Celebrating Community Connections During Alumni Weekend (2024)

GreenGlow will be running a special Mother’s Day pop-up (in Main) for our Entrepreneurship class project during lunch on Wednesday, May 8 and Friday, May 10! 💕

We will be selling natural, vegan, eco-friendly, handmade body butter. We are offering unscented, vanilla, lavender, and tea tree scented body butters. We do not use any artificial dyes, artificial scents, or preservatives in our products. To reduce waste, they are packaged in reusable 8oz glass containers.

Each body butter is $12. We will be accepting cash, Venmo (@britneyythompsonn), and Cashapp ($britneythompson10). We also have a preorder form if anyone is interested in preordering!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYgroCO6dHlYsk0hQ3_F6mnvzFat0p3RPDGp4gPfmWNb8_dQ/viewform

Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, @green.glow.co.

We hope to see you all there,

Britney ’25, Natalie ’25, and Jules ’25

💕🌱♻️🌍🤗

Ticket Information:

Price – $45 per ticket. Tickets were sold Monday, April 22 through Thursday, April 25 during lunch in Main Lobby.
Quantity – 2 tickets per senior (yourself plus one guest)
Guest Information – Guests who do not attend George School need approval through the Deans’ Office. Forms are due by Friday, May 17.

Date and Location:

Friday, May 24, 2024
Spring Mill Manor
171 Jacksonville Rd, Ivyland, PA 18974

Time Details:

5:00 p.m. – Gather on Red Square. This is a George School tradition. You can invite your family and friends to come see you and take photos before you depart.
5:30 p.m. – Begin boarding the buses
5:45-6:00 p.m. – Depart for Spring Mill
10:30 p.m. – Board buses from Spring Mill back to campus

School Day Information:

Half-day of classes for seniors
Two classes in the morning plus senior assembly
Dismissal at 11:35 a.m.

Post-Dance Information:

Boarding students who attend the dance must return to the dorms after the dance. No overnight leave requests will be approved.
Day students who attend the dance cannot sleepover in the dorms.

Questions? Contact Class Sponsors Carly Wassel or Adam Wassel.

After almost a year of assessing and evaluating the functioning of the Deans’ Office, including analysis of the community surveys last year, we have worked to create a more holistic, and thus less reactive, approach to supporting students and to improve channels of communication into, around, and out of the department.

The Deans’ Office has been renamed the Office of Student Life, with the following changes set to take place beginning in the 2024-2025 school year:

Class Deans will be assigned to each class to serve as the primary administrators and point persons for each grade as it moves through the school. Using a holistic approach, the Class Deans will work closely with teachers, coaches, dorm heads, advisors, and learning center staff to meet the academic and socio-emotional needs of each student. Class Deans will celebrate student achievement, communicate closely with families, and encourage class bonding.

The Class Deans are:

• Grade 12: Carly Wassel
• Grade 11: Theresa Montagna
• Grade 10: Kim Bryant
• Grade 9: Lazarus Bruner, Jr.

Director of Residential Life. After a thorough hiring process involving extensive community feedback, Shamika Ford will be joining the George School community as the Director of Residential Life (DRL), a newly created position in the Office of Student Life. The DRL will be responsible for the visionary leadership and development of a robust residential life program dedicated to the emotional and holistic health of all students. The DRL will also manage all aspects of student housing and residential leadership. Shamika will live on campus as a visible and active member of the school community, and will play a role in the supportive, disciplinary, and restorative practices in the office.

Laurie Moyer will continue under the role of Administrative Coordinator and Shari Rossmann will continue as Director of Student Activities. After serving our students in the work of this department, and acting as a tremendous support to Mb in their new role this year, EricWolarsky has elected to return to the classroom full-time next year.

The Office of Student Life is grateful to the community for providing valuable feedback that helped to inform this new office structure. We are excited to be expanding and shifting the office in these vital ways and enhancing our work together in support of our students.

One Book, One Philadelphia is a signature project of the Free Library of Philadelphia that promotes literacy, library usage, and civic dialogue by encouraging the entire greater Philadelphia area to come together through reading and discussing a single book.

The 2024 One Book selection is True Biz, a novel by author Sara Novic and an unforgettable journey into the Deaf community through the experiences of high school students and a universal celebration of human connection.

In partnership with the MDA library, we are bringing One Book, One Philadelphia to campus this spring. There will be a series of programs throughout April and May ranging from silent reading groups to discussions in celebration of the work for anyone interested. So if you are looking for something to read over Spring Break, stop by the library to check out True Biz.

And we’re using this opportunity to officially launch Sora, a reading app for all GS community members. eBook and audiobook copies of True Bizas well as a growing collection of other popular titles will be available there. You can find Sora online or in your phone’s app store.

We look forward to reading with you.

Joelle Sanphy ’08 (she/her/hers)
English Department
jsanphy@georgeschool.org

Dear Artists and Creative Minds,

George School Visual Arts is thrilled to announce our call for submissions for our upcoming Community Art Exhibition! We invite artists of all ages and skill levels to participate in this wonderful opportunity to showcase your talent and contribute to our vibrant school community.

Theme: Inspiration Everywhere

Inspiration can be found in every corner of our lives. Whether it’s in nature, everyday objects, personal experiences, or emotions, there is beauty waiting to be discovered. We encourage artists to explore this theme and share their unique interpretations through their artwork.

Submission Guidelines:

• Eligibility: Open to all faculty and staff of George School.
• Artistic Medium: We welcome submissions in a variety of mediums, including but not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, digital art, collage, and mixed media.
• Size and Specifications: Artwork should be ready for display, 2D work should be framed and wired to hang. 3D work should be pedestal ready (pedestals will be supplied if needed).
• Submission Deadline: May 1, 2024
• How to Submit: Please email digital images of your artwork to [asalamoni@georgeschool.org] with the subject line “Community Art Exhibition Submission.” Include your name, title of the artwork, medium, and a brief description.
• Selection Process: Submissions will be reviewed the Gallery Coordinator. Selected artworks will be notified via email.
• Exhibition Dates: The Community Art Exhibition will take place at the Walton Lobby Gallery from 12/2/2024-2/17/2025.
• Opening Reception: There will be an opening reception to celebrate the artists and their creations. Light refreshments will be served. (Date TBD)

Important Notes:

• Artwork must be original and appropriate for display in a school setting.
• Artists are responsible for delivering their artwork to Amedeo Salamoni in Hallowell Arts Building.
• Delivery of Artwork: Delivery instructions and times will be sent upon acceptance into exhibition. (Contact Amedeo for delivery arrangements).

This Community Art Exhibition serves as a platform for creative expression and collaboration within our school community. We look forward to receiving your submissions and witnessing the beauty and diversity of artistic talent at George School.

For inquiries or further information, please contact Amedeo Salamoni at asalamoni@georgeschool.org.

Thank you for your participation and support!

Amedeo Salamoni

Spring Break begins at noon on Thursday, March 14. Students are expected to depart campus by 6:00 p.m. unless they are international students who are flying out of the country.

Boarders return on Monday, March 25, and classes resume on Tuesday, March 26. International students who are flying back to campus from out of the country may return on March 24 if needed.

On Thursday, March 14 we will offer the following shuttles to nearby transit hubs:

• 12:30 p.m. to PHL Airport ($55)
• 12:45 p.m. to Trenton Train Station ($25)
• 12:45 p.m. to Newark Liberty Airport ($55) and JFK Airport ($75)
• 7:00 p.m. to JFK Airport ($75)

On Monday, March 25 we will offer the following shuttles picking up at nearby transit hubs:

• 2:00 p.m. pickup at PHL ($55)
• 5:00 p.m. pickup at PHL ($55)
• 6:00 p.m. pickup at Trenton Train Station ($25)
• 8:00 p.m. pickup at PHL ($55)

Pickups at Newark Liberty Airport and JFK Airport will be scheduled based on demand. While we can always schedule a pickup through our partner Sterling Limousine, we cannot offer shuttle rates unless we have four or more passengers on a given trip.

Shuttle fees are applied to your bill from George School. Students do not need cash or a credit card to pay or tip our shuttle drivers.

Students will be asked to enter their Spring Break travel plans in REACH no later than Friday, March 1. If they wish to ride one of our shuttles, they select the “GS Shuttle” option in the dropdown menu. If they are taking a shuttle to or from an airport, they must include their flight number(s) in the “Notes” section of their leave request.

Questions? Contact deans@georgeschool.org.

Open to the Class of 2025 and 2026

About: Students in this course read, appreciate, and analyze Vergil’s Aeneid in English and use it to develop the skills of discussion, close reading, literary analysis, and writing for a credit in English. For a Latin credit, students establish an understanding of the craft of translation, comparing published English translations of excerpts of the text and composing their own. They also enhance their translating skills while learning about the legends and history of Rome’s founding, the historical events surrounding the Aeneid’s composition, and other historical episodes relevant to the Aeneid by reading excerpts of other texts in Latin.

During the travel segment of the course, students trace a portion of Aeneas’ journey from the ancient city of Troy in modern-day Turkey, to Mt. Etna (the home of the Cyclops) in Sicily, to Rome itself, stopping to explore Pompeii along the way. We visit relevant archeological sites, explore art and history museums, and read Latin inscriptions in situ. The trip will also fulfill the GS service requirement. While in Naples and Rome, we will join a local group dedicated to the improvement and beautification of public spaces for a history walk and clean-up of areas of historical significance. During the on-campus portions of the course, the students will put their Latin knowledge to work by helping local middle school Latin students.

Requirements: This trip involves extensive walking and moderate hiking. Students must have taken at least Latin 1.

Course Credit: Students earn 1 credit in language, 1 credit in English, and fulfill their service requirement. IB diploma candidates will be able to use this experience for their Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) project.

Trip Leaders: Sharada Shreve-Price and Adam Wassel

Trip Price: $4,475

Open to the Class of 2025 and 2026

About: This course explores: (1) the history of storytelling (myth, oration, theater, etc.) in Ancient Greece and its impact on human belief and relationships, with an exploration of how storytelling can forge relationships and reinforce ethical behaviors, (2) the current refugee crisis and its human impact, (3) media-making and journalism, equipping students with the tools they need to tell their own stories for social change. Students develop an academic foundation of storytelling and its history, an in-depth understanding of the political and social factors contributing to the refugee crisis, with a specific focus on the media’s impact on how we view issues in the refugee crisis, as well as the role NGOs and individuals play in humanitarian aid.

Students explore photography, graphic design, podcasting, and filmmaking as powerful media for sharing stories. Students will spend the majority of their travel in Athens, with a few notable trips to surrounding regions in Greece, to reinforce and deepen this learning and volunteer with organizations like Love Without Borders for Refugees in Need and Shedia Street Paper to learn firsthand about refugee experiences, the power of art to connect and educate people, and the role of constructive journalism. Upon return, students will host an art show at George School where they will share their experiences and use art and media to educate our local community about the refugee crisis in Greece.

Requirements: Students should be familiar with media tools for this trip, and be able to walk several miles and carry equipment weighing 20-25 lbs.

Course Credit: Students earn 1 credit in history, 1 credit in art, and fulfill their service requirement. IB diploma candidates will be able to use this experience for their Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) project.

Trip Leaders: Meredith Baldi and Prescott Seraydarian

Trip Price: $4,475

Open to the Class of 2026 and 2027

About: In this combined course and immersion trip, students will experience the richness of Peruvian culture, from the beginning of its history as the oldest civilization in the Americas to its modern-day reputation as the pride of South American cuisine. This 7th term course will include a historical overview, the study of indigenous communities, exposure to Peruvian literature, contemporary culture, environmental issues, and the development of sociocultural competence in preparation for a meaningful in-country experience.

The June 2025 trip that follows will be led by the Global Works organization which incorporates a combination of service and tourism experiences. In addition to exploring spectacular ancient ruins in the Sacred Valley, learning about the indigenous culture, visiting artisan markets and local farms, the group will help in a special needs school and learn about the traditional Quechua lifestyle in the village of Kayllarakay. Travel locations include Lima, Cusco, Urubamba, Calca, Pisac, Aguas Calientes, and Machu Picchu. Students will spend 7 days and 6 nights in homestays in Calca where they will have an authentic immersion experience with Peruvian families.

Prerequisites: Two mods of Spanish III or higher. This course may not count as the third term for IB SL and HL candidates. However, it could be added as an elective fourth mod.

Course Credit: Students earn 1 credit in language and fulfill their service learning requirement. IB diploma candidates in the Class of 2026 will be able to use this experience for their Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) project.

Trip Leader: Rachel Hudson

Trip Cost: $4,895

Open to the Class of 2026 and 2027

About: This trip offers participants an immersive tour of several Holocaust-related historical sites in and around Krakow, Poland. Four of our eight days abroad will be spent at Auschwitz, both the main camp (Auschwitz I) and its auxiliary, Auschwitz II/Birkenau. Our itinerary in Poland will be set by the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center, founded by Auschwitz survivor Eva Mozes Kor. Participants will experience Kor’s journey through her audio tour, learn the history of authentic sites with professional guides, and become witnesses both to historical atrocity and to the healing power of forgiveness. Eva’s son, Dr. Alex Kor, will accompany our group and offer personal insights.

Days not spent visiting Auschwitz will be spent visiting Holocaust-related sites walkable from Krakow (Plaszow concentration camp, Oskar Schindler’s enamelware factory, Krakow ghetto fighters memorial, remains of the Krakow ghetto wall, the former Jewish quarter of Krakow). Additionally, we will visit some sites important to Polish culture and heritage, which may include the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Wawel Castle, and/or St. Mary’s Cathedral. Participants should expect to walk the equivalent of 3-5 miles per day.

Prerequisite: “Encountering the Holocaust through Literature” elective course (English Department).

This trip does not offer academic credit, but is an optional experiential addendum to the George School course “Encountering the Holocaust through Literature.”

Trip Leader: Adam Wassel

Trip Cost: $5,125

About: This interdisciplinary combined course and trip begins with classroom instruction Term 7 and culminates with travel to France, offerent students a firsthand experience related to their five-week classroom studies. This course, taught in French, focuses on essential themes in French history and culture, utilizing authentic materials such as press articles, videos, podcasts, historical documents, comic books, children’s books for assessment in listening, speaking, reading and writing and writing skills. Topics include the discovery of prehistoric cave art, Roman Gaul, and Quaker history in France, with a particular emphasis on Paris and the South of France. Environmental considerations in travel, such dining and transportation choices, are integrated. We will be spending 10 days at La Maison Quaker in Congénies, 3 days in Sarlat, and 3 days in Paris before returning to the States. This program involves collaborative efforts with the aging Quaker community at La Maison Quaker in the South of France. Activities include restoring historic gravestones, preserving Quaker life stories and learning the art of boutis for contributing to a quilt panel representing La Maison Quaker.

Requirements: Participants should be available for a weekend training session during Term 7, and they will share their reflections on George School’s social media before the trip’s conclusion. Physical requirements include the ability to complete 3-5 hours of work each day during the service portion of the trip with the range of motion expected for a variety of typical household tasks (bending, lifting, scrubbing), manage their own luggage on public transportation and on foot, and walk an average of 20,000 steps on days when we are sightseeing.

Prerequisites Two mods of French III or higher. This course may not count as the third term for IB SL and HL candidates. However, it could be added as an elective fourth mod. Bilingual students (French – English) are encouraged to apply.

Course Credits: Students earn 1 credit in language and fulfill their service learning requirement. IB diploma candidates in the class of 2026 will be able to use this experience for their Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) project.

Trip Leader: Theresa Montagne

Trip Cost: $4,895

Open to Classes 2025 and 2026

About: This course explores contemporary topics in the prison abolition movement. It also provides an historic overview of the role of incarceration in the development of the modern world. Students learn how literature serves as a lifeline for incarcerated people and how literary expression is used as a vehicle for change. Students read the work of abolitionist poets, incarcerated writers, and volunteer with transformative justice organizations in the Philadelphia area. Workshops and trainings will include strategies in anti-violence organizing, grassroots publishing, and political advocacy. Field trips to Philadelphia and the surrounding areas help students understand the impact of mass incarceration on communities. Volunteer opportunities include shipping and packing books with Books Through Bars and supporting advocacy with Youth Art and Self-Empowerment Project and the Coalition to Abolish Death by Incarceration.

Requirements: Students are expected to maintain a journal in which they take notes, write reflections, and imagine a gentle world. At the end of four weeks of coursework, volunteer work, and workshops, students take a four-day retreat to understand the role of self-care in activist work and begin to imagine their final projects. Then, in the final week of the course, students conduct research and complete a traditional essay or creative project to build on and respond to their learning experience. Students may also conceive an advocacy campaign that directly supports the work of an abolitionist organization.

Course Credit: Students earn 1 credit in history, 1 credit in English, and fulfill their service requirement. IB diploma candidates will be able to use this experience for their Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) project. This domestic-travel course requires parental consent.

Trip Leader: Zahra Patterson

Trip Price: $975

Open to the Class of 2025 and 2026

About: The combined Science and English courses explore reef ecology and human relationship to the sea. In addition to the study of Derek Walcott’s poetry, students will study a dynamic mixture of marine studies, physics, biology, chemistry, ocean science, ecology, and technology. This trip is designed to give students a unique and close-up immersive experience on the Caribbean island of Bonaire and in the waters surrounding it. Field work and environmental service components include coral restoration projects in the laboratory and underwater; in-water sea turtle surveys; scientific data collection of invasive species, coral health, and marine life; and beach, mangrove, and underwater cleanups.

All students must know how to swim and must demonstrate competency and comfort with scuba diving in the George School pool prior to the trip. Students who are not scuba certified will be trained on campus as part of the pre-travel coursework by a PADI-certified scuba instructor (Chris), and, by the end of the course, will receive their PADI Open Water Diver (OWD) certification. The immersive experience has set a goal of being 100% carbon neutral. To that end, students must demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship by altering some of their personal habits and behaviors to completely offset the negative environmental impact of traveling to Bonaire.

Requirements: Prior to acceptance for the trip, students must (1) complete a medical questionnaire, (2) swim 200m unassisted, (3) float for 10 minutes, and (4) pass a 60-second snorkel test. While on the trip, students must be able to carry their own scuba gear (approximately 50 pounds).

Course Credit: Students earn 1 credit in science, 1 credit in English, and fulfill their service requirement. IB diploma candidates will be able to use this experience for their Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) project.Students on the trip may apply for an Independent PE in the fall for 0.5 credits.

Trip Leaders: Chris Odom and Edna Valdepeñas

Trip Price: $4,895

Attention Class of 2027 Parents/Guardian: Travel learning opportunity for ninth grade students

Human Geography introduces students to the “Why of Where.” Using The Netherlands as our case study, students will explore the country by bike, riding town-to-town to examine the traditional and global influences on the landscapes and culture of Holland.

Highlights include learning how painter Vincent Van Gogh was influenced by Japanese art, visiting a floating dairy farm, exploring the silver trade and the skills of the silversmith, discovering how windmills are used in water management, and meeting with city planners to understand how the city center in Utrecht became car-free.

DATES:
Depart: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Return: Sunday, June 16, 2024

APPLICATION MATERIALS:
Student Application Form
Parental Consent Form

*Applications are due Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Families are notified by Friday, November 17. This experience is designed for students in the Class of 2027 who have completed Human Geography.

Read the trip itinerary and learn more here!

Did you know that MDA Library provides access to OneSearch, a discovery system that simplifies access to our vast collection of digital and print resources? This powerful tool allows you to search for books, e-books, articles, and other materials all in one place from the library webpage.

Instead of searching through multiple databases and websites to find the resources you need for your assignments, projects, or lesson plans, you can save time and focus on what really matters: your research.

OneSearch makes it easy to filter results by type, date, subject, and more in addition to providing recommendations for related resources based on your searches. Whether you are a community member looking for research materials, teaching resources, an article blocked by a paywall, or your next great read, OneSearch will make your search more efficient.

The MDA Library team is available to provide support and training to help you get the most out of this new tool. Visit our website to explore OneSearch and incorporate it into your work, teaching, and research.

Questions? Email mdalibrary@georgeschool.org or book a research consultation here.

Dear George School Students,

Do you remember the moment you said “yes” to GS?! For so many, attending the Celebration for Accepted Students (CAS) IS that moment. Every year, the Admission Office works to create an exciting, special, fun-filled experience for our newly accepted students… and we need YOUR help to make the 2023 CAS our best event yet!

This year, there will be two CAS days: March 30 and April 4.

Families will come to campus and attend programming throughout the morning and afternoon to get a sense of what George School is all about. We will need high-energy, dynamic, positive student volunteers to help families navigate campus; answer questions about life at GS; run icebreakers and other games; and so much more. If you are interested in being a Student Volunteer, please fill out this form at your earliest convenience.

Thank you!
The Admission Team