Join us to celebrate 30 years!

Celebrating 30 Years: Our Stories Build Community

Stories unite us. They create connections and foster a greater understanding of ourselves and others

30 Year Anniversary - Looking Back: "McGillis Celebrates Gold LEED”

As we look back through the archives of The McGillis School, we realize that while some things have changed over the last 30 years: physical location, leadership, the size of our student body, growing an additional division, and more. Despite these changes, at the core, we remain the same. We remain a community committed and able to repair the world.

30 Year Anniversary - Looking Back: "Ethics & Cultures”

30 Year Anniversary - Looking Back: "Ethics & Cultures”.

The strength of the moral fabric at McGillis is due to the richness of our School. From programming, communal norms, and everyday interactions the ethical climate is vibrant and a critical part of our identity as a community and the education we offer.

Originally published in McGillis Musings, Winter 2011

The McGillis School Turns 30!

Celebrating The McGillis School's 30th anniversary gives us an opportunity to reflect upon the strength of our values which guided us our first thirty years. As we look ahead to our future, we envision ourselves anchored and inspired by these same values, committed to teaching our students to live and learn ethically and be engaged citizens ready to create a better world", Ellen Rossi, Chair, McGillis Board of Trustees.

30 Year Anniversary - Looking Back: "Educating the Heart and Mind”

Anniversaries offer an opportunity to reflect on our past and reflect on the future. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of The McGillis School, throughout the year, we will be “looking back” and honoring our beginnings by sharing stories, reflections, milestones, and memories.

McGillis celebrating 30 years!

1990

The McGillis School is founded as the Jewish Community Center Elementary School with twelve students.

1994

McGillis students participate in the first “Fall Leaf Haul” cleaning up leaves for elderly neighbors in partnership with Jewish Family Services and Salt Lake Aging Services

2000

The Jewish Community Center Elementary School is renamed The McGillis JCC Elementary School in honor of Joanne & Richard McGillis, for their support of the school.

2002

The school gains 501(c)3 status, incorporates, and becomes an independent entity called The McGillis School. On December 2, 2002, The McGillis School purchases the historic Douglas School.

2003

The McGillis School opens its doors at its new location to students on September 1. Named for its primary benefactors, Joanne and Richard McGillis, the school year opens with 129 students in grades one through seven.

2004

The School begins to double the number of classes beginning with the addition of a second first grade class. The first class of eighth grade students graduated from The McGillis School in 2005. The School becomes a candidate member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS).

2007

The McGillis School gains fully accredited status with PNAIS. The School receives multiple commendations and no conditions.

2010

The McGillis School opens its doors to the completed 57,000 square foot expansion with 325 students in Kindergarten through eighth grades.

2010

McGillis launches the AfterSchool program.

2011

McGillis became the first K-8 school in Utah to achieve Gold LEED Certification.

2011

McGillis launches its Summer Program.

2012

The McGillis School officially adopts the Magpie as its mascot

2013

The school celebrates 10 years at the Historic Douglas School location.

2014

The school year begins with 390 students and is re-accredited unconditionally with NWAIS, receiving many commendations.

2017

Jim Brewer becomes the fourth Head of School

2019

The first Kindergarten Class graduates from the McGillis School

2020

McGillis launches The Learning Center in Fall 2020