Upper School
Upper School at GFS is a world of choices and no two students leave having traveled the same path. We encourage each individual to rise and meet his or her own standards of excellence. What our ninth through twelfth graders share, in the process, is an experience of intellectual challenge and curiosity.
Through a vast offering of required and elective programs, our students pursue directed independent studies, participate in professional internships, take college seminar-style classes, and have the chance to explore multiple educational opportunities outside the regular curriculum. For those eager to not only learn but also innovate, Upper School is the place.
Upper School News
![Music Department Receives Merit Award!]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1683215525/germantown/vuudnwluxqwns0fdfyos/D83A2879.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1683215525/germantown/vuudnwluxqwns0fdfyos/D83A2879.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1683215525/germantown/vuudnwluxqwns0fdfyos/D83A2879.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1683215525/germantown/vuudnwluxqwns0fdfyos/D83A2879.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1683215525/germantown/vuudnwluxqwns0fdfyos/D83A2879.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1683215525/germantown/vuudnwluxqwns0fdfyos/D83A2879.jpg","width":2200}])
GFS has been honored with the SupportMusic Merit Award from the NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.
![Students holding a sign and parading through campus on GFS Classics Day]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1683213747/germantown/h9zkocxedvgybm02eewu/Admissions-11-web.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1683213747/germantown/h9zkocxedvgybm02eewu/Admissions-11-web.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1683213747/germantown/h9zkocxedvgybm02eewu/Admissions-11-web.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1683213747/germantown/h9zkocxedvgybm02eewu/Admissions-11-web.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1683213747/germantown/h9zkocxedvgybm02eewu/Admissions-11-web.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1683213747/germantown/h9zkocxedvgybm02eewu/Admissions-11-web.jpg","width":2000}])
The Latin and Greek students in grades 7-12 enjoyed a full day of exciting activities for our annual Classics Day.
![Divisions Host Black History Month Assemblies]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1677247451/germantown/kliqoicp4gezfahwwhfo/Dana-Wilson-web_1.webp","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1677247451/germantown/kliqoicp4gezfahwwhfo/Dana-Wilson-web_1.webp","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1677247451/germantown/kliqoicp4gezfahwwhfo/Dana-Wilson-web_1.webp","width":640}])
Divisions held special assemblies to commemorate Black History Month.
![Celebrating Lunar New Year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1677247998/germantown/tu4q1xs1a5pcdxqbscsp/unnamed_3.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1677247998/germantown/tu4q1xs1a5pcdxqbscsp/unnamed_3.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1677247998/germantown/tu4q1xs1a5pcdxqbscsp/unnamed_3.jpg","width":640}])
Read reflections from our 2023 Lunar New Year event.
![GFS Community Comes Together for MLK Day of Service]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1677874923/germantown/apyfk7gwihiezpdyxyml/D83A5374.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1677874923/germantown/apyfk7gwihiezpdyxyml/D83A5374.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1677874923/germantown/apyfk7gwihiezpdyxyml/D83A5374.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1677874923/germantown/apyfk7gwihiezpdyxyml/D83A5374.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1677874923/germantown/apyfk7gwihiezpdyxyml/D83A5374.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1677874923/germantown/apyfk7gwihiezpdyxyml/D83A5374.jpg","width":2200}])
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Office of Community Engagement held an annual Day of Service on campus.
![Music Students Have Virtual Visit with Santigold '93]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1677247017/germantown/sijjhqlomtubdtl0du4x/324559405_2833905280079373_304743790142462765_n.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1677247017/germantown/sijjhqlomtubdtl0du4x/324559405_2833905280079373_304743790142462765_n.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1677247017/germantown/sijjhqlomtubdtl0du4x/324559405_2833905280079373_304743790142462765_n.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1677247017/germantown/sijjhqlomtubdtl0du4x/324559405_2833905280079373_304743790142462765_n.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1677247017/germantown/sijjhqlomtubdtl0du4x/324559405_2833905280079373_304743790142462765_n.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1677247017/germantown/sijjhqlomtubdtl0du4x/324559405_2833905280079373_304743790142462765_n.jpg","width":1920}])
In January, students had a virtual visit with guest artist Santi White ’93 aka Santigold.
![Upper School Assembly with "New York Times" Journalist Katie Benner]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1670258270/germantown/itj0zhflbyum9zi7pav6/IMG_8273.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1670258270/germantown/itj0zhflbyum9zi7pav6/IMG_8273.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1670258270/germantown/itj0zhflbyum9zi7pav6/IMG_8273.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1670258270/germantown/itj0zhflbyum9zi7pav6/IMG_8273.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1670258270/germantown/itj0zhflbyum9zi7pav6/IMG_8273.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1670258270/germantown/itj0zhflbyum9zi7pav6/IMG_8273.jpg","width":2200}])
Upper School students had the opportunity to hear from New York Times journalist Katie Benner.
![Upper School Performs Thought-Provoking "Awakening of Spring"]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1670257822/germantown/fjglpzuybd8kc13gj33w/Fall-Play-1-web.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1670257822/germantown/fjglpzuybd8kc13gj33w/Fall-Play-1-web.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1670257822/germantown/fjglpzuybd8kc13gj33w/Fall-Play-1-web.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1670257822/germantown/fjglpzuybd8kc13gj33w/Fall-Play-1-web.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1670257822/germantown/fjglpzuybd8kc13gj33w/Fall-Play-1-web.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1670257822/germantown/fjglpzuybd8kc13gj33w/Fall-Play-1-web.jpg","width":2000}])
Our Upper School Theatre Department put on a thought-provoking showing of Frank Wedekind’s Awakening of Spring.
![Mike Greenfield GFS Alumnus Class of 1996]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1670427564/germantown/aeilmeijehdsi3baoavf/D83A8924.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1670427564/germantown/aeilmeijehdsi3baoavf/D83A8924.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1670427564/germantown/aeilmeijehdsi3baoavf/D83A8924.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1670427564/germantown/aeilmeijehdsi3baoavf/D83A8924.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1670427564/germantown/aeilmeijehdsi3baoavf/D83A8924.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1670427564/germantown/aeilmeijehdsi3baoavf/D83A8924.jpg","width":2200}])
Mike Greenfield ’96 recently joined the Computer Science Capstone class online to discuss his time at GFS and his career path.
![Community Engagement Series: Housing Justice]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1667486076/germantown/atyo0fifpijr63nlc0kq/community-engagement-housing.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1667486076/germantown/atyo0fifpijr63nlc0kq/community-engagement-housing.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1667486076/germantown/atyo0fifpijr63nlc0kq/community-engagement-housing.jpg","width":640}])
The Office of Community Engagement held its second Community Engagement Series on housing justice.
Meet Matthew Young: Director of Upper School
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Upper School Office
To contact the Upper School Office, please call 215-951-2315.
For help with Upper School Admissions applications, please email admissions@germantownfriends.org.
Matthew Young
Upper School Division Director
Jackie Dawson
Upper School Assistant Division Director for Student Life
Karen Barbarese
Assistant to the Director of Upper School
kbarbarese@germantownfriends.org