Academics
We believe that the pursuit of knowledge has intrinsic rewards.
Our community of learners value the contributions, perspectives, and talents that each student and faculty member bring to campus. Within this community, characterized by camaraderie, connections, and inclusion, students gain the confidence and self-possession to persevere in challenging courses, to voice opinions during class discussions, and to attain their potential.
Our core values—courage, integrity, respect, compassion, and excellence—combined with a rigorous academic program and genuine understanding of student learning, inform our teaching. Teachers design and guide an engaging and nurturing environment that supports students academically, ethically and socially, preparing them for college and meaningful, purpose-driven lives.
Lower School
The GSB Lower School nurtures each student’s natural sense of wonder and curiosity, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning while equipping children with the skills to succeed academically, developmentally, emotionally, and ethically.
Middle School
The GSB Middle School Program focuses on the mastery of core academic subjects, exploration of new clubs and interests, and personal growth. Understanding the unique characteristics of pre-teens and emerging adolescents, middle school teachers place special emphasis on the values of community, empathy, and healthy decision-making.
Upper School
The GSB Upper School offers a rigorous and comprehensive college-preparatory program, abundant opportunities for research across the curriculum, and specialized elective courses for students to explore and further their specific interests.
Explore Our Curriculum
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Acting Advanced
Building on the concepts of Acting I and Acting II, this semester-long course offers more in-depth training in the areas of emotion, character development, and motivation.
Acting I
This semester-long course introduces students to drama through theater games and activities.
Acting II
Students in this semester-long course work toward a more advanced set of goals.
Advanced Topics in Computer Science
This is an advanced course in programming application and computer science intended for students who have completed AP Computer Science A and would like to explore the subject in greater detail.
Algebra 1
Depending on their readiness, students take this course over a single year (accelerated) or over two years (enriched).
Algebra I
A full-year course, Algebra I, is an introductory level math course and is a prerequisite for Geometry.
Algebra II and Trigonometry
The full-year Algebra II and Trigonometry course follows Geometry in GSB’s math curriculum.
Algebra II and Trigonometry Honors
A yearlong course, Honors Algebra II and Trigonometry follows Geometry and is a prerequisite for Honors Precalculus.
Anatomy and Physiology
In this semester course, students study the anatomy (structure) and the physiology (function) of body systems in humans and other animals.
Animal Science
Students learn about a broad range of animal science topics.
AP 2-D Art and Design
AP 2-D Art and Design is a yearlong course that is not based on a written exam; instead, students submit portfolios for evaluation in early May.
AP Art History
The AP Art History course welcomes students into the global art world to engage with its forms and content as they research, discuss, read, and write about art, artists, art making, and responses to and interpretations of art.
AP Biology
This is equivalent to an introductory college-level biology course for biology majors.
AP Calculus AB
This course follows the syllabus for the AP exam in Calculus AB. As such, it is a rigorous, demanding course requiring a strong foundation in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and analytic geometry.
AP Calculus BC
This course follows the syllabus for the AP exam in Calculus BC.
AP Chemistry
This course is the equivalent of a first-year college chemistry course; it covers materials in-depth and provides a deeper consideration of both the theoretical and mathematical analysis of topics.
AP Computer Science A
This is a college-level, yearlong course that prepares students to sit for the AP exam.
AP Computer Science Principles
The AP Computer Science Principles course is designed to be equivalent to an introductory college computing course.
AP Drawing
AP Drawing is a course designed for the serious art student who is interested in an intensive investigation of art concepts, media, and techniques after taking an introductory level art course, Drawing and Painting and Honors Portfolio.
AP English Language and Composition
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AP English Literature and Composition
A rigorous advanced-level humanities class, AP English Literature and Composition prepares students specifically for college-level English work.
AP Environmental Science
This course looks at the natural world and how human activity impacts it.
AP European History
This course surveys European political, social, economic, and cultural history from the Renaissance to the present.
AP French Language and Culture
Students further develop oral proficiency through oral reports that focus on cultural and historical topics.
AP Human Geography
This intensive course prepares students for the AP exam.
AP Latin
AP Latin concentrates on the translation, analysis, and interpretation of Vergil’s epic poem, the Aeneid, and Caesar’s commentaries, De Bello Gallico.
AP Microeconomics
This course provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to understand and analyze critical topics in microeconomics.
AP Music Theory
This yearlong course takes advanced musicians with existing knowledge of music theory through the equivalent of a first-year college music theory class.
AP Physics I
This course is a response to the format changes made by the College Board in 2014, and it is based on the “Six Big Ideas,” or core principles identified by the College Board.
AP Physics II
This course follows the first-year AP Physics course and requires many of the same skills: mathematical competence, organization, motivation, and strong problem-solving abilities.
AP Psychology
This course is the equivalent of an introductory college course in Psychology.
AP Spanish Language and Culture
This rigorous and challenging course emphasizes the use of authentic Spanish for active communication, allowing students to reach advanced levels in their oral, aural, reading, and writing skills. Students engage in conversation by using advanced grammatical structures, literary analysis, cultural studies, and in-depth discussions of current events around the world.
AP Statistics
The AP Statistics course introduces students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data.
AP United States Government and Politics
This course provides students with an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States.
AP United States History
This is an intensive yearlong course that prepares students to read historical texts critically...
AP World History: Modern
In World History, students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes from 1200 to the present.
Biology
This course provides a systematic approach to the study of biology.
Biology Honors
Topics covered in this fast-paced course include ecology, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, Mendelian and non-Mendelian genetics, bioethics, evolution, diversity of life, and animal and human anatomy, and physiology.
Biomedical Ethics
Has our ability to manipulate nature outstripped our capacity to make moral decisions about these techniques?
Biome Museum
This marks the culmination of weeks of cross-curricular research, place-based learning, and exploration focused on a specific campus ecological system, such as pond, stream, wetland, forest, or farm.
Calculus Honors
This course is designed for students who wish to take Calculus, but not in preparation for the AP exam.
Ceramics Advanced
Advanced ceramics will allow the further development and exploration into technical skill, personal style, and aesthetic choice within the medium of clay.
Ceramics Honors
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Ceramics I
Ceramics one focuses on the development of skills within sculptural and functional pottery creations to allow students to familiarize themselves with the medium of clay.
Ceramics II
Ceramics two focuses on the unification of sculptural and functional pottery creations to allow students to pursue projects unique to his/her/their interests and art style.
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.”
Character Education
The school’s commitment to its core values is integrated into daily life at Gill, as is a focus on character awareness and development.
Chemistry
This course emphasizes the periodic table of elements, the formation of compounds, and reactions that occur to produce new substances.
Chemistry Honors
This course emphasizes the periodic table of elements, the formation of compounds, and reactions that occur to produce new substances.
Choir Honors
Students who have completed the Concert Choir course and pass a proficiency evaluation are eligible to take Advanced Choir.
Community Service
Community service is a natural extension of our emphasis on character awareness, citizenship, inclusion, kindness, and respect.
Comparative World Culture (CWC)
This course explores critical developments in world history, using resources drawn from the social sciences, history, and the natural sciences.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
This class introduces students to the world of drawing three-dimensional objects using computers.
Computer Science Principles
Computer Science Principles is a semester-long course which builds a solid understanding of computer science.
Concert Choir
Concert Choir can be taken as a semester or yearlong course.
Creative Writing Advanced
Open to juniors and seniors who have taken Creative Writing and Portfolio Development, students in Advanced Creative Writing I craft a more extensive portfolio of fiction or poetry organized around a theme or common topic.
Creative Writing and Portfolio Development
This course is designed with the serious writer in mind.
Creative Writing Honors
Advanced Creative Writing II is open to seniors only.
Debating Social Issues
In this year-long offering, students research and debate social issues that shape the world in which they live.
Desktop Publishing
Students in this semester-long course learn the basic design principles involved in print publications, including the development of a theme or motif, layout and design, the appropriate choice of a font or typeface, the appropriate placement and use of images, and the importance of proofreading for both spelling and grammar.
Digital Illustration
Serving as an introduction to the study of digital illustration as a visual interpretation of words, concepts, and ideas, students will use a variety of Adobe software for illustration, technical drawing, composition, and implementation of created art into page layout.
Digital Literacy
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Digital Media Advanced
In this full year, students will expand on the technical and design skills they previously learned in Digital Illustration and Graphic Design.
Digital Media Honors
This course is designed for students who have mastered the required skills in Graphic Design and Digital Illustration.
Directing
In this semester-long course, students learn how to create an artistic vision of an existing play, how to serve as the coordinator of a cast of performers, how to manage the schedule of a production, and how to be the single director of a staged performance.
Discrete Mathematics
This introductory semester course in discrete mathematics is designed for strong math students, particularly those also interested in computer science.
Drawing
In this semester-long course, students learn numerous skills and techniques for representational drawing, focusing on and capturing what they see and using value, shading, and contrast to create a sense of form.
Early Childhood Library
Students visit the library for story time each week, introducing them to a wide variety of children’s literature.
Early Childhood Physical Education
Activities support the development of healthy social and emotional skills, fine and gross-motor skills, balance, and coordination.
Early Childhood Social Studies
The program begins by helping children understand their place in the world from the perspective of the self within a community.
English 10: American Voices
What does “American” mean, and how has the answer to that question changed and developed over the course of America’s history?
English 10 Honors: American Voices
What does “American mean,” and how has the answer to that question changed and developed over the course of America’s history?
English 11 Honors: Social Responsibility
This course focuses on the roles we play in our society as individuals and in groups and looks at how we interact.
English 11: Social Responsibility
This course focuses on the roles we play in our society as individuals and in groups and looks at how we interact.
English 12: Choices and Decisions
If we are the decisions and choices we make, then those decisions and choices have multiple implications for our place and meaning in the world.
English 12 Honors: Choices and Decisions
If we are the decisions and choices we make, then those decisions and choices have multiple implications for our place and meaning in the world.
English 9: Exploring Identity
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English 9 Honors: Exploring Identity
An introductory class to the study and analysis of literature, English 9 prompts students to contemplate how we form our identities.
Ethics
Using a seminar format based on primary texts, students in this semester course will engage with the great debates of ethics and apply their understanding to practical, contemporary situations.
Exercise Science
The focus of this one-semester course is to empower students with the capacity to obtain, interpret and understand basic health information and services, and apply that knowledge to make informed decisions in their daily life.
Financial Literacy & Data Analysis
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Forensic Science
This course is designed for seniors who would like to pursue advanced studies in science after successfully completing physics, chemistry, and biology.
French I
Students are introduced to the French language and culture.
French II
Although this course expects students to have a solid first-year preparation in vocabulary and grammar, the class begins with an active review of previous material before leading the student into more challenging material.
French II Honors
In this course, students are expected to have a solid first-year foundation in vocabulary and grammar.
French III
This course continues to review and reinforce communication skills through the integration of listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities.
French III Honors
This course continues to review and reinforce communication skills through the integration of listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities.
French IV
Students continue to develop and refine their language skills through increased exposure to more advanced grammar and vocabulary.
French IV Honors
Students continue to develop and refine their language skills through increased exposure to more advanced grammar and vocabulary.
French V Conversation and Culture
Open to students who have completed four years of French, this course is an alternative to AP French.
Geometry
This course usually follows Algebra I and is a prerequisite for Algebra II.
Geometry Honors
This course is designed to challenge students with strong mathematical backgrounds.
Grade 1-4 Physical Education
The program provides structured, large-group activities and games that develop cognitive, physical, and social skills.
Grade 1 Language Arts
First grade continues to be a time of exponential growth in literacy.
Grade 1 Library and Technology
In library, students begin the year by reorienting themselves in the library through a scavenger hunt.
Grade 1 Mathematics
The curriculum builds on addition and subtraction skills, as students work with two-digit numbers and place value.
Grade 1 Science
Students are introduced to many of the fundamental skills that scientists use.
Grade 1 Social Studies
The curriculum explores the building blocks of community and how different communities are structured.
Grade 1 Spanish
In first grade, the students will start to write words in Spanish.
Grade 1 Visual Art
Building on the introduction of art elements in kindergarten, first-grade students continue to identify and describe concepts through various lessons.
Grade 2 Language Arts
Second-grade students continue to become more independent as readers, exploring their interests through reading, building reading stamina, and applying reading strategies to maintain reading fluency.
Grade 2 Library and Technology
In library, students begin the year by reorienting themselves in the library through a scavenger hunt.
Grade 2 Mathematics
Students gain increasing mastery with addition and subtraction skills, working with numbers up to 1,000, using mental math strategies, and solving word problems.
Grade 2 Science
Students practice scientific investigations of butterfly and plant systems throughout the year.
Grade 2 Social Studies
The curriculum builds on the concept of community, exploring the essential elements of a successful and thriving community.
Grade 2 Spanish
In second grade, students will start reading words, phrases, and sentences in Spanish.
Grade 2 Visual Art
Students continue to incorporate elements of art and principles of design into each project, allowing them to develop more purpose within their artwork.
Grade 3 Language Arts
Students continue exploring fiction and nonfiction genres, including narratives, informational texts, fairy tales, and poetry, as they become increasingly more independent as readers.
Grade 3 Library and Technology
In library, students begin the year by reorienting themselves in the library through a scavenger hunt.
Grade 3 Mathematics
Students continue to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with larger and more complex numbers.
Grade 3 Music
Third-grade exploration of music includes singing, games, and movement.
Grade 3 Science
Beginning with observations of the sky and weather, third graders become meteorologists using weather measurement tools to predict the weather.
Grade 3 Social Studies
The course of study begins with a unit on Native Americans and continues to European explorers and the British colonization of North America.
Grade 3 Spanish
In third grade, students begin to read Spanish stories with a more enhanced level of understanding.
Grade 3 Visual Art
Students begin to work independently on projects in the third grade.
Grade 4 Language Arts
Students begin the Accelerated Reader program, which encourages independent reading and the further development of comprehension skills.
Grade 4 Library and Technology
In library, students continue to focus on research methods and strategies, learning to navigate the library spaces, and using a variety of sources.
Grade 4 Mathematics
More advanced work is introduced with decimals, fractions, algebraic reasoning, and basic geometry, while also stressing mastery of skills that will enable students to thrive in later math courses: proficiency with the four operations; quick recall of math facts; and facility with estimating, rounding and judging the reasonableness of an answer.
Grade 4 Music
Students have already explored note and rhythm reading, form, pitch, dynamics, and tempo, and they are ready for an exploration of timbre and texture.
Grade 4 Science and the STREAMS Program
In fourth grade, students begin our STREAMS program, an acronym for sustainability, technology, research, engineering, agriculture, math, and service.
Grade 4 Social Studies
The curriculum includes an in-depth study of the American Revolution, the United States government, westward expansion, and immigration.
Grade 4 Spanish
In Fourth Grade, students will continue to expand their Spanish vocabulary and reading level.
Grade 4 Visual Art
By fourth grade, students are better able to present their decision-making while working on projects.
Grade 5 and the STREAMS Program
Students journey through the earth’s systems, investigating the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, and geosphere.
Grade 5 French
This class is designed to introduce and expose all students in the grade to the sounds, structure, and basic use of the French language.
Grade 5 Health & Wellness
Students attend weekly health and wellness classes throughout the school year.
Grade 5 Language Arts
Fifth-grade language arts is studied within the context of a greater humanities course.
Grade 5 Latin
This introductory course develops and strengthens good vocabulary and grammar skills while teaching students the fundamentals of a classical language.
Grade 5 Makerspace
This class focuses on introducing design thinking and engineering, allowing students to tinker, collaborate, craft, and build.
Grade 5 Mathematics
This year-long course continues the Singapore Math program from earlier grades, introducing new topics and concepts.
Grade 5 Social Studies
Fifth-grade social studies is studied within the context of a greater humanities course.
Grade 5 Spanish
The goal of this class is to expose and foster topical and functional communication and to raise cultural awareness of traditions and daily life in countries where Spanish is spoken.
Grade 5 Technology
Students learn a range of computing skills, including keyboarding, word processing, working with spreadsheets, and creating presentations.
Grade 6 and the STREAMS Program
Students become more aware and curious about science in the world around them.
Grade 6 French
This is the first of three consecutive years in the Middle School language program, corresponding to the Upper School Level I French course.
Grade 6 Health & Wellness
Students attend weekly health and wellness classes throughout the school year.
Grade 6 Language Arts
Students study a range of literary genres, including historical fiction, science fiction, and non-fiction (memoir), as well as short stories and poems.
Grade 6 Latin
This is the first of three consecutive years in the Middle School language program, corresponding to the Upper School Level I Latin course.
Grade 6 Makerspace
Sixth-grade Makerspace class focuses on teamwork and advancing individual design skills and techniques.
Grade 6 Mathematics/Pre-Algebra
This year-long course continues the Singapore Math program, building pre-algebra skills, and focusing on conceptual understanding and application of skills to solve problems.
Grade 6 Social Studies
Students investigate the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China.
Grade 6 Spanish
This is the first of three consecutive years in the Middle School language program corresponding to the Upper School Level I Spanish course.
Grade 6 Technology
Much of the focus of computer instruction at this level is on the Google Apps for Education, with additional projects requiring the use of Apple apps, such as iMovie and iPhoto.
Grade 7 Algebra
This is the first year of the enriched course.
Grade 7 English
As they learn to discuss and write about increasingly complex literature, students develop critical-thinking skills in seventh-grade English.
Grade 7 French
This is the second of two consecutive years in the Middle School language program, corresponding to the Upper School Level I French course.
Grade 7 Health & Wellness
Students attend weekly health and wellness classes throughout the school year.
Grade 7 History
Students continue to investigate early civilizations by exploring Greece, Rome, Europe during the Middle Ages, and Islamic culture.
Grade 7 Latin
This is the second of two consecutive years in the Middle School language program, corresponding to the Upper School Level I Latin course.
Grade 7 Makerspace
Seventh-grade students continue their engineering and design skills and build on their previous experiences in the Makerspace.
Grade 7 Science
This hands-on course helps students develop a thorough understanding of scientific concepts.
Grade 7 Spanish
This is the second of three consecutive years in the Middle School language program, corresponding to the Upper School Level I Spanish course.
Grade 7 Technology
Projects in this class connect with academic subjects and are designed in collaboration with core subject teachers.
Grade 8 Algebra
This is the second year of the enriched course.
Grade 8 English
In eighth grade, students become more independent in their reading, writing, and thinking skills.
Grade 8 French
This is the third of three consecutive years in the Middle School language program, corresponding to the Upper School Level I French course.
Grade 8 Geometry
This is the highest-level math course offered to Middle School students and is open only to eighth-grade students who successfully completed a full year of Algebra I.
Grade 8 Health & Wellness
Students attend weekly health and wellness classes throughout the school year.
Grade 8 History
This course is based on a thematic approach to civics rooted in the history of American government.
Grade 8 Latin
This is the third of three consecutive years in the Middle School language program, corresponding to the Upper School Level I Latin course.
Grade 8 Makerspace with Tech Ed
Projects in this class are hands-on learning opportunities that incorporate circuitry, robotics, and electronics, as well as using a variety of materials and devices to design, build, collaborate, and tinker.
Grade 8 Science
Exploration of physics, chemistry, and evolution frames this course, with hands-on activities that challenge students to design and build, analyze, evaluate, and draw valid conclusions from data.
Grade 8 Spanish
This is the third of three consecutive years in the Middle School language program, corresponding to the Upper School Level I Spanish course.
Grades 1-2 Music
A rich repertoire of rhymes, folk songs, music games, and movement are explored using varied music styles.
Grades 5-6 Studio Art
Fundamental skills, techniques, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to produce and understand visual art are covered in this course.
Grades 5-6 Studio Music
This yearlong, required class gives students a deeper understanding of music, while engaging them in a choral setting.
Grades 5-6 Woodworking
Beginning with formal instruction of proper safety procedures and with basic drawing and design to elicit creativity and to build confidence, students discover how to use a variety of materials in different ways.
Grades 5-8 Physical Education and Athletics
A variety of physical activities and sports are introduced in physical education classes that emphasize fitness, skill development, teamwork, sportsmanship, and cooperation, in addition to strength and conditioning.
Grades 7-8 Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
CAD introduces students to the world of drawing three-dimensional objects using computers.
Grades 7-8 Drama
Drama class meets weekly and offers students the opportunity to study all facets of theater, from theater games and acting, to history and stagecraft.
Grades 7-8 Music
This one-semester elective class is designed to give students a deeper understanding of music, while continuing to engage them in a choral setting.
Grades 7-8 Studio Art
We cover fundamental skills, techniques, knowledge, and the attitude necessary to produce and understand visual art.
Grades 7-8 Woodworking
Woodworking projects consider the developing nature of each student’s skills.
Grades 7 Ceramics
Seventh-grade ceramics teaches the basic skills of working with clay while focusing on sculptural projects and hand-building techniques.
Grades 8 Ceramics
Eighth-grade ceramics explores how we interact and utilize clay and pottery within our daily routine by utilizing foundational ceramic techniques to create functional pottery pieces.
Graphic Design
In this semester course, the interaction of text and image and the fundamental components of graphic communication are introduced, and students develop and hone skills in working with text and image as they create solutions to a series of design problems.
GSB Student Internship Program
This program provides select eleventh- and twelfth-grade students an enhanced educational experience by exploring career opportunities.
Health and Wellness
As part of physical education, students in grades three and four have health and wellness instruction on a variety of topics, including healthy eating, the importance of physical fitness, healthy strategies for working through differences with friends, hygiene, and other developmentally appropriate topics.
Health & Wellness
Third- and fourth-grade students are introduced to formal health and wellness classes.
History of Ancient Greece
In this semester course, students learn about aspects of life in the ancient world, including culture, daily life, history, literature, and art.
History of Ancient Rome
In this semester course, students learn about aspects of life in the ancient world, including culture, daily life, history, literature, and art.
Homeroom Teachers/Advisors
Every student is assigned an advisor who is the homeroom teacher. Homeroom teachers oversee and support each student’s academic progress,...
Importance of Movement and Exploration
Research shows that for children to function at their best, they need to move and be in physical contact with their surroundings.
Introduction to Physics
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of and appreciation for physics while preparing them for higher-level science and mathematics courses.
Introduction to Psychology
This course offers an overview of the scientific study of both the behavioral and mental processes of human beings.
Kindergarten Language Arts
Kindergarten is a special time when emergent readers can make tremendous progress.
Kindergarten Mathematics
The curriculum emphasizes the concepts and foundational skills needed to solidify a strong number sense.
Kindergarten Music
Students attend music class twice each week.
Kindergarten Science
The curriculum encourages the natural curiosity of young learners while introducing them to the science skills and tools to investigate the world around them.
Kindergarten Visual Art
Students are introduced to the elements of art (line, shape, space, value, color, texture, and form) and learn about well-known artists and the unique styles they use to emphasize elements.
Latin I
Students are introduced to the fundamentals of Latin grammar.
Latin II
Students continue their exploration of the Latin language and ancient Roman culture.
Latin II Honors
Students continue their exploration of the Latin language and ancient Roman culture at an accelerated rate.
Latin III
Students continue the study of Latin grammar and vocabulary, translate increasingly complex material, and further their exploration of Roman culture and society.
Latin III Honors
Students continue the vigorous study of Latin grammar and vocabulary to be able to translate increasingly complex material, including several classic heroes and begin to study original works by Roman authors, including Pliny, Martial, Catullus, and Ovid.
Latin IV
Roman literature is a diverse and exciting field, and in this course, students have the opportunity to read authors such as Catullus, Ovid, Virgil, Caesar, Suetonius, and others.
Latin IV Honors
Roman literature is a diverse and exciting field, and in this course, students read diverse authors such as Ovid, Virgil, Caesar, Cicero, and others.
Latin V: Literature and Composition
The Romans used literature not only to record and maintain information and ideas but to express their understanding of the world around them and to express their ideas and beliefs about their society.
Leadership
This semester seminar-style course will explore and evaluate different leadership styles and theories.
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.
Middle School Athletic Offerings
Fall Sports – Winter Sports – Spring Sports
Middle School Building Bridges
Building Bridges is designed to facilitate discussion around choices in communities.
Multivariable Calculus
This advanced course is designed to further explore calculus topics after taking AP Calculus BC.
Music Laboratory
Music Lab is a one-semester, repeatable course in which student musicians will advance their existing musical skills and develop new ones.
Music Principles II
Music Principles II is a one-semester, intermediate course that builds on the concepts of the Music Principles 1.
Ninth-Grade Seminar
This is one of six required courses for freshmen.
Organic Chemistry
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Outdoor Play, Recess, and Physical Education
Our teachers understand the vital importance of play for young learners.
Painting
In this semester-long course, students learn about the unique qualities of different types of paint, including watercolor, acrylic, and oil.
Personalized Reading Instruction
Homeroom teachers incorporate a range of instructional techniques for reading, including on-level guided reading and elements of the Orton-Gillingham approach.
Photography Advanced
Students are taught an expanded range of digital printing techniques, camera functions, and photographic techniques.
Photography I
This course serves as an introduction to the historical, technical, and aesthetic responsibilities of digital photography.
Photography II
Students continue discussions of the historical, technical, and aesthetic responsibilities of digital photography.
Physics Honors
This class fosters in students an appreciation of, and interest in, this most fundamental branch of science.
Portfolio Development Honors
Honors Portfolio Development is a yearlong course for students who are serious about the practical experience of art and want to develop mastery in conceptualizing, composing, and executing their ideas.
Precalculus
A prerequisite for Calculus, students master topics that include recognizing parent functions; graphing functions (polynomial, rational, logarithmic, and exponential); solving quadratic equations and inequalities; solving systems of equations using matrices.
Precalculus Honors
This course surveys the areas of mathematics that constitute prerequisite skills for the study of calculus.
Prekindergarten Language Arts
Prekindergarten students continue to develop skills for reading through listening and retelling stories and poems.
Prekindergarten Mathematics
Young learners continue to explore fundamental mathematical concepts and relationships.
Preschool and Prekindergarten Music
Students learn music through singing, creative movement, and listening and playing classroom instruments.
Preschool and Prekindergarten Science
Science explorations for our youngest learners introduce them to what scientists do and how they learn about the world around us.
Preschool and Prekindergarten Spanish
The Spanish program begins with our youngest students by introducing vocabulary and expressions.
Preschool and Prekindergarten Visual Art
By creating art, young learners engage in discovery and develop creativity, independence, and problem-solving skills.
Preschool Language Arts
Our Early Childhood teachers nurture a deep love of reading and writing in students as they help them develop strong fundamental skills.
Preschool Mathematics
Hands-on activities introduce young learners to numbers and foundational mathematical concepts, including less versus more, part versus whole, and same versus different.
Programming II - Java
This year-long course is designed for students who have computer programming experience and are interested in a rigorous introduction to object-oriented languages.
Programming I - Python
Students in this semester course learn computational basics through programming or coding.
Related Arts
Specialized teachers in art, library, music, science, technology, and Spanish comprise the Related Arts faculty.
Research Across the Curriculum
All GSB graduates are skilled in research methods across disciplines and utilize a variety of information resources.
Research and Presentation
At each grade level, students undertake research projects.
Robotics and Engineering I
Students in this semester course are introduced to the principles, history, and social implications of robotics and experience a hands-on introduction to robotics and engineering, enabling students to combine the skills of a mechanical engineer, project manager, and programmer.
Robotics and Engineering II
This semester course takes robotics further by concentrating on advanced topics.
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.
Sculpture
This semester course helps students develop an understanding of the interaction of forms in space.
Singapore Math
Our math curriculum, based on the Singapore Math approach, begins in early childhood, and extends through the second year of Middle School.
Social and Emotional Learning/Character Education
Research indicates that guided social and emotional learning helps students thrive in school and throughout their lives.
Social-Emotional Learning and Character Education
Research indicates that social and emotional skills help students thrive in school and throughout their lives.
Social Issues through Film
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Sociology of America
Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and effects of human behavior through the study of groups, organizations, and societies.
Spanish Conversations and Culture
This upper-level course focuses on communication skills and oral proficiency in Spanish.
Spanish I
This course stresses proficiency in all four skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—and provides an understanding of basic grammatical structures and patterns of communication.
Spanish II
This course reviews and reinforces communication skills through the integration of listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities.
Spanish II Honors
This course reviews and reinforces communication skills through the integration of listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities.
Spanish III
This course reviews and reinforces Spanish communication skills through the integration of listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities.
Spanish III Honors
This course continues to reinforce Spanish communication skills through the integration of listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities.
Spanish IV
Students read and analyze contemporary and classic literature from Spain and Latin America.
Spanish IV Honors
In this course, students continue to expand and refine their knowledge and communication skills through the study of more complex vocabulary and advanced grammatical structures at a rigorous pace.
Spotlight on Science
In addition to standard, honors, and AP courses for physics, chemistry, and biology, the Upper School Science Department offers many elective courses.
Spring Unit
For over 50 years, the Spring Unit has been the inspiration for the school’s motto, Schola Mundus Est: “The World is Our Classroom.”
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.
Statistics
This course uses both a theoretical and experimental approach and provides students with a solid foundation in introductory statistics.
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.
Studio Art
This semester-long, entry-level course provides an overview and introduction to the visual arts using a variety of art tools and materials.
Technical Theatre I: Technology & Design
This semester course develops knowledge of and experience in the technical (nonperformance) aspects of theatrical production.
Theatre History and Dramatic Texts
This yearlong course examines the history of Western theater, from ancient Greece through the 21st century.
The Nutcracker
All Early Childhood students appear in The Nutcracker during the holiday concert performance.
Tinker Space
Tinkering and design-thinking are vehicles for innovations and invention.
United States History
Students explore the history of the United States from the pre-colonial era to the present day.
Urban Sociology
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of cities: the origins, the nature of urban life, and the diversity.
US Government and the Constitution
This year-long course examines the fundamental aspects of the United States government, focusing on the three branches of government and how each one functions.
Web Design
Students in this semester course learn to plan, design, and code effective Web pages using basic and advanced features of Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML).
Woodworking Advanced
This yearlong course enhances the skills that students have previously acquired.
Woodworking Honors
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about Woodworking Honors
Woodworking I
This semester course introduces students to the wood medium, beginning with the basics of shop safety.
Woodworking II
Prerequisite: Woodworking I
World Language Independent Study
Students who wish to undertake or to continue the study of a language that GSB does not offer may contract with Language Education Resource Network (LEARN).
Traditional academic spaces are complemented by our 208-acre campus that integrates gardens and orchards, ponds and streams, and a working farm and apiary into our curriculum. The interplay of teachers and students with extraordinary resources vibrantly recognizes myriad ways in which experiential learning enhances classroom learning. On any given day, an animal science class measures and weighs our animals, an advanced creative writing class works with a visiting author, or an art class paints en plein air.
Admission Process
Admission Process
GSB welcomes applications from students who demonstrate academic potential and who are deemed likely to benefit from and contribute to the GSB community. To be considered for admission, applicants must submit a complete application, which varies by grade level, and includes components such as transcripts, exam results, teacher recommendations, writing samples, and a campus visit.
Affording Gill
Affording Gill
A GSB education is a significant investment in your child’s future. We are committed to building a community of talented, passionate, creative, and thoughtful students from a diverse range of backgrounds independent of financial circumstances.
Campus Tour
Campus Tour
Gill St. Bernard’s is a private, coeducational day school for students in preschool, prekindergarten, kindergarten, and through grade 12, located in suburban New Jersey. Each of the three school divisions provide a rigorous, meaningful, and developmentally-appropriate curriculum, and all students benefit from the environmental learning on our 208-acre campus, which includes our working, sustainable Home Winds Farm.
FAQs
FAQs
What is the most important part of the application for admission? What makes Gill St. Bernard's distinctive? What does the school's tagline "Balance Matters" mean? Learn all this and more!
Request Information
Request Information
Thank you for your interest in Gill St. Bernard's School! Please complete our form and we will send a package with more information about our school. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at 908-234-1611, extension 245.