Woodlynde School
Encyclopedia
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.
Woodlynde School is quite an independent co-educational college preparatory school located in Strafford, PA. 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 enrollment 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 flexible teaching methods that accommodate a wide variety of learning styles. Under his leadership Woodlynde flourished. Upon purchasing the former Strafford Elementary School in 1984, Woodlynde moved to its present campus with an enrollment of 118 students.
In 1990, with the support of Board Chair David P. Montgomery, Hench launched "The Next Generation," a highly successful capital campaign. This enabled the school to provide better facilities, including a new lower school wing, an additional cafeteria, and a photography darkroom, for the increasing student body. Enrollment grew significantly over the next 15 years to its current number of more than 300 students. When Hench moved on to other career opportunities in 1995, he left behind a modernized facility, expanded athletic and arts programs, and introduced technology-based program support.
Woodlynde continued to flourish under the leadership of Jack Rogers, a former Woodlynde Board member, with the support of Board Chairs Kay Thomas and Michael Stiles. Jack made his own contribution to Woodlynde by establishing outreach programs that have fostered dialogue and the exchange of ideas with students and faculty at other schools as well as with leaders in the business community. He also made service a priority, initiating Woodlynde's annual participation in Philadelphia's Martin Luther King Day of Service. After Jack's departure in 2004, former Head of School Hench Murray returned to Woodlynde as Head of School until June of 2009. The reins were then taken up by Dr. Christopher M. Fulco who came to Woodlynde from his position as the Principal of Springfield High School in Delaware County. Longtime board member and current parent Jane Mullany serves as the Chair of Woodlynde's Board of Directors.
At Woodlynde there are many avenues to experience success in and out of the classroom. Small class size and multi-sensory instruction enable students to achieve their potential, with over 95% of Woodlynde graduates matriculating at a four year college or university. Woodlynde students have the opportunity to participate in AP courses as well as the National Honor Society. The school also offers competitive athletics programs in all of the major sports for boys and girls at all age levels. Outstanding programs in Drama, Art, and Photography are also available.
As Woodlynde continues to thrive, the community remains committed to educational research and cutting-edge technology while continuing to focus on small classes, diverse teaching methods, and strategies to enhance the academic and social progress of its students.
Woodlynde's summer program is a dynamic 6 weeks designed for Woodlynde students and students in the surrounding community. Our 1-12 program offers academic classes that are individualized to provide challenge and support. In the afternoon students may choose various activity classes such as cooking, T.V. hosting, Movie Making, Treasure Hunters, Mystery Solvers and more!! Our activity classes offer a wide range of engaging and imaginative subjects. Each class may be taken for one or multiple weeks. Our College Readiness and SAT Prep classes are also available for small group and one-on-one tutoring sessions. Email: Summer@woodlynde.org.
Winter
Spring
Strafford, Pennsylvania
Strafford is an unincorporated community in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, located partly in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, and partly in Radnor Township, Delaware County. It is served by its own stop on the SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line regional rail train. It is also...
. Founded in 1976, Woodlynde serves students with diverse learning styles, primary through grade 12.
History
Woodlynde School is quite an independent co-educational college preparatory school located in Strafford, PA. 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 enrollment 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 flexible teaching methods that accommodate a wide variety of learning styles. Under his leadership Woodlynde flourished. Upon purchasing the former Strafford Elementary School in 1984, Woodlynde moved to its present campus with an enrollment of 118 students.
In 1990, with the support of Board Chair David P. Montgomery, Hench launched "The Next Generation," a highly successful capital campaign. This enabled the school to provide better facilities, including a new lower school wing, an additional cafeteria, and a photography darkroom, for the increasing student body. Enrollment grew significantly over the next 15 years to its current number of more than 300 students. When Hench moved on to other career opportunities in 1995, he left behind a modernized facility, expanded athletic and arts programs, and introduced technology-based program support.
Woodlynde continued to flourish under the leadership of Jack Rogers, a former Woodlynde Board member, with the support of Board Chairs Kay Thomas and Michael Stiles. Jack made his own contribution to Woodlynde by establishing outreach programs that have fostered dialogue and the exchange of ideas with students and faculty at other schools as well as with leaders in the business community. He also made service a priority, initiating Woodlynde's annual participation in Philadelphia's Martin Luther King Day of Service. After Jack's departure in 2004, former Head of School Hench Murray returned to Woodlynde as Head of School until June of 2009. The reins were then taken up by Dr. Christopher M. Fulco who came to Woodlynde from his position as the Principal of Springfield High School in Delaware County. Longtime board member and current parent Jane Mullany serves as the Chair of Woodlynde's Board of Directors.
At Woodlynde there are many avenues to experience success in and out of the classroom. Small class size and multi-sensory instruction enable students to achieve their potential, with over 95% of Woodlynde graduates matriculating at a four year college or university. Woodlynde students have the opportunity to participate in AP courses as well as the National Honor Society. The school also offers competitive athletics programs in all of the major sports for boys and girls at all age levels. Outstanding programs in Drama, Art, and Photography are also available.
As Woodlynde continues to thrive, the community remains committed to educational research and cutting-edge technology while continuing to focus on small classes, diverse teaching methods, and strategies to enhance the academic and social progress of its students.
Administrators
- Head of School: Christopher M. Fulco, Ed.D.
- Head of Lower and Middle School: Magi Koch
- Head of Upper School: Jill Dougherty
- Dean of Students: Dave Shank
- Athletic Director: Scott Purdy
Programs
SUMMER AT WOODLYNDE SCHOOL,Woodlynde's summer program is a dynamic 6 weeks designed for Woodlynde students and students in the surrounding community. Our 1-12 program offers academic classes that are individualized to provide challenge and support. In the afternoon students may choose various activity classes such as cooking, T.V. hosting, Movie Making, Treasure Hunters, Mystery Solvers and more!! Our activity classes offer a wide range of engaging and imaginative subjects. Each class may be taken for one or multiple weeks. Our College Readiness and SAT Prep classes are also available for small group and one-on-one tutoring sessions. Email: Summer@woodlynde.org.
Woodlynde Athletics
Fall- Girls Soccer
- Girls Tennis
- Girls Volleyball
- Boys Soccer
- Co-ed Cross-Country
Winter
- Boys Basketball
- Girls Basketball
Spring
- Boys Lacrosse
- Girls Lacrosse
- Girls Softball
- Men's Tennis
Trivia
- 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 blazors and ties and the girls wore blazers and kilts. Fridays were "dress-up", 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.