Extracurricular Activities
Community Service
Service to others has always been a vital part of the GSB tradition. Community service is an integral part of the educational program at all grade levels. In Middle School, the students participate in a variety of projects from helping at a Senior Citizen Center to assisting with food and clothing drives and distributions. All students participate in at least one program a year.
Student Government
Elected Middle School student representatives meet with the Dean of Students to address issues of concern to the Middle School community. Through this forum, group problem solving and decision making skills are experienced by the entire community. The committee also sponsors fund raisers and organizes social events.
Arts
5th & 6th Grade Honors Choir
A special extra-curricular choral ensemble of treble voices. Students learn and perform standard choral literature of several styles and cultures. This ensemble meets after school.
Gill Gals & Barbershop Boys
A music ensemble that meets once a week during lunch. The music is just for fun, usually involving choreography and props. These groups are open to any 6th grader interested in "showing off" on stage!
Sunday Broadway Trips
Students in grades five through eight are invited to join others for Sunday matinee shows on Broadway. The purchase of the tickets includes bus transportation. All trips depart from GSB. Immediately following the show, all students board the bus for the return to school. The trips are scheduled two or three times a year.
Drama Production
Each spring, the Middle School mounts a musical production. Interested students may participate on stage or behind the scenes. In the past, Middle School plays have included The Pirates of Penzance, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown and Guys and Dolls.
Clubs and Activities
Literary Magazine
The literary magazine is a collection of creative pieces written by GSB Middle School students. Students help to determine which pieces will be included in the magazine, and they help to create the layout.
Middle School Newspaper
Students are integrally involved in all aspects of putting a newspaper together from creating the stories/articles/graphics, to conducting interviews, to doing the layout and planning circulation. Students are responsible for peer editing and proofreading.
Forensics
Students are coached in giving different kinds of speeches, including impromptu, original oratory, interpretive reading, and oratorical declamation. Students are encouraged to participate in competitions with other local schools.
Math Olympiads
Math Olympiads is a national program designed to foster the pursuit of individual excellence in problem solving while enhancing creativity and resourcefulness. Students who participate meet weekly to practice problem solving skills and participate monthly in a contest that contains five problems, each with a time limit. A student can join the team just for problem solving practice and not take part in the contests.
Yearbook
Students are responsible for creating the Middle School yearbook. They are involved in every aspect, including taking photographs, planning interesting and creative pages, handling layouts and meeting deadlines.
Junior Great Books Discussion Club
This group meets monthly to interact with thought-provoking literature and to develop reading and critical thinking skills. Readings include selections from the Junior Great Books Program for Middle School and other recommended books.
Ski Club
Sixth through eighth graders participate in five Friday night trips to a local ski area.
