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Connecting the Generations at the Girls Middle School

3/17/2026

When Gretchen “Itchy” Markle Thams ’45, known to her Kingswood friends across generations simply as “Itchy,” was on campus this past fall, she mentioned one place she had yet to see: the Cranbrook Kingswood Girls Middle School, now located on the site where she once played tennis as a Kingswood student. This spring, that wish became a reality, as Itchy returned for a visit that connected her memories of campus with the experiences of today’s students.

During her visit, Itchy met with Head of Girls Middle School Tony Shawe, Assistant Head Loren Roumell '99, and Shannon Johnson '00, who teaches Exploring Cranbrook Kingswood, a class that introduces students to the School’s history, architecture, and traditions. Over lunch, students eagerly gathered around Itchy, paging through her yearbook and asking thoughtful questions about life at Kingswood in the 1940s—from dress codes and classes to athletics and daily routines.

“When I was at Kingswood, our class was quite homogeneous,” Itchy reflected. “I love seeing and learning about the diversity among students today. It’s wonderful to know that the School now brings together students from so many different places and backgrounds.”

Just two days shy of her 98th birthday, Itchy was delighted to celebrate with the girls, who surprised her with a special gift. She spent time in Ms. Johnson’s classroom, admiring the students’ hands-on geography projects, and visited the Makerspace, where she was especially taken with the imaginative “germ” creatures the girls had created—posing for a photo alongside one inspired by "Yellow Fever."

Throughout the visit, moments of connection bridged generations. Itchy was thrilled to see the tapestry in the dining hall created by her former weaving teacher, Lillian Holm, and to learn that the library’s light fixtures were originally installed in “Heaven” at Kingswood. She also cheered on her beloved Green Team as Field Day approaches—recalling the longstanding Kingswood tradition of dividing students into Green and White teams that compete throughout the year, a spirited rivalry that continues today.

For the students, meeting Itchy made Kingswood’s history feel vividly real. The idea that more than 85 years could separate their graduation from hers—and that she continues to return, year after year—amazed and delighted them.

For Itchy, the visit was a joyful reminder that while much has changed, the spirit of Kingswood endures in its students, its traditions, and the lasting connections that bring alumnae back across generations.

Interested in connecting with current students? Contact the alumni office at alumni@cranbrook.edu to learn more about serving as a pen pal for a future Exploring Cranbrook Kingswood class.

Click here to view more photos from the visit.
Click here to go to the Alumni Welcome page for more news and stories.

Back

- Itchy got a 98th Birthday gift from the students
- Meeting Mr. Shawe the new head of the GMS
- Touring the makerspace and seeing the germs girls made for health class - this one is Yellow Fever
- Cheering on her Kingswood team - Go Green!
- Itchy spotted a piece by Lillian Holm, her former weaving teacher
- In the GMS lobby
- Meeting students
- Visiting classrooms