Students
	Name: Sisam Birthplace: Chitawan, Nepal Came to GFA:  6th grade Favorite class: I have a hard time deciding between art and biology.  Art is magical to me because we create something instead of going over what has already been discovered.  Biology was the most demanding for me.  I wasn't a big fan of memorizing, but learning about different anatomies was fascinating.  I seriously think my mind tingled with joy after understanding certain aspects. Other Activity:I really, really like the Dance Club, where we do modern dance. We did some in the style of Isadora Duncan, which made us use our imagination, fantasy and dreams.  I look forward to it every week. For more student portraits click here

	Teachers
	Erin Thorkilsen  Hamilton College, 4th grade teacher My first official teaching job was in 2002. I was a Kindergarten teacher at a Waldorf-inspired school in Martha's Vineyard. I came to GFA in 2004 and have been in the 4th grade ever since. My favorite part of the day is first thing in the morning as the students come in. They each say good morning to me and usually share some sweet or interesting story from the past 24 hours. It's a time when I get to have individual conversations with them and hear about their lives outside of the classroom. I also am inspired by their eagerness to be at school and start our day. Outside of school, I am also a yoga teacher and have learned to use it with my 4th graders. Sometimes when we need a good transition between activities, I get everybody breathing and stretching.  It's good for their focus.

	Alumni
	Grant Picarillo '03, New York University '07, Peace Corps Volunteer For the past year and a half I have been living and working in Guatemala as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer. My daily efforts focus on leading community workshops on HIV/AIDS prevention, general “sex-ed” and sexuality, family planning, values, and self-esteem. Sometimes I envision my work here as guidance counseling, gone third world, in a second language. Far from being in a "9-5" job, I'm sharing my culture, beliefs, and opinions with friendly Guatemalans, which makes my Peace Corps experience a never-ending learning experience and utterly fulfilling. To this day, I look back fondly upon my time at GFA. For one, Mrs. Morrison’s Spanish classes have paid off more than I ever thought possible. More than that however, the self confidence I gained and the importance of pushing myself that I learned at GFA have empowered me and given me the tools I need to succeed in and enjoy what has been a unique and challenging chapter in my life: Peace Corps Service in Guatemala. Further, without the fundamental academic skills taught at GFA I doubt I would have been able to achieve my goal of attending Harvard School of Public Health in the fall of 2010. Click here to read more alumni portraits

	"In Their Own Words"
	Below is a video of four GFA students describing the school experience...