Dear friends,

May was a wonderful month here, filled with so many celebrations, culminating with our 171st commencement. As the girls walked across the stage to me in order to receive their high school diplomas, I was, once again, reminded of the blessing it is to a part of their lives. They are brave, courageous, and kind. They are engaged, authentic, and smart.

I congratulate all of you on the completion of another school year, another year of raising your daughters, and if you have a graduate of the class of 2024, on a child graduating from high school. Graduation pictures can be found by following this link: www.manningphotography.gotphoto.com

The access Code is GRIERGRAD24. Photos are free for you to download! Please note that there are two folders: one for Friday and one for Saturday.

I wish you all the things summer brings to Pennsylvania: blue skies, warm sun, and laughter shared with our family and friends. If you need anything over the summer, please be in touch. Newsletters will continue to be sent all summer with important information.

I look forward to seeing you again in September!

Happy Summer,
Kara

For any travel questions, please contact Gage Bassham at travel@grier.org or via phone at (814)-251-2987.

Enrichment Camps:

If your daughter is arriving for any enrichment camp, itineraries must be sent by July 31 in order for us to arrange travel.

• Washington D.C. airports (IAD, DCA, BWI) and JFK are recommended for international travel.

• Local airports include State College (SCE) and Altoona (AOO).
• Local bus service is available from Altoona and State College. www.us.megabus.com or www.trailways.com
• Train service (www.amtrak.com) is available from Tyrone and Lewistown.

Back-to-School dates:

September 4: Seniors and Student Ambassadors arrive

September 5: Students in grades 9-11 arrive

September 6: Students in grades 7-8 arrive

ALL students must be on campus by Friday, September 6. The weekend orientation schedule will be sent in August's newsletter.

For back-to-school travel, itineraries must be sent by August 19 in order for us to arrange travel.

Grier Summer offers girls ages 7-17 a chance to experience Grier and enjoy classic summer activities on our beautiful campus! Campers in an intensive program spend 3 of their 4 daily activity sessions studying under the Grier faculty that lead these signature programs during the school year. Help us spread the word, and register today!

General Camp Activities include: Archery, Art, Creative Writing, Dance, Horseback Riding, Musical Theatre, Photography, Science, Swimming, Videography, and more!

Intensive Programs: Dance, Art, Horseback Riding

Dates Offered – Sign up for 1, 2, or all 3 sessions!

- July 14 – 21

- July 21 - 28

- July 28 - August 3

Campers signing up for the dance or art intensive must register for all three weeks.

- $1,500 per week boarding campers (ages 9 and up)

- $600 per week for day campers (all ages)

- $65 Additional per week for international insurance

- $200 Additional per week for Intensive Horseback Riding

Find out more by clicking this link: Grier Summer 2024

As you make your summer plans for your daughters, please remember our amazing summer enrichment programs! You can find out more by following this link: Microsoft Word - 23-24 Stdnt Enrichmnt Prog_Registration form (002).docx (myschoolapp.com)

or in the attachment below!

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2024!

Final grades were published to MyGrier on Friday, May 31 at 9:00am.

Students who enrolled in AP or Honors courses, please make sure you complete any required summer work before the start of the 2024-2025 school year. Assignments have been posted to MyGrier under the Summer Work tile.

If you have any questions about your schedule for next year, please reach out to Ms. Barr over the summer.

Have a wonderful and restful summer everyone!

College Counseling News from Mrs. Lyke:

Any college related questions? Please contact Mrs. Lyke, Director of College Counseling at slyke@grier.org.

For Seniors/Graduates, Parents/Guardians:

• Beginning the week of June 3, 2024, Mrs. Lyke will electronically send Official Transcripts to attending colleges/universities.

For Juniors/Rising Seniors, Parents/Guardians:

• Summer reminder: please continue to update your Resumes and Counselor Rec Surveys found within your Naviance accounts.

Testing Announcements/Information

Questions? Please contact Grier School’s Test Coordinator, Olivia Hallahan (ohallahan@grier.org).

AP Exam Score Information

• June 20th, 2024 is the deadline to indicate or change the college, university or scholarship organization a student would like their one free score send to.
• AP Exams scores will be available in starting July 8th, 2024.

Testing Accommodations for the 2024-2025 School Year

What to know?

STUDENT TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

The Test Coordinator is available to support eligible students with their standardized testing needs with accommodations. It is the responsibility of the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) to provide Grier School with their child’s formative documentation. Necessary documentation includes, but is not limited to, current educational evaluations such as IEP or 504 Plan conducted at a previous school district and psychoeducational or neuropsychological assessment (s). Provided documentation must describe background history of initial diagnosis, learning disability, and suggested accommodations. The Test Coordinator will contact families to request signed consent authorizing the submission of accommodation request(s) on a student’s behalf so long as documentation is currently on file with the registrar.

Each testing company has its doctrine to follow: ACT requires cognitive testing documentation to be within the past three years, dependent upon diagnostic results. Whereas College Board (PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, AP Exams) requires cognitive testing records to be no more than five years old, College Board requires hearing and visual impairment documentation to be no more than two years old. Inclusive with both test companies, medical or psychiatric testing must be current and updated within the past year.

Once the Test Coordinator receives the notification of approval or denial, they will forward the letter(s) to the parent(s)/guardian(s) for their records and will initiate a reconsideration if applicable. Once an accommodation request is approved through both testing companies, the student can use support throughout high school.

WHAT IF NEW INFORMATION IS OBTAINED OR A REEVALUATION TAKES PLACE?

In that case, outcomes must be shared in written form with the school to determine if a resubmission of request is permitted given documentation to either remove approved supports or to request additional support(s). Documentation can be submitted by forwarding through email to the Test Coordinator. Moreover, new findings will be shared with the Head of School, Admissions Department, Registrar, and Learning Skills Department.

NEXT STEPS?

If your child is a rising, eligible 10th or 11th grader and will be taking the PSAT/NMSQT or a 12th grader taking the SAT School Day Fall 2024, and has not been approved yet, please contact the Testing Coordinator, Olivia Hallahan, by August 1, 2024.

On-Campus Testing Information

TOEFL iBT at Grier School’s Test Center

Details:

• Students register with the testing coordinator, Mrs. Hallahan.
• Registration is sent via BULK.
• Students do NOT register through their TOEFL account.
• Breakfast will be available for students at 7:30am each Saturday morning of testing, then students will report at 8am to North Cottage room 2 to begin.

TOEFL Dates/Deadlines Semester 1 2024-2025:

Registration for September 2024: CLICK HERE

Available Dates

• September 14, 2024 (sign-up deadline: Regular August 2nd ; Late August 26th)
• September 21, 2024 (sign-up deadline: Regular August 2nd ; Late August 26th)
• September 28, 2024 (sign-up deadline: Regular August 2nd ; Late August 26th)
• October 5, 2024
• October 12, 2024
• October 26, 2024
• November 9, 2024
• November 16, 2024
• November 23, 2024

SAT School Day/ACT District Testing 2024-2025

Details:

• Students register with the testing coordinator, Mrs. Hallahan.
• Registration is sent via BULK.
• Students do NOT register through their MySAT (College Board) or MyACT accounts.
• Each exam takes place during the school day hours.
• Students will be required to report by 7:40am to their testing location on campus the day of the exam.

SAT School Day Dates/Deadlines/Registration

• Semester 1: Friday, October 4th, 2024
• SSD (Accommodations Request) Deadline: Thursday, August 1st, 2024
• Deadline: Friday, August 30th, 2024
• Registration: CLICK HERE to access the form. Students with a Grier School email account can register.

• Semester 2: Friday, March 28th, 2025
• Deadlines: TBD

ACT District Testing Dates/Deadlines/Registration

• Semester 1: Tuesday, October 15th, 2024
• TAA (Accommodations Request) Deadline: Thursday, August 1st, 2024
• Deadline: Friday, August 30th, 2024
• Registration: CLICK HERE to access the form. Students with a Grier School email account can register.

• Semester 2: Tuesday, April 8th, 2025
• Deadlines: TBD

Off-Campus Testing

Summer ACT and SAT Options

Details:

• Students should register for the available summer dates through their MyACT or MySAT (Collge Board) Accounts, and choose an exam location closest to their respective home.

July 2024

ACT Weekend Administration (Saturday, July 13, 2024) [PAPER or DIGITAL]

Test Center: Register for a test center local to your home.

• Deadline: June 7
• Late Deadline: June 21

August 2024

SAT Weekend Administration (Saturday, August 24th, 2024) [DIGITAL]

Test Center: Register for a test center local to your home.

• Deadline: August 9
• Late Deadline/Changes to Registration Deadline: August 13

Semester 1: ACT and SAT Options

Details:

• Depending on number of students signed up, breakfast will be available for students at 6:30am or students will get a “to-go” breakfast at dinner the night before.
• Students will depart campus at 7am for testing at Altoona Area High School.
• ALL off-campus weekend test registration MUST go through Altoona Area High School for both the ACT and SAT.
• This is the ONLY location Grier School will transport students.

September 2024

ACT Weekend Administration (Saturday, September 14, 2024) [PAPER or DIGITAL]

Test Center: Altoona Area High School

Test Center Code: 183670

• Deadline: Aug 9
• Late Deadline: Aug 25
• Students MUST notify Mrs. Hallahan to arrange transportation by: Aug 25
• Admission Ticket Due by Sept 9

ALL students are required to read Be Kind by Teen Breathe in preparation for the theme for the 2024-2025 school year. Our theme will be KINDNESS.

For those students enrolled in an AP or Honors English course, please see the required steps for summer below:

Required Summer Reading for Honors English Courses

English 9 Honors: To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee; Secret Life of Bees, Kid

English 10 Honors: The Bean Trees, Kingsolver; The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger

English 11 Honors: Jane Eyre, Bronte; A Passage to India, Forster

English 12 Honors: The Poisonwood Bible, Kingsolver; Like Water for Chocolate, Esquivel; The Housekeeper and the Professor, Ogawa, (translated by Stephen Snyder)

English 12 AP: How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Foster; The Poisonwood Bible, Kingsolver; Educated, Westover; Like Water for Chocolate, Esquivel; The Housekeeper and the Professor, Ogawa, (translated by Stephen Snyder)

AP Summer Coursework

Any student who registered for an AP course next year needs to meet with the instructor to gather any required summer work. All summer work should be completed before the first day of school for the 2024-2025 academic year. Not all AP courses have summer assignments.

Please join Kara in a Parent Book Club!

This month's book is The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Health Kids in a Culture of Dependence. This is a great book to help us learn how to manage technology with our children.

The link for a Zoom discussion will be sent in July. The discussion will take place the week of July 8.

With the end of school and another graduation ceremony, the faculty at Grier wish all of the new graduates success and joy in their new chapters of life. During the summer months, faculty will be getting some much deserved rest while also focusing on the upcoming school year. Many faculty will attend trainings and workshops and continue working on degrees, all with the excitement of rejuvenating their teaching and the experiences of their returning and new students coming this fall.

As we wrap up the year in an exciting and grateful manner for our Senior students, it is a lovely reminder to look back on the year we’ve had and reflect on how best to move into the new year.

This past year, students have trended towards trips that are smaller and more specialized. In order to meet this demand next year, we will shift to a model where weekends will feature cultural and shopping events as usual with larger bus trips as well as smaller group options. In addition, each weekend will also feature an option to take a small, longer trip. These trips will include places such as Gettysburg, Penn State sporting events, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh for a variety of experiences ranging from plays and musicals to arboretums and aquariums to local attractions and holiday events. Seating on these trips will be limited but will feature a wait list option.

Additionally, next year, based on student feedback, trips will be cashless! This means that students must be prepared either with their own cards and/or cash. Students should remember that they should never take all their cash on any trip, and when they depart their room, they should be locking their valuables in their closets.

Furthermore, we are looking forward to our summer events and planning for the new year!

We are excited to welcome our first-year international students for ISOP August 21st between 10 am and 3 pm as well as our SAT and College Application students on August 27th after 10 am but by 3pm.

Our Seniors and ambassadors will enhance our campus by arriving Sept 4th between 10 am and 3 pm. Fresh(wo)men, Juniors, and Sophomores will arrive September 5th after 10 am but before 3 pm. 7th and 8th grade students will complete our campus community by arriving September 6th between 10 am and 3 pm.

We look forward to having our Parents’ Weekend events on Oct 18, 19, and 20, with students returning by 9:45 am on Oct 21st.

Our winter musical, drama, and dance performances will be featured between Dec 11th-13th. Students not involved in any performances should depart after their last finals. Those involved in dance and/or musical performances should depart after their performances. All students must depart campus by Dec 14th at noon.

After enjoying winter break, all students must return by noon on Jan 12th.

Our next set of departures will be March 8th by noon for Spring Break. There will not be a homestay option. Instead, students should return home, visit with family and/or friends in the US, and/or take one of the trips offered by the school (more details will be forthcoming). Students must return from Spring Break by March 23rd at noon.

Finally, all underclass(wo)men (except those who are servers or in the dance/musical performance) must depart campus by May 23rd at noon. Seniors being picked up by parents will depart that day between 9 and 3.

Please be sure to review the new student handbook guidelines when they are published regarding early departures & late arrivals. This coming year, adjusted travel plans may have consequences for students.

With these new guidelines and old traditions in place, I sure hope you all have a lovely, adventurous summer break. We can’t wait to welcome you back in the fall!

As our amazing school year draws to a close, I am reveling in the notion of June signaling hope and bright futures for our seniors along with bunches of sunshine, love, happiness and adventure for everyone. Our week of graduation festivities were simply wonderful kicking off with our “You Make a Difference” event, prom and senior trip to Bedford Springs resort plus all the silly, fun, and traditional events culminating to a glorious graduation weekend. Congratulations to our graduates!

Always remember that you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you’ll ever know. - A. A Milne

Exciting Dorm News:

All returning students are set with their new dorm rooms for the fall and boxes are a’ moving as we prep for summer camp and the new school year. Thank you to all returning students for your hard work and ingenuity in packing up your belongings.

Our dorm wars entail the awarding of our coveted trophies to the Dorm/Hall that prevailed in our games, lost the least deportment points, showed consistent kindness, joined in community service events, and averaged the highest over-all final deportment score. These coveted trophies are awarded at the end of each Marking Period.

We are proud to announce that following a nail-bitingly close race, congratulations to our fifth Marking Period winners.

· 7-9th grade – 2nd Floor

· 10-12th grades – Senior Hall (Davis/Trustees)

These results mean that second floor triumphed over third floor and has won bragging rights for the school year! Senior Hall with 2 wins for the school year has also triumphed as the upper grade school year victors. Congratulations to all!

New students:

In the July newsletter, I will be sending out our roommate questionnaires for the upcoming school year. In the August newsletter, I will also be sending out a list of what students will need for the fall and also what you definitely won’t need or shouldn’t bring! (-:

Wishing everyone an extraordinary start to summer and sending much love and sunshine!!

Two little added notes this month:

“You are so much sunshine in every square inch.” – Walt Whitman

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

As we move towards the end of the 2023-2024 school year and begin looking towards the next, the Grier School is excited to begin working with The Social Institute to answer the call for social and wellness concerns amongst our students and in larger global contexts.

According to the CDC report on Youth Risk Behavior, nearly 1 in 3 teen girls has seriously considered attempting suicide—a 60% increase from 10 years ago. There are a variety of factors contributing to such a stark increase in these experiences of sadness and violence. However, the same study also found that, “School connectedness, defined in this report as feeling close to people at school, has a long-lasting, protective impact for adolescents well into adulthood.” As part of Grier School’s wellness initiatives, it is imperative that we begin to address the concerns and experiences the CDC is finding among our students.

We have begun a collaboration with The Social Institute to help students become empowered digital citizens. Learning ways to positively engage with technology and social media, find balance and regulation regarding tech time, and learn about the effects, positive and negative, that technology has in communities and on various peoples are foundational steps in raising well-adjusted global citizens.

In order to be impactful in this process, we need your help. The CDC study concluded that, “Supporting schools in efforts to reverse these negative trends [of rising mental health struggles] and ensure that youth have the support they need to be healthy and thrive will require partnership.” ­ While the school can create and implement new curricular and counseling components, guardian support and reinforcement will aid in elevating the usefulness of these program components.

Stay in Touch!

Want to be "in the know?"

Want to be connected DAILY to Grier School?

There are multiple ways to follow along with the daily happenings here at Grier! Follow these steps to stay connected to your daughter and our Grier School extended family!

1. Stay up to date on current events and daily activities through the Grier School App! There are many important items linked here. Open the PDF below for a QR code to direct you to the App Store. (Available for Apple and Android devices)
2. Follow us on Instagram @grier_school
3. Follow us on Facebook @ Grier School | Tyrone PA | Facebook
4. Log onto our website: www.grier.org

The 2023-2024 Varsity sports season is officially a wrap.

It was an exciting year for all the sport teams: Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Cross Country, Basketball, Archery, Fencing, Riding, and Dance. 140 students participated in the 2023-2024 Varsity Sports program. There were hard earned victories and lessons learned from the losses. The athletes all grew as individuals and bonded as a perfect team in the end. Through every practice they kept the Grier Spirit going strong!

We are looking forward to starting our 2024-2025 season this fall.

Our beloved FOXY graduated this year! Rumor has it that her sister is joining Grier School next year!

Our riders had a very successful 2023 - 2024 season!

Highlights are as follows:

Grier owned horse and rider combination were Congress Champion in Green Horse Reining.

Another rider competed in at the North American Youth Championships and was champion at the United Stated Equestrian Federation Festival of Champions in the FEI Junior Dressage Championships. At the United States Dressage Federation National Dressage Finals, a rider was Champion in Third Level and Reserve Champion in Fourth Level.

We had seven riders qualify for the Emerging Athletes Program, a rigorous five-day program where riders work with top clinicians and stable managers. A rider competing in the coveted, invitation only, USHJA Zone 2 Junior Jumper Team Championships at 1.20 M. A rider was crowned USHJA Zone 2 Champion in the Junior Hunters.

Our Dressage High School team was Reserve National Champions and our Hunt Seat High School team placed 6th at Interscholastic Equestrian Association National Finals. Later this month, our Western High School and Middle School teams will be traveling to Texas for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association Western National Finals. Both of our Western teams are coming off Championship wins at IEA Semi-finals

Even though the 2023 - 2024 school year comes to an end, our riders will continue to compete over the summer to qualify for Penn National Horse Show, USHJA Zone 2 Finals, and Capital Challenge in both the Hunters and Junior Jumper sections.

GO FOXES!

Every seven years, Grier School completes the process for the Middle States Accreditation. Our final site visit for accreditation will be in early November. As part of this process, you will be sent a few surveys in the coming months. You will also be invited to parent focus groups. We will also discuss this during our Opening Weekend in September. We look forward to working through the final stages of this process with you!

WE HAVE CHANGED OUR SHIPPING ADDRESS. PLEASE SEE BELOW!

Shipping and Postal Mail Updated Address is NEW:

ALL packages from UPS, FEDEX, DHL, AMAZON, etc. should

be sent to:

Name

Grier School

4100 Juniata St

Tyrone PA 16686

ALL POSTAL MAIL (letters, cards, packages) should be sent to:

Name

Grier School

2522 Grier School Rd

PO Box 308

Tyrone, PA 16686

Please note: Students are not permitted to order from InstaCart, UberEats, or any food delivery services. This is a safety concern. They are allowed to order from Domino's only on Friday and Saturday evenings for a 6-10 p.m. delivery to 4100 Juniata Street. With our amazing new food service and the extended hours of 1853, there are many options here on campus!

Geoffrey Grier, Director

~ ggrier@grier.org

Kara Lawler, Head of School

~ klawler@grier.org, ext. 7006

Cari Crago, Dean of Counseling, Wellness, and Residential Life

~ ccrago@grier.org, ext. 7015

Katt Barr, Dean of Academics

~ kbarr@grier.org, ext. 7057

Erin Guydish-Bucholz, Dean of Students and Belonging

~ eguydish@grier.org, ext. 7056

Anthony Lang, Dean of Faculty

~ alang@grier.org

Suzanne Lyke, Director of College Counseling

~slyke@grier.org, ext. 7048

Gage Bassham, Travel Coordinator

~ gbassham@grier.org

Lindsey Good, Business Director

~ lgood@grier.org, ext. 7008

Angela McLaughlin, Facts Administrator

~ amclaughlin@grier.org , ext. 7019