Groton Welcomes GRACE Scholars to Campus

This summer’s 2021 GRACE Scholars arrived on campus in person on June 27—a most welcome return after last summer’s virtual program.

 

GRACE (GRoton Accelerate Challenge Enrich) has run for four weeks each summer since 2016, offering academic challenge to rising Fourth Formers. GRACE is designed to propel students to advanced courses and fill preparation gaps during the summer before Upper School. Most GRACE Scholars take two courses, choosing among math, chemistry, English, and Latin.

 

Forty-seven GRACE Scholars are on campus this summer, the largest group ever to attend in person; last summer’s virtual program attracted fifty-six participants. "I am delighted to be back on campus after having been fully remote last summer," said GRACE Director Cort Pomeroy. "And I am thrilled that we have seven new students joining us, a significant uptick from past years."

 

All GRACE classes are led by Groton School faculty, and this summer’s group includes Headmaster Temba Maqubela, who will teach chemistry, and Vuyelwa Maqubela, who will teach English. The seven teaching assistants include three Groton graduates from 2021 and four from 2020; four of the seven were GRACE Scholars themselves.

 

The 2021 Scholars are ready for several hours a day of classroom learning, relaxing afternoon activities on campus, and weekend off-campus excursions outdoors, including ziplining, whitewater rafting, and a trip to the beach. During free periods, students will have the option to take art, theater, or build their own creations in the Fab Lab. Art offerings will include tie-dying, jewelry-making, and spray painting, while theater will focus on improv and culminate with an improv show.

 

GRACE is running under Groton School’s COVID-19 protocols: participants took COVID-19 tests upon arrival and will be in dorm quarantine until negative results are received. The campus will remain closed, with all GRACE Scholars living on campus throughout the program. Classes will begin online June 28 and are expected to begin in person the following day.

 

"I want the Scholars to depart at the end of GRACE with increased academic confidence and knowledge, lots of fun stories from participating in GRACE activities, and strengthened bonds of friendship among their formmates,” said Mr. Pomeroy.