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Current House Points
Bowen Dohan Hyde McClellan 1720 1604 1725
2023-24 House Champion
1540
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The House Program at The Woodstock Academy is rooted in the tradition of English boarding schools. House Programs are now common throughout the United States and in many international boarding programs. Most teens today are familiar with the house system through popular culture and the Harry Potter book series. Initially launched in 2019, WA’s House Program came to a halt due to the pandemic. Houses are being re-established this year now that our population and program has returned to a more normal status. Houses are designed to provide a smaller subunit of a community to create connection and to help establish camaraderie. Here at The Academy, the House Program was founded to provide residential students and staff with smaller, family-sized social groups, bringing together community members from different dorms and different grades. The House Program was also initiated to celebrate and honor the school’s history of leaders and learners who might serve as role models for students.
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House Bowen commemorates a family legacy of leadership, generosity, and investment. Henry C. Bowen is known as one of the most devoted and influential alumni in the history of The Woodstock Academy. Through Bowen's progressive vision of an independent school in Woodstock, the Academy Building was built, a significant endowment was established, and an updated governing structure was established.
Color: Pink
Motto: “Make haste, slowly” better translated as “Proceed expeditiously, but prudently.”
Family Crest: Crest with StagHouse Dohan honors Edith Hall Dohan, Woodstock Academy Class of 1895. Mrs. Dohan was a leader in the field of archaeology. She went on to Bryn Mawr and was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. from that college. She had a professional reputation as an "explorer," as she conducted archeological excavations in Greece and Crete, an expert in Roman and Etruscan Art. Ms. Dohan was a Professor of Classical Archaeology and Greek at Mount Holyoke College for Women, a Curator of Classical Collections at the University of Pennsylvania Museum, author of books and articles, and editor of the Journal of American Archaeology. She had an international impact in her field and was a forerunner of the paths accessed by women in the 20th century.
Color: Green
Motto: “Ever to Excel”
Family Crest: Crest with archeological toolsHouse Hyde honors Elizabeth Sanford “Betty” Hyde, the first woman in Academy history to hold the title of president of the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Hyde saw the potential for The Woodstock Academy to serve communities beyond Woodstock and Eastford. Thus, she led the charge in working with Connecticut legislators and Department of Education officials to ensure that The Academy would be eligible for state grants to expand its facilities. It is because of Mrs. Hyde’s foresight and diligence that students in the Quiet Corner, across the country, and around the world are able to enjoy The Academy’s expansive educational experience.
Color: Blue
Motto: “Onward”
Family Crest: Crest mechanisms of engineersMcClellan House honors the McClellan brothers, John and James, who bore the Academy’s inception. Their father, Samuel McClellan, was a General in the Revolutionary War, and together, the three McClellan men helped gain support to establish The Woodstock Academy and to build the original Academy Building in 1801. In 1802, Samuel, John, and James all served as proprietors and trustees of The Woodstock Academy. Together as administrators, they sought to constantly better The Academy by securing brilliant educators and making improvements, like the bell atop the Academy Building. During the grand celebration of opening the Academy Building, John McClellan said the following, “the education of children and youth is one of the highest and most important duties… We wish to promote, as much as our means will afford, a useful education among the rising generation, and to bring all necessary education home to our doors. We are happy to meet and facilitate on another that our unanimity and exertions have produced so much, and that a school is now established.” (Ammidown H. p525) The McClellan’s devotion to education and The Woodstock Academy is only strengthened by their family motto, “Think on!”
Color: Rust orange
Motto: “Think On”
Family Crest: Crest with McClellan bell.
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