Upper School Addendum and Resources

Matthews Family Library

The Matthews Family Library in the Hockenbury Academic Center serves as a resource center and gathering place, supporting the academic needs and recreational reading of the Upper School student community. Students are encouraged to use the library to collaborate with teachers and peers, to conduct research, to further their personal knowledge and to study. Among its many resources, the library has over 20,000 volumes, 20 databases, dozens of periodicals, daily newspapers, audiovisual materials, and access to interlibrary loan resources throughout the state. Librarians work with students and teachers to teach information literacy skills. Students may take advantage of their free time (before and after school, during unscheduled periods, and meeting times) to use the Library, which is staffed by a school librarian or faculty member every school day from 7:45 a.m. until 5:45 p.m.

Advisory Program

Every student in ninth through twelfth grade is assigned a faculty advisor who oversees and supports the student’s academic progress, maintains regular contact with the student’s teachers and coaches, and assists the student in all areas of school life. Advisory meetings are built into the academic day, and they include scheduled group advisories and availability for individual meetings. In addition, advisors often informally check in with their advisees during classes, breaks, meals, and sporting events. Students are encouraged to seek out their advisor whenever necessary. Advisors are student advocates and should serve as the first point of contact between a student’s parents and the school. Parents should reach out to their child’s advisor with questions and concerns, or to share information that may have a bearing on the student’s life at school.

College Guidance

During their Upper School years, students receive information and guidance on all facets of their transition from high school to college. Some counseling takes place early in the high school years (e.g., scheduling and testing), whereas more intensive counseling is provided in the junior and senior years. Students and parents are encouraged to attend pertinent evening programs presented by the College Guidance Staff each year and to familiarize themselves with the college guidance materials on Gill St. Bernard’s website.

In junior year, each student is assigned a lead counselor who works with him or her to ensure that he/she is offered a list of appropriate college options. The lead counselor also writes a confidential letter of recommendation for the student. The junior year includes a weekly College Guidance class that provides useful information about the college search and gives students space and the time to complete the main components of the application process. Summer workshops between the junior and senior years allow rising GSB seniors to continue to work on their applications.

In senior year, students undertake several tasks as they become college applicants. They create a resume, write application essays, and request confidential letters of recommendation from their teachers. A student’s lead counselor serves as a key advisor throughout each of these activities; however, the entire College Guidance Staff plays a role in supporting and advocating for GSB college applicants.

Service Activities

Gill St. Bernard’s School offers a wide array of community service opportunities both on and off-campus throughout the academic year. In the Upper School, the Office of Student Life coordinates student-driven activities, which help to serve local institutions and community organizations. Activities supporting the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program, New Jersey Blood Services, Habitat for Humanity, the Interfaith Food Pantry, and others allow students to develop their generosity of spirit while making a positive impact on those around them. Although community service is not required, student participation is extensive, and the program upholds the school’s mission and core values.

Gill St. Bernard’s School provides a limited number of accommodations for those students who have learning and/or attention differences as documented by a psycho-educational, neuropsychological, audiological, speech-language, occupational, or physical therapy evaluation administered by a recognized licensed professional. The school does not make any modifications to the curriculum that require the alteration of the school’s fundamental academic program. Accommodations are limited to those contained within the school’s Academic Support Policy. These accommodations are not meant to constitute a separate or individual program for a student with learning and/or attention differences. If the level of support a student needs to succeed in our program is greater than our resources, the family will need to pursue outside support for the child. The Director of Upper School Learning may help in contacting outside professionals. When a student is unable to demonstrate academic progress (see academic expectations in the GSB Parent/Student Information Handbook) or exhibits a pattern of inappropriate behavior of such frequency, duration or intensity that it disrupts that student’s own learning or the learning of others, the school reserves the right to terminate the student’s enrollment agreement.

Extra Help and Tutoring

Learning to recognize and respond to academic concerns is an essential skill for all students to acquire. Students are encouraged to meet individually with their teachers if problems arise. Teachers are available either by appointment or on a drop-in basis to give extra help before school, during their free periods, during meeting time, and after school. While teachers are frequently available for extra help without advanced notice, students should schedule individual appointments. Students who require ongoing support in each subject area or study skills and organization should discuss the matter with their classroom teacher(s), their advisor, the learning specialist, and the Upper School director. The school’s learning specialist is available to work with students and families to identify supplemental strategies to assist students in their learning; however, the learning specialist cannot serve as a long-term tutor for any individual student. If long-term tutoring is necessary, a list of tutors can be provided.

School Counselor

Our Upper School counselor works in conjunction with the faculty, dean of student life, learning specialist, and Upper School director. The counselor provides mental health education, individual and small group counseling, and guidance and referrals for outside counseling. The school counselor is a resource for students, parents, faculty, and the GSB community, and may present information on a range of mental health and wellness topics.