Gatherings

Mussoorie

A local alumni gathering took place at the Principal’s Cottage on December 8, 2022. Community members and friends were joined by hosts Dr Cook and Jamie Williams as well as by many other alumni and current staff members. Woodstock’s music department faculty performed beautiful music, making the get-together even more special

Pune, Kathmandu, & Bangkok

In the earlier part of the year Dr Cook joined leadership and staff from Advancement, Admissions, and Communications for regional travel to meet current parents, alumni, and prospective students and parents. March saw a visit to Pune, events were hosted in Kathmandu in April, and in May events were held in Bangkok.

U.S. Summer Gatherings

Katie Jo Walter made her way from the West Coast (Seattle) to the East Coast (Washington., D.C.) in just under one month's time in June and July.

Each gathering took on its own unique tone with attendees sharing their Woodstock highs and lows, their involvement and support since leaving, and their hopes for the Woodstock of the future. Katie Jo got to spend extended periods of time with several long-term supporters of Woodstock - including major and sustaining donors, former Board Members, and former Development Directors - and receive their guidance and mentorship. At the same time she got to connect with several of the younger members of the U.S. Woodstock community who are also interested in being involved in our ongoing efforts to keep our global family of lifelong learners actively involved with campus and one another.

Chicago, IL, U.S.

Woodstock Gatherings

Dr Cook, Katie Jo Walter, and Kenton Beachy '78 visited the UK last September to bring together and meet alumni while sharing the latest from campus. It was an interesting time as the travelling team from the school arrived just a few days ahead of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

London alumna Dalia Majumder Russell '01 helped plan the visit and a wonderful dinner at Mumbai Square in Aldgate, London. Overall 30 attendees joined, some of whom, like Smita Biswas '89, were attending their first-ever alumni gathering. Alumni were amazed by Woodstock’s recent infrastructure upgrades and enjoyed browsing the UNESCO nomination book the visiting team brought along with them - with women from recent classes amused that they finally got to see what the boys' bathrooms look like.

Navya Sethi '20 and Shalini Bath '89 agreed to work to create more and increasingly interesting Woodstock connections in London. Realising the wealth of accomplishments and experience in the group, they’re hoping to host meetings featuring alumni guest speakers. They’re also eager to help organise London alumni to lend a helping hand to new Woodstock School alumni coming to the UK for higher studies and to assist the Woodstock admissions team in the UK.

The next day the team attended a fundraising luncheon for Pardada Pardadai Educational Society (PPES), a charitable organisation providing education for underprivileged girls in Uttar Pradesh, India. PPES was founded by the father of Renu Agarwal '88 and Ena Murphy '89, and Renu and Ena serve in various roles supporting the organisation. While there the Woodstock contingent met Dr Vivek Tandon '88 who, while having attended Woodstock School for only two years, showed enthusiasm for being involved. Dr Tandon subsequently served as a judge for the Woodstock School Entrepreneurship Fest.

Next the team visited Scotland, staying at the beautiful Whispering Pine Lodge where they were graciously hosted by Sanjay Narang '81. Mr Narang shared his latest work building his new Scotlandbased home and his company Black Sheep Hotels. It is impressive, to say the least. Mr Narang hosted a small barbecue gathering at Whispering Pine where alumni and former staff enjoyed fire and food by the lochside.