Staff retreat

The week after new staff members' brains' hard drives had been filled with information on Woodstock's mission, policies, student populations, and cultural issues during New Staff Orientation, the entire Woodstock staff assembled for Staff Retreat Activities.

On Monday, July 17, all staff met in the Quad dining room, and new staff members were introduced. Teachers, residence staff, and support staff divided into groups according to departments to go on a "Treasure Hunt," locating points of historical, cultural, and artistic interest around the campus. Groups then walked to the Mussoorie bazaar to track down bits of information from various shopkeepers, making themselves objects of jest and entertainment along the way.

From the bazaar, the groups trekked downhill for an hour in the pouring monsoon rain--which swamped all umbrellas, raincoats, and "waterproof" boots--to the Jaypee Hotel for a delicious buffet lunch. After lunch, Woodstock Chaplain Brian Dunn delivered a thoughtful meditation on the merits of leading a secret but not a double life, based on the sixth chapter of Matthew, with illustrations on prayer, giving, and fasting.

Click here to view or download a slide show of the walk to Clock Tower - very nostalgic! (Windows Media Video, 10 mb)

Groups composed of new and old staff members were then instructed to play interactive games designed to help us loosen up and get to know each other in playful circumstances. One of the most challenging games was constructing a building with nothing but newspaper and cellotape. Another involved throwing tennis balls to each other while calling the recipients' names. Card sharks enjoyed playing 7-Up and making the losers sing a song or tell something embarrassing about themselves, and another activity required each person to tell the group his or her life story in two minutes.

The second day of Staff Retreat was devoted to learning about Performance Management systems. This was led by Dr. T.V. Rao, an expert on assessment and self-evaluation. Dr. Rao stressed at the outset of his presentation that excellent organizations attract and nurture individuals with high levels of integrity and honesty and the ability to interact openly with others.

During the rest of the week, staff members were offered a wide variety of professional development workshops led by St. Olaf education professors, Dan Forstner, Elizabeth Leer and Bob McClure, and by educational psychologist Barb Gard and learning assistance teacher Janet Gerard.

The workshops will be followed up through the academic year by three Task Forces who will work on creating standards and a clearly delineated system of peer coaching, mentoring, and evaluation for each of the three strands of our professional staff, Teaching, Residence and Support, under the leadership of Acting Principal Kaye Aoki and the Heads of the Elementary, Middle, and High Schools.