Christmas 2003
This year's end of semester celebrations were up to the usual standard of creativity and enjoyment, particularly - as ever - in the Elementary School, where each grade took a turn at presenting its own spin on the Christmas story. This culminated in the traditional "Santa's breakfast" with songs and carols and a visit from Father Christmas himself (don't tell them, but it was actually Dale Seefeldt).
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Distinguished Alumnus - Dr. Robert Alter
On December 2nd, the High School, staff and special guests gathered in Parker Hall to pay tribute to Rev. Robert “Bob” Alter. Well-known to many at Woodstock, Bob Alter is one of the three Distinguished Alumni to be recognized by the Board of Directors in 2004, and his was the first such ceremony to take place. During the assembly, he expressed a certain amount of discomfiture as he and Ellen sat for over an hour listening to heartfelt reminiscences and frank recognition from a series of speakers who have benefited from Bob’s work and wisdom. Among these appreciative speakers were representatives of MGVS, the NGO he founded, and whose story is told in Bob Alter’s book, Water for Pabolee. Principal David Jeffery also expressed his thanks to the Alters, speaking on behalf of Woodstock School, whose current organization and mission were largely impacted by Bob Alter’s vision and guidance when he was Superintendent in the 1970s. Perhaps most significant were the words and thoughts expressed by the village heads and representatives with whom Bob has held long and obviously meaningful associations.

In his own words of acknowledgement, Bob Alter got laughs from all present when he genuinely remarked “Live long enough to get praise for things you don’t really deserve.” Despite his humility, there was little Bob could do to downplay his many selfless accomplishments after such meaningful testimonies, leaving students and staff alike inspired by the life works and sincere words of one of Woodstock’s aptly-named Distinguished Alumni.

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Activity Week
This November, the school’s annual Activity Week trips provided yet another week of adventure and education for Woodstock students of every age. For many students, the various trips throughout the region provide a unique opportunity not only for learning outside the classroom, but for a week of cultural exploration and new experiences.

For some students, Activity Week discoveries took place close to home. Grade Four students spent their Activity Week learning about local wonders as they researched “The Past and Present of Mussoorie.” With the organization of Elementary School teachers Mr. Richard Reid and Mrs. Amrita John, as well as through planning by local environmentalist and former Woodstock staff Mr. Dick Wechter, the class visited local sites such as the historic Savoy Hotel and key businesses in the bazaar, where they interviewed local townspeople about Mussorie’s history. The students also honed their interviewing techniques in sessions with Woodstock alumna Ms. Lillian Skinner Singh ’39 and celebrated author Ruskin Bond, who entertained the students to no end with an afternoon of storytelling as a reward for their diligent questions. Following these sessions of hard-hitting interviews, the young journalists spent the end of their Activity Week taking day hikes around Kanital and Dhanaulti, where they gained a new appreciation for the areas surrounding the “historic” town that they call home.

The fourth graders were not the only group to become one with Woodstock’s Himalayan environment. As one of the Middle School trips, students in Grade Six traveled to Rajaji National Park where they spent an action-packed week at Camp Tusker. Along with chaperones Mrs. Denise Jeffery, Mr. Anchuman Singh, and Mrs. Dot Wildman, the students visited temples, trekked to a riverbed, cycled through harsh terrain and spent their evenings singing songs around the campfire. The big event of the week, however, was the moonlit viewing of a leopard and her cubs spotted by one of the camp guides – a memorable sight to say the least. Try finding that in the classroom!

While a number of the high school groups also spent their Activity Weeks discovering the outdoors – several on rigorous treks to areas such as Tapovan (13,350 ft) and Nanda Devi (25, 650 ft - although the mountain itself is not accessible for climbing) – others went in search of culture and craftsmanship. One of the groups, led by art teachers Mr. Joe Demetro and Mr. Devang Anglay and accompanied by music teacher Mrs. Doris Datta, spent five days in Lucknow exploring the city’s elaborate architecture and participating in a printmaking workshop organized by the chaperones. At the Rashtriya Lalit Kala Kendra, a government-sponsored Lucknow studio open to the community and to professional artists, the students worked several hours each day to create their own engravings and prints, some resulting in truly striking results. Outside of the studio, the group was fascinated by visits to sites such as the Bara Imambara and Hussainabad Imambara, Shi’ite tombs renowned for their artistic and intricate construction. The construction was so complicated in some points, in fact, that one of the students found herself making an unexpected exploration of the architecture when she descended through a trap door on one of the tombs’ labyrinths – yet another experience not soon to be forgotten by any of the Lucknow group.

From Landour to leopards to labyrinths, this year’s Activity Weeks trips left Woodstock students with adventures to write home about and a variety of learning experiences spanning beyond their books and into India. Have the students finally recuperated from their busy weeks around the region? The answer is “Yes” – in fact, they can already be found discussing anticipated escapades to come next November

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Jazz Josh III
An enthusiastic crowd filled the Habitat Centre amphitheatre on Monday night, 20th October for Jazz Josh III, the final concert of a short three-day tour of Delhi by Woodstock’s jazz band. The semi-outdoor atmosphere was ideally suited to a warm evening, and the band responded with what was probably one of their best performances. A feature of this third concert was the introduction of two Woodstock staff performers. Pete Wildman, usually found behind a desk in the development office, strutted the stage, guitar in hand, and performed a set of blues numbers by Robert Johnson, Freddie King and John Mayall. For the last song, the Hendrix classic Red House, he was joined on vocals by Alison Maxwell, one of the residence staff members. They also performed an acoustic duet of the jazz standard I’m in the Mood for Love, then Alison fronted the band with When Sonny gets Blue followed by a rousing rendition of the Otis Redding classic Satisfaction.

But what of the band? Their first set began with swing then moved back in time to cover two tunes from the New Orleans roots of jazz – Basin Street Blues and When the Saints Go Marching In. The jazz combo, as well as backing Pete and Alison on the blues numbers, showed their improvisational skills on such tunes as Watermelon Man and Solar Flair. The band’s second set brought the audience right up to date with a couple of Latin jazz grooves and some more reflective contemporary pieces, such as Tito Puente’s Oye Como Va. The performance finished with the Tower of Power classic, What is Hip?, giving trumpets, trombones, guitars, drums and bass the chance to feature.

Leading up to the Habitat Centre performance the band had played two other concerts. The first, on Saturday, was at St. Stephen’s College by arrangement with their Music Society. This was billed as “City Sounds”, and musicians from Vasant Valley School also had the chance to perform. The St. Stephen’s students were very appreciative of the talents on show, and the auditorium lent a real “big band” sound to the music. Then, on Sunday afternoon, a complete change – a concert for street kids arranged by Sahaita, a Christian NGO, started by Woodstock parents (Sanjiv & Dorothy Ailawadi). The kids were probably very bemused by the music – but delighted by the invitation to come on stage at the end and play with the instruments.

All in all it was a great weekend for both audiences and performers. Our students coped with the long hours of traveling and sleep deprivation like real gigging musicians. At the Habitat Centre, bandleader Nate Craft paid tribute to their unflagging enthusiasm and the hard work they had put in to assemble such a varied and well-rehearsed programme. Considerable credit goes, of course, to Nate himself and to the many at Woodstock who worked hard to make this one of our most satisfying concert tours. Finally, our thanks to WOSA-India for their hard work in arranging and promoting the Habitat Centre concert.

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I Never Saw Another Butterfly

On November 8 and 9, 2002 in Parker Hall, students, staff, parents, members of the hillside community, and students from the Doon School, saw the Woodstock School production “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” by Celeste Raspanti. The moving drama was set in Terezin, a World War II concentration camp outside Prague. It was about Jewish children in the camp and their teacher, Irena Synkova who inspired them to draw, paint and write poetry in the midst of the horror of the camp and the Holocaust.

"I Never Saw Another Butterfly” is also the name of a collection of art and poetry of the children of Terezin. Of all the artists who contributed to the book, Raja Englanderova was the only to survive. The play tells her story.

“I Never Saw Another Butterfly” was directed by English and Drama teacher, Mr. Chris Rogers. Mr. Rogers chose this play, “because it would challenge high school actors, include younger children in the cast, and provide a meaningful experience for all ages.” The cast was made up of 23 students from Elementary, Middle and High School. Jemima Hofmann starred as Raja Englanderova. Bonnie Rachel Lutz as Irena Synkova and Gaphela Shrestha as Honza Kosec were in supporting roles. The play could not have gone on without the help of the AV and Stage crews and everyone else involved in its production.

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Advanced Indian History Trip to Delhi ( 19th-21st Sept.'03 )
A group of 13 students with the subject teacher (Ms. Shonila Chander) and the hostess (Parent - Mrs. Sharma) went to visit the President's house on the 20th September. Ours was one of the first schools to have taken a detailed tour of the building from inside. We visited the foreign dignitaries guest house, Ashoka Hall, Darbar Hall, Banquet hall, the children's gallery, Museum, Marble museum and the Mughal garden at the back of the residence.

We could not get to meet the president but were able to meet with one of his officers from the finance department who went with us and showed us around along with an official guide. It was an amazing experience to have seen all those historical places and artifacts that we have read about in various books. These pictures were taken in front and at the back of the residence. (Click on the picture for an enlarged view)

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Hanifl Center Opening
There were marigold garlands beneath the swells of a billowing tent. There was a gathering that spanned geography and generations. There were reflections on the past and visions of the future.

On October 3rd, Woodstock students and staff of past and present years met with friends and community members from the Doon Valley for a momentous event. The group was there to share in the dedication of the Hanifl Center for Outdoor Education and Environmental Study, a facility which promises to open a vibrant new chapter in the community’s collective history.

 

The Hanifl Center, which saw its groundbreaking at Woodstock less than a year ago, was made possible by a generous gift of Paul and Suzanne Turner Hanifl, Class of ’63. With their financial support and the innovative designs of Neeraj Manchanda Architects, the Center was erected as an environmentally-conscious model for hill construction in the Garhwal with the intent that students and visitors should learn not only within the Center, but also from it. Staffed by full-time Coordinators Chris and Dr. Diana Taylor, the facility will provide a base from which to integrate outdoor education, leadership training, service learning, rural development, and environmental education into the academic program of Woodstock, better preparing our students to be responsible global stewards. It will also house conferences, alumni reunions, and visiting groups as needed. It is the school’s vision that the Hanifl Center be utilized not only by Woodstock students, but by other schools, colleges and NGOs from Uttaranchal, greater India, and beyond.

The opening ceremony for the Center was a festive event including musical interludes from a school ensemble, an outdoor dinner overlooking the Doon Valley, and Garhwali dancing. The event was perhaps most notable for a series of engaging and inspiring guest speakers, including Gabriel Campbell ’65, the current Director of the Nepali-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and Suzanne and Paul Hanifl. The Center was blessed by well-known environmental activist and former staff member Dick Wechter, and Tom Alter ’68 provided ample entertainment during the evening as Master of Ceremonies. Most significantly, Woodstock was honored with a visit from Chief Minister of Uttaranchal N.D. Tiwari, who presided over the dedication of the Center. The Chief Minister praised Woodstock ’s initiative for active appreciation and study of the rich environment of the Garhwal hillside, and expressed his hope that other schools participate in the opportunities offered by the creation of the Hanifl Center.

“This is going to be the century of knowledge and education,” remarked the Chief Minister. “We cannot afford Woodstocks everywhere, but with your help and guidance we can continue to upgrade the level of education in India.”

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Independence Day 2003
Woodstock is known around the hillside for its Independence Day program, annually incorporating the best the school has to offer through ceremony, service, and entertainment. This year, we had an especially busy holiday weekend with our chief guests for Independence Day, Mr. Jagdish Sagar, IAS, class of 1960, and his wife and daughter. Mr. Sagar is currently Principal Secretary, Power, Delhi Government, and is also the Chairman and Managing Director of Delhi Vidyut Board. His wife, Gita, is also a senior civil servant, and is presently the Secretary of the Delhi Dept. of Education. Their daughter, Mira, is a professor of English Literature at IP College, Delhi University, and has expressed interest in coming to teach at Woodstock. All three are articulate, engaged, perceptive people, and their presence was a welcome addition to the weekend’s activities.

Mr. Sagar addressed the school during the flag raising ceremony on Friday morning. He spoke of his time at Woodstock and also of the great privilege and accomplishment of democracy in the nation that has continued through the years. Following the ceremony, the Sagar family attended Woodstock’s annual Employee Luncheon where Woodstock students and staff prepared and served more than six hundred meals for the school’s employees and their families – the highest attendance to date!

In the evening, the Sagars attended Woodstock’s annual Independence Day cultural program featuring a full array of entertainment in honor of the day. Highlights of the program included a Rajasthani dance presented by elementary students, a lively staff Bhangra, and a superb Kathak dance performance by visiting artist Mrs. Urmila Nagar.

On Saturday, Mr. and Mrs. Sagar attended a morning tea organized by Woodstock’s Indian Colleges Counselor Shonila Chander. Students looking at prospective Indian colleges and governmental vocations listened intently as Mr. Sagar discussed the many fields that open up to individuals after serving in the IAS. He addressed the fact that the IAS is now selecting more students from science-based curricula, but he avidly supported the unique importance of the humanities and commended Woodstock's program. Gita Sagar had equal praise for the school’s curriculum, and further encouraged the students’ academic pursuits.

Mr. and Mrs. Sagar felt the students’ discussion was so engaging that the talk ran into the afternoon. Mr. Sagar addressed many questions about privatization, administration and life in the IAS. He also went on to speak to the idea that corruption exists in the world but stressed that this can be changed one person at a time, and that the students should see themselves as the determining future of India.

Following the morning talk, the Sagars toured the school and campus. At an evening dinner at Principal Jeffery’s home, the weekend concluded in high spirits as those present recounted fond past memories and observed the positive direction that Woodstock is set to follow in years to come.

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PAX Student Experience by Lalhming Pachuau
PAX is a long-established student exchange program that promotes understanding and respect between nations by placing students from around the world in homes and public schools in the U.S. Woodstock School was appointed its India agent in 2002, and sent six juniors to the US for the 2002-03 school year. This year, there are seven students participating, and the school hopes to expand the program to include students from other schools around India.

As a participant in the PAX program, Lalhming “Hminga” Pachuau spent the 2002-2003 academic year in Seattle, Washington. Hminga is currently a senior at Woodstock School.

How do I even begin to describe an experience such as the one I had as an exchange student? No matter how well I write, or am as descriptive as possible, no matter how many pictures or souvenirs I bring back, you would have to be there yourself.

The smell of America when we got off the plane brought in me a feeling of accomplishment, pride that is felt deep within. Being there was so different from the movies, pictures and stories I heard. There is no one word to describe it. There is nothing like living it live.

The plane landed at Seattle-Tacoma Airport and I felt in myself what I have never felt before. I was about to meet my host family, and being a complete stranger, I approached the meeting with much fear. The Rice family exceeded my expectations. They had two sons, one who was living at home though he was much older than I was. Mainly, it was just Mr. And Mrs. Rice. They treated me independently, and our relationship was based on trust and real friendship. We also attended church together and worked on the same worship team.

My high school, West Seattle High School, treated me as if I was their own. The block scheduling at the school was a bit different than what I was used to, but the studies were not overly challenging and I was able to take some interesting courses like Molecular Biology and Genetics. I played some basketball at the school and also played ping pong. At West Seattle, I met many good friends through activities, and others I met outside of school. Many of them had known each other since kindergarten, so it took a while to break into the group, but once I did, I found friends that I will cherish for a lifetime. I have kept in touch with many of them along with the Rices.

I had many amazing experiences through the program. I went to visit family in Washington D.C. and saw the capitol for the first time. I went to some NBA games and saw Michael Jordan play. I had an incredible time just hanging out with the friends I made.

The program made me find out much about myself that I would probably never have done otherwise.. It gave me the knowledge that books couldn’t have given me – it was the time of my life. If there was one thing I could change about the program, I would make it longer.

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World Literature Symposium
All 80 seniors participated in the 10th World Literature Symposium which culminated at the end of the school year in six days of panel discussions. In early April, the students chose their topics and had four weeks to read, do research and write a literary analysis. The topics ranged from Greek Epics and Icelandic Sagas, to Camus to South Asian Commonwealth writers, with a great deal of variety in between. Each student shared what she or he had discovered in oral presentations made to the entire senior class as well as faculty members. The presentations were followed by the audience participating in pointed and lively discussions that often went beyond the allotted time frame. The World Literature Symposium was a wonderful learning opportunity for the seniors and good preparation for their college English courses.

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Senior Science Award Winner
Manasi Bhate was the winner of this year’s Pratap Chatterjee Memorial Science Award. It was established by Mrs. Pamela Chatterjee in honor of her husband a member of the Class of ’48, who died prematurely. Mr. Chatterjee’s classmates contributed to the endowment fund. The award has been given since 1962.

Senior science students who write the best papers on the topic ‘Science and Society’ are nominated for this award. Candidates must also be enrolled in two advanced science classes and get good grades in both of them. Nominees are judged on their research of their topic, overall writing of the paper, and a class presentation of their findings. Manasi’s Physics paper was clearly the best written. She wrote about Neutrenos, which are subatomic particles, and emphasized the importance of scientific research for society. For the award, a book was donated to the library in her name and she also will get a year’s subscription to a science journal of her choice. Manasi was also the valedictorian of her graduating class and in the fall, will begin her undergraduate studies at Oberlin College in Ohio on a generous scholarship.

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Spring Musicals
On April 16th, 2003, Parker Hall found itself awash with entertainment as Woodstock’s elementary and middle school students debuted two spring musicals to rave reviews. The evening began with the elementary school production, 100% Chance of Rain, which recounted the biblical story of Noah and his family. This well-known and well-told tale was followed up by an entertaining middle school portrayal of Oh, Jonah!, another tale of faith and discovery.

The production of a spring show has been an annual event for elementary school students, but Oh, Jonah! was the first musical to be presented by the middle school in several years. The dual undertaking was headed up by Music teacher and Advanced Band instructor Ms. Anne Waltner, who says that the addition of a second musical was initiated entirely by a group of ambitious middle school students who approached her last fall.

Unsure of what she would find, Anne went home over the winter break to aid in the staff-wide search for material. When a family friend put copies of 100% Chance of Rain and Oh, Jonah! into her hands, she knew she needed look no further. Both scripts offered ample roles, memorable tunes and a good time for everyone involved, as Woodstock attendees discovered in April.

When Anne arrived back at school in February, it wasn’t long until both shows were in full-swing. The musicals became an all-inclusive effort as staff and students volunteered to assist with every aspect of the productions. For help with lines and general drama, younger students looked to elementary school instructors Ms. Linda Jackson and Mrs. Karen Cooke. Elementary and middle school English teachers Ms. Louise Bamber and Miss Ember Brosius assisted Anne with direction. Elementary School instructor Mrs. Sanjaya Mark was also on hand to help with costumes and coordinate with high school students who worked on the stage and AV crews. Then, of course, there was the construction of sets and scenery. As the show approached, it seemed that countless students and staff members could be found in the quad with a paintbrush in their hand.

While the cast of 100% Chance of Rain included all students in Grades 1 through 5, Oh, Jonah! was a slightly smaller ensemble consisting of middle school students who elected to audition for their roles. Anne was one of many teachers pleased with the outcome; roles ended up evenly divided between sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, and students had as good a time interacting with other classes as they did speaking their lines.

When asked about what she observed in the students as they worked continuously on the musicals, Anne smiled and shook her head, saying, “I guess I didn’t realize the effect the shows would have on them.” Anne and other staff members that helped with the productions found themselves overwhelmed by the students’ dedication and unfailing good humor as much as by their talent. When the shows were performed in Parker Hall to a cheering audience of parents, staff and students of all ages, it was truly a dynamic achievement for everyone involved.

“The kids just walked taller,” said Anne. “It was just great to see them mature into themselves.”

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New Edition of Kipling Launched at Woodstock
On November 11 in Parker Hall the new edition of Ruyard Kipling: The Complete Verse was launched. The launch was a joint effort of Natraj Publishers and Woodstock School. Guest speaker, Mr. Chandan Mitra, editor of “The Pioneer”, paid tribute to Rudyard Kipling’s understanding of India and the world. Quoting Kipling’s famous expression “East is east, and west is west, and never the twain shall meet”, Mr. Mitra explained that the rest of that poem showed that Kipling regarded the east as being comparable to the west in its culture, its history and its strength. He regarded the meeting of east and west as a meeting of equals. Although Kipling was “a child of his time”, and expressed his views in a way we may find strange today, nevertheless he had an intelligent and insightful view of India, and was not afraid to criticize the British. Kipling remains arguably the greatest writer associated with India. He was one of two Nobel Laureates who worked for “The Pioneer”, the other being Winston Churchill.

Mr. Mitra was accompanied at the launch by Mr. Ruskin Bond, who wrote the foreword to the book. Mr. Bond entertained the assembled school by commenting that it was unusual for him to be up so early. He read a passage from “Kim” which suggested that Kipling had visited Mussoorie during his time as a correspondent for the “Pioneer” newspaper.

Earlier Mr. David Jeffery read some of Kipling’s war poems as the school observed Remembrance Day. He made special mention of the soldiers from India, Nepal and other parts of the sub-continent who had fought alongside the British in both the First and Second World Wars.

Woodstock was chosen as the venue for this book launch because it possesses one of the best Kipling collections in India. Woodstock’s library, with 30,000 volumes, one of the largest school libraries in India. Librarian Mr. Brian Wilson is acknowledged in the book for the help Woodstock gave to the publishers in assembling this wonderful collection. Mr. Arora, of Natraj Publishers, commented that it was important to keep printing books of this quality, and to keep encouraging people to read, to maintain a civilized society.

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