Visit GFA

Here are two great ways to see if GFA is a fit for your child and your family. 

OPEN HOUSE

At GFA, we inspire each other to build a better world, grounded in our core values: passion, integrity, empathy, curiosity, and excellence. Come see first-hand how we instill these beliefs. The Open House events feature age-appropriate activities for children and parents, and provide a chance for visitors to meet with GFA faculty, Head of School Bob Whelan, coaches, and the Admission team. Fall 2019 Open Houses are currently scheduled for PreK-12: Sunday, Oct. 27 1:00 p.m., PreK-12: Sunday, November 24, 1:00 p.m., PreK-14: Tuesday, Oct. 15, 8:30 a.m., PreK-4: Monday, Dec. 9, 8:30 a.m.

Please RSVP for an Open House here

tours and conversation

Come meet our Admission team one-on-one for an informal conversation and student-led tour of the school. There is no better way to GFA in action and get your questions answered. Fill out the below form requesting a tour and someone from our team will be in touch soonest. 

Schedule a tour

If you have any difficulty, or wish to speak with someone in the admission office, please call the following admission directors based on your child’s division:

• Kim McElderry - Lower School (Grades PreK - 4) - 203.256.7585
• Sherry Rago - Middle School (Grades 5 - 8) - 203.256.7518
• Ann Miller - Upper School - (Grades 9 - 12) 203.256.7525
• Peggy Harwood - Upper School - (Grades 9-12) 203.256.7514

Families applying to lower school do not bring their child for the initial conversation and tour. We will meet your child at a later date. Families applying to the Middle and Upper School should plan to bring their child and at least one parent. Typically the  conversation and tour lasts for 90 minutes.  Due to our enhanced security, adults should plan to bring a photo ID with them.

What your visit will entail

Your visit will begin with a campus tour. For middle and upper school applicants, your tour will be led by a GFA student ambassador. Following the tour, you will meet with an admission staff member. We will meet with the student first for about 20 minutes, and then meet with the parents. The conversation is designed to make your child as comfortable as possible so that they can share information about themselves, but also learn about all GFA has to offer. Parents are often surprised when they learn that their child had a lot to say in the interview. But if not, that’s OK, too. We have lots of experience meeting with all kinds of students, and our goal is to simply meet them on their level and learn as much as we can.

Regarding dress, many families visit during the school day, and so they arrive in their school clothes or uniform. That is just fine. On the other hand, some students want to follow the GFA dress code. In that case our dress code includes solid colored pants or skirt, collared shirt, appropriate long shorts until the end of October, and sneakers or flats. If you want more examples, follow us online to see examples of our students during the school day. We hope this helps.

WHERE TO PARK

We have set aside parking spaces at the front of the faculty/staff parking lot. Please pull to the front of that lot and you will see spots on the left marked “Admission Parking.” From the parking lot, enter through the stone wall entrance and walk through the cobblestone courtyard to the main reception area.

SCHEDULE A class visit day:

In addition, you may schedule a time for a Middle School Class Visit or an Upper School Class Visit. Class Visit Days should be scheduled for a day that is after the initial conversation and cannot be on the same day. Also, the biographical portion of the application should be completed prior to the Class Visit Day. The schedule for the 2019-20 Class Visit Days will be available soon, so please check back often.