High School Weekly Update

The application window for 2025-2026 is now open! Please let anyone you know who is interested in a rigorous college preparatory education for their children.
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What motivates you to learn?

This is one of the most often asked questions in education today. Many students, teachers, and families are experiencing growing frustration over the issue of motivation. Hopefully, this will offer a snippet of help if you find yourself struggling with motivation.

Do you learn because you have to? Do you go to school because it is required? Are you focused on getting the best grade you can? Are you interested in going to college or maybe getting a good-paying job one day?

If these are the main reasons you are trying to learn, they are called extrinsic, or external, factors. They come from the outside. Maybe your parents are expecting you to do this. Maybe you feel like you have to do this. If that is what motivates you, you will likely experience more struggles than necessary.

Maybe you want to learn because you enjoy learning. Maybe you want to be better or improve yourself. Perhaps you are just curious about a subject. Possibly, you are just driven to keep learning.

These are called intrinsic, or internal, factors. They come from inside you. Learning is something you want to do because it will lead to you becoming the best version of yourself possible.

Can I share something with you?

The things I learned the best and remembered the longest were the things I wanted to learn for myself. I decided they were important to me and I put my best effort into learning all I could about it. When I wanted to learn about repairing a car, I made use of every resource I could find to help me master what I needed to know.

I was successful because I wanted to be; not because someone else wanted me to be.

Ask your family. I am sure they will agree and can share their own stories. I am sure you have your own stories. Maybe you learned to ride a skateboard or bicycle. Maybe you know how to catch the biggest fish. Maybe you can program a game.

Whatever you can do, you are able because you are determined to learn and become the best you could at doing it.

How does this relate to our current model of school? Well, you are in charge of your education. You decide whether you will be successful or not. You decide how far you can go. Those motivated by external factors like grades will do only what they have to do and will not enjoy it much along the way. Those who excel will determine to learn because they are driven and enjoy it. They will view the extra time they have as an opportunity to learn more than is required. They will see that no one is holding them back and will make the effort to maximize their learning.

Here is the best part. If you’ve been externally motivated up to this point, you can redirect yourself and become internally motivated. Find the joy in learning and you will go far.

My hope is for all of you to be intrinsically motivated about learning and put forth your all this school year. It is still early and the choices you make today will make a huge impact on the rest of the year.

Until next time Knights…

You Matter!

Please check your email for the message sent by Mr. Walter regarding important upcoming dates for seniors.

Recently, we have noticed an uptick in issues related to our Car Rider line. Here are a few friendly reminders:

• Please remember to drive cautiously when you are on campus.
  
• Do not pull into the other lane in order to get around the line. Be patient.
  
• Do not pick up your student in one of the staff/student parking lots. Only pick up your child in the designated area between the Middle and High Schools.
  
• In the morning, please have your child exit on the side of the car closest to the sidewalk when you come to a stop in the designated pick up area. You do not need to wait to get to the front as this slows down the line for everyone else.
  
• In the morning, you should not use the Middle School side for drop off until after 8:00 a.m. There is an exception on Wednesday mornings for Middle School students who are attending FCA in the Square of the Middle School.
  
• If your student needs to cross sides, they should always do so at the crosswalk at the front of the Car Rider line. They should never cut through the middle.
• In the afternoon, please do not arrive on campus prior to Middle School dismissal at 2:40. Only families who are picking up Middle School students only should arrive prior to Middle School dismissal.
• If the Middle School has been dismissed for the day, you may use either side (Middle or High School). Please do not stop the line by insisting to be on the High School side. If you have a HS student, it is ok for them to use the crosswalk to meet you on the Middle School side.
  
• Please obey the directions of the staff member on duty in the crosswalk, and do not tell students to cross if this is contradicting the directions of the staff member.
  

Thank you for your continued cooperation and helping make morning drop-off/afternoon pick-up safe and efficient.

Join Pfeiffer University’s Friends of the Library for their Spring 2025 "Meet the Author" Luncheon on March 25, at 11:30 a.m. in Stokes Student Center’s Grady Board Room on the Misenheimer Campus. The luncheon speaker is Daniel Wallace, the J. Ross MacDonald Distinguished Professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is author of six novels, including Big Fish which was adapted and released as a movie in 2003. In 2013, the book and the movie were mish-mashed together and became a Broadway musical. His most recent novel, Extraordinary Adventures, was released in 2017. He has also written and illustrated a children’s book, The Cat’s Pajamas, in 2014 and published a memoir, This Isn’t Going to End Well, in 2023.

Tickets are $35 and on sale now. Seating is limited. If interested, please use the link to register.

https://www.pfeiffer.edu/calendar_event/meet-the-author-luncheon/

Click the link below to purchase tickets.

Prom 2025 tickets

This week's Knight of the Week is Aaron Maynor. One of Aaron's teachers wrote, "Aaron is a very motivated student who is actively involved in class in many ways. He always completes his work and is always willing to help others in class. Aaron is a joy to teach!"

Great job, Aaron!

February 24-28

Monday Pasta (Meat or Alfredo Sauce), Garlic Bread, Salad Bar

Tuesday Corn Dogs, Mac & Cheese, Salad Bar

Wednesday Beef or Chicken Tacos, Salad Bar

Thursday Baked Potato Bar, Soup, Salad Bar

Friday Pizza (Cheese or Pepperoni)

March 14 - ACT for Juniors; 9th, 10th, and 12th are virtual; Early Release Day for MS

March 17 - Teacher Workday, Senior Project Presentations

March 20 - Launch for Seniors

April 02-04 - Jr./Sr. Trips

April 10 - Launch for Juniors

April 12 - Jr./Sr. Prom

April 17 - Early Release Day, All students

April 18-25 - Spring Break

High School Tours
We will also offer school tours and information sessions to prospective high school families. Click here to schedule a visit with one of our counselors.

The FAFSA Connects Students to Resources to Pay For College.

You read that right – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open and ready for your students to apply. Colleges and universities use the FAFSA to determine how much financial aid students are eligible to receive, including grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. Encourage your students to take time during their holiday break to get started!

The LANCE is a parent led organization that supports and enhances the existing programs of Gray Stone Day School. We work with the school, parents, teachers and community to support academics, athletics and social programs for the students and staff.

If you are interested in joining, please visit the Lance page on the GSDS website by clicking here.

General Meeting Schedule

Sep 3, 2024 6:30 PM
Dec 03, 2024 6:30 PM
Jan 7, 2025 6:30 PM
Mar 4, 2025 6:30 PM
May 6, 2025 6:30 PM

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86941536323

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1345630/Gray-Stone-Day-High-School/

If you are interested in registering for Driver's Ed classes, please click here.

Gray Stone Day School is a regional school that provides a rigorous, college preparatory curriculum for students in grades 6 - 12. While developing strong character, students engage in highly challenging courses that will require them to work diligently in and out of the classroom. A high caliber teaching staff prepares a rigorous curriculum to prepare students for post-secondary opportunities.

Email: slisk@graystoneday.org
Website: graystoneday.org
Location: 49464 Merner Terrace, Misenheimer, NC, USA
Phone: 704-463-0567
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrayStoneDay/
Twitter: @graystoneday