Gillispie Families, My name is Ian Lewis and I am excited and grateful for my new position at Gillispie as the Music Specialty Teacher. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you at the parent coffees recently, at pickup/drop off, or at Monday Meetings. If I have not met you yet, I am looking forward to seeing you at the Winter Program this year! We are in full-swing in music class, learning how to play instruments,...
Kindergarten students had some very special visitors from the San Diego Fire Department recently. Firefighters pulled up in the Fay driveway in their big, red fire engine for a demonstration. Students learned about the different tools on the firetruck, heard some loud sirens, and even climbed through the backseat! They waved goodbye as firefighters hopped on the truck to get back to their job of helping our community. What an exciting visit!...
What’s new in Gillispie science this year? Plenty! First of all, science has relocated from the Bungalow to south campus, rooms 12 and 16. Secondly, Mr. Edwards is joined by Mr. Belsha, as a secondary science teacher, allowing us to extend the program’s reach all the way down to Kindergarten! Mr. Belsha, Science grades K-2: The year has started off on a positive and exciting note, with enthusiastic and inquisitive students driving what will be a fun year...
Recently, Preschool students in Cypress Room celebrated National Bring Your Teddy Bear to School Day. Each student brought in their own teddy bear (or other friendly stuffed animal) and shared it with the class during morning attendance. Keeping with the day's theme, students made bear-inspired treats during snacktime using cream cheese, blueberries, rice cakes, and bananas. "I've never eaten a bear before!" one student said. Students also drew portraits of their stuffed animals, created animal faces using natural materials, and...
Grade 3 students have been visiting the Kindergarten classrooms to read with their Book Buddies! Our Book Buddies program pairs upper elementary students with their younger cohorts for weekly meeting spent reading or playing together around campus. Kindergarten students are working on their reading and writing skills, while Grade 3 students are working on their confidence while reading aloud. Both classes enjoy the camaraderie and mentorship that the program provides!...
Have you heard the exciting news? Gillispie's Art Room has moved to The Art Bungalow on Fay Avenue. We are loving this new, old space! Built in 1910, the Craftsman-style bungalow is inspiring Gillispie artists with its historic charm and beautiful front garden. Students have been working in their new sketchbooks “en plein air” these past few weeks— even during a passing rain shower! In the kindergarten classes, we learned that Leonardo Da Vinci, at age six,...
We are excited to welcome our new Early Childhood Support Teacher, Sarah Baxter, to our community! What inspired you to work with kids/become a teacher? I have always loved working with children, and I was fortunate to have had many great teachers growing up who inspired me to become to follow their career path. What do you love about your job? I love helping and working with children and families, and being a part of a great school community. What is...
Big announcement! Gillispie was voted "Best Preschool" in the La Jolla Light Newspaper's reader's choice poll and placed second in the Best Private School category! Thank you so much for your support! We are very proud of our learning village and of everyone who is a part of it....
Welcome to Media Literacy, one of Gillispie's six specialty classes! Gillispie students in Grades 1-6 take a specialty class called media literacy. Media literacy helps students become competent, critical, and literate users of print and digital media. Because reading is the core of both academic and personal competencies, media literacy classes include time in the library to develop students’ love of literature and foster their social-emotional development. The course will also include research skills, keyboarding practice, and...
¡Bienvenidos a la clase de español! From Kindergarten to Grade 3, students learn Spanish mainly through songs, play, and stories. From Grade 4 on, spoken Spanish, skits, videos for comprehension, and grammar become an emphasis for our daily routine. This week, Grade 4 is getting ready for the very first Gillispie Spanish Spelling Bee. Students have been given a list of 24 Spanish words to study, and some of them are pretty tough! Can you spell alfombra (rug) ? or ...
