Upper Schoolers Serve in Westchester County

Over Presidents Day weekend, a group of GA juniors and seniors piled into two GA vans and headed for Westchester County, New York. This was the beginning of the 2017 Upper School Service Trip. About five years ago, Middle School faculty members Kate Cassidy and Sarah Blake began the tradition of the Upper School Service Trip. They took a group of students to Staten Island on that first project to help rebuild homes damaged from Hurricane Sandy.

They have continued to chaperone the trip each year since. This year, the seniors on the trip, Ale G. ‘17, Jake D. ‘17, Ali C. ‘17, Lindsay N. ’17, and me, contacted various Habitat for Humanity locations at which we could potentially volunteer. The Westchester location responded with excitement willing to host our group.

GA students left their mark beyond their work.

The group of 14 stayed in a converted convent home, associated with a Church in New Rochelle, New York and spent three days working with Habitat of Westchester.

This year group in Westchester County, New York.

Some tasks included painting rec rooms at the local YMCA and others included putting up siding on a house under construction.  Overall, the trip was a weekend of incredible service into which each student put their heart. It was also a weekend of bonding among the group. This year’s juniors are already looking forward to working with Mrs. Cassidy and Ms. Blake on planning the trip for 2018.

~ Alex K. ‘17

Swim Teams Train in Bermuda

Over Winter Break, the Germantown Academy Boys’ and Girls’ Swimming and Diving teams had the amazing opportunity to practice in Bermuda. Last year for their trip, they went to Puerto Rico.

GA divers training in Bermuda.

Their days consisted of long practices rewarded with nights of freedom on the beach. They got to explore the island for about a week, going snorkeling and jumping off cliffs. Senior co-captain Jimmy P. ‘17 said Bermuda was, “stunning, absolutely stunning.”

Some scenes from the group's trip.

The team spends a good amount of time together throughout the school year with practices running from early morning to late night. Due to this close-knit relationship, Jimmy said it was, “like going of a vacation with your best friends and your family.” The team made sure to bring along a camera and make a video to share with the entire school during a Morning Meeting.

~ Sarina S. '17

You can view the video here.

2017 Heads to NYC for a Day

Sarina's stunning view of New York.

This fall, the entire senior class was taken on an annual trip to New York City. This is one of the first bonding experiences the Class of 2017 has in our final year of high school. This trip is one that many look forward to when finally becoming a senior. The trip is all day, and students are exempt from homework, papers, projects and tests for the next day. School of Rock (adapted from the movie with Jack Black). They had incredible singers and the cast consisting of mainly middle schoolers genuinely sang and played their instruments. Their skill level in the band was beyond anyone’s expectations.

Members of the Class of 2017 pose during their whirlwind day.

Finally, before dinner, we all gathered around street performers in Times Square, typical for NYC. They danced, did some flips, made jokes and jumped over people. We ended the trip with dinner overlooking Times Square. Overall, the trip was a wonderful way to begin our last year at Germantown Academy. The itinerary each year consists of visiting Rockefeller Center and going to the Top of The Rock, free time for lunch, a play on Broadway and, finally, dinner at Bubba Gump’s in Times Square. It was a beautiful day to be outside and walk around the city. After getting a stunning view of the city at the Top of the Rock, we were allowed free time for about two hours. Everyone met back at the theater where we saw an amazing production of

~ Sarina S. ‘17