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www.FredParent.NET 17 Sponsored Material Join us for the live conversation on Q: How does Grymes Memorial School incorporate the arts and STEM learning? The arts are a big part of our world at Grymes and are closely tied into the class curricula. This includes visual arts, music and drama. Twice a week, students have art class in the Visual Arts Center. Art is a very mixed-media and hands-on program. Ms. Frantz coordinates closely with teachers to make curricular connections wherever possible, particularly with history and science! For example, while the first graders are studying Ancient Egypt, they're creating their own Egyptian cartouches with papyrus that they made in art. Every student also has music twice a week. The wonderful work that our music teacher, Tracey Stakem, does with our students is demonstrated onstage, with two outstanding annual all-school concerts. Learning to play an instrument is incredible brain training. The multitasking skills that stu- dents learn in our Upper School Wind Ensemble are astounding. STEM is always an evolving focus for us. This year, we're honed in specifi- cally on engineering. We love the focus on problem-solving, collaboration and innovation. Our Lower School science teacher, Julie Sherman, has transformed her science classroom into the "Rad Lab," and has filled it with all kinds of hands-on tools, materials and gadgets. Her design briefs have inspired our students to build and create. It's amazing to see how excited our students are about problem-solving! Engineering has infused our com- munity with a wonderful, creative energy and it's so thrilling to see how inspired our students have become! Q: What are some things you can fi nd at Grymes Memorial School that you just can't get anywhere else? Our loving, happy community! Our incredibly wide-reaching and well- rounded curriculum that challenges, engages and excites students in so many avenues. Seventy years of traditions that bring our school family together, in meaningful ways. These are all very important pieces of the Grymes experience. Most importantly, our teachers are just simply out- standing. They care so whole-heartedly about their students and are so deeply dedicated to each and every individual in their classroom. They are truly what makes this school what it is. Do you have questions for Grymes Memorial School or want a peek of the campus? Be sure to watch our Facebook Live interview this month! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for information and updates. Facebook: @fredericksburgparent Twitter: @FredParent Instagram: @fredparentmagazine a sk t h e e x p e rt Grymes is a non-denominational independent school where character and citizenship are emphasized as part of a whole-child education. Q: Is fi nancial support an option? Absolutely! It's our goal to make a Grymes education affordable for as many families in the area as possible. Everyone is welcome to apply for our Tuition Assistance Program, which can discount tuition by up to half for eligible families. Over 50 percent of our families participate in the program, and we encourage everyone to apply! The application is completely confidential, and we do our best to make a Grymes education possible for as many families as we can. We will work with you to design a payment plan—all interest-free! Our goal is to make tuition as manageable and stress-free as possible for our families. Q: What is the admissions process like? While we have a rolling admissions process and don't have spe- cific deadlines for enrollment, spaces in the classrooms are limited, and they do fill up quickly! The process typically begins with a parent tour, which is a time for us to visit together and get to know each other, and also a fun opportunity to walk through the hallways and peek in at classes while the students are at work. I find it's so helpful for parents to be able to observe the "Grymes magic" in person. The tour is a great opportunity for them to get a real feel for the school community. After an application and transcript is submitted, we then invite the child for one or two "shadow days," so they can meet their peers and so we can get to know them. During the student visit day (or days), we do a few exercises to gauge readiness for the cur- riculum. It's done in a very casual and friendly setting with our Academic Support Director, so it doesn't feel like "testing" at all. Once we have a com- plete admissions file, the admissions committee reviews the file together and, if space is available and it's a good fit, they issue a "Welcome to the Family" invitation to enroll. It's an easy process that follows a few steps, but we try to make it as enjoyable and worry-free as possible. Tell us a little about summer camp. How do we sign up? I'm so sorry to say that it's full! Our summer camp program is becoming wildly popular, and space fi lls up fast! Registra- tion is open to students ages 3 through rising fi fth grade, and the schedule is very fl exible and accommodating for working parents in busy summer months. Visit our website at http://www.grymesschool.org/summer to get on the waitlist for next year!