This year, under the direction of new Director of the Lower School Dave Kilkenney, the Lower School revamped its Community Block, intentionally bringing a signature element of the Middle and Upper School experience to younger students. The program creates dedicated time for exploration, connection and student choice — defining features of learning at Gilmour. Held on Friday afternoons, Community Block invites students to step beyond the traditional classroom and explore activities that spark their curiosity. Each quarter, students rank their preferred options and are placed into small groups, creating opportunities to build friendships across grade levels while discovering new interests. Over the course of the year, students rotate through experiences connected to Gilmour’s schoolwide initiatives — including wellness, nature-based learning, performing arts, service and cultural engagement — along with more active opportunities such as swimming, ice skating, fitness and PE games. Led by Gilmour’s K-12 school initiative instructors, the activities encourage students to learn through creativity, movement and collaboration. The addition of Community Block aligns the Lower School experience with the model already embraced by older students, reinforcing the value of giving learners a voice in how they spend their time. Most importantly, Community Block reinforces a core belief at Gilmour: A New Tradition: Community Block Reimagined at the Lower School
Students enjoying the nature-based learning rotation
Students in the Service Club organized books collected for the Kids' Book Bank during Community Block
that learning extends far beyond the classroom. Through shared experiences and hands-on exploration, students discover new passions while strengthening the sense of community that defines the Gilmour experience.
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