A Time to Remember Holiday Traditions

The month of December is not only the start of the holiday season but also a reminder to the GA community that the greatest gift of all is the gift of giving.  With the holidays approaching, the seniors will savor and enjoy the last of the numerous holiday CSO traditions at GA.  The candy cane sale that benefits CHOP begins this week.  I myself purchased 20 candy canes!  The CSO holiday fair where thousands of toys are piled up in the big gym and then distributed to less fortunate children is also approaching soon.  Finally, the Make a Wish Tournament, featuring our very own boys and girls basketball teams, tips off on Friday the 14^th.  Happy Holidays to all!    

- Michael H.  

Goodbye November, Thanks for the Memories

November is a busy time for students in the Upper School.  It’s also a very nostalgic time, especially for seniors.  Our pep rally was the best of all time and numerous seniors contributed to its success.  For many, myself included, GA/PC Day was the last time seniors competed in fall sports with their teammates.  Nine to Five was incredible last week, and again, the seniors were powerful as they performed their last Upper School musical on stage.  Tonight is the US Fall Concert and seniors take solace in knowing that there remains one more concert in the spring. CSO (Community Service Organization), especially its senior leaders, never lets us forget those who are less fortunate - the clothing drive and Thanksgiving Day canned food drive are my favorite.  Quick shout-out to Bridie L. ('13) for bringing in an unprecedented amount of cans…210! 

During this week of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for so much.  My family is the obvious!  I am also incredibly grateful for my education at GA.  The tremendous experiences and incredible opportunities provided by GA’s outstanding faculty are the reasons why no one forgets their time at this school.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

-Michael H. 

Guest PatChatter: Cori R. chats about Community Service!

I have been involved with the Community Service Organization (CSO) at GA since middle school. Thanks to Mr. McVeigh, CSO's Upper School coordinator, I have become much more devoted to CSO. 

During my senior year, I served as a leader of CSO. This spring CSO held a blood drive, which collected 65 pints for the Red Cross and will literally saves lives. CSO also brought various speakers to GA this spring. GA Alumni Eric Williams spoke about transitioning from his rough childhood in Philadelphia to becoming a GA student and basketball player, and also the program he created to help people integrate back into society upon being released from prison. John Prendergast and Michael Maddox, co-authors of Unlikely Brothers, shared their distinct stories and how their lives intertwined through the Big Brothers program with GA students. In addition, GA continued to host service trips to local shelters such as St. John's Hospice, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. 

CSO has been such an important part of my senior year! I am sad to leave it all behind but have happy memories to think about moving forward. 

-Cori 

**Click on the photo below and listen to Mr. McVeigh talk about CSO at Germantown Academy!**