Woodberry forest school What boys need for their future
A Woodberry education is a time-tested approach to an academically rigorous education for boys.
At Woodberry Forest School, we blend an unwavering commitment to intellectual thoroughness and moral integrity with the latest knowledge about how boys mature intellectually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. s i n c e o u r fo u n d i n g in 1889, thousands of families have trusted Woodberry with their boys. We’ve honored that trust with our own commitment to offer boys what they need for their future. At Woodberry, every boy is known, challenged, and loved. Our students come from across the country and around the world, gaining what they need to be prepared for the future. In a real sense, they help to bring the world to Woodberry. Central to Woodberry Forest is the boarding experience. Our residential character extends far beyond the extraordinary facilities on our stunning, 1,200-acre campus. It influences every aspect of life here, fostering common experiences in our dorms, on our athletic fields, and during whole-campus meals and weekly chapel services. Our exceptionally devoted teachers live with their families on campus, where they can participate fully in the life of the school — and the lives of the boys. Woodberry is committed to single-sex education. Free from the distractions of a coeducational setting, a Woodberry boy
gains the confidence to attempt new things — sports, artistic endeavors, a school play. He doesn’t see himself as girls see him. Instead, he learns to see the man he is becoming. But nothing embodies Woodberry quite like our student-written honor system, which prohibits lying, cheating, or stealing. Established in 1899, the honor system upholds Woodberry as a community of trust in which everyone is safe, supported, and treated with respect. It’s truly a place like no other. As a Woodberry graduate, I can attest that this school’s alumni are among the most supportive and deeply involved independent school graduates in the country. They are dedicated to seeing Woodberry Forest thrive. And, as our boys move on to college and beyond, a built-in network of Woodberry men is ready and waiting to lend them a hand. We encourage you to come to campus so you can experience Woodberry for yourself. Give us a call soon to schedule your visit. We guarantee that you will receive a warm welcome. Best regards,
Byron C. Hulsey ’86 Headmaster
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Woodberry launches a boy on his lifelong journey. It is a journey of accomplishment and integrity, of service and leadership — of discovering strengths in himself that he never knew he had. Through this journey, a boy learns to live as a man of honor. PICTURED On the opening day of school, new boys are officially welcomed to Woodberry Forest School in the Walker Building, the heart of our campus.
a n e du c at i o n e x p r e s s ly f o r B oys The Woodberry classroom is about eye contact and well-formed arguments. It’s about relevant ideas rather than the repetition of facts, about being able to examine complex issues, form sound thoughts, and defend those thoughts skillfully. Research on boys’ education informs what happens in the classroom. Faculty members design lessons that are engaging, active, and participatory. Boys speak up, move around, and get their hands dirty. “It’s taken for granted that you understand the material,” explains one sixthform (senior) student. “In class, you’re expected to elaborate and take the next step with the information.” With an average class size of ten students, each boy is fully involved. He is asked to do more than he expected, perhaps more than he thinks he can do. But the results are beyond what he could ever imagine.
senior distinction During his final marking period as a senior, each Woodberry student can pursue a passion by designing and creating a unique capstone project that he presents to the school community.
The class size is small. You can’t hide behind someone else. If you didn’t do your reading, it takes the teacher thirty seconds to notice.” a 6
sixth-form (senior) student
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They see us as more than teachers. We are all in this together. If I meet a bunch of guys in their dorm at 10 p.m. to help them with a project, that tells them something.� A science teacher and adviser
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A residential community Nearly every member of the Woodberry teaching faculty lives on campus, fully participating in community life, and many serve in the dorms. “We see the boys in all aspects of their life on campus,” one teacher says. “You have conversations you don’t normally have in the classroom. That’s what makes the bond between students and the faculty members so strong.”
THE CLASSROOM AND B EYOND Classes at Woodberry last forty-five minutes for younger students and ninety minutes for older boys. This varied schedule is developmentally appropriate for boys as they mature. Teachers are available long after classes end for the day to answer homework questions or offer advice — even to enjoy a post-study milkshake in the Fir Tree snack bar. Every Woodberry teacher is a long-term adviser for up to ten students, helping boys with challenges and giving them the best chance to succeed. All teachers are involved in extracurricular activities across campus. As a result, every student knows his teachers as mentors, coaches, trusted advisers, and role models. “Every student has a close relationship with more than one teacher here,” says a fourth-form student. “They are here to see you succeed. I have teachers I can go to for anything in the world — they will listen and understand me.”
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Every boy at Woodberry becomes part of a community of living and learning. Everyone is welcomed in; everyone strives together to live a life of excellence and honor. PICTURED Woodberry boys wear coats and ties for certain special events on and off campus.
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waiting tables
Woodberry students take turns serving as waiters during seated meals. In addition to learning how to set a table properly, they gain valuable lessons in personal service and common courtesy. “After working as a waiter,” one teacher says, “I’ll bet the average Woodberry alumnus is a very good tipper.”
G RO W IN G TO G ETHER The boarding environment is essential to Woodberry life. All students live full-time on campus — with busy academic schedules, athletic activities, and chapel service every Monday evening. The entire campus comes together for seated meals, complete with linen table cloths, food served family style, and ample helpings of spirited conversation. The result is a common experience that links current students with the generations of Woodberry boys who preceded them. For most students, this is the first time they have lived away from home. “You may get a roommate who’s different from you,” says a Woodberry senior, “but you learn to overcome any issues. Dorm life is definitely a place where you grow up socially.” He adds, “When a bunch of boys get together, it’s ridiculous how much fun we can have.”
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You can be talking with a student about a great football play and then turn around and discuss Faulkner. The boys don’t get pigeonholed here. They are good at more than one thing.� AN E n g l i s h t e a c h e r
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Woodberry Forest school
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honor system
A co m m u n i t y o f t r u s t At the heart of the Woodberry experience is the honor system, which prohibits boys from lying, cheating, or stealing. There are very few locked doors at Woodberry. If a boy leaves a bicycle, laptop, or wallet somewhere on campus, it will be there when he returns. The goal is not to prevent stolen items, but to create a community of trust where a boy is taken at his word. Because of the honor system, students are trusted implicitly, and Woodberry is a place where character development is as important as academic rigor. “The boys buy into the honor system,” says a Woodberry history teacher. “The values impressed upon them during their time here carry over to the rest of their lives.” And, parents understand these values, too. Each new Woodberry family receives a copy of The Orange Book, a guide to the tenets of the honor system.
THE honor system The honor system was introduced in 1899 when Woodberry boys asked the headmaster to trust them to maintain standards of behavior on campus. It still profoundly shapes the culture of the school. “Without the honor system,” one student says, “This place would be like the rest of the world.”
When you live here, you know that the honor system is something worth living up to. You will benefit from it for the rest of your life.” a sixth-form student W O O D B E R RY
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Woodberry Forest School Timeline 1939
1899 Students work with the headmaster to establish Woodberry’s honor system; Walker Building opens
1889 Woodberry Forest School is founded; classes are held in The Residence
1897 1912
The Residence, designed by Thomas Jefferson, is built for William Madison, brother of fourth US President James Madison 1 6
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St. Andrew’s Chapel, constructed with funds raised by a student committee, opens its doors F O R E S T
Electric lighting replaces gas lamps in the Walker Building; US entry into World War I prompts military training at Woodberry
1950 The cornerstone is laid for the new Alumni Memorial Infirmary
1958
1923
J. Carter Walker becomes the first headmaster
1793
1917
Alumni Gymnasium is built (renamed Leonard W. Dick Gymnasium in 1976)
Woodberry’s first six-student golf team plays on the school’s course, designed by Donald Ross
Students line up to transfer books to the new William H. White Jr. Library in Hanes Hall
1944 Life magazine features Woodberry’s winter dance
1962
2003
2012
Lyricist Johnny Mercer ’27 wins his fourth Academy Award for the song “Days of Wine and Roses,” with music by Henry Mancini
Jacob Foster ’99 is named Woodberry’s eleventh Rhodes Scholar
Our Strong Band campaign concludes, raising more than $111 million for Woodberry
1967 Woodberry Forest Sports Camp, a residential summer program for young boys, is introduced
1966 The J. Carter Walker Memorial Center (now known as the J. Carter Walker Fine Arts Center), a new home for Woodberry’s art, drama, and music programs, is dedicated
1996 WFSNet, Woodberry’s Internet service, goes online
1986 Barbee Center, a field house for indoor sports, is dedicated
2007 Johnson Stadium is dedicated; Woodberry students take top honors in the National Young Physicists Tournament
2014 Woodberry celebrates 125 years of educating boys; Byron Hulsey ’86 becomes Woodberry’s ninth headmaster
2016 Kenan Hall, Woodberry’s new math, computer science, and dining facility, is named
2000 100th game between Woodberry and Episcopal High School is played in the South’s oldest continuous high school football rivalry; Woodberry wins 24-13
2013 Students test DNA samples from classmates in the new Manning Family Science Building W O O D B E R RY
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Athletics, which emphasize teamwork, integrity, competition, and sportsmanship, are essential to the Woodberry experience. Studentathletes earn victories through hard work and hard lessons. PICTURED The Tigers triumph on Hanes Field.
VICTORY IS MORE THAN W INNIN G At Woodberry, nothing builds teamwork like competing on the field. Nothing builds character like boys winning — and, occasionally, losing — together. “A Woodberry boy learns how to be a good sport,” says a coach and science teacher. “He learns to win and to lose with humility and grace.” And, he learns to compete. With thirty-five teams in sixteen sports, Woodberry boys of all skill levels can have opportunities to play. Many boys play a different sport each trimester in facilities that rival those found at many small colleges. Athletics are a central part of community life at Woodberry for good reason: Games last just hours, but the lessons learned last a lifetime.
A careful balance The balance between academics and athletics is carefully maintained at Woodberry. “The boys are in class six days a week,” says one coach, “and we keep that in mind when we take to the field so we do not overload them.” This approach pays off, with consistently top-performing teams and student-athletes who go on to play in college.
Our commitment to athletics is part of building a Renaissance man at Woodberry. We don’t want our boys to be one-dimensional. We want them to be strong of mind, spirit, and body.” AN E n g l i s h t e a c h e r a n d a s s i s t a n t f o o t b a l l c o a c H 2 0
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Schedule of one Fourth-form student Mon
WED
FRI
8:00
US History
Free period
Honors Spanish 3
8:45
Honors Algebra 2
English 400
9:30
Break
Break
Break
9:45
Free period
Honors Chemistry
Honors Algebra 2
10:30
Honors Spanish 3
11:15
English 400
Honors Algebra 2
Lunch
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
Honors Chemistry
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US History
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Break
Break
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The Dozen
Honors Spanish 3
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Honors Chemistry
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Schedule of one sixth-form student Mon
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Caliphs & Kings
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Honors Spanish 4
Break
Break
Break
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Intermediate Art
Intro to Engineering
Lunch
Lunch
Intro to Engineering
Intermediate Art
HISTORY
Intro to Engineering
Honors Spanish 4 War & Peace ENGLISH
Lunch Free period Break
Break
Seminar in Advanced Math
Honors Spanish 4
Intermediate Art
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Woodberry boys are always ready to try something new. Risk-taking is built into the culture. Whether taking the field, taking the stage, or taking on the rock face, a Woodberry boy finds the courage to step up.
PICTURED A student tests his mettle on the ropes course.
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It’s a miracle when kids try theater for the first time. Some of our shyest kids get under the lights and are suddenly not shy anymore.� A Performing arts teacher 2 6
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ALL THE WORLD’ S A STAG E Research indicates that studying music improves boys’ skills in math, history, and other subjects. But many boys are drawn to musical performance because it requires teamwork. “Music here is definitely a team sport,” says a music teacher. “Everyone works together for the greater good. You are a part of the whole, but occasionally you get to stand out and get noticed.” Getting noticed onstage as a part of a musical ensemble or in a drama performance can help a boy discover a confidence he never knew he had. “When they find what they have inside, it can change their lives,” says a performing arts teacher. Such performances can require a little courage. “In the jazz band, sometimes a boy gets a chance to do an improvised solo. Talk about taking risks: You don’t know what you are going to play until it comes out of your horn.”
On Stage In a school known for academic rigor, Woodberry’s performing groups provide students with unique tests — sometimes involving girls from nearby schools — every time a boy takes the stage or grabs the mic. “No class requires students to do what our performers do,” says one teacher. “Performance ‘exams’ are very public.”
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W ITH AN EYE TO THE WORLD For boys engaged in the visual arts at Woodberry, the challenge begins the way it does for any artist — with the proverbial blank canvas. From there, it’s up to the boy. “With the arts, there are no wrong choices,” one art teacher says, “even if there are occasionally some bad ones.” Often that’s when the best lessons come. Woodberry’s visual arts program helps boys develop and refine their own creativity. Students can try studio art, photography, and digital filmmaking. “Boys function well when shown what to do, when they can follow a set of instructions,” one teacher says. “But the visual arts leave them with options. They learn to take responsibility for their own ideas and creative decisions.”
The Talon Twice each year, Woodberry students produce The Talon, a literary and arts magazine featuring poetry and prose as well as painting, photography, and other works of visual art. Widely recognized in national competitions among high school publications, The Talon shows off the breadth and depth of our commitment to the arts.
The creative process is a completely vital way of learning how to think and look at things. It’s at the foundation of the way a man engages his world.” 2 8
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LESSONS FROM THE G REAT OUTDOORS Many schools can claim an attractive campus and stately buildings, but few can match the physical scope and beauty of Woodberry Forest School. The school is situated on 1,200 acres, bordered on one side by the Rapidan River and surrounded by the seven-mile Perimeter Trail. It includes Robertson Lake for fishing and recreation, a series of climbing facilities, and a golf course designed by Donald Ross. “I didn’t want to be trapped by a little campus where I would just stay on dorm all day,” says one Woodberry sixth former, who considered other schools before visiting Woodberry. “When I came here and saw the campus, I saw possibilities that I wouldn’t have at other places.” Every boy’s time at Woodberry includes a four-day outdoor trip during his sophomore year — and plenty of opportunities for kayaking, hiking, climbing, River life Along the Rapidan River, which borders Woodberry Forest School, there is a series of forts the boys have built
and camping. “Outdoor education is an essential part of Woodberry life,” says one instructor. “It exposes the boys to a sport they can do for a lifetime. And, it challenges them in ways they will never face in a classroom or a dorm. We provide a very tangible goal: Get to the top.”
over the years. From Saturday afternoon through Sunday night, boys are free to enjoy the wilderness — camping out, cooking out, or just hanging out at the river. “You have a lot of pressure during the week,” one sixth former says. “It’s great to come down here to unwind.”
We teach our guys to come out here and take on challenges, to accomplish something using their physical strength.” AN O u t d o o r e d u c a t i o n t e a c h e r W O O D B E R RY
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Every Woodberry boy joins generations who have gone before him to embark on lives of honor and consequence. There is something about a Woodberry man, regardless of age: He’s confident, centered, and committed to moral integrity. PICTURED Sixth-form students are honored on Amici Night, the evening before commencement.
PAVIN G THE ROAD AHEAD As soon as a boy arrives at Woodberry Forest School, he begins to prepare for college. His first and sometimes biggest challenges are to understand the opportunity he has been given and to learn to make the most of it. “We are committed to seeing every boy get off to a good start and helping him live up to his potential,” says one teacher. Every student is matched with an academic adviser. In most cases, he has the same adviser throughout his time at Woodberry. He also receives support and guidance from Woodberry’s college counseling staff. They help boys take the appropriate tests, prepare applications, and identify colleges that are right for them. “Many outstanding colleges know Woodberry,” says a member of the college counseling team. “They understand the academic skills that a Woodberry boy develops — the ability to think analytically, to write effectively.” Faculty bonds When a Woodberry boy asks teachers and advisers for college recommendation letters, the result is anything but boilerplate. Faculty members know their students so well that they can write personal, heartfelt letters that make it easy for colleges to understand the strengths of the boy who’s applying. “We really know these students,” says one teacher. “There are no ‘blind date’ recommendations coming out of this school.”
Our joy in realizing that Woodberry is not too good to be true, but is, in fact, even better than we dared to hope, is only dampened by the regret that we did not have the good sense to send our two elder boys your way.” 3 4
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As a student, I often shrugged my shoulders naively when I heard graduates say that they thought about Woodberry and missed it every day. I have now become one of those misty-eyed alumni.� a r ec e n t g r a d u at e
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giving back Woodberry Forest School leads the nation among independent schools in the percentage of alumni who support the school financially. And, thanks to a healthy endowment, it can allocate more funding to each student than the vast majority of independent schools.
CONNECTED FOR A LIFETIME Whenever Woodberry alumni interact with current students, the connection is immediate. Although they may be separated by decades, they know that they share an experience that has remained remarkably consistent over the years. “Alumni want to stay involved,” says a Woodberry sixth former. “This is such a great experience that they want to make sure future students will have the same opportunity.” When a boy leaves Woodberry, he joins a worldwide network of Woodberry men, united by a common ambition to serve and excel and by a commitment to leading a life of honor. “When a fellow Woodberry graduate calls, I drop everything,” says one alumnus. “I know I can trust him. Woodberry is an oasis. It’s like a Camelot. It’s one place in the world that supports integrity every day.”
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Come and experience Woodberry for yourself. Visit us and you will see why Woodberry Forest is one of the leading boarding schools in the nation. Meet with a member of our admissions staff. Tour our spectacular campus with a student guide, step into our dorms, and check out our wonderful athletic facilities. Once you meet some of our students, you’ll begin to see how Woodberry boys learn to live as men of honor.
Here ’s how to be in tou ch
E wfs.admissions@woodberry.org
W woodberry.org
P 888-798-9371
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 school-administered programs. This school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students. 3 8
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