Welcome Back, Firebirds!
- Theme of the Year: See the Future. Be the Future.
- New Faces on Campus
- New Roles, Same Dedication
- We’re Growing: GSA Acquires Adjacent Property
- Communication Clarity: We Heard You!
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Welcome Back, Firebirds!
The Texas summer isn't close to wrapping up yet, but the GSA campus beckons with open arms and air-conditioned spaces! We can't wait to see all of the girls and parents next week. Here's what to expect: Monday, August 11th - Orientation for Kindergarten and New Families: 9AM-10:30AM
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Listening Conferences for Returning Families: 11:30AM-3:00PM
Tuesday, August 12th -
Continued Listening Conferences for Returning Families
Wednesday, August 13th: First Day of Classes!
7:30am - Arrival begins
7:55am - First Bell
8:00am - Classes start (all grades)
Lunch and Recess (all grades except Kindergarten which is dismissed at 11:30):
11:35 - 12:20
Dismissal (staggered by grade):
11:30am – Kindergarten
2:00pm - 1st Grade
2:15pm - 2nd Grade
2:30pm - 3rd Grade
2:45pm - 4th Grade
3:00pm - Middle School (5th-8th)
**For the first day of school only, siblings must be picked up at their assigned departure time and not together. For example, 1st Grader must be picked up at 2:00PM and 4th Grade sibling must be picked up at 2:45pm. |
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Theme of the Year: See the Future. Be the Future.
This year’s theme isn’t just a slogan—it’s a mindset we’re nurturing in every student.
Futures Thinking teaches girls to explore what’s possible, not just what’s probable. Instead of focusing on one fixed outcome, they’ll learn to imagine many futures and discover how their voice, ideas, and actions can shape what comes next.
Through bold questions like “What if...?” and “How might we...?”, students will build: - Creative problem-solving skills
- Global awareness and empathy
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The confidence to lead with vision
In a world that’s constantly changing, we’re helping our girls not just prepare for the future, but become the ones who shape it. |
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New Faces on Campus
We have several new faculty members joining the GSA community this year!
In July, Anne Baker began her work as the Director of Instructional Technology. After 12 years in Virginia as an elementary school teacher, middle school math teacher, and instructional technology specialist, Anne is thrilled to join the GSA community. Her role will focus on preparing girls for a tech immersive world without becoming a tech immersive school. She will ensure that the digital tools and infrastructure at GSA serve the students and staff effectively while also providing onsite technology support.
Victoria Wernicke will serve as the Kindergarten and 1st Grade Strings Instructor. She is passionate about string pedagogy and historical performance. Originally from San Antonio, Victoria recently graduated with her M.M. in baroque violin from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, previously earning her B.M. in Violin Performance at the University of North Texas. She also studied historical performance at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. Previously, Victoria has taught violin and viola group lessons in an after-school program in the DFW area, and she currently teaches privately. She frequently performs with baroque ensembles in Texas including La Follia and the Dallas Bach Society and is excited to teach at the GSA.
Last Spring we introduced Emma Bowmer. Emma will co-teach Middle School Math along with Kira Withrow.
We are delighted to have these exceptional educators as part of the GSA community! |
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New Roles, Same Dedication Over the summer, we took time to thoughtfully refine and reimagine roles and responsibilities across campus. Our goal? To streamline processes for GSA families, while also ensuring our incredible administrative team has the clarity and capacity to operate at their best. We’re also pleased to share that several of our fantastic staff members have stepped into new roles—part of our ongoing commitment to improving the experience for everyone in the GSA community. Change can be powerful, and we’re excited for what these new alignments will bring!
Jessica Sanchez has been promoted to the Director of Operations and Special Events. In this role, Jessica is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the GSA and events such as the Fall Celebration and Graduation.
Working alongside of Jessica is Jess Workman. Many of you know Jess from leading the Aftercare program, serving as a substitute teacher and orchestrating the GSA Talent Show. Jess has been promoted to the Operations and Events Assistant. Jess is handing her Aftercare duties over to Bernadette Castillo.
Robyn Burchfiel, who stepped into the role of Interim Director of Advancement in December, will continue in that role for this school year. She is responsible for leading the GSA's fundraising and communication initiatives. She will also work closely with the parent-led committees for Grandparents' Day, the Spring Gala, and Senior Walk. Evolving a Role to Reflect Our Mission
This year, we’ve updated a key leadership role on campus: Dr. Lorna Torrado, the Director of DEIB and SEL is now the Director of Futures Thinking and 21st Century Skills.
This new title reflects our deepening commitment to preparing students to lead with empathy, courage, and imagination. By expanding the focus to include Futures Thinking, we’re reinforcing our mission to equip every Firebird with the skills they’ll need to navigate and shape the future.
While DEIB and SEL remain at the heart of this role, the new title also highlights the broader vision: ensuring students feel a strong sense of belonging and are empowered to think critically, act ethically, and dream boldly in a changing world. |
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Expanding Our Reach: Meet Seventh Scout
We’re excited to share that GSA has partnered with Seventh Scout, an award-winning women/LGBTQ-owned marketing agency known for helping organizations elevate their voice and expand their impact.
By adding their expertise in branding, social media, and strategic communications, we’re strengthening how we connect with our current families and how we reach prospective ones. Our shared goal is to tell GSA’s story boldly and intentionally, amplifying the incredible work happening on campus every day.
Seventh Scout’s approach is deeply personal: they get to know each organization inside and out so that every message is authentic, purposeful, and aligned with the mission. With their support, we’ll continue to grow our reach while staying true to who we are. |
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We’re Growing: GSA Acquires Adjacent Property We’re thrilled to share a major step forward in our 2024–2030 Strategic Plan! On Friday, August 1, 2025, the Girls’ School of Austin officially closed on the property at 1913 McCall Road—the lot directly adjacent to the school.
This acquisition, nearly two years in the making, gives us the space we need to fully realize our long-term vision: enhancing student learning, expanding the Middle School, and designing a campus that supports both growth and sustainability.
We’ve partnered with McKinney York Architects to begin a master site planning process—and we want your voice in the mix! Please mark your calendar for our community-wide Envisioning Session on Saturday, September 27, from 9:30 AM–12:30 PM. We can’t wait to dream big with you! |
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Communication Clarity: We Heard You!
In the May parent survey, you told us two things loud and clear:
--You appreciate hearing from us
--You want clarity on what to read—and when
We couldn’t agree more! To help streamline your inbox and make sure you never miss the important stuff, here’s a quick breakdown of where and how we’ll be communicating this year: Grade-Level Info Every Friday, your grade-level teacher will send a weekly email with key updates, reminders, and classroom happenings specific to your student’s grade.
Snapshots & Real-Time Updates on ClassDojo Teachers will continue to share photos and videos on ClassDojo, giving you a quick, joyful window into daily classroom life; a little like a social media story just for your child’s class.
We’ll also use ClassDojo to post real-time reminders and quick announcements throughout the week. Whether it’s a field trip heads-up or a last-minute update, you’ll be able to stay in the loop at a glance. Think of Dojo as your day-to-day pulse check! On the Horizon (OTH) – Weekly School-Wide Newsletter
Our weekly school newsletter, On the Horizon, will arrive in your inbox every Friday afternoon with big-picture updates: upcoming events, school-wide news, and celebrations that matter to the whole community.
Strategic Updates from Ms. Yacono This year, you’ll also hear directly from Rebecca Yacono on important initiatives, updates, and moments of strategic impact. These messages will be clearly marked and timely. Coming Soon: GSA Salons We’re excited to launch a new series of salon-style gatherings this fall—designed to be engaging, informative, and inclusive. More details will be shared in upcoming issues of On the Horizon. We’re committed to keeping communication clear, relevant, and respectful of your time! (Not withstanding this very LONG and CONTENT-RICH edition of On the Horizon!) |
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August 11
New Families Orientation and Returning Families Listening Conferences August 12
Returning Families Listening Conferences August 13
First Day of School! |
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