Caleb Holman

Greetings from India I hope everyone is doing well.

Wow it has been another busy and exciting year for me here in India. From working with the students here at Woodstock at the swimming pool, at the student wood-shop, camping, and the general responsibilities of being a dorm parent - I've been busy! I have also had the time to work a little bit with the Sharp Memorial School for the Blind, go scuba diving, and, if my parents haven't told you, climb a 20,722ft. peak. Before getting to talk about all this other stuff, onto the most common question that I am asked.  Yes, I am still single.

Well now that's out of the way, Woodstock:

I've had a really exciting year building new relationships with a new set of boys after my last group graduated. Like all teenagers, relationships (especially those with the opposite sex) are something that we talk about an awful lot. And it's exciting to see these guys grow and develop in a positive way. But it's not just girls that the boys think about.  They are also thinking about making the world a better place, why the world this is the way it is, and what they need to get into university.  At times are also carefree and enjoy video games and just being a kid. Like in any large group, there are some students  doing really well and others that are struggling. One highlight for me was when some of my boys came to me and asked if they could figure out a way to restore some of the trails on campus and other areas where everybody walks and hikes. I've also had the opportunity to talk an awful lot to one of our students from Afghanistan about politics and his life growing up in different world philosophies. I really appreciate how fortunate I am to have this interaction with students it is great to get to know them and help them develop into good men and women. I also have some students who struggle.  One in particular has faced a lot of unhappiness in his childhood along with some academic struggles.  He often struggles with sadness.  Although this student needs a lot of attention and support, Woodstock is the best place for him.  I'm very grateful to have the support of my colleagues and to have earned this student's trust.  I am in a position to support him as he walks through this difficult time.

Like always, Woodstock has a lot of changes.  This upcoming year we will have an interim principal for the first semester and we will have a new principal after Christmas holidays.  One thing that hasn't changed is that, for the first time in 24 years, the Hostel Dorm team has all the same members that we had at the end of the previous school year.  It is really exciting that we can give some continuity to our students that they have not been able to have in the past.