Dear Grace School Parents:
Grace is Going Places and we invite your child to continue to be a part of the educational and spiritual journey here at Grace School. We have made amazing Early Childhood, Lower and Middle School improvements; added a Lower School science lab, Early Childhood and Lower School Spanish classroom; implemented a Middle School NewsTeam, band program, a powerful devotional and leadership component to our Christian studies, as well as regularly scheduled Bible lessons in Early Childhood and Lower School. Revised schedules in Lower School and Middle School, as well as full-day PreK 4s, are providing sustained classroom learning.
Here’s what we are working on for 2009-10:
Greater Student Access to Technology - Technology Director, Jeff Thomas, is identifying ways to incorporate new technologies into the curriculum while supporting students and teachers in this process. Exposing our students to cutting-edge technologies in a safe school environment puts them at the forefront of learning. We are developing a Middle School elective that focuses on modern media technologies. The Middle School computer lab is being converted into a technology center where students can access and create information throughout the day with support from a technology specialist.
Class Sizes – We know this is a major consideration as parents choose their child’s school. That’s why the administrative team has developed a sound enrollment plan that targets how many and what kind of students will thrive in our Christ-centered environment. Our projected plan calls for Lower School class sizes of roughly 15 students each, for approximately 45 students and three teachers per grade! Based on current enrollment, we know some Lower School grades will start next year at, or above, this target number. These anticipated numbers will enable the Middle School to thrive with approximately 135 students – 45 each in grades 6, 7 and 8. We are actively pursuing quality students for grade levels that are very near their target numbers. As we continue to grow, we will add outstanding faculty and remodel for space optimization.
Continued Growth in Educational Excellence - The across-the-board tuition increase for 2008-09 helped us adjust our salary range and attract exceptional teachers! We assure you that we continue our commitment to hiring and retaining the best and the brightest faculty who exemplify excellence. For the 2009-10 school year the School Committee has approved a 3% tuition increase for Early Childhood, and a 4.5% increase for the Lower School and Middle School. Along with prudent spending and support for the Grace School Annual Fund and the generous gifts from the Parents’ Club, this modest increase will go a long way toward furthering educational excellence at Grace School. We will continue to cultivate in your children the Christian values and skills needed to succeed in our fast-changing world.
May God continue to bless Grace School!
Sincerely,
Liz Walgamuth, Ed.D.
Head of School