Press Release: 

GICS Name Change

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gibson Island Country School Changes Its Name to Eagle Cove School

The Board of Trustees and Head of School Laura Kang of Gibson Island Country School are pleased to announce the School is changing its name to Eagle Cove School.  Trustees and the Head engaged in a months-long process to gather input from representatives of the School’s key constituencies for this decision, including alumni, parents, faculty, the School’s founding Head Sally Henderson, and past and current Trustees.  Behind a projected backdrop of an eagle taking flight, Kang announced the change in the school’s gymnasium this week at a school assembly.  She also unveiled the Eagle Cove Scholar program, in which academically able first through fifth grade students who qualify for financial aid will be considered for the honor.  This new program for ten prospective students is in addition to the School’s Wood Scholar program, which was established July 2008 by gifts from the Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation.  The Wood Scholar program honors and assists current students at the School, as does one other program established by an anonymous donor.

In a letter addressed to parents, Kang wrote, “This decision reflects the culmination of a process that began early this Fall and involved much work and discussion. T he decision was to choose a school name that would reflect our geographical location, our strong academics, our nurturing climate, and our status as a leading 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 and teachers have spotted bald eagles near our campus, as the eagles nest nearby.

Gibson Island Country School was begun in 1946 on Gibson Island and served children from the Island.  The Calvert Home School curriculum was used in the early years.  In 1955, the School became incorporated, and in 1956, the School moved to its current location on Windmill Point, facing Redhouse Cove and near Eagle Cove on the Magothy River.  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, Severna Park, Glen Burnie, Odenton, Millersville, Arnold, Annapolis, and Baltimore.  The School boasts a diverse student population.  As Eagle Cove School, we will continue to embrace our tradition while soaring into the future.”

Eagle Cove School’s mission reads as follows: “Eagle Cove School is a family of students, educators, and parents dedicated to making each child’s early academic experience challenging and joyful.  The School provides an environment of trust, tradition and intellectual discovery.  It is our mission to maintain a culture of academic excellence as we foster within students respect, responsibility, joy in lifelong learning and habits of environmental and community stewardship.”  The School is developing a new website which will reflect its new name and give prospective families more information about the School’s strengths and programs.  Eagle Cove School is located at 5191 Mountain Road, Pasadena, MD 21122.  Families interested in inquiring about admissions or the Eagle Cove Scholars program may contact the Admissions office by calling 410.255.5370 or e-mailing admissions@gics.org.  The School’s website is www.gics.org.