The Grayson School

School may be out, but these rising seniors are hard at work at College Application Boot Camp! Preparing for the future and chasing their dreams. Here's to determination, dedication, and the journey to higher education!

Founders' Day was a proud moment for our students, showcasing the projects they have been working on all year and celebrating our rising Kindergarteners, 6th, and 9th graders at the Promotion ceremony. Families and friends gathered to honor our students' achievements and, importantly, their learning experiences through failures. The day ended with fun activities and even a visit from a llama. That's a wrap on the 2023-2024 school year!

In 2021, King Saladeen collaborated with Grayson students on the inspiring "Dream Big" mural in our hallway. Now, he's back with a brand new project with Mural Arts Philadelphia that just went up!

Located at 601 Spring Garden Street, this vibrant and bold mural holds a special place in our hearts at The Grayson School. Our students, faculty, and parents contributed to a part of this masterpiece.

Be sure to check it out next time you're in Philly!

New blog post: During we share the experiences of a parent and their journey in supporting and advocating for their pr***en. Resource links and https://bit.ly/4cieF1Y Links to resources for parents, and educators from PFLAG National

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! We are so proud of your journeys at Grayson and cannot wait to watch the bright future that lies ahead of you.

Greetings from the.Close Up - Washington D.C. Educational Programs where our students met with peers from around the country, including American Samoa, FSM, and the Marshall Islands. They had "monumental" mornings, visited the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, and took part in a Mock Congress. Grayson students made their mark on Congress with incredible questions!

Chris ('24) is a multitalented student who has been an important part of the Grayson community since elementary school. A National Merit Commended Student, Chris has explored advanced mathematics through Linear Algebra and computer science courses, including Game Development, Machine Learning, and Scientific Computing, while working on multiple Open Studio projects that reflect his remarkable talent for programming. Chris is particularly experienced in 3D digital modeling, having spent more than a year working in Blender to learn modeling, rigging, and animation. Using this expertise, he worked in the Unity video game engine to program his own video game, titled "GOMP."

Chris is also a dedicated musician who has been a singer in both of Grayson's singing groups, Gryphonix and Chorale, in addition to playing clarinet with the Instrumental Ensemble. His talents extend to musical theatre, he has appeared onstage in productions of "Les Misérables," "Into the Woods," and "Pippin." This year in Open Studio, Chris focused on the intersection of music and technology by teaching himself guitar, drums, and bass to perform all the parts of a song. He edited together these tracks using high-end audio processing equipment. To ensure that his performance was faithfully recreating the original recording, he connected his instruments to computers to calculate and report his accuracy, bringing a whole new meaning to "high fidelity."

Chris is also a compassionate and caring member of the community and has been an assistant coach to a special-needs baseball team for three years. He has been in Scouts since first grade and has risen to the position of Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, responsible for planning his troop's activities and events. Last summer, he combined his commitment to service with his passion for technology to lead a "robotics accelerator" camp at a local girls' school to help them successfully launch their first team this fall.

He looks forward to blending his advanced mathematics and computer science work through studying cybersecurity in college. Congratulations, Chris! We are so proud of all that you have accomplished!

Field Day fun! Nothing beats a day filled with sunshine, games, and laughter! Today was all about team spirit, friendly competition, and making memories.

**Is your preschooler asking BIG questions? **

Gifted children have a thirst for knowledge & a unique way of interacting with the world — this fabulous resource from Dr. Deborah Ruf shares guidelines to help you recognize giftedness in your preschooler.

Personality type, being a boy or girl, and the reactions of those around the children can affect how many of these items describe gifted preschool children. The earlier any of the behaviors below occur, the more likely the child is highly to exceptionally gifted. Learn more of those details in this post, available to everyone on Substack!

Don't miss it! Paid subscribers can access the entire archive, but this post goes behind the paywall on 6/2. Subscribers receive all new posts by email. Join me!

https://open.substack.com/pub/deborahruf/p/preschool-behaviors-in-highly-to

Tune in to watch Hillel ( #186) competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee!🐝 Click the link in our bio to catch the action live NOW!8

As we continue our celebration of AAPI Month, we are also proud to announce that The Grayson School Mandarin program has received the honor of being recognized as a "Distinguished K-12 Chinese Language Program" in the United States by the Chinese Language Teachers Association. As one of only 16 schools in the country named in 2024, Grayson will be featured in the CTLA's Journal of Chinese Language Teaching in the fall. Learn more about our program and how we foster cultural empathy and global competence in teaching languages at Grayson. https://bit.ly/4buFf8f

Make Us Visible PA our state chapter of the nationwide Make Us Visible initiative is dedicated to ensuring our school curricula reflect accurate and inclusive Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) history and culture. We're incredibly proud of Miles ('25) and his family for their active involvement in this vital cause.

Recently, Miles spoke at the AAPI History rally at the state capitol in Harrisburg, advocating for HB 779 / SB 839. This legislation aims to incorporate AAPI history in all Pennsylvania schools, making a significant step toward educational equity.

Thank you Creative Communication for featuring our amazing teacher, Ms. Dilullo!

“In our classroom, writing is an exciting adventure where creativity takes the lead. We dive into poetry and imaginative expression, discovering how words can paint pictures and stir feelings. With techniques like imagery and playful language, we encourage students to let their ideas run wild. Most importantly, we create a space where sharing and connecting through writing feels natural and rewarding, ensuring every student knows their voice is valued.” –Kelly DiLullo, Teacher of Top Ten Winner Harrison L.

Teachers are key in our free poetry contests! We are thankful for each & every teacher that shares their students’ work with us. Thank you for doing this great work!
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Enter Our Contests All Year-Round!

Entry Deadlines for Our Upcoming Poetry & Art Contests:
Summer 2024: August 8, 2024 / Fall 2024: December 5, 2024 / Spring 2025: April 10, 2025

ENTER ART CONTEST: www.celebratingart.com/students

ENTER POETRY CONTEST: www.poeticpower.com/students
PLAY POETRY GAMES: www.poetrygames.org (enter our poetry contest directly from this resource!)
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Your support makes our free student poetry contests possible. Thank you.

--Creative Communication

Introducing Reid ('24), a dynamic writer and enthusiastic debater whose passion for storytelling and advocacy sets him apart.

Whether exploring gothic literature or creating original horror stories inspired by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Reid's writing and creativity has no limits. He reinterprets classics like "Alice in Wonderland" into his own haunting tales, captivating readers with his unique blend of horror and fairy tale. Currently, he is working on an 80's horror movie-inspired screenplay highlighting his vibrant writing style and love for multiple genres. Reid captivates his audience from the opening sentence to the closing line, leaving a lasting impression on readers.

Reid's curiosity drives his exploration of art history and pop culture, enriching his work with depth and complexity. He dives deep into research, examining topics like his legal analysis on dead naming in legal processes during his democratic discourse presentation. Reid uses his research to not only offer critiques but also suggest solutions, showing his dedication to making a positive impact through his writing.

An active participant in school life, Reid's commitment to academic excellence and community engagement is seen through his roles in the National English Honors Society and Student Council. His creativity extends beyond the classroom, where alongside his peers, he designed and created the Lower School Musical "Finding Nemo Jr." costumes. Additionally, as president of the Rainbow Club, he spearheads efforts to promote inclusivity and raise awareness.

Outside of the classroom, Reid's love for horses is unmistakable. With over 12 years of experience, he dedicates his time to riding and caring for horses with a particular passion for training young horses. Reid showcased his equestrian passion at Grayson through his Open Studio project, where he handcrafted a mohair cinch for riding and designed a state-of-the-art equestrian center. Reid plans to pursue studies in equine science, aiming to specialize in financial management within the equestrian industry.

We are so proud of all you have accomplished, and we can't wait to see what great things you achieve next!

Our Linear Algebra students had the privilege of meeting virtually with distinguished mathematician Michel Talagrand. They discussed Dr. Talagrand's groundbreaking work in probability theory, specifically his Shaw Prize lecture, "Mysteries in High Dimensions," which introduces certain counterintuitive properties of high dimensional spaces, particularly as they relate to probability. Probability in high dimensions may seem an esoteric topic to those not familiar with Linear Algebra, but given that modern datasets are treated by mathematicians as high-dimensional objects, Dr. Talagrand's work has far-reaching applications in myriad fields. Click to read the recent Quanta Magazine article on Dr. Talagrand winning the 2024 Abel Prize, one of the most prestigious prizes in mathematics.

We are very proud of Miles ('25) who will be speaking at the Make Us Visible PA rally on Monday at the State Capitol in Harrisburg to advocate for incorporating AAPI history in all Pennsylvania schools.

Mark your calendars, and make your voices be heard in Harrisburg at our Rally supporting the AAPI History Act (HB 779/SB 839). Hear from the Act sponsor Rep. Patty Kim and PA's AAPI community.

🗓️ Monday, May 20, 2024 at 9:30 am
📍 Pennsylvania State Capitol Steps, Harrisburg

For updates on the event logistics, please send us email or DM.
Senator Maria Collett Senator Nikil Saval

Congratulations to our Upper and Middle School students for their dazzling performance in Pippin this weekend! Our cast, crew, and costume designers worked tirelessly to put on an incredible show for the Grayson community. Swipe to a glimpse of the hard work that they put into this production. Bravo students, we are so proud of you!

Family, friends, and alumni have shared why they are grateful for Grayson teachers in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you to our dedicated teachers for all that you do.

Melissa Bilash, Grayson Founder and Head of School, shares her vision and expertise on educating future generations of leaders, thinkers, and innovators in Philadelphia Business Journal's Thought Leadership Forum. Read more at:
https://bit.ly/4dqnKHD

Don't miss out on The Grayson School's performance of Pippin! Get ready to be dazzled by our talented cast as they take the stage on May 9th at 6:00 pm and May 11th at 6:30 pm. From stunning costume designs to captivating onstage rehearsals, this is a show you won't want to miss! Mark your calendars and join us for an evening of theater!

AAPI Month is well underway at The Grayson School! Robert Buscher, a lecturer in Asian American studies at the University of Pennsylvania and a pivotal figure in the Philadelphia Asian American film festival discussed the portrayal of Asian Americans in mass media and engaged in discussions on self-identity with our Asian American students. Additionally, our entire school, from PreK - 12th grade participated in an event themed "Beyond Labels: Challenge Against Stereotypes." Mandarin language students explored the fundamental aspects of Chinese tea culture, mastering the techniques of brewing and tasting two distinct Chinese teas. Japanese language students engage in conversation while playing traditional games such as "Karuta," playing both the English and Japanese versions. By following Japanese game rules, students gain insight into both the language and nuances of their culture.

"May the 4th be with you!" Grayson students soared through the galaxies of fun as we celebrated Star Wars Day! Our Jedi apprentices embraced the Force of learning. 🚀🌟🪐🌌

Happy Earth Day! 🌎🌱 Grayson students embraced the outdoors, dedicating their day to nurturing the planet for a sustainable tomorrow. These activities represent a small part of Grayson's ongoing commitment to our planet's well-being!

Ready, set, Shakespeare! 🎭✨ 8th grade is preparing for their much anticipated Shakespeare unit with an exceptional performance from Nothing But Roaring Improv Theater Company! Students immersed themselves in the first play they are studying, A Midsummer Night's Dream, by watching improvised Shakespearean performances. They bravely tackled acting challenges, stepping out of their comfort zones and into character through engaging in improv activities in preparation for their performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the end of the year. A heartfelt thank you to Nothing But Roaring for whisking us away into the captivating realm of Shakespearean theater!

Albert ('26) is diligently working on his Open Studio Project, which involves constructing a solar-powered generator. His goal? To develop his electrical engineering skills by designing a generator using a 3D modeling platform and publishing the design on an open-source website for people looking for clean, renewable energy any time of the day or when there is an outage on the standard power grid. His project utilizes a solar panel that captures sunlight and converts it to direct current (DC) electricity through a charge controller to a battery for later use. Albert's custom inverter converts DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity for powering devices. This innovative endeavor showcases Albert's ingenuity and commitment to sustainable, cost-effective energy solutions.

🌞🌑 The Grayson School was filled with anticipation as we prepared to witness the solar eclipse! From solar seminars to creating cosmic-inspired art, our students experienced the science behind eclipses. Equipped with special glasses and a telescope, both students and teachers observed as the moon traveled in front of the sun. 🚀🔭

Read our new blog post where we unpack a few common kinds of overthinking and how they may show up in gifted children in the context of learning and school: being overly literal; never-ending research; a fear of failure; analysis paralysis; and when thinking as play can get in the way.

How to Help Your Overthinking Gifted Child Overthinking is a word that must have been invented by a non-gifted person. Young minds find great joy in thinking — how can too much be bad?

Never Underestimate the Importance of Play, no matter your age! Did you know that there are "freedoms" that free play offers that you cannot acquire through any other discipline? Go beyond fun and learn what the research has to say about the crucial developmental benefits that play offers. https://bit.ly/3U5c19C

Curious about the universe beyond classical physics? Grayson is offering an introduction to the enigmatic world of Quantum Mechanics in June for rising high school students. We'll explore groundbreaking experiments, delve into the debate over interpretation, and uncover strange new particles and even stranger physics. Perfect for students with a physics foundation who crave more! Learn more and register at: https://bit.ly/3VLv766

We are so proud of our Upper School VEX Team, "G Sharp," who went to Iowa for the 2024 CREATE US OPEN Robotics Tournament! After securing a regional championship in December, G Sharp won the prestigious honor of competing against VEX Robotics teams from all around the world. The weekend was full of matches that challenged our students at a level significantly higher than their previous competitions, and they worked together to build and refine their robot based previous wins and losses. Their final design was significantly different than the robot they began the year with! When not actively competing at the tournament, students collaborated with other teams, developed their networking skills, and formed lasting friendships.

Led by team captain Maya, each member of G Sharp played an essential part in competition by ensuring a smooth match. We are so incredibly proud that G Sharp was the first Grayson VEX team to make it to a national competition and can't wait to return stronger next year!