Annual Giving Surges Past Goal
	It is with great excitement and tremendous gratitude that we announce the results for our 2010-2011 Annual Giving campaign. Thanks to the generosity of our entire school community, we surpassed our goal of $1.5 million, raising a total of $1,580,969. This tremendous success was the result of a true community effort, with Trustees, parents, faculty and staff, alumni, grandparents, parents of alumni and friends all coming together to make the GFA experience the very best it can be. Sincere thanks and recognition go to the many dedicated volunteers who helped make this year’s fund such an extraordinary success, particularly our Annual Fund Chairs, Kara Bohnsack, Jeff Nixon and Molly McGrath, the Alumni Council, and our Annual Giving Class Captains. Thank you for your outstanding support of the 2010-2011 Annual Fund! Please click HERE for a slide show of highlights of the school year.

	GFA Breaks Ground on Outdoor Amphitheater
	There was great excitement when work commenced this week on transforming the space outside the Upper School Science Wing into an amphitheater.  This new facility will serve as an outdoor classroom and performance space, as well as a special place for student groups to gather.  This project was made possible by the generosity of the Shack Sackler family, who are pictured here breaking ground with Janet Hartwell, Head of School.  Construction on the amphitheater should be completed by Thanksgiving.

	Ribbon-Cutting at Homecoming Celebration
	Saturday, October 23, 2010 GFA Celebrates Homecoming AND the Opening of New Athletic Facilities  Eight new tennis courts and a new baseball infield went into play for the first time on Saturday afternoon. Janet Hartwell, Head of School, cut the ribbon with Board member                            Let the Games Begin Steve Lawrence, and Director of Athletics Tauni Butterfield. Hundreds of GFA friends, alumni and families stood in the sunshine to watch the opening ceremony. Mike Greenberg from ESPN's Mike & Mike in the Morning show and a GFA parent was the emcee. Willie Upshaw, former Major League Baseball player and the manager of the Bridgeport Bluefish, came to throw out the first pitch. GFA grad Marc Powers '09 told the crowd he was "a little bit envious" of the beautiful courts. Powers plays number one on the Yale tennis team and was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2010.   A celebrity tennis match with Powers, Michael Gallagher (GFA '04 and Colgate '08), parent Stew Leonard and broadcaster Mike Greenberg inaugurated the courts. Meanwhile, Willie Upshaw gave batting clinics on the new baseball field, helped by GFA's Francis Herman '10, who now plays baseball for Trinity College.  GFA alumni played soccer and renewed friendships during the Homecoming festivities, and GFA dominated King in their home games.