Gunston Sails through AIMS Accreditation

This past November saw our decennial visit from the AIMS (Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools) Accreditation Visiting Team.

Accreditation is an enormously important process. While Gunston is subject to many Federal and Maryland laws, we are supported by tuition, not government funds. Therefore, as a non-profit organization governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees, we enjoy four unique “freedoms”: 1) freedom to craft our own mission, 2) freedom to determine our admissions and retention guidelines, 3) freedom to determine teacher credentials, and finally, 4) freedom from state textbook and testing mandates, which allows us to determine our own curriculum and academic program. Given these freedoms, we’ve committed ourselves to the mission that we all know and love:

The Gunston School offers an intellectually rigorous, highly personalized, and nurturing college preparatory educational experience. Valuing a healthy balance between mind and body, a strong sense of community, the creative process, and our connection to the Chesapeake Bay, Gunston strives to educate ethically and environmentally minded scholars, citizens, and leaders for our globalized society.

Importantly, however, our institutional and academic freedom does not liberate Gunston from accountability. Rather than being subject to evaluation from a state agency, we commit ourselves to an intensive review process by our state association. The AIMS accreditation process is involved, comprehensive, and highly rigorous. It involves meeting a wide range of high standards and benchmarks across every area of school life.

This decennial process began in 2020 with a two-year comprehensive Self-Study where we evaluated Gunston’s program in the realms of Mission & Values, Governance, Teaching & Learning, School Climate, Counseling, Personnel, Admissions, Finance, Health, and Plant & Operations. We gathered information and data, engaged a wide diversity of constituents, and this past summer, we formally submitted our 181-page report. Every administrator and teacher at Gunston was involved in this process and crafting the selfstudy document.

Our report was carefully reviewed by the AIMS Accreditation staff and our Visiting Team which consisted of five professionals from peer AIMS schools and our Visiting Chair,

Ms. Ereni Malfi, who is the Head of St. Paul’s School for Girls. The report guided the team’s inquiry as they made their intensive three-day visit. While here, they saw every teacher in action, interviewed a range of individuals and groups, and ultimately produced a several dozen page Visiting Team report including a number of commendations and recommendations.

Gunston will now produce an Action Plan to address the team’s feedback, and if this Action Plan meets the criteria of the AIMS Accreditation Committee, they recommend to the AIMS Board of Trustees that Gunston receive re-accreditation for another decade. Then, in five years (in 2027), our Visiting Chair will return to review our progress, and in 2030, we will begin the self-study process once again! While AIMS accreditation does not guarantee that every student will have a perfect experience at Gunston, families can be assured that accreditation by AIMS reflects Gunston’s compliance with association standards and our dedication to continuously strengthen our educational programs and teaching.

It is worth noting that this is the fourth time Mrs. Christie Grabis has internally chaired the AIMS Self-Study for Gunston (perhaps an AIMS school record!), and she guided the process with extraordinary diligence, care and grace. At the end of the visit, Ms. Malfi shared that she and her team “fell in love with the place” and noted “so many wonderful things happening here” with “everyone rowing in the same direction.”

The Gunston Parents’ Association fosters a vital partnership between parents/guardians and the school by promoting open communication, parent education, and community interaction through a multitude of programs and activities. In addition to GPA officers, class representatives provide grade-level support for students and parents and work to welcome new families. Our GPA is passionate about supporting the students, faculty, and staff both on and off campus. Every parent is an automatic member of the GPA and is invited to attend all meetings and participate in discussions. Here are just a few ways the GPA supports the school:

SUMMER/FALL

• Boat Captains for Embarkation and Disembarkation

• New Parent Orientation

• Annual GPA Tailgate/Picnic

• Admissions Ambassadors (welcoming new families)

• Teacher Appreciation Event (Fall)

• Event Support for fundraising events Bull & Oyster Roast and the Heron Hustle 5K (Day-of volunteering with set-up, break down, check-in, etc., soliciting for sponsorships, securing auction items and more!)

WINTER/SPRING

• Teacher Appreciation Event (Spring)

• Event Support for Golfing Fore Gunston

• Career Talks with Students

YEAR-ROUND

• Support for student events such as Homecoming, Spring Formal, and other dances

• Heron Fund Parent Ambassadors (Fundraising)

• Administrative assistance (helping at the front desk, answering phones, stuffing envelopes, creating decorations, writing thank you notes, etc.)

• Event support for smaller events such as Open Mic Nights, Night of the Arts, the annual Gunston Players’ Theatre production, In Celebration of Books, and more.

• Class coverage and substitute teaching

• Athletics (organizing tailgates and snacks, transportation, assisting with coaching and record keeping)

• Professional services including photography, videography and most recently, auctioneer services!

We have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the school year, at school and at home.

Contact GPA Coordinator:

Trish Rudolfs, P’18’20 at trudolfs@gunston.org