February Newsletter
In Friendship and Love
Letter from the Head of School
Dear Friends,
February seems to be the perfect time to reflect on friendship, and the love we share with the friends in our lives. Years ago, I stumbled upon a vintage copy of Kahil Gibran’s The Prophet at a bookstore in Manteo, North Carolina. As a bibliophile, it has taken prominence on my bookshelf at home, and it’s been a steadfast reminder to me of the things that matter. One of them is love and another is friendship. Kahil Gibran, in The Prophet, writes:
“And a youth said, Speak to us of Friendship.
And he answered, saying:
Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.”
I spend a lot of time thinking about the lessons we are teaching our children—mine and yours both—and the one that comes to mind this month is the value of being a good friend. Your daughters have impressed me this month, and at last week’s assembly, I told them how proud I am of them. They are learning here how to be good humans and part of that is how to be a good friend. As Gibran mentions, friendship is shown in so many ways. Here at Grier, I see it show up in the laughter of the girls in their dorm rooms when I walk on the halls at night, the care a student took to buy her roommate a flower during a visit to the local flower shop, or something as simple as helping a friend do her laundry. They support one another at performances, games, and horse shows. They review questions for the history exam, make tea for one another in the dining hall, and rally around a friend in need.
Helping a friend in need has come to the forefront recently: how are we a good friend to someone when we can’t help her ourselves? Our students have shown that they will do anything for a friend and will seek help from a trusted adult when needed. It goes without saying that this is such an important part of growing up: knowing when we need help, understanding there are people who love us, and having the courage to ask. Your daughters are learning this. They are living it.
Friendship is a great gift in our lives, and your daughters are fostering life-long friendships here at Grier. I know I speak for all of the adults here when I say that we are so lucky to watch them grow in friendship and in love.
My best,
Kara
P.S. If you would like to learn more about the love languages of teenagers, this is a great resource:
General Travel and Attendance Updates
Please Make Note:
Winter Weather Updates:
Grier School is excited about our new phone chain system. You will receive a phone call in the event of a weather-related delay or cancellation. Also, please remember to look in the following places for winter weather updates:
• Your email
• MyGrier app
• Grier website
• Grier’s social channels (Instagram and Facebook)
Weekend and Holiday Travel:
For any weekend or holiday travel, please email travel@grier.org with the following information no later than Thursday evening of the weekend of departure. For holiday travel, you must give us three weeks' notice to arrange transport:
- Date and time of departure
- Pick-up person
You MUST come in and sign your daughters out by buzzing in at the main door and showing your identification. Prior to 4:00 p.m., you can do so in the main office with Bev Hampton. After 4:00 p.m. or on weekends, your daughter will sign out with the RA on the dorm floor. The RA will walk your daughter to the main entrance and verify ID.
Airport Travel:
In an effort to minimize travel costs to families, we will group students together traveling to / from the same airports on a given day. We ask for your cooperation in submitting your daughter’s travel itinerary at least 3 weeks before her travel date. SPRING BREAK TRAVEL IS DUE ON FEBRUARY 29.
- We advise parents to avoid JFK airport due to construction and higher costs of providing transportation to JFK. Washington D.C. airports (IAD, DCA, BWI) are recommended for international travel.
- Local airports include State College (SCE) and Altoona (AOO).
- Local bus service is available from Altoona and State College. www.us.megabus.com or www.trailways.com
- Train service (www.amtrak.com) is available from Tyrone and Lewistown.
- If you arrange your own transportation, students MUST arrive before 9:00 p.m. or after 7:00 a.m.
Daily Attendance:
For any daily attendance issues with DAY STUDENTS or with boarders who are leaving for an appointment, please email attendance@grier.org with the following information:
- Date and time of departure
- Pick-up person
You MUST come in and sign your daughters out by buzzing in at the main door and showing your identification. Please bring any excuses back and give them to Bev Hampton in the main office.
For daily boarding student departure, students must sign-out in the main office with Bev Hampton before 4:00 p.m. or in the living room after 4:00 p.m. Unless special arrangements have been made, students must not arrive before 7:30 a.m. and they must depart by 6:30 p.m.
For our local boarding students, please email travel@grier.org to let us know about weekend travel by Thursday of each week. If your daughter is planning to go home EVERY weekend, you must discuss this with Kara Lawler. Call or email Kara anytime. If you take your daughter home for the weekend, she must return by 7:00 p.m. on Sunday evening.
*Reminder: you may not drive into the heart of our campus (the colonnade area). Please park your car by the pineapple pillars or behind the Dance Building.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! These procedures are for the safety and security of our students.
Enrollment Updates
With the start of the new year, it's time for reenrollment! Letters have been sent from the Head of School's office to invite you to secure your daughter’s spot at Grier for the 24-25 school year. Deposits are added to FACTS and should be paid as soon as possible.
If you have questions about paying your deposit, please reach out to Angela McLaughlin, FACTS administrator, at amclaughlin@grier.org.
We are excited to announce that Grier School has chosen Clarity as our new financial aid application system. Our goal is to make the Clarity application process as easy as possible for your family.
You will find that Clarity offers a streamlined and user-friendly financial aid application process that can take as few as twenty minutes to complete. It is mobile-friendly, so you can complete your application on your phone or tablet! Furthermore, your 1040 and W2 documents from 2022 will be automatically transferred from the IRS when you complete the verification step, so you will no longer need to upload those documents manually. These are just a few ways in which Clarity enhances the financial aid application process.
Families who benefit from financial aid should fill out a Clarity application by February 1 in order to receive their financial aid for the 24-25 school year. Please reach out to Kara with any questions or concerns. We also invite you to review the FAQs to learn more about Clarity!
Spring Break Travel
Spring break is right around the corner! There is no home stay option this year but we do have two trips planned – one to Europe and one to California. If you would like information about either trip, please email travel@grier.org as soon as possible; space is limited.
For Spring Break, students may begin departing after class (12:15 P.M.) on Friday, March 15. All students must be off campus by 12:00 noon on Saturday, March 16. Students may return to campus on Monday, April 1 at 12:00 noon and must be back on campus by 7:30 P.M., Tuesday, April 2 for the start of classes on Wednesday, April 3.
Students Depart Campus:
No later than: March 16, 12:00 P.M.
Students Return to Campus:
April 2, 5:00 P.M. -7:00 P.M.
Classes resume:
April 3 8:00 A.M.
In order to minimize the disruption to students and staff, families should not book travel that requires leaving / arriving to campus between 11:30 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. Over winter break, it was taking approximately 2 hours to clear customs at all airports so please take that into consideration when booking flights.
Approximate travel times and costs to common airports are:
Airport
Travel Time
Approximate Cost
State College (SCE)
45 minutes
$100
Altoona Blair County (AOO)
45 minutes
$100
Harrisburg (MDT)
2 hours
$200 - $300
Pittsburgh (PIT)
2.5 hours
$500 - $800
Washington Area (IAD, DCA, BWI)
3 hours
$600 - $900
Philadelphia (PHL)
4 hours
$400 - $700
Newark (EWR)
4+ hours
$600+
JFK
6+ hours
$1200+
Families requesting transportation to / from Grier need to send their student’s complete itinerary (departure AND return information) to travel@grier.org by February 29. Transportation requests made after February 29 will be subject to driver availability and higher transportation fees.
If you have questions or need help selecting your student’s flight itinerary, please contact our Travel Director, Beth Yoder at travel@grier.org.
Grier Summer 2024
Thinking of Summer Vacation already?
Summer camp offers girls ages 7 - 17 a chance to experience. Grier featuring our signature programs of Dance, Art, and Riding in a fun-filled camp environment! Help us get the word out about the fun that is Grier Summer!
General Camp Activities include: Archery, Art, Creative Writing, Dance, Horseback Riding, Musical Theatre, Photography, Science, Swimming, Videography
Intensive Activities include: Dance, Art, and Horseback Riding
Dates Offered:
~ July 14 - 21: ages 9 - 14 boarding campers, ages 7 - 14 day campers
~ July 21 - 28: ages 9 - 14 boarding campers, ages 7 - 14 day campers
~ July 28 - August 3: ages 9 - 17 boarding campers, ages 7 - 17 day campers
~ $1,500 per week Boarding camp
~ $600 per week Day camp
~ $65 Additional per week for International Insurance
~ $200 Additional per week for Intensive Horseback Riding
Find out more by clicking this link: Grier Summer 2024
Academic News
By Ms. Barr
College Counseling News from Mrs. Lyke:
Please direct college related questions to: Mrs. Lyke, Director of College Counseling ( slyke@grier.org ).
For Seniors, Parents/Guardians:
- Save the Date: February 28, 2024 @ 7pm EST - Zoom
Topic: College Financial Planning Workshop with Mr. Paul Martin, founder of College Money Method.
Title: Comparing Offers and Considering Appeals.
Target Audience: 12th grade students, parents/guardians.
Note: Mrs. Lyke will email registration details directly to families.
College Visits:
*College Rep visits are open to juniors and seniors.
February 21st – University of Mount Union
February 15th – University of Tampa
Testing Announcements/Information
On-Campus Testing Information
TOEFL iBT at Grier School’s Test Center
Breakfast will be available for students at 7:30am each Saturday morning of testing, then students will report at 8am to North Cottage room 2 to begin.
- February 3 (sign-up deadline: Regular January 12; Late January 24)
- February 17 (sign-up deadline: Regular January 19; Late February 7)
- March 2nd (sign-up deadline: Regular February 9; Late February 21st)
- April 6th (sign-up deadline: Regular March 15; Late March 27th)
- April 13th (sign-up deadline: Regular March 22; Late April 3)
Junior Class Test Administration Opportunities
- Details:
- Both the SAT School Day (SD) and ACT District Testing (DT) administrations in Spring 2024 are offered to the Junior Class only.
- Both SAT SD and ACT DT administrations take place during the regular academic day with a report time of 7:45AM and exam start at 8AM.
- Students will miss classes, and are held responsible for any missed work.
- Juniors are encourage to take at least one or both exams as a way to experience both forms and have a baseline for each exam that will determine areas of strength and/or areas of growth.
- SAT SD: Students will take the exam via the Bluebook app as College Board transitioned the assessment to fully digital Spring 2024.
- ACT DT: Student will take the exam via PAPER.
- Specific Exam Information
- SAT School Day (Thursday, April 4th) [Digital]
- Deadline: February 9th
- How to register?
- Students must sign the registration sheet in Mrs. Hallahan’s office.
- How to prepare?
- Two forms of practice:
- Bluebook app—Most Juniors should have the app already downloaded on their device from taking the PSAT/NMSQT in the Fall. Sign into app and begin practice.
- Khan Academy—Free practice using this platform.
- ACT District Testing Administration (Tuesday, April 9th) [PAPER]
- Deadline: February 21th
- How to register?
- Students must sign the registration sheet in Mrs. Hallahan’s office.
- How to prepare?
Off-Campus Testing
Breakfast will be available for students at 6:30am, and students will depart campus at 7am for testing at Altoona Area High School.
ACT Weekend Administration (Saturday, February 10th) [PAPER]
- Deadline: January 5th
- Late Deadline: January 19th
- Admission Ticket Due by January 19th
SAT Weekend Administration (Saturday, March 9th) [DIGITAL]
- Deadline: February 23rd
- Late Deadline/Changes to Registration Deadline: February 27th
- Admission Ticket Due by February 23rd
Academic Updates
Looking ahead to this coming Spring, Ms. Barr and Mrs. Lyke will meet with each student to discuss their schedules for next year in early March. An updated Course Description Guide will be posted on MyGrier prior to course selections for families to review.
There will be an Electives Faire for students on Friday, February 23rd to see what elective options students will have for the fall of 2024.
January and February can be trying months for students academically. These months are often dubbed the midyear slump. It is a time when days are long and there are few breaks for students. We encourage parents to reach out to their students and check in with them about their day. Ask them what they are learning about and how their classes and after school activities are going. The familial connection is a comfort, even from afar.
Marking Period Three ends on February 16th. Grades will be available on MyGrier Friday, February 23rd by 9:00am.
If you have an academic concern for your student, please reach out to Ms. Barr at kbarr@grier.org.
Teacher Talk
By Mr. Lang
As winter continues on with its ups and downs, the students are diving deeper into new novels, plays, and research topics in their English classes. During the spring semester, each English class will have a major research project, where the students, working hand-in-hand with their teachers and the librarian, learn and strengthen skills, such as discerning strong and weak sources, correctly giving credit and citing authors, and paraphrasing source material to deliver it in an understandable way.
Each grade takes different approaches to different topics, such as Women's Issues, Medical Ethics, The Victorian Era, The Holocaust, or the 1960s. Some papers are informative, some argumentative or persuasive, and some work on the skill of presenting both sides of a controversial topic without allowing any personal bias to show through. Very often, students also have to present on their topics and practice the important skill of public speaking.
The students generally enjoy being able to shift their focus and work in the library, as the venue change allows them to enjoy the space, the light, the soft chairs, and the walls of books. The librarian, Mrs. Dunklebarger, facilitates lessons about NoodleTools, an electronic citation and note card tool, paraphrasing, and citations, helping the students to learn and review the skills that students will utilize in any field they enter in the future.
February Events
by Dr. Guydish Buchholz
Loving Diversity
This month at Grier, we are all about celebrating our diverse identities and variety of activities we have here. We will continue our celebration of Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Lantern Festival, and winter sports. The season of love is also a prominent feature of our activity options this month as well as all of our winter sports! Finally, we are in the thick of community service season and are working hard to give back to our community. As we move towards warmer weather and spring time showers, we will do so in the spirit of love, celebration, and giving.
Events, Dates & Costs
February 2nd
2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. - Photo Club (Photo Lab)
3:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. - Ski
2:30 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. - Cricut Shirts Check with Mrs. Dunklebarger for Supplies; Costs Vary
6:30 P.M. - History Club Movie Night Free
6:00 P.M. - 8:15 P.M. - Humane Society Community Service
February 3rd
7:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. - Wrestling Booster Club Community Service $20 charge; $15 Spending Money
11:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M - Wrestling Booster Club Community Service $20 charge; $15 Spending Money
2:30 P.M. - Nails event $3 charge
Evening Motion Student Showcase Free
February 4th
10:15 A.M. - Church Free
7:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. - Wrestling Booster Club Community Service $20 charge; $15 Spending Money
11:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. - Wrestling Booster Club Community Service $20 charge; $15 Spending Money
12:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. - Ski Costs Vary
12:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. - Wegman’s $33 charge; $20 Spending Money
February 9th
12:15 P.M. - Advisor/Advisee Luncheon Free
Time TBD Volleyball Tourney Free
2:15 P.M. - Green-Gold Event Free
Friendship Bracelets & Crown Making Event Free
3:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. - Ski Costs Vary
4:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. - Dinner Trip (Chaperone or Costs Vary, Student suggestion)
February 10th
8:00 A.M. - ACT
8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. - PJAS
9:00 A.M.- 11:00 A.M. - Second Chance Strays Community Service $20 Charge; $15 Spending Money
Time TBD Bishop Carroll Archery Event
Cocoa & Cricut $8 Charge
Time TBD Lunar New Year Event Free
4:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. - Dinner Trip (Chaperone or Costs Vary, Student suggestion)
PNC Ice Skating Cost TBD
February 11th
Church Free
11:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. - Hot Pot and Asian Market (9 Seats) $75 Charge includes base meal + $15 Spending Money
12:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. - Target Trip $30 Charge; $15 Spending Money
12:30 P.M. - Prom Committee Trip No Cost; Bring Spending Money
12:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. - Ski Costs Vary
1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. - Baking Club Free
February 16th
Time TBD Volleyball Tourney Free
2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. - Photo Club (Photo Lab) Free
3:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. - Ski Costs Vary
Dress Shopping Trip
5:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. - Escape Room & Café Stop $40 Charge; $15 Spending Money
February 17th
Spa Day Cost TBD
Line Mountain Archery Event
1:00 P.M. - Mario Kart Gaming Club Fundraiser Cost TBD
Aki dinner trip $45 Charge; $35 Spending Money
Moe’s/ Ulta/ Old Navy $45 Charge; $35 Spending Money
King of Prussia $150 charge; $50 Spending Money
February 18th
Church Free
12:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. - Wegman’s $33 Charge; $20 Spending Money
Dorm Event (Mardi Gras) Free
12:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. - Ski Costs Vary
February 23rd
12:15 P.M. - Class Meeting Free
12:45 P.M. - Elective Faire Free
Rennie Dyball presentations - 1:30 P.M. - 7th Grade; 2:30 P.M. - 8th Grade; 3:30 P.M. - Interested equestrians, writers, or readers; Free
Volleyball Tourney Free
Ulta and dress shopping $35 Charge; $25 Spending Money
3:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. - Ski Costs Vary
February 24th
9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. - Second Chance Strays $20 Charge; $15 Spending Money
Time TBD Junior Blanket Making Cost TBD
Easter for Eli
Time TBD Jeff Kohr Memoria Shoot Archery
Powwow Event & Community Service Cost TBD
February 25th
Church Free
Downtown State College Trip $30 Charge; $20 Spending Money
Flute performance Cost TBD
12:00 P.M.- 4:30 P.M. - Ski Costs Vary
Powwow Event & Community Service Cost TBD
Crago's Corner
by Cari Crago, Dean of Counseling, Wellness & Residential Life
Beating the Winter Blues from A to Zzzzzz’s
This is the perfect time of year to develop new habits, new ideas, and a new attitude towards winter. The beautiful freshly fallen snow of January is getting a little “I’m over it” and seems unending, so let’s turn that negative into a positive.
Adventure—Get out and about! Fresh air is therapeutic, and the cold can be invigorating. This may sound cliché, but ENJOY this season like you would any other. Make fun winter rituals; learn a winter sport (like what the heck is curling?), take advantage of all the fun things to do, and of course always have that steaming cup of hot cocoa on hand upon your return from the cold. Like the song says, see winter as wonderful. If you are excited for a winter activity, it puts a positive spin on an otherwise dreary day and brightens your spirit figuratively and literally.
Break Time—Take mini breaks during any long, cooped up, humdrum activity, especially when it comes to homework. Set a timer and do 20 minutes on then 5 minutes off. Doing so breaks the monotony and resets your brain to begin again. Stand up and do 20 jumping jacks; it will spark your energy and make you giggle. Take a walk, which will reset your attention and focus.
Child like—Always be young at heart and capture that feeling of being a kid again. Catch snowflakes on your tongue, build a snow man, grab a sled and hit that hill, and don’t forget to grab a carrot that would serve as a great snowman’s nose on your way out the door. Remember how you enjoyed winter when you were young? Remember when winter wasn’t a time you had to “cope” through? If you are having a super down day, try to find that one thing that always cheered you up as a child and gave you that special sense of security. Use that when you’re in dire need a pick me up. Playing a childhood game, hanging upside down from the monkey bars or swinging as high as possible may be that spark you need to cheer you up. Try to swing without smiling; it’s impossible.
Dance, dance, dance—Music can be a cure-all. Just find that go to, upbeat song that always cheers you up no matter what. In fact, make a feel-good playlist and label it something silly that makes you smile every time you see it and makes you dance and groove away.
Exercise is a terrific stress reliever and not just for your physical health but benefits your emotional health as well. Release those “happy chemicals” called Endorphins throughout your body from any kind of movement and you will have an instant mood boost.
Friends—The key to your social well-being is maintaining social relationships, and good friends are crucial to long term happiness. Your friends are there for a reason. You are that big hearted “ear” when they need you, so make sure you rely on them when you are in need. That’s what friends are for, like the song says.
Give back—Help plan a project, contribute, volunteer, do something kind for someone else for no reason at all and not wanting anything in return. This small gesture makes another feel good and brings a warm smile to you own heart. So, shovel a walk, dig out a housemom’s car, sneak a pick me up treat into a friend’s bookbag or secretly stick a picture of a loved one in the winter coat pocket of a friend who needs a boost. It will invigorate you, spread cheer, and make your heart smile.
Healthy lifestyle is important for a happy mind and body. Knowing what is good for you and trying to avoid the bad will help you to have many more “up” days than down, and the success you have can a lead to an improved state of mind. Keep away from the “D” word; don’t diet but do make healthy choices. Processed and refined foods, like sugar and white breads, are energy suckers and affect your moods in many negative ways. Go for the rainbow foods like fruits, veggies, and multigrain or wheat breads. Rainbow foods feed your mind and body and boost your energy levels. Remember less white, more colors. Try to eat six small meals a day, which will help spark your metabolism, and make sure to eat a healthy breakfast. It really is the most important meal of the day and will give you the fuel to start your day, help you from falling asleep mid-morning and kickstart your metabolism.
Identify barriers that are preventing your progress in completing a task or goal. Once you have identified that hurdle, then you can leap over it and make a plan to achieve any goal you set for yourself. If you are feeling blue, attempt to figure out exactly what is bringing you down so you can address it head on.
Jump start your summer plans! In addition to the fun of this season, planning for the warm seasons ahead offers something to look forward to, so plan a vacation, book that adventure with your friends, and buy those concert tickets.
Keep in contact with family and friends. Now is a great time to reconnect with that long-lost friend that you have been thinking about lately. Actually use a stamp (aka snail mail) and write a letter to a loved one, close friend, or someone who made a difference in your life. Take this time to tell him or her why, because bringing a smile to others doubles your own! Social contact is extremely important, and whatever you do, do not cancel prearranged plans when feeling glum. The glumness could continue to snow ball, although keeping those plans could flip your whole day into a positive.
Less internet—Decrease your internet usage by at least one hour a day and use that time to connect in person. Others’ expression—especially smiles—lift your mood, and laughter IS contagious. Not only does it lift your spirit, but it actually burns calories.
Me time-Take some alone time and use it to relax, meditate, read, sleep in or turn in early. Learn to breath properly to connect your mind and body. Indulge in self-care and pamper yourself, which will help reduce stress. Every so often proclaim yourself queen for a day!
Nature & nurture—Observe nature, whether outdoors or through your window. Watching a squirrel or bird going about its busy day can be calming and very soothing. Always make sure to dress warm outdoors and snuggle up and keep cozy indoors.
Organize your room, your drawers, your closet, your photo album, and your life. The process of organizing is extremely cathartic, and simplification helps alleviate anxiety and gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Positivity—Make a list of the little things that bring you happiness or joy, like phone calls, snail mail, new pencils, fresh laundry, clean sheets, manicures, puppies, or dancing, and include one happiness activity or item into your every day.
Quirkiness—Find your inner “Quirky” and make yourself giggle.
Reward yourself and have something to look forward to on these cold, seamlessly never-ending days of winter. Whether it be your favorite piece of candy, a movie you have been waiting to see, an item you have been longing to buy, something big, or something silly and little, you will feel grand.
Sunshine and the outdoors boost your spirit, so open those blinds, sit near a window when studying, eating, or even when spending “all” that time on your laptop. Just like exercise, exposure to sunlight can affect your mood. The days are shorter, darkness comes earlier, and people stay indoors more, so you have to find inventive ways to soak up that Vitamin D. If you are enjoying the brisk outdoors, remember to apply sunscreen; after all, it is still the sun. Through those cloudy spells, make your indoor environment as bright as you can. Using full spectrum light bulbs or “happy lights” can have the same result on your mind since they mimic the real thing.
Talk out conflicts and take the time to communicate. Remember to communicate when facing conflict. If something is getting on your nerves, speak up instead of letting it fester and get bigger than it should.
Use hand sanitizer in the hopes of avoiding that nasty cold/flu bug.
Vitamins - it’s a good idea to take a multi-vitamin to make sure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs. Take your Flintstone’s.
Water, water, everywhere—Make sure to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to help stay hydrated and improve your health. An added little trick is having a glass before each meal or snack and always carry around that re-usable water bottle.
X-periment with a new hobby such as journaling, knitting, sewing, cooking or learn a new sport like football to play or follow as a fan. Continue to make plans and try new activities.
Yes—Say YES to yourself and learn that it is okay to say NO to adding another activity, volunteering to cook those extra 200 cookies, or helping someone else with their homework when you don’t have time to finish your own.
Zzzz’s—A good night’s sleep is so very important. Some helpful tips to ensure a restful night are to avoid late night snacks, stick to a routine, make sure you go to bed the same time every night, and complete the same ritual before bed. Sleep in total darkness. This helps regulate the proper sleep/wake cycle and increases your sleep quality, energy, and mood. Try to get between six to eight hours of sleep each night and keep that regular schedule. Be consistent; increase your energy levels with a regular sleep cycle to experience more energy, better moods, and less depression. On the other hand, the more sleep you get the more tired you will be, so DON’T HIBERNATE. Make sure to keep your naps short: between five and 15 minutes, but no more than 20 minutes. This will refresh you without making you groggy or messing up your night sleeping schedule. If you are having trouble falling asleep because you have too much on your mind, try working up scenarios that occupy your thoughts, such as what you would do if you won a million dollars, and be specific, the more detailed the better to take your mind off your stressor. Another trick to help relax your mind is to breathe deeply in and out counting one and two. I know it seems super simple but does work wonders.
Most people have difficulty sustaining their New Year’s resolutions soon after making them. Rather than make resolutions, why not adopt new life choices to become changers and makers. If you resolve to develop good, positives habits and outlooks, you will quickly overcome the winter blues. Putting just a few of these ideas into place will help you regain your sparkle.
Stay Connected
Stay in Touch!
Want to be "in the know?"
Want to be connected DAILY to Grier School?
There are multiple ways to follow along with the daily happenings here at Grier! Follow these steps to stay connected to your daughter and our Grier School extended family!
- Stay up to date on current events and daily activities through the Grier School App! There are many important items linked here. Open the PDF below for a QR code to direct you to the App Store. (Available for Apple and Android devices)
- Follow us on Instagram @grier_school
- Follow us on Facebook @ Grier School | Tyrone PA | Facebook
- Log onto our website: www.grier.org
The Foxes Den
Let's GO Foxes!
by Cherie Gates and Nathan Davis
Grier Sports Fans!
Our varsity winter sports are off to a great start. The Archery, Fencing and Basketball team will be hosting home games and traveling for competition. Our girls have been practicing with great spirit, and their unwavering dedication is amazing. We look forward to cheering them on to victory. Go Foxes!
Varsity Basketball
Tuesday, February 6th - Harmony Area High School Home at 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 8th - Blair County Christian School Away at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, February 9th - Johnstown Christian School Away at 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 14th - Mercersburg Academy Home at 6:00 p.m.
Varsity Fencing
Monday, February 5th - Northern Bedford County Middle/Senior High School Away at 3:00 p.m.
Monday February 19th - Northern Bedford County Middle/Senior High School Home at 4:00 p.m.
Varsity Archery
Saturday, February 10th - Bishop Carroll High School Away
Saturday, February 17th - Line Mountain Jr/Sr HS Away
Saturday, February 24th - OPEN Away
Varsity Riding
Saturday, February 3rd - Hunt Seat IEA
Friday - Sunday, February 16th - 18th - Dressage Zones @ DelVal
Saturday - Sunday, February 24th - 25th - Hunt Seat Regionals
You've Got Mail!
Important Mail and Delivery Information!
Shipping and Postal Mail Updated Address:
ALL packages from UPS, FEDEX, DHL, AMAZON, etc. should
be sent to:
Name
Grier School
4111 Juniata St
Tyrone PA 16686
ALL POSTAL MAIL (letters, cards, packages) should be sent to:
Name
Grier School
2522 Grier School Rd
PO Box 308
Tyrone, PA 16686
Please note: Students are not permitted to order from InstaCart, UberEats, or any food delivery services. This is a safety concern. They are allowed to order from Domino's only on Friday and Saturday evenings for a 6-10 p.m. delivery to 4111 Juniata Street. With our amazing new food service and the extended hours of 1853, there are many options here on campus!
2023 - 2024 Student Handbook
2023 - 2024 Calendar
Important Contacts
Geoffrey Grier, Director
Kara Lawler, Interim Head of School
~ klawler@grier.org, ext. 7006
Cari Crago, Dean of Counseling, Wellness, and Residential Life
~ ccrago@grier.org, ext. 7015
Katt Barr, Dean of Academics
~ kbarr@grier.org, ext. 7057
Erin Guydish-Bucholz, Dean of Students and Belonging
~ eguydish@grier.org, ext. 7056
Anthony Lang, Dean of Faculty
Suzanne Lyke, Director of College Counseling
~slyke@grier.org, ext. 7048
Beth Yoder, Travel Coordinator
~ eyoder@grier.org, ext. 7023
Lindsey Good, Business Director
~ lgood@grier.org, ext. 7008
Angela McLaughlin, Facts Administrator
~ amclaughlin@grier.org , ext. 7019