Mission
Germantown Academy inspires students to be…
Independent in Thought
Confident in Expression
Compassionate in Spirit
Collaborative in Action
Honorable in Deed
About the GA Mission
independent in thought
A leadership mindset begins with each student having the independence of thought necessary to seek truth in all that they read, see, and hear. We educate GA students to be curious, ask questions, and listen to and evaluate the viewpoints of others. Our faculty and staff are guides and coaches for these explorations of ideas, theories, and processes.
Confident in expression
Independent thinkers become self-confident individuals. Teachers frequently hear about how confidently GA students comport themselves from prospective parents. Our writing, speaking, and performing arts curricula aim to instill confidence. Alumni around the country remind us that confidence built during GA years holds firm throughout adulthood.
compassionate in spirit
Effective leadership also involves the ability to care about others, and realize that everyone we meet can teach us something valuable and, in turn, can learn something of value from us. True compassion is empathy that enables independent-minded, confident people to recognize that vulnerability is the connecting spirit within us all.
collaborative in action
Collaborative action moves a group forward whether a community, a team, a Belfry production, a choir performance, or a class project. Active "followership" plays a significant role in a meaningful education. Well-educated people have learned when and how to dedicate themselves to the support of the whole.
honorable in deed
The Mission Statement recognizes that without personal honor, curious, confident, compassionate people will not engender the trust needed to be effective leaders or followers. GA strives to teach students to hold themselves to the highest standards. Adults in our community must model trustworthy behavior. The act of entering the school each day should inspire each of us to be a better person.
Our core GA Mission consists of 15 simple but profound words, 15 words that will guide our actions and activities each day and every year. Making these 15 words memorable and meaningful involves communicating and living by them at home as well as at school. We ask families for support in this process by discussing these values with their children. Mission posters are in each entry way and classroom at school, and discussions about various permutations of these 15 words have already become a part of educational life. Such daily visibility at home and at school will make these 15 words the internal compass that guides our students/your children in their personal and professional lives.
The Mission Statement also serves as both GA's touchstone for all curricular and programmatic ideas as well as the philosophic structure under which current and future strategic vision statements will be organized and assessed. GA planners will be guided by these 15 words as we evolve our future-focused curriculum.
That the GA community is grounded in and guided by the same five principles that inspire and direct our students reassures us that Germantown Academy spaces and programs, teachers and students, ideas and ideals, while ever-evolving, remain rooted in the mission. Independence, confidence, compassion, collaboration, and honor, skillfully combined, remain the formula for virtue and the foundation for permanence. So it shall continue for the century to come, a century in which GA students, teachers, and graduates will leave a lasting mark.
When we first visited GA, we were impressed by the campus and the enthusiasm of the staff. Now, our son is about to finish 5th Grade, and we love entirely different aspects of the school. His teachers really know him as a person. They have encouraged his intellectual curiosity while also giving him the support and boundaries that he needs. We also joined an amazing community of parents and staff who have become some of our closest friends. We wish every child could experience a school like GA.Drs. Jamie Swanson and kandan Kulandaviel P'30
Community Commitments
The Germantown Academy Mission represents the purpose of our school. It embodies the traits we want students to possess as graduates of GA. Our Community Commitments concretely articulate how we bring the Mission to life every day. In partnership with our Equity & Inclusion Commitment, the Community Commitments define a clear set of principles to guide us on our journey.
Our Community Commitments
We the students, employees, families, alumni/ae, and trustees of Germantown Academy strive to live the mission by...
Being honorable members of our community.
—We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards.
—We advocate for others, even when no one is looking.
—We treat ourselves, others, and places with dignity, care, and respect.
Creating a community of engaged, empowered learners.
—We listen actively and seek to understand the perspectives and experiences of others.
—We express ourselves with humility and share ideas through open dialogue.
—We cultivate resilience, growth, and confidence to serve and lead in the world.
Building an equitable and inclusive school community.
—We nurture and value each individual to create a culture of belonging.
—We recognize and address the impact of our words and actions.
—We embrace that the path to achieve each person’s potential is unique.