Welcome back from what I hope was a restful and enjoyable break! Spring colors are popping everywhere. The above photos were taken by photo digital photography students Fort Johnson and Khloe Goudelock. 

Whether you explored faraway places, visited colleges, spent time with family and friends, or just relaxed at home, I hope the week away from school brought you peace and happiness and allowed you to recharge for a solid finish to the year!

We open our return with an amended schedule due to the eclipse. Here is a snapshot of the all-school information sent before the break:

Schedule Changes:

• School Start Time: 10 am.
• School Dismissal Time: 4:30 pm.
• Early Care: Available at 7:30 am for families that need regular drop-off times.
• Extended Day: Available until 6 pm as usual.
• Athletics: All events and practices will be delayed until 5 pm or later. Lower and Middle School events are canceled, and varsity coaches will communicate schedule updates directly.

These adjustments are being made to ensure student safety during the peak of the solar eclipse. In Spartanburg, the window for the eclipse spans from approximately 1:50 to 4:30 pm, with maximum coverage (estimated at 82 percent) occurring at 3:09 pm. The later dismissal time allows for the eclipse to occur before students are dismissed. 

In Upper School, weather permitting, students will have the option to view the eclipse while supervised by faculty (and with approved safety glasses). Alternatively, they may remain inside and view the official livestream. Aside from the amended schedule, we will hold regular classes, and students will be responsible for content and assignments. Please get in touch with us directly if you do not want your student to view the eclipse for any reason.

As we dig into quarter four, our last weeks of school will pass incredibly quickly! Staying focused and motivated as we close the academic year will be the key to a successful finish. April and May bring unbelievably full calendars. The week ahead carries us into a stream of activity that leads to graduation on Friday, May 24. 

Monday's eclipse events kick off the flurry of activity, and things speed forward from there. On Tuesday, College Counseling will host a senior series event led by Scott Cochran. The talk will take place during the MidMac and lunch window (11:30 - 12:30). We are grateful for Scott's willingness to share his sage insights on college life and success. The League of Women's Voters will be on campus this Wednesday (11:30-12:00) to register eligible and interested voters, followed by Upper School Game Night from 6:30 - 8:00. On Thursday, the Spring Band Concert begins at 6:30 in the Stone gym. We will close the week with our time-honored Spirit of the Griffin Assembly at 1:00 pm in the Stone Gym. Please check the athletic calendar and college counseling corner for more info. A quick collection of dates is below.

Warmest wishes,

Paige