1. The necessity of modeling what we want to see in students came up yet again!  Dr. Long’s regular, 5 pm walk up the ramp to the gym was mentioned as a classic example of modeling that can begin to spill down to all of us and our students.  We ought to also show an investment in each other’s health as part of this modeling (thank you, Mr. Steve!!!).
2. Much of the conversation revolved around the “food experience” at Woodstock. Some possibilities:
   1. Can we encourage everyone to slow down by requiring regular, sit-down, family-style meals with an adult at each table?
   2. Could we introduce an enrichment activity that works, over several weeks, to track our food down the chain to its original source?
   3. Could we somehow develop monkey-proof garden spaces in student residences for herbs and vegetables?
   4. Will we each take on the cumbersome task of helping students learn that wasting food is actually a moral issue in a world with limited resources?
3. We tackled the difficulties of maintaining healthy relationships in such a close community and concluded that silence plays a role in helping us to manage this.  We all have learned to look forward to Monday morning shared silence, but we agreed that we must take seriously the obligation of teaching children to be alone with their thoughts and focus their attention without seeking endless distractions. Perhaps we need a more concentrated approach in developing silent reading times, particularly in the middle years, where life-long habits are forming.
4. The valuing and honoring of rest emerged as a need—we took the time to try to define rest as something beyond “not school.” Again, the technology question arose.  Is it restful to remain glued to a screen with constant stimulation vying for our attention?  We again saw the possibility of regular technology-free time as a way to open up the real experience of rest for our community. It would be a discipline that would, in time perhaps, become a pleasure.
5. One of the more interesting pieces that emerged is the idea that maybe all of our staff evaluations ought to include conversations about healthy lifestyles. We need to care for each other in this way, as part of our regular evaluations.  Are we helping each other find rest, health, balance, silence…?  Tough question, isn’t it?

           Healthfully, Amy Seefeldt

• Ed Beavan: Ed was born Chelmsford, Essex, UK and was living in London before joining Woodstock in January 2012. As part of the Community Relations Team Ed’s job title is Communications and PR Executive. Ed promotes the school through coverage in the Indian and international media as well as writing content for the website and other school publications such as Brown & Gold and various blogs. He also films events and makes short videos for PR purposes. He oversaw the recent visit of documentarians Sir Pennington Blerk (Her Majesty’s Food Inspectorate) and Samuel deBarge (Schwinger University) during the shooting of their award-winning film on food at Woodstock. Ed lives at South Hill Annex upstairs with his wife, Kirsten who works in Admissions. Ed loves football (soccer) and is aiming to join the 92 club – visiting every football league ground in England. So far he has done about 60. He supports Southend United who you will have never heard of – they are in the fourth division of English football - but have a 100 per cent win record against Manchester United. An interesting fact about Ed is that In 2003 he completed the world-renowned Maldon Mud Race, a grueling race of endurance through one of the muddiest rivers in Essex.
• Judy Crider: Judy was born in Patna, Bihar, India and attended Woodstock School from grade 1 through grade 12, missing grade 7. She lived in New York City and Pennsylvania before returning to work at Woodstock in 1979. As part of the Community Relations team Judy’s job title is Community Relations Officer and she is responsible for being PA for Director of Community Relations Director; keeping track of all staff appraisals; PD applications and follow-up; new staff from time of appointment to arrival at Woodstock; housing applications and follow-up; and staff welfare. Judy lives at Pennington with her husband, Dana, Maths teacher, and soon her son, Andy along with his wife, Sonya and 6 grandchildren. Judy’s hobbies include knitting, learning and making crafts, day hikes, and supporting sports events. An interesting fact about Judy is when she was 2 years old she wondered away from home. She was found at Mullingar by a coolie who knew where she lived and he carried her back home to Redburn. After that her mother tied her to the clothes line like a goat.
• Marney Lewis: Marney was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and lived in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio before coming to Woodstock in July 2011. As part of the Community Relations team Marney is the Social Media and Marketing Executive. She is responsible for using the web to make sure everyone everywhere knows how great Woodstock School is. This helps in the recruitment of our ideal staff and students. She also helps with most marketing efforts in the school on and offline. Marney lives in Abergeldie Cottage, West Lower with her husband, James, aka IT Guy, and their son, Elias John (EJ) aka Harry Potter.   Marney’s hobbies include family adventures, camping, reading, strategy games and crocheting while listening to U2. An interesting fact about Marney is that she loves mysteries, red shoes, camp fires, coffee, super hero’s especially the x-men, traveling off the beaten path, and zombie movies.
• Naz Nagarwalla: Naz was born in Mumbai but grew up & lived in Srinagar, Kashmir & in Delhi. She was living in Pune when she moved to Mussoorie and Woodstock in 1996. As part of the Community Relations team Naz is the Alumni Officer and she helps in engaging with Alumni, updating the alumni database, and meeting alumni when they visit. Naz lives in the Hanifl apartment with her husband, Darab Nagarwalla who works at the Hanifl Centre and their daughter, Vanalika in Grade 8.  Naz loves to read, especially short stories.
• Vimmi Negi: Was born in Dehra Dun and was living in Himachal Pradesh before joining Woodstock in January of 2006. Vimmi is working with two departments: Community Relations with Recruitment and Retention and with the Personnel & Administrative departments. She is responsible for handling all the recruitment related requirements as well as trying to keep staff happy. She lives at Homestead Middle apartment with her husband, Ajay, who is the school Registrar, and their daughter, Vedikha and one soon to join J (Thanks for all your prayers and concerns).   Vimmi’s hobbies are cooking, watching cartoons and………… After marriage Vimmi did not change her maiden name for a while (no specific reason) and was called Vimmi Dang at the time of joining WS as well. So when Ajay joined in July 2007 – everyone called him “Mr. Dang”. Then she made sure he was “Mr. Negi” and she changed her name then as well.
• Monica Roberts: Monica was born in Bombay and was living there when she came as a volunteer to Woodstock in May 1979, which turned into a contract in July. As part of the Community Relations Team Monica is the Alumni Secretary. Her job involves working as a link between our alumni and the school and to serve as a key support to the Alumni Coordinator. She makes sure alumni visiting the school feel welcomed and valued, and helps engender long term good will for the school among alumni and other stakeholders.
• Marcus Shaw: Marcus was born in Santa Cruz, California and came to Woodstock from Colorado Springs, Colorado in July 2011. Marcus is the head of the Advancement and Alumni Team of the Community Relations Team and helps alumni stay connected to Woodstock. He lives at Woodstock Villa East with his wife, Fabiola and two children, Isabella (14) and Karsten (12). Marcus loves to cook and fish.
• Immu Uniyal: Immu was born in Ethiopia and lived there 19 years before coming to live in Mussoorie and then joining Woodstock in 2002. Immu works with Community Relations Team as the office assistant. She gives tours of the school; takes care of the souvenir shop; takes pictures of every event and guest and helps with the archives. Immu lives on the hillside in her own home, Wolfsburn and her hobbies include cooking, knitting, taking pictures and much more. An interesting fact about Immu is that her life has been interesting as she married an Indian English professor when she was young. It was a Love Marriage. Not just love; they were CRAZY for each other!!
• Neva Whiteman: Neva was born in Sydney, Australia and lived on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia on the beaches before coming to Woodstock in July 2010. As part of the Community Relations Team Neva is the Communications Executive and she writes stories for the website, Brown and Gold, Quadrangle and ENews. She also posts stories on Woodstock Facebook and Alumni Facebook pages. Neva lives at Doshisha West with her husband, Ian grade 6 teacher and their son Mateo. Neva’s hobby includes weekly bouts with dysentery which keep her more than occupied. A new fact about their family is that they heading to Togo, West Africa to an international school to work from August 2013 after a well-deserved break in Australia for two months consuming steaks, New Zealand Sauvignon, vanilla slice cakes and everything Australian. Ian will be head of Junior School and Neva will be the entire community relations team!!(It’s a small school).
• Pete Wildman: Pete was born in Liverpool, UK and lived there 52 years before joining Woodstock in 2002 where he worked for 10 years as the Communications Manager in the Development Office. Pete is the Community Relations Director and supports the three teams in the department in alumni relations, communications and staff recruitment/retention. He also works on the school’s strategic plans and try’s to figure out how much it’s all going to cost! Some of his time is also spent talking to staff who are experiencing problems, and trying to find solutions. Pete lives at Upper Woodstock, West with his wife, Dot who works in the Senior School and is the Coordinator for the 7 & 8 grades. Pete’s hobbies include enjoying writing and recording songs and music in his back bedroom studio. You can hear the albums he has made at Woodstock – with Amy Seefeldt among others – at http://petewildman.bandcamp.com. He also watchs far too much football on TV.   An interesting fact about Pete is that he is among the many people at Woodstock who have adopted children (two boys, now adults living in England – fostered, to be precise).