The Grapevine - Summer 2022

Head of School

Jonathan Brand

Director of Admissions & Marketing

Angie Olds

Director of Development & Communications

India Hill ’01

2021-2022 Board of Trustees

Maggie Bullard ’93, Chair

Page Sullenberger, Vice-Chair

Aiden Burke ’84, Secretary

Pete York, Treasurer

Lawrence Altaffer ’96

Khalid Athar

Pat Barnhardt

Grayson Butterfield ’84

Kem Courtenay ’68

Yancey Ford

Betty Long

Russ Rabb

John Reynolds

Marty Van Santvoord

Trustee Emeritus:

Katharine McBride

V.R. Shackelford III

Anne Ueltschi

Grymes Memorial School

PO Box 1160

13775 Spicers Mill Road

Orange, VA 22960

What’s

Inside

Page 02

Message from the Head of School

Pages 03 - 10

Highlights & Happenings

Pages 11 - 16

Farewell, Class of 2022

Pages 18 - 20

Always Remain Resilient

Ayana Braxton-Thurston ’10

Pages 21 - 22

Writer’s Eye Winners

Pages 23 - 24

Grants for Grymes

Pages 25 - 33

Alumni Updates

Page 34

Grymes is turning 75!

Pages 35-36

Faculty Professional Development

Editors

India Hill, Jonathan Brand

Design

Kevin Bowles

On the Cover

Ayana Braxton-Thurston ’10

Pages 37-38

Planning for a New Arts and Athletics Center

Pages 39-41

In Memoriam

The Grapevine is published annually by Grymes Memorial School.

Message from the Head of School

Dear Alumni and Friends,

It is with great excitement and anticipation that we are preparing to celebrate a momentous moment in the life of Grymes: our 75th anniversary.

Founded in 1947, Grymes stands out for its exceptional legacy of nurturing, challenging, and inspiring three generations – and counting! – of students in Central Virginia. Today joyful learning at Grymes takes many forms and shapes, and it is remarkable how, even with the important reformulations over the decades, the School’s mission and values remain ever new and strong. Our four pillars – honor, respect, responsibility, and kindness – are timeless. They serve to hold our community together and provide a touchstone for our graduates for the rest of their lives.

We could not be more proud of the many people who can call Grymes their alma mater! From the first graduating class in 1958 to our most recent graduates in 2022, Grymes alumni have been given the gift of a foundational education, one that prepares students for lives of purpose and service to others. As you will read in these pages – including the Young Alumni Day speech by featured alumna Ayana BraxtonThurston – our wonderful combination of academic rigor, exploration, creativity, and joy-infused learning and growing has opened new worlds to our students and alumni, and they are making the most of the opportunities before them.

Amid the joys and successes to celebrate, we also recognize the sorrows. The recent passing of Virginius R. Shackelford III is a heavy loss for our school community. As he was affectionately known by his friends and family, Shack graduated from Grymes in 1960 with the first class that started in kindergarten and went through eighth grade. A lifelong friend and advocate for Grymes, Shack loyally served the School over many years, and we are pleased that our Distinguished Service Award is now named in his honor.

Shack’s life and friendship are reminders that strong relationships have always been at the heart of Grymes. Over the next year, we intend to celebrate not just seventy-five years of a remarkable institution, but also the many people who have contributed to establishing, building, and ensuring that Grymes will continue to serve families far into the future.

Our teachers, students, administrators, parents, alumni, trustees, donors, and friends are the people who have written the Grymes story, and we look forward to sharing it with you. We hope you will visit our campus in 2022-2023 and celebrate with us.

Go Grizzlies!

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Brand Head of School

Another school year came and went in the blink of an eye!

2021-2022 presented challenges that we overcame and created memories that we will never forget.

The pandemic was still upon us, but we were fortunate enough to welcome family and friends onto campus and through our doors. Class plays were back on stage, Declamations had an audience again, GrandFriend’s Day was well attended (in-person!), and student smiles shone brightly!

Thank you to everyone who supported us through it all. It was a memorable year! Here are some photo highlights.

Musician, songwriter, and Artistic Director/Founder of Kid Pan Alley, Paul Reisler worked remotely with Mrs. Stakem and our students in grades 1-6 to write and record original songs. When they were finished, we enjoyed a concert debuting these fun and unique songs!

HIGHLIGHTS & HAPPENINGS

HIGHLIGHTS & HAPPENINGS

HIGHLIGHTS & HAPPENINGS

SPRING FUNDRAISER EVENT

FAREWELL & WARM WISHES!

Class of 2022: (L to R) Jackson Bell, Oliver Murr, Landon Yauger, Mason Tallman, Claire Hulsey, Alaine Sisk, Grayson Cooley, Alex Montas, Michael Brand, Thomas Dale, Russell Rabb, Mrs. Handelsman

“Grymes has strapped on our rocket boosters and now it’s time to be pushed out of the nest.”

~ Landon Yauger, Salutatorian

Landon Yauger, Salutatorian

Claire Hulsey, Valedictorian

Mrs. Carolyn Herndon was not only our graduation speaker, but the Class of 2022 was her first Kindergarten class at Grymes.

Per tradition, the graduating class ringing the bell to announce the end of their Grymes career as a student.

SLC Co-Presidents, Claire and Russell, did a great job in their leadership roles!

SPEECH EXCERPTS

"...And that’s the thing about Grymes that is truly special. It’s the relationships you forge which last long after you leave. Anybody who is part of this school will tell you that. The small class size pays off in dividends. The privilege of knowing everyone creates a very close-knit community, and this is something we often take for granted. Being seen is equally important. The relationships between teachers and students at this school result in each member of the class feeling valued as an individual. Our school in the hills has delivered these benefits to us in spades.

"As I look back, another thing I appreciate is the inclusive nature of this community. Nearly half our class has joined in upper school, yet it feels like all of us have always been here. It doesn’t matter if you arrived in JK or seventh grade, you are an accepted and important member of the community in your own right. Truly — and I think I speak for all of my classmates when I say this — the most terrifying part about even the thought of moving on, is losing this feeling of being at home. Grymes is our home, in a way. I feel like that’s something that decades of past graduates have echoed — but that’s because it’s so true. And you don’t really realize that until you’re faced with the thought of leaving. And the truth is — it’s okay to be scared. I’ve realized that. It’s normal. If you don’t feel scared or nervous once in a while then you’re probably not challenging yourself or taking a chance. I can assure you— we are ready. Grymes has strapped on our rocket boosters and now it’s time to be pushed out of the nest."

~ Landon Yauger, Salutatorian

"...We have learned so much over the years. However, Grymes doesn’t just teach us academics. We need look no further than our four pillars: respect, responsibility, kindness, and honor. These qualities are the cornerstone of our education and will form our future foundations no matter where we go.

"...Now, to the Class of 2022: First, I want to say thank you for eight incredible years. My best memories here are with you all. Our class is made up of dancers, athletes, cowboys, scholars, class clowns, and more. We have a wonderful dynamic and I will definitely miss it next year

"Tonight, I would like to extend a challenge to you: pack up everything that we have learned here, and take it with you to high school. But, don’t expect too much. Your Spanish teacher probably won’t let you sporadically dance. And your history teacher won’t call you “the best and brightest central Virginia has to offer.” Your science teacher will not drink coffee when they need to relax. Your English teacher won’t protect the class couch as much as Mrs. Yauger does, and your math teacher definitely won’t sass you as much as Mrs. Roche.

"But, just because high school is a different physical place, with different people, doesn’t mean Grymes isn’t still with us, in spirit. If we just bring a sliver of Grymes with us everywhere we go, we can make our next experience even better. And I know that just like other challenges we’ve overcome, we will prevail, whether we are together or apart.

"In conclusion, I have one last message to everyone in this room and this wonderful community that we have called home during our childhood. On behalf of the Class of 2022, we thank you. We are grateful for you. We love you. And don’t worry, we will be back."

Claire Hulsey, Valedictorian

~

THE FINAL

DANCE

The Palm Leaf Boogie - the final dance with the 7th and 8th grade - was a blast!

A PASSING OF THE BATON

Thank you and best wishes, India!

Over the past four years, India Hill ’01 served as Director of Development and Communications, but that title only partially captures her many roles and impact on Grymes.

During her tenure, India directed two galas, oversaw the Fund for Grymes, and contributed invaluable work to the preparations for our upcoming capital campaign and 75th-anniversary celebration. She strengthened and revived relationships with alumni across the generations. She produced splendid editions of The Grapevine and Grymes Times each year, and she launched tri-annual alumni e-newsletters.

A proud Grizzly alumna herself, India came to the position with a deep and abiding love for the school, its traditions, and the many people who have shaped it over the decades. She particularly enjoyed capturing students on film. Reliving special Grymes events and traditions from a

Welcome, Ashley!

We are pleased to announce that Ashley Jacobs will take on the role of Director of Development starting in the upcoming school year.

A longtime resident of Orange, Ashley has worked in public administration since earning her degree from James Madison University. For three years, she served as Town Manager for Grottoes, a town in Augusta and Rockingham counties. Among her accomplishments in this role, she directed the transfer and operation for Grand Caverns Park, a National Natural Landmark, to the Town of Grottoes and served as Executive Director along with taking on marketing responsibilities. She also oversaw numerous town projects and secured significant grants for a river bank restoration project, and she planned and implemented several existing events in addition to creating new ones.

different perspective gave her even more appreciation for her own experience as a Grymes student.

India also loved working with students as a Student Leadership Council sponsor, planning and overseeing favorite events with the Social Committee and initiating new ones, including the Family Outdoor Movie Night and the Follow the Yellow Brick Road fundraiser this past spring. The talent shows that India directed in 2019 and 2020 are now part of Grymes lore for their fun-filled acts and community spirit. India’s devotion to Grymes came through in all that she did.

India, we will miss you as you move on to new endeavors, and we will always be grateful for your inspired service and continued commitment to the school you love so much!

For the past eleven years, Ashley has held several different public service positions in Orange County, including Chief Deputy Clerk, Assistant to the County Administrator, and Grant/ Program Coordinator. In these roles, her work has ranged from budget creation and oversight to communications, reporting, presentations, project management, and grant writing and oversight. She has been particularly successful in securing grants for the Orange County Office on Youth and has been instrumental in initiating new programs for local youth.

Ashley is married and lives with her husband and three children in Orange. She brings considerable personal qualities, talents, and experience to her new position, and we look forward to the contributions she will make in helping us to advance the Grymes mission.

Welcome to Grymes, Ashley!

ALWAYS REMAIN RESILIANT AYANA BRAXTON-THURSTON ’10

Alumni Day comes around every year just before Thanksgiving, and it is tradition to have an alumni guest speaker. The hard part about this is not finding an accomplished alumnus with a story to tell; it’s deciding which one to invite to the podium, because in its 75 years of existence Grymes has launched so many students into the real world only to see them succeed. Success comes in many forms. It’s not just about the big, fancy career you have or the money you make or the places you’ve been. Success can be about conquering fears, overcoming challenges, and finding happiness in yourself. As an institution, Grymes not only wants to provide rigorous academic programs to prepare our students for high school and college, we want to build character with an emphasis on the four pillars: Responsibility, Respect, Honor, and Kindness. And we want to introduce students to lifelong friendships and memorable experiences.

This past Alumni Day 2021, I invited Ayana BraxtonThurston ’10 to the podium to tell her story of the role Grymes has played in her life. Ayana’s message was genuine, fitting, and inspiring. I invite you to read it yourself.

– India Hill ’01

Alumni Day 2021 Speech

Good afternoon, my name is Ayana BraxtonThurston and Grymes gave me my first set of “boxing gloves.” Now, you’re probably wondering why I’m talking about fighting so much and it’s been less than a minute, but I promise if you follow me throughout this, it will all make sense. My journey at Grymes wasn’t typical, I came here in 6th grade with absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. Let’s walk through my first three days at Grymes.

The first part of my day goes by pretty smooth, but I do notice that I am being sent home with a tremendous amount of homework. We get to the last period of the day. Spanish. Senora Laub comes in and starts speaking in….Spanish. I have absolutely no idea what she is saying. I start looking around the classroom because at this point I’m sure that this is a joke…. It’s not. Everyone begins opening their notebooks so I follow suit. They are taking notes so do I……Ayana Braxton…….. September 1, 2007….Espanol………Senora Laub.

By the end of class, I’m certain that Grymes is just not the school for me. Once I get home I am a complete mess. I’m talking full on crying with hyperventilation. My parents are offering solutions but at this point the only solution I’m entertaining is to return back to the local public school system in which I am familiar.

Life will sometimes feel like a never-ending fight. The punches, jabs, and hooks will come in the form of challenges, obstacles, and failures. Yet if you stay in the ring and learn from those past fights, at the end of each round, you’ll still be standing. continued on next page

continued from previous page verbs on the weekends. I learned and memorized concepts such as the alphabet in Spanish.

The next morning, my mom walks me back into Grymes and we have a meeting with Dr. Work to let her know about my first day and that this just may not be the right fit for me. Dr. Work is adamant that I should stay and although my mom is sure that I should stay as well, she tells Dr. Work that I am responsible enough to make my own decisions.

So needless to say, I went to Prospect Heights Middle School the following day and had an amazing time until I went to Pre-Algebra. The teacher gave the entire class a worksheet to complete and I finished mine first. After reviewing my worksheet, she accused me of cheating. I assured her that I had not cheated and that I already learned this coursework at Grymes two days prior. After that incident which was an attack on my character, I felt uneasy. It’s one thing to feel defeated academically but it’s another when your ethics are being questioned.

So after ONE day at Prospect Heights, I went home and told my parents that I wanted to go back to Grymes and face the challenges that I tried to run away from.

As the late General Colin Powell once said, “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” So each day, I came home and worked hard to catch up to my peers. I made flashcards and studied them until I fell asleep. I conjugated

And by 7th grade year, I was placed in the advanced Spanish class here. I had a sense of pride after working hard and remaining resilient throughout my first year taking Spanish. The real irony of all of this is that in college I minored in Spanish and served as a Cultural Ambassador for international students specifically those from Spanish-speaking countries. Soooooo as you can tell I came a long way from my first day of Spanish at Grymes.

After I graduated from Grymes in 2010, I attended Orange County High School and was accepted into the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School program that they offered. As I began my courses there, I realized that Grymes had definitely given me the upper hand in public speaking, course work, and how to effectively communicate with my teachers.

Now, I’m sure at this point it has been a reoccurring theme to each of you that Grymes has prepared us all for High School but I am here to say that Grymes actually laid down the foundation for my entire life. Allow me to explain this briefly.

As my years at high school came to a close and I embarked on my journey as a first generation college student, it was Grymes that I had to thank for what I had become. When I started at VCU, I knew in order to get the best out of my experience that I had get involved. I quickly became a key leader on the campus which required skills that I know I wouldn’t have possessed if it weren’t for Grymes.

As time passed, I knew that I wanted to join a sorority but like many of the things I wanted to accomplish in life such as attending college, I would be the first to embark on it in my family. And although I come from a very supportive family,

Ayana and her husband, Matthew Thurston.

many of the barriers I broke came with struggles that I knew I had to face alone.

So after extensively researching all of the different councils and what each sorority represented, I decided to start attending events for Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated at the start of my Junior year. They made it clear at the first event that they wanted all prospective members to practice discretion throughout the entire process and that they were looking only for the best of the best. They wanted your grades, your leadership, and your community service to showcase that you were worthy of being a woman of Sigma. After that event, I knew that if I wanted to do this it was going to take focus and dedication.

At the time, I was taking 20 credits that semester, working part-time, serving in multiple leadership capacities on campus, and interning with Congressman McEachin. So once again I used my boxing gloves that Grymes gave me and faced the challenge. It was a long junior year for me, there were nights where I would call my parents and my husband who was my boyfriend at the time and just cry. And there was absolutely nothing they could do to help me. However, much like my experience with Spanish at Grymes, I knew that if I continued to work hard and remained resilient that I would persevere.

On March 25, 2017 at 7:22pm, I became a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated at a showcase in which I revealed myself and announced the name in which I was given by my chapter – Opulent Resilience.

Not only did I successfully join my sorority, but I made straight A’s that semester, continued to fulfill my duties in my leadership roles, internship, and work. After accomplishing all of this and being given a line name of that significance, I knew that there was absolutely nothing that I would encounter in life that I wouldn’t be able to achieve.

Let’s fast forward again…. after I graduated from VCU, it took me approximately a month to receive an offer at my current government job. I went through an extensive hiring process and wasn’t sure if I was qualified or not because one requirement was to have 5 years of experience in which I had 0.

On my first day, my supervisor let me know that they favored me over the other candidates despite their level of experience because I was able to elaborate

on multiple experiences that demonstrated my resiliency throughout my interviews. At that moment, I wanted to call Grymes, specifically Ms. Bost and thank her for teaching me the importance of being confident and strong whether it was in my speech at Declamation Day or a role in a play.

Now as many folks begin to retire within my department at work, my supervisor urged me once again earlier this year to apply to the Master of Public Administration program at Virginia Tech. He had been doing so since I started at my job, but I didn’t find much interest in it. I already had enough on my plate with working full time, taking courses for my masters at Liberty online, and staying involved in my community. But at the beginning of this year, I decided to stop making excuses and apply. After I received my acceptance at the end of April, I began my courses in July.

My courses have been much more writing intensive in this program, and it has certainly been challenging to balance everything. There are times when I feel like quitting, but I always remind myself that I am not a quitter and think back to my first day of Spanish at Grymes. I currently hold a 4.0 in the program and haven’t had to pay one dime for my education at Virginia Tech.

I share all of this with you all to say, that you have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to have received an education from Grymes Memorial School. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been here since Pre-K or 7th grade, you are guaranteed to have learned a valuable lesson that will stay with you for the rest of your life. That being said, I would like to leave you with a task as I close and you all get ready for graduation this Spring. I want each of you to take time and reflect on one experience you’ve had at Grymes that has taught you something significant about yourself. I want you to really analyze that situation whether privately or with someone of your choosing and I want you to define that lesson in three words or less. After you’ve completed this, I want you to remember those words each time you encounter a challenge in life.

I want to thank all of the staff and faculty at Grymes for gifting me my first set of “boxing gloves.” The skills I learned such as the one I learned in the boxing ring…..I mean Spanish class prepared me for experiences that I never could have endured without attending such a school as this. Happy Thanksgiving and Go Grizzlies!

WRITER’S EYE WINNERS

Congratulations to our two Writer’s Eye 2022 winners. Each piece was inspired by pre-selected art pieces at the Fralin Art Museum in Charlottesville, VA.

India Hill ’01 won 1st Honorable Mention in Adult Poetry.

Chase Bullard ’23 (son of Maggie Rice Bullard ’93) won 1st place in Grades 6-8 Poetry.

IT IS A HUGE HONOR TO WIN A WRITER’S EYE AWARD!

The Cold

By India Hill

Sally Mann

Virginia, Untitled (Virginia Kudzu)

The cold seeped through my layers as I stumbled. The vines reaching for me begging me to succumb to rest to give up.

The caw of a crow breaks the silence like glass. Just a little further. But the vines I can’t see through the vines. Night blankets me and I rest.

Strum

By Chase Bullard

*inspired by Robert Reed’s Scanch Branch

Hours upon hours. Strings dig into my calloused fingers. My teacher’s instructions cut through my dreams.

“Not the A string, the G string!”

“Remember, this is your biggest performance yet.” Then darkness.

I open my eyes to the creak of the curtains opening. Light spills onto the wooden stage. Performance jitters course through my body, roots curl into knots deep in my stomach. I take a breath and strum, letting out all the emotion trapped inside me, like air let go from an over-inflated balloon. Immediately, all my worries melt away. My fingers move methodically from string to string and notes emerge, like baby birds taking flight from their nest. Three minutes later, the last note leaves my fingers. Relief.

I bow, and the sound of a thousand elephants rockets out from the crowd. Pure joy courses through my body, forcing my lips into a huge smile. The baby birds have flown the nest.

GRANTS FOR GRYMES

Did you know? Grymes Memorial School was the recipient of two grants this year from Virginia Commission for the Arts, which provided our students the fantastic opportunity to learn the arts through work with professional artists. See how we took advantage of these unique experiences . . .

The Hole Story of Grymes Fairy Tale City

Virginia Commission for the Arts Teaching Artist Lucinda McDermott visited campus several times to work with 7th-grade students in drama class. Alongside Mrs. Yauger and Mrs. Stakem, Lucinda helped them collaborate to produce a “fractured fairytale” which they presented as their class play in the fall. The play was such a hit that they performed it again in the spring on the outdoor stage!

A special thank you to the Virginia Commission for the Arts for providing the opportunity to work with Teaching Artist Lucinda McDermott during the play’s creation. What an incredible experience for all!

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

“Lord, what fools these mortals be” (Puck, Act 3, Scene 2)

At the end of the school year, 8th grade students shared a wonderful performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, inspiring ripples of laughter from even our youngest learners. Bravo to all performers!

We extend a very special THANK YOU to Virginia Commission for the Arts Teaching Artist Khaleshia ThorpePrice for her collaboration, inspiration, and coaching, and to Mrs. Stakem and Mrs. Yauger for leading the production.

More Grants for Grymes

We’ve also been fortunate enough to receive two Dollar General Literacy Grants! The first one we used to purchase a Lexia subscription for 3 years. Lexia provides exercises for our students who are struggling with reading.

The second grant we received is a Dollar General Summer Literacy Grant which enables us to offer 3 one-week camps to the families of our students who work with Julie Call, our reading specialist, during the school year at no additional cost to the families.

We’re super excited about these literacy grants to support our readers! Thank you, Dollar General!

Alumni Spotlight

Tommy ’17 and Robbie ’19 Handelsman - Tommy is a rising sophomore at Suffolk University in Boston, MA where he plays soccer. Robbie is a rising senior at Woodberry Forest School and recently became an AllAmerican with a third-place finish in the long jump at the New Balance Indoor Nationals. Robbie has also been selected as a Senior Prefect at Woodberry!

Jack Bryant ’08

Jack Bryant ’08 - Jack is a police officer in Orange County, VA and recently got married. Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bryant!

Allison Kenyon ’11 - I recently graduated from Longwood University in 2020 with my Bachelor’s Degree, and have been working in the marketing industry for the past year. I am now in pursuit of being a double Lancer with my MBA in Marketing – finishing up in 2022!

Allison Kenyon ’11

Susan Strange ’60 - Susan recently hosted a Grymes classmate, Dixie Cassell, who flew up from Texas for a visit. Susan and Dixie reconnected through Facebook in 2010 and have had many visits together since! Dixie lives in Tuscola, Texas, with her sister and niece.

Susan Strange ’60 and Dixie Cassell ’60

Robbie ’19 and Tommy Handelsman ’17

Warren Parker ’99 - Warren Parker is the founder of the label WarHen Records in Charlottesville, which has released records by a number of prominent Richmond area artists including Butcher Brown and Saw Black. This past March, WarHen Records turned ten years old! Davy Jones, a reporter for Style Weekly, recently wrote an article on Warren and stated, “Even before he ran a label, Parker was busy boosting musical signals. He worked at Charlottesville’s Jefferson Theater for seven years, from the venue’s grand reopening in 2009 until the spring of 2016. Before that, for seven of the eight semesters he attended Guilford College in Greensboro, he was a DJ for the school’s radio station, WQFS. He’s lent his production management expertise to nearby festivals, crewed Hiss Golden Messenger tours and driven a van full of Amos Lee’s gear and merch. If a job involves staging or slinging music, there’s a good chance he’s held it.”

Amanda Dale ’20 - Amanda is a rising junior at Highland School. This past fall she was asked to be a student speaker for prospective student night. A talented soccer player, Amanda and fellow GMS alumna and soccer standout Madeleine Siebel ‘20 helped the Highland girls’ soccer team win the state championship this year!

Warren Parker ’99

Amanda Dale ’20

Amanda with her Highland Soccer teammates. Also in this photo (far right) is Madeleine Siebel ’20. Great job, Amanda and Madeleine!

Former Grymes Grizzlies and now Woodberry Tigers came to cheer on current Grymes students at the boys’ basketball game! L to R, Will Leahy, Toby Warmack, Parker Giles, Joseph Blundin, Aidan Stakem, and Parker Tallman.

Rick Weaver ’14 - Rick won the 2022 Heavyweight NCWA National Championship in collegiate wrestling! Mira, his sister, was able to convince him to visit the second-grade classroom at Grymes while she was student-teaching with us.

Mira Weaver ’14 - Mira joined the Grymes team this year as a Student Teacher in the second grade with Mrs. Slater. We loved having Mira back! Mira was also nominated as a Teacher of Promise Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education Interdisciplinary Studies: Social Science Cognate, and she recently earned her license to teach in the state of Virginia. She is thrilled to have accepted a teaching position in the Albemarle County Public School System as a secondgrade teacher!

Rick Weaver ’14

Mira with our second grade teacher at Grymes, Melissa Slater

Mira Weaver ’14

William Bryant ’14 graduated from James Madison University with a major in psychology and a minor in Spanish translation/interpretation this past spring. William was the president of the Paintball Club and competed against other teams in the surrounding states. His plan now is to take a couple of years off to be a counselor in schools before heading back for a Ph.D. in an undecided field of psychology.

At the 2022 Virginia FFA (Future Farms of America) State Convention in Blacksburg VA, Seth Wilbanks ’19 received a plaque for being the Central Area Winner for Tractor Troubleshooting and helped his entire team place third in the state. Orange FFA representatives included Seth Wilbanks in the Ag Mechanics SR Team, and Kailey Woodcock ’20, in the Hippology contest.

Ben Hulsey ’18 - Ben recently graduated from Woodberry Forest School as a Senior Prefect. At Woodberry’s Commencement ceremony, Ben received the highest reward given to a Woodberry studentArcher Christian Memorial Medal: Presented to the sixth-form boy who has distinguished himself in terms of character,leadership,and athletic achievement.The award honors Archer Christian,WFS Class of 1909, who lost his life playing football at the University of Virginia in November 1909. Ben will attend Washington & Lee University in the fall.

Ben Hulsey ’18

William Bryant ’14

Ben with his father, Byron Hulsey, Head of Woodberry Forest School

Seth Wilbanks and Kailey Woodcock ’20

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Drew Stancill. Drew ’04 married his girlfriend, Taylor, this year in Wake Forest, NC. Congratulations Drew and Taylor!

Among Drew’s groomsmen were GMS grads Cassidy ’04 and Tyler ’06 Houston.

Drew Stancill ’04

Rachael ’11 - got married on May 14th at the Clifton in Charlottesville, VA. Her sister and Maid of Honor, Leah ’15, stood by her side on the big day.

Kelly Hunnicut (former student) with her husband, Tyler, and their son.

On a lifesaving path . . .

By Sasha Kondakov ’19 July 21, 2021

Sasha Kondalkov ’19 - Over the last couple of years, I have developed a keen interest in a future career in medicine, so this summer I sought out opportunities to expose myself to hands-on experience in a medical practice setting. One aspect of medical practice I did not think of was emergency medicine until I came across the possibility to go on a “ride-along” with the Emergency Medical Service team at the Prince William County Fire & Rescue in Dale City, VA. Essentially, a ridealong is a way for someone like me to be close to the forefront of action with the EMS team for the entire day and learn about the profession.

On the day of my ride-along, I arrived at the Fire Department not knowing what to expect. The fire department captain conducted a brief training with me, handed me a vest, a hard hat, and a badge, and the wait for the first call began. We did not have to wait long until the call siren started blaring, and there was a rush for the EMS crew I was assigned to for the day to hurry to their ambulance.

Amazingly, I discovered that there is so much more to emergency medicine than I could have ever imagined— from the excitement of getting a call to the adrenaline

flooding my body as we sped down the highway: sirens blaring and lights flashing to the relief as you stabilize a patient before getting to the hospital. Back at the fire station, the emotions continued to be in overdrive as I sat anticipating another call and imagining what the next case could be — I was so drawn in that I never wanted to leave the station. For me, as someone who wants to pursue a career in medicine, this was an extremely educational experience, and it allowed me to see a different aspect of life and medicine that we may not think about. It allowed me to see first-hand the real problems and suffering of people who rely on Emergency Medical Services professionals to save their lives, and the silent look of gratitude and relief on their faces, as our crew finished their work with these patients.

This experience encouraged me to start training for an EMT certification this year so that I will be able to pursue a deeper experience with this side of emergency medicine next summer. I highly recommend to anyone interested in pursuing any career path in medicine to actively seek out opportunities to ride along with, or volunteer at their local fire department! I can almost guarantee a transformational experience, and that you will be as enchanted with it as I was. I have the deepest gratitude to the PW Fire & Rescue crew for providing these special opportunities to people like me, recognizing how much work and responsibility this adds to their daily jobs.

Sasha Kondakov ‘19

- A rising junior

Larissa

Friends School,

is attending the Pre-College Program in American History sponsored by the National Institute of American History & Democracy at the College of William & Mary over three weeks this summer. Larissa will take a collegelevel American History class for which she will receive college credit, and she will visit many historic sites throughout Virginia while residing on the campus of William & Mary. She is very excited about this wonderful opportunity. Larissa and her family credit the majority of her academic accomplishments to her time spent at Grymes learning in a fast-paced, rigorous environment that has set her up well for high school academics.

Grymes Grizzlies at Woodberry Forest Formal. L to R Josie Shields ’19, Robbie Handelsman ’19, Landon Ellis (former student), Sarah Sherman ’18, Aidan Stakem ’19, Ally Keating ’18, and Hugh Wiley ’19.

Jared Thalwitz ’12, Wyatt Alexander ’12, and Spencer Goodwin ’12 meet up in Charlottesville while Wyatt was home for a wedding. Wyatt currently works for a financial firm in Alabama.

Landon Ellis, Robbie Handelsman ’19, Hugh Wiley ’19, Aidan Stakem ’19

Foster ’20

at Tandem

Larissa

Larissa Foster ’20

Taylor Williams ’11 and Tyler Houston ’06 reunite at a Woodberry Forest School reunion.

Best buds Sophie Scibal ’21 and Gigi Wiley ’21 played a soccer game against one another!

Members of the Class of 2019 gather at Alumni Day at Grymes! L to R, Gregoire Gasparini, Charlotte Gupton, Jordan Spencer, Avery Deigl, Aidan Stakem, Robbie Handelsman, and Maggie Johnson.

Lael Neale ’01 - Lael is a successful singer-songwriter signed by Sub Pop. She is making albums and touring all over the world sharing her music!

Lael Neale ’01

Sterling Hill ’99 and Mac Sullivan ’00 meet up briefly in Austin, TX, where Mac lives while Sterling was on a work trip. Here they are sharing photos of their latest adventures.

Sterling Hill ’99 with his wife, Amanda, and their new baby, Solveig. Sterling and Amanda live in Portland, OR.

Weatherford Thomson ’97 - “I live in Mersch Luxembourg with my wife and daughter. I work as a writer, translator, and editor for a marketing company. Before moving to Europe I taught five years in the Middle East. I now have the BA in American Politics, the Cambridge CELTA and most recently achieved 39 of 42 credits toward the MA in Applied Linguistics. Remembering Grymes, I particularly value Mrs. Miller’s lessons on Dictionary Use, Mrs. Reimers’ teaching of Vocabulary, Mr. Sellers’ intro to Etymology, and the joy of working in Mrs. Holladay’s art classroom.”

Toby Van Santwood ’93, Darcy Rice ’85, Maggie Rice Bullard ’93, Lawrence Altaffer ’96, and India Hill ’01, enjoyed time together during a blluegrass concert at Lawrence’s family estate in Warsaw. Also in the photo is Toby’s wife, Jenn, and Grymes parent, and teacher Tricia Tallman.

Ally Keating ’18, Nia Dowling ’18, Aidan Stakem ’19, and Robbie Handelsman ’19 studied in Ecuador with Woodberry Forest School’s Galapagos summer program.

Avery Deigl ’19 is a student at Chatham Hall and plays goalkeeper on the varsity soccer team. In May, Avery was leading the entire state – both private and public schools – in saves with 102 through 10 matches!

Sophie Scibal ’21 and Ally ’18 and Caroline ’20 Keating also started on the varsity soccer team at Chatham Hall. Go Turtles!

Avery Deigl ’19, Sophie Scibal ’21, Ally ’18 and Caroline ’20 Keating

Cassidy ’04 (left) and Tyler Houston ’06 (right) at Brian Hong’s ’04 (center) wedding in Colorado.

Happy Birthday, Grymes!

Beginning this fall, Grymes will celebrate its 75th year of serving families in Central Virginia!

From our school’s humble beginnings in the home of Mrs. Grymes to its growth and development on our beautiful forty-two acre campus over the decades, Grymes has a remarkable history. Our mission to nurture character, build thinkers, cultivate creativity, foster community, and launch learners has inspired generations of students, and it is as timeless as our motto “Virtus et Litterae” (Character and Learning). We look forward to the festivities that will bring our school community together for this special anniversary.

We will kick off the celebrations with a Fall Family Carnival in October. A special 75th birthday party will be held in December, and our bi-annual Gala & Auction party promises to be a culminating celebratory event in the spring. Throughout the school year, we will incorporate the history of Grymes in our academic program and include fun activities highlighting important parts of the Grymes legacy. Guest speakers with ties to Grymes, a commemorative coffee table book on our history, and a montage video of moments throughout our seventy-five years will also be part of the celebration.

Keep an eye out for our exclusive 75th Grymes T-shirt and announcements with more details about the upcoming festivities!

Teaching and Learning: A Grymes Tradition

The joyful learning that our students experience each day begins with the knowledge, skills, creativity, and continual learning of our teachers. This faculty learning is evident from the books they read, their conversations with colleagues, and their insatiable appetites for personal and professional growth.

Last summer, our Lower School teachers pursued professional development to better implement our new reading and math curricula.

Ashlyn Ryder and Emily Aylor attended Developing Roots training in July to support Kindergarten math. This training showed our teachers what a properly organized classroom looks like and how it maximizes efficiency and positively impacts students. The training began with a focus on the first content area of number and how it develops. Our teachers learned the deeply researched methods of building concepts, checking for student understanding, and how to revisit ideas that students may not initially grasp. They learned how to support a child who struggles to keep up and how we assess that student and the entire classroom so that long-term goals are met by building a student’s knowledge and skills in a carefully constructed manner.

Julie Call and Ashlyn Ryder completed IMSE Comprehensive Training. The Comprehensive Training provides participants with an in-depth understanding of IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham methodology over the course of 30 hours. This course is a more traditional OG approach that focuses primarily on phonological awareness and phonics (along with encoding/decoding). Julie and Ashlyn learned how to teach fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension using the OG philosophy of multi-sensory, sequential, direct instruction.

Julie Fithian participated in Responsive Classroom training. Responsive Classroom is an evidencebased approach to teaching that is deeply rooted in social-emotional learning and focused on engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmental awareness. It is built on creating safe and joyful learning communities where every student can thrive while helping students develop strong social, emotional, and academic skills. Key features of the training included the following: using interactive learning structures, organizing classroom space for optimal learning, and building academic choice into lessons.

Great

teachers

never stop learning.

At Grymes, the learning never stops.

“IMSE has changed my whole perspective on teaching. I have switched from guided reading to a multisensory, structured literacy approach. I am able to tailor my lessons to the individual student.”

~ Julie Call, Reading Specialist

“One of my goals as a homeroom teacher is to nurture my students not only academically, but also emotionally. Responsive Classroom provides teachers with evidence based teaching techniques that are age and developmentally appropriate. Taking this course helped me to hone my discipline skills while also encouraging development of a joyful, interactive, and emotionally engaging classroom. I would highly recommend it to first time teachers and all teachers looking to better serve their students, especially in a post-COVID era.”

~Julie Fithian, 6th Grade Homeroom and Upper School Science

Ashlyn Ryder with her 21-22 Kindergarten class.

Julie Call teaching a reading lesson.

Mrs. Aylor teaching her JK students about letters.

Julie Fithian conducting a class on our beautiful campus.

A Plan for a New Arts & Athletics Center

For years Grymes has considered building a new gym. It is an idea whose time has come!

Addressing numerous pressing needs, our concept plan for a new Arts & Athletics Center features a full gymnasium, renovations to our existing gym and theater, and a spacious lobby connecting the two spaces.

The impact of this new facility will be immediate and significant. There will be adequate space for our daily P.E. classes. Our basketball teams will have a regulation-size court for practices and home games. We will have seating for all guests at our Christmas Concert, Grand Friends’ Day, Awards Day, and other special events. Our theater and assembly space will better accommodate our Declamation Days, Class Plays, and weekly assemblies. We will be able to offer more robust summer camps and better partner with local organizations.

What’s the next step? Our Buildings & Grounds Committee has begun planning with our architect, general contractor, and civil engineer on the pre-construction phase of this project. Stay tuned for more updates in the fall!

ShackShackelfordwasabelovedmemberofmany communities. Grymes was fortunate to be one of them. It all started with Shack’s mother, who is a founding member of the school. He graduated from Grymes in 1960, and later served multiple terms as Chairman of the Board He was an EmeritusTrusteeuntilhisdeathonMay14,2022.

At our commencement ceremony this spring, Maggie Rice Bullard ’93, Board Chair and close friend of Shack and his family, helped us remember and honor him. We were glad that his sister Kem Courtenay ’68 and wife, Jane were abletojoinus.

Our condolences go out to the family members of the following:

Virginius Randolph Shackelford III

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, it is my honor and privilege to present the School’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Award, in memory of Virginius Randolph Shackelford III, known fondly to all of us as “Shack.” This award is given by the board in recognition of extraordinary service to Grymes Memorial School.

Shack began his lifelong love of learning in preschool at the home of Mrs. Emily Grymes. A leader in the Orange community and a great advocate for education, Shack’s mother—Carroll Kem Shackelford—encouraged Mrs. Grymes to start her own school. In 1947, 75 years ago, Carroll helped establish Grymes Memorial School and went on to serve for ten years on the Board of Trustees.

Shack and his fellow classmates were schooled in Mrs. Grymes’ home for 1st and 2nd grade. For 3rd and 4th grades, they moved across the street to rooms above the firehouse. When Shack was in 5th grade, his mother, Carroll, and father, Virginius R.Shackelford Jr., were successful in securing a donation of land, upon which this beautiful campus now sits, and in breaking ground on the first building. Shack graduated from Grymes in 1960, the very first class of students to attend Grymes from kindergarten through 8th grade—a “lifer” as we affectionately call it today. One of eight graduating students, Shack was awarded the Tyler Award, Merrick Athletic Award, and Bowman Latin Award at Graduation—awards that he cherished, and which signaled his many academic and professional achievements to come.

After graduating from Grymes, Shack went on to attend Woodberry Forest School, followed by Princeton University, where he graduated cum laude. He served as an officer in the U. S. Navy and received his law degree from The University

report for this list was finalized on July 12, 2022. We sincerely apologize in advance if we missed one of your loved ones. Please let us know and we will update our database.

of Virginia Law School in 1974. Beginning in 1976, Shack returned to the area to practice law in Orange and Culpeper, and he was also the first County Attorney appointed by Madison County and served in this role for more than 40 years.

Shack felt very strongly that it was his Grymes education that set him up to be successful in life. He loved seeing other children have the same experience. As his sister Kem shared, Shack often said “it all started at Grymes”. Thus, when Shack returned to the area, he sought to give back to the school that had given him so much. Hence, his long volunteer association with Grymes began. He served as the school’s attorney on a pro bono basis for many years. He also served on the Board of Trustees for twelve years – from 1983 through 1995—serving as Chairman of the Board for eight of those years. As a Grymes lifer myself and graduate of the class of 1993, I keenly remember Mr. Shackelford’s wide grin and hearty handshake as he handed me my diploma on this very stage almost thirty years ago.

During his long tenure on the Board, Shack helped to navigate the School through both good and challenging times and, notably, led the head of school search in 1984 that brought us Mr. Bill Carrington, who served as beloved headmaster for thirteen years. Working with Bill, Shack was also instrumental in starting the School’s endowment – a testament to his long-term vision for Grymes. Shack was a constant on the Grymes campus throughout these years, attending countless school events and cheering on Grymes students at sporting events, Declamation Days, class plays, graduations, and fundraisers. In addition, as a friend of Shack’s and fellow board member recently shared, “Shack always insisted on some

visible improvement to the school over the summer, no matter how small, perhaps just some new painting, to give parents the idea that we were moving ahead, and believe me, some fresh paint was a big deal in those days.” He went on to say that “Overall, however, [Shack’s] major contributions were his love and belief in the school, thoughtful leadership, and a steady hand at the tiller.”

It is through these steady hands and faithful stewardship of life-long supporters like Shack that Grymes is thriving today and moving full steam ahead. As his wife, Jane, shared with me, during his years as an Emeritus Trustee and until very recently, Shack diligently followed along with the School’s many successes, reading every board document down to the meeting minutes. Grymes made him proud. With a sizeable endowment, healthy enrollment, a vibrant curriculum and outstanding faculty, and a supportive community of parents, alumni, and many other supporters, Grymes continues to do what it has always done best – nurture and develop students like those graduating today who, like Shack, will go into the world with the solid foundation from which to achieve great things, leading with the strong character, humility, and honesty that distinguishes Grymes students. Shack embodied these ideals, encompassed today by the Grymes four pillars— Honor, Respect, Responsibility, and Kindness—and made us proud.

As Grymes rounds the corner to the 75th anniversary of the School’s founding, stronger than ever before, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to place the Distinguished Service Award in Shack’s name. We are pleased to announce that henceforth the award will be known as the Virginius R. Shackelford III Distinguished Service Award, to honor a legacy of exceptional leadership, dedication to, and love for the School, which took root in Mrs. Grymes’ classroom and flourished over a lifetime of service and accomplishment.

Jane, I hope you’ll join me in accepting this award on behalf of Shack. We know that you, too, have been a loyal and supportive champion of Grymes, and we wish to convey our humble appreciation to you for your encouragement and shared love for this school over so many years. We are so honored you could be here with us today.

Shack (bottom right) with friends at a birthday party circa 1958.

Lee D. Kane (1938 - 2021)

Lee D. Kane Major, USMC (ret.) and former P.E. Teacher and Coach at Grymes, died peacefully on September 27, 2021, in the company of his wife and daughters. He was 83 years old.

Lee grew up in Ohio and after college became a coach and teacher. He was deployed to Vietnam as a Tank Commander and Anti-Tank Company Commander assigned to the Third Marine Division where he fought in battles during the 1968 major Tet offensive, including the famous battle at Dai Do. His position at retirement was Battalion Commander, Security Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA.

Lee’s personal decorations include Navy Commendation Medal with Combat ”V”, two Purple Heart Medals, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Achievement Medal, Viet Nam Combat Action ribbon, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Not only was he a devoted marine, coach, father, grandfather, husband, and friend, but he was also an expert woodworker. Kanewood Custom Designs closed after 40 years of milling and drying lumber, and creating customer designs. His signature piece was a Civil War field desk.

Lee left a lasting impression on the Grymes community when he retired from his Athletic Director and Coach position after 17 years. As a teacher he had a special gift of being authoritative, yet nurturing. He will forever be remembered fondly in the hearts of his students.

One of his former students, Weatherford Thomson ’97, reminisces on his time at Grymes with Mr. Kane.

“I studied 8 years with Mr. Lee Kane who enjoyed competition of all types: kickball, dodgeball, soccer, basketball, trivia-- even a game called Skokie named for the town in Illinois. When Mr. Kane left for the 1989-90 academic year, we

did not expect to see him again as the joy of PE decreased sharply. When we were told of Mr. Kane’s upcoming September return in the Spring of ‘90, the announcement was met with a thunderous standing ovation from tiny 1st and 2nd graders.

Mr. Kane wanted the students to win “The Presidential” fitness award, so even the walkers became runners as he kept precise records on the clipboard. Mr. Kane had a memorable voice. He once spoke of his pick up truck, saying “29 years I’ve had it” with a gleam in the eyes. Mr. Kane was a man’s man who needed no microphone as he’d command 160 young students to unify in calisthenics by military formation.

Mr. Kane was a vestige of something increasingly rare and valuable. Mr. Kane told stories of the lion as predator, of football players studying ballet and how 80 percent of winning teams were the one with better warm-up discipline. Mr. Kane recommended running on the beach during vacation for the benefit of underdeveloped lower-leg muscles. It has since been rare to see sand without remembering Mr. Kane.

Thanks to his leadership, integrity and courage, Mr. Kane looked more elegant in sweatpants and sweatshirt than most men do in suits. Mr. Kane had no tolerance for hands in pockets, for mumbling or for untied shoelaces. Mr. Kane was sincere, forgiving, discerning and a good listener. Mr. Kane was a genuine Catholic from the Midwest and impossible to forget.” Weatherford Thomson ‘97

Class of 2022

Where are they off to?

Jackson Bell - Highland School

Michael Brand - The Summit Academy

Grayson Cooley - Woodberry Forest School

Thomas Dale - Highland School

Claire Hulsey - St. Andrew’s School

Alex Montas - Woodberry Forest School

Oliver Murr - Louisa County High School, Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School

Russell Rabb - Asheville School

Alaine Sisk - Chatham Hall

Mason Tallman - Woodberry Forest School

Landon Yauger - Miller School of Albemarle

We are proud of our Grymes alumni! Share your awards, accomplishments, or simply fun news with us anytime!

Grizzlies - Keep in Touch!

Share YOUR story with us. Send YOUR updates to development@grymesschool.org or DM the Grymes instagram account @grymesmemorialschool.