Meet Our Faculty

Julie Lachance

Drama Teacher

A natural performer, Ms. Lachance loves putting a show together, from rehearsals to production. Helping students find a home in the theatre is her passion!

Impacting Students
I love teaching my 'Stories of Me' statue unit with seventh and eighth graders. Students need to reflect on events from their lives that have become defining moments. This leads to introspection and thoughtfulness. In fact, in one of my eighth grade classes we actually ended up stopping the lesson to allow students to comfort each other because big feelings were expressed. They then collaborate in small groups to turn their defining moments into a statue performance set to music. My classes always come out on the other side of this assignment closer, more cohesive as a team and seeing each other from a different and new perspective.

Lifelong Learner
I had the great privilege to attend Project Based Learning Design Camp with the third grade team. It was a wonderful adventure full of bonding experiences and collaboration. We are working on revamping the end-of-the-year project we’ve titled 'Coming to Colorado' that explores immigration stories and asks the question, 'Why do you live where you live?' We are excited to add a performance element to the project that will develop empathy and deepen the experience for the students. We are hoping to continue our conversations about this project over the summer.

Favorite Teaching Moment
I loved watching my students 'Trapped' performances. In this, the group finds themselves trapped in a room and they have to find a creative way out using pantomime performance. They were fabulously sophisticated and brilliant performed. The students here are thoughtful, deep thinkers and it truly shows in their performances.

Favorite Play
'Hamilton' is the best piece of theatre I have ever seen, and I've seen over 200 different productions. Its originality and theatricality absolutely blew me away. I am not sure I breathed the entire three hours. It was stunningly beautiful, brilliantly acted and gorgeously sung. The design stunned me. I just adored it.

Life Goals
I want to visit Greece, the birthplace of theatre.

Joined Graland In...
2018

Hometown
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Education
Master of Fine Arts degree in theater from Florida State University
Bachelor's in theatre and education from St. Olaf College

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.