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Early Childhood Program

Engaging Exploration in Grades PK-1

The Early Childhood Program within Gilman Lower School promotes exploration and discovery, resulting in a lifelong spirit of inquiry and learning. We believe our younger boys learn best when they have positive and nurturing relationships with adults and other children. We are passionate about providing a research-based, boy-centered, high-quality education in a diverse and inclusive community. We are proud of our holistic approach to early childhood education and understand the importance of paying special attention to our boys' social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. We welcome and embrace the many strengths and individual qualities of our youngest boys.

Gilman's Early Childhood Program embodies joy, happiness, and excitement. Our program provides in-depth, interconnected learning that helps prepare our boys for future academic and lifelong success.

To best prepare boys for Gilman Lower School's Elementary Program (grades 2-5) and beyond, we build capable, independent learners within a group. The learning environment in our Early Childhood Program challenges each boy to reach his true academic potential. We celebrate the uniqueness and talent each boy and his family bring to our community. Our program stresses the importance of exploration, imagination, and curiosity and encourages each boy to grow these qualities. We believe that play and a natural environment for learning are essential to the physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and language development of young boys. At Gilman, boys learn to take risks confidently and have the stamina to persevere in all they do. Our core school values of honor, integrity, humility, and excellence help us to shape boys of promise into young men of character, kindness, and empathy.

Program Values

  • We celebrate the uniqueness and potential that each boy and family bring to the Gilman community.
  • Our Early Childhood Program emphasizes the importance of exploration, imagination, and curiosity.
  • We believe that play and a natural environment for learning are essential to the physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and language development of young boys.
  • Our core values of honor, integrity, respect, humility, and excellence help to shape boys of promise into young men of character.
  • Boys confidently take risks and have the stamina to persevere.
  • To best prepare boys for our Elementary Program and beyond, we build capable, independent learners within a group. The learning environment in our Early Childhood Program challenges each boy to reach his true academic potential.

 


 

CURRICULUM: PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE ONE

 


 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LOWER SCHOOL CO-CURRICULARS

All Lower School students participate in the following co-curriculars at designated days and times throughout the school day and week. Each year, the curriculum builds upon the previous year's and introduces students to more advanced but age-appropriate concepts, skills, and subjects.

 

The Lower School curriculum helps boys develop the foundational knowledge, learning skills, and personality traits to prepare them for success in school and beyond. Boys learn specific content, how to think about what they have learned, and how to apply what they have learned in new situations. Boys learn to collaborate and communicate with others; think critically and creatively; and develop habits of mind that will last a lifetime.