Students who go Graland are the kind of forward thinkers
who are prepared to go anywhere and do anything.
Our mission, supported by our guiding principles, drives our program
and provides the path to foster intellectual excellence and strong character so that students become engaged citizens and thoughtful leaders. We want children to thrive by finding purpose in life — to envision a world beyond themselves and use their knowledge and strength to make positive change.
Our Philosophy: Live the Learning
At Graland, learning isn’t something that happens to students, it’s something they actively live. From our earliest days, founding Head Georgia Nelson championed the belief that children learn best through experience, curiosity, and joy, a philosophy that still guides us nearly a century later. We call this “Living the Learning.”
Graland teachers design hands-on, immersive lessons that invite students to dive into ideas, ask questions, and take ownership of their learning. Whether they’re debating ancient civilizations in historical simulation, constructing mini golf courses to explore geometry, planning and building designs for a structural engineering challenge, coding robots during Tinker Time, or concepting a food truck in Spanish class to explore a global cuisine and practice their language skills, students learn by doing. Rooted in this legacy and reimagined for today’s world, Live the Learning invites students to dive deep, take part, and be all in with their learning.
Attributes of a Graduate
At Graland, we look ahead—preparing students for the world they will inherit. From Preschool through eighth grade, we intentionally nurture the skills and mindsets students need to collaborate, take initiative, and thrive in any environment.
We’ve identified 10 Attributes of a Graland Graduate, each grounded by one of our guiding principles and paired with an example behavior that brings that attribute to life. Together, these attributes reflect Graland’s forward-looking, whole-child vision and offer a roadmap for the intellectual excellence and strong character our students carry with them long after they leave our campus.
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Intellectual Attributes
At Graland, intellectual excellence grows through inquiry, inviting students to explore ideas, consider possibilities, and make sense of their learning in ways that feel engaging and meaningful. Across the Preschool and K–8 journey, students develop five intellectual attributes, purpose, authenticity, creativity, insight, and perspective, as they learn to generate original ideas, communicate their thinking with clarity, and make connections that deepen understanding.
Each experience encourages students to look closely at what they are learning, form their own interpretations, and recognize how their knowledge extends beyond the classroom. By graduation, students step forward, confident in who they are as learners, and are able to apply their knowledge thoughtfully. -
Character & Community Attributes
Strong character grows through connection, as Graland students learn what it means to show up for others and help create a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We emphasize five essential character and community attributes: curiosity, empathy, agency, adaptability, and responsibility.
Students are encouraged to put these qualities into practice each day by listening with care, understanding different viewpoints, responding with flexibility, and showing courage when it matters, all while being guided by educators and parents who model these same behaviors. As students build these skills, they grow into thoughtful, grounded individuals who collaborate effectively, lead with integrity, and step forward ready to strengthen every community they join.
A Graland Graduate
At Graland, our commitment to intellectual excellence and character provides students with the essential building blocks for future success in high school and beyond. Our graduates leave with a strong foundation in curiosity, critical thinking, and empathy, ready to continue learning, grow into impactful leaders, and face challenges with confidence. Equipped with core competencies and social-emotional maturity, Graland graduates take their next steps with the skills and experiences to thrive.
“At my eighth grade graduation, Mr. Cobb handed me my diploma, shook my hand, looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Thank you for taking advantage of all the school has to offer.’ Later on, the significance and weight of his words hit me — in that moment he was acknowledging me as an intellectual student and truly seeing me as a person. For someone who loves learning as much as I do, to be thanked for my effort and for trying to be the best student I could be was indescribable.”
~Hannah Siegel '15
~Hannah Siegel '15
Learn more about Graland's program
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.
