The Woodstock 150 Festival

Long-anticipated by many and three years in the planning, the Woodstock 150 Festival finally arrived on Saturday, October 30th. After some mixed weather during the previous couple of weeks - including hail storms! - we were blessed with a clear, crisp, sunny day. The school looked immaculate; everything that didn't move had been painted, and everything that did move had been spruced up and told to be on its best behavior. Alumni and visitors entered below the famous Woodstock School gate, past welcoming banners and staff and student hosts. The Quad was dazzling with freshly white walls as a backdrop to the colorful pennants crisscrossing between the balconies and the national flags hanging as a backdrop to the performance area.

The Festival was opened by the school band with an inspired choice of music, the first line of which was "Gee, but it's great to be back home!" (Paul Simon's "Keep the Customer Satisfied".) The more instantly recognizable "Brown and Gold" was next, and the feeling of the weekend was immediately established. David Jeffery gave a warm welcome to all, recognizing many of the guests who had come to join us, including three former principals: Dr. Jim Lehman, Rev. Ron Flaming, and Rev. Bob Alter '43. Alumni from as far back as the Class of '37 had made the trip for the weekend. Altogether, Woodstock welcomed members of 60 different classes and over 600 guests!

The first day of the weekend was billed as Woodstock's "Saturday Showcase" - a chance for the school to display something of the range of its activities and connections. The morning performances included a welcome song by the Elementary School; an Indian dance by a group of staff and students; a solo Rajasthani dance by Surabi Singh of Grade 9; a display of unicycling and juggling by Robin Gibaud, also Grade 9; Korean drumming from four Korean High School students, and two Tibetan dances performed by our friends from the Tibetan Homes Foundation in Happy Valley. A group of school employees also performed, singing and playing a traditional Garhwali song.

The opening ceremony included the dedication of the new music room on the top floor of the music block - henceforth to be known as 'Studio '59' after the class which funded it and dedicated it to former music teacher Vance George, now Chorus Director of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, who was there to receive and acknowledge this honor. Pianist and '59er Robert Bonham made the dedication on behalf of the class.

An important aspect of the Showcase was the stalls, giving a real Mela atmosphere. There were traditional crafts to buy, people from NGOs displaying their work, and a number of food outlets featuring everything from momos, kongpo shaptak, and other Tibetan specialties to Wai Wai, ice cream and hot dogs. During the day, the school was "at home" to visitors, with classroom displays and demonstration lessons in High School, Middle School and Elementary School. Visitors were called upon to give impromptu help - such as Dr. Paul Taylor, geologist and former staff member, who gave a lesson identifying and talking about rocks collected by Grade 7 during their Activity Week. Shuttle taxis took visitors out to see the Hanifl Center - one of the exciting additions to the campus. Suzanne Turner Hanifl '63 and members of the Classes of '51, '54, '60 and '81 were particularly interested to see the outcome of their fundraising efforts in respect of the water harvesting scheme, the Bob Fleming Nature Trail, the Burgoyne Campground, and the Dick Wechter Library. Dick Wechter was, in fact, present in the afternoon for the official opening of the library that bears his name. During the afternoon, visiting alumni participated in the Showcase in various ways. Martha Alter Chen '60 gave a lecture on women in India, a subject on which she has a recently-published book. Former staff Bob Fleming, Jr., '54 gave two illustrated talks on birds of India in Parker Hall, the first of which was attended by all High School students. During the afternoon, Robert Bonham '59 gave a piano recital in the Media Center.

While the weekend offered an international array of entertainment, for many of the alumni and former staff the most significant part of the celebrations was the chance to walk around the school, to meet old friends, and to reminisce. Nowhere was this more evident than in the tea garden, where, under the shade of the Lyre Tree, and with the view of the Doon Valley spread out below, conversation and laughter filled the air all afternoon. The evening had something of the feel of Oscar night, with white Ambassadors arriving in convoy at the JayPee Residency hotel, each full of alumni and staff ready for a good evening. The exotic evening wear was somewhat tempered by the anticipated cold of the evening - it was an open-air banquet - but the lively talk and hot food, together with the gas heaters and charcoal braziers, kept the chill at bay. Entertainment was provided by a succession of alumni, starting with, in pride of place, the centenary class of '54, with songs and reminiscences. Addie Amstutz Yoder, former staff, performed a raag arranged for the piano. Charlene Chitamber Connell '51 evoked considerable laughter with her song and poem about the two "Veras Veritas", Miss Francis and Miss Marley. Sally Hazlett Woolever '50 recounted stories of Woodstock weddings; Janette Cowan Blair, former staff, entertained us with witty parodies from The Sound of Music, and the whole was ably compèred by Ellen Alter. And then it was the turn of the school. The Jazz Band was in fine form with 30 minutes of classic tunes including "Rock around the Clock" and "Hello Dolly", then a staff/ alumni rock band had those who had remained to the (literally) bitter end dancing to classic hits from the last 40 years. Sunday dawned bright and clear (and possibly a bit too soon for some of those who had partied the night before!). First on the agenda was what was, for many, the highlight of the weekend: the morning service in Parker Hall. This was a service in the best tradition of Christian worship at Woodstock - fine music led by Woodstock music teachers Reid Blickenstaff '70 (strings) and Nate Craft (brass); a combined staff/student/alumni choir conducted by Vance George; a song from the Hindustani Church choir led by Rev. Eric Templeton; and a memorable sermon from Rev. Bob Alter - "Flipping Switches of the Heart". Click here to read excerpts from the sermon.

Thence to Hanson Field for a complete change of tempo. Tom Alter was MC as the fun began with a 'Parade of the Years', with class flags held proudly by many former and current Woodstockers. The marchers ended up in the classic 'W' formation, where they were encouraged by Charlene Chitamber Connell to give lusty voice to some of the songs written by Rev. Robert Fleming 50 years ago - still sounding fresh today. Then it was time for games - kho kho, sack race, jelabi eating race, dress-up relay, and the serious tug-of-war challenges between groups of students, staff and alumni. It was wonderful to see Hanson Field, recently rebuilt and reseeded, so full of competitors and spectators.

After a picnic lunch, it was time for the residences to hold their own open houses, giving alumni visitors the opportunity to compare standards today with memories of their own time in these same hostels. The extent of the changes, particularly in Midlands, was a surprise to some. Unfortunately, not everyone could now find their old rooms! However, as the student dorm council leaders who spoke at the dedication ceremony said, there was now a distinct improvement in their boarding experience, with more opportunity for privacy, as well as for warmth! The Midlands dedication, which took place late on Sunday afternoon, was a memorable ceremony. As well as the contributions from the students, TZ Chu '52 and Li Chu '59 spoke movingly about their family and their links to Woodstock, which had led after all these years to their family decision to fund the renovation of the building in the name of their parents. TZ readily confessed that he didn't believe that such a masterful conversion was possible, and professed delight with the result. And so to the end of the weekend, a gathering on Ridgewood Field for the closing ceremony. Beneath a thousand twinkling lights, the packed audience heard tributes to the school from a host of people connected with Woodstock: from Virgil Miedema on behalf of the Board; from Eleanor Nicholson on behalf of Kodaikanal International School; from Rev. Benjamin Chan, International Ministry, American Baptist Churches; from Dr. Jim Lehman, Rev. Bob Alter and Rev. Ron Fleming, former principals. There were songs from the Elementary School and from the joint choir - including a song specially written for the occasion by Reid and June (Roadarmel) Blickenstaff '70, Lela Folkers and Janette Cowan Blair, "In My Himalayan Home". Finally, David Jeffery gave his thanks and farewell, and candles everywhere were lit and raised high as everyone sang "Shadows": "Shadows fall across the valley at the close of day.Rugged and steep though the pathways may be, Palms come from striving you know." The birthday cake was cut by Dr. Lehman, Rev. Flaming and Rev. Alter and Rev. David Scott '52 commended the school to God. Fireworks lit up the sky, drawing the entire Mussoorie Community into the celebration of 150 years of Woodstock.

A heartfelt 'Thank you' to June Roadarmel Blickenstaff '70, Li Chu '59, former staff Lela Folkers, and former staff Janette Cowan Blair for their tireless efforts in organizing and facilitating the Woodstock 150 Festival.