After the dismissal bell rings, many of us file out of the building, attend our sports practices, or head to a club meeting. But beyond our student activities, a plethora of other programs take place. You might catch a glimpse of middle school athletes training hard or adults in classrooms learning a new language. By nightfall, the same building that housed upwards of 1,500 high school students will also have served the broader LM community.
Long before students officially compete for LM as high school athletes, many first step onto the courts and fields here as children. For some, that starts on the wrestling mats. Every Monday at 6:00 p.m. during the winter months, the LM Youth Wrestling Club can be found in the wrestling room. Andrea Burch, the manager of the club, explained the benefit of utilizing LM: “With our wrestlers already practicing in the facility, they have an easy transition into the high school wrestling teams.” The program also allows current students to mentor younger athletes. LM Wrestling captain Keegan Daley ’27, who has volunteered with the club in the past, reflected, “It’s so valuable that we have the opportunity to work with the youth. Other teams around have good youth programs, so it’s important for LM to do this as well, as they’re eventually going to wrestle here as high school kids. It’s cool to mentor these young athletes and see their hard work pay off at their youth tournaments.”
Wrestling is just one example of how LM functions as a focal point of youth sports. On the weekends, cars pull into the bus loop, and children spill out, heading to the Kobe gym. One of the basketball leagues that hosts practices is Next Level Sports. The Main Line Girls Basketball Association (MLGBA) hosts practices in the middle school gyms, while certain games are held at LM. Mike Goldstein, the executive director of MLGBA, explained why having LM as a space is so vital by saying, “Access is key for keeping participation costs down and making it accessible to local kids… Without access, we would likely be unable to provide the hour of practice each week and would need to raise costs to purchase more expensive private gym access.” Additionally, Lower Merion Aquatic Club holds practices at LM’s, developing young athletes’ skills in competitive swimming and diving, and “provide a means of healthy self-expression for those participating,” according to their website.
The building’s role does not end with youth programs. Main Line School Night, an organization offering programs that educate adults on a seemingly endless amount of topics, from language classes to guitar and piano lessons to more unlikely ones, like “Bond Over Bites: ‘TikTok’ Food,” “Argentine Tango,” and even “Dating Strategies for Men & Women.” According to their website, MLSN offers close to 1,000 affordable classes spanning over 23 subject areas. MLSN staff member Caroline Cuthburt said, “Tuesday evenings are ideal… as they avoid weekend conflicts and ensure a consistent schedule… Classes offered in the evenings make it possible for people who work during the day to attend MLSN classes.” Interact, a community service club at LM, regularly volunteers for MLSN. Officer Minh Dao ’26 said, “[We] guide students to their respective rooms and provide tech support to the teacher as they set up.”
However, sometimes these classes encroach on valuable student time. Abby McGrew ’27 complained about the classes overtaking her wrestling practice: “I don’t think MLSN should have priority over school sports. We lack funding as is. We’re students; we should be prioritized. We had to move all our mats into the gym…there were injuries because of that, and three people got hurt.” Other times, student interactions lead to unexpected connections. Alexa Weatherwax ’27 said, “We held an event for Model UN, and there was a Tai Chi class going on at the same time… It’s cool to know that the building is getting community use when school isn’t in session.”
Although public high schools are secular spaces, LM opens its doors to religious ceremonies. The Main Line Reform Temple holds services in the auditorium in the fall for the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. Senior Rabbi Geri Newburge explained, “It is a late morning service, and the days of the week depend on when the holy days fall…” When asked about the unique benefits of holding services in the LM auditorium, Newburge elaborated, “Having services in the auditorium… demonstrates that holiness can be experienced in less ‘traditional’ spaces. I think it’s fun for our students who attend LM to be there for a completely different purpose.” Discover Church also holds services on certain weekends, but did not respond for comment.
One program that consistently serves local residents of all ages is the community swim program, where members can swim from 5:15 to 8:00 a.m. every weekday, 1:00 to 5:00pm on Saturday, and 10:00 to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Annual membership fees range from $50 to $200 depending on age, with senior citizens obtaining a membership free of charge. Amy Buckman, Director of School and Community Relations expanded on its impact, saying, “Community members can join the LMHS pool and take part in the community swim sessions and, for a fee, sign up for swim lessons.”
But how does this all happen? Taking a look behind the scenes of how LM coordinates the logistics, Athletics director Sara Cambell explained that organizations reach out to the Operations Department through email to make a formal request for the space, including required details like “purpose of use, dates and times, expected attendance, space needs, and proof of insurance.” Cambell said the most important factor when considering community use is “student safety and building security. Considerations include limiting access to approved areas only, ensuring appropriate supervision is present and clearly defining building entry points for events.”
District buildings like LM foster connections across generations, unifying students, adults, and local organizations under one roof. As each school day ends, classrooms are carefully cleaned, hallways darken, and students will return in the morning. But for a few hours each weekday evening and on the weekends, the LM building belongs to the entire community.
