News Around School
Spirit Day:
Go Griffins!
Our griffin spirit soared during this year’s Spirit Day! With a combination of digital festivities, rousing cheer performances and plenty of dance moves, this year’s celebration of all-things-Grace was one for the books. Thanks to Spirit Day chairs Mimi Kim and Rebecca Dixon for organizing a fun-filled day.
Spirit Day Chairs Mimi Kim and Rebecca Dixon
The 35th Annual Auction Benefit
For the Endowment for Financial Aid
THE MAGIC OF GRACE
THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021
7:00 PM
ONLINE
Silent auction bidding opens on March 9 and ends during the event.
Live auction will be online.
Each spring, the Parents’ Association annual Auction Benefit provides funds to support the Endowment for Financial Aid, allowing Grace to remain accessible to families regardless of their socio-economic status. Last year, ticket sales and underwriting donations alone raised over $240,000 for financial aid. Your support helps ensure the vitality of the Grace community into the future.
Commencement 2020
It’s fair to say that the Class of 2020 had much to celebrate after completing high school on an unprecedented note. Students created digital mortorboards for an online gallery; performance videos in dance and music, and a touching video letter thanking their teachers through the years. Alums sent along videos with advice for college, and the online commencement ceremony celebrated students’ achievements, complete with plenty of cheer and fanfare. To read more about the Class of 2020, click here.
Inside Grace with Instagram Takeovers
Grace faculty and staff have been bringing the new normal of a school day to the Grace community via Instagram takeovers.
Whether documenting high-stakes competition at the Broadway, rehearsing for the High School’s fall production, or voting on the Early Childhood mystery reader, the weekly Instagram takeovers provide an intimate glimpse into everyday school life. Thank you to all of the faculty and staff who have given their takeover take on life inside Grace.
PA Story Swap
Families redistribute their favorite books among students during Grace’s Annual Book Swap. This year’s version of the tradition took the form of the Story Swap, for which JK-8 students and their families submitted over 200 videos recommending their favorite books, from tales of adventure to side-splitting stories. Visit the official Story Swap website to view all the submissions. Thanks to Story Swap chairs Amanda Torres, Melissa Macker and Rick Macker for adapting and organizing this event.
Alumni Authors Visit
Judith Warner ’79
Judith Warner, author of the new book “And Then They Stopped Talking to Me: Making Sense of Middle School,” joined the November Parents’ Association meeting for an interview-based discussion with George Davison to delve into the realities of adolescence. Judith has published eight previous works of non-fiction, including the New York Times best-seller, “Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety” and the multiple award-winning “We’ve Got Issues: Children and Parents in the Age of Medication.”
Tyler Maroney ’87
Juniors and seniors in the Journalism class sat down with Tyler Maroney in November to talk about how his experience as a journalist informed his career as a private investigator and how he has leveraged the media to advance his work in the public interest. Tyler’s new book, “The Modern Detective: How Corporate Intelligence Is Reshaping the World” (Riverhead), is a look into the world of private investigative work. To read more about Tyler’s take on his work, his role in helping to free Meek Mill, and the advantages of being a contrarian, see his profile here.
Professional Development Lily Howard Scott ’01
In November, Lily Howard Scott led a workshop for lower school faculty geared toward helping students make sense of their emotional responses to the pandemic, develop community and find joy and meaning in their schoolwork. Lily is a teacher and curriculum developer and graduate of Northwestern University and Bank Street College of Education. Her writing about the importance of a child-centered, holistic approach to teaching and learning has been published in The Washington Post.
GCS Women to Women Club
In October, Julia and Laura Mintz ’04, visited Ms. Meyer’s Women to Women Club on Zoom. They spoke to ten middle school students about their paths from Grace to high school, college and their current jobs. Julia is working with the startup lifestyle brand Away, and Laura is the Marketing and Publicity Director at The Monacelli Press. Classmate and middle school history teacher Georgina Wells ‘04 joined the visit.
Middle School Awards
Kim Walker “Shining Star” Award: Marni A. ’24
The Kim Walker “Shining Star” Drama Award is awarded to an eighth grader who consistently demonstrated their devotion to and talent for the performing arts throughout the year.
Grace Holiday Wishes
In December, the halls of Grace were decked with festive garlands of ribbons, full of holiday wishes. Students in junior kindergarten through twelfth grade wrote their holiday wish—for themselves, their families, or the community at large—on ribbons that the Parents’ Association combined to create the festive “wishing garlands.” A special thanks to the event co-chairs, Sophie Moura and Tiffany Koo, for an engaging expression of holiday spirit.
125 Years in the Making
“Grace Church School: A History,” chronicles Grace’s path from a school for choirboys to its modern incarnation, illuminating triumphs and setbacks along the way, and recognizing the many people who guided its progress. It’s available for purchase here.
Conrad Scott, a former clerk for the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, visited Grace in November to speak with students in the Middle School and High School about how cases make their way to the Supreme Court and his experience as clerk for Justice Ginsburg. Scott is married to Grace alumna Lily Howard Scott ’01.
Living History
Juniors and seniors in Jason McDonald’s elective, The World Wars, explored a personal approach to history last fall. Students researched archival sources and video testimonies of individuals involved in, or impacted by, the World Wars—from soldiers to civilians—and created short dramatizations about their experiences. Zoom visits from Holocaust survivors Alice Ginsberg and Celia Kener brought the reality of WWII directly to the classroom.
May Fair
Saturday, May 2 marked the 64th annual (and first-ever virtual) May Fair! Families donned their brightest Grace colors and enjoyed a Fun Run, a talent show and a pet show, featuring guest judge George Davison. The day’s activities were shared via webpage and Instagram, allowing all to partake in the lively tradition.
Alumni Support Team
As Grace prepared to reopen its doors in September 2020, a stellar team of more than 16 alumni, with graduation years ranging from 2008 to 2019, stepped up to support the school. These rock stars have been essential in keeping our community safe during hybrid learning. The Alumni Support Team takes on everything from morning temperature checks to classroom assistance. We are so grateful to have them back!
Covid Team: Lily Kamp ’10
CovidTeam: Lucy Consagra ’10 with Rose White ’16
Rose White ’16
Rose graduated from Skidmore College with a B.A. in Art History. She had always hoped to combine her passions of making art and working with young children.
“I was thrilled when GCS reached out looking for alumni to help out. This experience has allowed me to find my calling as an art teacher. I am so happy my first ‘real person’ job is at Grace!”
Abisola Fashakin ’19
Abisola switched from the University of Rochester to online school, where she is completing her prerequisites for pre-nursing.
“Coming back to Grace has been a blast to the past! It’s been amazing working alongside my best friend, school peer, and co-worker Teodora ’19. I liked reconnecting with my teachers and getting involved in theatre again through assisting Ms. Washburn in her Drama I and IV classes”
Charlotte Phillips ’16
Charlotte graduated in May 2020 from Georgetown University with degrees in History and Government. Before coming back to Grace, she was working with voter registration organizations.
“Being back at Grace has been wonderful—I love seeing my old teachers and it’s been great to work with my former classmates!”
Micaela Macagnone ’16
Micaela graduated from Pomona College in May 2020. She plans to go to graduate school for nonfiction writing in the fall.
“I have loved being back at Grace! It is super exciting to work with teachers who taught me growing up. I’m very excited about early childhood education so the opportunity to work with EC/LS has been incredible.”