Student news and views, Woodstock School, Mussoorie, India

Student news and views, Woodstock School, Mussoorie, India

by Navya Sethi

If plastic could speak…

I was just thrown away in the dustbin, crumpled, empty, and discarded. Everybody is ignoring me. No one pays attention to me. But guess what? I don’t end here. I feel “poised at the edge of the unknown.” Little do you know that my journey forward will “diverge with outcomes” that will impact nothing less […]

by Jinho Yoon

Barred from saying it in the name of justice

One might ask, “What is so offensive and immoral about racial slurs?” Or rather, one does not ask. The answer is obvious. My first conscious encounter with racism was in seventh grade in Nepal. My friends and I were helping a local farm as a part of our community service program. We were planting seeds […]

by James McGough

Saying it in the name of freedom

Never in my life have I been more intellectually stimulated than at Woodstock. I joined the school last July, and for the first time, I actually enjoy learning. Every person at Woodstock is unique and has their own story to tell. I have learned more about the world from discussions with my peers than from […]

by Suhana Mehta

Fast fashion needs to slow down

What’s better than finding that perfect sweater in the right size, beautiful color and … for only $15? After every break, most of us come back with a bunch of new and trendy clothes. “I bought like 18 clothing items in 25 minutes, man, there was such cute stuff and for so cheap!” High schoolers […]

by Shantanu Singh

Students seek spice in their meals

Every student looks forward to the email from Mr. Ketan Swami — the one that describes the next day’s menu. Often we find dishes labeled “spicy chicken” or “fried spicy chicken wings,” but the premature excitement subsides when confronted with food that isn’t really spicy. A few days back while having spicy chicken for lunch, […]

by Mikko Aoki Liu, Photographer

Creative + automated future: If one is to thrive

Fools Our junior year is coming to an end and so is life as we know it. How can we all be so foolish right now, how can so many schools be so foolish? We saw it coming, why didn’t we take notice of that critical practice AP question about creativity in English class when […]

by Abdul Malik Ansari

Our waste habits and why we need to change them

Do you ever find yourself suppressing the guilt and pain of disposing a tray full of food that you thought you might eat but you did not? Do you wonder what happens to that food? Do you wonder what you can do to make sure everything on your plate is consumed in a meaningful way […]

by Victoria Lee

Students conquer the Mountain Festival

“Some people just trap themselves by looking into their phones or listening to music,” Rohan Menezes, Class of 2019, the founder of the student committee of the Mussoorie Mountain Festival, said. That statement stays true to many of us. Winter or summer, on the walk up to school, music has accompanied us through shivers and […]

by Shivaansh Garg

Tales that lurk in the shadows of Midlands

Ever since its establishment in the mid 20th century, Midlands, the senior girls’ dorm, has been plagued with paranormal rumors. Many believe that the dorm was built on the remains of a mental asylum. Others believe that the attic in the Midlands’ tower is exceptionally eerie and allegedly possessed by a lady ghost. In order […]

by Navya Sethi

Senior Spotlight: Anvi Lohia

Right from the start, Anvi Lohia, Class of 2019, has been known as one of the most dedicated and hard-working students in her class. With less than 50 days left for graduation, Lohia is trying to make most of her last few days in high school. Accepted into University of Chicago’s prestigious undergraduate program with […]

by Hyenjin Cho

Principal Search: Mr. Draper questions the insurmountable

As the term for the current principal, Dr. Jonathan Long, comes to a close, the new principal candidates, artfully chosen by the Search Committee, have briefly visited the school. In this series, we introduce the candidates and their educational philosophies: Mr. Chris Draper, the sole British candidate amongst three American candidates, obtained his education at […]

by Hyenjin Cho

Principal Search: Dr. Cook leads through the lens of a sociologist

As the term for the current principal, Dr. Jonathan Long, comes to a close, the new principal candidates, artfully chosen by the Search Committee, have briefly visited the school. In this series, we introduce the candidates and their educational philosophies: Dr. Craig Cook attended Biola University to get his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and Manila […]

by Tala Bagh

Principal Search: Dr. Engstrom imagines leading the school

As the term for the current principal, Dr. Jonathan Long, comes to a close, the new principal candidates, artfully chosen by the Search Committee, have briefly visited the school. In this series, we introduce the candidates and their educational philosophies: Dr. John Engstrom was educated at Wheaton College (B.Sc.), State University of New York at […]

by Janvi Poddar

Principal Search: Dr. Potter wishes to elicit creative freedom

As the term for the current principal, Dr. Jonathan Long, comes to a close, the new principal candidates, artfully chosen by the Search Committee, have briefly visited the school. In this series, we introduce the candidates and their educational philosophies: Dr. Lance Potter is originally from Sitka, Alaska, and grew up in Thailand. After graduating […]

by Hyenjin Cho

Prayers aid Mrs. Roberts’ battle with cancer

As of April. 8. 2019, Mrs. Monica Roberts, the Alumni Secretary and an advisor for the Class of 2019, has officially returned back to school after being away from the beginning of the semester due to her cancer treatment. When I visited her house this year with my advisory group, she seemed content to see […]

by Chittish Pasbola, staff reporter

School works to make Hanson a field of dreams

Hanson Field has been an integral part of Woodstock since it was created in 1938. It was eventually named after the legendary school athlete, Robert Hanson, who was a member of the United States Air Force. After he was declared missing in action after he downed 25 Japanese planes, the Field was renamed in his […]

by Hyenjin Cho

Sports Spotlight: Rachel and Dorjee, 2019 Swish-A-Thon MVPs

“I definitely had times when I only played barely 2 minutes in a game in my freshman year, so that was really … an emotional time for me, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue playing, but I stuck it out,” Rachel Solomon, Class of 2019, the MVP for this year’s Swish-A-Thon, said. The […]

by Tala Bagh

Sports Spotlight: Diya Singh

12 years ago, while watching boys around her play football, a 5-year-old girl’s heart was captivated by the sport. That’s when Diya Singh, Class of 2019, decided to master this game, regardless of all the obstacles that she would face. Her journey started when she came across the boys in her old school playing football. […]

by Ryan Bajaj

The troll team that reached the finals

“Most of our players still do not know how to play zone defense,” Siddharth Bhandari, Class of 2020, a starting player on one of the Swish-A-Thon finalist teams: Bhandari Bois, said. Bhandari Bois comprised of a member of the Win Mumby team, three players in the senior team, and four players who have never played […]

by Hyenjin Cho

Swish-A-Thon 2019 exhibited exemplary sportsmanship

Feb. 21, 2019. The highlights of the 5th Annual Swish-A-Thon were the sportsmanship and mutual respect depicted by several teams. This year, the money collected will be donated to Project Burans, an initiative part of the Emmanuel Health Association that promotes mental health in rural parts of Northern India. The organization is currently working in […]

by Ryan Bajaj

The Swishathon team that shall reject them all

As the 5th annual Swishathon approaches, The Woodstocker has decided to forecast this tournament for all the basketball fans in our community. Disclaimer: These predicted scores are purely for entertainment Girls Pool Group A Scores Group B Scores LesBeHonest vs F.R.I.E.N.D.S 6-4 Ice Cream vs ADIDAB 14-12 LesBeHonest vs Sunnyside Up 7-2 Ice Cream […]

by Shivaansh Garg

Keeping up with Saira, part 2: She got away

Editor’s Note: This is the second segment of a two-part sports feature on Saira Mehra. Her extra-curricular schedule alone speaks for herself; Monday: basketball, Tuesday: cross country, Wednesday: basketball, Thursday: cross country, Friday: basketball, Saturday: cross country, then basketball. There’s also music practice and Community Engagement. Still, Saira Mehra, Class of 2020, is best known […]

by Aditi Deswal

A flower of friendship in the midst of uncertainty

I am sacrificing my time and sleep to call a few of my old friends at 2:30 a.m. on a Saturday night. We reminisce over the times when we got mad at each other, stayed up late watching movies, tried disgusting food together, drooled over our celebrity crushes, and spent our last days together. We […]

by Archi Arunima

Learning beyond physical barriers

“The truth is, once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.” – Morrie Schwartz from Tuesdays With Morrie That is exactly what this book has to offer: a slow and steady journey between the realms of life and death; a dying old professor’s last words that sometimes ring so true that the […]

by Abdul Malik Ansari

Pressure builds momentum towards future

The golden-colored numbers hanging on the railing above Parker Hall flickers in front of my eyes, reminding me of the number of days until my graduation. The number takes me back to the time when this moment was all a future to be awaited. A time when I was intimidated by the horrifying stress resulting […]

by Shivaansh Garg

Johnny finds his sons: a Swish-A-Thon troll reflects

Talentless, jobless, and shameless people often tend to make troll teams… Or should I say: athletic, charitable, and entertaining people end up in troll teams. I happen to be one of those people who often show up in troll teams, not only the latter characteristics but a mixture of all those six traits. I […]

by Victoria Lee

In God I trust

Daeun-aa, You must be six-years-old by now. Although I am pretty sure that you would not even know how the “E” of English sounds like, just try your best to follow. Even though there is an eleven-years age gap between us, I do have something to say to you. It will be those normal days […]

by Tala Bagh

Fading away

I remember her. Looking at the pictures from my childhood, around nine years ago. She was all alone, sitting in the yard, holding her small, pink backpack, as if it was her armor against all these new faces. The first day, of course, did not seem easy for her. While the kids were running all […]

by Archi Arunima

How well do you know your JSB date?: Swapnil and Swastika

Woodstock is seeing juniors and seniors mingle and plan out their dates for the Junior-Senior Banquet that is coming up, on May 4th, 2019. Sophomores plan a night full of food and dancing for Woodstock’s very own prom. So in this season of love, The Woodstocker decided to find out how well these couples know […]

by Shivaansh Garg

How well do you know your JSB date? Harsh and Priyansha

Woodstock is seeing juniors and seniors mingle and plan out their dates for the Junior-Senior Banquet that is coming up, on May 4th, 2019. Sophomores plan a night full of food and dancing for Woodstock’s very own prom. So in this season of love, The Woodstocker decided to find out how well these couples know […]

by Navya Sethi

How well do you know your JSB date?: Chittish and Syma

Woodstock is seeing juniors and seniors mingle and plan out their dates for the Junior-Senior Banquet that is coming up, on May 4th, 2019. Sophomores plan a night full of food and dancing for Woodstock’s very own prom. So in this season of love, The Woodstocker decided to find out how well these couples know […]

by Priyansha Agarwal

How well do you know your JSB date?: Arina and Mark

Woodstock is seeing juniors and seniors mingle and plan out their dates for the Junior-Senior Banquet that is coming up, on May 4th, 2019. Sophomores plan a night full of food and dancing for Woodstock’s very own prom. So in this season of love, The Woodstocker decided to find out how well these couples know each other […]

by Sanjana Singh, cartoonist

Wasting Time #4 (2/2)

Sanjana Singh is a cartoonist for The Woodstocker

by Priyansha Agarwal

She said, He said, She said: Rachel, Arpit, and Red

Rachel and Arpit are a couple, and Red is Rachel’s best friend. Arpit and Red were asked specific questions related to Rachel, to figure out who knows her better. Please note: No answers were discussed. What is Rachel’s all-time favorite Disney movie? Rachel: The original High School Musical. Arpit: High School Musical. Red: I’m gonna […]