Mens Sana in Corpore Sano A

Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body

By Michelle Woodruff, Athletic Director and Kate Worsham, Director of Riding

While academic endeavor is the School’s primary purpose, our philosophy is rooted in the School Motto: mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body), reflecting our belief in the vital connection between a girl’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing and her academic success.

Together We Succeed

“Together we succeed” is a mentality that sports, as an integral part of the life of students at Foxcroft, work hard to make true. As coaches, our athletes are at the center of all we do. From day one, we listen to and encourage our studentathletes in an effort to cultivate a sense of belonging and community. Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, and guts — these are the enduring qualities that our girls develop through sports.

Developing athletes into leaders with integrity, sportsmanship, and resilience is instrumental in aiding students’ feeling of being known and valued. Athletics give students a sense of purpose and belonging where, as part of a team, they learn and develop alongside their peers. These teams work to build connections at each level as coaches create a safe and supportive environment in which the whole student-athlete is developed: mind, body, and character.

Three beautiful gyms, two new state-ofthe-art turf fields, eight stunning tennis courts, and a scenic cross-country course show Foxcroft’s commitment to sports as an intentional investment in the healthy development of our students.

Riding is in Our History, Our Present, and Our Future

Long before a student arrives on campus, the Riding Department gets to know her through email exchanges which often include pictures of her favorite horse and videos of her riding. These glimpses into her passion for all things equine allow us to connect with her in a meaningful way before she is officially enrolled as a student.

Once enrolled, our new rider questionnaire gives us additional insight into her skills, comfort level, and goals. Experience allows us to see through the nervous butterflies of the placement rides and interact with each rider to design a lesson schedule for them that encourages confidence and growth.

Our founder Miss Charlotte, a consummate horsewoman, set the precedent that the name Foxcroft School would be synonymous with riding. Her exuberance and love for the sport are still celebrated today as we welcome new riders of all stages to the Jean DuPont McConnell Stables and Riding Arena. Throughout their time at Foxcroft, riders are encouraged to explore their riding interests paying deliberate attention to the development of quality skills and a genuine connection to the horses that serve as their partners for each ride.

Our connection to the horses and the students never fades, as evidenced by the Reunion weekends when riders come to find their favorite horse’s name on the Honor Roll or text us a picture with a Foxcroft classmate on some wild horse girl adventure. •

Foxcroft also offers an Exceptional Proficiency (EP) Program that enables a student with demonstrated talent and passion to spend time away from School to train, compete, and pursue her dream while receiving the academic support to fulfill our high educational standards.

By Patty Boswell, Registrar and Hound Backer and Alex Northrup, Director of The Innovation Lab, History Department Chair, and Foxy Fellow

their tambourines in celebration and confirmation of her belonging.

gazebo on Big Track to see who can climb to the top and touch the weathervane first. Win or lose, the New Girls are embraced for their spirit, and the tone is set for the year.

Created by Miss Charlotte during World War I, the beloved tradition of Fox/Hound has withstood the test of time, becoming an intrinsic piece of the relationships and connections that make us all a part of the fabric of Foxcroft. Within the first week of the school year, Choosings are held, ensuring every New Girl instantly knows that she is a part of this community now and forever. As each student’s name is called for the Fox or Hound team, her peers cheer, bang their drums, and shake

As soon as Choosings is over, the new Foxes and Hounds are whisked away and dressed in very distinctive outfits that reflect the colors of their new team. Then they are taken to their first Sing Sing. New Girl Sing Sing is like walking into a secret room and finding that magic is real. The first things you notice are the beautifully made banners covering the walls. These banners, lovingly made by Fox and Hound Painters of the past, leave a feeling that those women are right here with us, their legacies forming a bond between past and present.

Several Fox/Hound events throughout the year perpetuate the sense of belonging. New Girl Runnings, held on the day of Fox/Hound Field Hockey, is a unique way of celebrating the new Foxes and Hounds. They race to the

Students are encouraged to try out for all Fox/Hound field hockey and basketball teams, even if they have never played. They are then patiently taught by the more experienced students, and the competitions are something to be proud of! Every Fox and Hound has a role in each event, even riding. If a student is not competing on a team, their participation happens in other ways that show their spirit and pride.

There is excitement in the air on Fox/Hound game days, in no small part from the many alumnae that return, sporting their colors and pins, to cheer on their teams. Stories are told of games past, and one can hear the pride in their voices. The best parts of this remarkable tradition are the friendships made, the instant bond through the generations, and the knowledge that they are all, as the School Song promises, “friends 'til life is through and ends.” •

This photo is believed to be circa 1970-80 New Girl Runnings. Do you recognize yourself or anyone else? Help us identify the students and timeframe for this photo. Email