News Archive

We thank our families and alumnae for the support shown in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. If you have the resources to support education this year, please consider making a gift to Grier. Every gift to Grier is appreciated, no matter the amount. Your gift signifies your confidence and support of Grier and dedication to the education and empowerment of young women.

To those who have already given a gift to Grier this year, we thank you most sincerely.

Give a Gift Today

On November 18, Dr. Burke and Mrs. Brubaker took twelve students to St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania for their Annual STEAM Day. These students are planning on going into STEAM fields such as the medical field and engineering. Students chose three sessions from an array of courses that introduced them to a variety of science and technology careers.

Sara Herron, Grier class of 2018, was inducted into the 2022 Sheetz Fellows program on November 6. Established by Steve and Nancy Sheetz of Altoona, PA, the Sheetz Fellows program fosters creativity, community, and entrepreneurship with the aim of developing strong business leaders in the Altoona area.

Hear ye, hear ye! The Spring Musical will be Ella Enchanted: the Musical! This exciting new musical tells the story of Ella of Frell who is given the ‘”gift” of obedience by Lucinda, her misguided Fairy Godmother, and is forced to do anything people command her. On her adventure to rid herself of the curse, she must outwit ogres, sidestep giants, befriend a prince, survive her step-family, and ultimately find the power to be her true self.

In a letter to parents sent yesterday, Mrs. Borst revealed the exciting news that Grier is offering two options for students wishing to remain with Grier during Spring Break. Students who opt out of returning home to family during Spring Break 2022 can chose from a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida or a hotel homestay in downtown State College, Pennsylvania.

The cast and crew of Grier’s fall play, have been working diligently since late September to have a performance-ready production of Love, Loss, and What I Wore by Nora and Delia Ephron, based on the book by Ilene Beckerman. With just a few more rehearsals this week, opening night has nearly arrived! 

For her role in the latest campaign from luxury UK fashion house Burberry, Grier graduate Charlotte Samaroo ‘13 is literally dancing on air. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Charlotte spent her high school years dancing with Grier’s pre-professional program under the direction of Grier Dance Director Joci Hrzic.  

Some of the dates and times of Grier events taking place this month through the end of the semester have changed. Please be aware of the following days and times for special events! Note that the midterm exam for period 7 is held before the exams for periods 5 & 6.

Families are welcome to attend our performances! Per Grier Covid-19 safety protocols, audience members must wear masks while inside Grier buildings regardless of vaccination status.

On Friday, November 5, 2021, Grier Head of School Mrs. Gina Borst shared an update about Grier Summer Camp 2022 with families.  In her letter, she conveys the difficult decision to cancel the 2022 Grier Summer Camp based on the latest information from all relevant local, state, and national authorities regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  

Mrs. Borst noted that during this time, camp faculty continue to plan and develop exciting experiences for the campers once Grier Summer can resume operation.

Second only to the cherished events of graduation weekend, Halloween is a highly anticipated and much-loved celebration during the Grier school year. From the pumpkin carving, abundance of candy, hayrides, decorations, and costumes, to campus trick-or-treating, spooky movies, and haunted houses, Halloween is a convivial time for the Grier community. For some Grier students, this is their first time celebrating this holiday with such fervor.

As the colorful leaves swirl outside, Grier’s College Counseling department is bustling with activity this fall. In addition to meeting one-on-one with students, Director of College Counseling Mrs. Suzanne Lyke has organized a multitude of virtual college visits, a series of financial aid workshops, and leads weekly workshops.

Students in the Garden Club took time out of their busy schedules to cultivate their love of plants and to breathe in the moment for their first project of the year.  It's been proven that working with plants and surrounding ourselves with their greenery improves our mental well-being and relieves stress. There’s nothing like the feel of dirt on your hands and the satisfaction of watching something you propagated thrive and flourish!

In a recent letter to families, Head of School Mrs. Gina Borst shared the recent appointment by the Board of Trustees of Mr. Geoffrey Grier as Director of Grier School.

While many Grier students arrived on campus a few weeks ago to participate in our Enrichment Programs in Dance, Riding, College Prep, and ISOP, the rest of our in-person students arrived on campus last week for a fun-filled opening weekend before starting the 2021-22 school year.

Grier College Counselor Mrs. Suzanne Lyke would like to invite parents and students to attend a free webinar about applying for college financial aid and paying for higher education. The 90 minute web-based program is hosted by Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) and takes place on September 29, 2021, at 6:00pm EDT (NY, GMT-04:00).

Grier girls have returned to campus for Enrichment Programs. These programs begin before the academic year officially starts, allowing the students to return to campus in small groups, forge connections, develop skills, and have a blast!

Our amazing English teacher and NHS advisor Dr. Erin Guydish-Buchholz, aka Dr. Gb, had works published in three separate books in April. Her diverse contributions range from how to provide students with meaningful education during the pandemic, how teaching practices from the Food Network can be modeled in classrooms, and the value of critical consumption of popular culture. 

Congratulations, Dr. Gb, on such a feat!

Grier's computer and robotics teacher Ms. Carol Deremer was recently recognized as a "Woman of Distinction" by Delta Kappa Gamma, an educational, professional organization for women educators!

We are so proud of our riding program today and always! Our middle school team finished as National Champions and our high school team finished 4th at the IEA Western Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas!

Anleigh A. won the Crossover High Point award for the rider accumulating the most points across all three National Finals. Olivia M. won an Individual Championship, and Mary T. and Lavinia C. won Individual Reserve Championship. 

On Friday, April 9, 2021, Grier Class of 2019 graduate Noah L. gave a virtual presentation on Brain-Computer Interface to neurobiology teacher Dr. Nancy Burke and a group of Grier students interested in pursing careers related to medicine, neuroscience, and biology.

A entry in the Encyclopedia of Neuroscience defines a brain-computer interface (BCI), as "a system that measures activity of the central nervous system (CNS) and converts it into artificial output that replaces, restores, enhances, supplements, or improves natural CNS output, and thereby changes the ongoing interactions between the CNS and its external or internal environment."

Following the annual tradition, Mrs. Zimbler sold ceramic bowls in the Dining Hall in May to raise funds for a charity close to home. Ceramics students, pottery club members, and Mrs. Zimbler constructed the bowls using hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques. Students and Mrs. Zimbler finished the pieces with assorted glazes to make them oven, microwave, dishwasher, and food safe!

On Wednesday morning, May 19, 2021, Grier seniors enjoyed a special breakfast on Mrs. Borst's lawn.  The delectable spread included a variety of breakfast sandwiches and pastries catered by local eatery Bakeshop Bakes. Director of Development Mrs. Harriet Grier and Grier School Director Mr. Grier encouraged these seniors to remain connected to Grier in years to come and highlighted some of the strengths of Grier's alumnae network.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, May 18, 2021, the Grier student body convened to elect Student Council officers for the 2021-2022 school year. New this year, the candidates ran on tickets, which each of the four offices represented on a single ticket.  Each of the three groups introduced themselves and gave a short speech before the students submitted their vote via paper ballot. 

Traditionally, Grier invites families to attend a special evening of dance and music performances prior to the cherished Candlelight ceremony the evening before the Commencement Ceremony. To preserve the health and safety of the Grier community through the end of the school year, these events were recorded days before the 2021 Commencement Ceremony.

Congratulations to the dancers, musicians, and vocalists on your accomplishments this year. You all make performing with masks look fabulous! You gave us fantastic performances, despite limited rehearsals and challenges of Covid-19. You really demonstrated hard work and commitment to your art and we appreciate the joy and emotion you have shared with us through your music and movement.

On Friday, May 14, 2021, Video and Broadcasting teacher Mr. Bryan Beckel led a special awards ceremony for the dedicated crew behind Grier TV.  He assembled an entertaining presentation featuring lost and damaged equipment, farewells, and awards. 

Mr. Beckel honored senior "Busy" Lizzie P. with the Margaret Booth Award for her dedication to deadlines and for generating over 50% of Grier TV weekly content.  Next, Mr. Beckel honored senior Kirsten "The Boss" R. with the Alice Guy Award for jumping in feet first, taking on the most difficult jobs, and leading the crew.

Grier musicians worked over a series of two days to record their showcase pieces for graduation. Carolyn B. and Judy W. performed a piano duo while vocalists and choirs performed a number of songs. The Chamber Orchestra performed four pieces during their recording session on Thursday.

Once again, Grier's graduating seniors and their junior servers took part in the beloved Candlelight Ceremony.  Traditionally, this event takes place in the Ivy Courtyard the evening before the graduation ceremony, following music and dance performances.

Taking health and safety precautions seriously, the 2021 Candlelight Ceremony was pre-recorded before seniors reunited with their families the following day.  The seniors and servers gathered in a circle on the spacious Lodge Lawn, with seniors wearing white mortarboard caps that they gleefully tossed into the air at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Grier dancers gave a stunning graduation performance encapsulating some of their most riveting dances of 2020-2021, ending with a senior dancer finale. The program included dances performed by pre-professional dancers, intermediate and intermediate-advanced contemporary and jazz dancers, as well as a video produced by dance teacher Danielle Bower.

Following a senior year unlike any other, months of planning, weeks of preparation, and days of filming, Grier's Class of 2021 graduated on the sunny morning of May 22, 2021!  Grier's Commencement Ceremony was held in-person on Lodge Lawn and Colonnade and attended by families and members of the Grier Community. Grier TV broadcast the event live to YouTube for those who could not attend. A recording of that broadcast is available below.

Due to the pandemic, Grier students did not have the opportunity to participate in competitive varsity sports as they normally would. Grier's Athletic Director Mrs. Cherie Gates organized a special celebration on Sunday evening in Grier's Auditorium to honor our senior athletes who were not able to play during their last year at campus. While the group enjoyed refreshments, our fox mascot made an appearance. Coaches gave speeches recognizing the seniors for their contributions to the sport in previous years and wishing them the very best!

During a special all-school assembly, department heads and teachers proudly presented outstanding academic achievement awards to underclass students. The award winners were selected by faculty members from the departments of: English, History, Math, Modern Languages, and Science for students in grades 7-11.

The National IEA Dressage High School Champion team is Grier!  Grier equestrians competed in the IEA Dressage National Finals this weekend at the Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas.  Grier won the  Upper School Team Champion title with 34 points and an 11 point lead over the Reserve Champion team.  Grier riders had some great individual placements, too, with multiple Champions, a Reserve Champions, and more!

Grier juniors and seniors enjoyed a memorable Prom on May 15, 2021, at the Lakemont Casino in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The event was unique to previous proms because the guest list was limited to Grier students and Grier faculty chaperones only.  The Lakemont Casino staff catered the event, preparing the buffet before the Grier students arrived. Mrs. Borst joined Prom Committee Advisor Mrs. Lawler at the event where she joined the girls on the dance floor.

Surrounded by woodlands, Grier’s mountainside campus is a great place to connect with nature. While visiting Grier’s campus this spring, Mr. Geoffrey Grier has enjoyed reconnecting with nature. He has helped construct and erect bluebird nesting boxes with a group of Mrs. Fernandes’ students, and he led an effort to bring new life to campus flowerbeds.

A trio of Grier musicians graced the Auditorium stage on Thursday afternoon to perform a Classical Concert. The trio included Cordelia-Maria C. on violin, Lizzie P. on flute, and Carolyn B. playing piano. All three students are Grier seniors with plans to study music in college. Cordelia-Marie plans to attend Ithaca College, while Lizzie will attend Shenandoah University, and Carolyn will study at Pennsylvania State University.

Grier students met at the Coffee House after school to work on a Grier Giving Back community service project to help the The Blair/Clearfield Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired ( BCAB).  Grier has been a partner with the BCAB for years, helping the nonprofit enhance the quality of life for visually-impaired individuals throughout the community through advocacy, free educational programs, low cost eyewear and more!

Hiking has become a very popular activity for Grier girls this year!  Merci P., Louisa H., Amen D., Maria V., Ana Paula S., and Andrea Z. joined Mrs. Woolfrey for a three mile loop around Lake Perez in Petersburg, Pennsylvania.

Art students at Grier have been helping to create a mural inspired by American artist Kelsey Montague’s public art campaign. Montague’s original pieces feature large, interactive murals of wings and launched the viral campaigns #WhatLiftsYou and #WhatLiftsYouSchools.  She encourages individuals and institutions worldwide to recreate her wing murals in their own communities and explore sources of inspiration.

While it is widely known that reading and discussing literature can open minds and virtually transport students to different places and times, it is rare to actually practice wilderness survival skills in English class. However, ninth-grade students in Mr. Lang's English classes had the opportunity to do just that!

After a condensed day of classes, last Thursday, Bridge Club hosted a crafting event at the Coffee House.  The club, whose aim is to promote the welfare of girls and women worldwide, encouraged the student body to celebrate  important women in their lives: their moms, grandmas, stepmoms, and other mother-figures by creating greeting cards for Mother’s Day.

Grier students join others nationwide this week in taking exams for Advanced Placement (AP) courses administered by the College Board.  For some students, successful completion of AP courses and high scores on AP exams can open doors to higher education opportunities and merit-based scholarships. Grier wishes our academic achievers the best as they sit for these exams in the coming weeks.

Grier vocalists took to the Auditorium stage on Thursday, April 29th to present the musical review Snapshots of 35mm by Ryan Scott Oliver. The performance was attended by a live audience and broadcast live by GrierTV. The performers awed us with their vocal talents as they sang emotional pieces through KN95 masks.

Students flocked to the Coffee House for Duck Donuts Day!  Grier Activity Director Mrs. Holly Carper arranged for ten dozen fresh donuts and twenty breakfast sandwiches delivered to Grier from Duck Donuts in State College for a special treat for Grier students on Friday morning.  

Grier students joined Mrs. Salyards and Beyond the Bubble in learning to defuse racial hate and be an active ally by attending Bystander Intervention Training on Thursday, April 29th.

Congratulations to all of our #GrierGirls who competed at IEA Hunt Seat Nationals this past weekend in Perry, GA.

Anleigh A. was National Champion in Future Intermediate Fences, Grace T. finished 8th in Novice Flat, Kiera G. finished 8th in Novice Fences, and Jimena P. Finished 5th in Open Flat. Congratulations to Grace W. on being the only IEA member out of 14,000+ members to qualify individually for IEA National Finals in all 3 disciplines: hunt seat, western, and dressage!

The Performers Club took to the stage again on Monday afternoon for a Jazz concert. As Orchestra Director, Mr. Mark Minnich explained, this foray into jazz was a major departure from the classical pieces and folk music the group had been studying previously. Through jazz music, the students learned to improvise and simplify.

Grier’s eco-conscious club Sustainable Sisters, along with advisors and science teachers Mrs. Kelly Forest and Mrs. Kallie Brubaker, hosted a special event to celebrate the 51st Earth Day during the unexpectedly snowy morning of Thursday, April 22nd.

Fencing with Coach Crocker is back! Our #GrierGirl fencers include a mix of experienced fencers and novices. The girls were thrilled to try on their protective gear and to review some of the basics like foil safety and what to expect during a match with Coach Crocker.

Congratulations to the Grier School Western Team on their championship this weekend at Saddlebrook Equestrian Center in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, where the team qualified for the 2021 IEA Western National Championship in Fort Worth, TX!   

Western riders Catie R., Mary T., Olivia M., Lavinia C., Anleigh A., Marian P., and Grace W. qualified as individual riders for the Western Nationals.

Expert equestrian Cynthia Hankins led a two-day clinic for Grier riders last week. In addition to several top placements during her competitive career, Cynthia won the American Horse Show Association Medal Finals in 1975 and is now a top clinician affiliated with the US Hunter Jumper Association’s Emerging Athletes Program. She shared her knowledge and expertise with small groups of Grier riders over the course of two days.

At Grier School, we are proud of our diverse student community and culture. This year it is our goal to highlight our Grier Girls in their own words. Our series, Meet Grier, introduces our students to our extended community while showcasing their achievements and stories.

Grier students joined Madame Pope in Mrs. Borst's kitchen last Friday for a lesson in French baking.  While Madame Pope's previous adventures in French cuisine have been limited to students in French classes, this English-language event was open to everyone!

Over the weekend, PA Game Commission Warden Isett joined Grier virtually for a presentation about bluebirds, their role in the ecosystem, and how to help reverse their decline. Students built birdhouses for bluebirds to provide nesting places for these beneficial backyard birds.

Members of Grier Reaching Out Worldwide (GROW) joined a worldwide community of volunteers working to map some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. By mapping places that are at greatest risk of poverty and natural disasters, volunteer cartographers help humanitarian aid and sustainable development organizations like the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders.

At Grier School, we are proud of our diverse student community and culture. This year it is our goal to highlight our Grier Girls in their own words. Our series, Meet Grier, introduces our students to our extended community while showcasing their achievements and stories.

Gardening Club students and others joined Mrs. Fernandes over the weekend to assemble sweet fairy garden terrariums and creatively repot houseplants. The students used using living plants, a variety of stones, mosses, and small decorative figurines to achieve their whimsical plant designs.

Grier's Head of School Mrs. Gina Borst announced the return of Enrichment Programs for 2021. These optional Enrichment Programs include programs on International Student Orientation, SAT Preparation and College Applications, Riding, and Dance. The programs run two weeks prior to the start of classes, allowing participants to move into their dorm rooms well before opening weekend.

During the dedicated study hall period each evening Sunday-Thursday, many students complete their school work from their dorm rooms, but some students participate in Grier’s Student Tutoring Program, which provides a more structured study hall experience. 

Headed by Modern Language instructor and ESL Department Chair, Mrs. Marie Shaffer, the program provides small groups of students with classroom spaces to work under the supervision of a Student Support teacher/tutor.

Grier riders competed at home in the IEA Dressage Regionals this weekend. Both the Upper School Team and the Middle School Team won High Point Team and qualified for the IEA National Dressage Finals!

This weekend, Grier students had a blast dashing through campus in search of hidden candy-filled Easter eggs! The four-day weekend included some other fun activities, like roller skating, Easter crafts, and cookie decorating. 

At Grier School, we are proud of our diverse student community and culture. This year it is our goal to highlight our Grier Girls in their own words. Our series, Meet Grier, introduces our students to our extended community while showcasing their achievements and stories.

Students gathered at the Coffee Shop for a Saturday night pizza party. Thanks to the pleasant spring weather, some students opted to enjoy their pizza slices outdoors on the Grier grounds. 

April is Poetry Month and we are delighted to share that Grier junior Cherry N. recently received a Silver Key Award by the Region-at-Large program of the 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Award, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers for her personal poem on the subject of womanhood and coming-of-age. 

In addition to high-level AP Art History and AP Portfolio art courses, Grier’s Signature Art Program provides opportunities for student artists of all levels and abilities to create and learn about a variety of artforms, including drawing, painting, graphic design, printmaking, costume design, jewelry, ceramics, and more!

Mrs. Fernandes’ Earth Science eighth grade students took advantage of our recent warm, sunny skies to safely observe the sun through special eclipse-viewing lenses, solar telescopes, and other sun monitoring devices. Through the lens of the solar telescope, they were able to observe sunspots and solar flares. Even the students attending class virtually through Zoom joined the class on the Observatory deck where their in-person counterparts put cell phone cameras up to the telescope lenses to share the views!

At Grier School, we are proud of our diverse student community and culture. This year it is our goal to highlight our Grier Girls in their own words. Our series, Meet Grier, introduces our students to our extended community while showcasing their achievements and stories.

Modern calligraphy is a fresh and flexible style of writing that adds a beautiful and unique flair to notes, signs, and home décor. Grier Spanish teacher Sra. Margaret Liegel is an experienced calligrapher and offered Grier students a chance to learn the basics of the art by hosting a Modern Calligraphy Workshop in the Coffee Shop.

Grier’s College Counseling Department is hosting two financial aid presentations with Paul Martin of the College Money Method for our students and parents. 

A presentation for seniors will take place via Zoom on March 24th, while a presentation for juniors and sophomores will happen on April 10th.

We encourage families of currently enrolled Grier students to contact college counselors Katie Kingera or Katt Barr with questions or for more information.

Grier equestrians competed in IEA Hunt Seat Zone Finals this weekend at Swan Lake Stables in Littlestown, Pennsylvania. Grier Upper School Team won the Zone 11 Finals show and qualified for National Finals!  The Grier Upper School team riders included Grace W., Jimena P., Sydney R., Kiera G., Grace T., and Catie R. 

Grace W. also qualified individually in Varsity Open Fences and won Reserve High Point Rider Upper School.  Middle School rider, Anleigh A. qualified individually in Future Intermediate Fences and won Reserve High Point Rider Middle School.

Grier’s Model UN Club hosted the first student-run Grier Model UN Conference (GMUN) on Saturday. The delegates came prepared to take on the challenges of climate change. While all the student delegates performed well, three received special awards for their exceptional performance.

At Grier School, we are proud of our diverse student community and culture. This year it is our goal to highlight our Grier Girls in their own words. Our series, Meet Grier, introduces our students to our extended community while showcasing their achievements and stories.

As part of a series by the Performers Club, Grier Chamber Orchestra Director Mr. Mark Minnich gave a solo performance in the Auditorium on the afternoon of Thursday, March 11th. Mr. Minnich played five pieces, including two medleys, which showcased his expertise as well as the versatility of the instruments.

Grier dancers of all levels were invited to attend a Master Class taught by Grier Alumna Amy Y., class of 2018. Amy, a junior studying Dance at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, led a fun-filled class in the style of choreography made famous by legendary Bob Fosse.

Grier Student Council members hosted a fun and spirited Green and Gold event following classes on Friday, March 5th.  Students gathered in the Dance Building to participate in several lively competitions.

Which team would win?  Green or Gold?  Perhaps with the green shamrocks celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this month, the Green team was destined to win?  Then again, the Gold team and its color connection to leprechauns' end-of-the-rainbow riches could have the edge!

At Grier School, we are proud of our diverse student community and culture. This year it is our goal to highlight our Grier Girls in their own words. Our series, Meet Grier, introduces our students to our extended community while showcasing their achievements and stories.

After school on Friday, March 5th, four members of Grier's Beyond the Bubble led a panel discussion of the major events of 2020. The panelists included Simone T., Madeline L., Elizabeth C., and Chantelle H. Everyone was invited to attend and to share. The discussion was well-attended by a mix of students, teachers, and administrators gathered in Nana's Place.

Grier Riders competed in the IEA Hunt Seat Regionals at Swan Lake Stables on February 27th. As a result, Grier Upper School and Middle School teams qualified for Zone Finals, along with several individual Grier Hunt Seat riders.

Following the success of livestream broadcasts of Grier riding shows, student-led GrierTV aired its first LIVE News Broadcast following classes on Friday, February 26. Much like a television network newscast, the broadcast included pre-recorded segments introduced by live anchors.

Grier’s Chamber Orchestra performed a winter concert in the auditorium on Friday, March 5th. The concert theme was rising out of the darkness. Director Mr. Mark Minnich explained the pieces progress from dark to light, like winter into spring.

At Grier School, we are proud of our diverse student community and culture. This year it is our goal to highlight our Grier Girls in their own words. Our series, Meet Grier, introduces our students to our extended community while showcasing their achievements and stories.

Seven students cooked and ate a delicious vegetarian meal in the kitchen of Cardinal Cottage on Grier campus organized by members of Sustainable Sisters. The club is dedicated to broadening understanding of climate change, environmental issues, and sustainability.

Honoring an annual February tradition at Grier, NHS members lead Grier's 2021 "I Am Beautiful Day" on Friday, February 26, by leaving inspirational messages all over campus and displaying photos of students and faculty to dispel ridiculous standers of beauty perpetuated by the media and to showcase how we are all beautiful in our own, unique way.

A group of Grier students recently came together to form a new specialized service organization at Grier.  The name, GROW, stands for Grier Reaching out Worldwide and the group hopes to empower the global citizenry of Grier to unite in making the world a happier, better place. GROW seeks to bring together both students studying in-person and virtually.

In addition to Riding and Dance classes, Grier girls are participating in a variety of winter activities, including: Badminton, Volleyball, Creative Sport, Archery, Yoga, Body Sculpting, and Personal Fitness. Athletic Director Mrs. Cherie Gates and fitness instructor is enthusiastic about incorporating elements in the style of Crossfit gyms into her fitness classes. She helps Grier students meet fitness goals in healthy, safe ways and keeps things interesting by offering new routines and challenges. Whether hitting the badminton birdie over the net, giving the Grier outdoor ice rink a go, or powering through a strength training circuit, Grier girls are staying active and having fun!

At Grier School, we are proud of our diverse student community and culture. This year it is our goal to highlight our Grier Girls in their own words. Our series, Meet Grier, introduces our students to our extended community while showcasing their achievements and stories.

March is Women’s History Month!  While  girls and women are valued and celebrated all year long at Grier, this month-long celebration designated by Congress is a reminder to examine the contributions of women to American history, to celebrate the accomplishments of women throughout history, and to learn more about the struggles women have overcome and what issues women face today.

Through the generosity of a Grier donor, trout have returned to the Science Building at Grier. Students in Life Science class recently welcomed 257 rainbow trout eggs to their classroom. By participating in the Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom (PATIC) program, the students and their teacher Mrs. Fernandes hope to raise these baby trout to the stage where they can be released into the McClain Run of the Little Juniata River in Huntingdon County at the end of April.

Grier 11th grade students attending school in-person will now be able to take the SAT and ACT tests on campus this spring.

Because Grier is offering these tests on school days, we can limit the attendees to our own in-person students unlike conventional test centers that offer weekend tests during national testing dates; and therefore, must open their test administration to the entire community. This is fantastic news for our in-person juniors!   

Grier’s Head of College Counseling provides additional details to parents in her letter below.

In a letter to Grier families sent Monday, February 15, 2021, Head of School Mrs. Gina Borst announced that Grier plans to hold an on-campus live graduation ceremony for the class of 2021 graduates.

This winter, Grier girls are having a blast skating on the newly installed outdoor ice rink! The temporary rink was erected on the level surface of the lower tennis courts. Girls were invited to bring their ice skates from home upon their January return or to purchase skates through the Grier Store.

At Grier School, we are proud of our diverse student community and culture. This year it is our goal to highlight our Grier Girls in their own words. Our series, Meet Grier, introduces our students to our extended community while showcasing their achievements and stories.

In honor of Lunar New Year, a major holiday celebrated by many of Grier’s Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese and East Asian-American students, Grier offered special treats to students in the living room following classes on Monday. Additionally, a group of students enjoyed a small celebration with Mrs. Wendy Warner at Cardinal Cottage.

Congratulations to all those who competed this weekend at the Grier School Dressage Show and the Fox View Farm Hunt Seat Shows. Grier had many First Place winners, a High Point Rider, a Champion, and several qualifiers for Dressage Regionals and Hunt Seat Regionals as a result.

Grier students celebrated Valentine’s Day this weekend by joining Activities Director Ms. Holly Carper in the Coffee House to decorate Valentine’s treat bags for the special Coffee House Valentine’s Day party. Several students also enjoyed a very special Valentine’s meal on Saturday evening prepared by special guest chef and Culinary Arts Instructor Mr. Zackary Buchholz and his talented sous chef, Grier’s own Dr. Gb! 

The February 2021 edition of the Grier Library Newsletter features some new books, including a special collection of romance stories just in time for Valentine's Day. Students and teachers can also find links to great online databases, educational resources, and even a musical podcast!

Take a look below or follow this link!

Pajamaed members of Baking Club gathered in the kitchen of Cardinal Cottage on Saturday morning for cookie and cake baking. Club advisors Ms. Rivello and Ms. Porter furnished the ingredients and were on hand to assit while the girls had a fun time mixing it up in the kitchen and enjoying the delicious results!

Grier hosted another IEA show over the weekend of February 6-7 with great results! On Saturday, Grier earned High Point Upper School for both the morning and afternoon shows and High Point Middle School in the morning show.

This winter, Grier volleyball players have returned to the court where they are running drills and facing off in scrimmages in place of interscholastic competition. Experienced players, such as Abby S., perennial member of Grier’s Varsity Volleyball team, are happy to help the newest members of the group improve their techniques. The group has a great time burning off some steam, having fun, and staying fit.

Fans of Grier Riding recently benefited from Grier’s newly refined ability to livestream. Over the past year, many of us have become familiar with livestreaming, or, the ability to transmit live coverage of an event over the internet. This technology allows viewers who cannot attend the event to feel like they are part of the action.

Upon the return from winter break, Grier students selected new sports for the season. Along with other great offerings, archery is a popular sport for veteran archers and novices. Coach Barr trains archers in the Grier gymnasium, where beginners learn the basics of the sport and all have the opportunity to practice and improve their aim.

For the third year in a row, Grier School has earned the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP® Computer Science Principles. Schools honored with the AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded girls’ access in AP® Computer Science courses.

Along with 20 other AP Courses, Grier offers AP Computer Science Principles. This year, six Grier girls enrolled in the class and attend in person and virtually. Students in this year's class include: Nodoka M., Abby S., Cindy W., Emily Gao W., Arinola A., Athena J., and Vivian Y.

February is Black History Month, during which we celebrate achievements of Black and African-Americans in the United States and acknowledge their history of adversity. This year, Grier will pay tribute to Black Americans in a variety of ways including special classroom lessons and weekend activities.

Grier History teacher Mr. Packnick hosted a fun-filled Trivia Night in the Auditorium last weekend.  The game featured five rounds of trivia and prizes that included Gardner’s chocolate, Grier Tervis tumblers, pens, notepads, collapsible drinking straws, and more!

Grier riders have been back in the saddle, not only enjoying recreational riding, but carefully returning to competition as well. While some competitions are held virtually, others are being held in-person with extensive health and safety plans in place.

Mrs. Mary Pat Lytle retired last month after over three decades as a member of Grier’s faculty. While her most recent position was as Testing Coordinator, Mrs. Lytle has held a number of roles at Grier, with many years spent working in the Learning Skills Department.

At Grier School, we are proud of our diverse student community and culture. This year it is our goal to highlight our Grier Girls in their own words. Our new series, Meet Grier, introduces our students to our extended community while showcasing their achievements and stories.

Grier is thrilled to share that an overwhelming number of Grier faculty and staff members received their first round of the Covid-19 vaccine last week and will be receiving the second dose in just a few weeks, thanks to our local hospital. Grier will continue to maintain our safety procedures this semester in order to keep everyone healthy and safe!

In a letter shared today with families, Grier Summer Director Jennifer Pepperman announces that Grier Summer will not open in 2021.

In honor of the inauguration of the first ever female Vice President of the United States on today, January 20, 2021, Grier students had opportunities to witness the events of the day and to celebrate women’s suffrage and the role of women in politics by wearing yellow roses, a symbol of support for women’s suffrage.

At Grier School, we are proud of our diverse student community and culture. This year it is our goal to highlight our Grier Girls in their own words. Our new series, Meet Grier, introduces our students to our extended community while showcasing their achievements and stories.

This Monday, January 18^th, the nation honors the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader.  To help us celebrate this significant day, Grier Learning Skills teacher Mrs. Shelly Davis has partnered with Jennifer Hamer, PhD., a professor of African American Studies at Penn State University and parent of Grier junior student, Zoe H.

Mrs. Davis and Dr. Hamer invite the Grier community to "celebrate MLK Day your way" by exploring any number of the virtual events taking place the afternoon of January 18th.

Grier students, both those learning in-person and learning virtually from afar, are using software called Canvas LMS.  As a learning management software (LMS), Canvas provides a singular place for students to login and access information for all their Grier classes. Students can collaborate and communicate with each other and their teachers within the framework of Canvas. Additionally, Canvas is a widely popular LMS choice for schools, colleges, and universities.

We were able to get a glimpse of backstage during Grier’s Winter Dance Performance thanks to the cooperation of Grier Dance, directed by Jocelyn Hrzic, and a Grier student photographer.  Enjoy this peek behind the scenes through the lens of Edith M.’s camera.

Following the folk festival earlier this semester, Grier musicians took to the auditorium stage for two additional performances featuring classical music on strings and piano.