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About
Our Location Makes Us Special

Nestled at the corner of the James River and Forest Hill Park, GSES capitalizes on learning in the community.

Where Inspiration Meets Community

Our curriculum maximizes the use of our community and inspires our students to serve our neighbors and learn typical subjects in compelling and thought-provoking new ways.
Admissions
Call for a Tour
The best way to learn if GSES is the right place for your family is to visit. Please call the school at 804-231-1452 to arrange a personal tour.

Open Houses and Maker Mornings
Throughout the school year, GSES will provide opportunities for prospective families to visit for group tours and information sessions. Our Maker Mornings are the perfect opportunity for prospective students to get a taste of life in a GSES classroom.
Academics
Small Classes Allow for Big Experiences

Our small size provides big opportunities for learning. With a student to teacher ratio of 8:1, students receive the personalized attention to grow at their own pace and learn about subjects that matter to them in addition to the core academic subjects.

Innovative Learning
Our supportive environment allows students to take risks in their learning. Building a catapult that doesn't work teaches far more than a catapult that does. Feeling safe to try new things, while being carefully guided through challenging subjects, encourages our students to thrive.
Programs
We LOVE the Outdoors
Our outdoor education program takes advantage of our location near the James River and Forest Hill Park. Lessons often take students on adventures such as searching for local quarry stone in the neighborhood, measuring the velocity of student-built boats as they float down the James River, or collecting native pawpaws to use in cooking.
Community
Community Cleanup
Our families show up for GSES. Each August, our students and their families help clean the school grounds in preparation for the new school year. This is just one of the many ways we work together to create a united and close community.
Support
Supporting GSES
As GSES approaches its 50th year, families, alumni, and friends loyally provide support for the school's academic programs, as well as capital improvements to school facilities. Over the past few years, funds from generous donors have provided for library and Parish Hall renovations, as well as classroom enhancements and special programming.

In This Section

Directory

We definitely feel at home at GSES. The teachers know who my son is and how he's doing, socially and academically.

Middle School Parent B. Burns

Faculty and Staff

Hannah Aronson

Hannah Aronson

Grade 3 Teacher

Lorie Bartee

Lorie Bartee

Dean of Admission, Grades 5-6 Team

Mark Binford

Mark Binford

Dean of Students, Grades 5-6 Team

Kerry Blum

Kerry Blum

Grades 7-8 Team

Carol Bowen

Carol Bowen

Administrative Assistant

Melissa Brook

Melissa Brook

Grade 7-8 Team

Suzanne Cline

Suzanne Cline

Director of IT

Elizabeth Coleman

Elizabeth Coleman

Director of Outdoor Education

Suzanne Davis

Suzanne Davis

Lower School Team Leader, Grade 2 Teacher

Carrie Harrup

Carrie Harrup

Grade 1 Teacher

Lori Jobe

Lori Jobe

Assistant Head of School for Community Engagement and Administration

Moses Joshua

Moses Joshua

Chapel Leader

Ellen Landers

Ellen Landers

Kindergarten Teacher

Lisa Montgomery

Lisa Montgomery

Office Assistant

Nancy Negus

Nancy Negus

Assistant Head of School for Academics, Grades 5-6 Team

Saskia Price

Saskia Price

Director of Extended Day Program

Will Recinos

Will Recinos

Building Maintenance Supervisor, Outdoor Education Team

Jessie Ritz

Jessie Ritz

Physical Education Teacher

Ken Seward

Ken Seward

Head of School

Jennifer Sharpe

Jennifer Sharpe

School Nurse

Errin Sullivan

Errin Sullivan

Grade 4 Teacher

Barbara Tait

Barbara Tait

Middle School Team/Art