May Head of School Letter: Springing 40 + Forward

And here we are! Spring has finally, finally arrived on the Glen Urquhart School campus. I know, after a successful Spring Work Day, when we planted beds, repainted the hopscotch and four square areas, started a wattle fence around the newly claimed 3rd grade medieval garden, and planted new screening plants in front of the Temple Building, the old maintenance garage of the Spaulding Brothers gardens, c.1910! Check those projects off the spring to-do list!

What else told me spring had come? The excitement of 8th graders returned from eye and heart-opening trips to the Dominican Republic and Washington, DC, where they learned about how different life can be for other people. The 1st (annual?!) GUS Fun Run, masterfully coordinated by parent Heidi Gorton and enjoyed by some 50 runners and walkers. GUSFest, which was one of the most enjoyable, community-building events I’ve ever been a part of at an independent school. Kudos to parents Trish Landgren, Deirdre Patch, Tamah French, and all the volunteers who successfully took on the challenge of creating an environmentally sustainable FUNdraiser and spirit builder! And seeing off the 6th and 7th grade overnights this past Wednesday, trips that will build confidence and resilience (and some muscle power) in the kids, who get to explore the farm fields and mountain sides of New Hampshire.

May promises to be a busy month, as 4th and 8th graders explore Boston colonial history along the Freedom Trail, 4th graders get their hands wet as they witness the running of herring in the Ipswich River, 3rd graders visit the Worcester Art Museum, upper schoolers take to the stage as Mary Poppins Jr. and Scenes and Songs from Broadway go up, lower schoolers experience the Mystic Seaport Museum and Chewonki, upper schoolers help plant at The Food Project’s nearby properties…. Can you see how well we do theme and place-based education and feel how busy GUS will be?

Finally, mark Thursday, June 7 as an important night. That’s the GUS Annual Meeting, to which all parents are invited. It’s an opportunity to hear from the Board of Trustees and me about the state of the school and witness the sharing of the 2018–2023 GUS Long-Range Plan. Then, Saturday, June 9 is our 40+Forward all-school reunion and celebration, leading into Graduation the following Wednesday.

I hope to see you soon!

40+Forward,

David Liebmann

Head of School