Academics & Arts
Lower School (Grades K-6)
Nurture your child’s inherent love of learning at Gilmour Academy Lower School, where our holistic approach to education celebrates curiosity and delights in discovery.
Gilmour Lower School students thrive in our welcoming atmosphere designed to educate the whole child by promoting academic, spiritual, emotional and physical growth. Subject-level experts and caring support staff meet each child where they are and guide them to where they want to go.
From the start of Kindergarten to the end of sixth grade, we teach our students how to learn, not just what to know, supporting them as they ask big questions and seek the answers.
Experiential learning is woven through the curriculum daily. On any given day, our Lower School students can be found in a small-group music lesson, working with practicing scientists or engineers, or learning the intricacies of coding. Living a lesson rather than just reading about it allows for the deepest levels of engagement.
Teachers at the Lower School teach their discipline to the same children for two years, fostering strong relationships with their students and providing more personalized and meaningful challenges.
From the start of Kindergarten to the end of sixth grade, we teach our students how to learn, not just what to know, supporting them as they ask big questions and seek the answers.
LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR:
List of 7 items.
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Social and Emotional Awareness
- Students are given ample opportunities to socialize with and learn from older students, who, in turn, help model social grace and courtesy.
- In grades 1-4, classroom walls are open, promoting collaboration, self-awareness, respect for others, and focus - even through distractions
- Students are given ample opportunities to socialize with and learn from older students, who, in turn, help model social grace and courtesy.
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Academic Excellence
- Small class sizes and dynamic student-faculty relationships ensure each child is supported and challenged.
- Cutting-edge lessons, research opportunities and hands-on projects taught by industry experts cultivate an early passion for learning.
- Small class sizes and dynamic student-faculty relationships ensure each child is supported and challenged.
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Spiritual Awakening
- Religious curriculum and an emphasis on spirituality fosters an atmosphere of tolerance and dignity and encourages students to reflect on how they may use their unique talents to serve others.
- Class service trips encourage social responsibility, increase social awareness, build self-esteem and encourage friendships and relationships.
- Religious curriculum and an emphasis on spirituality fosters an atmosphere of tolerance and dignity and encourages students to reflect on how they may use their unique talents to serve others.
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Effective Communication Skills
- Regular classroom presentations, creative performances and integrated lessons on social grace prove no age is too young to begin practicing public speaking.
- Authentic letter exchanges with international penpals teach students about cultural differences as well as foreign language.
- Regular classroom presentations, creative performances and integrated lessons on social grace prove no age is too young to begin practicing public speaking.
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Creativity and Problem-Solving
- Cooperative project learning requires students to work together and apply knowledge from multiple disciplines to complete complex performance tasks.
- Arts education exposes Lower School students to music theory, keyboard, voice, band, drama and more, both inside the classroom and through immersive trips and experiences.
- Cooperative project learning requires students to work together and apply knowledge from multiple disciplines to complete complex performance tasks.
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Confidence and Independence
- Exposure to individual and team sports, including ice skating and swimming in our world-class facilities, develops coordination and self-confidence.
- Overnight class trips to Colonial Williamsburg and New York City encourage safe exploration and the joy of new experiences.
- Exposure to individual and team sports, including ice skating and swimming in our world-class facilities, develops coordination and self-confidence.
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Curiosity and a Love of Learning
- Integrated curriculum breaks down barriers between subject areas, helping students to make connections and encouraging them to ask how and why more than what and when.
- A focus on entrepreneurship and innovation involves even our youngest students, who are encouraged to set goals, take calculated risks and realize real rewards through projects like National Lemonade Day.
- Integrated curriculum breaks down barriers between subject areas, helping students to make connections and encouraging them to ask how and why more than what and when.
Parent, Class of 2028
“Sending our son to Gilmour is probably the best thing that we have ever done for him. His experience has far exceeded our expectations. It is like a light switch went off and he is a completely different kid when it comes to school and beyond. Gilmour has been a 180 degree difference from his old school and he comes home happy and excited each day.”
