Alumni

Graland History Blog

Writings from the Graland Archives Committee

List of 10 news stories.

  • Mrs. Ruth Gorham - Graland’s Longest-Serving Educator

    Last May, Ben Duke, Class of 1968, received the Ruth Gorham Alumni Award, which each year honors an individual “whose dedication and service to Graland exemplify Ruth Gorham’s lifelong commitment to the school.”

    While serving as assistant head of school at Graland, Ben notably initiated the Master Teacher Program, in which Master Teachers who have dedicated twenty years of service to Graland are recognized in the spring. 
    Full Story
  • Jim Arneill ’66

    Graland’s Early Years: A Lead Up to the 2027 Centennial

    Graland has a long and distinguished history. Before settling in as a “country day school” at its present site in the fall of 1928, the school began at three locations near downtown Denver. The earliest years are worth knowing about and appreciating as they tell the story of how a group of determined parents worked with the founding teachers to make Graland a reality.

     
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  • The Master Teacher Wall: Honoring Graland's Faculty & Staff

    One of the most notable features in the Georgia Nelson Building is the collection of black and white photographs that are showcased along the stairway to the second floor. Recently, you may have noticed that three more framed photos were added: those of this year’s honorees, Josh Cobb, Anita Humeyumptewa, and Dana Rankin.
    Full Story
  • Graland’s Oldest Alumna Celebrates 98th Birthday!

    In addition to Presidents’ Day this month, there is another special February birthday - Cope McWhinney Craven, the oldest Graland alumna, turns 98 on February 25. Cope, whose father, Leroy McWhinney, served as the first President of the Board of Directors when the school was incorporated in 1927, sent Cope and her six siblings to Graland starting in the late 1920s.
    Full Story
  • One of the items to be displayed in the “Alumni Memorabilia Gallery” will be a wood-covered yearbook.  Included in the back was a handwritten letter to each graduate from Georgia Nelson. This letter is from June 4, 1947.

    Sharing School History… New Corkins Center Display Planned for 2022

    As we inch closer to Graland’s 100th anniversary since its incorporation in 1927, sharing its glorious history seems very fitting with a new display in the Corkins Center. The current Allen Tupper True display will be taken down in a few weeks and in its place will be an “Alumni Memorabilia Gallery.”
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  • An enclosure on campus housed a number of farm animals, including a pair  of donkeys named Macaroni and Popsicle.

    Graland Country Day School - What's in a Name?

    When the current school site was selected in 1928, can you picture what this area looked like?  Imagine a wide-open, spacious prairie with only two buildings - the Cranmer Mansion at 200 Cherry Street and an old brick house built by John Leet. There was "nothing but sagebrush and prairie dogs to the east, farms, and dairies to the south, and the city camp to the west (now the Cherry Creek Shopping Center)."
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  • Photo from the Archive

    Graland Southwest Trip - 50 Years Since Inception

    With great preparation and many layers of health and safety precautions taken, Grade 6 students were able to once again attend the Southwest Trip, a hallmark of Graland’s historic experiential learning. This trip originated 50 years ago, in 1971, and was the idea of teaching legend Nancy Nye ‘39 Priest, who passed away just last November at the age of 93.
    Full Story
  • Graland Christmas Toy Workshop

    The Magic of Holiday Programs over the Years

    Besides providing a strong academic program since its founding in 1927, Graland has also excelled in the visual and performing arts. From its earliest years, Graland has found ways to celebrate the joys of the holidays through memorable school programs and activities.
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  • The Passing of Graland's Beloved Nancy Nye '39 Priest

    It is with great sadness and regret that Graland wishes to share the passing of Nancy Nye ‘39 Priest. Nancy passed away peacefully at her home on November 20, 2020.

     
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  • Enjoying the Campus from the Outside In!

    Since the parent and alumni communities are currently unable to be on campus, it seemed fitting to share some interesting historical information about part of the school campus everyone can see from a distance - Preisser Field.  Our hope is that with a greater knowledge of parts of our school’s history, there will be an even greater appreciation.
    Full Story
More News Headlines

Historical Books

The First 50 Years

Climb Every Mountain

The Graland Archives Committee

The Graland Archives Committee is a dedicated group of Graland alumni from different eras with a passion for preserving and raising awareness about the school's history. Jim Arneill '66, Ed Murane '78, and Ann Ladd '87 Ryan are excited to periodically share interesting bits of information to our community.

Graland Country Day School

Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.