Dear GCS Families,
Summer has officially arrived and we have begun to celebrate the lazier days of summer fun here at GCS Camp. We are keeping cool with waterslides and freeze pops, sharing silly verses of the famous camp songs during opening and closing ceremonies, caring for and eating from our vegetable gardens, and enjoying majestic crafts in celebration of our summertime theme, Medieval Majesty.
A Fond Farewell
We wanted to take a moment to thank you all for a wonderful school year together. Together We Are Stronger and as we bid farewell to the school year, we celebrate all of your children; their growth and development; their new and old friendships; and their inspiration and laughter. Parenting young children is just pure love and joy, but also very busy. Thank you for being part of GCS, for sharing your children with us, and for juggling your time to be part of our GCS Family.
We would also like to thank our amazing team of teachers for their never-ending commitment to early education and their endless work, energy, and talent with young children. Special recognition goes to Assistant Teacher Noreen Keras and our Bookkeeper Lorrie Morgan who are retiring (but will continue to act as consultants when needed) after 30 plus years of service. Their presence will be missed but they have left us with memories and lessons to last a lifetime.
We are also sadly saying goodbye to three amazing Board of Directors members, Brie Weider, Beth Christoforo, and Laura Hankin. Please see the attached tributes (Board of Director Goodbyes – June 2024) for the many ways these ladies have worked to make GCS a wonderful place to be. Our Board will reconvene mid-August and we are always looking to add those that have a desire to contribute and work with a fun group. I am happy to talk to anyone who may be interested!
Our Alumni Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to this year’s recipients of our GCS Alumni Scholarships in Memory of Christopher Barton and Taylor Benjamin Young. Each year we remember these two special young men and honor graduating alumni through our scholarship awards. Erin Ciarfella was the recipient of the GCS Scholarship in Memory of Taylor Benjamin Young, and Lindsay Ketelhohn and Cassie Prechtl were awarded GCS Scholarships in Memory of Christopher Barton. GCS is so proud of our recipients, and all of our applicants!
Good to be Back
After being out on an unexpected medical leave earlier this spring, I am slowly getting myself back into the GCS schedule. Although I still have some rehabbing to do, I am available in person or via email. Thank you for the many well wishes and kind messages from so many families. While GCS is a well-oiled machine, it does take a village. I am so grateful to Lisa, Bonnie, the entire GCS teaching team and the Board of Directors, for holding down the fort and allowing me the time and space to heal.
We Love Feedback Thank you!
We do appreciate your feedback so that we can continue to be the best that we can be. Many thanks to the families who participated in the Family Survey that went out earlier this month. The Board will share a summary via email. Be on the lookout for the latest On Board Newsletter that is coming out soon, as well.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to the Lambert family on the birth of their daughter, Lily (brother, Ansel, was in the Yellow Room & is in the Dragon group for GCS Camp), and to the Mannix family on the birth of their daughter, Claire (sister, Nora, is an alum & is in the Falcom group for GCS Camp).
Thank you!
We’d like to thank the Pink Room for our final “Fun Friday” of the year. Staff emjoyed a delicious lunch provided by the Kindergarten families. A special thank you to the Basile family (son, Kade, was in the Yellow Room) and Catania Oils in Ayer for providing each staff member with a bottle of olive oil.
Thank you to the following families for other contributions to the school: The Babin family for La Llama, Llama Rojo Pajama book; the Lopez family for planting flowers around our mailbox; and the Ma family for The Buddy Bench book & playground bench. 
We are here all summer with our GCS Campers, but also preparing for a new school year. Please feel free to stop by or call if we can be of any help to you!
Enjoy your summer!
Linda Kosinski, Director
Dates to Remember
Monday, July 1st – GCS Camp Session 1 Begins
Tuesday, July 16th – GCS Camp Session 2 Begins
Tuesday, July 30th – GCS Camp Session 3 Begins
Thursday, August 15th – Last Day of Full Day Camp
Thursday, August 29th – Family Orientation Day (Details to Follow)