Letter to Parents: 

GICS Name Change

 
February 2010

Dear Parents:

The Board of Trustees and the administration are pleased to announce Gibson Island Country School has changed its name to Eagle Cove School.  This decision reflects the culmination of a process that began early this Fall and involved much work and discussion on the part of the Board and administration, as well as representatives from our constituencies of parents, faculty, and alumni.  The decision was to choose a school name that would reflect our geographical location, our strong academics, our nurturing climate, and our status as a Maryland Green School.  We believe the new name reflects the essence of our school, as the soaring eagle embodies excellence and the cove is a protected area of the Magothy River, which borders our campus. Many of our students have spotted bald eagles near our campus, as the eagles nest nearby.

What does the name change mean for parents and students?  You will begin to see our new name appear on signs, then letterhead, print advertising, and finally on a new website which will debut sometime this Spring.  Children are welcome to continue to use their old GICS logo sweatpants, fleece jackets, sweaters and sweatshirts, for the remainder of this school year.  The new logo will not be required until next school year, at which time it will be available from Arthur’s and Land’s End on logo uniform items.

Also, to reflect our pride in being a Maryland Green School, hunter green long and short-sleeved polo shirts will be added as an option.  If you’re not certain about whether or not an item is hunter green, please feel free to bring it in and we will compare it to a sample we have at school. Our music instructor Mrs. Vernon has written a new school song to reflect our new name.  We look forward to learning it in morning meeting.

Gibson Island Country School was begun in 1946 on the Island and served children from the Island. The Calvert Home School curriculum was used in the early years.  Sally Henderson was the first Headmistress.  In 1955, the School became incorporated, and in 1956, the School moved to its current location on Windmill Point, at Redhouse Cove, and near Eagle Cove on the Magothy River.  In recent history, as the children educated at GICS grew up and moved away, the School began to attract students from greater Anne Arundel County.  Currently, 90% of the School’s families live in Pasadena, Glen Burnie, Severna Park, Odenton, Millersville, Arnold, and Baltimore.  The School also boasts a diverse student population.  As Eagle Cove School, we will embrace our tradition while soaring into the future.

Sincerely,

Laura Kang
Head of School