the date for the upcoming PTSA Coffees for Willow Parents/Guardians! Stop by for a cup of coffee and conversation with campus leadership. Hope to see you then!

Historic New Orleans Collection Curator of Education Collin Makamson recently visited the Brimmer library. Makamson is doing research on Louisianans who volunteered to fight against Franco's fascist forces in Spain during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). One of the seven individuals from Louisiana who served and sadly was killed in action during the war was Jean Pierre Rouen, a Alcee Fortier High School student who grew up on Soniat Street and then Robert Street. Records indicate that Rouen attended Fortier in the 1930s, but unfortunately his photo and name don't appear in any of the yearbook archives currently stored in the Brimmer library.

During his visit, Makamson also shared photos of a famous Fortier alum-- John Kennedy Toole, author of the quintessential New Orleans novel (and 1981 Pulitzer Prize winner), Confederacy of Dunces. "Ken Toole" appears in the 1953-54 Fortier (Tarpon) yearbook and the school newspaper, Silver and Blue. Makamson also found a photo of the library in the 1953-54 yearbook-- and it looks very similar to our library today!

Photos: The Fortier library as it appeared in 1953-54; Makamson goes through Fortier school newspapers from the 1930s; John Kennedy Toole as he appears in the Fortier yearbook and school newspaper, 1953-54.

The Louisiana Center for College Access (LCCA) in partnership with Advantage Testing, offers weekly standardized test prep courses.
Registration here: https://admission.tulane.edu/lcca/virtual-services

Friday's CA Connect was a great success! Our 8th graders were fully engaged throughout the morning, moving through four arts rotation sessions that gave them a hands-on look at the Certificate of Artistry (CA) pathways.

Each group experienced sessions in Dance/Stagecraft, Media & Visual Arts, Instrumental Music, and Vocal Performance/Theatre, meeting our CA teachers and learning about the audition and interview process. The students asked thoughtful questions, showed real curiosity, and many left excited to take the next step toward their chosen CA area. The day ran smoothly thanks to the collaboration of our faculty, support from administration, and the enthusiasm of our students. 

Willow Certifcate of Artistry Creative Writing Level II students Laila Nugdalla and David Taylor participated in Tulane University’s Newcomb Institute's 2025 Arons Visiting Poet Workshop with poet Patricia Smith over fall break.

Henry joined Willow High School's CAVA I, CAVA II, Foundations, and 2D Visual Art classes where students drew or painted Henry. The students enjoyed his company during a hectic exam week!

Another amazing performance by the Willow High School Sea Lions Swim Team this past weekend! They splashed the competition one stroke at a time - way to go!

Congratulations to the following Willow High School singers who excelled in their performances at State Rally on April 12, 2025. 10 of the performances earned the top rating of Superior! The judge praised our students' strong musicianship, mastery of technique, and mature levels of expression. Larissa Huilgol; Marbella Maristany; Lillian Garnand; Ariana Uschold; Kevin Doucette; Drago Han; James Andrews; Henry Perrine ; Lillian Garnand, Kelly Laines, & Aubry Snipes - SSA trio; Ariana Uschold, Kelly Laines, & Aubry Snipes - SSA trio; Larissa Huilgol, Marbella Maristany, Henry Perrine, & Nikolai Huilgol - SATB quartet

We are a third of the way to our goal in this year's GiveNOLA Day campaign!!! Please help to get us there! Individuals can make online donations--the minimum amount is just $10. The link to Willow's GiveNOLA page is: https://www.givenola.org/organization/Willow Please share the link with family and friends.Thank you for your support!

Please consider a gift of any size to the Willow School during today's GiveNOLA Day campaign. Every dollar raised today will help support our unique programs in academics, the arts and athletics. Individuals can make online donations--the minimum amount is just $10. The link to Willow's GiveNOLA page is: https://www.givenola.org/organization/Willow Please share the link with family and friends. Thank you!

Willow 11th grader Olivier Limjuco participated in the Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge with competing schools for up to $15,000 in scholarships and school funding! He pitched slideDown - a screen-time Tamagotchi app - to a panel of judges and placed as a semi-finalist. Well done, Olivier!

Join us today, Wednesday, April 23, from 4-9pm at Raising Cane’s on Claiborne Avenue for a school fundraiser. When you dine during this time, 15% of the proceeds will go directly to support The Willow School – just mention The Willow School while ordering! So skip the cooking, grab some crispy chicken fingers, and help us raise funds for our school. Event Details: 📅 Date: Wednesday, April 23rd 🕓 Time: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM 📍 Location: Raising Cane’s – Claiborne Avenue 🍗 Support: 15% of the profit from each sale will benefit The Willow School We hope to see you there — thank you for supporting our amazing school community!

The Willow School Dance Department presents The Spring Dance Concert! Performances are at 7:00pm on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 at Ursuline Academy's auditorium. Tickets are $10 each and are available NOW for purchase on GoFan. Friday - https://gofan.co/event/3569994?schoolId=LA69643 Saturday - https://gofan.co/event/3570047?schoolId=LA69643

Local poets Skye Jackson and Brad Richard visited the Willow High School library recently to share their work with students in honor of National Poetry Month. Both poets eagerly answered student questions and offered writing craft advice. Local poets Laura Mullen, Andy Young, and Adam Clay will be visiting later this month. Thanks to Dr. Allison Campbell for scheduling these special poetry events!

Don't forget! Willow's next Blood Drive is at our High School campus TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 9. Walk-ins welcome, but appointments are preferred. ALL DONORS RECEIVE a t-shirt and entry into RAFFLE to WIN (2) Pelicans Home Game Tickets

Congratulations to Cody Brown, Liam Clancey and Lillian Haysley, who performed in ACDA's (American Choral Directors Association) National Honor Choirs in March. Cody and Liam sang with the Grades 7-10 TTBB Honor Choir, and Lily sang with the Grades 8-10 SSAA Honor Choir. They rehearsed for four days with the other top choral singers from across the United States. Their culminating concert performances took place in the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, TX. They sang impeccably musical programs entirely from memory in front of their families and thousands of choral directors.

Our next Certificate of Artistry Visual Arts senior show in the CAVE Gallery, room 407, is open for viewing featuring paintings of childhood memories by A. Broussard, solar abstractions by I. Roberts, and mixed media pieces by C.Vu. The show is open today through Monday the 7th. There will be a reception with snacks after school on Monday the 7th.

Save the date! Willow's next Blood Drive is at our High School campus on Wednesday, April 9. Walk-ins welcome, but appointments are preferred. ALL DONORS RECEIVE a t-shirt and entry into RAFFLE to WIN (2) Pelicans Home Game Tickets

In the CAVE Gallery, room 407, Willow High School's next CAVA senior show is up featuring an apocalyptic installation by B. Bourgeois and fantastical creatures and worlds by N. Zanders. The show is open today through Thursday, with a reception after school on Wednesday.

Hope to see you at the PTSA High School Parent/Guardian coffee tomorrow morning (Thursday, March 20) at 8am in the library. The jazz band will be performing for us!