Achieving Success in a New Chapter

By Lucy Morris Blancett '09

FRESHMAN SEMINAR AT GPS

It is important that every student at GPS receives the support she needs to thrive. As experts in the education of girls, we recognize that the social-emotional well-being of a girl as she enters Upper School is an integral part of her experience. Finding classes, getting to know new classmates, interacting with new teachers, and simply figuring out what is expected can be challenging.

To ensure a positive start to her new GPS chapter, welldesigned yearlong Freshman Seminar programming equips each student with the proper tools to set her on the path to success from day one.

This work helps girls in their transition to the Upper School academically, socially, and emotionally. Areas of focus include time management, navigating relationships and boundary setting, understanding Upper School policies, and getting connected to GPS Upper School life.

TO ENSURE SUCCESS AS A FRESHMAN, EACH GIRL RECEIVES SPECIFIC HELP ON THESE TOPICS:

SELF-CARE + MINDFULNESS

NAVIGATING RELATIONSHIPS REFLECTION + GOAL SETTING

FRIENDSHIP

CAIDEN WILLIAMS ’25

NEW STUDENT

“I chose to attend GPS because I knew it would give me a better education than other schools and would allow me to explore different activities that were only offered here. Freshman Seminar has helped me learn more about my future outside of GPS, like what will happen in college. It has also helped me understand who is in charge of running things like dances, and who I should talk to if I have questions. My favorite thing about GPS has been the way the school prioritizes the girl's well-being. I love how GPS is a place where you are cared for and loved, and everyone can find a place where they belong.”

BELONGING

HOW STRESS

AFFECTS THE BODY

SELF-DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING

HOW TO STAY CALM UNDER PRESSURE

New Student Onboarding

While Upper School is a new chapter for all students, girls who are new to GPS have more ground to cover when it comes to getting to know peers and teachers, training on new technologies, making their way around campus, and enmeshing themselves in the community. For that reason, Dean of the Freshman Class, Kate Kerekes, has helped design a comprehensive new student onboarding program designed to make them feel comfortable the moment they step on campus. Program components include:

GIRL GUIDES

Each new student is paired with a Girl Guide before school starts. Her guide will help her get acclimated to the traditions and culture of GPS; help her find classes; introduce her to faculty, staff, and other students; and invite her to sit at the same lunch table for the first weeks of school. The pair meets regularly and is in the same advisory and at least three overlapping classes.

CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

New students are introduced to their Class Leadership Council, Honor Council, Student Council, and Partnerships in the Community representatives, who are encouraged to check in frequently, plug them into the class GroupMe, and help them get involved.

ADVISORY

Each new student is assigned the same advisory as her Girl Guide. Her advisor will get to know her throughout the year during their once-a-week meetings and will champion her throughout her journey as a new student.

MONTHLY MEETINGS

WITH CLASS DEANS

Kate Kerekes meets with new students monthly, alongside their Girl Guides, to check on their progress and follow up on any questions or concerns.

YEARLY EVENTS

The year kicks off with a Freshman Retreat, where new students are introduced and begin forming connections through icebreaker activities. The class also bonds during a yearly freshmen-only Friendsgiving gathering in the fall and a field day in the spring.

THE LEARNING CENTER

For the first month of school, at least once per week, new students spend a study hall in the Learning Center to better understand the resources available to them and to create an academic plan that will help them be successful.

“Ninth grade is such a pivotal time in a girl’s life, with both the new academic transitions and a variety of social opportunities. It is our goal to provide programming that is based on clinical and anecdotal research that takes into consideration our current students and what is happening in their lives. It’s important they are able to navigate things with a caring adult by their side. Freshman Seminar evolves each year to meet the needs of each class and help ease the transition from the safety they feel in eighth grade to the unfamiliar territory of Upper School.”

KATE KEREKES

DEAN OF THE

FRESHMAN CLASS

Designed for Her

KATE KEREKES, DEAN OF THE FRESHMAN CLASS, LEADS THE GIRLS THROUGH A ROBUST PROGRAM THAT FEATURES:

GROUP DISCUSSIONS

Advisors lead discussions on topics important to adolescent life including everything from summer recaps to what the qualities of a good friend are and why we don’t always see ourselves as others do. Girls are encouraged to think through everything from a new perspective.

BELONGING WORK

Ninth-graders meet monthly with DEI Student Support and Community Engagement Coordinator Lauren Swanson to participate in belonging discussions and exercises surrounding the concepts of identity, diversity, justice, and action standards.

MONTHLY JOURNALING

Students are asked to answer prompts in their journals that encourage them to set goals for themselves for the year, reflect on ninth grade as it progresses, and identify their strengths.

REGULAR SURVEYS

Students take surveys regularly throughout the year to assess their journeys. They answer questions about workload, friendship, confidence, and more. Should anyone report struggles of any sort, her dean, advisor, and teachers will work together to identify an action plan. Educational videos curated by the TED team are shown and discussed regularly throughout the year and cover a variety of topics that include stress, sleep routines, emotions, and self-perception.

VIDEOS

AT GPS, WE KNOW GIRLS THRIVE WHEN PLACED IN AN ENVIRONMENT DESIGNED FOR THEM

TO SUCCEED. FRESHMAN SEMINAR TEACHES STUDENTS THAT THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS,

MAKE MISTAKES, LEARN, AND GROW AS INDIVIDUALS, SURROUNDED BY FACULTY AND STAFF WHO CARE FOR THEM HOLISTICALLY IN ALL AREAS OF THEIR LIVES.