Grace-St. Luke's Alumni Association

Our First Fan 5 games are this Friday, Dec. 16! 7/8 Girls vs. Fayette at 4 p.m and 7/8 Taylor Boys vs. Fayette at 5 p.m. We want our students to pack the Dogpound in their Christmas attire! Please come join us and cheer on the SAINTS! 🏀🎄🐶

Middle Schoolers' creativity was on display during our first-ever “Deck the Doors” competition among the advisories - they brought lots of holiday cheer to the hallways! The winner: Ciaramitaro (pictured first below) followed by honorable mentions (Slatery, Letsou/Reddick, and Morrison) and other selected contestants. Great job, Saints!

Did you know that every year, students attending ACE will come over one afternoon to help decorate the tree in the Administrative Office and in Dr. Surber's office? We are looking so festive now, and we are grateful to the ACE team for continuing this fun tradition every year! 🎄⚓♥️😊

Middle School Math Teacher Allyson Campbell hosted a fantastic Celebration today - inviting GSL's "house band," The More the Merrier, for a performance and sing-along. It was so much fun! Many thanks to our talented teachers – Leslie Reddick, Carmen Navarro, Braden Jensen, Rev. Noah Campbell, and Jeff White – for putting on a great show at Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church and getting us all into the Christmas spirit! 👏🎄♥️

St. Mary’s sophomore Lydia Ford '21 was part of a Holiday Pop-Up Artists Market organized by GSL alumna Virginia Sharp '85 at Carnes Station Cove in Memphis. When she’s not busy with school, Lydia has a side business focused on art – creating handmade watercolor pieces, prints, cards, gift tags, and more. She also did a commission piece in the fall for 901 Pop! Find her on Instagram at lydiamakes.art.

Middle School Performing Arts Teacher Leslie Reddick caught up with some of our alumni at their area high school theater productions this fall. Love seeing these graduates continue to achieve behind the scenes and on the stage! 1: Cinderella at Hutchison School w Zelia '20 and Emery ’19; 2: Pride & Prejudice at St. Mary's Episcopal School with Aislinn '19; 3: Freaky Friday at Harding Academy of Memphis with Simone '21; 4: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Christian Brothers High School with Michael '22 (Ian Reddick '10 also pictured). Way to go, Saints!

Our Junior Kindergartners have been searching high and low for the Gingerbread Man (or their classroom Elf!) this week. A cherished tradition for these preschoolers at GSL! 🥰

So proud of alumna Avery Arkle, GSL '19, honored by her peers at Hutchison School for her character, integrity, and moral strength!

Portraying the Madonna is an honor at Hutchison, and the class of 2023 celebrated Avery Arkle ’23 during this year's Christmas Chapel. For more than 60 years, Hutchison’s graduating class has honored the character and integrity of a classmate by selecting her for the Madonna Tableau at the Hutchison Christmas program. The senior selected is recognized for her good character and moral strength worthy of such an honor.

This year's tableau depicts "Maestà,” an altarpiece by Duccio, which was constructed and painted in the 14th century. Upper school art teacher Anne Davey says Duccio was commissioned to create the massive piece to honor the Virgin Mary for her guardianship of the city of Siena and helping it to victory in a major battle against the Florentines. "Maestà” means “majesty” in Italian, and the altarpiece depicts Mary as the Queen of Heaven holding the Christ Child.

Fifth graders reminded us last week that our Annual Food Drive ends Monday. We are hoping for another record-breaking year! Last year we brought in 5,000 cans! Donated items will go to the Mid-South Food Bank & GSL Church Food Pantry. Thanks for your support of those in need. ♥️

Huey's Restaurants said it best in a recent post - the foodie gene runs strong in the Boggs family, but Fulton Boggs (GSL Class of 2006) has taken it to a new level! His immersive art exhibit in West Hollywood is worth checking out if you're in the greater Los Angeles area over the holidays. You might even get a tour from Fulton himself, pictured here (far right) with the Surber family, who saw the exhibit during Dr. Surber's trip back to California this fall!

Way to go, Grace Ciaramitaro, ! Congrats on signing with Vanderbilt Athletics this week... we are not a bit surprised by your accomplishments!

Congratulations to Harding Academy sophomore Simone Guyton (GSL '21), who finished in first place at the TSSAA regional bowling qualifiers. Way to go, Simone!!! 👏 She will represent Harding in January at the state bowling championship!

The newest issue of The Anchor magazine is out! It recaps our amazing 75th Anniversary celebration with photos and historical facts, and also includes a feature on new Head of School Dr. Andy Surber, an introduction to new faculty, college placements for GSL's Class of 2018, news from the P.A., our 2021-22 Giving Report, a slew of alumni updates, and much, much more! If you didn't get your copy in the mail, please call us at 901-278-0200 to update your address information. You can also read it online here: gslschool.org/anchor-magazine 😄⚓

Did you know a group of our retired faculty/staff members still meet for lunch regularly? Sometimes they even invite a few current faculty along to join the fun! We sure loved catching up with these sweet folks this week. 🥰 Go, Saints!

Our hearts are heavy over the loss of a special Saint, GSL Pre-Kindergarten Assistant Teacher Deborah Lowe. She taught here for more than 30 years, was loved by all, and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. 💔

Middle School Performing Arts Teacher Leslie Reddick recently caught up with alumna Simone G. '21, who appeared in Freaky Friday The Musical at Harding Academy of Memphis.

Last day to shop Novel Memphis and support the Saints! Tell them you're shopping for GSL (or use code GSL22 online) and 20% of your total purchases will be donated to the school. So go on, knock out some of that holiday shopping early! 🎁 And many thanks again for supporting GSL! 😊⚓♥️📚

Reminder: You can shop our fabulous local bookstore Novel Memphis this weekend and support GSL! Just tell them you're shopping for GSL at checkout (or use code GSL22 online), and 20% of your total purchases will be donated to the school. So many great books and gifts to choose from – and if you can't decide, there are always gift cards! Thanks for supporting the Saints!

Timeline photos

Shop local bookstore Novel Memphis this week (today through Nov. 13) and support GSL! Use code GSL22 at checkout in store or online, and 20% of your total purchases will be donated to the school. They have more than just wonderful books – there are also gift items galore! Thanks for supporting the SAINTS!

Meet Andy Surber, Grace-St. Luke's new head of school

Great article in today's Daily Memphian on our Head of School Andy Surber!

Meet Andy Surber, Grace-St. Luke's new head of school Andy Surber is the new head of school at Grace St. Luke’s Episcopal School, and the job is a homecoming of sorts for the school administrator.

We celebrate Physical Education Teacher Debbie Callahan in our Faculty/Staff Spotlight this week. Coach Callahan is our longest-tenured Saint at GSL – she joined this community in 1977!!! 👏⚓♥️

ACE: After School Care at GSL is looking for part-time preschool through middle school teachers who can provide exemplary customer service to families and support to the Director of Auxiliary Programs and our private school program. Must be available 1:00-6:00 p.m. during the school year and have experience with children. Visit gslschool.org/employment or email Antonio Hinton ([email protected]) to apply today!

Don't miss our Kindergarten Storytime event this Saturday, Oct. 29 at 9:30 am in our Anchor Library (250 Lemaster). We'll have a reading from The Impossible Sleepover, written and illustrated by Amy Sharp (a GSL Class of 1985 alumna!), and share a make-and-take craft. We can't wait to see you! RSVP @ gslschool.formstack.com/forms/gsl_admissions_events

Fun Celebration this week: We had our usual weekly birthday blessing, got to celebrate some sweet Cross Country wins before runners headed off to the state meet, AND enjoyed a visit from Hutchison School upper school choir Vocal Point, which happens to feature not 1, not 2, but 3 GSL alumnae! Beautiful voices, Emery, Nora, and Hannah - we loved seeing you! ♥️⚓👏

Join us Monday, October 24 at GSL for a Halloween Storytime event!
Anchor Library (250 Lemaster), 8:30 a.m.
(For children who will be aged 2-4 by June 1, 2023)
Enjoy a read-aloud and a make-and-take craft! RSVP today at gslschool.org/admissions. 🍁👻🎃

Had a little GSL photo opp after a performance of Julius Caesar at Lausanne Collegiate School last night! From left, Edens '20, Cooper '20, Middle School Performing Arts Teacher Leslie Reddick, Sam '22, Aiden '22, Lucy '23, Ethan '22, and Ruby '23. Also in attendance (but missed the pic) were Lillian ’18, Dher ’22, and Joan ’23. We have such a great theater tradition at GSL - fun to see it continue into our students' high school careers, too! 🎭

GSL is happy to once again join in sponsoring the Daily Memphian's annual Developing Memphis Seminar. Looks like another great event! Get your ticket at www.eventbrite.com/e/developing-memphis-seminar-2022-tickets-315470640177.

Alumni all over town are helping promote GSL by displaying our super-cool 75th anniversary yard signs - it's a great way to show your GSL pride AND help us put the school's name out there during the busy admissions season! If you'd like to get one of these commemorative free signs for your yard, just email [email protected] today. Go, Saints!

And our volleyball teams keep rolling... the 5/6 varsity team ALSO went undefeated this season, and last night they clinched the 5/6 Varsity PAA League championship. Congratulations to the girls, Coach Emily Drake, and GSL Class of 2011 Alumna/Coach Ashley Lowe! ⚓🔥

How cool is this?! History repeats itself: Our 7/8 Varsity volleyball team went undefeated for the season and these athletes captured the Shelby League Division A Championship! And congrats to GSL '05 alumnae coaches Meg Burress & Ross Larson! 👏⚓💪

MLGW chair Mitch Graves to serve as interim CEO

Another leadership assignment for Mitch Graves, GSL '79!:

MLGW chair Mitch Graves to serve as interim CEO Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland will eventually nominate a replacement that Memphis City Council confirms.  

Loved seeing the at Yearbook Signing last week and appreciate all the alumni who came to our Homecoming games to cheer on the Saints - you helped us get the wins last week!

This is it! Your LAST DAY to order Charleston Wrap and support this Saints fundraiser! Money raised goes to fulfill teacher wish list items that enhance your children's classrooms. Our goal is $20,000 and we are SOOO CLOSE - order totals as of this morning are at $18,021! Won't you help us reach our goal?! Visit charlestonwrap.com to register and use code 11033. ♥️⚓🎁 THANK YOU!!!

We gathered as many of our current alumni families as we could for a group photo during this year's All-School Picnic! So happy to bring back the picnic and this photo tradition after a pandemic pause. We had lots of good Saints fun - kids were just a little excited about the drone photos we took to celebrate our 75th! 😄⚓♥️

Charleston Wrap deadline is tomorrow! Place your orders for the BEST wrapping paper and gift items before it's too late, and thanks so much for supporting the SAINTS!!! Visit https://www.charlestonwrap.com/ to register and use code 11033. 🎁

Hey Class of 2022 alumni – we're looking forward to seeing you here TOMORROW for your yearbook signing and our pep rally, and you're invited to join us for our HOMECOMING games as well! GO, SAINTS!!!

Our annual Charleston Wrap fundraiser is underway! Did you know it's more than just wrapping paper? Great gifts and kitchen items are available, too, so please check it out and place an order. All items are shipped directly to your home, and it's such an easy way to give back to GSL! Just visit charlestonwrap.com/ and use our school code 11033. And thanks as always for supporting your Saints! 😊⚓♥️