Tiger Tales November 2011

Student Life at Woodberry

Forest School • November 2011

45,000 Square Feet of Science Welcome to the Forest!

Woodberry’s “new boys” — 123 of them this year — were warmly welcomed when they arrived on campus with their families September 4 for Opening Day. Each boy met the mentor who will teach him about daily life at Woodberry, moved into the dorm he’ll call home, and put on the black tie he’ll wear for special occasions until late October.

Opening Day kicked off four days of orientation to the school’s rhythms and traditions. By the end of the week, Woodberry’s newest students had begun to feel like old hands. To see where Woodberry boys come from, take a look at the map on page two.

Follow the Tigers!

Boys will love learning in Woodberry’s new science building, opening for classes early in 2013.

Designed with help from its expert science faculty, the building will be state of the art, with cutting-edge labs, a rooftop observatory, a greenhouse, and plenty of space where students can gather, learn, and showcase their projects. The outdoor classroom will have easy access to the Rapidan River.

Quick Click

To follow the Tigers in cross country, football, golf, mountain biking, skeet, and soccer this fall, visit woodberry.org/athletics!

Woodberry Forest School Tiger Tales • November 2011 • 1

Where Woodberry Boys Come From 1

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From Other Countries:

Teacher feature

Mr. Ben Hale Seen biking around campus followed by his dog, Maddie, lecturing his English students in his often-imitated Tennessee accent, or urging his cross country runners to ever-faster speeds, Mr. Ben Hale is as much a part of the Woodberry landscape as its white columns and tall trees.

Cameroon 1 Canada 3 China 10 Czech Republic 1 Ghana 1 Hungary 1 Italy 1 Jamaica 5

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Japan 1 Mexico 2 South Africa 4 South Korea 14 Spain 1 Ukraine 1 Vietnam 2

Woodberry Forest opened its 123rd academic session with 405 students from 26 states, the District of Columbia, and 15 other countries. This fall there are 48 international students on campus.

What do you teach?

I teach English 600.

Where did you study?

Most recently I completed an MFA in creative writing from Rainier Writing Workshop in Tacoma, Washington. My short story, “Ruth,” was published and won an award.

What do you do outside of teaching and coaching?

I created Woodberry’s South Africa exchange program, and this summer I helped lead Woodberry in Oxford’s “Writing Britain.” I also spend a lot of time on the seven-mile perimeter trail around the campus, which I helped to construct a few years ago.

How long have you been at Woodberry?

That’s a mystery. My students like to guess; they say between forty and fifty-five years, but I don’t think I look that old!

Summer Camp in the Forest Did you know that one of every four students currently enrolled at Woodberry has already spent a summer on campus as a sports camper? Sports Camp brings boys ages ten to fourteen together for three weeks of team and individual sports like football, soccer, golf, and swimming. What boys like best is getting to know the school’s top varsity coaches and athletes who are part of the Sports Camp staff.

For guys who want to specialize, Woodberry is also home to lacrosse, squash, and basketball camps. And the three-day Father–Son Weekend brings little boys and their dads together for fun and relaxation. To find out more about summer at

the Forest, visit www.woodberry.org/summer.

2• November 2011 • Tiger Tales

Woodberry Forest School

Attend Woodberry — See the World!

Woodberry offers incredible opportunities for boys to immerse themselves in different cultures through our summer study abroad programs. Check out our summer

program blogs at www.woodberry.org/summer!

Scotland Eight rising sixth-form boys from Woodberry and eight girls from other schools spend three weeks in Scotland, learning the country’s colorful history, touring its historical sites, enjoying outdoor adventures, and, best of all, making new friends.

Central American Summer Abroad (CASA) CASA immerses younger Woodberry boys in the rich culture of Nicaragua, helping them speak Spanish and participate in community service projects. Boys stay with local families and enjoy breaks for hiking, swimming, skiing, and ziplining.

Oxford The theme for the Oxford trip changes each year. The dozen boys in last summer’s “Writing in Britain” program formed a writer’s workshop, kept journals, and blogged about their impressions of the cities they visited.

Spain Boys in the five-week Woodberry in Spain program stay with local families, learn the language, try everything from ghost tours to mariachi lessons, and eat amazing food.

Study Tip

Plan your time!

Whether you use a planner, a calendar, or a notebook, keep track of your assignments, games, activities — and the time you spend on each.

Student Snapshot

CJ Prosise

Graduation year: 2012 Hometown: Petersburg, VA Favorite class: English with Mr. Hale Football positions: Wide receiver, free safety, returner Track events: 55 m, 100 m, 200 m, 4x100 m, long jump, high jump Favorite time of the day: “Football practice — because I get to throw away all the stress of the day and hang out with my friends.”

College next year: Committed to Notre Dame on a football scholarship Follow CJ and the other Tigers on the football blog at woodberryforestfootball. blogspot.com!

This tip comes from Woodberry’s Academic Development Center, where boys can learn time-management and study skills. Check out the ADC blog at wfsadc.wordpress.com!

Woodberry Forest School Tiger Tales • November 2011 • 3

Presorted First Class U.S. Postage PAID Charlottesville, VA Permit No. 2

Woodberry Forest School 898 Woodberry Forest Road Woodberry Forest, VA 22989-9989

Here’s Your latest copy of Tiger Tales!

Important dates for future Tigers To schedule your campus visit, tour, and interview, call the admissions office at (888) 798-9371.

November 3–5 Fall Main Stage Play “Lend Me a Tenor” November 11 Bonfire Bash November 12 SSAT November 12 “The Game” 111th varsity football matchup between Woodberry and Episcopal High School at EHS

November 16 Fall Term Ends November 22–28 Thanksgiving Break December 10 SSAT www.ssat.org (test offered at Woodberry) February 1 Application Deadline

Stay Connected!

Web www.woodberry.org Facebook www.facebook.com/woodberry forestschooladmissions YouTube www.youtube.com/ woodberryforestview Twitter www.twitter.com/ woodberryforest

Want to ace the SSAT? See practice questions on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/woodberryforestschooladmissions Woodberry Forest admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school–administered programs.