The Phoenix
The Woodhall School Newsletter
2015-2016
Reflections from the Head of School
To The Woodhall School Community,
During her final years as Head of School, Mrs. Woodhall approached me about establishing a permanent school mascot. (The
Woodchucks and the Wild Cats were among the early mascots.) During a school forum, she suggested to the community
that we become the Woodhall Phoenix.
Many ancient civilizations embrace the concept of rebirth or cyclical regeneration described in the
myth of the Phoenix. With its brilliant plumage of gold and scarlet and its life span of a
thousand years, the bird builds a nest, which then ignites, and the creature perishes in
resplendent flames. From the ashes, a new Phoenix arises, rejuvenated and powerful.
Having worked with the Gentlemen of Woodhall for over a decade, I’ve come
to understand how the Phoenix is an apt school mascot, as it symbolizes
the transformational journey of our students. Occasionally, a skeptic
of the school may demand data-driven evidence of the efficacy of
our students’ engagement in the process of self-reflection and
self-expression with accountability.
While the qualitative and quantitative studies exist to
support the school’s relationship-based approach and
its mindful and intentional community building, I
encourage all of us to remember the importance
of dwelling with the ineffable qualities of a
young man’s journey of discovery of his
own self and the world around him
that Walt Whitman captures in his
poem, printed on the back of this
newsletter, “When I Heard the
Learn’ d Astronomers.”
Respectfully yours,
Matthew C. Woodhall
Head of School
58 Harrison Lane, PO Box 550, Bethlehem, CT 06751
www.woodhallschool.org
Finding Focus - The Mindfulness Program
Dr.
Norm Christiansen, Ph.D. has been part of The
Woodhall School for several years, first as a coach for
Physical Training, then as a personal trainer for some of
the students, and as Mindfulness Facilitator for faculty and
students when Woodhall incorporated Mindfulness Practice
in the Communications Program. Next year, he will be
teaching a Health and Wellness class to the students. In an
interview with Matthew Woodhall recently, Dr. Christiansen
outlined the objectives of the class.
“The course, ‘Health and Wellness: How to Lead a
Meaningful Life,’ will be presented through the ground
breaking science of Positive Psychology, which explores the
roots of a happy and meaningful life. The course will draw
information and inferences from cross-disciplinary research
in psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, nutrition,
fitness and more.”
“Mindfulness will be integrated throughout the course in each
class. The learning objectives are to learn key psychological,
Ryan Kochman ‘17, Dr. Christiansen, Matthew Kuyper ‘17, and Alexander Mount ‘18.
social and biological factors in living a meaningful, healthy
and happy life; to learn the relationships between human
connection and pro-social qualities such as compassion,
altruism and gratitude; and to practice techniques that help
to develop a meaningful life.”
worked with elite athletes on the US Figure Skating and US
Olympic teams, teaching them mindfulness skills to help
them relax, focus and regulate their emotions to enhance
their performances. He has also worked with artists, writers,
actors, dancers and other performance artists.
Dr. Christiansen earned his doctoral degree in psychology
from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and says
that he began the real learning of how to help others after
graduating. “After working with diverse populations of
children, adolescents, and adults in many different settings, I
became disillusioned and saw the limitations of the medical
model to help others change and grow,” he explained. He
began to explore the area of Optimal Performance and
Dr. Christiansen’s ideas about what Optimal Performance
should mean in sports, drama and other artistic performances
expanded to include the general population. How can we
lead a healthy and meaningful life? What are the ingredients
that increase the chances of developing this style of life?
How are these best learned and integrated into one’s life?
The focus on these questions and his work in these areas
has gradually gathered his full attention.
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with Dr. Norman Christiansen, Ph.D.
Mindfulness was introduced to the Communications
Program this year. “Its ability to relax, focus, reduce
impulsivity and regulate emotions quiets the thought waves
of the mind. Mindfulness helps us understand that we
are not our thoughts; and when we stop identifying with
them, the waves move slower and we are more capable of
resting in the present moment,” he explained. “Mindfulness
is paying attention to experience in a certain way without
judgment in the present moment. As the Communications
Group creates an environment of no blame and no shame,
the quality of interaction between students and faculty, and
between student and student, shifts. The ability to accept
responsibility (see things honestly as they are) for behavior
comes from within the student. The transition occurs at a
different pace for each student; and the more they observe
this being modeled by faculty, the “capsule” that holds this
safety becomes dependable and predictable. It becomes
increasingly comfortable to express thoughts and feelings as
an observation or awareness.”
Dr. Norman Christiansen,Pd.D.
“When the opportunity to provide group fitness training
at Woodhall presented itself I jumped, at it.” He had been
studying positive psychology for many years, and he found that
physical training and nutrition were natural complimentary
fields for positive psychology. “I felt immediately at home
with Woodhall students.” Their eagerness matched his
enthusiasm, knowledge, experience and his approach to
learning. The skills as a nutrition coach/educator
dovetailed into workouts casually. “People
learn best in relationships that are respectful,
compassionate and attentive and where everyone
is seen as a learner,” he observed.
Dr. Christiansen has practiced Yoga on and off
for 25 years and devotedly for the past 12 years.
After completing his teacher training at Kripalu
Yoga Center he began to see yoga as meditation
or mindfulness in motion. “Yoga means coming
into union with yourself and others, seeing
the inter-connectedness of every living thing.
Mindfulness is the actual experience of this
unity that happens when the mind becomes
quiet. This is created when the body, mind and
senses are brought into balance relaxing the
nervous system.”
We are pleased that Dr. Christiansen will be expanding his
role as a member of The Woodhall School. He concludes,
“The entire Woodhall community and beyond have the
opportunity to learn and practice Mindfulness at any time. I
want to engage with everyone that is part of the Woodhall
community in a respectful, compassionate, kind and
playful manner. May my experiences, education and living a
mindful life throughout the world and the entire Woodhall
community lead others here to a life awakened to the call
of freedom, patience and generosity that will transform any
perceived limitations into fruitful possibilities that spring
from their hearts.”
Henry Molinary ‘15, Alexander Mount ‘18, Dr. Christiansen, and James Cobb ‘16 at Convocation.
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The Oxfam America Hunger Banquet
Local Food Drive
In December, as consumerism and overeating were ushered in with the
holiday season, Woodhall students had an alternative dining event to help
them see hunger and inequality in a whole new way. In conjunction with
our holiday food drive, which looked at hunger at the local perspective,
the Hunger Banquet gave us a more global perspective.
The Oxfam America Hunger Banquet is an experiential event where
each person’s meal is determined by the luck of the draw. Students were
split into groups (“economic classes”) without knowing what their group
represented. Students learned more about their assigned social class, which
corresponded to the type of meal each received. There was a povertystricken group, which was served rice and water, with no utensils, etc.
The middle-class (slightly developed countries) received rice and beans,
an ample amount of water and limited utensils. The established-economy
group was served a full course meal.
The event was facilitated by a group of ambassadors from the University
of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.
Daniel Becher ’17 said it was “interesting to see the different levels and
how people in the different levels treat food. The people in the higher
class don’t really have to think about it, whereas the people in the lower
class are living meal to meal.” Daniel was assigned the middle level, where
he was a little worried about whether or not he would feel full at the end
of the meal, but was aware of the higher class people “who did not have
to worry about how much they ate, whether or not it would be enough
and would be good.”
During our annual food drive the Woodhall community
collected over 1,484 items for the Bethlehem Food Bank.
Oxfam America is a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice around the world.
For more than 40 years, Oxfam America Hunger Banquets have been changing the way people think about global hunger,
one plate at a time.
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The Oxfam Hunger Banquet in the Gallery. Highest level is seated at the table on the right, the lowest are on the floor, and the middle level on chairs in the back.
Field to Fork - Learning About the Origins, Processing and Distribution of Food
Alex Neuschotz ‘19 meets an egg producer.
Preparing a new bed.
Ryan Kochman ‘17 helping in the greenhouse.
Food Systems entail all of the materials and actions involved in our food; a vital and
complex process from growing to harvesting to processing to packaging to transporting
to marketing to preparing to consuming to disposing, all within the environmental,
economic and cultural spheres in which they occur. Our food system is also integrally
related to a host of environmental challenges facing us today—environmental pollution,
greenhouse gas emissions, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity among others. Tracing
the complex journey of our food from farm, river, ocean, ranch—wherever it may
start—to our plates illuminates the numerous connections between our food, society
and the environment.
In May, Woodhall students visited:
•
Abbey of Regina Laudis, Bethlehem, that produces and sells it’s own cheese,
granola, honey, vinegar, herbs, and mustards.
Our trip coincided with the dedication of the new Urth
Farm, resurrected as a non-profit, inner-city, organic farm.
Cutting the ribbon are Erin Stewart, Mayor of New Britain,
and farmer Michael Kandefer; with Jack Sullivan ‘19,
Sam Nelson ‘16, Jack Sorensen ‘18, Matthew Woodhall,
and Ryan Kochman ‘17 from Woodhall, and Jane Beup,
Executive Directory of Urth Farms, Alderman Dan Naples,
and CEO Al Gamble.
•
Arethusa Farm, an award winning dairy farm in Litchfield, with a sophisticated
cheese aging facility, shop, and restaurant.
•
Bantam Market, a Litchfield grocer specializing in organic, natural, and alternative
foods.
•
Common Ground, an environmental charter school, urban farm, and community
environmental education center on 20 acres near West Rock Ridge State Park in New Haven.
•
Lewis Educational Agricultural Farm, a 230 year old family farm in Southington.
•
Litchfield Locker, a locally owned butcher serving the public, restaurants, local stores, and local hunters who need deer carved
and packaged.
•
Truelove Farms, in Morris, a sustainable farm using historical husbandry methods to raise heritage breeds of pigs, cattle, and
chickens, free-range outdoors in woodlands and pastures.
•
Stop & Shop grocery, Southbury and Litchfield. Started in 1914 the company was the pioneer of the self-service supermarket
and now has over 375 stores in New England, New York and New Jersey.
•
Urth Farm, New Britain, the recent resurrection of a 3.5 acre non-profit organic farm in the middle of the city, dedicated to
education and providing fresh food to inner city neighborhoods.
Gabriel Wysoker ‘17, Mr. Stewart Diaz-Mogollon and Winston Forman ‘18 help prepare a field for planting potatoes at the Abbey.
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Collecting Donations and Presenting Research Projects,
As part of a project in their Spanish III class at The Woodhall
School, students sought donations of school supplies and used
clothing for students at three indigenous schools, the Arhuacan
schools, La Institucion Etnoeducativa Tairona de Bunkwimake
(IEDTB) Institucion Etnoeducativa de Seykuimake, and the
Wiwa school, Zalemaku de Sertuga, located in the Sierra Nevada
of Santa Marta (SNSM), Colombia.
“My Woodhall Spanish III students, Winston Forman ’18 and
Ryan Kochman ’17, have been learning about the Arhuaco and
Kogi people and the cultural background of their communities,
especially in regard to their traditional ecological knowledge,”
explains Spanish teacher Stewart Diaz-Mogollon. “This ethnoecological work, mostly carried out by the Kogi Mamas and
Arhuacan Mamos [spiritual
leaders], focuses on the areas of
water management and human
impact.”
For their class project, students
are
using
their
Spanish
knowledge to build a relationship
with the students attending these
schools. Mr. Diaz-Mogollon
began working with the Arhuaco
and Wiwa populations in 2005 as
a cultural anthropologist.
“When I returned to the U.S. in
2010, I hoped to find schools
A student in her Spanish grammar class (above). The Kogi and Arhuacan
such as Woodhall to help
people learn Spanish as a second language, since their first language is their
native indigenous language: Ikan for the Arhuacans and Kaggaba for the Kogis. socialize the importance of
this work for the planet,” he
explained. “My students are currently in the process of producing introductory videos in
Spanish and creating community awareness around the topics that Spanish has allowed them
to understand and comparatively engage with, such as Ryan’s research project into the ethno-botany and neurology of the
Kogi Mamas, and Winston’s research of the fauna and cosmology of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta”.
Mr. Diaz-Mogollon plans to visit the
villages later this summer, to share the
students’ videos and deliver the donated
materials. With his return he plans to
bring back a recorded response from the
Colombian students to share with the
Woodhall students.
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Elementary School students of La Institucion Etnoeducativa Distrital Tairona de Bunkwimake (IEDTB) with Principal Ari Javier, Mr Diaz, and Community Elder.
the Spanish III Class Reaches Out to the Indigenous People of Colombia
Part of the presentation of the research project.
Community procession: Family Weekend, four indigenous school branches of
the SNSM gather in the village of Bunkwimake to celebrate students’ work.
Dumitru Mahoney ‘17 also contributed thoughtful artwork to the presentation. His
hummingbirds painting portrays how a Kogi Mama would first see the natural world
upon exiting the darkness in which he is raised for the first nine years of his life.
Ryan Kochman ’17 said it was “mind expanding
to see their perspective on the world beside
the usual western paradigm. It expanded my
world view. The study enhanced my interests in
anthropology, which I might possibly study in
college, and in ethno-botany, on which I did my
research project.”
The students presented their research in Spanish
in class and in mostly English to the rest of the
school. The project gave them the opportunity
to use the structure of the language to frame
research questions that resulted in a more
meaningful, personalized dictionary of Spanish
words for each student. The students realize
that it is more than just fulfilling a language
credit requirement; the study becomes a living
tool that can be applied to solve real-world
problems.
To learn more about the significance of the
work of the Kogi Mamas and Arhuacan
Mamos, view filmmaker Alan Ereira’s BBC
documentary, at alunathemovie.com.
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Basketball
Jack Sorensen ‘18, Matthew Scolari ‘17, Michael Bernardi ‘19, and Kent Jones’18 against Glenhome School.
Matthew Chornyei ‘16 goes for a 3 pointer.
This year’s young, inexperienced, but promising team
demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth throughout the
season. For example, we lost the season opening game against the Glenholme School, but we beat them comfortably in
the second game. The Storm King School defeated us by 20 points in the first game, but the second was exhilaratingly
close as we lost by only one point. Throughout the season, win or loss, the team played cohesively and with the same level
of exuberance in every game. Most importantly, the team continued to embrace and uphold the Phoenix’s reputation of
practicing good sportsmanship. Everyone on the team got an opportunity to play at least one game during the season. The
individual growth exhibited by each player was remarkable. This promising young team has excellent potential.
Wrestling
The Phoenix wrestling squad endured a difficult campaign in which three of their most talented members suffered season-
ending injuries and the club lost four separate matches by just a single pin. Senior captains James Cobb and Nic Sciurba
brought discipline and enthusiasm to the endeavor, while fellow senior George Meehan brought quiet leadership and a
steady presence. Individually, Cobb posted a record of nine wins against just three defeats, while Meehan, Warren Hurlock
’16, Stephen Hefner ’16, and Ryan Kochman
’17 all had winning or .500 records. Daily
practices consisted of new moves, drills,
situational wresting, live wrestling, and a
great deal of conditioning. The heart and
soul of the team were coaches Mr. Fred
Mills and Mr. Stewart Diaz-Mogollon,
and with both of them returning along
with a solid core of young wrestlers, the
Coach Fred Mills with the team before a meet in our gym. Warren Hurlock ‘16 and Connor Fennell ‘18 outlook for next season is promising.
Lacrosse
The
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2016 season was a rebuilding year for Phoenix
Lacrosse. While facing a losing season can be dispiriting, the
team collectively and players individually developed stamina
and learned to deal with setbacks. The majority of the
team was new to the sport of lacrosse. Yet, newcomers like
Jake Whitehurst ’18 and Connor Fennell ’18 demonstrated
exceptional progress; Connor, in particular, took on the
role of goalie halfway through the season. Jack Sorenson
’18, Winston Forman ’18, and Carlos Moore ’18 were
the top goal scorers for the team. New to Woodhall but
a skilled player, Dylan Trombley ’18 added his experience,
and second-year player Alex Mount ’18 emerged as a leader.
Many key players will be returning next year, and Phoenix
Lacrosse is anticipating a stronger season.
Outdoor Challenge
Canoeing in White’s Woods
Fall Outdoor Challenge hiked the woodlands and
wetlands of Litchfield Hills. During peak foliage in
a colorful New England autumn, the team scaled the
forehead of Sleeping Giant Mountain and trekked
the Appalachian Trail to reach Bear Mountain, the
tallest summit in Connecticut. In addition, the team
canoed across every bay in Bantam Lake, the largest
natural body of water in the state. On one occasion,
the team traversed North Bay to enjoy lunch and
a campfire together on the beach of White’s
Woods. While canoeing the Bantam River, the team
encountered beaver dams, so they had to portage
their boats to complete the expedition. In all of
these activities, the boys developed social skills, team
building, and physical stamina.
Spring
Outdoor Challenge introduced a number of
activities which endeavored to instill an awareness of the
interrelatedness of ecological phenomena as they apply
to both personal wellness and greater ecological harmony.
Team members worked together in canoes to steer in windy
conditions on local lakes, and they navigated the circuitous
creeks of White’s Woods Conservation Area, encountering
beavers, muskrats, herons, turtles, and water snakes. They
hiked in a number of parks and reserves, contemplating
and photographing spring wildflowers, amphibians, and the
impressive views that hiking in New England can afford.
Ongoing projects on Woodhall’s campus included: making
walking sticks, constructing and installing bird houses,
working in the permaculture garden, controlling invasive
plant species, and creating natural art. Team members
pushed their physical limits in the Phoenix Biathlon, which
involved walking or running two laps around the Phoenix
Trail followed by paddling a canoe across Trevor’s Pond
and back. A number of students made consistent progress
in beating their personal best times in the biathlon every
Will Magruder ‘17 and Zach Davis ‘17
week. Students also practiced their leadership skills in the
more traditional team sport of Ultimate Frisbee. Ultimate
games were often quite competitive and demanded of
members that they work through their own fouls without
the aid of a referee in an attempt to model the sport’s “spirit
of the game.” Spring Outdoor Challenge culminated in a
courageous Ultimate tournament against the Lacrosse team
at the end of the season; a welcome palliative to the stress of
reviewing for final exams.
Michael Bernardi ‘19
Art installations that
will evolve with the
natural environment.
Cole Beck ‘19, Daniel Becher ‘17, Will Magruder ‘17, Keil Sherman ‘16,
Coach David Byrne, and Matthew Siege ‘18, hiking Swendsen Farm
Preserve in Bethlehem, CT.
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Cross Country
This was a successful season for the cross-
country team at The Woodhall School. The
team consisted of 12 students who were
dedicated to training, to increasing their
individual endurance and speed, and to
performing together as a competitive unit.
Each day of training included runs of 2 and
5+ miles on the roads near campus as well as
on the trails at nearby land trusts and nature
centers. The team ran in seven cross-country
5-kilometer (3.1 mile) races, including one
invitational meet of over 100 runners from
schools in Connecticut and New York. As
new members of the Hudson Valley Athletic
League (HVAL), the team sent seven runners
to the championship race in early November.
Jimmy Gregory ‘17 sprints to the finish at the Forman School, outpacing a student from the Storm King School.
Soccer
Our goals for the season were to foster
teamwork and brotherhood, fundamental
skill development, fitness, and love of
the game. We also looked to encourage
discipline and structure through
organized practices and team play. Our
team competed against a full schedule
of many area private schools. This year’s
team was younger than past years, but
also included a few key returners. These
new players to Woodhall and the game
brought a lot of enthusiasm and energy
to our dynamic; throughout the season
they were eager and ready to improve
upon their skills. Returners become
Jack Sorensen ‘18
important mentors in this process, and brought much needed leadership. As a team we focused on
possession-style play, using all members of the team and all parts of the field. To this end, we spent much of our practices
developing first-touches and communication. Defensively, we focused on basic containing skills and sticking with our
marks. Offensively, we highlighted the use of all parts of the field to move the ball, as well as smart, tactical finishes.
10
Matthew Chornyei ‘16
Drama
Animal Farm set.
Dylan Trombley ‘18, Jake Sternberg ‘17 and Zach Davis ‘17 in Animal Farm.
The Woodhall Players enjoyed another successful year, mounting challenging and artistically original
plays. In the Winter,
we produced an original and provocative version of George Orwell’s Animal Farm using masks constructed for the show
by internationally recognized artist Larry Hunt.
Jacob Sternberg ‘17 as Julius Caesar
Matthew Chornyei ‘16, Matthew Kuyper ‘17, as the Travelers,
and Greg Allen ‘16 as Lord Xenu, during rehearsal.
In the Spring, the company produced a
one-act play using the iambic pentameter
of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar,
but presenting it as a comedy. The
second act was a completely improvised
existential time-travel comedy called The
Search for Lord Xenu written entirely by
the spring term Drama troupe.
Jimmy Gregory ‘17 at the organ.
Alex Mellin ‘19 as Cassius
The Woodhall Drama program continues
to emphasize the ensemble approach to
theatrical production and our efforts were
rewarded by the Seven Angels Theatre’s
Halo Award for Best Ensemble. Jimmy
Gregory ’17, who composed, directed,
and performed the music for all three
performances also won a Halo Award
for Best Sound Design.
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Trip to the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy
Biology classes visited Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy in May, a
perfect place to observe the diverse collections of waterfowl from around
the globe in one place. The Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy
(LRWC) focuses on research, education and conservation action to protect
waterfowl and wetlands. This Litchfield, CT non-profit is home to over sixty
species of native and endangered waterfowl species.
The students learned about their physical characteristics, courtship behaviors,
and habitats. They observed egg candling and also conducted chicken
embryo dissections. Alex Neuschotz ‘19 said he “liked the waterfowl field
trip because the ducks were very interactive; a goose kept nipping at my pant
leg. We learned a lot about the development from a chick egg to an adult
waterfowel and learned many interesting facts, such as birds can control the
sex of their offspring.”
Alex Mellin ‘19 views a chick egg up close in the classroom.
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Ben Sonnenberg, Director of Environmental Education at LRWC, presenting with one of the conservancy’s feathered residents.
Taking notes is Alex Neuschotz ‘19, with Carlos Moore ‘18 and Alex Mellin ’19.
Permaculture Garden Update
The
Ed Gelzheiser and Ed Fennell, assisted here by Tashi Phuntsok check the health of
the hives every two weeks, looking for pollen, honey, and brood.
bees in the Permaculture Garden almost made it
through the winter, succumbing in February. Beekeepers
we consulted advised two hives would give them a greater
chance of survival. We are grateful to have a current Woodhall
parent who knows the art and science of beekeeping. Edward
Fennell, father of Connor Fennel ’18, helped us to obtain a
second hive and re-populate the first. He is teaching Mr. Ed
Gelzheiser hive management. So far this year the hives are
thriving.
Mr. Adam Herbert will be taking care of the garden over
the summer. Under his guidance students weeded, mulched, planted vegetables, and built architecture for supporting the
plants. They also made natural bee houses out of hollow tubes and reeds to encourage native pollinators.
We are looking forward to creating study topics and research surrounding the garden and the bees. The garden continues
to serve as a beautiful space for contemplation and collaboration for the campus community.
Pea and bean plants will climb these arches.
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2016 Commencement Speaker, Dr. Carl G. Seefried, Jr.
Dr. Carl G. Seefried, Jr. or, “Doc” as he was affectionately and respectfully known to
students, teachers, and parents during his 13 years at The Woodhall School, where he served
as a chemistry teacher, Director of Athletics, Dean of Students, and Dean of Faculty.
A native of Buffalo, New York, Dr. Seefried earned his B.S. from Union College
and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Yale University, where he went on to a highly
successful career in Research and Development in the chemical industry.
In August 2002, he fatefully responded to an ad in the local newspaper, which read:
“Wanted: Chemistry teacher at small, boys boarding school in Bethlehem.” He went onto
a transformative second career as an educator were he mentored scores of Gentlemen of
Woodhall, modeling the school’s core values of integrity, compassion, and respect with
his unflagging work ethic, insistence on a job done with precision and accuracy, his gently wry sense of humor, and a
commitment to doing what was best for a boy.
The influence of his leadership during a crucial period in the school’s history cannot be overstated. He was and is a most
trusted colleague, advisor, and friend to both the former and current Heads of School. He and his wife, Renee, are moving
to Virginia, but will always be a part of The Woodhall School community. Below are excerpts from his address.
“I am honored to be the speaker at these exercises and to follow
the two previous commencement speakers who are alumni of
The School – Harry Metzger, Class of 2004 and Josh Kerr, Class
of 2003. Both of these young men provided insights to their
burgeoning careers and how their experiences at The Woodhall
School gave them a foundation for shaping their lives. I come
from the opposite end of the spectrum with regard to my time at
The School and perhaps I can share some of my thoughts from
that vantage point.
“Mr. Woodhall and I met with him one afternoon toward the
end of the season and told him that we weren’t buying into his
knee injury, since he seemed to run OK during free moments of
campus activity. We encouraged him to consider only doing his
best each day and simply to try - - - that was all that we expected.
This young man wrote, ‘This was a eureka event for me. Suddenly
I became aware of what my perfectionism, my need to be the
best, and my tendency to be overly competitive had been doing
to me. I realized something had to change, and it had to be me.’
“It is heartening to see that some of the traditional educational
precepts of The School are still in place. Dressing for dinner in tie
and jacket with an expectation for appropriate dinner conversation
still has a place in this world of informality and meals consisting
of “grab a bite and run.” I remember with a wry inward smile, my
admonitions concerning the lack of appropriateness for wearing
white athletic socks at these meals. I am sure Mr. Sherer felt
similarly when he gave his annual pronouncement on the proper
positioning of the toilet seat when one leaves the bathroom. I
still can hear him conclude his remarks by saying, “Your future
mother-in-law will be pleased with you.” It also is good to see that
Mr. G continues to highlight on his classroom whiteboard many
of the deep philosophical insights of his students. They really
are a treasure, and I hope he has captured them all for posterity.
“Over the following summer he vowed to get into shape and
ran three miles almost every morning. He returned to school
no longer afraid of the hilly terrains of the courses or any of the
other challenges that had overwhelmed him the previous season.
In the first meet he was chosen as the team’s captain. Awestruck
with his leadership responsibility, he led the team to the starting
line and encouraged his teammates to run hard, but to run safely.
Ironically during the race, he tripped on a tree root, fell on his
face, and injured himself to a fair degree. He wrote, ‘Whereas in
the previous year I would have come back to the school angry,
devastated, and beating myself up over what happened, this is
not at all how I returned to Woodhall after this first meet. In fact,
despite the poor performance of both myself and the team, I came
back to school happy, excited, anxiously awaiting the opportunity
to tell my family the good news of my new leadership role. …
My perfectionism, competitiveness, and lack of self-confidence
were all connected, and
were all doing me more
harm than good. … Cross
Country played a major role
in helping me learn more
about myself, the challenges
I face, and how to overcome
them. Indeed overcoming
the challenges of cross
country were no less than
the beginning of learning
how to overcome many of
the challenges I am likely to
face as I go through life.’
“In addition to the rigors of academic studies, much of the
educational experience of The Woodhall School occurs outside
of the classroom. In putting my thoughts together for this
address, I found an essay that a former student had written for
a school application. He stated that he considered himself to be
a decent long distance runner and, when he arrived at Woodhall,
was anxious to join the cross-country team, for which I was the
coach. His perception of being a good runner was shattered
when he was unable to complete the warm-up exercises and
consistently placed last in both practices and meets. He thought
that his poor performance was due to being out of shape, but he
came to realize that the underlying cause was a serious lack of
self-confidence. By mid-season he faked a knee injury so that
he would not have to run, and accordingly, wouldn’t let his team
down.
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Dr. Seefried and Woodhall students in 2009
“During your years at The Woodhall School, you have been
introduced to its core values – compassion, integrity, and respect.
These core values hold the school together, they hold a business
together, they hold a family together, and they hold a relationship
together. Do the right thing, because if everybody would do the
right thing, it would generate trust among a group of individuals.
Do everything to the best of your ability with the time available.
This means that you have to take care of the little things, because
they really do make a difference. Results do matter, but equally
important, and sometimes even more so, is how you achieve these
results. Genuine success depends on your values and your ethics.
“I share with you a memory that I have for a man who influenced
my life. His name is Bart Giamatti. He was raised outside of Boston
and was a die-hard fan of the Boston Red Sox. He was an excellent
scholar and obtained a Ph. D. in Renaissance Literature. He became
a professor of English and rose through the ranks of university
life, assuming increasing responsibilities in various academic and
administrative positions. He was selected to be the youngest
Dr. Seefried, with Mr. David Byrne and his daughter, Carolina, at Convocation. president of Yale University, and he served in that capacity for eight
years. One day he resigned that position to pursue the only job that he ever really wanted – to be the head of major league baseball.
He became president of the National League and subsequently the commissioner of baseball. In this capacity he often traveled around
the country and spoke to various groups of people. He believed that there was a strong parallel between the game of baseball and the
individual and community experiences that one has in everyday life. He particularly enjoyed speaking about the development of the
rules of the game – how many players on each team, how many outs per inning, how many innings per game. He was always quick to
point out that there is no fourth base in baseball. You see, you succeed in the game, as well as in life, when you are able to get home.
To go back to that place of one’s self-definition is not always an easy task – whether it is with your family or The Woodhall School.
Regardless of what you achieve according to the measurements of our society or others, the most important times are ones like today
– ones that you share with your family and friends. I wish each of you every success in your future endeavors and remember that The
Man in the Mirror is always with you.”
Students Reflect on Their Woodhall Experience and Wish Their Classmates a Fond Farewell
Each year the graduating class votes on who will give the
Salutatory and Valedictory addresses at their graduation
ceremony. In their addresses Stephen Hefner and Matthew
Chornyei voiced appreciation and encouragement.
Stephen suggested we not dwell overly on the past or the
future. “The present moment is what we experience and is the
only thing we can change...In this moment we can be happy
and grateful for what is right in front of us...we can bring to
light the good in our surroundings.”
Salutatorian Stephen Hefner ‘16
Matthew advised his classmates, “...every problem I’ve
overcome has been because someone has been there to help me
...Make sure you’re around when other people need someone
to lean on.”
Valedictorian Matthew Chornyei ‘16
Congratulations 2016 Plaque Award Recipients!
Head’s Award:
Warren Bickford Hurlock
The Phoenix Award:
Warren Bickford Hurlock
Communications Award: George Barrons Meehan
Carl G. Seefried Award for Sportsmanship: Alexander Matthew Mount
Kenneth E. Chant Award for Significant Progress:
Matthew Ernest Chornyei
Abigail J. Woodhall Award for Excellence in the Arts:
James Kranys Cobb
Dorothy L. Pierce Award for Significant Academic Excellence: Stephen Farrell Hefner
Head’s Award recipient, Warren Hurlock ‘16 with Mr. Woodhall
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33rd Annual Convocation and Graduation - June 4, 2016
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Yearbook Dedication
This
Mr. Bryan Dunn and George Meehan ‘16
year’s Phoenix
Yearbook was dedicated
to Mr. Bryan J. Dunn. Mr.
Dunn began his five years
at Woodhall as a Chemistry
teacher and ended as
the Dean of Students.
With incredible integrity
and thoughtfulness, he
transformed policies and organizational procedures that improved life on campus for
the students and the staff. He was the visionary and the drive behind the Community
Service Program that enriched our students and faculty beyond the campus. He will be
sorely missed; our loss, but the world’s gain, as he will be doing good wherever he goes.
College Acceptances Class of 2016
Students of The Woodhall School Class of 2016 have been accepted to the following colleges and universities.
(Colleges to which students have matriculated are in italics, asterix indicates post-graduate/gap-year program.)
Adelphi University
Birmingham-Southern College
Champlain College (1) (2)
*Dymany
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Emerson College
Guilford College (1) (1)
Jacksonville State University
Knox College
Messiah College
Millsaps College
Mercyhurst University
Nassau Community College
Norwich University
Philadelphia University
Rhodes College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Roger Williams University
Savannah College of Art & Design (1) (1)
Shenandoah University
Spring Hill College
St. Michael’s College (2)
Trevecca Nazarene College
University of Hartford
Warren Wilson College
Wentworth Institute of Technology (2)
Western New England University (2)
Westminster College (MO)
*The Winchendon School
Sons of Thoreau
One of the clubs on campus, Sons of Thoreau, continued
with their mission of seeking to better understand
and, whenever possible, enhance the living conditions
of local wildlife, especially on the Woodhall campus.
One group built and installed bird houses for a wide
variety of campus species, including the barred owl, purple
martins, blue jays, and diverse types of swallows. The group
researched design options, appropriate habitat, predator
restraints, and a host of other factors. Finally, led by the able
and intrepid Mr. Adam Herbert, each of the houses was
constructed using nothing but hand tools that would have
been available to Thoreau himself. Most of the houses have
birds living in them only a few weeks after installation.
The other main project, beginning in the Winter Term,
involved photographing campus wildlife with a trail camera.
The
group
worked hard for
months without
success, putting
in time and miles
in the roughest
weather,
with
nothing to show
for it but sore
legs and weathered boots. But by following tracks, scat,
and other signs, and utilizing a variety of baits and lures,
our persistent young men eventually acquired footage
of
raccoons,
deer, squirrels,
crows, rabbits,
and
coyotes.
Some of the
footage
was
mesmerizing:
a large, noble
coyote standing
at the base of
an enormous white pine in the bright morning sun; another
coyote, in pitch dark, ducking behind the same massive tree
when hearing footsteps, only to reappear just as a second
coyote flashes momentarily on the lower screen, ambushed;
a young deer in sunlit repose; a single raccoon followed by
eventual shots of a possibly mated pair, followed by shots of
a tenser group of three as an interloper seems to threaten the
peace. The Sons of Thoreau will expand on these endeavors
in the future, adding cameras, working with our honey bee
colony, and in general hoping to continue the good works
and to honor the name of Henry David Thoreau.
17
Alumni News
James Allan ’88 - has been living in Arizona for the past 24 years and remarried in 2015.
Dan Griffith ’88 - is a Director of IT Enterprises for Amerisource Bergen Medical Co. and still plays music as a hobby. Dan lives
in his home state of Texas with his wife of 15 years and his three daughters. He says, “The Woodhall School will always be a part
of my life, and I am grateful for it.”
Ryan Fitzgerald ’99 - after college worked in education for several years, including teaching English/ research methods at Prince
Mohammed Bin Fahd University in Saudi Arabia. Ryan and his wife Busarakam (from Bangkok, Thailand) were married in 2009.
They have a 2 1/2 year old son Kenneth and are expecting a second child. They live in Tallahassee, FL. Ryan has worked in
business and sales since 2011.
Matthew B. Gomez ’99 - after being a professional gemologist for many years, he attended the University of Georgia and
graduated with a Major in Psychology and a Minor in Neuroscience.
Jose Zablah-Larin ’99 - has been at the helm of the health and life insurance company Aseguradora Vivir in El Salvador for 4
years. He attended Harvard’s Owner/President Management Program from which he graduated in the spring of 2016.
Jonathan Monty-Carbonari ’02 - and his wife Jenny welcomed a baby boy, Dominic MontyCarbonari, to their family in October 2015.
Sean Haddad ’07 - has been working in IT as a temporary contractor.
Aaron Miller ’08 - will be attending the University of New Orleans in the fall of 2016.
Charlie Burnett ’11 - graduated with a BA in Political Science with a focus in International
Relations and has a minor in computer science. His plans are to backpack in Europe for the
summer then move down to DC to work either in politics or marketing.
Zach Andrews ‘11
Zachary Andrews ’11 - graduated from American University.
Luke Haddad ’11 - graduated from Beacon College in May of 2015.
Kyle Eberhardt ’12 - graduated from the University of the Ozarks with a B.S. in Political
Science in May of 2016.
Samuel Kenney ’12 - graduated from Goucher College in spring 2016.
Martin (Rey) Lewis ’12 - will wed Courtney Fennell, Westover alumni ’12 and sister to
Connor Fennell ’18, in August 2016
Julian Willett ’12 - graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in May 2016. He will begin Tufts
Medical School in July.
Martin Lewis ‘12 and Courtney Fennell
Gabe (Michels) Zeifman ’12 - graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Daytona Beach, FL campus, with a BS in
Aeronautics and minors in Air Traffic Control and Applied Meteorology. He hopes to be able to stop by Woodhall soon.
Ari Dorf ’13 - is starting his senior year at Manhattanville College and is doing
well.
Colton Everett ’15 – is doing well at Dynamy. He is in an internship with the
Worcester Think Tank, and he loves it.
Derk Haldewang ’13 – is a rising senior at Stamford University and is doing well.
Eric Vandenburg ’15 - had a successful postgraduate year at St. Johnsbury
Academy. Among other accomplishments and adventures this past year, he
participated in the New Hampshire Science Olympiad, placing third in two events.
He also went on a three-week service trip to Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Next
year, he will pursue pre-med at the University of British Colombia, Vancouver,
where he’ll only be two hours away from his friend and classmate,
Zach Kendall ’15, who is attending Washington State University.
18
Henry Molinari ‘15 and Tyler Kochman ‘15 at Convocation.
Alumni Spotlight
Nathan Wheeler ’13 –
During Nathan’s two years at Woodhall he was an outstanding student leader, played soccer, ran cross country, did Outdoor Ed,
was a member of the Drama troupe, contributed to the literary magazine and was a resident artist, even providing the artwork
for the school’s Holiday card. He went from here to Rocky Mountain College. He writes:
“First, academics. I transferred to the University of
Idaho since there is a larger geology department
here. In the last year, I took two semesters each of
calculus and calculus-based physics, and I realized
that I had a knack for more quantitative geology, so
I wanted to transfer to a university that would allow
me to study those kinds of subjects.
Right off the bat, I had a professor who noticed my
interest in mathematics. He put me in connection
with some undergraduate research opportunities. I
am helping a Ph.D. student with a quantitative study
of segmented transform faults in the Pacific Ocean
rifts. I’m helping to determine what causes this odd
pattern of rifts. In doing so, we’ll hopefully better
understand how heat convection works underneath
the crust. The task involves programming several
different proposed models, running simulations,
and finally comparing the results with reality.
If I hadn’t learned to work through, and even like,
mathematics during my attendance at Woodhall,
I would never be where I am now, and I cannot
understate the number of opportunities a strong
foundation in mathematics provided for me.
The second and most important piece of news is that I am engaged to a woman named Kasha Caprata. We met at Rocky Mountain College, and
we’ve been together just over two years now. She graduated from Rocky Mountain College last spring Summa Cum Laude with a degree in History
and Pre-Law and an honors thesis about intellectual property and the public domain. Right now, she is seeking employment to save money for Law
School. When I graduate, we plan on doing our graduate studies in tandem.
Anyway, I am very satisfied with my current situation overall. It has been difficult transferring to a larger and more competitive program, but I feel
like I got some solid foundational teaching at Rocky. I only wish I had more time and energy to paint regularly. I haven’t really been able to render
any finished pieces of art since December. I had been focusing on watercolors then, but like I said, I haven’t had the time or energy to make anything
new since.
Here’s a landscape I entered into a competition lately (it was accepted, but didn’t place). (Not indicative of my very best work, by the way, I just have
a convenient digital file of this painting) (Also, it’s titled Sandstone Stories)
I also did a bunch of cartoons for Rocky Mountain College’s student newspaper. Here’s a couple of examples of the better works:
For some context, that first was from the end of the Fall semester, and the second ran during Spring Break, which was very cold.
Anyway, at the moment I’m too busy with schoolwork to do much of anything else. But really, I can’t really complain about the situation overall. I
do still miss Woodhall and all the people there, and I’m more than a little saddened that I’m too far away to visit right now. My mother just opened
a furniture business, so the family budget is a little more restricted than we’re used to. Give my best to Mr. G., Mr. Sherer, and everyone else. I know
I’m bad at corresponding, but there isn’t really a day that goes by when I don’t think of everybody and going over fond memories of them.”
- Nathan Wheeler ’13
Matthew Milton ’01
It is with sad hearts that we share the news of the passing of Matthew R. Milton, class of 2001, on April 28, 2016.
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The Woodhall School
58 Harrison Lane, PO Box 550
Bethlehem, CT 06751
When I heard the learn’d astronomer,
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,
When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide,
and measure them,
When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured
with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;
Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.
— Walt Whitman
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