“GSCM is one of the few schools around that is doing 4th-6th grade right!”

My daughter entered GSCM at 6th grade from an excellent-rated CPS magnet elementary school where she had been since Kindergarten.  She was in a Montessori environment from infancy through preschool.  After she and I spent a morning shadowing in the 9-12 environment, we knew that GSCM was where she belong.  She wanted to stay for the entire day and she didn’t want to go back to her old school to finish out the school year.

She has been so happy at GSCM.  She has grown in self-confidence and she feels she is learning more in the self paced, experiential, interdisciplinary learning environment.  She has also enjoyed having church, atrium, and service outings integrated into her curriculum.  I really feel like GSCM is one of the few schools around that is doing 4th-6th grade right!

“I could never go back.”

I was worried about S’s transition to two new teachers, to being the youngest grade, leaving friends behind, and all the worries that only a parent can imagine.  I have been so pleased with her success in the upper elementary program.  S loves to be the “author” of her day and I feel this classroom has really given her confidence and has helped her mature and become like this little shining star in the GSCM crown.

She has made new friends, learned to take her time, be respectful and helpful, to ask for help when needed, and I see a deepening of her faith.  S still plays basketball and socializes a bit with her friends [from her former school].  In the back of my mind I’m always wondering if she’ll ever ask to go back to [the former school] but about eight weeks ago S said, “I could never go back. It would be too boring”.

“I just don’t believe you would see that kind of camaraderie among different age students at another school.”

I was very impressed recently when I had the opportunity to interview the 8th grade class and was told by several of them that “there aren’t really cliques at GSCM.”  They explained that the kids here play across grade lines which they don’t think happens at other schools.  Well, that sounded wonderful and yesterday I saw it in action.

I was after school with my Destination Imagination team and we went outside for some fresh air.  Playing in the field were a group that consisted of an 8th grade boy, several 5th and 6th grade girls, a 5th grade boy, a  3rd grade boy and girl, and I added four 1st and 2nd graders to the mix.  They all played together beautifully.  None complained when my 1st and 2nd graders joined in – better yet, all the older kids included and were gentle with the younger ones.  I just don’t believe you would see that kind of camaraderie among different age students at another school.  I am so happy that my kids get to learn at a place where everyone is so accepting of everyone else.

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