"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

-Mary Oliver

Dear parents,

May is my favorite month on campus, as the excitement really is palpable. Nature always has a way of signaling what's to come. The blooming flowers on the colonnade and the hatching ducklings in the science building remind me that it is the time of new life, of fresh starts, and new beginnings. As Mary Oliver writes, this time of year makes me ponder my own "one wild and precious life." And it's with that in mind that I write to the parents of our senior class.

On most every day, I spend time thinking about how lucky I am to have been such a small part of your daughter's journeys. As you know, I am not the parent of a high school senior, but I often imagine myself in your shoes. My son is actually going to start high school next year; he will start his educational career as your child closes a chapter in hers. I see my growing children in the eyes of your older ones, and I realize that before too long, it will be me in your shoes, sending my first born or my baby out into the world—the real world—whatever that might be.

Every year, graduation day is hard for me because in saying goodbye to our seniors, I’m saying goodbye to so many things: another passing year; another year that my own children have grown; another year of watching these graduates leave the safety of your home and our school to jump, bravely, into whatever is waiting.

From all of us at Grier, we thank you for raising these children and entrusting them to us. Thank you for sending a piece of your heart out into the world and leaving it in our hands.

We look so forward to celebrating the end of the year and our seniors! We'll see you soon.

My very best,

Kara

The happy hours of work and play,

The golden autumn haze,

With team cheers echoing down the field,

With joys of Grier School days.

The time has come! It's MAY!

We are getting so close to our graduation festivities, so senior parents, please check your email for a note from Cari Crago regarding sign-ups for parent pick-up times for Friday, May 24th. Fortunately, we will have helpers on campus to help you carry and load all their belongings.

The email will also include a request for permission for your senior to attend their senior class trip. It is also attached here. The trip will be an overnight excursion to Bedford Springs Spa and Resort which is about an hour away from Grier. Both Cari Crago and Kara Lawler will chaperone this trip. Our seniors are very excited to kick off graduation week with a memory making event celebrating a wonderful year!

Please refer to the graduation information attached here. We look forward to celebrating with you!

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!

Final grades will be published Friday, May 31st by 9:00am. They will be mailed to families during the first full week of June.

Summer Work

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.

Testing Announcements/Information

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

AP Exam Information

• CLICK HERE to access AP® Student webpage for practice materials and exam information.
• Rule during AP Exams:
• Exam in the Morning
• Report to exam location at 7:30am.
• Student will attend afternoon classes.
• Attend afternoon sport/lesson/activity.
• Exam in the Afternoon
• Student will attend 1st-4th period, then will be dismissed for lunch at 11am.
• Report to exam location by 11:30am or 11:45am dependent on schedule.
• Attend afternoon sport/lesson/activity if time permits.
• Exam in both Morning & Afternoon
• Student will NOT attend classes.
• Attend afternoon sport/lesson/activity if time permits.

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:

• May 4th (sign-up deadline: Regular April 12th; Late April 24th)
• May 11th (sign-up deadline: Regular April 19th; Late May 1st)

Off-Campus Testing

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.

SAT Weekend Administration (Saturday, May 4th , 2024) [DIGITAL]

Test Center: Altoona Area High School

Test Center Code: 39116

• Deadline: April 19th
• Late Deadline/Changes to Registration Deadline: April 23rd
• Students MUST notify Mrs. Hallahan to arrange transportation by: April 23rd
• Admission Ticket Due by April 29th

Summer ACT and SAT Options

ACT Weekend Administration (Saturday, June 8, 2024) [PAPER]

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

• Deadline: May 3
• Late Deadline: May 17

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

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

• Deadline: June 7
• Late Deadline: June 21

SAT Weekend Administration (Saturday, June 1st, 2024) [DIGITAL]

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

• Deadline: May 16
• Late Deadline/Changes to Registration Deadline: May 21

College Counseling News from Mrs Lyke:

Please direct college related questions to: Mrs Lyke, Director of College Counseling (slyke@grier.org).

For Seniors, Parents/Guardians:

• Please continue to pay close attention to colleges/universities “deposit due dates” as many schools have extended deadlines due to FAFSA delays.
• May 10th is the Senior class photo! For those Seniors wishing to wear their college swag, please do! 😊

For Juniors, Parents/Guardians:

• Students taking the SAT on 4/4/2024: scores will be available via College Board student log-in portal the first week of May.

For Sophomores, Parents/Guardians:

• Save the Date: May 1, 2024 @ 7pm EST – Zoom.
• Topic: College Financial Planning Workshop with Mr Paul Martin, founder of College Money Method.
• Title: Understanding how Colleges Assess your Ability to Pay and Aid Eligibility.
• Target: 10th grade students, parents/guardians.
• Note: Mrs Lyke will email registration details directly to 10th grade families

Sunday, May 19th

Period 1 Exam - 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Monday, May 20th

Period 2 Exam - 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Period 3 Exam - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Tuesday, May 21st

Period 4 Exam - 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Period 5 Exam - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Wednesday, May 22nd

Period 6 Exam - 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Period 7 Exam - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

With the beginning of May, comes the excitement and pressure of AP exams and the buildup to the end of the year. Many teachers are guiding students through final preparations for exams, while others are still finishing up the final portions of their curriculum. As finals move closer, teachers will use different methods to prepare students for the next class or level within their subjects, while also assessing the students' learning through the semester in different ways. Some finals will be cumulative exams and some will be projects, in which students will display different methods of analysis, synthesis, and application of things they have learned in the class. The students will showcase their skills, as well as their abilities to think outside the box, and approach their expression of learning in a new way. Just as the students work to demonstrate what they have learned, the teachers will reflect on the data and experiences to adjust and improve their teaching for the coming year again.

Farewell, My Friends

Spring seems to be warming into summer as we enter into the ending of this year and look towards new beginnings. This month, we look forward to exciting events such as Newsies the musical, the end of the year soup bowl sale, prom, and end of the year recitals. Perhaps most exciting, we look forward to honoring student achievements at our yearly award ceremony and celebrating our seniors at recitals. We look forward to enjoying a week of activities to close our seniors’ year culminating with candlelight and graduation. We’ll round out the year with final exams for underclassmen and a look towards next year with Student Council elections. Cheers to closing out this year and looking towards the next!

May 3rd

1:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Zoom - 10th Grade Students- Understanding How College Assess Your Ability to Pay & Aid Eligibility

7:00 PM - Musical

2:45 PM - Movie trip (limited seats), Spending Money $10; Charge $30

1:00 PM - Early Dinner Trip, Cost TBD by Choice; No spending money

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM - Garden Club: PSU Researchers, Free

1:00 PM - Volleyball finals, Free

May 4th

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, Cost $50; Spending Money $30

7:00 AM - SAT, Cost determined by CollegeBoard

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Community Rain Garden, $5

Time TBD Kentucky Derby Party, Free

4:30 PM - Dinner Trip, Cost TBD by Choice; No spending money

7:00 PM - Musical Newsies, Free

May 5th

Riding Show @ State College

Time TBD Cinco de Mayo, Free

10:15 AM - Church, Free

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Thrifting, Spending Money $20; Charge $25

11:30 AM - Lunch Trip, Cost TBD by Choice; No Spending Money

12:30 PM - 3:30 PM - Target, Spending Money $20; Charge $33

May 8th

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM - Senior/Server Song Rehearsal

2:50 PM - 5:15 PM - NAHS Community Service At Tyrone Library

May 8th - 12th

Riding Show @ Swan Lake

AP Exams

May 9th

Annual Soup Bowl Fundraiser

May 10th

Green-Gold Event

12:15 PM - Faculty Meeting

12:30 PM - AV End of the year Event

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM - Campus Gardens Clean-Up/Planting, Free

Time TBD 9th grade Movie Night, Cost TBD

4:30 PM -Dinner Trip, Cost TBD by Choice; No Spending Money

May 11th

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Second Chance Strays, $15 Spending Money; $20 Charge

11:30 AM - 4:30 PM - Kimchi Korean & Asian Market, $25 Spending Money; $33 Charge

1:30 PM - mini golf, No Spending Money; $15 Charge

4:30 PM - Dinner Trip, Cost TBD; No Spending Money

12:30 PM - 4:30 PM - Downtown State College, $20 Spending Money; $33 Charge

May 12th

10:15 AM - Church, Free

1:30 PM - Hike, $10 Spending Money; $15 Charge

12:30 PM - 4:30 PM - Logan Town Center, $20 Spending Money; $33 Charge

Senior Sale

All items off dorm walls

May 13th

6:30 PM - Senior Recital @ Music Building

May 13th-15th

End of Year Recitals at Extra Help @ Music Building

May 15th

Senior/Server Song Rehearsal

May 15th-19th

Riding @ Blue Rock Classic @ Swan Lake

Riding @ NJHAHA

May 16th

Graduation Meeting

7:00 PM - End of Year Recital (Groups), Auditorium

AP Exams

Final Green-Gold Award

May 17th

Review Day/End of MP 5

4:30 PM - 8:30 PM - Downtown state college, $20 Spending Money; $33 Charge

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Costume Design Activity and Friendship bracelets, Free

1:00 PM - Underclass(wo)men awards & Yearbooks, Free

May 18th

9:30 AM - 6:00 PM - Hershey (limited seats), No Spending Money; $85 Charge

6:30 PM - Prom

5:00 PM - 8:30 PM - Logan Town Center, $20 Spending Money; $33 Charge

May 19th

10:15 AM - Church, Free

Dorm Cleaning & Packing

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM - Final Exam Period 1

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Make up exams

Senior Trip

May 20th

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM - Final Exam Period 2

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Final Exam Period 3

2:00 PM - Student Council Elections

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Make up Exams

May 21st

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM - Final Exam Period 4

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Final Exam Period 5

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Make up Exams

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Senior Movie & treats

May 22nd

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM - Final Exam Period 6

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Final Exam Period 7

9:00 AM - Senior Breakfast with Mrs. Grier

12:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Box Shipping

3:00 PM - 5:30 PM - Dance Dress Rehearsal

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Candlelight/Graduation Rehearsal
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM - Senior Bonfire

May 23rd

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Graduation/Candlelight Rehearsal/Seating

1:00 PM - Faculty Meeting

12:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Box Shipping

3:00 PM - 5:30 PM - Music Dress Rehearsal

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Senior Food Truck & Karaoke

May 24th

9:00 AM - 3:30 PM - Parent Pick up

5:00 PM - Senior/Parent Dinner

7:00 PM - Performing Arts Performance

9:30 PM -Candlelight Service

May 25th

10:00 AM - Commencement

May 26th

All Students Depart by Noon

May brings the promise of renewed hope, warmer days (with all of our students out and about on campus) and making cherished memories that will be forever in our hearts. The multitudes of gorgeous colors remind us that change is beautiful and inspires us to see the beauty of new beginnings. I love May as it is a celebration month to honor all of our students, especially our beloved seniors wrapping up a glorious school year.

Exciting Dorm News:

Our Spring Campus Garden Party themed door decorating contest brought out our student’s colorful delight and their competitiveness to new blossoming heights. We awarded 11 top prizes this time.

· “Shout outs” to Megan M, Isa K, Allison C, Kyra X, Quinn S, Demi A, Elinor C, Ava B, Brooklyn H, Cherry L and Pia R. M for bringing their A game again to the competition.

· Resident Advisors Dorothy and Maxine treated their floor to a Spring flower garden.

· Miss Boudreaux really shined featuring her pup Augustus Bernard in an awesomely artistic display.

Again, along with our exhilarating Dorm activities & Dorm wars is 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 fourth Marking Period winners.

· 7-9th grade – 3rd Floor

· 10-12th grades – Wrens Nest

2nd & 3rd floors are currently tied 2-2 for the school year, so marking period five will be the decider on which floor has bragging rights for the school year!

Our annual room sign-up extravaganza went swimmingly and a bit magically with our Disney Princess themed party. Drum rolls were aplenty, and all of our returning students are set with their room choices for the upcoming school year.

Two little added notes this month:

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

“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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 Grier Dance Company traveled to New York City April 13-16th. The company performed at The Peridance Center Youth Ensemble Performance. This is by invite only.

The company performed works choreographed by Danielle Bower, Jocelyn Hrzic, and Mike Esperanza. They performed in both performances Saturday and Sunday.

The company also took master classes at The Peridance School and Broadway Dance Center. It was a wonderful trip and showcased The Grier Dance Company as one of the strongest youth ensembles in the country!

This past weekend Grier School Equestrians traveled down to Tryon, North Carolina to the International Equestrian Center for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Nationals! There were 23 girls and 6 horses representing Grier School. The Upper School Hunt Seat Team earned 6th overall and the Upper School Dressage Team earned Reserve National Champion. Great job girls!

Shipping and Postal Mail Updated Address:

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

be sent to:

Name

Grier School

4111 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 4111 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

Beth Yoder, Travel Coordinator

~ eyoder@grier.org, ext. 7023

Lindsey Good, Business Director

~ lgood@grier.org, ext. 7008

Angela McLaughlin, Facts Administrator

~ amclaughlin@grier.org , ext. 7019