Welcome from the Head of School
Over a quarter of a century ago, my parents, Sally Campbell
Woodhall and Jonathan A. Woodhall, a group of dedicated educators, and friends
of our family shared a dream to create a different kind of school for young
men. Where other schools had said "no," The Woodhall School said "yes." A
generation of boys has become gentlemen of Woodhall, and the School continues
to provide opportunities for success for bright young men, who for a variety of
reasons, have yet to realize their full potential.
At Woodhall, teachers and students dispense with labels,
believing that ninety-nine percent of learning happens outside the classroom.
We offer an individualized approach that addresses the needs of the whole student: a boy's
intellectual, physical, moral, and spiritual growth. In a matter of speaking,
then, when a boy comes to Woodhall, he is not just a brain but also a heart. The
School's motto, Soli Ipse Adesse,
translates to "Be present to [the student] himself alone." At Woodhall, we are present to the whole
student. We meet the boy where he is rather than demand an expectation of where
he should be.
Woodhall is a unique and intimate traditional boarding
school that, like its students, defies categorization. Teachers and students
work towards developing greater self-reflection, self-expression, and
accountability for everyone in the community. Often I am asked what we expect
of a graduate of The Woodhall School. We expect him to be a gentleman, in the fullest sense of the
word, and to demonstrate the coping skills to face challenges in college and
beyond. What a student learns in history or algebra class is important, but
what is a young man learning so that, as he matures, he can act with integrity,
compassion, and respect as a spouse, a friend, a citizen, or a father?
As a boy growing up on campus as the School itself grew, I
wandered the same paths in the campus woods that the students explore today. I share
in their fear and frustrations - when, as Robert Frost wrote, "I'm weary of
considerations, And life is too much like a pathless wood" - as well as I share
in their courage and awakenings. Structure, consistency, and fairness guide the
gentlemen of Woodhall through their individual journey towards a greater sense
of self and others. Whether you are a prospective student and family, an
alumnus, or a fellow educator, I look forward to welcoming you to our school
community.
--Matthew Campbell Woodhall
Head of School
