Events & Happenings

Junior Ring Day | Juniors made the whole school shimmer as they were “bejeweled” with their class rings!

A Talented Crew | The Middle School Talent Show provided no shortage of talent (and fun and giggles)!

AANHPI Potluck | Members of our community celebrated Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a potluck and showcase organized by art teacher Ms. Diane Yu and Soree Kim ’23. The event was a tasty and festive way to honor the contributions and influence of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.

Senior Fun Day | The last day of school for seniors is always filled with sisterhood and fun! The girls continued the traditions of decorating their uniforms with their new colleges and jumping in the pool at the end of the day.

Faculty & Staff Appreciation | The appreciation from our parents is felt throughout the year, but Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week is always a favorite! Parent Council graciously organizes this special week of celebration.

A Festival of Colors | We hosted our very own Holi, a traditional Hindu festival, on Smith Courtyard to celebrate the changing seasons from winter to spring.

Hip-Hop | Ryan Roberts visited campus to teach hip-hop classes for middle- and upper-schoolers!

“1, 2, 3, I am SHE!” | As part of our community partnership, sophomores and seniors visited Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy for a poetry slam. The event, hosted by Rhyme-N-Chatt, encouraged girls to step out of their comfort zones and read aloud their original poetry.

’Tis the Season | The annual GPS | McCallie Young Alumni Holiday Party for the Classes of 2018 through 2022 provided the perfect opportunity for former students to reminisce with faculty and friends.

Giving the Gift of Life | The Health Club partnered with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive at GPS, and students, faculty, and staff, many of whom were first-time donors, signed up to give the lifesaving gift of blood. For her work on the project, Health Club President Kennedy Ball ’23 was awarded a $250 scholarship by the Red Cross.

Class Sweatshirts | One of the perks of being a junior at GPS is having a sweatshirt unique to your class. This year’s official presentation, organized by their Class Leadership Council, included mini cupcakes, lemonade, and photo ops with friends. The adorable design was a collaboration by Sadie Pacenti, Gracie Pritchett, and Lizzie Brown.

Eighth-Grade Celebration | Next stop: Upper School! With friends and family in attendance, our eighth-graders received certificates to signify their successful completion of Middle School.

Sixth-Grade May Celebration | The final Thursday of school for sixth-graders featured an interdisciplinary event with displays and performances to highlight various classes and opportunities they’ve had this year.

NOTHING BRINGS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER LIKE cheering for the same team. When you stand shoulder-to-shoulder or share a bleacher with someone as excited as you about what’s happening on the field or court, nothing else matters in that moment. Together you can celebrate the amazing shots, agonize over the close calls, and share that sense of camaraderie that only happens in athletics.

Sports unite people from all walks of life with varying interests and outside pursuits. This year we provided unique opportunities to come together and cheer on our Bruisers throughout the school year. From fall and spring tailgates on our lower fields to restructuring our booster club with a new name, Bruiser Club, we created a community to better support our girls in all of their athletic pursuits.

Our booster organization was started four years ago and, in that time, we have accomplished a great deal as we raised money to buy a wide range of tools to better support our girls—two new AEDs, a new scoreboard at the stadium, strength equipment for the weight room, and spirit gear for our athletes. We also funded professional development for our coaches.

As we take another step forward with our support organization to increase parent involvement and give everyone more input into some future plans, Bruiser Club offers two separate ways to support GPS Athletics. Sponsors will have the opportunity to advertise with signage, as they have in the past; members can participate in additional social opportunities and have input in helping design and create the best facilities for our girls. Joe Feeney has volunteered to be the first president of Bruiser Club, with a term that will run through the end of the 2023-24 school year. We welcome parents and grandparents who want to be involved in other positions with a goal to have a representative from each of our varsity sports.

We are thankful for the support we receive as we strive to deliver the very best programming for our girls. Earlier this spring, Niche.com ranked GPS as the best high school for female athletes in the Chattanooga area; the rankings include both public and private schools. Statewide, GPS ranked sixth out of 580 total schools, ahead of Harpeth Hall and Hutchison. Four of the five Tennessee schools ahead of GPS were all-boys schools. While rankings like this are not the main goal of what we do, recognition from third-party sources is always reaffirming of our efforts.

Thank you for all of your support of our girls and our coaches. No matter if you are cheering in person or following a game online, it is always an honor to have such great fans on our team and pride in our school.

Go, Bruisers!

Jay Watts, CMAA Director of Athletics