All boys. All boarding. Grades 9-12.

A Message from the Headmaster

The letter below was sent on August 14, 2017, to Woodberry parents regarding the recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia. We invite you to read this important message from Headmaster Byron Hulsey '86.


 
Dear Woodberry parents,

Today we welcome back students for the first day of early football and soccer practices. It’s a time of excitement and anticipation as boys renew friendships and begin to forge new ones. But even as we look forward to the return of old boys and the arrival of new boys over the next two weeks, all of us at Woodberry Forest are saddened and sickened by the white supremacist rally that occurred Saturday in Charlottesville. The violence and hatred on display this weekend are repulsive and antithetical to the core institutional values that have shaped the school for generations.

Nothing is more important to faculty members than the safety of our students. Given the stated purpose of the gathering and the warnings that were known long in advance, we would never have allowed the boys to participate in the “rally” or be part of the counter-protests. 

When boys leave campus, they are given clear guidelines and instructions about what is permitted. They are always with friends, and we’ve received no reports from students about feeling unsafe when in Orange or on school trips. Please be assured, however, that we are keeping a close eye on these matters and will be prepared to alter our practices as appropriate so that we continue to prioritize student safety.  

Woodberry’s mission is to develop boys of honor and moral integrity, with a willingness to make sacrifices in service to others. We are at our best when we act as one community, when our boys are united as a band of Woodberry brothers. The bonds of brotherhood and community are on display today as boys return to campus. This school’s culture, and the work we do here, stand in direct opposition to the racial and religious bigotry and violence displayed Saturday, making clear the ongoing importance of Woodberry Forest in these challenging times. 

We look forward to the return of old boys and the arrival of new boys in the coming weeks. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to let me know.



Byron C. Hulsey
Headmaster
Woodberry Forest admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, and national or ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs. The school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.