Chaloner Poetry Prize Celebrates 25 Years
In June, the Chaloner family returned to Grace to mark 25 years since they established the Gwendolen Chaloner Poetry Prize in memory of their mother, former Grace teacher and head of Lower School.
Ted Chaloner ’59, standing with his sisters, Joan Chaloner Steen ’56, and Gillian Chaloner-Larsson ’54, said this as he presented the award to this year’s fourth grade “GCS Poet Laureate”:
We know from many Grace Church School alumni who were in Mrs. Chaloner’s classes that our mother was a wonderful teacher. And she loved to write poems. We are so proud of her contributions to the school and to poetry.
The term laureate is given to a person who is honored with an award for outstanding creative or intellectual achievement. The word comes from the laurel leaves that were made into wreathes for emperors and important Romans to wear on their heads…
She would be very proud of all the fourth graders who write poems; and especially, this morning, the 2018 Grace Church School Fourth Grade Poet Laureate who is Arlo B.
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Past Chaloner Prize recipients Cameron Lawrence ’17, Louise G. ’23 and Thomas S. '24, with the Chaloner family.
About the Chaloner Poetry Prize
Gwendolen Chaloner taught the 4th grade at Grace Church School for 19 years, retiring in 1968 as Head of the Lower School.
Mrs. Chaloner’s love of poetry was infectious. Perhaps her greatest gift to Grace was spreading that love to her students and establishing the teaching of poetry as an essential part of the grade school.
After Mrs. Chaloner died in 1991, her family established The Fourth Grade Poetry Prize in her memory. For the past 25 years, the prize has been awarded at lower school closing exercises in recognition of the body of work of a fourth grade student. Fourth graders still discover the joy of writing through poetry at Grace, evidence that Mrs. Chaloner’s legacy remains intact.
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Tamina Sanada ’98
I received the poetry prize in 1994. It seems so long ago, but I remember the surprise and delight at hearing my name being announced as the recipient. My homeroom teacher that year, Mrs. Cross, had introduced different styles of poetry to us and had us write our own versions. I had always loved reading, and with poetry in 4th grade, my love of writing was born and continued for the rest of my life.Read More -
Anne Waldman '58
Read MoreAnne Waldman ‘58 – a former student of Gwen Chaloner’s - grew up to be an internationally acclaimed poet, writer, editor and teacher.
Complete List of Winners
| 2018 - Arlo B. | 2009 - Cameron Lawrence | 2000 - Casey Yazejian |
| 2017 - Jonas C. | 2008 - Phoebe Danaher | 1999 - Pippa Bianco |
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2016 - Thomas S.
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2007 - Delany Higgins | 1998 - Elizabeth Walker |
| 2015 - Louise G. | 2006 - Antonia Burdick | 1997 - Kate Riley |
| 2014 - Christian C. | 2005 - Kazuma Makihara | 1996 - Ann Stillman |
| 2013 - Josephine O. | 2004 - Rebecca McSween | 1995 - Cecilia Estreich |
| 2012 - Nicholas M. | 2003 - Sophie Browner | 1994 - Tamina Sanada |
| 2011 - Julia K. | 2002 - Bonnie Kalos | 1993 - Glenn Caldwell |
| 2010 - Holden Higgins | 2001 - Devon Head | 1992 - Allison Moore |
Below are poems by 2018 Chaloner Poetry Prize Winner Arlo B.
In Autumn the leaves fall in different patterns,
Swooping left and right,
Trees groaning inside the cold,
Seeking out the last sunlight,
I hear the yelps of happy children,
Ringing through the streets,
Wind rustling the bare brown trees,
Still whistling through the night,
I find gladness in every corner,
Weaving through the streets,
The sunset spreading blood red light,
Flooding trees with red,
That’s the Fall that I imagine,
I think all the kids believe,
Nobody would like it half as much,
Without the gladness in the trees.
Wonder
I see, I look, I know
I found
My friend, my foe
I am a who? A what? A how, and why?
I am I must try to fly.
Older, younger,
Taller, smaller
Grow or not?
What must I know?
Feathers,
Dark, light,
As soft as cotton,
Texture, feeling, Emotion.
Free, move
See water, water
A mirror?
Water, see water in water is…
I, me a swan?
© 2025 Grace Church School
Grace Church School is a co-educational independent school in downtown Manhattan, New York City providing instruction for over 800 students in junior kindergarten through twelfth grade.
