Against a backdrop of pandemic restrictions, GDS Hopper Athletics rose to achieve some of its most stellar results in the School’s history.

Middle School students finished the year strong on both the debate team and math club.

Students in Middle School band worked diligently this semester in their virtual lessons and their in-person, small group rehearsals

The annual Free to Be Me Assembly is one of GDS’s cornerstone assemblies.

Congrats, Class of 2025!

High School student publications had a big spring, and The Augur Bit also took home a prestigious award. 

The 75th Anniversary Speaker Series event Advocacy Through Music and Poetry

The School's mission is clear that any and all forms of bigotry and discrimination will not be tolerated here at GDS.

Revisiting Philanthropy in a Time of Social, Economic, and Political Unrest, A GDS 75th Speaker Series Event

Middle School students explore identity through their artwork.

On April 5, spring sports returned across DC schools, and GDS athletics kicked off their long-lost season cut short last spring by the start of the COVID-19 lockdown. 

Daniel Farber '23 won the youth division in the District’s Inaugural Poe-Tree Contest, and community members wrote haikus in honor of AAPI Month.

Abigail Howell ’18 finds her passion and purpose in elder care.

Congratulations to our remarkable 13 senior athletes who have committed to playing at the college level! 

Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day is one of our favorite days of the year.

GDS alumni artists connected with current GDS students who share an interest in art and storytelling.

A 3rd Grade Photography Project

High School students presented proposals for reducing the carbon footprint of our unified campus.

A Live, 5th Grade Broadcast

We are so excited that the Class of 2021 was the first graduating class to participate in our Senior Walk.

Students enjoyed a team-building trip with high ropes, low ropes, zip lines, archery, puzzles, and obviously good company! 

Experiential Learning in 1st Grade

Historian David Fedman ’04 visits a WWII history class.

Students in 3D Modeling and Design class are working towards constructing a fully-functional lamp fixture, lamp shade, or light feature.

7th Graders Do More Than Dance

Lower School students spent time outdoors in pursuit of answers to questions about the Earth.

The High School welcomed the famed law professor, journalist, author, and foreign policy commentator.

Environmental Justice Week at GDS included a variety of activities and events meant to further educate the community on environmental justice and its intersections.

This week, GDS students competed in the National Quiz Bowl and Euro Challenge.

On April 5, spring sports returned across DC schools, and GDS athletics kicked off their spring season.

Lower School students are joyfully "popping popcorn" on a parachute in P.E. class.

"Outer Spaceways Incorporated" by Sun Ra with Brad Linde and a GDS creative music class

On March 11, GDS welcomed four outstanding leaders in the women's rights movement to discuss the future of gender justice in the United States and around the world.

GDS highly encourages everyone in our community to get vaccinated, including our eligible High School students.

Ela Rockafellow ’18 honored with prestigious Goldwater Scholar award

The GDS Passover Assemblies each were a joyful celebration expressing gratitude for our arrival to the new season.

We celebrate the 17 GDS poets who reached the semi-finals of the Parkmont Poetry Contest.

As an institution that is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, we support the AAPI community within our school and across the nation.

GDS recently participated in the Mock Court Program for DC High School students.

GDS has had the honor of hosting a number of expert voices from the civil rights movement this winter.

Math teams and clubs have continued to thrive throughout the year despite the virtual setting.

Heart-rate monitors in Middle School physical education

The second gathering of Sidibe’s Slam Session featured a blend of guest performances, callback student spotlights, and many first-time slam and spoken word poets.

Second grade continues to learn from the past as they look ahead to creating the kind of world in which they want to live.

Annabel Williams ’22 reintroduces Amelia Myre '20 for the Alumni in Art Series.

Meet GDS’s Environmental Task Force

Ava Blum ’23 reintroduces Mai-Hân Nguyen ’17 for the Alumni in Art Series.

In this all-school snapshot, we are highlighting just four of the many examples of teaching and learning around gender, gender equality, health disparities, gender policy, and LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Middle School science teachers hosted a watch party for students interested in following NASA’s rover Perseverance on its descent to—and successful landing on—the surface of Mars.

A well-deserved honor was bestowed last week upon GDS debate director jon sharp, who was named Coach of the Year.

Anti-racist learning in 2nd grade has accelerated recently with race cars—and beaded bracelets. 

For the Lower School Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly, 1st graders  performed in a powerful and touching collection of protest songs and poems.

Michael Avery '15's art has grown into digital and design spheres in tandem with a similar evolution in the GDS art program.

Ziyah Holman ’20 inspires the world right off the starting line.

This week, the Lower School kicked off their sixth year participating in the Great Kindness Challenge. 

Annalise Myre ’19 did her part to create the 2021 Presidential Inauguration's COVID-19 memorial, talent list, and series of real, hometown heroes for a virtual “parade.”

Christmas Peace Assemblies at GDS

This Year's Consent Summit Draws Record Attendance

Chinese Essays and the It's Academic Quiz Show

In an effort to welcome GDS students in the new year with joy and purpose, we introduce Joyful January x CAN-uary.

Elite athletes share life lessons and tips on motivation and mental toughness with GDS community members

This week, the Middle School held an assembly on differing abilities—conceived, coordinated, and moderated by Lexi Berzok ’25.

In honor of GDS’s 75th anniversary, the GDS High School theater program will present a 75-minute virtual presentation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. 

Brush up on your Mandarin Chinese alongside Min Wang’s High School Chinese classes. 

GDS runners continue an annual celebration of one of their own.

Treasuring traditions, a pandemic notwithstanding, GDS’s three divisions honored the virtue of gratitude virtually prior to the Thanksgiving Break.

The 23rd Benjamin Cooper Memorial Lecture

“Seeing the kids is doing wonders for me as a teacher.” – Kate Maloney, 6th grade teacher

Tools for Nurturing Anti-Racism and Anti-Bias Attitudes in your Child(ren)

The 75th Anniversary Speaker Series continued this month with “Entertainment in the Time of COVID,” featuring GDS alumni Kelly AuCoin ’85, Terence Carter ’97, Gina Gionfriddo ’87, Ethan Slater ’10, and A.J. Weissbard ’91 and moderated by High School performing arts chair Laura Rosberg.

In all three divisions, students kept up some of the spirit of Halloween. 

High School seniors carved pumpkins inspired by drawings sent in by PK and Kindergarten students in the weeks leading up to Halloween.

This fresh option will brighten your morning with its wholesome goodness. 

Dr. Bettina Love Speaks to GDS Faculty and Staff

Civic Engagement: Jeff Johnson in Conversation with Russell Shaw

Middle School students had the opportunity to teach or attend workshops taught by their peers.

High School students were featured yesterday in The Washington Post for their efforts to sign up area students to serve as poll workers on Election Day.

On October 22, 1945, GDS first opened its doors in downtown DC.

75th Anniversary Speaker Series Kickoff: Race, Justice, and the American Judicial System

Take a walk down the Virtual Middle School Hallway and you’ll get a rare peek into the lockers of our 6th graders. 

What does academic support look like this fall for Middle School and High School students?

Last Friday, contemporary artist Sandra Pérez-Ramos joined the 3rd grade virtually as part of their Hispanic Heritage Month learning activities.

September: Professional Development and Parent-Focused Programming

From both the Lower School and Middle School this week, students and teachers animated their understanding of shared community norms with joyful creativity.

Our new dining website is live: www.GDS.org/Dining!

Orientation will wrap up in 5th grade this week, but it’s not just the start of a new year—it’s also the year 5th grade joined the Middle School!

Even in Virtual Campus, teachers have found innovative ways to keep some familiar favorites in their opening weeks.

Each morning this week, 25 or more students arrived for supervised Virtual Campus in well-ventilated tents just outside the main entrance to the new Lower/Middle School building.

GDS is pleased to announce the completed installation of perhaps the only high-strength tension grid system in any DC-area school.

Teachers have created innovative virtual classroom spaces to introduce themselves, create a sense of shared community space, provide resources for accessing class materials, and start meaningful dialogue with students. 

GDS’s maker in residence is leading a school-wide, thematic maker project that students can join from home.