Sometimes Woodgrove can seem like another dimension. The bell rings and you leave to go on with life. However the Woodgrove community is real and its teachers and staff are thoughtful and supportive people outside our everyday routines. Teachers here at Woodgrove work diligently, not only at school but in their hobbies, such as firefighting, horse racing, and playing hockey.
Woodgrove Math Teacher, Mr. Thomas Aquino, works with the school’s marching band and plays for a rec league hockey team outside of school. He explains, “I play ice hockey in my free time. I started playing around 2018 and Mr. Keener, when he was assistant principal, was the one who helped me get started. I play in adult leagues in a couple of different locations, in Hagerstown and Frederick. I try to play when I can, usually on the weekends.” Sports outside of usual working hours play a big role in maintaining motivation in different areas of life. Aquino states, “It’s my decompression time. I would say my working mindset from work influences hockey more than the other way around. That’s really more just to have fun and just have a little bit of competitiveness, because I don’t get to do that here. When I say they’re really opposite ends of the spectrum, they really are. How I handle hockey is not how I handle my work. Because again, it’s not a job. It’s really just for fun” Hobbies as simple as sports can also help give back to our community, Mr. Aquino travels to play hockey in tournaments around the country and fundraising for different charities “it’s more than just a hobby. It’s an opportunity to give back when possible.”
Wildlife photography is an alluring hobby, one which requires long drives and loads of patience. English Teacher and part-time wildlife photographer, Mr. Thomas Clawson, states, ”I do a lot of nature and wildlife photography. In my off time, in the summer, I have a cabin in Wyoming. We drive and it’s a three day trip right after school gets out and we’ll stay there for two months. It takes a lot of patience, especially with wildlife photography. You’ve got to wait sometimes hours before you get a good shot. “It’s that hard.”
As a time consuming hobby, one may wonder how someone manages their time here with school and wildlife photography. Clawson continues, “It works out really well, because we have Christmas break, spring break, and summer vacation, so that works out really well.”
In addition to hockey and wildlife photography, firefighting is a common commitment around Woodgrove. Multiple students volunteer and spend countless hours helping those in need. Social Science Teacher, Mr. Alex Bennett has worked for Leesburg’s fire department as a volunteer firefighter for fourteen years, and essentially works two jobs during the school year. Mr. Bennett states, “I’ll work 54 hours a month at the station plus, my regular job. I’ll work every six days, so about 24 hours in a week I’m at the station. Every six days, and then I’m on my teaching job, plus I’m a dad, plus I like to do other hobbies like tennis or electronic stuff. It takes up a lot of time and you’ve got to be on top of your regular job and you have to be on top of your volunteer job, so it can be extremely stressful to do both.” Hobbies like firefighting both keep workers fulfilled and keep us and our loved ones safe, Mr. Bennett continues, “I’m very thankful that I can do it. As long as I can do that, then I will. My message would be just to help your community. Try to volunteer, because there’s always somebody looking for help. Like there’s an old Mr. Rogers quote. Bad things happen, watch the good people come in. As long as I can do that, then I’ll do it. Because not everybody’s like me. Not everybody can handle it. Not everybody.”
