Gill St. Bernard’s Middle School

Middle School

The unmistakable energy of our Middle School—vibrant, joyful, and nurturing—encourages students to challenge themselves in academics, explore new interests, and take intellectual risks. During these years, our students become increasingly comfortable articulating their ideas and values as they begin to realize their immense capacity to contribute—not merely to the school, but also to the community and the larger world. Within this framework, we offer a comprehensive academic program that focuses on the mastery of core academic subjects: language arts/English, mathematics, science, social studies/history, and world language. In addition, a range of coursework in fine arts, performing arts, Makerspace, and technology provides a well-rounded school experience, allowing students to discover new interests and develop existing ones. Throughout the curriculum, students acquire essential skills for increasingly rigorous academic work—learning how to take effective notes, read and analyze complex texts, study for assessments, and organize their thoughts and their time. Complementing the academic program are after-school offerings in the fine and performing arts, in-school clubs, athletics, and community service. These activities are a vital part of the Middle School experience, allowing students to connect with others around a common interest, explore new interests, collaborate, and lead. The Middle School also offers a faculty-led study hall until 5:30 p.m. daily, where students can complete homework assignments, see teachers for extra help, or work on group projects. There is no additional fee for participation in study hall or most extracurricular activities in the Middle School.

Program Highlights

Homeroom Teachers/Advisors - Every student is assigned an advisor who is the homeroom teacher. Homeroom teachers oversee and support each student’s academic progress, maintain regular contact with parents, teachers, and coaches, and assist students in all areas of school life. In addition to meeting with students during structured times, they informally check in with their students during classes, breaks, meals, and sporting events. Homeroom teachers serve as the first point of contact between a student’s parents and the school. Parents are encouraged to talk with their child’s homeroom teacher about questions or concerns and to share information that may affect the student’s life at the school.

Character Awareness/Social and Emotional Learning - In the words of one of our Middle School science teachers, “There is an unspoken code at Gill: work hard, be joyful, and help one another.” During the Middle School years, our students increasingly recognize the critical roles they play—as individuals and in groups—in fostering and shaping the school community. The focus on community building is woven into every aspect of our program, founded on the understanding that thriving communities do not just appear; they require thoughtful work and a willingness to show consideration and respect for others. Through advisory and classroom discussions, community service efforts, Town Meetings, and everyday lunch-time conversations, students have opportunities to consider how their actions and attitudes may affect others. In Seminar, students also engage in social emotional topics. We also focus on one virtue each month, giving students a chance to thoughtfully consider what that virtue, or its absence, might look like—how it might be manifested in everyday life right here in our school community, and through the characters we study in history, literature, and the larger world. Teachers encourage students to learn from their mistakes and move forward. Along the way, teachers help students think through their behaviors and develop healthy strategies for resolving differences. Although the faculty guide the discussions, it is genuinely the students who take the lead, seeing themselves as ambassadors for, and contributors to, our wonderful Middle School community.

Community Service - Community service is a natural extension of our emphasis on character awareness, citizenship, inclusion, kindness, and respect. While service is an integral part of the curriculum, during the Middle School years, students begin to take ownership of service activities: identifying a need and designing and implementing a solution. Several clubs, including Half the Sky Club, the Farm and Garden Club, and Reading Buddies, are centered around service activities. Whether organizing a food drive or weeding the garden, our students are committed to making the campus, the community, and the world a better place.

Makerspace Classes - Stocked with art supplies, building materials, several 3-D printers, Arduino boards, and other technology resources, the Makerspace hums with activity before, during, and after the academic day. Located in the Merke Learning Commons, the Makerspace is dedicated to hands-on exploration, innovation, and learning. Classes are project-based—for example, designing earthquake-proof structures, or coding robots—and often tie into work being done in other subjects.

Research and Presentation - At each grade level, students undertake research projects. In addition to exploring a topic in depth, students learn to evaluate sources and develop skills in notetaking, outlining, and critical writing. Core subject teachers work in coordination with the librarian to ensure consistency in the process across grade levels. We use the NoodleTools platform to help with student organization and collaboration. Students at each grade level develop public speaking and presentation skills, becoming more comfortable expressing their ideas and more confident responding to questions. Presentations are woven into coursework throughout the curriculum, and events such as the Science Symposium and Roman Day afford students further opportunities to share their work in front of teachers and peers. Advisory groups and monthly Town Hall meetings also provide space for students to share their ideas and opinions within larger groups. Through frequent group discussions, students learn not only how to express their own thoughts, but also how to express dissent constructively and to demonstrate respect for the ideas and opinions of others.

Room to Grow - Middle School at Gill St. Bernard’s fosters students’ growing independence, understanding that preteens and adolescents are naturally driven to explore and experience the larger world. By Middle School, coursework is place-based throughout our campus. Students have fine arts classes in the art studio and woodworking barn. Music classes take advantage of the beautiful acoustics in our chapel and performance space in our theater/community center. Classes are held in two academic buildings, which include dedicated spaces, such as the computer lab and the Merke Learning Commons, which comprises a library and adjacent Makerspace. Finally, the resources of Home Winds—farm, gardens, greenhouses, orchards, pond, trails, and streams—serve as an inexhaustible outdoor classroom to complement learning across a range of disciplines.

STREAMS - Students in fourth through sixth grade take part in STREAMS, a yearlong program that brings together work in sustainability, technology, research, engineering, agriculture, math, and service. Our STREAMS teachers understand that Middle School students learn best when they are given a chance to create, tinker, and problem-solve. Using our 208-acre campus as a living laboratory, our students work together to design and implement solutions to achieve greater sustainability on our campus and in the larger world.

Spring Unit Program - Held at the end of May, the Middle School Spring Unit Program allows students to immerse themselves in a subject outside of the core curriculum. Whether rock climbing in the Delaware Water Gap, learning to cook, designing pinball machines, or staging a musical production, the experience is creative, collaborative, and hands-on. Scheduled at the end of the school year, the Spring Unit provides a welcome shift from traditional academics, while allowing significant, in-depth learning to take place.

Homework - Homework is an essential part of the learning process, complementing classwork and encouraging student independence. In addition, regular homework assignments give teachers further insight into each student’s challenges, strengths, and understanding of the material. Our teachers thoughtfully design homework assignments to enrich daily classwork. Students keep track of their assignments in a traditional plan book provided by the school. Teachers also post assignments on an electronic bulletin board each day, as well as attachments, reminders, resources, and links to enrichment websites. The electronic bulletin board is helpful for students wanting to do daily assignment checks, plan, or see assignments missed due to absence.

Missed Work - Students learn how to manage and organize their time better as they take on increasingly rigorous coursework. It is vital that they feel supported in this effort and that their progress is not hindered by a few bumps along the way. When a student misses an assignment, for example, the classroom teacher will share that information with the student’s advisor and the parents in a timely fashion. If missed work is not completed within a designated time, teachers may have students remain after school to make up assignments and/or receive extra help.

Grades and Comments - We provide frequent opportunities, both formal and informal, for parents to see a student’s progress. In addition to graded student assessments, homework, and projects, written grades and comments are sent to students and their parents six times during the academic year. In addition, parent/teacher conferences are scheduled in November and February. Outside of these official reporting periods, parents are encouraged to talk with the student’s advisor or teacher(s) about any concerns, questions, or suggestions.

Grades - Letter grades correspond to the following numerical scale:

Letter Grade Numerical Range Description A+ 98–100 A 93–97 A- 90–92

B+ 87–89 B 83–86

B- 80–82 C+ 77–79 C 73–76 C- 70–72 D+ 67–69 D 63–66

D- 60–62

0–59 Unacceptable Performance. Students will not receive credit for the course.

An incomplete grade is given due to illness or other significant issue. Students are required to complete the coursework within a brief, specified period of time. Indicates that the student has passed the course.

Academic Review - Any student who shows a pattern of grades below “C” is subject to academic review. The student and his/ her family will be asked to meet with the appropriate members of the faculty and the Lower & Middle School director as soon as possible. Should the pattern continue, the student’s re-enrollment contract may be placed on hold.

Academic Warning - Any student earning a grade in the “D” range for a core course is placed on academic warning during the next marking period.

Academic Probation - Any student earning an “F” or two or more course grades in the “D” range is placed on academic probation during the next marking period. Re-enrollment contracts may be withheld for students on academic probation.

Student Support Services

Student Support Services - In keeping with our school’s mission, “To provide a balanced curriculum that prepares students academically, socially, and ethically for college, and a meaningful life,” access to personalized support services is an integral part of every student’s experience. GSB’s faculty and staff are highly qualified in their fields of expertise; they work with students to demonstrate understanding and an advanced level of mastery in each discipline. In tandem with our dedicated faculty and advisors, students and families can also access specialists in learning resources, mental health, and health services. The director of learning support, school counselor, nurse, and health and wellness teacher, together with the division director, deans, and faculty, comprise an expert support team for students in meeting the high expectations of our college preparatory program.

The Middle School program solidifies the foundation laid by the Lower School and guides students towards new academic, social, emotional, and physical challenges. The student support team meets to discuss students and their growth. Through the Seminar Course and the Middle School Advisory Program, students focus on building independent habits of study skills, organization, time management, and test-taking. All students are encouraged to seek help from teachers in study hall. When faculty recognize that a student needs additional resources, the director of learning support works with families to develop a support plan.

Testing - Students in fourth through eighth grade sit for the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) assessment each spring. The ERB is a common standardized test administered in independent schools. Results correlate Gill St. Bernard’s students to students from other independent schools across a range of categories. The director of learning support shares the ERB results with families, typically in early summer. If families have questions regarding the test, they may make an appointment with the director of learning support in the summer or early fall.

Awards - In keeping with its core values, Gill recognizes students for academic excellence and academic improvement, as well as for character, citizenship, service, sportsmanship, and contributions to the school community. Awards are presented at the close of the academic year.