Woodstock in the news

The latest edition of "Education World" magazine carried an article on "25 Principals redefining school education". Woodstock was one of the featured schools. You can download a pdf version of the entire article here.

Although the great majority of contemporary India's public (i.e private exclusive) schools draw upon British public school traditions, way up in the picturesque hill station of Mussoorie built on steep hillsides 7,000 ft above mean sea level in the newly constituted state of Uttrarakhand (pop. 8.4 million), is the Woodstock School (estb. 1854).

Originally established by British educators, for much of its history it was overseen by the American Presbyterian missions, and still has many American staff. For 150 years this class I-XII co-education school, which follows the IGCSE curriculum of the Cambridge International Examinations in grades (classes) IX-X and the American College Board AP (Advanced Placement) in classes XI-XII has built itself an excellent reputation for delivering high quality academic education combined with strong service values and extra-curricular programmes. Currently 470 students including 231 girls from 25 countries reside and study in the bracing climate of this international school's 300 acre campus which dominates Mussoorie (pop . 33,000).

"The distinguishing characteristic of Woodstock is our strong emphasis on experiential learning and development of the independent thinking and collaborative skills of our students while preparing them for admission into the best universities in India and the West," says Kaye Aoki, an English and international education alumna of the University of Minnesota who taught at International School of the Sacred Heart and the Christian Academy in Japan, Tokyo, for over two decades (1979-2001) before joining the faculty of Woodstock in 2002.

Aoki was appointed deputy principal in 2003 and, following the retirement of David Jeffery last year after eight and a half years as at the helm of this pioneer school, is now the Interim Principal of Woodstock.

As head of academics (and recently appointed interim principal) Aoki has infused new rigour into the curriculum starting from the elementary levels with particular emphasis on experiential learning and community service. "This institution has strong Christian values rooted in service to communities around the world. My emphasis is to reinforce this culture and prepare our students not only for conventional careers but for service in voluntary organisations as well," says Aoki who has also been heavily involved in major plans to buttress the infrastructure of the school and involve Woodstock students in a sustainable environment programme.