Mean well. Speak well. Do well.
 
 

Glen Urquhart School Long Range Plan

2023 - 2033

 

our mission

Through the joys of learning, we inspire young people to be engaged and curious stewards of the world around them.

our vision

To empower a generation of young people to do better.

our values

curiosity

•

community

•

respect

•

social responsibility

•

sustainability

curiosity • community • respect • social responsibility • sustainability

our plan

Our Long Range Plan is rooted in our values. They’re the core of who GUS is and has always been, and they will continue to guide us toward our vision to empower young people to do better.

 
 

curiosity 

Curiosity motivates people to seek understanding, and to question what is expected, what is ordinary, and what is comfortable. At GUS, we work to feed and sustain the natural sense of joy and curiosity all children are born with as they work to understand themselves as learners, individuals, and as stewards of the world around them.

Strategic Directions >>

  • We will establish GUS as an educational leader by furthering our trademark pedagogy and expanding opportunities for students to actively explore, experiment, and discover through practical engagement, facilitating a more impactful and meaningful learning process.

  • We will empower students to take ownership of their learning and build resilience through productive struggle and will challenge learners to become self-directed 21st-century thinkers, capable of setting goals, making purposeful decisions, and understanding themselves as learners.

  • Faculty and students will harness the power of technology as a valuable tool to not only foster learning, develop innovative ideas, and enhance comprehension but also to cultivate a deeper understanding of the world around them. We will strike a harmonious balance between utilizing technology for educational purposes and nurturing an appreciation for the natural world.

  • Teachers are the spark that ignites curiosity in our students. As a result, we will work to invest in our faculty, to create a professional learning environment that inspires, and to find creative strategies to differentiate the work experience in positive ways.

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community 

At GUS, we celebrate the individuals who make up our community, and recognize that each of those unique, individual threads, when woven together just like our Tartan, make us stronger as a whole. From the classroom to the playground, and from the athletic fields to the stage, students, faculty, family, friends and neighbors alike experience the power of coming together.

Strategic Directions >>

  • Through admissions and hiring practices, we will demonstrate our commitment to build a more inclusive and representational community, and at the same time, focus on evaluating and strengthening existing systems to ensure that each individual feels known, valued, and supported.

  • We remain committed to the arts as a vehicle for self-expression, but also as a way to come together and encourage young people to push themselves outside their comfort zones, share important parts of who they are, and gain a sense of accomplishment and belonging.

  • We will work to ensure that the web of connections that make up the greater GUS community remain strong by fostering strong working relationships with current parents and creating opportunities for engagement for our alumni and alumni families to ensure the continued vitality of the Glen Urquhart School.

  • We will work to strengthen community ties by finding ways to open our campus to our neighbors and partnering with organizations and community leaders to support shared ventures and initiatives.

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respect

All people thrive in a nurturing environment where their ideas, feelings, and thoughts are valued. At GUS, we work to sustain a school community where people can share their whole self and feel safe, known, and included. In doing so, we strive to protect the dignity and worth of every member of our community.

Strategic Directions >>

  • We aim to support personal growth and well-being by fostering a culture of awareness, acceptance, empowerment, and improvement within the context of healthy living and mental health.

  • By practicing active listening skills, engaging in courageous classroom conversations, and learning to express their ideas clearly, with an open mind, and receptiveness for the value of diverse perspectives, students will build upon their capacity for empathy.

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social responsibility

At GUS, we encourage critical thinking, advocacy for self and for others, and an appreciation of life beyond the boundaries of our campus. Whether at GUS, in the greater North Shore community, or out in the world, we value a collective commitment to serving the greater good.

Strategic Directions >>

  • In a rapidly changing world, GUS will build a program that gives students the ability to question, to analyze and evaluate, and to engage in healthy dialogue with confidence and compassion.

  • Our priority is to cultivate responsible and empathetic community members through authentic learning experiences framed around real world challenges in order to teach the importance and value in contributing to positive change.

  • We will work to further weave our commitment to social-emotional growth with study of history, people, and current events to form a generation who feel the urgency and necessity to be, in word and deed, stewards of the world around them.

 
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sustainability

We believe that an appreciation of nature and understanding of delicate ecosystems are essential to understanding the impact of our individual and collective actions on the world. At GUS, we are committed to taking action to ensure a healthy planet for future generations.

Strategic Directions >>

  • In the GUS tradition, we will balance classroom experiences with greenhouse planting and outdoor exploration and adventure in order to cultivate a love of nature.

  • Our priority is to promote guardianship of our planet through safekeeping, environmental study, and understanding.

  • We strive to model good practices and inspire our students and others to protect and preserve our natural resources for future generations.

 
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Thank you.

Thank you to every member of our community, near and far, who contributed to this work. This plan would not be possible without you. If you have any questions or comments about the Long Range Plan, or any feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the LRP Committee Chair, Jared Bartok lrp@gus.org.

Long Range Planning Committee

Jared Bartok P’23 ’25, Chair
Brad Belin P’27 ’30 ’32
Paula Blume P’22 ’34
Whitney Buckley
Emily Powers Grimes P’29 ’32

Madeline Fiumara P’28 ’30
Gretchen Forsyth P’25 ’27
Lisa Kent P’23 ’26
Liam McCarthy P’25
Sarah McGrath ’14

Emily Rabinowitz-Buchanan P’27 ’29
Karen Russo P’27
Maureen Twombly P’19 ’21
Alen Yen P’22

Mean well.

•

Speak well.

•

Do well.

•

Do better.

Mean well. • Speak well. • Do well. • Do better.

 
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