GCEF IN THE NEWS
Highlands Current, June 25, 2017
​
"The fourth- and fifth-grade classes at Garrison School on June 19 published the classes’ annual newspaper, The Cougar Current (the school mascot is a cougar), which was printed with a grant from the Garrison Children’s Education Fund. Select articles are reprinted below."
​
GCEF Raises $52,000 for Garrison School
Highlands Current, June 27, 2016
“The Garrison Children’s Education Fund (GCEF) raised $52,500 during the 2015-16 school year through a golf marathon, fall appeal, Winter Garden Ladies’ Night and the annual Spring Thaw to support academic, artistic and athletic activities at the Garrison School. In the past three years, fundraising has more than doubled, with 150 families contributing this past school year.”
​
For Seventh Graders in Garrison, It's War!
Highlands Current, April 30, 2016
Revolutionary War comic by Summer Pierre
​
Highlands Current, April 30, 2016
(The HVS vegetable garden was funded from a GCEF grant)
“The Garrison Union Free School marked Earth Day on April 22 by planting a vegetable garden on the school grounds with students from kindergarten through fifth grade taking part. Nicole Porto, a garden educator with Hudson Valley Seed, which is partnering with GUFS on the project, told The Current that the garden will yield a bountiful variety of produce including potatoes, carrots, lettuce, beans, tomatoes, peppers and zucchini.”
​
​
The Highlands Current, March 28, 2016
“The Garrison Children’s Education Fund will hold its 17th annual Spring Thaw at the Highlands Country Club from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 2. The fundraiser supports educational, artistic and athletic programming at the Garrison School.More than 100 items will be auctioned, including a day at the documentary series Years of Living Dangerously, a wine tasting at Artisan Wine Shop, learning to make jam with Eleanor’s Best, blowing your own ornament at Hudson Beach Glass, learning to play a new instrument with Beacon Music Factory or attending an Army football game as a VIP.”
​
Education Fund Raised $19K for Garrison School
The Paper/Philipstown.info, January 4, 2016
The Garrison Children’s Education Fund (GCEF) raised $19,000 during its fall fundraising efforts, which included a golf marathon and a general appeal. More than 100 donors donated $17,000 to support a variety of academic, artistic and athletic curriculum-enhancing activities.
The fall appeal highlighted the Imagination Playground, a 105-piece architectural set that allows children to design their own inventions, environments and activities. It was delivered to the school in November. “Creative play is vital to healthy human development, and Imagination Playground not only prompts this type of activity but fosters social interactions like no other recess activity I have ever seen,” said Garrison School Principal John Griffiths.
River of Words Poetry Trail Opens at Constitution Marsh
The Paper/Philipstown.info, July 18, 2015
“Throughout the fall and spring, we have classes here nearly nonstop,” said Lind. Classes from all over the greater Hudson Valley region come to the marsh to test water, learn local species and discover the natural world around them. They strive to develop biophilia, a term that suggests there is an instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems. Whether overturning stones in Indian Brook, looking across the marsh with binoculars or imagining the thoughts of a fox, students throughout the Hudson Valley can learn to love what is alive and vital — similar goal to the ROW.”
Nearly $48,000 Raised by GCEF for School
The Paper/Philipstown.info, July 13, 2015
The Garrison Children’s Education Fund (GCEF) raised nearly $48,000 during 2014–15 fundraising efforts, which included the October Golf Marathon Fundraiser, Fall Appeal and 16th Annual Spring Thaw. Money raised supports academic, artistic and athletic curriculum-enhancing activities. During the past school year, GCEF committed nearly $39,000 to support 20 programs. GCEF helped bring the following new programs to the Garrison Union Free School this year: K-2 Outdoor Discovery Lab; Artist in Residence; PTA After School Enrichment; Liberty Science Center; and Library Connection to Literacy.
Garrison Says Goodbye to Class of 2015 and Beloved Mrs. I
PCNR, Dennis Mazzuca, July 1 2015
(Article mentions our GCEF “Principal for a Day” raffle)
The Principal For A Day raffle program allowed four young students to shadow Mrs. I for a day, involving them in meetings, and giving them a taste of life on the other side of schooling. The temporary gig came with some responsibility, but all the students met it with maturity and respect. The winners were sixth grade Emerson Del Monte, who came prepared with research on extended recess/ outdoor time and how it could boost increased productivity in the classroom, third graders Grace Gordon, who enthusiastically said she wished to submit her application to fill the principal role, and John Mangan, who hired his younger brother Jonah as an assistant principal, and Meggie Clemente from kindergarten.
GCEF’s Spring Thaw Fundraiser Set for April 18
The Paper/Philipstown.info, April 14, 2015
The Garrison Children’s Education Fund (GCEF) will hold its 16th annual Spring Thaw at Glynwood’s Main House on Saturday, April 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. GCEF invites all members of the community to come dine, bid and dance at Spring Thaw, with money raised at this event supporting educational, artistic and athletic programming at GUFS.
GCEF Raises $19,500 During Fall Fundraisers
The Paper/Philipstown.info, December 23, 2014
The Garrison Children’s Education Fund (GCEF) raised a total of $19,500 during the fund’s fall 2014 fundraising efforts, which included a successful October Golf Marathon Fundraiser and Fall Appeal, completed in November. The Fall Appeal brought in over 100 donors and raised $12,000 with an emphasis this year on GCEF’s commitment to supporting a state-of-the-art library at GUFS. Money raised will support a variety of academic, artistic and athletic curriculum-enhancing activities.
GCEF Hosts Golf Marathon Fundraiser
The Paper/Philipstown.info, October 13, 2014
The Garrison Children’s Education Fund (GCEF) recently held a Golf Marathon Fundraiser at Highlands Country Club. Golfers raised over $6,000 by participating in several rounds of golf and securing donations from individuals and businesses.
Hudson Valley Seed Takes Root in Regional Schools
The Paper/Philipstown.info, March 26, 2014
Still a seedling as it approaches its first birthday, Hudson Valley Seed (HVS), a nonprofit founded by Garrison’s Ava Bynum, has thrived and grown tremendously since its inception. With a mission to “establish educational gardens with a nature-based curriculum in Hudson Valley schools,” it has done just that in three schools, with two more set to begin in spring and potentially more in fall, plus a waitlist of nine strong eager to implement HVS’ combination of hands-on gardening and unique, guided curriculum that dovetails with Common Core–mandated standards in science, math, English, art and more.
…Funding thus far for the nonprofit has come from a mix of foundation and individual support, and each school’s contribution varies by district. The Garrison Children’s Education Fund has helped support the program at Garrison School.
Garrison Children’s Education Fund Packs the House; ‘Spring Thaw’ Now in Planning Stages
PCNR, February 5, 2014
With plans to fund not only the wide array of enrichment programs it has traditionally underwritten but a host of new initiatives and grants, the Garrison Children’s Education Fund has steamed into the New Year with two successful fund raisers already in its wake.
Garrison Student’s Grant Proposal Leads to Art Show
PCNR, April 3, 2013
The Garrison School recently held an art exhibition created by Kindergarten through 3rd grade students the same night as “Move It 2,” a music and movement concert performed by students from those grades. Notably, the art show was coordinated and executed by Garrison 5th grader Solana McKee with help from Garrison School Art Teacher, Coulter Young.
Garrison School Art Shows Result of Student’s Grant
The Paper/Philipstown.info, March 27, 2013
On Thursday, March 14, the Garrison School held an art show of art created by K-3 students the same night as “Move It 2,” a music and movement concert performed by students from the same grades. The art show was coordinated and executed by Garrison fifth grader Solana McKee with help from Garrison School art teacher Coulter Young.
GUFS PTA and Children’s Education Fund Abuzz With New Leaders, Ideas
The Paper/Philipstown.info, September 24, 2012
The Garrison School District has announced new leadership for the Garrison School PTA and the Garrison Children’s Education Fund (GCEF).
Fun Year Planned for Garrison School
PCNR, September 19, 2012
The Garrison School District announced new leadership for the Garrison School PTA and the Garrison Children’s Education Fund (GCEF).
GUFS Welcomes Cougars for New School Year
The Paper/Philipstown.info, September 8, 2012
An ominous sky threatened a downpour on the first day of school in Garrison Wednesday morning (Sept. 5), as buses waited to drop off students, and a welcome committee, including the school’s mascot — the cougar, gathered by a blue-and-white balloon arch and welcome signs. The rain abated until, in perfect timing, the last of the busloads entered Garrison Union Free School.
… Last year, the Garrison Children’s Education Fund, a nonprofit that supports initiatives at Garrison School, gave students the opportunity to take a grant-writing course. An adult in the community facilitated the after-school class, and three grants were awarded as a result, one for art and two for gardening and sustainability, including plans to build a greenhouse. These projects will begin this academic year.
Jazz Band Amps Up Volume on and off Campus
The Paper/Philipstown.info, May 28, 2012
The order of the day at the Garrison School flows with a rhythm of lively vigor, but the middle school jazz band amps up the energy a notch higher . . . even without their instruments. Put them in a room with their jazz band instructor, Art Labriola of Garrison, and the young musicians chatter about jazz improv, collaboration, and jam sessions. Turn them loose with pianos, saxophones, trombones and trumpets, and this group of middle school students creates great jazz.
The students recently gathered to celebrate a brilliant year of learning and playing, including a performance at the Garrison Children’s Education Fund Spring Thaw fundraising event held at the Garrison Institute in April, and culminating with the school’s May concert for band and chorus at the Garrison School. The jazz band, a middle school elective course made possible in part by the GCEF, offers students the opportunity for further enrichment in the school’s music program.
Children’s Fund Hosts Spring Thaw
PCNR, April 25, 2012
The Garrison Children’s Education Fund invites local residents (as well as faraway friends) to join them for the not-to-miss event of the season in Putnam County—their annual Spring Thaw.
Garrison Children’s Education Fund’s Spring Thaw
The Paper/Philipstown.info, April 24, 2012
The Garrison Children’s Education Fund (GCEF) invites local residents (as well as faraway friends) to join them for the not-to-miss event of the season in Putnam County — their annual Spring Thaw. The event, which benefits dynamic programs in academics, the arts and athletics at the Garrison School, will be held on Saturday, April 28 at the Garrison Institute and promises to be a delightful evening of entertainment and fun.
Garrison Students Connect With Arabic Culture
The Paper/Philipstown.info, April 21, 2012
When students enter Marilyn Walker’s ninth period classroom at the Garrison Middle School, they venture out of the country and virtually connect with a composite of cultures in the Arabic-speaking world. The students are taking Arabic, and embracing a learning opportunity to study this challenging language. A traditional focus on reading, writing and, arithmetic keeps Garrison students on track to build a solid educational foundation, which helped earn Blue Ribbon honors for academic excellence from the U.S. Department of Education in 2010. Now seventh and eighth graders in the community are enriching their educations beyond the 3Rs through a variety of elective courses. In a program made possible in part through a grant from the Garrison Children’s Education Fund, a community-based nonprofit foundation, one of the electives, the Arabic course, provides students with a path to discover the language, study Arabic culture, sample its cuisine through food and beverage tastings, and take trips to explore the Arabic-speaking world.