Around the sundial

January: Woodstock remained closed for the Christmas holidays, leaving only a few brave souls around the campus to brave through the chilly but sunny winter.

February: Welcome back to winter in Mussoorie! Returning students entered their classrooms on a cloudy February 9th. After a full night of clapping thunder and bright lightning, everyone woke up to see the hillside covered by a blanket of thick wet snow. The desperately needed snow kept falling all day. As classes let out in the afternoon, slippery snowball fights ensued. The evening was spent in dorms hanging dripping wet mittens and socks out to dry.

Toward the end of the month, the Model United Nations (MUN) at Woodstock expanded its boundaries even further as an experienced group of students (three seniors and seven juniors) attended the Genoa MUN conference in Italy, hosted by the Genoa city council and schools. This opportunity provided a platform to interact with different schools, practice presenting speeches and debating at a professional level.

March: To combat the rising menace of rhesus monkeys around campus, Woodstock took onto its payroll three trained langurs: Suraj, Bhawan, and Pawan. On another wildlife note, 24 students from grade 12 Environmental Science visited Corbett Park. Highlights of the trip were lengthy sightings of three tigers, one of them on two separate occasions, and being charged by irritated elephants after a camera crew got too close to some mothers and their young.

Easter was celebrated in spectacular fashion: Elementary students re-enacted the pilgrimage of the children of Israel and the crossing of the Red Sea and led the dance when the resurrection was announced. Music of all kinds came from the High School choir, the Staff choir, the worship team, plus soloists and duets. The brass ensemble teamed up with the drums, bass guitar and accordion of the worship team to lead the celebration.

Woodstock also hosted the 5th Annual Woodstock Model United Nations Conference (WSMUN) this month, with delegates from four other schools. Other guests on campus were Orchestra students from Singapore American School. Under the direction of Darrell Townshend, a former Woodstock staff, the SAS and Woodstock advanced orchestras came together for a wonderful combined performance.

April: The enthusiasm and vibrancy of an Indian village in celebration was captured as the theme for the 2009 Mela, held on a gloriously sunny day at the Hanifl Centre. Food vendors, craft merchants, roasted corn hawkers and candy floss sellers traded their wares at the packed event.

Coinciding with the Mela was the annual 'Homecoming Weekend', when no fewer than 200 alumni came back to the school, including members of the Class of 1984 (celebrating their 25th anniversary) and the Class of 1989 (celebrating their 20th).

May: May featured the fall semester's drama weekend, during which three one-act plays were performed by members of the High School drama class. The common theme was the exploration of reality - the three plays performed were Car Wash by Louis Phillips, Universal Language by David Ives, and Mere Mortals also by David Ives.

The culmination of year-round hard work by Woodstock's Jazz musicians came together in the popular Jazz Jam in the Quad. A well-rehearsed band played a mix of old favourites with a good leaven of new material. Even staff bands got into the act, performing everything from blues to gospel tunes.

June: On the 9th of June there was a further step forward in Woodstock's campus improvements when the completely rebuilt Abergeldie Main house was officially opened for members of the school's staff. The new property has four large family apartments, with balconies on the front of each to catch the wonderful view of the Doon Valley.

The Development and Counselling offices hosted the STAR weekend at Camp Panther outside Rishikesh on the Ganga River. The annual Senior Transition and Assimilation Retreat, provided an opportunity for seniors to address some of the aspects of creating a healthy transition between cultures and life-events. The best part about STAR weekend was that it provided a time for the class to bond and to be together before everyone left the hillside.

The academic year came to an end in June. After the final assemblies, Woodstock students said their farewells to friends and teachers as they prepared to head back home on Going Down Day. The graduating class of 2009 - 'Tenacious' - remained on campus for the Baccalaureate and Graduation ceremonies. Former chaplain Brian Dunn was invited back by the graduating class to give an inspiring talk during the Baccalaureate ceremony. Ms. Kathy Hoffmann, who had spent 25 years at the Woodstock campus, performed her final duty for the school, giving a speech during the Graduation ceremony. Soon after the Seniors left the Quad was filled with a strange silence, awaiting the return of students the following semester.

July: A total of 31 new staff members joined Woodstock for the Fall semester, experiencing the unmatchable Himalayan surroundings, the lush greenery, nature walks, drenching monsoon, and of course, the dreaded monkeys. Staff members new and old participated in meetings and workshops during a week-long retreat that took place from 27th - 31st of July.

August: The Woodstock family welcomed 116 new students from 15 different countries to the school for the fall semester. Soon, the familiar sounds of Woodstock returned - trays sliding on the food counter in the dining hall, balls bouncing between four squares at the Quad, shuffling feet rushing up the steps up to the Parker Hall, gleeful screams in the playground.

An early-semester sports activity was when the boy's football team headed to the St. George's College for the 38th Jackie Memorial (Open) Tournament. The boys fell short in their second round game. In four games played, the team won two, drew one, and suffered one loss.

India's Independence Day was celebrated by Woodstock School in its characteristic style on the 15th of August. Students, staff and guests made their way to the school on a cloudy Saturday morning. The tricolour flag of India was raised amongst the school's multicultural and multinational community in the Parker Hall. Dr. Mallika Sarabhai addressed the gathering. As per tradition, the flag of India was raised by the Indian who has been a Woodstock student for the longest period; Aradhna Roberts, grade 12, had the honour this year. 15th August also marks South Korean Independence Day, and several of the school's Korean students performed a traditional Korean children's game on stage, called 'Kimajen'. This was followed by a special performance of dance and poetry by a members of the visiting Darpana Academy of Performing Arts from Ahmedabad. Darpana spent the next week at Woodstock, holding workshops in dance, music, kalari (a special form of Kerelan martial art), and performing a dance/play called the 'Dance of Life'. Another feature of Indian Culture Week was a special reading of the 'Poetess and the Mahatma' by Mrs. Mrinalini Sarabhai and Tom Alter.

September: The Landour ridge, encircling Lal Tibba, Char Dukan, and Sister's Bazaar, was engulfed in a sea of blue, green, and red, as the Inter-House Cross-Country races were held for the entire school on Friday, September 11th. Students from Condors, Eagles, and Merlins gathered at the Kellogg's Church to race or support their peers. From the ECP kids all the way to the Grade 11 and 12 students, and even some of the staff, everyone ran and screamed their way through an exciting day.

For the second year in a row Woodstock was named India's Top International School by the Education World magazine. The highlight of the year was the dedication of the much-awaited Win Mumby gymnasium. The world-class gym was unveiled to the school's students, staff, board members, alumni, and other distinguished guests at a gala event on Friday September 18th. Members of Mumby's family, including his brother Hugh, his daughter Lynn, and his nephew Marc were amongst the special guests on Friday. The Mumby family along with chief donor and board member Frederick S. Downs Jr. unfurled the Woodstock banners at the new basketball court to officially declare the gym open.

October: To build up knowledge and anticipation for the Activity Week hikes, Woodstock students were treated to a talk by renowned mountaineer and explorer Harish Kapadia. Harish has made several unique contributions to knowledge about the Himalayas, including exploring several untouched regions, and has written more than a dozen books and articles about the outdoors.

The biggest sporting day of the Woodstock calendar fell on Friday, October 9th. Students from the Middle and High Schools headed down to Hanson Field for Inter-House Sports Day. Soon afterwards, the best athletes took part in the 'Mussoorie Olympics' or Inter-School sports day, at Wynberg-Allen school, competing with students from St. George's College, Waverley Convent, and Wynberg-Allen. Woodstock's senior band performed the Indian National Anthem and other songs for the guests.

From 23-27 October Woodstock School hosted the renowned vertical dance company, Project Bandaloop, founded and directed by Woodstock graduate, Amelia Rudolph '82. Project Bandaloop performed in the new Win Mumby Gymnasium on Monday, 26th October. Several Middle and High School students were also given basic training on vertical dance by Project Bandaloop at the gym.

October was a busy month - the much-anticipated 'Worldwide Woodstock Day' fell on October 24th. It was a day for Woodstock alumni to reconnect with old friends and host and attend Woodstock get-togethers. Marking the 98th year of the Woodstock Old Students Association (WOSA), and leading up to WOSA's centenary celebrations on October 24th, 2011, Worldwide Woodstock Day was celebrated in the form of over 70 gatherings and gestures in all corners of the globe.

In a major event, Woodstock awarded its distinguished alumnus and curator of the TED (TED stands for Technology Entertainment and Design) Conferences, Chris Anderson '74, during a special assembly on October 28th. Anderson is a dedicated promoter of global citizenship, whose work helps spread innovative ideas around the world. Anderson addressed the students on how the eight years he spent in Woodstock gave him a global perspective.

November: The annual Activity Week, an occasion for students to take different approaches in learning outside the classroom, was held during the first week of November. Students travelled far and wide, exploring the outdoors through rigorous hikes, exploring Indian culture, history and environment, social service activities, and political debates. The Activity Week trips charted places such as Chennai, Dharamsala, Baraadsar Lake, Pindari Glacier, Rishikesh, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, villages in the Garhwal, and of course, other parts of Mussoorie itself.

Elementary School students were given a special treat on Friday, November 13th, when each of them was paired up with one or two students from the High School as their big brother or sister for the day. After spending some time getting to know each other at the Quad, the new siblings walked together to the Hanifl Centre where they enjoyed snacks and took part in an inter-house games event.

Terry Prachett's Mort was the drama class choice for the semester's drama weekend. There were solid performances from the cast, and the staging, lighting and sound effects added to the sense of mystery and doom. The traditional Fall concert series was spread over three nights at Parker Hall during the last week in November. As always, the performers gave of their best, singing and playing with commitment and enjoyment.

December: For two weeks, the Win Mumby gymnasium became an indoor football court, with Middle and High School students kicking their way through an exciting Box Soccer tournament. Also in the gym was the Christmas Service on the first week of December, but this time. 170 members of staff and students participated in choirs, orchestra, band and as readers. The gym was transformed by cascades of hanging lights, a large screen showing classic artworks of the nativity and a host of candles.

During this last week of school, Elementary School students held Christmas presentation in the Quad, counting down to the Winter holidays and to Christmas. These included the youngest members of the Woodstock family, the ECP/KG class, presenting a joyful little musical called 'The Shoemaker and the Elves', Grade 5 performed 'A Woodstock Christmas Carol' by Grade 5, and some of the fourth graders took a light-hearted look at the nativity scene.

The Final Assembly was held on Friday, December 11th before the students welcomed Going Down Day. Middle School students attended a special final dinner and talent show at the Quad Dining Hall on Friday evening, which was followed by Dorm Parties at the various residences. Elementary School students attended 'Santa Breakfast' on Saturday morning. Students on 'School Party' left Mussoorie for New Delhi by trains and buses from Saturday afternoon through to early Sunday morning. With most of the staff leaving a few days later, the Woodstock campus once again drew the curtain on another exciting year.

Stephen Alter '74, Director of Development