Featuring artwork from GFS student artists
Painting by Jadyn L. ’25
Clothing by Samalie K. ’23
Painting by Ava F. ’23
Painting by Joejoe H. ’24
EDITORIAL STAFF
Michelle Placek
Director of Communications and Marketing michelleplacek@gfs.org
Emily De Jesus
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ON THE COVER: Riveting Wave
by Mariel Eisele ’23
Beginning her time at Garrison Forest in the First Grade, Mariel became involved in numerous activities and disciplines. During her journey at GFS, she was a member of the Tennis team every year of Upper School, serving as captain her Senior year. She was also a class representative and co-head of the Service League, and she participated in the WISE (Women In Science and Engineering) program with Johns Hopkins University. Throughout her Drawing/Painting Portfolio course, Mariel explains, “I intended to exhibit how the beauty of nature lives within us through vivid colors and thoughtful detail as I experimented with different elements of surrealism, including the symmetry of nature and the human experience.”
DESIGN
Mid-Atlantic Custom Media
Jeni Mann Tough, Director jmann@midatlanticmedia.com
Ebony Brown, Art Director
Steve Burke, Designer
Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing; Class News Editor emilydejesus@gfs.org
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Taylor Herzog, Emily De Jesus, Quin McCraw, Michelle Placek, Melvin D. Smith II, David Stuck
Any opinions expressed in the annual Garrison Forest Magazine are those of the authors and/or interview subjects. Garrison Forest reserves the right to edit Class News for clarity, length and content. Class News Agents are responsible for the accuracy of their news.
Our school-wide theme for the 2023-24 school year is “Engaged,” and we are applying it to every aspect of our lives at Garrison Forest. We want our students to be deeply engaged in their studies, finding things that truly interest them and asking the fundamental questions of “why” and “how,” going beyond the “who, what, where and when.” We want them to engage authentically with their peers, learning about each other—and appreciating each other—in this wonderfully diverse and dynamic community.
We want students and teachers to be engaged with one another, working together in the classroom and beyond, allowing our students to grow as creative and impactful learners, athletes, artists and citizens in this warm, supportive and connected community. We also want them to be fully engaged with the world beyond the Forest, as they play active roles in service, social action and environmental stewardship. And, beyond the students and faculty at the core of our daily experience, we want everyone within our broader community to feel engaged and connected. This includes our current and past parents and families who entrust us with the care of their children, and, of course, our dedicated alumnae, who embody the spirit of Garrison Forest in all they do.
Throughout this edition of the Garrison Forest Alumnae Magazine, you will see examples of this deep engagement that is part of the hallmark of a Garrison Forest education. I hope you will be inspired by the many endeavors of our current students and alumnae.
Beyond what’s represented in these pages, we wanted to highlight:
ENGAGED SCHOLARS: From our Women In Science and Engineering (WISE) partnership with Johns Hopkins University, to a research fair where Middle and Upper School students presented their original research, to our Lower School’s collaboration with Kenya Connect, our students are immersed in learning and exploring the broader world around them.
ENGAGED ALUMNAE: Our alumnae continue to demonstrate the enduring spirit and impact of Garrison Forest school as parents of current students (see our feature story on page 22!), as presenters for Career Day (page 18) and our Women of Impact speaker series, and as new inductees into the Garrison Forest Hall of Excellence (page 20).
ENGAGED ENVIRONMENTALISTS: In September, we will host our first annual “Forest Day” celebration, bringing the entire GFS community together in caring for our campus and learning to be informed and effective stewards of our environment— which includes a recently constructed pavilion and pier by the pond (see page 33.)
All of these endeavors and programs contribute to a community that is not only connected, but joyful and impactful for every single person who is a part of it. As we head into the 2023-24 school year, we will continue looking for opportunities to ensure our community—those here on campus and those who have moved beyond the Forest—is engaged, connected and learning from one another.
Christopher A. Hughes Head of School
Through a spring semester poster session, the Upper School WISE (Women In Science and Engineering), ACE (Architecture, Science and Engineering) and Gateway Scholars students and Middle School Independent Research students fielded questions and shared their findings with parents, faculty and staff and fellow students. “The significant work of WISE students, Middle Schoolers conducting independent inquiry, ACE Mentor Program participants and Senior Gateway Scholars showcased the diverse and impressive results of student-driven research,” said Andrea Perry, Director of the James Center and Dean of Special Programs and coordinator for WISE and ACE. “Their efforts required curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and perseverance. In undertaking independent research on complex, long-term projects, they’ve built skills and habits of mind they can continue to practice, in their years at GFS, in university study, and beyond.The world needs women with these tools and the confidence to use them, and these Garrison girls are ready for what’s next.”
WISE: The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program is a long-standing partnership between Garrison Forest School and Johns Hopkins University. The 20 students enrolled in the program for the 2022-23 school year worked in hands-on research settings at Johns Hopkins for 15 weeks from late September through January, and from late January through May, traveling twice a week to be hosted by faculty in the Whiting School of Engineering, the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences and the Bloomberg School of Public Health. WISE introduces students to the generative research process at a world-class research university and supports them in developing skills that will serve them well beyond their Upper School experience. WISE is, in essence, a lab for life.
ACE (ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING): The ACE program objective is to give students an opportunity to explore career possibilities in the building professions by completing a mock design project that mirrors real-world design challenges. Each team is set up to emulate an actual design team, with students guided through their project by their architect, engineer, construction management and tradesperson mentors. While the immediate result is a series of imaginative project solutions, the long-term benefit to team members is a practical understanding of how building industry teams realize their “big” ideas. Twenty-four GFS students participated over the 15 weeks of the program, guided by mentors from Gensler & Associates, an international architecture/design firm with a Baltimore office. At Presentation Night, the culmination of the program, Garrison Forest was recognized as the winner of the “Interior Design and Client Experience” aspect of the project.
GATEWAY SCHOLARS: The Gateway Scholars Program provides unique opportunities for Upper School students with a special interest in Global Citizenship, STEM or Visual Art and Design to craft a distinct curricular and co-curricular path. Supported by a network of on- and off-campus mentors, each Gateway Scholar creates an immersive learning program designed to challenge them, enrich their experience, deepen their understanding and document their process of discovery.
MIDDLE SCHOOL INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS: Guided by program mentor and Middle School science teacher Nedria Walker, Middle School students opted to participate in a year-long independent research project. They began by identifying a topic of interest, then conducted research and sometimes experiments, and then, finally, presented them during their poster session. The goal of the program was to give students a sense of the research process while giving them autonomy to investigate topics that were of interest to them. They also learned about refining their findings as the project went along, working through challenges, and publicly presenting their projects.
Students don’t have to wait until Middle or Upper School to dig into the basics of research. Lower School students build a strong base for independent inquiry through projects like the Second Grade animal project, Third Grade state project and Fifth Grade Capstone. Each of these involves an interdisciplinary approach, bringing in aspects of art, music, history and more, and culminates in a presentation that helps students build confidence in their public speaking skills.
In June, a group of Upper School students, made up of eight Jenkins Fellows leaders and their peers, participated in the Seeds of Change Tropical Rainforest Research Program in Costa Rica. The program immersed students in a hands-on field research program that takes advantage of the immense biodiversity of the tropical rainforest while also participating in off-site excursions like hikes to waterfalls, horseback riding in the rainforest and visiting sea turtle hatcheries.
While his formal title is Upper School Digital Learning Specialist and Computer Science Instructor, the number of roles Melvin D. Smith II actually holds at GFS are seemingly endless. In addition to teaching classes like Intro to Computer Programming and AP Computer Science Principles, Melvin can also be found facilitating a 9th Grade Digital Thinking group, helping them better understand the digital space and the significance of their digital footprint; serving as an academic advisor; advising the school’s Black Student Alliance club; coaching Middle School robotics; serving as editor and photographer for the Ragged Robin yearbook; helping students and faculty with software and other tech needs; and working with students to run the A/V during meetings and events in Garland Theatre. Soon, he plans to add podcast supervisor to that long list, as he is piloting a program in the Upper School to launch WGFS. Despite balancing all of these commitments, each day, Melvin greets students with a smile and colleagues with an open and genuine offer to help with anything he can. It’s no big surprise that Upper School students chose to dedicate the 2022-23 yearbook to him. Going into his fourth year at GFS, Melvin brings 21 years of teaching experience working with students from pre-k through college-aged, including time at Baltimore’s Belair-Edison School, where he developed and instructed a STEAM curriculum for PreK through 5th Grade. Beyond the classroom, he’s assisted in building, designing and establishing the content for a science wing in a children’s museum, “produced” districtwide science symposiums, co-sponsored and organized county-wide STEAM fairs, and hosted a radio show for Howard Community College.
Along with the students, I can be my authentic self! There are times that you and the students need to stop and take perspective on things; thankfully, the students have allowed me to do that professionally and personally. I’ve really and very much enjoyed the ability to communicate with those I am instructing and instructing with. The appreciation of doing what I feel is “just the job” has at times been overwhelming, and by no means has it become taken for granted. It makes me feel like I belong, what I’m doing is actually making a difference, and I couldn’t be happier for it. That, and the ability to attempt new things. Technology by its very nature changes and evolves. What was taught even three years ago when I got here is in need of re-evaluating and modifying; thanks to the students’ input and the administration’s willingness to do so, I’ve been able to reconstruct the program to fit the students’ needs.
Failure (temporary) IS an option! It’s a way any and everything has an opportunity to get better. Sure, when things work out we can congratulate ourselves; that doesn’t mean when they don’t, we need to beat ourselves up about it. Take it for what it is: an OPPORTUNITY. Go out of your comfort zone and expand your thoughts, abilities, talents, and skills! Take the opportunity to COMMUNICATE and learn from others. Please don’t pigeonhole yourself into one way of thinking or perspective; it’s limiting, isolating, and quite frankly, you’ll be missing out on knowing more than you presently do. Finally, it’s perfectly fine to say good morning, good evening, please and thank you.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE FUNDING YOU’VE RECEIVED FROM THE SCHOOL’S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS?
(A suite of awards, including the Dodge Grants, the Chanler Awards, the Class of 1958 Memorial Fund for Faculty Support and the Talcott Gran Awards, are available for faculty members who are doing summer curriculum work.)
Thanks to the Class of 1958 Memorial Fund for Faculty Support, I was able to receive training for AP (advanced placement) Computer Science Principles. Having been using the STEAM method of instruction as long as I’ve been an educator, I’ve always had computers integrated into the curriculum, but this was the first time I would use technology as the springboard and focus of the lessons. In order to effectively provide what the students needed, I required the assistance the CODE.org training session provided. It very much made a difference in my ability to understand where the difficulties might be for the students and gave me just that much more confidence in understanding the content.
On a rainy afternoon last fall, the GFS Grizzlies, under the direction of Coach Mimi Smith, brought home the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) A Conference championship.This championship bid, which capped off an undefeated season in their conference, was GFS’s fifth straight trip to the finals, including another championship win in 2019. As part of a newer GFS tradition, the championship team was celebrated with an all-school parade on campus and invited to ring the chapel bell to commemorate their victory.
Varsity Volleyball went to the conference championship for the second year in a row, narrowly missing the championship title after an amazing season.
Our Squash team went 3-1 at the Squash High School Nationals in Philadelphia in March.
Doubles players
Hanna S. ’24 and Katie P. ’24 finished an undefeated season as IAAM Doubles Champions!
GFS riders traveled near and far—including their annual trip to Ocala, Fla., for the WEC Winter Spectacular—and earned some impressive recognition along the way. Above and beyond the ribbons and accolades, though, is the sense of camaraderie and spirit and dedication to their craft that is ever-present in the barn. “This past year, our Garrison Forest Riding program has seen a huge increase in our riders’ horsemanship and eagerness to work around the barn,” said Assistant Director of Riding Taylor Herzog. “The sense of community has been extremely positive and has enabled lots of learning and fun to happen not only in the girls’ riding, but in their education with the horses on the ground!”
The JV Polo team hosted and won the United States Polo Association Southeast Girls Interscholastic Preliminary Tournament in February, including All-Star Awards for Emma P. ‘28 and Parker B. ‘28, the Horsemanship Award for Drew M. ‘26 and a nod for Best Playing Pony for Ginger.
Throughout the year, Garrison Forest polo staff and students partnered with NexusWoodbourne, a provider of outpatient therapy and residential treatment for children and families, to provide clinics on campus. GFS students helped teach participants how to clean the horses and gear them up as well as how to ride, play polo and express empathy for their horses.
In June, GFS Director of Polo Jenny Schwartz ‘11, Gabby Chiasera ‘22 and GFS Assistant Director of Polo Cailin Phebus ‘18 won the Feldman Cup at the National USPA Intercollegiate/ Interscholastic Alumni Tournament at Seneca Polo Club in Poolesville, Md.
Lindsey Morris ‘22, who competes for Southern Methodist University, earned the Division 1 Intercollegiate Polo Championship All Star Award.
as you head into college and life beyond Garrison Forest. … Recognize that your life’s passions aren’t defined or limited by what you know today, or even by what you will know in four more years.”
— Chris Hughes, Head of School
Passionate, creative, curious and prepared: the Class of 2023 is ready to take on what comes next as they leave the Forest! This year’s Seniors are headed to prestigious colleges and universities all over the country.
American University
Baylor University (2)
Brandeis University
Brown University
Colgate University
Dickinson College
East Carolina University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (2)
High Point University
Hobart William Smith Colleges
Johns Hopkins University
Northwestern University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Queens University of Charlotte
Rollins College
Santa Fe College
Savannah College of Art and Design
Shenandoah University
Skidmore College (2)
Smith College
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Syracuse University
Temple University (2)
Texas Christian University
University of California-San Diego
University of Delaware
University of Maryland-College Park (3)
University of Mississippi
University of Rochester
University of Virginia
Wake Forest University
Washington and Lee University
A deep sense of connection permeates throughout generations of Garrison Forest alumnae, and that is rarely more present than during Commencement, when alumna parents can share with their children some of the beloved traditions that mark the end of their student journey.
See page 22 for our feature story on other alumnae parents!
THE LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM: BOARDING AT GFS
Garrison Forest offers two renewable merit-based legacy scholarships for any new or current day students entering Grades 8-12 to board at Garrison Forest. Alumnae daughters, granddaughters, sisters or nieces are eligible to apply. For more information, visit gfs.org/legacy or contact Catie Perich, Director of Enrollment Management, at catieperich@gfs.org.
CLASS OF 2023 COMMENCEMENT AWARD WINNERS FACULTY AWARD Kadence Early ALUMNAE AWARD Catherine “Bennett” Metzger GEORGE M. SHRIVER AWARD Jordan Butler PHILIP J. JENSEN AWARD Ella KokinisOneof the most meaningful aspects of being a part of the Garrison Forest alumnae community is the incredible professional network that provides connection, inspiration and opportunities. Spanning all industries, our alumnae are CEOs, health care providers, educators, entrepreneurs, leaders and more. This past year, we were thrilled to welcome back some of our talented alumnae to share more about their professional journeys with current students during Career Day and the Women of Impact speaker series.
Each month, the Women of Impact speaker series brings an alumna in to speak with 7th Graders. After a brief presentation about their education and career journey, speakers take questions from the audience.
During Career Day, Upper Schoolers and 8th Graders heard from panels of alumnae who spoke about their career path and overcoming challenges while sharing advice and words of wisdom.
• Crystal Lee Alston ’96, Director of Advancement, Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust (B.E.S.T.)
• Kate Aumann ’98, Orthopaedic Trauma Nurse Practitioner, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center University of Maryland Medical Center
• Julia Altvater Barber ’02, Physical Therapist, Phoenix Physical Therapy
• Val Hurt Bonham ’87, Vice President and General Counsel, Kennedy Krieger Institute
• Isabel Boyce ’12, Learning Specialist/Chemistry Teacher, York Preparatory School
• Emily Appelbaum Brennan ’96, Assistant Vice President of Surety, Marsh-McLennan Agency, LLC
• Liza Corbin Cole ’98, Director, Leadership & Legacy Giving, The Children’s Inn at NIH
• Cait Crowl ’08, Occupational Therapist, Centerwell Home Health
• Rachel Peichert DeSanto ’10, Healthcare Design Consultant & Programmer, CannonDesign
• Britt Downs ’07, Assistant Public Defender, Maryland Office of the Public Defender
• Suzette Escobar ’99, Program Manager, Google
• Anna Waters Gavin ’00, President, Fireline Corporation
• Angela Gustus ’93, CEO/Co-Owner, The CMAG Group
• Julian Hamer ’09, Filmmaker, Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Entrepreneur, and Political Media Strategist, Fearless Video
• Tiffany Hill ’98, Attorney/NFL Agent, TA Hill Law
• Eleanor Wenner Kerr ’77, Director, Government Affairs and Policy, Siemens Healthineers
• Kali Ruppert Johnsen ’11, Associate Technology Director, Drew Media DBA Grow
• Kierstin Ruppert Johnsen ’07, Team Lead, Vice President, Risk Strategies
• Kate Joyce ’93, Executive Director, TALMAR, Inc.
• Annie Jenkins Lewis ’04, Speech-Language Pathologist, Greater Baltimore Medical Center
• Makeda Nock Lewis ’11, Senior Accountant, International Programs, University of Maryland, Baltimore
• Nana Malayaman ’92, Physician, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore
• Miana Massey ’15, Anchor/Reporter, WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore
• Sarah Mendelsohn ’15, Director of Business Development, MATClinics
• Marley Obrecht ’12, Interior Designer, Hammock Hill Design
• Jen Warfield Ritter ’92, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney, Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office
• Susan McCormick Scarborough ’89, Financial Advisor -
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
• Alli Schimmel ’18, Development Assistant, Children’s National Hospital
• Margaret Stick ’99, Officer, United States Army
• Karen Stonely ’86, Principal, Founding Partner, SPAN Architecture LLC
• Hilles Horner Whedbee ’76, Lead Midwife, Capital Women’s Care
Established by the Class of 2000 parents and grandparents, the Hall of Excellence recognizes GFS community members who have made outstanding contributions to the school and broader community.
B.J. holds a B.S. in Art Education from Frostburg State College, an M.F.A. in Drawing and Painting from Maryland Institute College of Art and an M.L.S., concentrating on Art History from Wesleyan University, earning the Thesis Award in 2001. As a pivotal member of the Garrison Forest School arts faculty for 42 years, she served as Department Chair from 1978 until 2015 and retired in 2018. During her tenure, B.J. collaborated to infuse art into the sciences, languages and humanities and spoke on interdisciplinary curricula at numerous national conferences. She won teaching awards—including the GFS Distinguished Teacher Award in 1990—College Board recognitions for AP Studio Art and AP Art History, and the MAEA teacher of the year award. She fostered students’ education beyond the classroom through Art and Da Vinci Clubs, World Wise Schools, seminars and internships at local museums. Her greatest accomplishment remains the generations of students who learned to view the world from a different perspective after a class or conversation.
She also taught at Anne Arundel County public schools, Maryland Center for the Gifted and Talented at Goucher College, Maryland Institute College of Art, and community organizations in Baltimore County and Baltimore City. B.J. received an NEH grant for art history; she contributed to teacher advisory boards for the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia, The National Gallery of Art, Walters Art Museum, and Towson University Asian Arts and Culture Center. B.J. loves that teaching stimulates her own learning! Since leaving GFS, she has continued to teach, developing and implementing arts integration projects for children. B.J. is the mother of Kate McElderry ’90.
For a full list of Hall of Excellence inductees since 2007, criteria for selection and nomination forms, visit gfs.org/alumnae.
After GFS, Libby attended Brown University, where she received a B.A. in International Public Health. While at Brown, Libby spent time abroad in Africa studying the Kenyan health care system. After college she attended Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, receiving her M.D. in 2007. She completed both a surgical residency and critical care fellowship at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, as well as a trauma fellowship at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, totalling seven years of postgraduate clinical training. She is board certified in both general surgery and critical care. She has held faculty positions at both George Washing and Rutgers and is now an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). Libby continues to engage in global surgery work focused on building trauma and research capacity through education and mentorship, engaging in partnerships in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Madagascar and Cuba. She has developed a true love for the city of Milwaukee and an academic passion for improving the lives of those who are survivors of trauma, especially related to gun violence. She has received multiple grants focused on the socio-ecological model of trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, improving empathy amongst medical trainees and creating trauma informed care education for health care providers. She serves as a Senior Medical Director for Acute Care Services and Associate Trauma Medical Director for Froedtert Hospital, Co-Chair of Community Engagement for MCW’s Comprehensive Injury Center and Co-Director of the 414Life Program, the hospital’s violence interruption program.
After graduating from GFS, Margaret attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, majoring in law and racing on the Army rowing team. She went on to earn an M.S. in Congressional Affairs from George Washington University and an additional M.S. in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy from National Defense University, JAWS. She was commissioned in 2003 as an Army Aviation Officer and attended flight school, becoming an OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot. After deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan, she served in the US Senate as an Army Congressional Fellow and was selected as the Legislative Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Army. She returned to flying and qualified on the AH-64 Apache Helicopter. She has served as a reconnaissance platoon leader and troop and squadron commander. She currently writes joint tactical doctrine for the Department of Defense.
TTraversing beloved campus paths. Waiting with eagerness for your Senior ring sister to turn your ring. Connecting with a teacher who inspires. For many Garrison Forest School alumnae, these are the vital components that not only made up their experiences as a student, but created a deep and lasting foundation for the rest of their lives. Some alumnae have the opportunity to have this experience anew as they watch their children make their own journeys as current GFS students.
“Just seeing a place I loved so much through Halle’s eyes is a wonderful experience,” said Audra Schwartz Stern ’92, whose daughter Halle will be in the 10th Grade in the coming school year. “There is a feeling when you step on campus, an energy that has not changed. It is a place where girls and young women are seen, heard and celebrated. As a parent, it is a wonderful feeling to know that your child is truly seen and known by faculty and administration and celebrated for her unique skills and personality.”
As some of our alumna parents reflected on experiencing Garrison through a parent lens, many remarked on seeing what became core memories through new eyes—seeing time-honored traditions meet new ways to celebrate and commemorate or getting to know new buildings and pathways but within a campus that has maintained the same sense of spirit and pride. “I’ve enjoyed experiencing the school all over again from a different perspective,” said Christianna McCausland ’93, whose daughter Abbie will be in the 5th Grade next year. “The campus remains a beautiful, peaceful place and I can leave the cares of work and life behind when I drive onto campus. Garrison has grown since I was there, with many new facilities I’m so glad Abbie has access to, but the feeling of the school—the spirit, the welcome, the commitment to women’s education—remains the same.”
Another shared experience among alumnae parents was the impact of faculty members—including a few familiar faces that
some of them remembered from their own time at Garrison.
“Izzy has had the good fortune of learning from some of the very same faculty members who taught me. How amazing is that?” remarked Arabella Knox Brockett ’01, whose daughter Izzy will be in the 10th Grade next year. “Izzy’s love for Latin blossomed in Middle School, which I know was a direct result of learning from one of our mutual favorites teachers, Dante Beretta.”
“There is a special joy and comfort watching your daughter walk the same halls (and even have some of the same teachers) that I walked decades ago,” said Natalie Litz Bissonnette ’98, mom to rising 7th Grader Annie Cate. “I am confident that she will be truly seen for who she is during her time at Garrison. I know her teachers will encourage her to try new things, to push herself outside of her comfort zone and to truly become the best young woman she can be, by standing up for what is right and kind, forging strong authentic friendships and reaching back to help others in need. I know because Garrison taught me all of those things many years ago and they continue to provide a framework for my life”
Some of the legacies here represent a bond beyond mothers and daughters, with proud traditions of grandmothers, aunts, sisters and more carrying on a Garrison legacy that echoes through decades. At the heart of it remains being at a place where, just like their parents before them, the next generation of Garrison students are forming lifelong friendships, finding their paths and creating the foundation for the rest of their lives.
Arabella Knox Brockett ’01 agreed: “Garrison is a special place and the young ladies who grace her campus as adolescents emerge as strong, independent women ready to take on the greatest challenge of all: Life.”
Read on to meet some of our alumnae families from the 2022-23 school year; we are excited to welcome even more alumnae back to the Forest as they start this journey with their children.
“I chose Garrison for my daughter because I felt like the school would help her become the best version of herself. Whatever she wants to do, whatever she struggles with, whatever she loves, Garrison will help her build a strong foundation so she can take on anything. And, I hope she creates lifelong friendships along the way; I was lucky enough to. … It’s been really interesting to see how Garrison has grown and evolved over the years, and yet it still all feels so very familiar. There is a sense of community that is so enduring.”
–Mary Warlow Bushel ’98
“Having Dominique become a part of the GFS community as a student was our family’s choice because we wanted our daughter to receive a high quality educational experience that will prepare her successfully for life and her future career. We wanted a place where she would build her confidence as a young woman to be brave, curious and authentic while exploring her interests and creating her own path and identity. What Garrison provides is a strong foundation that will prepare her well to become whatever she wants in life. I know this because this is exactly what Garrison provided me.”
Lea Baker
Galarraga ’99 and Maddie ’32; Mehgan Sidhu ’95, Amelia ’35 and Catherine ’32; Ashby Litz
Thoeni ’02 and Elizabeth ’32; Kristen Hill Brown ’07, Olivia ’32 and Madison ’36
“There are many traditions at GFS that I am looking forward to sharing with Izzy, but I am most excited for when she gets her ring and ring sister. It is a very special time and I know that it will make me emotional when I see her wear it.”
Emily Lafferman ’08 and Isla ’37, Sydney Sims
Carter ’11 and Aria ’37; Lauren Misera Anderson ’02 and Mikey; Lisa Dannenberg
Nochumowitz ’03 and Mack; Jenny Gerard Daum ’03, Molly ‘39 and Ruth ’37; Jami Diamond
Wixted ’07 and Harper ’38
“I am both humbled and honored to be a Garrison Girl, but I am even more proud to be a Garrison parent. Similar to when I was a student, Garrison’s incredible and loving faculty continues to place the spirit and value system of these girls at the core of their teaching, preparing them to go confidently into the world beyond Garrison Forest Road.”
–NatalieLitz Bissonnette ’98 Natalie Litz Bissonnette ’98 and Annie Cate ’29
“I have loved having Kirby at Garrison, and when I get to visit, it floods me with memories. I love the fact [Beth] Ruekberg returned and Kirby had the pleasure of being her student! Garrison hasn’t lost its charm.”
“GFS in some ways is different than when I was a student, but fundamentally, it is very much the same: the same warm and welcoming feeling, the same beautiful campus—though several more buildings have popped up—the same caring, supportive and motivating teachers who allow you and push you to be your absolute best.”
–Audra Schwartz Stern ’92–Aimee Knott Pope ’92Audra Schwartz Stern ’92 and Halle ’26 Aimee Knott Pope ’92 and Kirby ’24
“Many of the school traditions from my era have changed or evolved to reflect the current times, so when I think about Abbie’s future at Garrison, I look forward to watching her walk into the courtyard in her white dress and bouquet of cornflowers at graduation. Little traditions may come or go, but the sight of young women launching into their exciting future lasts forever.”
–Christianna McCausland ’93
In every area of campus life, Garrison Forest School faculty and staff are at the heart of creating a spirited and welcoming environment where our students can thrive. Leading with enthusiasm, joy and care, they exemplify the Core Values that drive our community. Join us in celebrating the 2023 award recipients and other milestones.
Each year since 1992, Garrison Forest School has honored faculty and staff who reach 20 years of service to the school, a recognition of remarkable loyalty and commitment.
Chris joined Garrison Forest School as an employee in 2003. As an educator, her primary focus has always been the students and making sure they felt loved and cared for. Chris stresses to students that, when using technology, they should strive to be creators, not consumers. She always knows the latest innovations and trends, constantly researching and shopping for tech gadgets, fun classroom kits and every kind of cutter, connector or adhesive you could imagine, or collecting recyclable and reusable material to use in her classroom. Chris led professional development workshops for the Lower School faculty, played an instrumental part in the technological training of new faculty and staff during orientation and was instrumental in teaching the Lower School faculty and students how to effectively use new technology. During the pandemic, Chris led the way in getting Lower School students and teachers on board with remote learning, and once students returned to campus, it was her efforts and expertise that helped prepare the Lower School to thrive during hybrid learning. Over the years, Chris has worn many hats at GFS, including Associate Preschool Teacher, Lower School Digital Discoveries Teacher and Digital Technology Specialist/Digital Learning Specialist/STEAM Coordinator, math teacher, and, now, Preschool Administrative Assistant. She served as the Parent Fund Chair, and in 2015 won the H. Brian Deady Award, the most prestigious award bestowed upon a parent volunteer, and more recently served with great success as the Faculty Chair for the Fund for Garrison Forest. Of all of these roles, her most cherished role has been as a parent to daughters Kendall Shriver ’15 and Chloe Shriver ’21.
Stephanie came to Garrison Forest in 2010 as a French teacher and dorm parent. In 2012, she transitioned to teaching Middle School English and has spent the past 13 years working in the Middle School and sharing her passion for reading and writing with students. When you walk into her class, you see students reading and sharing books, giving book talks and truly emerging as a community of readers. Stephanie leads several Middle School reading initiatives, launching a very successful Black History Month book club, leading our summer reading effort and spearheading two of our 8th Grade interdisciplinary signature projects; during the pandemic, she organized an outdoor book fair, finding safe and creative ways to keep students reading. Stephanie is consistently pushing herself to improve her teaching practice and the language arts curriculum, assessing book choices and finding new ways to push students to understand perspectives other than their own. She models curiosity, creativity and a willingness to try new things. Her work extends beyond the English classroom, as she helped plan several department retreats and initiatives. Stephanie embodies a lifelong commitment to learning and is always eager to collaborate with others, share ideas and engage in ongoing professional development. Stephanie’s patient, calm demeanor makes her class a favorite of students and creates a classroom environment where everyone is comfortable taking risks. She stretches her students to think past what they normally would do; she knows their strengths and guides them through their weaknesses.Stephanie’s passion for teaching, compassion for her students and colleagues and dedication to the Garrison Forest community make her truly deserving of this award.
Debbie has worked behind the scenes to keep our facilities operations running smoothly and efficiently since the Fall of 2005. Each task and project placed in front of her is handled with great care and attention. Every detail is planned, every potential scenario is anticipated and every decision she makes is done with the school’s interest at heart. For nearly 18 years, Debbie has been the heart and soul of our facilities team. Her strong work ethic, organizational skills and genuine care for her team are just a few reasons she has been so impactful in her role. Her reach stretches across every department and division in the community. In addition to keeping the facilities team organized, she also works with families who rely on our transportation to get their students to and from school, coordinates work with outside vendors and contractors, spends hours of her time doing research to find parts or supplies, sets up for events, and helps select furniture or flooring for upcoming projects. Debbie also played an integral role during the pandemic, assisting with space utilization and classroom layouts. She takes great pride in every aspect of the work that she does and her contributions to our community extend far and wide.
18 years at GFS
Gail Hutton, Head of the Lower School, reflects on Lisa’s remarkable career at GFS: “Working with Lisa was a privilege and the highlight of my teaching career. A consummate professional, Lisa put the needs of her students at the forefront of every instructional plan and decision. In her classroom, Lisa was conscientious about making sure her students were progressing and growing, working hard to address various learning styles and providing each student with the perfect amount of guidance and nurture. Her lessons were thoughtful and engaging; they were designed to integrate the curriculum in order to stretch her student’s thinking and learning. Her classroom was calm and reassuring because she honored the students’ developmental and academic needs; students felt loved and safe under her amazing care. Lisa will be missed in the Lower School, however, we were so very fortunate that she chose to spend 18 years with us, and the students who were in her class will always remember her for the outstanding teacher that she is.”
When you think back on your Garrison Forest experience, what are the things that stand out most clearly? Maybe it was your experience as a rider or polo player that has stayed with you, or perhaps it was your time as a boarding student. Did taking your first timid steps on the GFS stage represent a pivotal moment in your life, or was it the camaraderie and bonding with teammates who are still friends? Whether through capital improvements, faculty support or scholarship opportunities, GFS has a rich history of alumnae and friends coming together to direct their giving for advancing the school. We wish to encourage our generous donors to honor the aspects of their GFS experience that were truly transformational while providing needed support for the program as it is today.
>> How to direct or designate your gift: Visit gfs.org/give; there is a drop-down menu that will allow you to select the area of school life that you would like to designate your gift toward.
>> Questions? Contact MaryAnn Jones, Director of Advancement with any questions.
The pavilion and pier at the GFS pond, which was completed this spring, was funded in part through a gift from the Class of 1993 in honor of their 30th Reunion. Designed to be an interdisciplinary space for learning in all divisions, this campus addition is also a wonderful place to read, reflect and relax.
Thanks to a generous anonymous donor who made lights on the Zolenas and Paw Print turf fields possible, GFS Grizzlies can compete under the lights; it also opened up more opportunities and revenue from outside rentals.
There are many ways to give to GFS, including through gifts-in-kind. This year, through the generosity of our friends and donors, we welcomed nine horses (with a combined value of $435,588) to our Riding and our Polo programs. These donations not only add tremendous value, but they ensure that GFS provides our students with the best possible experiences.
While designating a gift is one option for recognizing your Garrison Forest experience, general annual fund gifts typically go to the where the greatest need in the school may be at that time. This is a vital way to ensure the school is financially flexible and able to support a variety of programs and initiatives, including faculty and staff salaries and benefits.
Reunion 2023 fell on a beautifully sunny day, making it a perfect time to return to campus! In addition to the traditional Golden Luncheon honoring the Class of 1973 on their 50th Reunion and the memorial chapel service, this year’s festivities featured a Mimosa Mingle and a Reunion Festival that included current GFS students and families. Thanks to all who joined us, and a very special thank you to the many volunteers who made this Reunion a success!
>> Check Class News for more photos!
ALUMNA POLO MATCH AND PICKLEBALL
REUNION FESTIVAL
Whether we’re here on campus, around town in Baltimore or on the road, that special Garrison Forest connection brings us back together. Don’t miss an event! Make sure we have your correct contact information by emailing alum@gfs.org.
Alumnae from all classes came together for gatherings in Baltimore, New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Interested in hosting an alumnae event in your area? Contact alum@gfs.org!
104 golfers and 35 pickleball players came out on a beautiful early spring day to make our annual Golf and Racquet Classic a smashing success. Thank you to our event co-chairs, Julie Martin McAllister ’92 and Kevin McAllister and our many generous sponsors. See the inside
Each year, we celebrate the dedicated members of our community who give so much of their time and energy to making our community strong, spirited and connected. Join us in congratulating the 2022 leadership award winners, who were honored at the Leadership Recognition Celebration last fall, as well as welcoming our new Board of Trustee members and thanking departing members for their service to the school.
Established 20 years ago in memory of Brian Deady, who served as a devoted volunteer to the school for over a decade, this award honors the parent volunteer who best exemplifies Brian’s extraordinary enthusiasm for and commitment to GFS. The 2022 recipient, Jeff Miller, has dedicated his talents, time and energy to supporting the parent outreach efforts of The Fund for Garrison Forest since 2016. Serving as Vice Chair in 2021 and Chair in 2022, Jeff has been integral in raising parent participation levels and philanthropic revenue. Always a collaborative and goal-minded team player, Jeff worked alongside GFS staff and Board members to address challenges and bring ideas to the forefront. Anyone who knows the Miller family knows that Jeff, Kristen, Lucy ’21 and Josie ’23 are always willing to help whenever and wherever they are needed. Jeff and his family are truly “all In” when it comes to Garrison Forest School, and Jeff is a great representative of Brian Deady’s extraordinary commitment to and enthusiasm for GFS.
As a boarding student at GFS, Elisabeth served as President of her Senior class, was a member of the Cum Laude Society and received one of the highest Commencement honors, the Alumna Award. Elisabeth obtained her degree in art history from the University of Virginia in 1985 and holds a master’s degree in marketing from Johns Hopkins University. She spent the majority of her career at NASD, Nasdaq and, finally, FINRA. She has an entrepreneurial spirit, running her own marketing consulting business and co-founding Studio E Partners, a small business that brought together artists and collectors at open studio and pop-up events. Today, she is a leadership and career coach. A dedicated and enthusiastic alumna volunteer, Elisabeth has served as Reunion Gift Chair, Class Fund Agent and Chair of The Fund for Garrison Forest, where she was a Trustee ExOfficio. She joined the Board of Trustees in 2015 and is a member of the Extended Executive and Enrollment and Marketing committees. Elisabeth currently chairs the Development Committee and works tirelessly for GFS as an alumnae leadership solicitor in support of The Fund for Garrison Forest. She has opened her home to host numerous GFS events and is a founder of GFS DC Networking Group for alumnae.
Lila Boyce Lohr ’63 , President
Helen Zinreich Shafer ’93, Vice President
Amabel Boyce James ’70, Treasurer
Emily Gardner Baratta ’88, Secretary
Crystal Lee Alston ’96
Jaime Sopher Arnold
Patricia G. Autrey ’98
Arabella Knox Brockett ’01
Cassandra Naylor Brooks ’85
August J. Chiasera
Diana Warfield Daly ’74
Stacy Garrett-Ray ’92
Sarah LeBrun Ingram ’84
Catherine Y. Jackson ’83
Elizabeth R. Kokinis
Peter J. Korzenewski
Jennifer E. Lawrence ’85
Kristopher A. Mallahan
Robyne O. McCullough ’07
Catherine Schroeder O’Neill ’93
W. Brooks Paternotte
Christina N. Riepe ’91
Ashley East Rogers ’97
George J. Sakellaris
Erika Daneman Slater ’88
Elizabeth B. Warfield ’73
William L. Yerman
Emily Appelbaum Brennan ’96
Christopher A. Hughes
Jenna Millman
Ashby Litz Thoeni ’02
Monique Apollon Williams ’03
Frank A. Bonsal, Jr.
Robert S. Brennen
David M. DiPietro
Molly Mundy Hathaway ’61
Henry H. Hopkins
Elizabeth B. Searle ’74
Clare H. Springs ’62
Frederick W. Whitridge
Thank you to August “Augie” Chiasera, who completed his tenure as President of the Garrison Forest Board of Trustees, a role he has held since 2019. The Garrison community thanks Augie for his service, and particularly his leadership through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. We are grateful that Augie will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees. Lila Boyce Lohr ‘63 is stepping into the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees, returning to a role she previously held here at Garrison from 2005 to 2011. Lila first joined the board in 1996 and served as Interim Head of School 2017-2018. We are delighted that Lila has agreed to serve Garrison in this vital capacity for a second term.
Jenna Millman
Incoming Parent Association
President Jenna Millman is the proud mother of Emily ’22 and Molly ’24. She received her B.S. degree in kinesiology from the University of Maryland, College Park and her M.S. degree in occupational therapy from Towson University. Additionally, she earned a certification in Advanced Practice in Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation from Drexel University. She has over 23 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist and has been working at the MedStar Hand Clinic in Lutherville, Md., as a Certified Hand Therapist for over 16 years. Her career highlights include a mission trip to Ghana teaching hand therapy and rehabilitation, authoring a chapter in Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation: A Practical Guide, and serving on the education division of the American Society of Hand Therapy. At Garrison Forest, she previously served as grade representative for 9th and 10th Grade, was the head of Grizzly Gear, and most recently served as the Vice President of the Parent Association.
Arabella Knox Brockett ’01
Following her mother Nancy’s footsteps before her, Arabella enrolled at GFS as a 6th Grader. While at Garrison, Arabella found her love for history, French and polo, all of which would later shape her entire adult life. While at GFS, Arabella played Varsity Polo and in 2001, along with her teammates, won the 2001 USPA Interscholastic Championship as well as the Polo Training Foundation’s Player of the year. Arabella attended Texas A&M, where she majored in history and served as Vice President of Texas A&M Polo and Captain of the Women’s Polo Team. While in Texas, she played polo semi-professionally for a short time before marrying her college sweetheart Joel in 2004 and welcoming their daughter Isabelle Brockett ’26 in 2007. In 2008, Arabella earned her Maryland real estate license and began selling real estate for Long & Foster, where she won Rookie of the year. Arabella found a niche selling historic homes and equine estates and has carried that passion to today. As a founding partner and CFO of The ONE Group, Arabella helped the firm quickly rise to become one of Baltimore’s most respected real estate teams, managing sales of over $55 million in sales annually. Arabella is a current member of the National Steeplechase Association, owning two horses in a syndicate and is a member of both the Elkridge Harford Hunt Club and the Maryland Polo Club where she plays polo with her husband and daughter. Arabella, Joel and Isabelle currently reside in White Hall, Md. on their 50-acre farm along with two Jack Russells and a barn full of happy horses.
In addition to making vital operations of the school possible, philanthropic support also provides the foundation for supporting our faculty and staff through their salaries and benefits.
$7,373,481
Raised overall for capital, endowment and operating support
$1,557,501
Raised for The Fund for Garrison Forest in support of all operating expenses
Monique Apollon Williams ’03Incoming Alumnae Board President Monique Apollon Williams ’03, PhD is the founder of Reimagining Math LLC and is passionate about equitable mathematics instruction, developing teachers and leaders and supporting families with raising children who believe learning math is fun, useful and worthwhile. Dr. Williams has taught and tutored mathematics spanning grades pre-kindergarten through doctoral-level mathematics and statistics. In fact, Dr. Williams began tutoring GFS Middle and Upper school students in math during her college years, and it was through this experience that she decided to grow her business after completing graduate school. Dr. Williams also teaches the next generation of teachers at Howard University and finds joy in mentoring students who are eager to become first-year math teachers. She works with school districts spanning the U.S. training and coaching math teachers and leaders on best teaching practices while developing curriculum, creating professional development workshops and creating districtwide assessments to monitor student progress towards grade-level outcomes. She has also led classroom-, school-, and district-level data-driven discussions to inform best practices and to identify high leverage next steps for instructional development. She is a published scholar whose research is at the intersection of math education and academic motivation and sheds light on strengthening positive perceptions of learning mathematics in students and improving teacher education. Dr. Williams is a mom of 3, including Mia ’34 and Bella ’36, and enjoys seeing her daughters attend GFS; she loves the opportunity to relive all things Garrison through the eyes of a parent
2,000 Volunteer hours by alumnae, parents and friends
Elizabeth B. Searle ’74: Betsy Searle completed her eighth term as a board member at the close of the 2022-23 school year, having served her alma mater in this capacity since 1987. Betsy served as President of the Board from 1994-2000 and was awarded the Distinguished Alumnae Award in 1991. The Board is pleased to announce that Betsy has accepted the honor of being named a Trustee Emerita in recognition of her unprecedented service to our Garrison community.
Thank you to the following Trustees for their faithful service to Garrison Forest School:
Anne Deady ’01, Alumnae Board President Brenda Lee, Parent of Gabi ’21 and Dominique ’28, Parent Association President
Elisabeth Owen Hayes ’81
KATHARINE
On August 29, 2022, Garrison Forest School lost a strong, determined, caring, thoughtful alumna. Katharine “Kay” Wadsworth Wilson ’46 was a dedicated academician and, after graduating Garrison Forest, she attended Harvard’s women’s college, Radcliffe, and went on to earn her master’s degree in clinical psychology from San Jose State University. While at Radcliffe, she met her husband, Rollin Lincoln Wilson, and worked for Radio Free Europe in New York City while Rollin finished his master’s at Harvard. Kay’s devotion to education was so strong that she bequeathed her estate to the three schools that impacted her early life: Harvard, Garrison Forest School and New Canaan Country School.
Kay’s gift is particularly meaningful given that she dedicated the last few years of her life to philanthropy. Throughout her life, Katharine believed in giving back to not only her immediate community, but to those in need worldwide—particularly orphans and orphanages. She kept letters and records from 21 orphans along with nine orphanages, four abroad and five in the US, from 1960 up to August 2022. Further showing her commitment to education, four students received her full support to complete college in their native countries of the Commonwealth of Dominica and India, respectively. She often maintained a close relationship with the people she assisted and worked with to ensure that the people with the most need would benefit. Kay was devoted to Garrison Forest School, routinely coming back for her class reunions.
“Through her generosity—including donating continuously for over 30 years— and her deep commitment to education, it is clear that Kay believed in the education Garrison Forest provides its students,” remarked Chris Hughes, GFS Head of School. “Her legacy is an important testament to the lasting impact our faculty have on our students.”
Her long vitality and vigilant daily physical fitness training allowed Kay to work up to the pandemic at age 91. While her career as a practicing psychologist spanned from 1981-2020, she was also an accomplished poet who was a member of the California Federation of Chaparral Poets. Her books of poetry include: Talking to the Wall, Dancing with the Shadow: Courting Sanity in a Mental Health Facility, Better to Laugh Vol. 1 & 2, Mixed Bag, Slippery Slopes, Happy Talk, and Sky Harvest. In true Garrison fashion, Kay has left a rich legacy through her work as a therapist, her contributions to poetry and her enduring spirit of generosity and compassion.
A charitable remainder unitrust (also called a CRUT) is an estate planning tool that provides income to a named beneficiary during the grantor’s life and then the remainder of the trust to a charitable cause.
The Marshall-Offutt Circle is Garrison Forest’s legacy society for those who have named the school in their estate plans. We deeply appreciate the individuals who have informed GFS of their planned giving intentions. If you have included GFS in your legacy giving plans, please let us know so we may include you in the Circle and express our appreciation.
We recommend you seek professional advice before drawing up your will. The following is an option to share with your estate planner:
I give and devise to Garrison Forest School, located in Owings Mills, MD, the sum of $____ (or percentage of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal) to be used for its general support.
Please contact Kate Gugerty, Philanthropy Officer, with any questions: kategugerty@gfs.org or 410-559-3139.
Each member of our community is a treasured part of the fuller Garrison Forest story, and losing any of these members is felt deeply. As classmates, friends or colleagues, there are so many who value the impact that each member of our alumnae community has had. Each year, we take time to remember and honor those friends and classmates we’ve lost—in the following pages but also within the personal remembrances shared within Class News. We also honor each alumna who has passed away that year during the annual memorial chapel service, held during Reunion, where a candle is lit in their memory.
If you have treasured memories you would like to share, we encourage you to reach out to your Class News Agent to include your remembrances in next year’s alumnae magazine.
Please note: If we have inadvertently omitted anyone, please contact us at gfsalum@gfs.org.
Four years after the founding of the school and two years after it moved to the current campus, GFS celebrated its first Commencement. This landmark event was heralded by the June 14, 1914, Baltimore Sun and featured a large photo with the surprising headline, “Greek Play at Garrison Forest School,” thereby upstaging the first two GFS graduates, Edith Ney and Constance Irwin,
Miss Offutt’s theatrical magnum opus was perhaps the last play she wrote at GFS. Written in 1960, The Road is her version of the Christmas story and was presented annually before winter break in the Chapel by the Middle School for three decades. The
both of whom “finished their courses with high honors and a college standing,” according to the Sun. The graduates themselves appeared in a small picture below. The unnamed outdoor Greek play was performed by younger students as part of the Commencement program.
From 1930 to 1950, both GFS girls and GFS boys were under the tutelage of Rhoda Penrose through Fourth Grade. Known fondly as “Mrs. Penny,” she instilled an appreciation of nature and the arts in her young charges. Next to the Infantry building, where the outdoor classroom is currently located, students would perform plays written by Nancy Offutt. The girl holding the small banner in this mid-1930s production is most likely Katharine Marshall Washburne ’46, niece of coheadmistress Jean Marshall.
staging included an outdoor scene passing before the picture window in the Chapel in which Joseph was accompanied by Mary, who was seated on a live donkey. “Squeaky” the donkey held that featured role for many years and never failed to steal the show. The 1983 production featured Julie Luetkemeyer, a.k.a. Julie Bowen, as one of the three kings.
While various outdoor settings on campus have provided both stage and set for some theatrical performances—and creative use of outdoor spaces for theatrical performances is still popular, as seen by the 2017 production of Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses, held in the Joan McDonald Amphitheater behind the Lower School—the
school’s first gymnasium, built in 1920 and torn down in 2002, doubled as the school’s theater. Despite limited stage area, the Upper School Drama Club was able to mount some impressive productions, such as this 1930 drama. Theater was an extracurricular activity through the 1970s with presumably some adult guidance.
With the completion of Garland Theater in 1974, significantly more ambitious productions were possible, enabling the Upper School to stage at least two major shows each year, one play and one musical.During the 2020-21 school year, a creative approach allowed the Upper School to perform a socially-distanced and masked version of Theory of Relativity in Garland Theater.
A number of productions have been repeated in Garland over the years. For instance, Little Shop of Horrors was staged by the Upper School in 1988 and again in 2017. The annual Middle School musical, now a much-anticipated winter tradition, made its debut in 2006 with Annie. Annie returned to the Garland stage in 2019.
Today, students interested in theater have many ways to get involved with productions. In addition to auditioning to perform in the annual productions, every 7th and 8th Grader takes one semester of drama and Upper Schoolers can choose from a variety of courses that include monologue, ensemble and directing workshops and lighting design and set construction. Beyond the stage, students play a key role in designing sets and managing the A/V for the school’s production.
t The 1969 Tech Crew is shown hard at work in the “Little Gym” preparing for an upcoming production.
t Patchwork, presented in 1989, featured Tiffani Barbour ’91, who is currently on tour with the musical 1776.
t Theory of Relativity
I am told that my first moments at Garrison Forest School consisted of me sitting in a double stroller beside my twin brother, frequently surrounded by my older sister and a sea of girls in blue-plaid jumpers. My first actual memory of Garrison, however, was several years later, when I was 4-years-old. It was my first day of school, but not a typical first day. My family had moved out of state for a short period of time, and we returned home to Maryland mid-year. On that January morning, my brother and I were once again side-by-side but, this time, we were timidly walking through the door of our new Kindergarten classroom. As our teacher introduced us to the class, I remember scanning the room to see who our new friends might be; immediately, a few girls in the kitchen area asked us if we wanted to play. This welcoming act of kindness would not be the last, and these collective moments would come to define the Garrison community for me.
Fast forward almost 14 years and I’m sitting on my bedroom floor sifting through photos, yearbooks and the many handwritten cards and notes that I’ve saved from friends, teachers and family members over the years—inspiration as I begin to write my Commencement speech. I smile at the many photos of my classmates and me, arms joyfully linked together, and laugh at what was written on some old sticky notes that were once placed on my Middle School locker. Then I thought about our last day of classes, and how during break, in an unplanned but unforgettable moment, our entire class ended up in Senior Room. With Hannah Montana’s “I’ll Always Remember You” playing loudly in the background, we all sat together in a circle, arms around one another, swaying to the music. In that single moment, with a few tears and the words, “I’ll miss you guys so much,” echoing back and forth, there was an overwhelming sense of appreciation for how close we had all become, for the love and support we had consistently shown one another and for the tremendous feeling of belonging that we knew would stay with us long after we left Senior Room that day.
As I began my walk through campus on Commencement morning, I looked around at my classmates, and thought of the words from Brené Brown that I would share during my Commencement speech: “True belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world. It is not something that you negotiate externally, it’s what you carry in your heart.” From that first welcoming moment in Kindergarten to our last day in Senior Room, Garrison has always been a place of true belonging for me; a place that I will forever carry in my heart.
Thank you to my class for being the greatest group of people I could ask to be a part of and for your continued kindness over the past 14 years. Soon, we will be heading out on a new journey, one outside the beautiful tree-lined path of the Forest. However, no matter how far we travel, the friendships we formed and memories we made will always be a part of us.
Ella has been a Garrison Forest student for 14 years and served as President of the School for the 2022-23 school year. In addition, she was co-captain of the Varsity Field Hockey team that won the IAAM A Conference Championship in fall 2022; served as a head of the Teens Against Alzheimer’s and Mental Health clubs as well as a head Grizzly Guide welcoming prospective students and families; and participated in the Applied Music Program, playing the violin. Ella will attend Northwestern University in the fall, where she will play field hockey.
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300 Garrison Forest Road
Owings Mills, MD 21117
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Garrison Forest School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions and financial-aid policies, employment practices and other school-administered programs.
