Lower School Enrichment (LSE)

Join Gilman's very own Mr. C for an exciting after-school journey into the vibrant world of Mandarin and Chinese culture! In Dragon Tales: Adventures in Mandarin, your child will immerse themselves in the beauty of the Chinese language through engaging games, lively songs, and hands-on activities. From crafting delicious dumplings to exploring the art of calligraphy, each session is designed to spark curiosity and creativity. Mr. C has spent a decade living in China and Taiwan, speaks Mandarin, and holds a Master's Degree in Chinese Philology from Fudan University in Shanghai. Join us and discover this exciting part of our big, beautiful world together!

For kids? Drone racing, building obstacle courses, drone photography, team building…what could be more fun?!

For Parents? Drones are a beautiful way for young people to joyfully engage in collaborative experiences, technology literacy, responsibility, hands-on creation and design, problem-solving, and patience.

For Everyone! Join Mr. C, Gilman’s very own early-elementary music teacher, in a fun-filled 10 weeks with drones!

Calling all cheese lovers! In this deliciously fun club for students in grades 1–4, we’ll taste a variety of cheeses from around the world, explore fun food pairings, and keep a cheese tasting journal full of flavor notes and silly reactions. Each week brings a new cheese, a cultural connection, and a cheesy activity—like designing labels or holding a “fancy grilled cheese” cook-off. Get ready to snack, learn, and laugh your whey through the wonderful world of cheese!

Learn how to make yummy hot cocoa, and earn money selling it! A hot cocoa stand is a great way to introduce our youngest entrepreneurs to the world of business and is fun! From designing marketing flyers to estimating profits to experimenting with recipes, students have fun while developing business savvy! As a showcase event, students launch their stand as a fundraiser for a charity they select!

If your child enjoys learning about the natural world through art, exploration, and literature then this class is for him! In this class, your child will create works of art using natural materials that they forage. They will get the chance to explore the Gilman campus to gather and collect colorful leaves, pinecones, stones and other unique nature treasures to add to their work, all while learning about the land and creatures found around our campus. Each class will focus on a particular nature topic such as birds, trees, seasons, and more and will include a story and a craft centered around that theme.

Rebounders offers a fun, play-based 8-week after school program brought directly to your school! While rooted in basic gymnastics skills, each 45–60 minute class is designed to engage preschool through 1st grade students with an active curriculum that also supports early childhood learning. Our certified instructors blend movement and foundational gymnastics with age-appropriate educational themes, making fitness and learning fun, all in one!

Magic is coming to school! In this weekly after school program, School of Magic Arts, the world’s only 365-day-a-year magic school, will lead magicians in exploring magic-based prop-building, sleight of hand, and, of course, stage illusions. In this comprehensive after-care program, students will learn the basics of the eight types of magic: production, vanish, transportation, transformation, levitation, animation, solid through solid, and tear/restore. We’ll even have a magic show to show off what they’ve learned at the end of the course! The program is fun, fast-paced, and perfect for elementary students. No background required.

Are you ready to turn your imagination into 3D art? Join the Sculpture Society, where we explore the exciting world of sculpting! Whether it's shaping paper mache, working with wood, or building with cool materials, you'll have fun creating one-of-a-kind masterpieces. You'll learn new skills, make awesome friends, and discover the artist inside you. Come shape your ideas with us—let's create something amazing together!

Fun is the name of the game but Magnus Chess Academy also sneaks in a bit of critical thinking, sportsmanship, and patience into chess club! Each week students of all levels do a fun but challenging lesson with one of our great coaches from our world-class curriculum followed by practice games against other students in the class. Join the 100,000 (and counting!) kids who've learned chess with the official academy of 5x world champion Magnus Carlsen. This in-person club includes online extras like practice tournaments, Chesskid Gold membership ($49 value) and a bonus lesson with Magnus or Judit Polgar, the best female chess player ever!

This 8-week Speed and Agility Program is designed for young athletes who play soccer and lacrosse and are looking to enhance their overall athletic performance. The program focuses on developing key physical attributes such as agility, balance, coordination, and explosive movement. Through dynamic ladder drills, change-of-direction exercises, jumping, and balance training, athletes will improve their footwork, reaction time, and body control—essential skills for success in both sports.

In addition to core athletic movements, we’ll incorporate resistance band work to strengthen stabilizing muscles and improve balance and body awareness. Each session will also integrate sport-specific elements: soccer players will sharpen their technical skills with ball work, including passing, receiving, and heading, while lacrosse players will refine their agility and footwork with their sticks in hand. The goal is to help every athlete move faster, react quicker, and perform with greater confidence in their game.

Sound Surge: After-School Drum Circle invites students in grades 2-4 to dive into the exciting world of rhythm and percussion! Through hands-on drumming, interactive rhythm games, and global beats, students will build musical skills with Mrs. Cyman while developing teamwork and creativity. No experience is needed—just bring your energy and get ready to feel the surge of sound as we make music together!

For the sports lover, future team General Manager, sports team owner, ESPN analyst or coach, this unique program helps students view the world of sports from a business perspective. Students actively discuss and analyze different topics, including player contracts, mock drafts, college sports, endorsements, the Nike vs. Under Armour competition, the Super Bowl, e-sports and more!

Have you ever wondered how movies like Gumby, The Nightmare Before Christmas, or Wallace & Gromit come to life? In this awesome after-school club, we’ll dive into the world of stop-motion animation—using LEGOs! You’ll build your own characters, dream up exciting stories, design cool sets, and bring it all to life in your very own mini movie. Get ready to think, build, create, and film like a real movie director! This club is all about imagination, teamwork, and tons of fun.

Welcome to the Storytellers & Playmakers Kids Club, where imagination comes to life! This fun-filled club is all about weaving magical tales and acting them out. Each week, we dive into a new story — from classic fairy tales to original adventures — and then bring the story to life with costumes, props, and plenty of creative energy.

Kids will get the chance to become the characters they love, acting out key scenes, inventing new endings, and creating their own stories along the way. Whether it’s pretending to be brave knights, mischievous pirates, or enchanted animals, every child’s creativity and voice are celebrated.

Join us for laughter, learning, and lots of fun as we explore the power of storytelling and dramatic play! Perfect for kids who love to listen to stories and let their imaginations soar!

This program introduces our patented Gi Grip, a unique grip strengthening training tool used for fitness and martial art forms like jiu-jitsu and judo. The Gi Grip transforms the classic tug of war game into an exciting grappling contest that emphasizes grip strength with the simple rule of "Don't let go!" Through this fun and competitive activity, children will:

• Improve grip strength, core strength, balance, and cardio fitness.
• Learn numerous maneuvers like takedowns, submissions, and sweeps.
• Learn sportsmanship and respect.
• Enhance focus, problem-solving abilities, and perseverance.
• Our program focuses on important values like kindness, respect, discipline, and being a good sport. Kids will learn moves that can help them in other sports and activities. The sessions are easy to follow and lots of fun, helping kids get fit, become more flexible, and feel confident.

Our program now includes Hapkido, a cool Korean martial art that teaches you how to defend yourself using smooth moves, turning motions, and smart control.

Hapkido uses smart moves and body positioning instead of just strength. It incorporates elements from top martial art styles such as judo, jiu-jitsu, kung fu, and taekwondo, equally emphasizing fitness and competitive techniques.

Our martial arts classes help kids focus and solve problems better, which is great for school. Join us for a fun experience that helps you stay fit, learn important life skills, and improve in school!

Registration fees are non-refundable. Cancellations on or after the date two weeks prior to the program start date will not be refunded or prorated. The enrolled number of days expires each week; they do not roll into the following week. Unused days will not be refunded or prorated.

Students who are not picked up promptly at their enrichment club's end time will be dropped into the After School Program (ASP) at the flat drop-in rate.

Students who attend ASP must abide by the rules and regulations outlined in the Gilman Student & Parent Handbook for student conduct and behavior. Students must also continue to strive to be honorable and to exhibit the Gilman Five. If a student exhibits a pattern of not displaying appropriate conduct and behavior, the School reserves the right to dismiss the student from the program.