Welcome from the head of school

Almost four decades ago, my parents, Sally Campbell Woodhall and Jonathan A. Woodhall, a handful of dedicated educators, and friends of our family, shared a dream to create a different kind of school for boys: Where the mind, body, and soul of a boy is one;Where adult mentors and students dispense with labels, believing that ninety-nine percent of learning happens outside the classroom;Where an individualized approach addresses the needs of the whole boy: his intellectual, physical, moral, and spiritual growth. Where other schools have said “no,” The Woodhall School has said “yes.”

A generation of boys has become the Gentlemen of Woodhall, and the School continues to provide opportunities for success for bright young men, who for a variety of reasons, have yet to realize their full potential. The School’s motto, Soli Ipsi Adesse, translates to “Be present to [the student] himself alone.” At Woodhall, we are present to the whole student. We meet the boy where he is rather than demand an expectation of where he should be.

Woodhall is a unique and intimate boarding school that, like its students, defies categorization. Adult mentors and students work towards developing greater self-reflection, self-expression, and accountability for everyone in the community.

The goal for a Woodhall graduate is to become a gentleman, in the fullest sense of the word, and to demonstrate the coping skills to face challenges in school and life. What a student learns in history or algebra class is important, but what is a young man learning so that, as he matures, he can act with compassion, integrity, and respect as a family member, friend, colleague, citizen, spouse, or father?

As a boy, I grew up on this campus as the School itself grew; I wandered the same paths in the campus woods that the students explore today. I share in their fears and frustrations – when, as Robert Frost wrote, “I’m weary of considerations, And life is too much like a pathless wood,” – and I share in their courage and awakenings.

Structure, consistency, and opportunity guide a Woodhall boy through his individual journey towards a greater sense of self and connection with others. Whether you are a prospective student and family, an alumnus, or a fellow educator, I look forward to welcoming you to our school community.

Matthew Campbell Woodhall, Head of School

 

Fast
Facts

ENROLLMENT

42 Students
Maximum

Grades 9-12, All Boys

Founded

1983

Bethlehem, Connecticut
38 acre Campus

Arts & Athletics

interscholastic team and 
Outdoor sports, Drama, 
Studio Art, Music

Academics

2-5 Students
Per Class

College prep, including AdvanceD Placement

School Motto

Soli Ipsi 
Adesse 

Be present to the 
student alone himself