Since its founding in 1970, Greensboro Day School has maintained a tradition of superior education that encourages intellectual curiosity, openness to new ideas, the courage to think independently, and a love of learning. Currently serving approximately 875 students from Transitional Kindergarten through grade 12, Greensboro Day School’s mission is to develop the intellectual, ethical and interpersonal foundations students need to become constructive contributors to the world. Such an education requires the dedication, ingenuity, experience – and commitment – of the entire community.

Greensboro Day School celebrated 40 years of educational excellence in 2010. Built on the philosophy that friendship, scholarship, and sportsmanship are the foundations of strong character, GDS is, and will continue to be, our community’s premier independent college preparatory school.

In the GDS tradition of academic innovation, and based upon research of best practices and school structure, the GDS faculty, administration and Board of Trustees charted a course in 2006 to reconfigure grades within the three divisions, moving 5th grade to Middle School. Pairing 5th and 6th grades, and 7th and 8th grades offers opportunities for a distinct developmentally appropriate academic, social and extracurricular program. Middle School at GDS is ideal preparation for the challenges and fast pace of the Upper School, and our program incorporates the latest research on adolescent brain development. Our Middle Schoolers are introduced to challenging material and concepts with the right blend of independent and collaborative learning. Freedoms expand, teaching students the responsibility that goes with additional choices. Project-based learning, laptop technology, interaction with the natural world, arts and athletic programs, clubs, and a strong advisor program are hallmarks of the GDS Middle School experience.

Our 21st century Middle School program will continue to grow and thrive in a new facility. Such a vibrant program deserves a building that in itself provides an extraordinary learning environment. Our new building will be designed with features to encourage students’ interaction with the natural world and facilitate an advanced curriculum and exceptional teaching practices.

The Future Is Now

In 2007, GDS adopted a bold new campus master plan to guide development of the 21st century learning environment we envision for our students. In developing the campus master plan, we considered academic program needs, grade reconfiguration, campus security, basic plant operations, environmental sustainability, and future traffic patterns in anticipation of the completion of the new Greensboro urban loop. The new plan preserves more natural green space and provides additional learning areas for our students.

The plan includes three striking new features for our campus:

1. A large central quadrangle that provides a welcoming, open-air gathering space for students, families, alumni and visitors to campus
2. A new main entrance that reorients the school toward Lake Brandt Road
3. A new Middle School building for grades 5-8

Reorientation of our campus to Lake Brandt Road, a much quieter street than Lawndale Drive, represents thoughtful planning for future traffic patterns when the Greensboro urban loop is completed. As part of the campus reorientation, a highly-visible main entrance will lead to a long, curving drive where carpool traffic can queue safely on campus grounds. Over time, we will add new, more attractive west-facing facades to existing classroom and administration building entrances so that they also face Lake Brandt Road, providing visitors clear and controlled access to all facilities.

Middle School Building

Our highest priority is to construct a new Middle School building for grades 5 through 8. The current facility is one of the oldest on campus and has been reconfigured and renovated many times. Replacing the outdated building with one designed for students in the middle grades and tailored to our academic program will create a learning environment unsurpassed in our community for this critically important developmental age. Because this facility will be larger than the current building, we can implement our plan to move 5th grade into the Middle School. Since it will be built southwest of the existing Middle School building, on the old tennis courts site, construction will not disrupt classes. In addition, the new Middle School’s design will set the standard for architectural features that can be integrated into existing buildings in future campus renovations and additions.

Removing the existing Middle School building then opens the center of campus for the new quadrangle. Priorities in the next phase of the Generations Campaign will include landscape development of this natural outdoor community gathering space, as well as improvements to athletic facilities.

New Entrance Drive and Tennis Complex

By fall 2010, six of our 10 existing tennis courts had deteriorated to the point that replacement or an extensive repair was necessary. Because the new Middle School will be located on the site of the old courts, we initiated construction of a new tennis complex on Lake Brandt Road. The project is consistent with our Sustainability Policy, with an eventual goal of acquiring a Sustainable Site certification (similar to LEED, which is for buildings only) when that certification becomes available. This project, now complete, includes future front entrance curbing and apron, a network for channeling storm water runoff, and infrastructure necessary to reorient the front entry of campus to Lake Brandt Road. Generous donors made lead gifts during the quiet phase of the capital campaign, funding this construction and inspiring the momentum to pursue funding for the new Middle School building.

• Middle School Building $5,650,000
• New Entrance Infrastructure and Tennis Complex $1,100,000
• Professional Costs $ 250,000

TOTAL CAMPAIGN GOAL $7,000,000

The Board of Trustees will approve campus master plan construction projects as funds are available. Greensboro Day School received gifts and pledges of over $3 million during the Leadership and Trustee Phase of the Generations campaign, and seeks an additional $4 million to complete this first phase.

We realize that capital gifts represent a significant financial commitment. As an independent school, we rely on our parents, alumni, faculty, grandparents, friends, foundations and corporations to support not only our ongoing operations, but our capital needs as well.

We are asking all members of our community to consider a five-year plan for supporting Greensboro Day School, making GDS a priority in their charitable giving. In considering a capital campaign pledge, we also ask that our supporters remember the message Annual Fund First – that the first gift that anyone makes to GDS each year should be a gift to the Annual Fund, as it provides funding that is crucial to current-year operations.

We respectfully ask you to consider a capital gift or multi-year capital pledge that makes you proud, and join our community of giving to build a new Middle School. Like the generations before us, we can make a difference for Greensboro Day School students for generations to come.

We sincerely thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

Click HERE to view the video about the Generation Campaign.

Many people assume that only the wealthy can be philanthropists, but anyone can give to Greensboro Day School. We need everyone to contribute as best they can! Gifts may take a number of different forms and be structured in a number of different ways.

Donors may make one-time gifts or may fulfill pledges over a period of three-to-five years. Gifts of cash, as well as stocks, bonds, real estate and other assets, are welcome. Greensboro Day School is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and all gifts to the school are tax-deductible. Current gifts are our most immediate need, but some donors may wish to consider deferred giving opportunities. Contact a member of the Advancement Staff (listed below) for information about how to arrange a deferred gift to the capital campaign. Donors are encouraged to consult their financial advisors for guidance on their specific tax situation.

Tax considerations are seldom the primary reason people give; however, the opportunity to choose how your resources are used - to pay taxes or to make charitable gifts - often determines how a gift will be made and how large it will be.

Cash

Cash gifts are the simplest way to make a gift to GDS and are fully tax-deductible. As with Annual Fund gifts, you may set up a payment schedule to pay by check, or charge to your credit or debit card.

Multi-Year Pledges

A capital pledge is usually fulfilled in installments over a period of up to five years. We will send a periodic reminder of your pledge status to let you know when your next installment payment is due. A Generations Campaign pledge card is included in the back pocket of this brochure.

Appreciated Securities

For many donors, a gift of appreciated securities may be more cost effective than a gift of cash. If you own a stock, bond, or a mutual fund that has grown in value, that security has appreciated. Gifts of appreciated securities owned longer than one year are tax deductible at the fair market value on the date of the gift. Remember that you must make a gift of the security itself, rather than selling it first and donating the cash, in order to avoid tax on the profit. There is no capital gains tax associated with a gift of appreciated securities.

Real Estate

Some donors may choose to make a gift to GDS of their private residence, commercial property, vacation home, farm, or undeveloped land. As with stock gifts, the income tax deduction for appreciated real estate may be taken at the full market value of that property on the day of the gift and no capital gains tax is owed. A gift of real estate is generally more complex than cash or securities and an advancement officer will be pleased to explore this option with you more fully.

If you have any questions or would like to investigate alternative ways to structure your gift or pledge, please contact the Greensboro Day School Office of Advancement.

Donor Recognition

All donors to the Capital Campaign will be recognized in the Annual Donor Report for gifts or pledge payments made in the previous fiscal year, and in the final Generations Campaign: Phase I Report. Gifts of $50,000 or more may be recognized through naming opportunities such as classrooms and other architectural features that will be specifically identified during the building design phase.

If you have questions or would like to investigate ways to structure your gift or pledge, please contact Anne Hurd, Director of Advancement at 336.288.8590 ext. 235 or by email to annehurd@greensboroday.org.