Woodberry
Preparing boys for their future, with a commitment to intellectual thoroughness and moral integrity.
All boys, All boarding THAT’S WHAT MAKES WOODBERRY DISTINCT. Woodberry is a school designed for boys and built to serve their needs. Every boy lives on campus, as do 90 percent of the faculty. This creates a tight-knit, supportive community focused on honor and character.
I T ’ S SC I E N C E: B OYS L E A R N D I F F E R E N T LY
11 15 22 30 Age at which girls’ brains are half developed
Age at which boys’ brains are half developed
Age at which girls’ brains are fully developed
Age at which boys’ brains are fully developed
Girls outperform boys in grades and homework at all levels.
Boys are 30 percent more likely to flunk or drop out of school.
*National Center for the Development of Boys, National Center for Education Statistics
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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 the Woodberry Forest School community by returning students.
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
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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 ADVISOR
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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.”
T H E C L A S S RO O M A N D B E YO N D 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 advisor 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 advisors, 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 Capturing a final memory together on graduation day.
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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 ROW I N G TO G E T H E R 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 ENGLISH TEACHER
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Woodberry: A community unlike any other.
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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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Picture your son here.
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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.
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FALL SPORTS Athletic Development Baseball Cross Country Football Golf Mountain Biking Soccer Squash Swimming Tennis WFS Outdoors WINTER SPORTS Athletic Development Basketball Indoor Rock Climbing Indoor Track & Field Squash Swimming Wrestling
W I N N I N G T H E R I G H T WAY Whether your son has been playing a sport all of his life or is looking to learn a new one, Woodberry has a team. Our world-class athletic facilities are built to challenge competitors and excite fans. The Woodberry athletics program is built on competitive greatness, but also humility, confidence, personal grit, and a commitment to leadership and service. Teams at all levels focus on helping players develop their skills while putting out the most competitive squad possible. Woodberry offers a wide range of sports each season. The goal is to provide boys with programs that can support them at every possible level. Multiple teams, ranging from varsity to freshmen squads, are offered in virtually every sport.
SPRING SPORTS Athletic Development Baseball Bass Fishing Golf Lacrosse Mountain Biking Skeet Shooting Swimming Tennis Track & Field
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.� A N E N G L I S H T E AC H E R A N D A S S I S TA N T F O OT B A L L COAC H W O O D B E R RY
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THIRD & FOURTH FORMERS (freshmen and sophomores)
Younger students generally take shorter classes that meet every day. The goal of these introductory courses is to give boys a solid foundation in all core subjects.
FIFTH & SIXTH FORMERS (juniors and seniors)
As boys grow and mature, Woodberry gives them more control over their studies, allowing them a chance to select courses that line up with academic interests. Those classes usually meet three times a week for longer periods, getting boys ready for the academic experience they will see in college.
I N A WO O D B E R RY C L A S S RO O M , B OYS B ECO M E L E A D E R S
FACULTY BY THE NUMB ER S
Woodberry classrooms are small, lively places. Teachers expect everyone to step up and contribute. The men and women on the faculty work both individually with boys and in small groups on a wide variety of subjects.
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13 60 20 years is the average tenure for a Woodberry teacher.
percent hold advanced degrees.
faculty members have more than twenty years of experience at Woodberry.
A typical day. Schedule for a typical third former
Schedule for a typical sixth former
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AFTERNOON ACTIVITY Sports, drama, or other activities like debate and Model UN.
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STUDY TIME Seniors don’t have required study hall and are trusted to manage their own time and prepare for classes.
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CALIPHS AND KINGS. A sixth-form history elective focused on how the Western and Islamic worlds have interacted with each other for nearly 1,400 years.
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ENGINEERING. A hands-on course that focuses on solving real-world problems.
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STUDY HALL Boys study in dorm rooms or classrooms under the supervision of faculty members who are available to help out with homework questions.
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LIGHTS OUT * FOR A SIXTH FORMER, CLASSES MEET THREE DAYS A WEEK. ON OTHER DAYS THE STUDENT MIGHT HAVE SOME OF THESE COURSES ALONG WITH A FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASS, FINE ARTS, AND A FREE STUDY PERIOD.
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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 mountain biking 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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A L L T H E WO R L D’ S A S TAG 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 I T H A N E Y E TO T H E WO R L D 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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L E S SO N S F RO M T H E G R E AT O U T D O O R S 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.” A N O U T D O O R E D U C AT I O N T E AC 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.
PAV I N G T H E ROA D A H E A D 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 advisor. In most cases, he has the same advisor 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 advisors for college recommendation letters, the result is deeply personal. Faculty members know their students so well that they can write 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.
CO N N EC T E D F O R A L I F E T I M E 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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Take the next step.
ACCESS FOR ALL
Woodberry is ready to challenge your son, prepare him for college, and set him on the path to a meaningful life. Get in touch to learn more about how he can develop the traits we value: intellectual curiosity, moral integrity, and a commitment to serving others.
Woodberry Forest is committed to welcoming any student who has the desire and ability to succeed here. Generations of support from alumni and friends allow Woodberry to set the tuition cost below the true cost of educating each student. The school’s tuition assistance program makes Woodberry accessible and affordable to families from a wide range of financial situations. For many families, tuition assistance can make the cost of a Woodberry education comparable to the cost of independent day schools. Contact the Office of Admission for additional information.
HE R E ’S HOW TO B E IN TO U CH
E wfs.admission@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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