Our graduates leave Woodstock for prestigious universities and colleges the world over On 26 May, our seniors graduated and left Woodstock. They have come a long way and reached the end of a journey – their school days are over and now new destinations await – hardly surprising then that graduation...
Dr Jonathan Long on the power of choice in a child's development. Choice is one of the most powerful tools any parent or teacher can apply in helping to raise a child. The leadership expert and author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” Stephen Covey, tells a lovely story...
Principal Dr Jonathan Long on the risks of digital addiction and how to avoid it. I’ve just finished reading Adam Alter’s fascinating new book, ‘Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology’. Adam Alter is a social psychologist and professor at the Stern School of Business in New York. He was first inspired to...
A group of parents were once asked, “If you could wish one thing for your child when they leave school, what would it be?” Their answers showed a remarkable degree of consensus - most parents wished that they could grant their children 'happiness'. I’m sure this is a wish we...
It’s not hard to find distressing news. From the horrors of war to stories of greed and corruption, there’s plenty to be distressed about! This week I’ve also read disturbing news of increased instances of racially, sexually and ethnically discriminatory language and behaviour on school and college campuses around the...
A few weeks ago, members of the Woodstock Class of 1981 returned to campus for their 35th reunion. During their visit, the class had a discussion with our 12th Graders. The students' questions (and the answers from the Class of ’81) ranged from the amusing to the profound. One question...
The word 'pedagogy' comes from the ancient Greek language and literally means 'to lead the child'. Today, the word is used to refer to the method and practice of teaching. There is a phrase which I often think of when I walk around our campus. It is the phrase, 'pedagogy...
“Oh look – she has her father’s nose!” I love listening to the comments people make when they see a new born baby for the first time. Perhaps you can remember some of the comments people made when you children were tiny. As humans we love to look for clues...
Reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic used to be referred to as the 'three R’s' and they were seen as the fundamentals of a good education. But we know it takes more than reading, writing and mathematics to raise a balanced child fully equipped for life in the twenty-first century. Nowadays, even if we...
I recently read an interesting article in the science news. Dr. Olaf Kruse, a biologist at Bielefeld University in Germany published research showing that plants can use other plants as a source of energy in addition to the well-known process of photosynthesis. We all know that plants need water and...
