From the Principal

Swan Song - Dr Eleanor Nicholson

November 28, 2011

In a few short weeks I'll be back in Chicago, Illinois, USA—my beloved hometown. It will be VERY cold, possibly snowy and possibly icy. That's Chicago for you, so what else is new? My little dachshund will run in circles around me, whimpering with happiness. My children and grandchildren probably won't run around in circles and they never whimper, but they'll be glad to see me. I will most certainly be glad to see them! But just because one is back doesn't mean that things are unchanged. Six months as Principal of the most respected international school in India is a transformative adventure. Some reflections as the days dwindle down to a precious few—

What have been the high points? The answer: a lot of memories that begin with B!

• Bandarpunch: the staff summiting of that 22,000 feet mountain just before school opened was thrilling to me. It took courage, endurance, strength, collaboration and mutual care, all qualities we want to see in every member of the Woodstock community.
• Being with kids: there is something so endearing (and frustrating) about kids in their elementary and senior school years. They are searching, exploring, questioning, seeking independence while at the same time they need the assurance that they matter and that they are loved and cared for. We need to offer that to every kid every day.
• Belief that most of us—staff, faculty, Board, employees—are on the same page in our mutual dedication to and love for this great school.
• Brigadoon: What an enormous pleasure to see a performance of the highest quality done by staff and students working together for a common cause.
• Blankets: One of the more moving moments for me was the opportunity to give lovely new blankets to longest-serving employees, including gentle and loyal Biddha-ji, who brings me a cup a coffee twice a day. His service record is more than 35 years at Woodstock. I haven't done the same thing consistently for that many years except live.
• Being a part of the Strategic Planning: the three day retreat to work on 2020 Vision was an exciting high
• Beauty: the sun rising and setting through the winterline, the ferns on the trees in the monsoon; the sun on the snow peaks as we flew in from Delhi yesterday.

No more B's, but other letters muct be mentioned—C: excellent colleagues; most of all—the P—the possibilities that await this incredible school. L: Dr. Long will lead the way; I must say again how fortunate Woodstock is to have persuaded this extraordinary man to come to Woodstock and forge the way forward. Any regrets?

• Not entertaining every staff member in my home
• Knowing so few of the kids
• No time for exploration, hiking, working out, travel. Schools are schools and somewhat like each other. In the day-to-day issues I was perfectly at home and to that extent I could have been in any school anywhere, even though I never lost sight of where I actually am!
• Leaving so much yet to do, but then I know as well as anybody that a school is a work in progress; it's never "done."

Where do I hope Woodstock will go and grow?

• Every student must commit to a given number of hours (more than now) of community service.
• The incredible resources of the Hanifl Center and outdoor education must be explored and integrated much more fully into both academic and social life.
• I would like to see even greater opportunities for student leadership and responsibility.
• The transition from the Junior School must be engineered in a way that is sensitive to the social, emotional, cognitive and academic needs of the early adolescent.
• Woodstock must become an educational leader in India. There can be workshops, speakers, conferences, and online presentations through which the school both leads and learns. Hanifl is a natural setting and a possible driving force is a continuation of the Winterline Centre.
• I want 2020 Vision, Desired Learning Outcomes and the Religious Life Policy to be the beacons that guide everything that goes on every day on the ground at Woodstock. Anything that is not consistent with these documents should be discarded.
• Every day in every classroom should be imbued with intellectual and personal excellence.
• The deficiencies and stresses experienced in a small, closely-connected community in the Himalayan foothills must be ameliorated as much as possible and the joys of living in this magnificent setting must be magnified as much as possible.

I am leaving with pleasure only because I know I will be back. Woodstock remains in my heart and on my calendar.