Long before Title IX, before girls’ select/traveling soccer teams and before the profusion of fitness centers, Foxcroft’s founder, Charlotte Haxall Noland, understood the mind/ body connection. Far more than rhetoric, the School’s motto — Mens Sana In Corpore Sano —forged a community in which mind, sport, spirit, and soul were inextricably linked.

Exercise and play, competition and community, sportsmanship and rivalry—all were threads woven into Foxcroft’s fabric from the beginning by Fox/Hound and the riding program, all preceded the culture’s acceptance of interscholastic sports for girls, and all generated and perpetuated a unique spirit and camaraderie that transcend time, that touch every aspect of Foxcroft life, and that garner awe from all who witness them. That permeating spirit and camaraderie challenge the good athlete to become great and encourage the never-before athlete to take a risk. (By the way, I believe the same phenomenon occurs in a Shakespeare class!)

Not surprisingly then from every age and stage of the School’s history Foxcroft’s athletes—court, field and riding—have successfully pursued their sports beyond the campus arena as elite performers, professional participants and able administrators. Less publicly, but just as meaningful, are the myriad of Foxcroft women who value lifetime fitness and who have made their School’s motto a personal one.

Today’s translation of Mens Sana In Corpore Sano at Foxcroft combines a rigorous college preparatory program with 14 varsity and junior varsity team sports including field hockey, basketball, volleyball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, soccer, cross-country, track and field and riding. Bravo!

Just as important as this smorgasbord of athletic/fitness opportunities, however, is that today’s play still transpires in the arena of heritage and community spirit. It also transpires in a facility that predates Title IX. The difficult and often insurmountable tasks of program and spirit are accomplished, and the Master Plan does call for an updated athletic facility. Can you even imagine the impact of a facility which mirrors the program for, passion about and commitment to Mens Sana In Corpore Sano?