Meet Michele Steed: GPA President Q&A
GPA President Michele Steed has been a steady volunteer, committed parent, and friend of the Graland community since she and her family joined the school in 2012. Read more to learn about Michele, to hear her best advice, and to discover what GPA events you should get excited for in 2021-22!
Q: Can you please tell us a little about yourself and how you first got involved with Graland?
A: My name is Michele Steed, and my husband Dave and I have two boys. Finley, who just graduated from Graland in June, and John, who is going into the sixth grade. I first got involved with the GPA when Finley was in kindergarten. We were only in Denver for a year before he was accepted to Graland, so I didn’t know many people, and I found the GPA to be a really welcoming community. Volunteering made it easy to get to know Graland, the faculty and staff, and other parents.
Q: What made you decide to volunteer for the GPA, and what was that experience like?
A: The first year that Finley was in kindergarten, I’m pretty sure that I volunteered for every event just to get to know what was going on at the school and to meet other parents. Since Finley was in the Lower School, joining the GPA was a great way to get to know parents from the Middle School. I started by helping with Donut Day in the fall, and by the end of the year, I remember going to the volunteer breakfast and feeling like I could sit down at any table and introduce myself to anyone.
Q: What advice do you have for new families at Graland?
A: The Graland community is a special one. My advice is to take the time to get to know other families. I was so impressed by how many Graland students stay from kindergarten to eighth grade. When you’re together for so long, it’s helpful to get to know your child’s friends and their parents. Also, it gives you someone to call when you have a question or if someone forgets their homework!
Q: What are you looking forward to during your role as GPA President this year?
A: I’m hoping that we can create opportunities for people to be together as a community again.
Q: What might people not know about the GPA?
A: Anything you can do to get involved (both big and small) is very appreciated. We want to create volunteer experiences that are available to everyone - no matter your schedule. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, please fill out the GPA volunteer form.
Q: Why should members of the community attend a GPA meeting?
A: GPA meetings are a great opportunity to hear from Mr. Cobb and our Board of Trustees, as well as to get to know a featured faculty member through our “Faces of Faculty” segment. I am working with the technology department to create a hybrid model for GPA meetings this year so that everyone has the option to attend in person or via Zoom.
Q: What upcoming events should everyone mark on their calendar?
A: We are going to start the year with a family movie night and picnic on Thursday, August 19. Families can register now to watch Raya and the Last Dragon on the big screen. Everyone should also get excited about the Back to School Coffee on the first day of school (Tuesday, August 24). It will be a fun opportunity to celebrate the new school year together, and we will get to hear from Mr. Cobb and Board of Trustee President Bernie Dvorak. The Graland Gallop will also be taking place this year on Sunday, September 26, at Washington Park. We are currently looking for sponsors, and registration will be available soon!
Q: What are words that you live by?
A: My grandpa always used to say that when you’re gone, people can either be glad that you were here or glad that you’re gone. I choose to live my life in a way that makes people happy that I was here.
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.
