GPS eighth graders celebrate moving to Upper School.
The members of the GPS Class of 2019 celebrated with family and friends their last day of Middle School with an eighth grade Celebration on Friday. Individually, members of the class were recognized, a number of students received academic and activity awards, and seven spoke on behalf of their class, reflecting on their experiences in the Middle School.
Retiring PE Department Chair Peggy Michaels said, “We have heard them speak in new languages, heard the swish of their paintbrushes, and heard their shouts of celebration after a hard-fought athletic contest.” In an Invocation, Ms. Michaels, who taught their Changes and Choices classes, said their voices were ones of “respect, faith, and integrity,” and their expressions ones of “kindness.”
Assistant Head and Middle School Principal Elaine Milazzo said to the audience of family and faculty, “We celebrate them for their hard work, growth, and accomplishments and feel pride for them and for the school.”
The nine girls selected to deliver the Class Speech talked of their middle school years as a journey that has given them the confidence, awareness and independence to “walk across the lawn” to the Upper School. They described the camaraderie of friends, relationships with faculty, and the privilege felt to attend GPS. Speaking on behalf of their class were Maddie Humble, Katie Alford, Caitlin O’Brien, Kylie Eiselstein, Maya Bhutwala, Kit Turner and Olivia Combs.
Faculty presented academic and activity awards before the presentation of certificates by Head of School Dr. Autumn A. Graves. A video retrospective of projects, activities, trips, and events enjoyed in the past three years ended the program with laughter and memories. Class officers who led during their last middle school year were Kylie Eiselstein, president; Grace Brody, vice president; Larkin Brown, secretary and Brianna House, treasurer.
Academic award recipients included Maya Bhutwala, Olivia Combs, Kit Turner, Ruchi Patel, Nadia Herrera, Myra Brock, Emerald Frost, Corley Compton, Olivia Evans, Reagan Long, Maddie Gratias, Brianna House and Carson Thatcher.