|
|
Mission Statement
The Grier School is committed to the philosophy that each of our students should have the opportunity to achieve her individual potential. Our goal is to provide a warm, residential, home-like atmosphere where students from many nations and academic backgrounds gain knowledge, creative expression, responsibility, self-esteem, and leadership skills.
|
 |
Andrew Wilson has been welcoming students to Grier since 1986.
PRIMARY CONTACT FOR CONSULTANTS
Please write to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
if you have any questions or if you would like to inquire about a special interest area that may not be listed on this page. Grier is a boarding school for girls with a very special character. Over the years we have provided a wonderful experience for a wide range of students, including those with mild learning differences. Please note, however, that Grier is not a "therapeutic" or "emotional growth" school. If you feel you have a candidate who may be appropriate for Grier, please contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. We hope that you will make the effort to come for a visit soon!
To download an application click button
Horseback riding is a signature program at Grier
BOARDING
Grier School has 237 full-time boarding students enrolled and 25 day students. The 24 hour, 7 day a week contact for our boarding students is exceedingly valuable at helping students keep focused on their work at school. This round the clock attention helps Grier to address the academic, athletic and artistic needs of the students at all times.
Mrs. Cave with an art class has great natural light in the art building
ALL GIRLS
Grier is an all girls’ school. A very special sisterhood develops among girls in a school and community setting such as ours. Students are supportive of one another and very caring toward others in the community regardless of age or other differences. Ties that are made here last a lifetime.
LEARNING SKILLS PROGRAM
Grier has had a well-developed Learning Skills Program for over thirty years! The three room suite located in the main classroom building is used by three full-time faculty members. Learning Skills Support faculty work with students who need additional support in the following areas:
Tutoring, Outlining
Note taking, Organization
Test preparation, Project presentation
Personalized study strategies
Students enrolled in the Learning Skills Program receive weekly comments every Thursday from their other teachers. These comments are also emailed to parents so that all involved may keep current on the student's progress. Grier's Learning Skills Program has been tremendously successful over the years for students with mild learning differences as well as those who have no learning difference but need a little extra attention to stay motivated.
HONORS AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES
Grier's Honors and A.P. sections include all areas of academics. Students whose performance permits them to take A.P. classes are encouraged to do so. Grier currently offers 16 A.P. classes.
SMALL CLASSES
Grier is committed to keeping classes small. Our classes range in size from a minimum of five per teacher to a maximum of 13 per teacher. Classes in the Learning Skills Program are kept even smaller, usually two students per teacher.
HOUSEMOTHERS
Unlike most boarding schools, Grier does not assign dorm duty to teaching faculty. Our housemothers are mature women who have raised children and like working with teenagers. They are all mothers and/or grandmothers in real life and project that sort of image to their Grier girls. The housemothers work in teams of two, working full-time for three days and three nights each and then switching off for three days of rest. All have their own homes and families to go to during their days off so they are able to remain rested and ready to work at Grier. In total, Grier employs 18 housemothers. When at Grier, their duties include:
-
morning room inspections to make sure rooms are orderly
-
addressing any concerns the girls may have day or night
-
overseeing the evening study hall times
-
keeping the overall dorms atmosphere positive
Looking through spring flowers at Old Main
SHORT MARKING PERIODS
Consultants and agents receive grade reports seven times a year, reflecting the seven marking periods of the school year. This regular contact helps families and consultants remain informed about progress or concerns involving a student.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The school community is very tight-knit and expulsions can be traumatic for all involved. For this reason, a "Home Away from Home" is operated by staff members who live off campus. If a student gets into disciplinary trouble that is substantial, yet not so severe that she must be expelled, then she may be a candidate for the "Home Away from Home." There is a daily fee for this service, but families appreciate the fact that we are going the "extra mile" to keep their daughters enrolled. In this program, the student is able to continue attending classes on a daily basis but essentially lives off campus for a pre-determined length of time. The period of this punishment is determined by the disciplinary committee recommendations.
EASY ACCESS
Grier is easily accessible by car, train and plane. Excellent new highways bring residents of large metropolitan areas to our campus in a few hours. Plane service into nearby University Park Airport in State College, PA is offered by U.S. Airways, Delta and United Airlines. Cities served with direct air service include Washington, Philadelphia and Detroit. Train service is provided by AMTRAK to stations in Tyrone and Huntingdon, PA. MegaBus offers express bus transportation between State College and New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. For students enrolled in Grier, the school also organizes vacation travel coach buses to the Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh International Airport.
COMMUNITY
Grier School fosters a feeling of community that embraces students and faculty. For students who may have low self-esteem prior to arriving, Grier's culture helps to make them feel good about themselves. Our academic program incorporates many different levels of support. Our arts program is all encompassing. Our sports program is inclusive, permitting students to begin and become involved right from the start. Achievements that students make are applauded by the whole school community.
Dance Performance
CONTINUITY
Consultants and agents can be comfortable in the knowledge that the Grier School they place students in today will be the same school tomorrow. Grier's four key administrators share nearly 112 years of experience working at Grier! During the school's 159 years of existence, the faculty has always remained focused on the school's mission of serving young women in academics, athletics and the arts.
WHERE DO GRIER GIRLS COME FROM?
The majority of Grier boarding students come from co-ed public schools or private day schools. A few transfer in from other traditional college prep boarding programs and perhaps one new student each year comes from a home-schooling environment. Regardless of where the students have been, we look for qualities such as kindness, optimism, caring and dedication that will help them to be successful Grier students.
To receive a catalog or more information, please click here to fill out a Preliminary Application.
Click Here to go to top of page
|
ADMISSIONS 
