This article was provided by Garrison Forest School.
Tucked away in picturesque Greenspring Valley but conveniently located off of Reisterstown Road, Garrison Forest School (GFS) has been providing a high quality educational experience for more than 110 years. GFS offers an all-girls’ program in grades K-12, with a co-ed Preschool and a boarding program for grades 8-12.
As they search for the right-fit school for their child, many parents discover that Garrison Forest School offers a supportive community, enriching academics and caring environment where their child can thrive. Here are just some of the reasons Garrison Forest School might be right place for your family:
1. A Holistic Approach to Healthy Students
In fall 2024, Garrison Forest School will officially open the Boyce Center for Learning and Thriving, a hub that unites the school’s academic, counseling and health resources. Its core areas of focus are academic support, growth and enrichment and wellness and wellbeing, with a mission to provide holistic support for each student to learn, grow and thrive. Recognizing the vital connection between a student’s overall wellness and their academic success is a key factor in designing a robust, intentional way to support all students. Along with serving as the link between academic success, emotional/social well-being and physical health, the Boyce Center provides comprehensive learning support and guidance around academic enrichment opportunities for all students; tools and resources to instill and hone important “soft skills” like communication, public speaking, collaboration, and empathy that will serve all students now and in the future; and guidance and support to build resiliency, proactive wellness, and long-term well-being.
2. Space to Explore
Students find plenty of room to explore and learn on GFS’s 110-acre campus. Tree-lined walkways provide a scenic backdrop, while younger students have fun, tend a garden, play music or conduct scientific observations in the outdoor classroom space. The campus pond can be a place for scientific research, sketching or just reflecting. Throughout the divisions, environmental stewardship is an important piece of the educational philosophy.
3. Financial Literacy in the Lower School
Since 2015, the unique Financial Literacy curriculum in the Lower School has taught students the importance of becoming financially competent and confident. The program includes presentations by banking professionals, authors and financial experts; learning about the stock market and participating in the Stock Market Game, where teams of students are given $100,000 virtual dollars to invest in the stock market, then track their portfolios throughout the year; and even an on-campus branch of M&T Bank with Fourth Graders serving as tellers as they learn more about the banking industry.
4. Signature Programs in Middle School
The Middle School at Garrison Forest School provides opportunities for students to explore and expand their interests, develop leadership and critical thinking skills and gain a better understanding of the community around them. Each grade, from 6th through 8th, follows an immersive curriculum built around exploration and growing their skills in a supportive environment. Two flagship initiatives are the Women of Impact Speaker Series for 7th grade and the Aspiring Leaders Program. Women of Impact brings GFS alumnae to campus to share their career journeys, as students learn more about what it means to be a leader in various fields and industries. Students reflect on their own leadership styles and think about how they can be a part of positive changes in their community. Aspiring Leaders Program participants develop and practice leadership skills and learn from other leaders in and around our community, with a focus on service. Other key programs include: Project Innovate, which challenges 7th graders to identify issues, conduct research, devise innovative solutions and deliver their findings in a “Shark Tank”-style presentation to a panel of administrators and Capstone, a semester-long course that empowers 8th graders to explore their passions through personal reflection and intentional, in-depth research.
5. Research Projects Transcend the Classroom
Across divisions, students engage in meaningful research that goes beyond the classroom. Upper Schoolers can participate in:
● The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program, a long-standing partnership between Garrison Forest School and Johns Hopkins University during which students work in hands-on research settings at Johns Hopkins University.
● ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering), a collaborative program that asks students to complete a mock design project that mirrors real-world design challenges, including working with a professional partner.
● The Gateway Scholars Program, an immersive learning program which provides unique opportunities for students with a special interest in Global Citizenship, STEM or Visual Art and Design to craft a distinct curricular and co-curricular path
In the Middle School, students can investigate topics of interest to them through a year-long independent research project. And, in the Lower School, students build a strong base for independent inquiry through interdisciplinary projects that bring in aspects of art, music, history and more, and culminates in a presentation that helps students build confidence in their public speaking skills.
6. Welcoming Global Community
The Residential Life program at GFS welcomes students from the US and around the world to live on campus. The boarding experience is fully integrated into the school’s educational philosophy, with a strong program that prioritizes character development, global competency and wellness. Supported by a caring network of faculty who also live on campus, boarding students gain independence and confidence as they learn about and from one another. Weekly programming doesn’t end at shopping trips and fun outings (although those are offered as well!); as boarders, students participate in a residential curriculum that continues their personal growth and offers unique leadership opportunities. Living and leading in the residence halls is an unparalleled way to not only develop a sense of self, but gain many of the soft skills needed in life.
7. Reaching New Heights with Riding and Polo
Garrison Forest School provides a wide range of equestrian options, including robust riding and polo programs. The Garrison Forest Riding Program is designed to provide riders of all ages and levels a place to grow their skills and confidence. From Lower Schoolers learning the basics to our riding teams who compete at the highest levels nationally, our caring and skilled faculty are dedicated to providing a safe, fun, challenging and rewarding experience for every rider. In addition, Garrison Forest is the only girls’ school in the United States to offer Polo. Since the late 1970’s, when GFS’s polo program was founded, GFS teams have been playing against coed and all-male teams across the country. This fast-paced game puts skill, riding, strategy and teamwork to the test.
8. Fun Foundations in Coed Preschool
In the Preschool at Garrison Forest, the youngest students develop a love of learning through hands-on activities and exploration of the campus. The Preschool program focuses on the cognitive, social, physical and emotional development of each child in a joyful environment. With programs for ages two through PreKindergarten, the GFS preschool provides a strong beginning for every child to grow into a compassionate, confident learner and leader!
Learn more about the full Garrison Forest School experience at gfs.org. Or, plan a visit at gfs.org/visit.
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