During the week of January 31, GFA’s youngest learners reached beyond the curriculum to delve into a community-focused project as part of their “Mini-Term.” In honor of the school’s 100th anniversary, the Lower School Mini-Term theme was, “Happy Centennial, GFA!” Children PreK through Grade 4 explored, researched, and problem-solved alongside their teachers to better understand GFA’s rich history. Activities included game shows, scavenger hunts, interviewing community members, and uncovering artifacts from the archives.
“The essence of this shared learning experience is beautifully captured in our motto, ‘Each for All,’ where every individual contributes to our collective growth,” reflected Head of Lower School Jane Verlin. “There is nothing more joyful than watching students and teachers learning something for the first time together.”
After learning about a former school tradition, Red vs. Blue Day, through yearbooks and photos, fourth graders invited GFA Fund Director Stokes Carrigan to their class to share how this tradition carries over into a new GFA tradition, Giving Day. Students asked questions to deepen their understanding of alumni, school culture, and philanthropy.
“It was such a joy getting to speak with students about this topic,” remarked Stokes. “Red vs. Blue Day was such an impactful event for our alums, and now we can recreate it for a new generation of students. These types of connections are how we help create belonging within our community. I hope students see they are a part of something meaningful that came before them because they carry it on today.”
Launched in 2019, the Lower School Mini Term is a meaningful outgrowth of the professional development collaboration between faculty, educator David Sobel, and his book, Place-Based Education: Connecting Classrooms & Communities. Sobel’s philosophy of using “the local community and environment as the starting place for curriculum learning to strengthen community bonds” remains a tenet of the Lower School program to this day.