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.
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.
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
Honor
Respect
Responsibility
Kindness
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.
- PAGE SULLENBERGER, CHAIR
- FRANKLIN DANIELS, VICE CHAIR
- MARTY VAN SANTVOORD, SECRETARY
- PETE YORK, TREASURER
- LAWRENCE ALTAFFER
- PAT BARNHARDT
- GRAYSON BUTTERFIELD
- KEM COURTENAY
- SCOTT GUENGERICH
- BETTY LONG
- RUSS RABB
- JOHN REYNOLDS
- PETER RICE
- AYANA BRAXTON-THURSTON
- JANET SEDWICK
- KATHARINE MCBRIDE, EMERITA
- ANNE UELTSCHI, EMERITA
READ THE LATEST NEWS
The Grymes Gala is coming up – don’t forget your tickets! Please be aware that early bird tickets are available now through 3/31/23. Purchase Early
Alumni, don’t miss out on Grymes happenings! We want to keep you in the loop with all the Grizzly Good News. Update you contact information
As we began creating the map of Grymes’ 75th year and discussing special ways to celebrate the milestone, we realized that capturing special photos –
Junior Kindergarten hosted a Community Helper Breakfast yesterday morning to show appreciation to all of our community helpers and heroes out there! We are so
Thank you, Super Spellers! We were on the edge of our seats yesterday morning as we watched 18 students compete in the annual spelling bee.
On Wednesday, January 11th, we will celebrate the 75th day of school during this 75th year of joyful learning at Grymes. Students are encouraged to
