GSA News Archive
February 2008
The ‘tween Year: At The Girls’ School, middle school is an opportunity to acknowledge the unique expression of each student and to develop each girl’s voice.
Throw us a Funny Bone: If you don’t mark your calendar for Friday, April 25th, the joke’s on you!
Talent Show: The Talent show will take place on March 20th at 6:00pm, the night before a school holiday. The tryouts will be on February 25 and March 3 at 3:00pm.
Art Beat: I hope all the wonderful clay creations made it home safely! It was one of our best experiences with sculpture this year.
January 2008
Taking Stock: January is a great time to “take stock” and make course corrections.
Message From the Board: Please welcome Sugandha Jain to the Girls’ School of Austin Board of Trustees.
Development News: GSA welcomes the newest member of our staff, Development Director Jenny Smrekar,
Yale Singers Perform at GSA: GSA was visited by Yale’s female acappella singing group, New Blue.
Science, Engineering, and Technology Update: With the help of several visiting engineers recently, the Science, Engineering and Technology classes built lots of bridges.
Scholastic Art Awards: The Central Texas Regional Scholastic Art Awards were judged this past Saturday at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School.
Art Beat: We have started the New Year with the exploration of clay and our imagination.
December 2007
The Girls' School Grows Up: Class size and its impact on learning in the lower elementary grades.
Gala Kick-Off Party: Please join the gala committee for a kick-off party at Genny Duncan’s house, January 18th at 6:00pm.
Robotics Recap: The Season's Finale. The Central Texas First Lego League robotics tournament on December 9th was a mélange of guts and glory, tears and courage, and ultimately, a success for all five of GSA’s robotics teams.
Shakespeare in the Classroom: On December 18, the fifth grade class performed selected scenes from William Shakespeare’s comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
NaNoWriMo WrapUp: This November, the whole Middle School participated in National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo.
All-Region Orchestra Concert: On November 17, five GSA middle school string students performed in the All-Region orchestra concert.
Operation Blue Santa: This year the kindergarten, first, and second grade classes worked together to contribute over 35 gifts to the Austin Police Department’s Operation Blue Santa Project.
Science Fair: The GSA science fair was a happening event! The projects were some of the best ever — interesting, comprehensive and clever.
Art Beat: It was a veritable tour de force of tie-dye as our GSA students sold our wares down to the bare table at the Dell Children’s Hospital Miracle Market on Dec.6th!
November 2007
Girls and Math: What we know about the female brain is that the whole brain is involved in thinking about problems, unlike the male brain, which is more compartmentalized.
GirlBots in Action: Drop into any Junior robotics team meeting these days and you are likely to see lots of hair—heads bent over Lego pieces...
Dell Children’s Hospital Miracle Market: It is tie-dye time again for grades K-8th, for the Dell Children’s Hospital Miracle Market where GSA will have a booth.
NANOWRIMO: This November, the sixth, seventh and eighth graders are writing for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
Spanish Fiesta: Third and fourth grade students created a Mexican restaurant for family members who came to eat tostadas and to watch a presentation of Spanish songs.
Art Beat: What a marvelous and hectic Fall we’ve had!
October 2007
Encouraging Girls to TAKE RISKS: The ability to take appropriate risks is essential to success and fulfillment in all areas of life.
Annual Fund Leaps Forward! The (first annual) Annual Fund Party last week at Scholtz Garten was a smashing success!
Robotics Team: The Middle School robotics team is making fantastic progress as they hurl toward the nailbiting tournament to be held in Round Rock on December 9.
Newton's Apple: The science classes have become very skilled at juggling topics. The Science, Engineering and Technology classes have been dismantling old computers.
All-Region Orchestra Concert: Five GSA students won a seat in middle school All-Region orchestra, and will be performing on November 17 at Pflugerville High School.
Art Beat: This has been a busy month for art class! We have delved into the mysteries of Abstract Art...
September 2007
Stone Soup: Many of you might remember the story, Stone Soup. It is etched in my memory as a story about communities coming together to make something grander than any one person could have done himself or herself.
PTO Hosts First Annual Fund Kick-Off Party: Mark your calendars for Friday, October 12, when the PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) will host the first Annual Fund kick-off drive at Scholz’s Garten.
New Placement Director: Middle School teacher Frances Ramberg will take on an additional responsibility this year as Placement Director.
Ranch Romp: The students at GSA are anticipating their annual Spring Concert, Thursday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church.
Newton's Apple: Middle School science classes are off to an exciting start!
Art Beat: The year is off to a great art start with our amazing and revealing Super Hero (and villain) identities now showing in the Courtyard Gallery.
April 2007
Road Trip! Our 7th and 8th graders spent two days seeing frogs, dinosaur bones, precious gems, artifacts from ancient Rome, famous French paintings, an astronaut in training, etc.
Firefighter Fever Hits GSA! This month the kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders had many visitors from our surrounding community including the C-shift from Fire Station #4.
Portrait Show: The fourth annual self-portrait show is on display until May 10, at Jerry's Artarama.
Spring Concert: The students at GSA are anticipating their annual Spring Concert, Thursday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church.
Art Beat: Thanks again to all who took part in the marvelous Self Portrait and Middle School Show, strings performances and reception at Jerry's Artarama on April 14th!
Welcome to Lisa Schmitt!
The Girls' School of Austin is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Schmitt
as the new Head of School beginning with the 2007-08 academic year.
Lisa Schmitt's educational philosophy
Enroll Now for 2007-2008: As an added incentive, if you are a current GSA family, you can receive a $200 credit towards your registration fee if you bring a new family to The Girls’ School of Austin.
March 2007
Welcome to Lisa Schmitt!
The Girls' School of Austin is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Schmitt
as the new Head of School beginning with the 2007-08 academic year.
Lisa Schmitt's educational philosophy
The Girls' School Campus Expands: The Girls' School has purchased the property next door along Windsor. Genny Duncan made it all happen with her amazingly generous donation.
Come to the Gala! You are cordially invited to the Annual GSA Gala, Sunday, May 6, 6 p.m. at La Zona Rosa!
GSA Partners with AVEDA for Earth Day! Reception: Sunday, April 29th, from 3-5 p.m., at the AVEDA store at Barton Creek Square Mall.
Portrait Show: The fourth annual self-portrait show will be on Saturday, April 14, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., at Jerry's Artarama.
Auction Items Needed: The biggest fundraiser of the year, the Spring Gala, will be on May 6, and we need your help!
Enroll Now for 2007-2008: As an added incentive, if you are a current GSA family, you can receive a $200 credit towards your registration fee if you bring a new family to The Girls’ School of Austin.
Walk for SafePlace: The 20th Anniversary SafePlace Walk is Saturday, April 14, at Waterloo Park, and The Girls’ School plans to have a strong presence.
Road Trip! Middle school students in the 7th and 8th grades will take a three-day, two-night trip April 3-5 to Houston and Matagorda Bay.
PTO Report: We are coming into the final stretch of the school year and I am pleased to announce we will vote on a new slate of PTO officers at the April 12 meeting.
Bollards Installed in Driveway: Twelve steel bollards have been installed in GSA’s driveway to help protect our children during pickup and drop-off times.
Art Beat: If it’s Spring, it’s time for self-portraits! Please make plans for our incredible self-portrait show on April 14th, 3-6 p.m., at Jerry's Artarama.
February 2007
"Passing Notes": It's Gala Time! Plans are underway for the second annual GSA Gala, a fund raising party that promises to be great fun, and will raise money for the school!
Gala Volunteers Needed! The 2007 GSA Gala is shaping up to be a fabulous event and we want you to be a part of it!
New GSA Board Officers: The GSA Board of Trustees recently elected its new officers.
GSA Talent Show Update: The Talent Show is on March 23, and all students are welcome to join. We are still looking for a convenient venue.
Middle School Caving Trip: On Monday, February 12th the middle school of GSA went to Whirlpool Cave for an amazing chance to explore the underground.
Art Beat: We hope you enjoyed our spectacular lithograph print show in the courtyard. The girls enjoyed discovering this unusual medium.
January 2007
Gala Planning is Underway: The Development Committee is actively planning the 2006 - 2007 gala for this spring.
Love Your School Day: The first annual Love Your School Day kicks off Sunday, Feb 11th at 1:00 p.m. with a gathering in the GSA courtyard.
Field Trip to AAS: Earlier this month, the 7th and 8th grade students visited the Austin American Statesman.
GSA Talent Show: Got talent? Well now is your chance to show what you've got.
Newton's Apple - YOU MUST SEE THIS! GSA now has a full robot mascot named Aibo.
Water Stop @ Austin Marathon: Ms. Ramberg is organizing a water table for the runners of the Austin Marathon.
Art Beat: The whole school is doing lithography, a form of printmaking involving aquasticks, canvas, handmade paper, and our 200-pound etching press!