Woodlynde School

Woodlynde School is an independent co-educational college preparatory school located in Strafford, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1976, Woodlynde serves students with diverse learning styles, primary through grade 12.

History

Woodlynde School is an independent co-educational college prep school located in suburban Philadelphia for intelligent, talented students with learning differences. Many of its students have been diagnosed with language- or math-based learning differences (such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia), Executive Function Disorder, ADD/ADHD, or Auditory Processing Disorder, while others simply need a small classroom environment in which to be successful.

Founded in 1976 by a small group of parents led by Gordon A. Hughes, Janet and Robert M. Hewes, III, and first Board Chair Arthur M. Tofani, Jr., Woodlynde opened its doors on a former Episcopal diocese estate called "Denbigh" in Gulph Mills. Starting with an enrolment of approximately 40 students, Woodlynde's student body grew each year under the first Head of School, Jack Hughes.

Appointed Head of School in 1981, John M. "Hench" Murray implemented programs that established Woodlynde as a school that offers differentiated instruction to accommodate a wide variety of learning styles. Woodlynde flourished and, upon purchasing the former Strafford Elementary School in 1984, moved to its present campus. In 1990 then-Board Chair David P. Montgomery launched the "New Generation" campaign in support of a new Lower School wing, an additional cafeteria, and a photography dark room.

Woodlynde continued to flourish under the leadership of Head of School Jack Rogers, with the support of Board Chairs Kay Thomas and Michael Stiles. New outreach programs were established and community service became a cornerstone of the Woodlynde educational experience.

Upon Jack Rogers' retirement in 2004, Hench Murray returned as Head of School until 2009 when Woodlynde's current Head of School, Dr. Christopher Fulco, was selected by the Board, faculty, and staff. With the support of former Board Chair Jane Mullany and current Board Chair Maryann O'Conor, Dr. Fulco has led a dramatic expansion of Woodlynde's academic, learning support, college guidance, and student life programs. He also led the school's first major gift campaign in over 20 years in support of Woodlynde's newly enhanced campus.

Administrators

• Head of School: Dr. Christopher M. Fulco
• Head of FOUNDATIONS & Lower School: Elizabeth Maglio
• Head of Middle School: Dr. Kate McCallum
• Head of Upper School: Dorinda Shank
• Dean of Students: Dave Shank
• Athletic Director: Scott Purdy
• Admissions Director: Kristen Tabun

Woodlynde Athletics

Fall

• Girls Soccer
• Girls Tennis
• Girls Volleyball
• Co-ed Soccer
• Co-ed Cross-Country

Winter

• Boys Basketball
• Girls Basketball

Spring

• Boys Lacrosse
• Girls Lacrosse
• Girls Softball
• Men's Tennis
• Golf

Trivia

• The Woodlynde School participates yearly in the Martin Luther King Mural Project.
• Cabrini College and the Woodlynde School have a partnership where Cabrini students come to in and intern at the school while seniors are allowed to attend College courses held at Cabrini.
• The Woodlynde School used to have a dragon boat team but it has since been disbanded as of 2010 it competed at the Schuylkill river dragon boat races in 2009.
• The Woodlynde School golf team won the tri-county golf championship in 2013.
• The Woodlynde school year book is called "Aurora", meaning 'dawn' or 'new beginning.' Named by the class of 1978.
• The Woodlynde school student newspaper is known as "The Informer" it is printed on real newsprint paper.
• Woodlynde has one talent show every year though occasionally they will have a coffee house where people can perform.
• Woodlynde has a play for middle, upper and lower school every year.
• Woodlynde used to have tee shirts that read "Woodlynde Football -Undefeated Since 1976." The school never played a game.
• Woodlynde used to be the Booth School; it has been confirmed.
• Woodlynde won the Varsity Men's Lacrosse title for their conference in 2008.
• Woodlynde won the cross country Tri-County League title in 2009.
• When the Booth School changed hands and moved to a new property in Radnor in 1976, there was a contest to select a new name. Woodlynde was the winner.
• There was a time when more formal uniforms were required. The boys wore blazers and ties and the girls wore blazers and kilts. Fridays were "dress-up" for seniors, not "dress-down" days.
• Lunches in the "real" Radnor Dining Room were served family-style, with a faculty member sitting with students at each table.
• At the Radnor campus, PE classes were held on the 2nd floor of the carriage house. Once Channel 10 came out and filmed a segment on the basketball team that did not have a gym.
• There are 5 faculty/staff members who have been at Woodlynde on both the Radnor and Strafford campuses. They are: Laura Bohl, Anne Eckert, Shelly Kerner, Dave Shank, and Jackie Smith.

External links

• Woodlynde School site
• Informer