News
Alumnae Weekend Rescheduled
Letter from Chief Development Officer, Ali Gant.
Dear GPS Alumnae,
In an effort to communicate our 2020 Alumnae Weekend change of plans to each GPS alumna, you are receiving this message even if this is not your reunion year.
Upon the CDC’s recommendation to limit large gatherings and abstain from travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, GPS has moved Alumnae Weekend for reunion years ’0s and ’5s, originally planned for April 17 & 18, to October 2 & 3, 2020.
FAQs regarding Alumnae Weekend and campus closure:
Will Alumnae Weekend 2020 be rescheduled?
GPS is planning to celebrate the reunions for classes ’0s and ’5s on October 2 & 3, 2020. Our on-campus celebrations that include Faculty Emeriti, Athletic Hall of Fame, Town Hall, and Alumnae Award Luncheon, will be held during the day on Saturday, October 3. Class parties will be held on Saturday evening.
A complete schedule will be forthcoming, but we wanted you to save the date and cancel any travel arrangements you might have for the original date. Those who are interested may attend the McCallie-Baylor game on Friday, October 2, at Spears Stadium. However, our GPS reunion activities will not be combined with other schools.
WIll future GPS Alumnae Weekends now be in the fall?
Please note that this date adjustment, from spring to fall, may not be a permanent change to forthcoming alumnae weekends but rather a necessity this year in order to keep the health and wellbeing of our entire GPS community foremost in our plans.
What if I’ve already registered?
GPS will refund all registration fees received and open a new registration for the fall date in the upcoming weeks.
How will my reunion gift be counted?
Due to the date shift of Alumnae Weekend, the 0s and 5s classes will be moving reunions from one fiscal year (July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020) to the next (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021). GPS will recognize your gift in both of these years in your reunion totals. GPS hopes that you continue to give on an annual fiscal year basis to your alma mater. We hope that you’ll give a reunion “stretch” gift in at least one of those years. Gifts already given will be designated for the 2019-20 school year and count in this fall’s reunion totals.
How can I support GPS?
GPS is still operating with a fully engaged team of faculty, staff, and students—most of whom are working extra hard to continue teaching, learning, and supporting each other in an online community. Our annual Impact Fund, which provides flexible resources that have a significant impact on our ability to provide an experience that touches every aspect of the school, is now more important than ever. Times like these make the GPS Impact Fund essential as we continue to meet our expenses through the end of this school year. If you are able to give—even if this is not your reunion year—please click here.
Also, please be sure that you’ve registered with the GPS Alumnae Network. Not only does the platform allow alumnae to share information about reunions, it is the central place for updates, mentoring, job postings, and regional gathering information.
What else has changed at GPS due to COVID-19?
We closed our campus to students, faculty, and staff at the end of day on Friday, March 13, and students will be learning remotely for the next two weeks before they have spring break from April 3-13. Currently our administrative team is working hard on plans to safely and effectively celebrate our students through events such as Junior Ring Day, Cum Laude, May Day, Class Day, Eighth-Grade Celebration, and Commencement as well as hold prom and present our Upper School spring musical. No official announcement for these adjusted plans can be made at this time as we are following the current recommendations directed by the CDC. When we have more definitive information, we will communicate it widely to the GPS community.
Please know that we are saddened to have to make changes and adjustments to celebrations that have been in the works for many months. But we know the GPS community, particularly our alumnae, are resilient and have been “proven through every test.” We will come together and celebrate each other in a way worthy of our GPS sisterhood.
Feel free to reach out with any questions at AGant@GPS.edu. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!
Stay well!
Ali Gant
Chief Development Officer
P.S. Don’t forget that the GPS Bruiser Bee Online Auction is live until Sunday, March 22, at 8 p.m. ET. Hundreds of great items are up for bid. Don’t miss out!
