SE Valley Times

The Gilbert Days Parade is set to return on November 23, 2024, celebrating the town's heritage with the theme "The Decades of Gilbert." This year, Gilbert Public Schools (GPS) will showcase various time periods from their 111-year history. However, the district float will focus on future possibilities for both GPS and the Town of Gilbert.

Students from Gilbert Classical Academy (GCA), including Mackenzie Adcock, Serena Bhatnager, Conner Daneshkhah, and Luyanda Mlunjwana, are leading the project. They aim to represent GPS while adhering to the parade's theme. "It’s an honor to represent the entire district and showcase what makes Gilbert Public Schools special with our float," stated a senior at GCA. The design incorporates elements of "old Arizona and the Wild West" into a futuristic vision. Notably, it features a transformed Gilbert Water Tower as a rocket ship and includes decorative cacti and hay bales illuminated by fairy lights.

GCA students attribute their educational experiences to shaping the float's design. Clubs like Makerspace and STEM have provided practical learning opportunities that contributed significantly to this project. For instance, members of GCA’s STEM Club plan to distribute over 100 miniature rockets filled with candy during the parade.

Another senior at GCA remarked on how their diverse school environment has influenced their creative process: "GCA has a way of keeping you on your toes... This experience has been invaluable in helping us bring our vision for the float to life."

The students also acknowledged Karen Maas, a math teacher at GCA, for her support throughout their project development. Further details about the parade can be found at GilbertSchools.net/About/News-Events.