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|  What are the school day hours?
Lower School
8:15 - 2:45 (Monday- Thursday)
8:15 - 2:30 (Friday) |
Middle School
8:10 - 2:35 classes
2:45 - 4:00 sports |
Upper School
8:10 - 3:10 classes
4:00 - 5:00/5:30 sports |
Do you have an afterschool program?
Yes. The GFS After School programs provides care for students in grade K - 8 until 6:00 p.m. For additional information about the program, calendar and fees, please contact the Director,Candi Root, at afterschool@gfsnet.org or call the office at 215-951-2333.
Do you have bus service to my area?
Yes. Many students at GFS use the bus services provided by Philadelphia School District or their respective suburban school districts. In addition, GFS provides bus service to most neighborhoods where our students live. We also run a shuttle service to and from the R8 Septa Regional Rail Line at Queen Lane, to and from Sentry Parkway in Blue Bell, and to and from Center City locations of Rittenhouse Square and Boathouse Row. Fees vary according to distance. Schedules and information may be obtained by calling our transportation department at 215-951-2339.
What grade is best to apply for GFS?
While applications to GFS are welcome for all grades,the main points of entry for applicants are kindergarten, seventh and ninth grades.
How old must my child be to enter kindergarten at GFS?
Children must be 5 years old by September 1st of the year that they would enter kindergarten.
When should I begin the application process?
The application process typically begins in September of the year before the student wishes to enter GFS. We have many more applicants than we have spaces available so we encourage interested families to begin the process as soon as possible. For more specific information on the process choose application calendar from the side menu.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline for application for the school year 2010-2011 is December 4, 2009. Late applications may be considered if space is available. To learn more about our 7 step application process or to download the application form choose how to apply from the lefthand menu.
What are the SSAT and the ISEE?
If your child is applying for admission in grades 6 -12, he or she must take either the SSAT(Secondary School Admission Test) or the ISEE( Independent School Entrance Exam). Both tests are offered in group sessions at local schools on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the school year. Test information,dates, locations and fees will be included in your admission packet. For online information go to www.ssat.org/philadelphia and www.erbtest.org.
Will a request for financial aid be factored into the admission decisions?
No. A family's request for financial aid is considered independently of the application process and will not affect an applicant's decision.
What is the deadline for my financial aid application?
The Financial Aid application deadline is February 5, 2010.
When will we be notified of the admission decision?
Families will be notified of their awards in mid- February of 2010. Some newly accepted applicants may be placed in a waiting pool until we are certain of space and fund availability.
What will the visit day be like?
Naturally every visitor is a little nervous at the start, but visits to GFS are fun, and with the help of an assigned GFS host, visitors almost always feel comfortable quickly. All applicants visit in the grade they are currently in, with the exception of applicants to 9th grade, who visit in the 9th grade to see our upper school program. We encourage visitors to participate in all class activities.
Visits begin in the admission building at 8:00 am. From there, visitors for grades K-6 are escorted to the classrooms, and visitors to grades 7-12 are greeted and picked up by their hosts. Kindergarten visits end at noon, with pick up at the kindergarten classroom.
Visitors to grades 1-5 should wear sneakers and bring a lunch. Their day ends at regular dismissal time and pick up by parents is at the classroom.
Visitors to the Middle and Upper Schools will be provided with a lunch ticket for use in our cafeteria, (or also, for upper schoolers, the Snack Bar in Hargroves). At the end of the visit day, applicants for grade 7-12 have a brief fifteen to twenty minute interview with one of the admission staff to be sure the day went well. In February, students accepted to grades 7-12 are offered an optional half-day re-visit.
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