About

By design, Grymes is a community of connection: between students and teachers, families and school, campus and community. These connections are the spark that propels learners forward into lives of purpose and meaning.

Children naturally thrive when supported by inspired and loving adults. The essence of Grymes arises from these connections. It is an education where children flourish, surrounded by parents, teachers, and staff dedicated to their growth and development. It is a community grounded in essential character traits that form a life-long foundation for learning and self discovery. It is a close-knit learning environment in which all students are actively engaged in their learning journeys. It is a challenging curriculum focused on feeding children’s innate curiosity and developing healthy habits and skills.

In sum, it is the spark we call joyful learning.

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Jonathan Brand

For seventy-five years, Grymes Memorial School has served families in Central Virginia with distinction. From junior kindergarten through eighth grade, our students are known and valued as they grow and develop their interests and talents in a supportive, nurturing community.

Elizabeth Norfleet, one of the School’s founders, once made a statement that has long served as a touchstone for Grymes: “Children deserve the best when they are learning to learn.”

When I first heard these words, my thoughts turned to the material things that make up schools: from books, pencils, and computers to science labs and sports fields. I also thought of the teachers. The backbone of any great school, teachers need to be caring, knowledgeable, engaging, purposeful, and able to inspire and lead their students through their course of study.

Elizabeth Norfleet, one of the School’s founders, once made a statement that has long served as a touchstone for Grymes: “Children deserve the best when they are learning to learn.”

Children deserve the best from their teachers, and this gift is exactly what our teachers give to their students. Not only do Grymes teachers embody our ideal of joyful learning by continually looking for ways to learn themselves, but they show an unreserved commitment to their students and to the work of nurturing and challenging them to grow into responsible, capable young people.

I have the privilege of seeing the powerful impact of a Grymes education on my own children each day. It is an education that values the traditional three R’s and core subjects as much as a broad range of learning opportunities in art, music, drama, public speaking, athletics, and more.

One trait that I particularly value is our focus on both learning and character development, a hallmark of Grymes ever since its doors first opened. Honor, respect, responsibility, and kindness are the core values that bind our community and provide the moral compass that we seek to instill in our students. They are the values that we believe lead to happy, productive lives.

Thank you for taking the time to explore our school. To learn even more and to get know the people who make Grymes such a vibrant community in which to learn and grow, I encourage you and your family to visit our campus.

Yours sincerely,
Jonathan D. Brand

THE FOUR PILLARS

Each year, we begin the school year revisiting the Four Pillars with our students and we challenge them to weave each pillar into their daily lives inside and outside of the classroom. These essential pillars form a strong foundation for every student which will support them during their time at Grymes and beyond. We believe deeply in the importance and benefits that accompany infusing Honor, Respect, Responsibility, Kindness into each path we choose.

Honor

Making good choices, understanding consequences, and developing a sense of personal integrity – fundamentals to establishing confidence in oneself and in others. “No amount of ability is of the slightest avail without honor.” – Andrew Carnegie

Respect

We believe everyone should feel valued and safe. Understanding the concept of respect and learning to give and earn respect is essential to how we operate as a school and a community.

Responsibility

Follow-through, greater independence, seeing something to completion, answering for our actions and understanding consequences. Learning independence and taking accountability are essential to success.

Kindness

There is no greater gift than kindness. Fostering kindness in our classrooms and beyond has a positive impact beyond measure.

Portrait of a Grymes Graduate

It all began at Grymes. Our graduates matriculate at a variety of public and private secondary schools, locally and around the country. While each graduate chooses his or her own unique path, one constant remains the same: a Grymes education provides a solid foundation with which to grow—and thrive—at the secondary level. A Grymes education lays the groundwork for a lifetime of learning, and the wide range of our graduates’ accomplishments shows how grizzlies continue to fulfill the Grymes mission well beyond these hallowed halls.

The following is a list of just some of the schools Grymes graduates attend after completion of eighth grade.

Blair Academy
The Blue Ridge School
Chatham Hall
Christchurch School
Commonwealth Governor’s School, Spotsylvania
The Covenant School
Culpeper County High School
Eastern View High School
Emma Willard School
Episcopal High School
Fredericksburg Academy
Foxcroft
Groton School
Highland School
James Monroe High School
The Lawrenceville School

Louisa County High School
The Madeira School
Madison County Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School
Madison County High School
Miss Porter’s School
Orange County Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School
Orange County High School
Patriot High School, Falls Church
Riverbend Commonwealth Governor’s School
Riverbend High School
St. Andrew’s
St. Margaret’s School
Tandem Friends School
Virginia Episcopal School
Wakefield School
Woodberry Forest School

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Like other independent schools, Grymes Memorial School is governed by an independent, self-perpetuating board of trustees. Comprised of current and former parents, alumni, friends, and leading members of the community, the Board’s primary responsibility is to sustain the school’s mission through wise financial and strategic planning, establishing appropriate policies and oversight of the school’s finances.

The Board appoints the Head of School, who reports directly to the Board. The Head of School is responsible for operating the school, selecting staff members, admitting students, directing curriculum, implementing program and communicating with parents and with the community at large.

READ THE LATEST NEWS

From classroom smiles and campus happenings to alumni spotlights and community news, check back frequently to stay in the know.

Remembering Dr. Penny Work

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09/20/2023

We are pleased to announce an event celebrating Dr. Penny Work, former Grymes Head of School, on October 15. A dear friend and a proud

Building TOGETHER

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09/19/2023

Seventh and eighth grade students spent an entire day together, strengthening friendships and inspiring our oldest students to lead the way with confidence. “Bonding Day”