January Newsletter
Letter from the Interim Head of School
Look at all the Life!
It’s suddenly January and we’ve been waiting for snow. I’ve lived in Pennsylvania for most of my life. It once started snowing here in October or November, but we’ve gone all fall without snow. My nine-year-old daughter has been waiting for it and at the first sign of frost in the morning, she says “Mom, it will snow soon.” Just this morning, we were outside and the sky very gray and the air bitter. Maggie said, “It really feels like snow.” On New Year’s Eve, it was spritzing—just a very fine rain-- and she said, “I think this will turn into snow!” She is optimistic and excitedly awaiting its arrival, but the snow is stubborn and won’t fall from its home in the sky.
When I was just a little girl, I thought the clouds stored the snow and I used to imagine it there, comfortable and unwilling to fall to the ground where, at first, it would be beautiful, then turn ugly with the earth mixed in, and finally melt into the ground, never to be seen again. I enjoyed the snow, but my imagination left me wondering who would want that fate? Why would something want to fall and then melt?
But really, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to see it as something else all-together. Snow falls and covers the earth below. It erases boundaries and makes it hard to see where one person’s property begins and another ends. It covers the ground and allows us all to retreat into our homes for a much-needed rest. Those of us who don’t willingly or easily pause are forced to pause and take reprieve in our homes with our families, snug by our fires and under our blankets. Snow falls, melts, and we watch with wonder (or disgust!). Later, when all the snow clears, we see the first bulbs of spring and all of the new life on its way.
In my years of working with teenagers and in mothering my own two children, I’ve come to see hardship in the same way I’ve seen snow. Our children fall, struggle, mix with the earthiest parts of themselves, and melt into puddles from time to time. There is beauty in all stages of the snow, just as there can be beauty in the struggle, even though that’s so hard to see when our own children are stumbling. But when the prettiest parts of themselves mix with the parts underground--their deep roots-- they find a strength they didn't know they had! They dig deep, just like we do when we are shoveling snow. Their eyes (and ours!) open to what we really do have after the snow melts and after the storm clears: look at all the life! And the new life that comes after a snowstorm—literal or figurative—is well worth the cold days of winter.
I hope you all enjoy this winter and this new year. Here’s to a year of looking at all the life around us and helping our teenagers do the same, no matter how covered it sometimes becomes.
Happy New Year,
Kara Lawler
P.S. Ironically, we are to get a big snow storm this weekend! Be safe on your travels back to Grier School. We'll keep the lights on for you.
General Travel and Attendance Updates
Please Make Note:
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! These procedures are for the safety and security of our students.
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.
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.
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.
Enrollment Updates
With the start of the new year, it's time for reenrollment! Kara Lawler, Interim Head of School and Dean of Enrollment, will be in touch this month about the steps to take in order to reserve your daughter’s spot at Grier for the 24-25 school year.
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 Updates
We are excited to be offering another Spring Break trip we are calling CALIFORNIA PLUS, but we must move fast to reserve spaces. Tours are private and costs will vary depending on number of participants. Estimated cost is $6500. Please reach out to the chaperones, Julie Wright (jwright@grier.org) and Josh Gunter (jgunter@grier.org) with any questions. The trip is subject to maturity and deportment, but it is open to all grades.
CALIFORNIA PLUS
Day 1: Arrive San Francisco/Oakland area
USS Hornet – Sea, Air & Space Museum with STEM program
Day 2: Yosemite National Park
Balance of day at park & hike the Lower Falls Trail
Day 3: Guided tour of San Francisco including Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf
Alcatraz boat tour
Cable car ride & Cable Car Museum
Day 4: Tech Museum of Innovation with science lab and Imax movie
Winchester Mystery House
Day 5: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park trail walk
Monterrey Bay Aquarium
17 Mile Drive (Pebble Beach)
Day 6: Big Sur & Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park trail walk
Hearst Castle Tour (San Simeon)
Morro Bay State Park and Natural History Museum
Day 7: Horseback Ride in Topanga Canyon
Time at Santa Monica Beach & Pier
Day 8: Hollywood Walk of Fame/Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
La Brea Tar Pit
LA Farmer’s Market
The Getty
Broadway Musical – “Chicago”
Day 9: Balance of day at Universal Studios Hollywood
Day 10: Visit Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Diego Zoo
USS Midway
Day 11: Palm Springs Aerial Tram
Mt. Jacinto State Park trail walk
Joshua Tree National Park & Hike
Day 12: Balance of day at Grand Canyon National Park
Bright Angel Trail hike
Day 13: Hoover Dam/Lake Mead
Depart Las Vegas
State college hotel stay until April 1 (additional charge).
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
Academics & Looking Ahead to the New Year
We hope your students are having a restful and enjoyable winter break. We encourage students to take some time and reset themselves from their busy academic schedules. Find joy in the season and with family and friends.
Grades for semester one were posted to MyGrier on Wednesday, December 20th. If you have not reviewed your student’s grades, please take some time to do so this week. If you have trouble logging in to MyGrier, please reach out to kbarr@grier.org or itdept@grier.org for assistance.
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.
College Counseling News from Mrs Lyke:
Please direct college related questions to: Mrs Suzanne Lyke, Director of College Counseling ( slyke@grier.org ).
For Seniors, Parents/Guardians:
- Save the Date: January 7, 2024, and January 13, 2024 – Zoom.
- Topic: FAFSA Workshops via Paul Martin, founder of College Money Method: Live walk-through w/ Q&A.
- Sunday, January 7 at 6pm EST: Registration Link
- Saturday, January 13 at 1pm EST: Registration Link
- Save the Date: January 24, 2024 @ 7pm EST – Zoom.
- Topic: Evaluating Loans and Borrowing for Your College Investment via Paul Martin, founder of College Money Method.
- Target Audience: Seniors, parents/guardians.
- Note: Mrs Lyke will email registration details directly to families.
For Juniors, Parents/Guardians:
- Junior College Classes begin the week of January 15th and will run weekly through mid-May 2024.
- Save the Date: January 24, 2024 @ 7pm EST – Zoom.
- Topic: Evaluating Loans and Borrowing for Your College Investment via Paul Martin, founder of College Money Method.
- Target Audience: Juniors, parents/guardians.
- Note: Mrs Lyke will email registration details directly to families.
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.
- January 13 (sign-up deadline: regular December 22; Late January 3)
- January 20 (sign-up deadline: December 29; Late January 10)
- February 3 (sign-up deadline: Regular January 12; Late January 24)
- February 17 (sign-up deadline: Regular January 19; Late February 7)
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.
1. ACT Weekend Administration (Saturday, February 10th)
- Deadline: January 5th
- Late Deadline: January 19th
- Admission Ticket Due: by January 19th
Teacher Talk
By Mr. Lang
The faculty at Grier hope that all the students and families are enjoying the winter break, getting much needed rest, and recharging their batteries. While the faculty are doing the same, using the time to recuperate, they are also prepping for a busy second semester. From new lab experiments and research papers, to the spring musical and AP test preparation, the Grier teachers will have plenty of exciting things to guide the students through the next few marking periods and into the spring. We are happy everyone is enjoying their break and we are excited to see everyone in 2024, soon after the new year begins!
January Events
by Dr. Guydish Buchholz
Winding up for Winter
Just as in our alma mater, we are looking forward to “The pine trees laden down with snow, In winter’s majesty,” bundling up, and enjoying the glistening that this season brings us. We’ve spent break celebrating friends, family, and holidays near and far, and are looking forward to welcoming our new mid-year students with a New Years’ Celebration. As the season continues, we will partake in as much winter fun as possible such as skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and sledding! We’ll round out our winter adventures with some cozy favorites like movie nights, thrifting trips, and supporting our basketball and archery teams!
Costs are always subject to variation based on transportation cost, student sign ups, and chaperone requirements. Please see the note at the bottom regarding costs for ski trips. There are also possibilities for substitute trips if the weather does not agree for winter activities or if some of the community service opportunities do not get confirmed this month.
Events, Dates & Costs
January 12th
12:15 p.m. Advisor/Advisee Luncheon - Free
2:15 p.m. Green-Gold Event - Free
3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Ski - See Note Below
3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Trader Joe’s & Ulta (9 seats) - $40 charge; Spending Money=$30
January 13th
9:00 a.m. - 11:00a.m. Second Chance Strays, Community Service (6 seats) - $20 charge; $15 Spending Money
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Basketball Booster Club, Community Service (6 seats) - $20 charge; $15 Spending Money
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lunch & Florist Trip Cost (9 seats) - $30
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Toast to the New Year Event at 1853 - Free
7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Public Skate at Galatic Ice - $30 charge; $5 Spending Money
January 14
10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Church Run - Free
12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Walmart - $25 charge; $15 Spending Money
12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Ski - See Note Below
January 15
1:00 p.m. Keepers of the Dream, Women Freedom Fighters - Free
January 18-21
Model UN Trip - Cost TBD
January 19
12:45 p.m. Class Meetings - Free
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Photo Club (Photo Lab) - Free
3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Ski - See Note Below
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Bingo - Free
January 20
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Basketball Booster Club, Community Service (6 seats) - $20 charge; $15 Spending Money
12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Thrifting Trip (9 seats) - $25 charge; $20 Spending Money
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Jr. Social with Kiski in 1853 - $5 charge
January 21
10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Church Run - Free
12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Target - $20 charge; $15 Spending Money
12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Ski - See Note Below
January 26
12:15 p.m. Advisor/Advisee Luncheon - Free
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Dorm Event - Free
2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Mindfulness Retreat (18 seats) - $40
3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Ski - See Note Below
Time TBD Alpha Omega Movie Night
January 27
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Basketball Booster Club, Community Service (6 seats) - $20 Charge; $15 Spending Money
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Climbing Trip (15 seats) - $30 Charge; $15 Spending Money
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. DJ Days Stained Glass Fox Workshop (12-18 seats) - $45
January 28
10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Church Run - Free
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Second Chance Strays* - $20 Charge; $15 Spending Money
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. PSU Women’s Basketball Game (8 seats) - Cost TBD
12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Logan Valley Mall - $30 Charge; $20 Spending Money
12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Ski - See Note Below
*Activities are awaiting confirmation from the business; back up trips include:
-Movie trips
-Logan Valley Mall
-Restaurant trips
-Starbucks & Barnes & Nobles
-Ice Skate at Galactic Ice
Skiing Charges:
$20 for food/beverages
$60 charge/Sunday ski lessons
$48 Rental fee
$40 ski pass if student does not have ski pass
$10 for chaperone & transportation fee
Crago's Corner
By Ms. Crago
I sure hope you are all having a wonderful & magical holiday adventure with all your loved ones! The displays of kindness, thoughtfulness, and love were abounding this past month. It is incredible that another bright new year is upon us, and we’re excited about our students returning (in oh my goodness, this weekend!) as well as our new mid-year arrivals. We LOVE a full house!
Our holiday themed door decorating contest brought out our student’s holiday cheer and their competitiveness to new holly jolly heights. We awarded 10 top prizes this time because our students’ ingenuity and impressive talents just exploded on the halls.
· “Shout outs” to Aysu A, Angelina M, Logan F, Connie I, Pia R, and Cherry on 2nd floor as well as Meaghan D and Gia M for bringing their A game again to North Cottage.
· However, 3rd floor had a whopping six rooms represented in the top 10 with Ava B, Brooklyn H, Mirabelle P, Amber V, Dany S, Grace Z, Triana R, Regina C, Jolene W, Jimena F, Maria A and Vivi B bringing their holiday spirit to life!
· Our faculty truly stepped up their game as well and our own Julie Hanlon won the faculty door decorating prize with Mr. Llewellyn running a close second.
Again, along with our exhilarating dorm activities & dorm wars is the awarding of our coveted trophies to the Dorm/Hall that prevailed in our games, lost the least deportment points, showed consistent kindness and averaged the highest over-all final deportment score. These coveted trophies are awarded at the end of each Marking Period.
We are proud to announce that following a super-duper close race, this MP’s winners are:
· 7-9th grade – 3rd Floor
· 10-12th grades – North Cottage
Congratulations!!
Also rest assured that one of our trophies, after being “eye spied” in a few different dorm rooms is now back in its place of honor in the 3rd floor resident advisors living room…Phew;-)
Dorm updates:
Wishing wonderful things and love to our big-hearted friend, sister, mentor, and hero, Ms. Kimmy Porter, on her new adventures in Colorado. We are so very grateful for your 23 years of faithful service and feel extraordinarily blessed to have had you in all of our lives. Dear friend, we will miss your grace, dedication, friendship, love, and laughter. You will always be a big part of our hearts and forever be a member of our Grier family!
A little added note: “The earth provides us a brand-new beginning every twenty-four hours. It is a repeated invitation to breathe in the cool morning air and start afresh; to mimic the sunrise and brighten up while reaching once more for the sky; to carry a glad song in our heart like the early birds; and, as faithfully as the morning dew, to wash off the dust from yesterday.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich
Happy New Year to ALL!
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!
Basketball
January 12
Columbia County Christian Home 5:00 p.m.
January 15
Blair County Christian School Home 5:00 p.m.
January 22
Great Commission School Away 4:00 p.m.
January 24
Harmony Area High School Away 6:00 p.m.
January 25
Mercersburg Academy Away 5:30 p.m.
Riding
December 31 - January 15
World Equestrian Center, Winter Spectacular, Ocala, FL
January 20 - 21
IEA Dressage
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, College Counseling Director
~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