Middle School Extracurricular Programs
Dear Middle School parents, Welcome to Gill St. Bernard’s extracurricular programs! While common sense tells us that extracurricular programs are a good way for children to enhance in-class learning or expand on their skills in various activities, research has proven it. In fact, the National Center for Education Statistics has reported that extracurricular activities “reinforce lessons learned in the classroom” and evoke “values of teamwork, individual and group responsibility, physical strength and endurance, competition, diversity, and a sense of culture and community” among students. The pursuit of learning extends far beyond the classroom at Gill St. Bernard’s School, where a wide array of extracurricular offerings ensure balance between mind, body and spirit. The Middle School offers a variety of programs throughout the academic year. These enrichment programs offer experiences in community service, science, fine art and more. Whether participating in athletics, the arts or another club, these unique opportunities allow students to acquire new skills, discover their individual self, overcome challenges and develop a well-rounded sense of character. Please contact Middle School Administrative Assistant Barbara Bator at extension 242 for more information on signing-up for any of Gill’s after- or in-school activities. Warm regards,
Kyle J. Armstrong Middle School Director
Monday Activities 3D Design Club Grade Level(s): 5 & 6 Advisor(s): Frank Corrado Dates: Mondays Time: 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.
Research, explore and learn about endangered species around the world. This club will raise money through fundraisers for the World Wildlife Fund.
GSB: You Can Change the World Challenge The 3D Design Club will work on Grade Level(s): 6 – 8 designing and drawing objects with Advisor(s): Teri Cosentino drafting software, and then printing them with the school’s three-dimensional Dates: Mondays printer. Students will use a free software Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. called Trimble SketchUp. Working in groups of two to four, students will identify environmental Endangered Species Club issues at GSB and create sustainable, Grade Level(s): 5 reproducible solutions. Advisor(s): Carrie Petkiewich Dates: Alternating Mondays Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Leadership Group Grade Level(s): 8 Advisor: Bob Orr Dates: Mondays Time: 11:40 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Students will consider and discuss leadership theories, stories of good and bad leadership habits, and perspectives on such leadership topics as attitude, teamwork, communication, creativity, ethics, trust, conflict, gender and sustainability. Students will be encouraged to discover their individual strengths and prepare for leadership roles in high school, college and adult life.
Tuesday Activities Above & Beyond Choir Grade Level(s): 5 & 6 Advisor(s): Amy Southerland Dates: Tuesdays Time: 7:45 a.m. The Above and Beyond Choir features a special extracurricular choral ensemble of treble voices. Students will learn and perform standard choral literature of various styles and cultures. Art Club Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Amy Newman Dates: Tuesdays Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Art Club provides an avenue for students to exchange creative ideas, create imaginative artworks and collaborate with other students to support art within the GSB community. Throughout the school year, students will have the opportunity to create
Did You Know? A variety of extra help programs are also available in subjects ranging from math to Spanish, depending on the time of the school year. Please inquire about these after-school offerings by contacting the Middle School Office at extension 242.
artworks and learn new techniques not offered in regular art classes. What better way to promote art at GSB? Geography Bee Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Joanna Hayes Dates: Tuesdays (3/mo.); Begins late Oct. & ends after winter break Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Each year, thousands of U.S. schools participate in the National Geographic Bee. Students grades five through eight are eligible for this entertaining yet challenging test of geographic knowledge. Participants in this club will play games, get tips and go over extra study materials. Each student will practice to compete against one another in GSB’s Geography Bee in the winter. The winner will take a written qualifying test to see if Gill will have a school representative in the state Geography Bee!
Gill Gals Grade Level(s): 6 Advisor(s): Amy Southerland Dates: Tuesdays Time: 11:40 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. This music ensemble meets once weekly during lunch and is open to any sixth grade student interested in “showing off” on the GSB stage! For fun, the group sings, practices choreography and uses props. Green Space Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Teri Cosentino Dates: Tuesdays Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Depending on the season, students in the Green Club will care for plants in the GSB garden and greenhouse, as well as for different animals and for themselves. Members of the club will maintain the garden and greenhouse, tend to animals in the classroom, and plan and cook healthy meals. Half the Sky Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Joanna Hayes Dates: Alternate Tuesdays; Begins Oct. 14 Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Half the Sky is a club for fifth through eighth grade girls seeking to raise awareness of human rights issues for women and girls around the world.
Instrument Lessons & Wild Knights Jazz Band Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Max Wild Dates: Tuesdays Time: Varies by student Cost: $65 – 30 minutes; $90 – 45 minutes Participants will meet in person and hold online discussions through edmodo.com to try to understand the global rights disparities that girls face in other countries, with the eventual goal of designing a campaign to promote awareness and fund-raise to support the education of girls in impoverished areas.
See the flyer for Instrument Lessons & the Wild Knights Jazz Band program under Middle School forms on KnightSite. Registration is required. Sleeping Beauty, Kids Grade Level(s): 5 & 6 Advisor(s): Amy Southerland Dates: Tuesdays; Begins Sept. 16
Time: 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Cost: $400 Begins on September 16. See the flyer under Middle School forms on KnightSite. Strings Program Grade Level(s): 5 & 8 Advisor(s): Kimberly McCrann & Peter Schmidt Dates: Tuesdays; Begins Sept. 23 Time: Varies by grade level See the flyer for the Strings Program under Middle School forms on KnightSite. Registration is required.
Wednesday Activities Jr. Knights Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Amy Southerland Dates: Wednesdays; Auditions Sept. 17 Time: 3:05 – 4:15 p.m. The Jr. Knights consists of an auditioned group of fifth through eighth grade performers who rehearse once per week to learn musical pieces for Gill’s Middle School concerts. Students must be a regular member of the 5/6 or 7/8 school chorus in order to participate in the Jr. Knights. This group is about making a choir, not about soloists. All are welcome to audition, however, any seventh or eighth grade student not currently in the music elective who makes the Jr. Knights must participate in the music elective during the second semester. Makers Space Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Teri Cosentino Dates: Wednesdays Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. This program offers a space to use
programmable robots including Probots, littleBits, Makey Makey and Bristlebots, or bring your own. Middle School Student Council Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Brett Mershon & Cliff Schafer Dates: Wednesdays Time: During lunch or activity period The Middle School Student Council serves as a liaison between the division’s administration and student body to provide an avenue for productive communication and action. The student body elects an eighth grade president and a seventh grade vice president. In addition, each homeroom elects a representative and an alternate to attend meetings and volunteer for activities. Representatives communicate with homerooms and other Student Council members about dances, fund-raisers, spirit activities and new ideas. 3D Design Club Grade Level(s): 7 & 8 Advisor(s): Frank Corrado
Dates: Wednesdays Time: 3:15 – 4:30 p.m. See 3D Design Club under Monday Activities.
Thursday Activities Barbershop Boys Grade Level(s): 6 Advisor(s): Amy Southerland Dates: Thursdays Time: 11:40 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Current Events Club Grade Level(s): 8 Advisor(s): Bob Orr Dates: Thursdays Time: 11:40 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
See Gill Gals under Tuesday Activities.
Members meet every Thursday at lunchtime to analyze and discuss
important local, national and world news events of the past week. Discussions are often lively, and students are free to represent and defend opposing points of view. The future impact of current news events is regularly considered.
Engineering Club Grade Level(s): 5 Advisor(s): Stacy Schnurr Dates: Thursdays; Sept. – Dec. Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Fifth grade students interested in science, engineering and invention should join the Engineering Club. Members will have opportunities to work independently, and as part of a team, on timed design challenges as well as project-based challenges. Students will test their designs in the lab and compete against other teams for the title of best design.
Middle School Newspaper (online) Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Carrie Petkiewich Dates: Alternating Thursdays; Begins Oct. 2 Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Students will be responsible for publishing a semester newspaper. They will be involved in all aspects of assembling the paper, including originating ideas, writing articles, creating graphics and conducting interviews. The paper will cover a myriad of topics, ranging from opinion pieces to human interest stories and athletic features. Students may also submit poetry, short stories
and original art work, and will be responsible for peer editing and proofreading each piece. It is hoped that this activity will enhance students’ writing and journalistic skills as well as organizational and cooperative group skills. Regular attendance and enthusiastic participation is required. Yo-Yo Club Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Frank Corrado Dates: Thursdays Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Students will learn some basic and advanced yo-yo tricks and some skills to create their own tricks.
Friday Activities Current Events Club Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Bob Orr Dates: Fridays Time: 11:40 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
For your Information A complimentary supervised study hall is offered to all Middle School students each weekday from 3:00 until 5:30 p.m. Snacks are also provided during study hall sessions as fuel for students’ hardworking minds.
Students will gather weekly to discuss, debate and learn more about world events. Topics may vary widely from week to week depending on relevant news and student interests. French Club Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Melissa Lewis Dates: Alternating Fridays Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Sixth through eighth grade students are invited to participate in the Ski/ Snowboard Club. Five Friday night trips will be planned to Camelback.
Are you interested in French, playing French games, cooking French food, reading about French Culture and watching movies? If so, the French Club is perfect for you!
Ultimate Frisbee Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Andrew Lutz Dates: Fridays Time: 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Ski/Snowboard Club Grade Level(s): 6 – 8 Advisor(s): Joanna Hayes & Bob Ort Dates: Select Fridays; Jan./Feb./March Time: 3:15 – 10:30 p.m. Cost: Lift, bus, equipment rentals & (5) skiing/snowboarding lessons – $355
The Ultimate Frisbee club meets in the main lobby of the Conover Middle School and then it’s off to the playing field. Participants will need water and sneakers. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Andrew Lutz at alutz@gsbschool.org. Frisbees will be provided.
Yearbook Grade Level(s): 5 – 8 Advisor(s): Alana Baer & Zoe Tuohy Dates: Select Fridays Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. This group will work together to assemble the Middle School yearbook by actively taking photographs, planning interesting and creative pages, handling layouts and meeting deadlines. Though the club occasionally meets on Friday afternoons, most students will be expected to complete works in progress independently throughout the month.
Please note, activity offerings and times are subject to change.
Gill St. Bernard’s School P.O. Box 604 St. Bernard’s Road Gladstone, NJ 07934 908-234-1611 Office of Admission, ext. 245 www.gsbschool.org
Gladstone, NJ • Primary - Grade 12 • gsbschool.org Gill St. Bernard’s is an independent, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory day school.