Student Life at Woodberry Forest School • November 2015 The Woodberry Cup The Woodberry Cup is a new tradition that challenges teams of both students and faculty to a year of competition in athletics, academics, arts, and service. The winning team claims the cup.
Creating Art and Literature boys publish magazine and compete in writing contest
“When you hold that magazine in your hands, fresh out of the box,” says David Willis ’16, “it’s the most tactile feeling of accomplishment you can have.” David is co-editor-in-chief of Woodberry’s literary arts magazine, The Talon, an award-winning student publication that comes out twice each year. “Anyone can get involved,” adds Rob Prater ’16, co-editor-in-chief. “All you have to do is submit your best work and gain the editors’ interest. Anyone can join a review board and decide which work we accept. And some review board members eventually join the editorial board.” This year, Woodberry outfitted a classroom for The Talon. It has a conference table and four iMac computers where editors design the magazine. “Even though it takes long hours of commitment and determination,” Rob says, “I love creating The Talon.” Woodberry boys can also showcase their literary skills when they go to the University of Virginia’s Fralin Museum of Art to participate in the Writer’s Eye competition. As they do each fall, Dr. Karen Broaddus and Mr. Marc Hogan took their third-form English students to Charlottesville this October for a quick walking tour of the University’s Grounds and a guided visit through its museum. The boys then chose a work of art to inspire an original piece of poetry or prose. Among the works available to contest participants is a section of the Berlin Wall, painted on its western side with murals by a German graffiti artist. Forty boys made the trip and submitted pieces of writing, each hoping to earn the admiration of the contest’s judges and to join the many past Tigers whose work has been recognized or published in the Writer’s Eye anthology.
Which of Woodberry’s eight teams will be the first to have its name inscribed on the Woodberry Cup? This month, teams chose names that reflect Woodberry history. The Eighty-Niners are named for the year Woodberry became a school, while Walker’s Rangers pay tribute to school founder Captain Robert S. Walker, who rode with Mosby’s Rangers. Other team names honor legendary school personalities and places. Following an afternoon of handball and human chess contests and a pass, punt, and kick competition the standings are: 1. Moubray's Mustangs 2. Glover's Grizzlies 3. Red's Raiders 4. Campbell Crazies 5. Walker's Rangers 6. Rapidan Regiment 7. Madison Generals 8. Eighty-Niners
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Human chess
from the headmaster
“Woodberry Forest School is committed to offering boys what they need for the future — a challenging academic program, extensive athletic options, and a wide variety of social and cultural opportunities in a warm and welcoming community.” byron hulsey ’86 Woodberry Forest School Tiger Tales • november 2015 • 1
Tradition Burns Bright woodberry prepares for the 115th game
For generations, Woodberry boys have loved the exciting traditions surrounding the weekend of The Game — the annual football battle between the Tigers and the Maroon from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. The oldest continuous high school rivalry in the South, it’s brought together these teams — and thousands of spirited fans — every November for 115 years.
Faculty feature
Lisa Wright When a boy who is interested in music, theater, or visual arts visits Woodberry Forest, he’s sure to meet Lisa Wright, arts liaison to the admissions office. Director of the school’s strings program since 2010, an accomplished cellist, and an expert teacher, she is always eager to meet talented young artists. Lisa graduated from the Eastman School of Music and has taught and played in New York City. Aside from her work at Woodberry, she also serves on the faculty at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and maintains a private studio in Charlottesville. She performs with several regional symphonies and is a founding member of The Bloom Trio, a chamber music group. Describe your typical Woodberry day. I teach Beginning Strings (a class I started), String Ensemble, and Introduction to Music — all classes that meet daily. I also teach private lessons, and I always strive to offer my students as much individual attention as possible. What has surprised you most about Woodberry's string students? I’m always excited by how quickly they improve. Daily rehearsals and quick learners make for an ensemble that improves by leaps and bounds during the school year. What is your role in the admissions office? I help identify prospective students who are interested in the arts. When those boys visit campus, I introduce them to our thriving arts program and the truly amazing faculty members who will give them experiences they’ll treasure for the rest of their lives. What is your favorite part of your job? Nothing makes me happier than coming off stage and seeing the excited looks on my students’ faces after they just played something well that they could barely manage weeks before. I also love working with students individually in private lessons and teaching them how to practice their music efficiently and accurately.
2 • november 2015 • Tiger Tales
The first game was played in 1895, but it took place on the baseball diamond. When Charles Talbott, a member of Episcopal’s team, was knocked unconscious by a blazing fastball hurled by Woodberry pitcher Phil Steptoe, he suffered a concussion and left school. The following fall, he enrolled at Woodberry and promptly challenged his old school to a baseball rematch. The challenge was accepted, and the game was played May 6, 1896. Woodberry won, 9–4, and Episcopal vowed revenge. In 1901 the competition moved to the gridiron, where the Tigers suffered a humiliating 54–0 defeat at the hands of the Maroon. The Tigers promptly demanded a chance for redemption, and a rivalry was born.
South African Peacemaker Visits the Forest Wilhelm Verwoerd shares his story
Dr. Wilhelm Verwoerd grew up in an all-white community in South Africa at the height of Apartheid believing that blacks were inferior to whites. The story of his transformation into an international peacemaker made him a fascinating guest speaker for Woodberry students during a special worship service in St. Andrew’s Chapel. Dr. Verwoerd, the grandson of South Africa’s prime minster when Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, said he hadn’t realized how difficult life was for most of his countrymen. His views changed when he left home to study in Holland and shared a room with some black South Africans. Eventually, he even met Nelson Mandela and offered an apology on behalf of his family and country. Since then, he’s worked for peace with leaders in divided countries like Northern Ireland, Israel/Palestine, and South Africa. “What does my story mean to you?” he asked the students, encouraging them to open their minds to those with whom they struggle. “Find ways to reach out,” he told them, “and turn toward one another.” Many boys talked with the distinguished visitor during class or at lunchtime the following day.
Woodberry Forest School
A game this important demands an incredible pep rally. At Woodberry, this takes the form of a bonfire, a tradition started around 1915, when students welcomed returning victorious teams by lining the school’s entranceway, holding lighted torches and cheering. Eventually, the torchlight parade became a bonfire the night before the game. Boys scavenged the campus for wood and built the torches they would use to light the bonfire and cheer for the Tigers in its flickering light. Today’s students dress in wild orange-and-black costumes and dash across a dark field, carrying torches the new boys make earlier in the week and yelling at the top of their lungs. After they toss their torches atop a thirty-foot-high wooden pyre to set it ablaze, the students, led by the cheerleaders, erupt in raucous cheers. They are joined by hundreds of parents, alumni, faculty, and friends. The next day, when the game is at Episcopal, as it is this year, the entire student body travels by bus to Alexandria — guaranteeing the stands are filled with Tiger fans, and another generation of Woodberry boys participates in this cherished tradition.
Fourth-Form Expedition Sophomores enjoy three-day camping adventure
When they boarded charter buses early one October morning, Woodberry’s fourth formers may not have been sure what to expect from the next three days. The sophomores had packed their duffels with fleeces, bug repellent, sunscreen, and rain jackets for an outdoor expedition with their classmates. Left behind were cell phones, video games, homework, and the comforts of dorm life. First on the agenda, expert guides at Wilderness Adventures at Eagle Landing in western Virginia formed boys into groups of a dozen. Everyone packed food, tents, sleeping bags, water, and more into backpacks they’d carry throughout the trek. And then they headed into the woods. During the day, boys enjoyed sites around the base camp property or in neighboring Jefferson National Forest. Groups took day hikes to a peak with 360-degree views, whizzed down a mountainside dangling from a zipline, climbed a rocky outcropping at Blue Springs, canoed on Craig Creek, ventured deep into a cave, and tried high ropes course challenges. Evenings meant pitching tents, building campfires, and mastering back-country cooking skills. While some of the activities were familiar to the boys — most had climbed at Woodberry’s ropes course, for example — others put a new spin on an old skill. “I had never climbed a natural rock wall before,” says Trip Hurley ’18. “It’s a whole different world compared to artificial climbing walls.” Trip was also surprised by how less-than-comfortable situations outside of school routines meant forming close bonds with classmates he hadn’t known well. Camaraderie and personal growth have always been the chief goals of the expedition, which fourth formers have been enjoying for over ten years. “If you open your mind and challenge yourself,” Nolan LaVoie, Woodberry’s outdoor education director, advises the boys predeparture, “you’ll have a great time.”
student spotlight
Terrell Jana ’17 Terrell Jana came to Woodberry this fall from Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, as a new boy fifth former (junior). He’s wasted no time getting to know people and involving himself in school life. Terrell plays defensive back and wide receiver on the varsity football team, is a member of the Gay Straight Alliance Discussion Group, and enjoys watching his new friends on the playing field or on stage. He hopes to attend college on a football scholarship and study cosmology and physics. How did you choose Woodberry Forest? I initially heard about the school from a current student who knows I am interested in playing football. After coming on a visit and meeting the students and faculty, I decided it was for me. I could see the brotherhood the boys feel for each other and the genuine care the teachers have for each and every student. What has surprised you most so far? Living with the honor system is a whole new experience. The respect and consideration that the students have for each other is incredible. It is truly amazing how the students enforce the honor system themselves. What do you think of your teachers? They are so willing to take time out of their day to help us. They really motivate me to do the best I can. Describe a memorable moment on the football field. Every team is happy when it wins games. The times I remember most are when we lose and all my teammates are there for each other. There is never any finger pointing — everyone puts the blame on themselves. I feel honored to be a Tiger. What advice would you give to a boy who’s considering Woodberry? I would tell him that at Woodberry everyone can be who they are without ridicule. I would also tell him that managing his time can be a challenge, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Woodberry Forest School Tiger Tales • november 2015 • 3
Presorted First Class U.S. Postage PAID Orange, VA Permit No. 97
Woodberry Forest School Office of Admissions 898 Woodberry Forest Road Woodberry Forest, VA 22989-9989
November 2015 Tiger Tales
First-round application deadline: January 15 What step are you on?
Upcoming SSAT dates
Tour campus and interview
November 14
Spend the night (optional)
December 12
Take the SSATs (and TOEFL if international) Submit the application with recommendations and transcripts before Jan 15
January 9
Visiting the Forest
Washington D.C.
Woodberry Forest School Charlottesville Richmond
campus snapshots
WOODBERRY.ORG | wfs.admissions@woodberry.org | 888-798-9371 facebook.com/woodberryforestschool | instagram.com/woodberryforestschool | twitter.com/WoodberryForest
Woodberry Forest admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, and national or ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other schooladministered programs. This school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.