A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR
O
ne year ago, when I wrote the Board Chair’s message for the last issue of Blueprint, so many questions about the upcoming school year remained unanswered. Sure, we had a plan and spent hours consulting with medical experts about the safest way to conduct school for our girls, but no one knew how long we might remain on campus— physically distanced, but together. While these discussions were going on, the Class of 2021 was deciding how they wanted their final GPS school year to be defined. Each summer, the leaders of the rising senior class meet to discuss and determine a theme of the year. Bravely, and with much wisdom and maturity, they chose “Be the Torch.” The phrase and graphic were printed on stickers for each student to display on her laptop or water bottle. Banners with carefully curated quotes lined the driveways at school. And each Chapel opened with the graphic animated on the screen behind those delivering the announcements. I’d like to think this constant prompt about leadership and example helped remind each person on campus of the greater goal this year: to be heedful of and adhere to COVID-19 safety measures so that on-campus learning would be possible. Not only did our students and faculty stay on campus this school year, when many schools remained virtual or hybrid, their academic and athletic accomplishments were incredible. (Please see pages 12 and 16 for details.) If I might borrow the torch for a moment, I’d like to hand it off, on behalf of Dr. Kirk Walker, our interim Head of School, to our new Head of School, Megan Cover, who began her role on July 1. I’d also like to pass the torch to Clay Watson, as he takes on the role as our Chair of the Board of Trustees. Both of these leaders will undoubtedly shine brightly in their new positions. I am confident we are in great hands. The fact that we not only survived a pandemic together as a school community but also thrived under unprecedented conditions does not surprise me at all. We are a school founded on the strength of innovators, social change agents, and community leaders. We will continue to strive for greatness no matter what comes our way.
Here’s to the GIRLS!
Dr. Rebecca E. Stimson ’73 Board Chair
G P S .E D U G I R L S P R E P A R A T O R Y S C H O O L R O T U N D A
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