supporting gns
It’s Not Goodbye—It’s See You Soon! As the second of their two daughters graduates, Donja BlokkerDalquist and Doug Dalquist reflect on why they chose Glenlyon Norfolk School Jessica Natale
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ighteen years ago, Doug from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and has and Donja scoured the recently published the first chapter of her online graphic novel, globe for the right school Jamie the Trickster at http://www.webcomicsnation.com/chloe/ for their daughters, Chloe jamie/series.php. Emily will be spending the summer in London, and Emily. “We owed it to our England at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before beginning children to get them the best her acting training at the American Academy of Dramatic Art in possible education,” Donja Los Angeles. “My girls loved going to school,” Donja reflects. “We says. But after searching are so grateful to this school.” in the United States, Naturally, the girls’ inclination to the arts has Doug and Donja Europe, and Australia, excited about the construction of The Hall. “It’s a privilege for me they still hadn’t found the to come onto this campus and hear the kids laughing and singing. right school. Only after I want to support that,” Donja says passionately. Donja, who is revisiting schools in Washington State did Donja notice that serving her last of three terms on the GNS Board of Governors, inconspicuous, little island, poking its nose at Washington. “I expresses that in a community such as GNS, everyone must didn’t know anything about Canada,” she laughs. “I was one of work together to move the school forward. “Somebody at some those Americans that said ‘Canada’s that nice cold place up there point put up money to build these buildings so that my kids could with the nice people.’” But after reading about the plethora of come here. It’s pay back time. I have an obligation to the people independent schools in Victoria in Peterson’s Guide to Private whose kids are coming up.” Although Donja’s girls unfortunately Schools, Doug and Donja decided to make the trip to the Island won’t get to perform in The Hall as students, Donja is confident as a potential home for their young family. they’ll have their chance as alumnae: “My goal for my last term GNS charmed the Dalquist family within moments of walking is to get the shovel in the ground for The Hall…. I’m not free until onto the former Junior Girls campus. Donja reminisces: “The that Hall gets built.” first thing I heard was children laughing. And I heard children singing. And I just knew. I knew, intuitively.” The Dalquists left their home and country and enrolled at GNS. Chloe ’03, and most recently, Emily ’10, thrived at GNS, taking advantage of the many arts opportunities at the school: visual and graphic arts, band, choir, and theatre. Donja reflects that they chose GNS because it fit with their idea of a good education, one that nurtures while also challenging students academically and creatively. “A lot of schools have a bar,” Donja explains, “and they set it really high, and they expect their kids to come up or surpass that bar, whatever that is.” She continues: “What I love about GNS is that they ask ‘Who is this child? Let’s help this child set his or her own bar and make them see they can go further and further.’” The artistic talent of the Blokker-Dalquist girls Emily Blokker-Dalquist pe rforming at Celebrate the Arts in June 2010. flourished at the school. Chloe has just graduated 8
TRADITIONS – Summer 2010
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