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Foxcroft School, founded in 1914, is an independent boarding and day school for girls in grades 9–12, located near Middleburg, Virginia, United States.

Contents 1 History 2 Quotations from the founder 3 School spirit and traditions 4 Foxcroft cartoon and trivia 5 Community 6 Extracurricular activities 7 Ms. Charlotte's Garden 8 Athletics 9 Notable alumni 10 External links

The school was founded by Ms. Charlotte Haxall Noland as an all-girls school that had 23 boarding students and 3 day scholars. The area where the school was built was called "Locust Lawn" and included a small brick house which still stands today and is visible upon entry into the campus as well as stables and several dormitories; [Old] Orchard and Porch House. The "Brick House" contains offices, an apartment as well as an addition that houses the dining hall. The school motto is men sana in corpore sana which stands for a healthy mind in a healthy body. The school requires that each student take place in not only curriculum, but also with athletics. During World War II Ms. Charlotte asked the girls to help take part in the war effort by attempting to become self sufficient. During these times the school planted orchards where the current Orchard Dormitory stands. Girls during this time also took place in Regimentary Drill exercises. Foxcroft does not have this tradition anymore however the school still posses some of the wooden guns used during this time period. The Foxcroft environment is steeped in traditions and continues many of them to this day.

Foxcroft was originally viewed as a socialite school. It has been a school for the daughter of Rupert Hughes, the daughter of Ellery Sedgwick, some of the Mars family, Vanderbilts and many other very notable names. Foxcroft currently tries to escape this image and into a more rounded modern version.

Dress code currently is much more liberal and includes things such as khaki or black pants/skirts, collared shirts and close toed/heeled shoes. At the beginning during the day girls had to wear corduroy with dark green coats, tan skirts and white shirts. At night the girls wore white crepe de chine so that there was no discernment for money differences.

Early academics had two different endpoints. The first was to prepare girls for the Bryn Mawr examinations. A slightly easier course prepared a woman for letters and arts to take their place in society, however each girl had to pass an examination to enter into the school.

Hung in the schoolhouse you can find names of every single girl who graduated from Foxcroft hanging within the halls on a carved wooden plaque. These wooden plaques reach as far back as 1915, the year of Foxcroft's first graduation.

"Foxcroft has set a standard distinctive in girls' education. No other school is quite like it in all the world. It has given hundreds of girls not only intellectual training, but aims and ideals that only a school of simplicity and sound training can give. Foxcroft standards—discipline, a will to work, intellectual and moral honesty—have given the girls a sense of honor and of the joy of life that have been clearly reflected through their lives." —Charlotte Haxall Noland

Foxcroft School carries many traditions that are have continued and flourished through the decades. A strong respect for the founder of the school is apparent in the students lifestyles. During World War II when students were unable to travel home for Thanksgiving break Ms. Charlotte began a tradition known as fox-hound. Fox-hound is named for the two separate teams within the school. While the school is divided into two, the final ending of all events is a strong belief within the community that both teams are "true friends til the end". To become a fox or a hound the following happens. If you have had a family member attend the school before you you become either an "It" or a "legacy" and join the same team that your family member was in- thereby becoming a family tradition. If you do not qualify for the status something called New Girl Choosings happen where all new students and faculty gather at Covert (the headmistresses/headmasters house which was inhabited by Ms. Charlotte)and sit within a certain area. After they have sat the tradition of choosings begins. All students and faculty from previous years split into their two teams and march in separately singing their team songs and encircle the new members of the community. Its and Legacies are announced by name and join the teams that are standing as they "sing" their cheers in between names. After its and legacies are called the "cup" is brought out and filled with the names of new community members. The cup is a trophy that is won during Fox-hound basketball and is very much a celebrated acquisition of the winning team. One at a time the Fox captain and the hound captain alternate turns drawing a name out of the cup and announcing the new members of their teams. One by one the students join their new team and then go to something called a Sing Sing. A sing sing is an event in which teams gather in their respective areas and more often then not meet afterwards to sing their cheers to each other, it is vaguely reminiscent of a pep rally. Fox-hound incorporates athletics into the school spirit. The first game played during Thanksgiving break (and now right before break begins) was Fox-hound field hockey. The girls have an opportunity to try out for the athletic teams and these teams and various other spirit related positions are given out and an event called Fox-Hound teas. It is referred to as Teas because the faculty head of each team serves tea to each of the girls during this time. The next athletic event where the "cup" is won is a basketball event. The third sport that girls may participate in is a riding event which speaks to the schools love of riding. These events often draw countless number of loyal alumni back to the school and instills a very deep sense of community and belonging to students.

At one point in time Foxcroft was mentioned in an episode of "The West Wing". Foxcroft was also immortalized in a rather old cartoon from the New York times which shows a girl on horseback jumping over a stream with parents in the foreground saying "Oh that's just Daphne, home from Foxcroft"

The school's founder believed heavily in giving back to the surrounding community. Students often choose to willingly participate in such things as tutoring, visiting nursing homes, helping to keep the campus clean and a Junior Class walk-a-thon. During Christmas celebrations students forgo a normal cafeteria meal and instead help faculty members to cook more simple meals such as sandwiches, chips and dip etc. and use the money saved to buy Christmas meals (including turkeys) for neighboring families in need. During the Christmas celebrations seniors who excel at riding will visit each station and serenade students with Christmas Carols. Such stations include cooking, gift bag stuffing for the nursing homes, gift wrapping for neighboring families, tree decorating for the traditional Christmas pageant and much more. Students are also given the opportunity to have student leadership positions (often similar to Resident Advisor positions in college).

Foxcroft school has many opportunities for extracurriculars. Clubs such as the typical drama club, art club and academic themed clubs prevail however clubs such as Middleburg Humane, Foxcroft Tutoring (formerly known as Windy Hill Tutoring),^{[citation needed]} and even Special Friends which visits nursing homes exist. Each girl often joins a club, and more often joins numerous clubs.

At Foxcroft there are many clubs not found at most schools, day or boarding. Many clubs such as Whippers-In (an elite riding group that jumps the outdoor course at the end of the year), Rhythm Nation is the exclusive hip hop dance team,^{[citation needed]} and Afternoon Delights, better known as AD's sometimes sing at all-school gatherings to sing acapella.

Ms. Charlotte's Garden is a a centerpiece for the school It contains a gazebo covered in roses, steps and a lower large open expanse. It is used for weddings but also its main place in the school is during graduation where all seniors must wear white dresses and enter through the gazebo. Other students must wear the green plaid school skirt and a white collared shirt and white shoes.

There are variety of sports at Foxcroft including basketball, volleyball, horse riding, field hockey, cross country and soccer in the fall. In the spring there is lacrosse, golf, yoga, softball, tennis and track and the winter teams are basketball, PE Shape Up!, dance, kickboxing, yoga and riding.

• Susan Mary Alsop, Washington, D.C., socialite
• Ursula Plassnik, Foreign Minister of Austria (2004-present)
• Keshia Knight Pulliam, actress
• Stephanie Zimbalist, actress
• Nina Fout, Olympic Equestrian
• Alison Goodwill Firestone Notable Equestrian
• Judith Asuzu, author

• Foxcroft's Web site

Boarding School Review [1]

• New York Time's Article from 1932: Foxcroft Accolade http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,738262-1,00.html