Letter from Josh Cobb, Head of School

Dear Graland Community,

In my August 2020 opening remarks to the community, I stated, “If we keep coming back to the child and trust that all involved place the child at the heart of what we do, we will continue to build a strong community, a community I believe will prevail in the face of this crisis.” This approach led us to great success; we opened our campus in August and maximized in-person days throughout the entire school year. This effort provided students with a sense of normalcy, as well as the structure and the relationships they needed to thrive and grow. In addition to being child-focused, we were also whole child-focused and did our best, within the health and safety constraints, to provide a holistic program that inspires students to become lifelong learners, artists, athletes, and leaders. In a year when many children have suffered learning loss, Graland students have continued to develop all the skills that they need to succeed.

Finding Joy

In addition to thriving as learners, our students have flourished by finding joy with their peers and teachers. I wish I could somehow capture the happiness and excitement I witnessed during the 165 days we were in person last year. Because we are a PreK-8 school, that childhood enthusiasm infuses our campus. It is one of the reasons why I have always loved working at Graland and educating this age range. Whether I am chaperoning a sixth grade trip to Mesa Verde, covering my pick up or lunch duty, or taking a peek out of my office window, the playfulness I see is indicative of the playfulness that occurs throughout each day here at Graland, even with masks, cohorts, and plenty of sanitizer. When you focus on young people, you are reminded of joy on a daily basis.

Gratitude

This past year, our community committed to serving the collective and specifically serving the children, as we each did our part to mitigate health risks and maximize in-person learning. The GPA did so much to keep us connected virtually and to bolster our educators and those who support them. Parents and grandparents consistently volunteered to help the school during this challenging time, from car line to community outreach. In addition, the school community demonstrated incredible generosity by exceeding our Annual Fund expectations. Finally, many showed their gratitude for teachers, who proved even more essential over the past year, by helping us successfully conclude the Inspire Campaign. I want to express special thanks to our Inspire cochairs, the Corrigans and the Freyers.

During the 2021-22 school year, I look forward to reconnecting with our community. By putting children first, we cultivate a strong school-home partnership, and by strengthening that partnership, we put children first. While following that North Star and displaying the best traits of One Graland—the empathy, the understanding, and the gratitude, I know we will continue to climb mountains together for the sake of our students. Sincerely,

Josh Cobb

Head of School

What do you see? Middle School scientists developed their curiosity, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills through a host of hands-on activities and challenges in the

Gates Innovation Lab.