BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

As girls move through the adolescent stage of development and begin to become who they are and who they want to be, they need opportunities— to explore interests and passions, try new things, meet others beyond their inner-circles and community, and venture to new places.

At GPS, through a robust cocurricular program including clubs, after-school enrichment, Winterim, and more, girls have abundant opportunities to do just that.

» Improve students’ academic performance and engagement in learning » Provide girls with opportunities for growth in areas and skills outside the classroom » Introduce them to possible career paths, leadership, and philanthropy » Strengthen the relationships between students and cultivate the spirit of sisterhood » Build meaningful connections with other adults and students beyond our community » Showcase the talents of our girls

While the school day will certainly be full, we recognize that Middle School girls have many different passions, skills, and abilities beyond our diverse curriculum. Therefore, we created a program to cultivate those interests through our After-School Enrichment Programs. Middle School girls have the opportunity to partake in the following programs: » Art Club » Motion Makers » Bruisers Power Hour » Homework Help Club (Strength Training) » Robotics Team » Math Team » Yoga » Middle School National History Day » Young Authors Writing Club » Middle School Science Olympiad *No additional cost to families.

Once a week, girls participate in a club elective of their choice. The wide variety of club offerings allows our girls to explore additional interests and passions outside of their daily Middle School courses.

SAMPLE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL CLUBS: » Art Club » Ball Club » Book Club » Card Sharks » Christian Forum » Cursive Writing » Cooking Club » Dance Club » Entrepreneurship Club » Environmental Club » Fellowship of Christian Athletes » Games Club » Girls Who Code » Improv Club » Kindness Club » Music Masterclass » River Girls (partnership and mentorship with Upper School

Tucker River Fellows girls) » Shark Tank » Stock Market Club » And MORE! In Upper School, the list of clubs grows and becomes more tailored to specific interests, passions, possible areas of study, or career paths.

Each February, our Middle School girls participate in a highly anticipated week of learning and bonding outside the classroom. Winterim offers each girl the opportunity to engage in activities she might not otherwise be able to explore during the school year. Each four-day experience is carefully crafted by the Middle School faculty to encompass both experiential learning opportunities tied to the curriculum and time to have fun and build relationships with classmates.

Sixth Grade: An in-town adventure to engage the heart, body, and mind with our local community while strengthening the bonds of sisterhood. Destinations and Activities Included: » Create tessellations (tiles with geometric shapes) at a local pottery studio and learn how they connect to both math and global cultures » Explore Rising Fawn Gardens for hiking, yoga, sampling native winter plants » Visit the Creative Discovery Museum and its exhibits Seventh Grade: Exploring the magic of Nashville—a city full of music, history, culture, and fun! Destinations and Activities Included: » Complete a Design-Thinking Challenge based on the Science Olympiad

Sound of Music contest » Tour of the replica of the Greek Parthenon and Vanderbilt

University campus » See a show at the Grand Ole Opry and visit the Country Music Hall of Fame,

Frist Museum, the State Capitol Building, and the Tennessee State Capitol

Building Eighth Grade: A four-day tour of cities of the South—Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Birmingham. Destinations and Activities Included: » Tour of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and the African American Museum » Visit Zoo Atlanta, The World of Coca-Cola, The Center for Puppetry Arts » Visit The 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park, The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, McWane Science Center and Museum In Upper School, Winterim offerings include a long list of local as well as domestic and international travel opportunities designed by faculty to pique students’ interests and expose them to career-oriented or cultural experiences that can prove to be life-changing. During the week, an Upper School girl might discover her ability to steer a dogsled, navigate a remote trail, dye fabric with plants, or swim with sharks. She might venture to a faraway place where the culture, language, and food are much different from her own. She might hone her test-taking or interviewing skills or learn to drive. Sometimes a potential career path takes root, a new college option is added to her list, or a quiet time of introspection resets her mind and allows her to return to the classroom with a renewed sense of purpose.

» Stay Local: Career exploration (mentoring and shadowing opportunities with local professionals including several

GPS alumnae), film camp, and workshop in creating a successful business and entrepreneurial endeavor » Hit the Road | Domestic: White

Stallion Dude Ranch in Arizona,

Dogsledding in Minnesota, college tours, NASA University (a five-day mathematics and engineering mission at Johnson

Space Center in Houston), senior trip to Disney World » Hit the Road | International: India,

Japan, Costa Rica, Chile, Belize » and more!

“Winterim trips give us the extended opportunity to travel and visit institutions or take part in cultural experiences that enhance our current curriculum. We know that girls learn best when they experience something together, discuss it in the moment, and share their thoughts and process their ideas with their peers and their teachers. Most importantly, our girls continue to build the sisterhood that is so important to them and to our community as a whole.”

Girls need to see it to be it! Each fall our Middle School students spend a day visiting and shadowing local businesses to learn about various careers and life paths. From urban farming to medical professions, startups, adventure and tourism, and more, these careers come to life and become more real as our girls gain early exposure to a few of the unlimited possibilities for their futures.

At GPS, every leadership position is held by a girl. Even in Middle School, students learn to lead classroom discussions, small group projects, and in clubs or student organizations. Here, leadership of all kinds is cultivated and encouraged in our students.

We strongly believe that our students should be engaged members and leaders of their communities—today and throughout their lives. That mindset is fostered through myriad service opportunities at GPS that allow girls to realize the importance of being part of something bigger than themselves. Throughout the year, our girls support Partnerships in the Community by baking desserts for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House, making dog toys for local shelters, or raising money through a coin drive to purchase meals for those in need. Then on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, they join our entire community—teachers and students—to work together on projects throughout the city.

Not only do we teach girls about relationships in their middle school Skills classes, but we also plan and implement trips and activities so she can learn to relate to her peers outside the classroom setting. Middle School students are often excited and a bit anxious about starting a new school year. New teachers. New coursework. New expectations. Our Middle School overnight camp retreats allow girls to build and strengthen their bonds with each other and their teachers. Being away from school and participating in fun—and sometimes challenging— activities designed to foster team building and connection is a great way to begin each year. These adventures help to create a cohesive class spirit, promote character development, and encourage middle-schoolers to form friendships with the girls who will be their GPS sisters for life. As much as we believe in the importance of an all-girls education and employ the research supporting singlesex classrooms, we recognize the benefit of helping our girls gain the ability to communicate well and establish healthy relationships with their male peers. Our coordinate program with the all-boys McCallie School allows both our students and theirs to reap the benefits of a single-sex education while still having an abundant number of ways to interact, work side-by-side, and make lasting friendships. EVENTS » Sixth-Grade Riverwalk » Game Nights » Football Tailgates » Lake Parties » Dances » Field Day » Concerts » Talent Shows

PERFORMANCES » Fall Musical » Instrumental Music

Concerts » Choral Concerts,

Coordinate Choir » Spring Play

We firmly believe the credit for your girl’s success does not rest solely with her GPS experience. As her parents or guardians, you have laid the foundation for her to go far in school and in life. Every action and interaction she experiences at our school builds upon what she’s learned at home and at her elementary school. While teaching methods continue to evolve over time, one predictor of academic success remains constant: family engagement. Ongoing research by the National Education Association (NEA.org) confirms that family engagement in their child’s school improves their academic achievement, reduces absenteeism, and restores your confidence in their educational journey. As a result, she earns higher grades and test scores, has better social skills, and exhibits better behavior than her classmates with no parental involvement. To better partner with you during her time at GPS, we offer many opportunities for you to connect with other parents, communicate with her teachers, learn from experts in girl development, and support your daughter through fun and engaging school activities. We even celebrate her grandparents with a special day devoted to them on campus each year. You are always welcome on campus, and we encourage you to take an active role in her education at GPS. We will regularly host special speakers who are experts in girl development who also meet with our faculty and staff to ensure we stay abreast of the most recent research related to girls.

Daughters and Donuts Sixth-Grade Mother/Daughter Tea

» DR. LISA DAMOUR, Executive

Director of Laurel School’s Center for Research on Girls in Ohio and author of two New York Timesbestselling books: Untangled:

Guiding Teenage Girls Through the

Seven Transitions into Adulthood and Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls.

Cofounder of the Gurian Institute (Spokane, Washington), and author of several books including The

Wonder of Girls and Boys and Girls

Learn Differently! » DR. ELI LEBOWITZ, from Yale

Child Study Center, an expert on the development, neurobiology, and treatment of anxiety and related disorders

» KATIE MCPHERSON, Executive

Director of the Gurian Institute and expert presenter on the effects of social media on girls » ROSALIND WISEMAN, author of Queen Bees and Wannabes and national expert on creating

Cultures of Dignity

RECOMMENDED READING The books authored by our special guest speakers as well as:

The Confidence Code and The Confidence Code for Girls by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

Why Gender Matters and Girls on the Edge by Dr. Leonard Sax

by Dr. Devorah Heitner