News

On Wednesday, December 18th, lower school students visited the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to experience a reimagined version of The Nutcracker performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and dancers from the Baltimore School for the Arts. 

On Wednesday, December 11th, the Gerstell Athletic Department invited students, faculty, coaches, staff, and parents to celebrate the fall athletics season and honor the efforts of our dedicated athletes. The event, held in the Deborah Paterakis Gymnasium, was hosted by Mr. Phil Gilotte, Athletic Director, and featured awards from the Volleyball, Soccer, and Cross-Country coaches. 

On Thursday, December 12th, after school, lower and middle school students and their families brought festive joy to the residents of Atlee Hill Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Westminster. Led by the spirited Performing Arts Department Chair Jenna Daly, students delighted everyone with a mix of Christmas and Chanukah songs. 

The Gerstell Academy community is celebrating the accomplishments of our students with our winter concert series. On Tuesday, December 3rd, the strings concert opened with selections from the book Elements of Music performed by the 5th and 6th and included Dreidel, Jingle Bells, and Ode to Joy, among others. The 7th and 8th grade strings performed selections including Winter Stars, Fury, Colorful Sunrise, and several more. The Upper School strings ensemble included Themes from the Nutcracker, Orchid, Flight, and Winterfall, among others.

Congratulations to our Upper School FTC Robotics Team 6390 on an outstanding performance at the FIRST Chesapeake FTC Qualifier held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Francis Scott Key High School in Union Bridge, Maryland.

On Saturday, November 30th, Gerstell Academy participated once again in the “Miracle on Main Street” parade held in Westminster. Gerstell parents’ Chris and Megan Weaver provided a large, holiday-themed float featuring lights, decorations, and a workshop.  The thinking behind the design of the workshop centered on Gerstell’s leadership message of “building tomorrow’s leaders today.” 

The annual “Oaks and Seedlings” breakfast took place on Tuesday, November 26th, in the Wilson Room, where students and faculty came together to enjoy a hearty meal of pancakes, sausage, and a variety of breakfast favorites. Administrators and staff prepared and cooked the meal, which was served buffet-style.  

On Sunday, November 24th, the Gerstell Academy community gathered for the 23rd Annual "Pie Run," hosted on the Gerstell campus. Alumni, faculty, parents, students, staff, and local community members came together to compete in a 5K race or enjoy a one-mile fun run/walk, with the chance to win pies just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Mr. Ian Selby, Gerstell Academy parent and local Maryland State Police Aviation Command flight instructor was named Gerstell Academy Veteran of the Year during the annual Veteran’s Day ceremony. On Monday, November 11th, the Gerstell Academy community gathered to honor and celebrate veterans for their commitment, courage, and sacrifice for our country

The Gerstell community wishes to congratulate junior Erin Yelland on being named a winner in the recent National English Honor Society (NEHS) Intellectual Freedom Challenge. Erin’s essay, “The Dangers of Banning the Beauty of the World” focused on the value of free and open access to reading materials and highlighted The Giver by Lois Lowry, a popular work of fiction that is read by many middle school students.

On Thursday, October 10th, third and fourth grade students laced up their athletic shoes to join the Running Club. This weekly gathering leads to the Pie Run, a community event where participants can choose between a 5K and a 1-mile fun run on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. 

Gerstell Girls’ Volleyball, the most recent addition to the fall athletics line up, has flourished under the leadership of Coach Eric Zak. The team embraces new opportunities and challenges as they near the end of another successful season.

On a beautiful fall afternoon, Pre-K and Kindergarten students welcomed the Reese & Community Volunteer Fire Company located in Carroll County! Established in 1948, the fire company received its first fire truck that December. The original building and adjacent carnival grounds were acquired from Stoner’s Nursery in October 1950. Ground was broken for the current facility in August 1954, which was dedicated on March 26, 1956. Today, the fire company operates with two engines, an engine tanker, a rescue squad, and houses two EMS units. In 2023, they responded to 854 fire calls and 1,441 EMS calls. 

The annual Oak and Seedling Ceremony was held on Friday, October 11th in the Paterakis gymnasium to provide middle and upper school students with opportunities to build lifelong friendships. The Oaks and Seedling tradition fosters mentoring opportunities for the upper school students to help guide and lead their young falcons. The program offers our middle school students the opportunity to be mentored by our upper school student leaders. Additionally, embodying the example that is set before them, our oldest middle school students learn how to coach and mentor our youngest middle school students.  

Mr. Segal’s 8th grade class is busy learning about space science. Their culminating project for the 3-week unit on the phases of the moon involved a sweet surprise. Students modeled the phases of the moon as seen from Earth using Oreo ® cookies.  

On Monday, October 7th Gerstell Academy students, parents, faculty, and administration gathered to honor students inducted into the the National Honor Society as well as the Gerstell Academy Honor Societies. The event took place in the Alumni House and recognized students for their academic achievement.

Blake Bissen ’17 reflects on his architectural education and training leading him to foreign countries, while reflecting on the educators here at Gerstell who fostered his love for learning.

On September 16th, Gerstell Academy’s 4th graders embarked on an exciting adventure with the Living Classrooms Foundation. Gerstell Academy’s partnership with the Living Classrooms Foundation is a cherished tradition. For over 15 years, Gerstell students have participated in their interdisciplinary programs, which combine science, history, and environmental stewardship. Each year, the Living Classrooms trip is a highlight for students and teachers alike, providing an engaging, real-world learning experience that builds on what is taught in the classroom. This year’s trip was particularly special as it marked the return of Lady Maryland to active service. Students had the unique honor of being part of the ship’s first voyage after its refit, helping to continue its legacy as a floating classroom. 

Gerstell Academy observed a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. to begin a day of solemn reflection to honor the victims of September 11th, 2001. Wearing their special dress uniforms, lower school students and faculty participated in a Leadership Circle designed to share age-appropriate information on this day in our nation’s history. Individual classes also participated in activities for Patriot day. Fourth Grade students read the book I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 and discussed the events in the context of the Gerstell motto, Leadership, Honor, Courage displayed by the people who were affected by the attacks.  During homeroom, students colored sections of a 9/11 collaborative poster and shared stories of that day.  

On Friday, August 30th, Gerstell Academy Upper School students and faculty traveled to First Fruits Farm in Freeland, Maryland to spend the day harvesting corn and potatoes to share with local food banks and homeless shelters. Community service is an integral part of the Gerstell mission, and students, faculty and staff participate in this annual service opportunity. 

This summer’s lower school “One School, One Book” reading selection was Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr.  Upon completion of the book, students were asked to create a project based on the book.  On Friday, August 30th, the Lower School students celebrated First Friday with the day’s events centered around the general themes of the book and a showcase of the projects created. 

On June 24, students, parents, and an alum from Gerstell Academy traveled to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, on an eleven-day trip to experience the culture, religion, history, and food of the region. They were accompanied by history teacher David Greenspoon, who led the trip, and science department head Elaine Shea, who chaperoned.

Fourteen middle school students traveled to the Florida Keys on June 12th for a 4-day trip to explore some of our nation’s most diverse marine ecosystems and to gain a new appreciation for science. 

On Thursday, June 6th, the Gerstell community gathered in the Paterakis Athletic Center to celebrate the 8th grade graduates. Members of the class of 2028 performed the National Anthem, and graduate Jalen Blackwell addressed the students. Jacob Betz, class of 2015 returned to deliver the 8th grade graduation address.