News
Upper School Students Welcome Grandparents and Special Friends
More than 350 visitors enjoy morning at GPS
Each year we look forward to hosting grandparents and special friends of our girls on campus. Our hope is that they look forward to this day as much as we do.
For our Upper School students, Grandparents and Special Friends Day fell on Wednesday, Nov. 1, this year and, by 8:30 a.m., folks are streaming into the Athletic Commons, collecting their nametags along with hugs from their favorite girls.
After enjoying some coffee and conversation, guests are whisked away to Frierson Theatre for a welcoming ceremony that includes greetings from Jenise Gordon, Head of Upper School, who explains this year's theme of Sisterhood as well as the long-standing tradition of seniors' Chapel Talks.
Then sixth-grade student Jane Beckvoort takes the stage to introduce her Cat, senior Jayden Doan. Jayden shares her thoughts on Sisterhood and performs the title song from Sister Act.
Guests are dismissed to tour campus, visit The Bow, the school store, for gifts and special mementos, and to pause for photos with their girls.
Then school is back in session for those who haven't sat in a classroom in many years as they accompany their students to class. Others opt to attend a special information session in the library, conducted by Gordon and Sarah Jackson, Dean of Upper School. General questions are fielded and memories shared of what high school was like when they were students.
From there, guests return to Frierson Theatre for special performances and an overview of the GPS Athletic program by Athletic Director Jay Watts. After Tango, Honors Orchestra Strings, GPS Singers, and Terpsichord dancers perform, Autumn Graves, Head of School, closes with warm regards for our esteemed guests.
After a very busy morning, our only regret is that grandparents and special friends don't visit more often. We hope they don't wait until next fall to come back to school. The months ahead are filled with events—games, plays, performances—that every girl would welcome loved ones to attend.
If you'd like to see our photos from the day, please go to our Smug Mug page here and download or order your favorites.
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For our Upper School students, Grandparents and Special Friends Day fell on Wednesday, Nov. 1, this year and, by 8:30 a.m., folks are streaming into the Athletic Commons, collecting their nametags along with hugs from their favorite girls.
After enjoying some coffee and conversation, guests are whisked away to Frierson Theatre for a welcoming ceremony that includes greetings from Jenise Gordon, Head of Upper School, who explains this year's theme of Sisterhood as well as the long-standing tradition of seniors' Chapel Talks.
Then sixth-grade student Jane Beckvoort takes the stage to introduce her Cat, senior Jayden Doan. Jayden shares her thoughts on Sisterhood and performs the title song from Sister Act.
Guests are dismissed to tour campus, visit The Bow, the school store, for gifts and special mementos, and to pause for photos with their girls.
Then school is back in session for those who haven't sat in a classroom in many years as they accompany their students to class. Others opt to attend a special information session in the library, conducted by Gordon and Sarah Jackson, Dean of Upper School. General questions are fielded and memories shared of what high school was like when they were students.
From there, guests return to Frierson Theatre for special performances and an overview of the GPS Athletic program by Athletic Director Jay Watts. After Tango, Honors Orchestra Strings, GPS Singers, and Terpsichord dancers perform, Autumn Graves, Head of School, closes with warm regards for our esteemed guests.
After a very busy morning, our only regret is that grandparents and special friends don't visit more often. We hope they don't wait until next fall to come back to school. The months ahead are filled with events—games, plays, performances—that every girl would welcome loved ones to attend.
If you'd like to see our photos from the day, please go to our Smug Mug page here and download or order your favorites.
