February Message from the Head of School
Dear GUS Friends and Family,
February has brought us deeper into winter, with more snow, colder days, and that familiar midseason feeling when the holidays are behind us, and spring still feels just out of reach. It is a time that asks for steadiness — from our students, from our teachers, and from all of us. And yet, even in this quieter, wintry stretch, GUS continues to be full of life, creativity, and joy.
This month, our campus has been buzzing with activity. We gathered for inspiring Lighthouse Presentations, filled our school with excitement during Winterfest and the Book Fair, and enjoyed the delight of the Second Grade Bird Play. We celebrated All School Pajama Day thanks to Cece Appleton’s BINGO win, welcomed families for conferences, and shared the warmth of Valentine’s Day, made even sweeter by the PA’s thoughtful treats throughout the week.
Moments like these remind us what makes GUS so special. Our students are not just learning—they are creating, performing, presenting, building, exploring, and sharing their voices. They are given choice. They are active participants in their learning. They are seen and known as individuals. In short, they love school because school is built around them. These experiences reflect the heart of a GUS education—creative, hands-on, joyful, and deeply human.
This month, I also had the opportunity to sit down with longtime GUS science teacher Emilie Cushing, who is celebrating 25 years at GUS, for an episode of The GUS Podcast: Curious by Nature. We talked about her passion for teaching outdoors and how time spent observing, questioning, and truly knowing the natural world helps students develop empathy, responsibility, and stewardship. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to listen.
Looking ahead, we’re excited for the always-spirited Boar Cup and continued school pride leading up to spring break. We look forward to GUS Rocks the Cut and the final drawing for Celtics tickets next month. Events and traditions like these bring energy, connection, and a strong sense of community during this final winter stretch.
This time of year can feel long, but it also offers a chance to slow down and notice the quieter moments that shape a child’s experience. In schools, love is rarely loud or dramatic. It lives in the small, everyday gestures: the patient explanation, the encouraging word, the steady routine, the extra check-in, the lesson prepared with care. These moments may feel ordinary, but together they build confidence, belonging, and joy.
Kahlil Gibran wrote, “Work is love made visible.” When we look around GUS — at classrooms humming with creativity, laughter echoing down the hallways, and students proudly sharing their learning — we see that love everywhere. It is on the trails, in the studios, at the science tables, and in the countless small interactions that fill each day.
As we continue through this wintry stretch and move toward the promise of spring, may we hold onto that truth: the work we do together, with care and intention, is a powerful expression of love. And that is something worth celebrating, in every season.
With gratitude,
