Lower School
Grades pre-Kindergarten - Five
Channeling Curiosity.
Young children are intrinsically motivated to learn. They look at the world around them with wonder and a desire to understand all they experience. Our goal is for Lower School boys to head off to Middle School with their internal drive to learn intact.The Gilman Lower School curriculum helps boys develop the foundational knowledge, learning skills, and personality traits to prepare them for success in school and beyond. We nurture the innate curiosity, wonder, and desire to learn in each boy.
Our curriculum recognizes the unique needs of young boys and channels their natural energy, curiosity, and exuberance into learning activities at every age. The kindergarten program bridges the pre-school and primary school years, engaging boys in an enriching and age-appropriate academic program that meets their specific developmental and educational needs, and the prep-one class offers a singular transition for those boys not quite ready for the rigors of an academically-oriented first grade. The overall Lower School program is challenging, yet warm, friendly, and supportive.
Lower School Stories
![Teacher Erica Hudson with Toby and Anne Broadus Broadus]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1555946572/gilman/a4nhteieaw0loyt0mv4v/EricaHudsonwithBroadus.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1555946572/gilman/a4nhteieaw0loyt0mv4v/EricaHudsonwithBroadus.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1555946572/gilman/a4nhteieaw0loyt0mv4v/EricaHudsonwithBroadus.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1555946572/gilman/a4nhteieaw0loyt0mv4v/EricaHudsonwithBroadus.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1555946572/gilman/a4nhteieaw0loyt0mv4v/EricaHudsonwithBroadus.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1555946572/gilman/a4nhteieaw0loyt0mv4v/EricaHudsonwithBroadus.jpg","width":2200}])
Second grade teacher Erica Hudson has won the 2019 Broadus-Hubbard Award. The award is one of the most prestigious honors offered by the School. Learn more and see photos of the award breakfast here.
![Jack Peternotte '27 with his trophy]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1543857862/gilman/jdhyvcpj61ly2rvn9tgb/PaternotteJack27Squash.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1543857862/gilman/jdhyvcpj61ly2rvn9tgb/PaternotteJack27Squash.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1543857862/gilman/jdhyvcpj61ly2rvn9tgb/PaternotteJack27Squash.jpg","width":608}])
Jack Paternotte ’27 has won the Mid-Atlantic Squash Championship for under-11 players. He is ranked #1 in the state for his age group and #41 in the U.S. Jack always plays in his Gilman gear and proudly represents the School. He is known by players and parents as a gentleman on and off the court. Well done, Jack!
![Bonding Over Books and Breakfast]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1551898998/gilman/k1kc8h78j1owbkmdbqpt/LS-MSBooksandBreakfast-12.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1551898998/gilman/k1kc8h78j1owbkmdbqpt/LS-MSBooksandBreakfast-12.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1551898998/gilman/k1kc8h78j1owbkmdbqpt/LS-MSBooksandBreakfast-12.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1551898998/gilman/k1kc8h78j1owbkmdbqpt/LS-MSBooksandBreakfast-12.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1551898998/gilman/k1kc8h78j1owbkmdbqpt/LS-MSBooksandBreakfast-12.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1551898998/gilman/k1kc8h78j1owbkmdbqpt/LS-MSBooksandBreakfast-12.jpg","width":2200}])
Recently Kindergarten, Prep-One, and First Grade boys were invited to join the Middle School Diversity Council for breakfast and a read-along in the Walter Lord Library before the start of school. See a photo gallery here.
![Parade of Presidents video title]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1550255347/gilman/bkirrqbp9ntld4vlhs9o/ParadeofPresidents2019.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1550255347/gilman/bkirrqbp9ntld4vlhs9o/ParadeofPresidents2019.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1550255347/gilman/bkirrqbp9ntld4vlhs9o/ParadeofPresidents2019.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1550255347/gilman/bkirrqbp9ntld4vlhs9o/ParadeofPresidents2019.png","width":849}])
The first grade's annual Parade of Presidents took place the week before Presidents' Day. Each boy researched a president, created a poster, and, in costume, delivered a speech about him. Here's a highlight video.
![Chinese dancers]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1550182176/gilman/owe5oguss1ti91ius0tx/CAF2019.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1550182176/gilman/owe5oguss1ti91ius0tx/CAF2019.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1550182176/gilman/owe5oguss1ti91ius0tx/CAF2019.png","width":785}])
Hundreds of people from the Gilman Community and beyond enjoyed an afternoon learning about the traditions, food, art, music, and more from countries throughout the globe during the 16thannual Cultural Arts Festival. Here's a video of highlights, including performances.
![Morgan President, Dr. David Wilson]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1548269523/gilman/fvapehf8r6neugq75kje/MorganPresidentDavidWilson.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1548269523/gilman/fvapehf8r6neugq75kje/MorganPresidentDavidWilson.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1548269523/gilman/fvapehf8r6neugq75kje/MorganPresidentDavidWilson.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1548269523/gilman/fvapehf8r6neugq75kje/MorganPresidentDavidWilson.jpg","width":1200}])
Morgan State University President David Wilson was the keynote speaker at Gilman's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation on January 17. Learn more here and see a photo gallery and video of the convocation.