Clubs & Activities

ADVISOR: Leo Janas

Thursdays - Various Schools in Somerset County

3:00 - 5:30/6:00

Gill St. Bernard's is one of twelve high schools in Somerset County that belong to the Academic League. Students compete against other area schools in a quiz-bowl type format in approximately academic categories.

Student Hosts: A group of students (mostly 9th graders) who serve as hosts to visitors applying to the Upper School. Student Hosts play an important role in the application process by showing others what a day in the life is like at GSB.

Tour Guides: A group of 10th-12th grade students who attend our fall Open Houses and show prospective families around campus. Tour Guides can convey important information about GSB and share stories about their own experiences.

ADVISORS: Steve Rossi and PJ Brennan

Wednesdays - Chapin 102

The club promotes and organizes two blood drives within the academic year.

ADVISOR: Tracey Barrett

Tuesdays - Hockenbury 303

The club promotes student forums and conferences.

ADVISOR: Ian Provost

Thursdays - Chapin 115

The club provides an opportunity to play chess, practice chess, and compete in tournaments as part of a GSB team.  Students and teachers who share this interest can meet. The Chess Club was first introduced in 2015, and last year members participate in the NJ State Grae Championship, the US Grade Championship (Florida), and the US Amateur.

ADVISOR: Sarah Isusi

Wednesdays and Fridays - Founders Art Studio

The Community Art Club provides opportunities to create collaborative projects based on themes that are installed in sight-specific locations throughout the campus.  Estimate that 2-3 projects are completed each year, and preparation for a winter-themed installation in the new SBS Pavilion Student Gallery is underway.

ADVISOR: Kathleen Hiott

Fridays - Hockenbury 301

We debate issues that the students decide on in the beginning of the year.  Some typical topics that are debated include immigration, gun control, gene editing, school uniforms, and college vs. trade schools.

ADVISOR:  Steve Rossi and Courtney Ricca

Thursdays

The club works to help make the GSB community aware of environmental changes and to get our community to do its part in reducing waste.

ADVISOR:  Kathleen Hiott

Tuesdays - Hockenbury 301

The club focuses its research and discussions on ethical dilemmas.

ADVISOR:  Margery Schiesswohl

Tuesdays - Hockenbury 202

This is a service club whose function is to provide donations/collections of clothing to organizations that provide these items to students in need. Some past events include a Halloween costume collection, winter coat drive, prom dress collection, and Cinderella's Closet.

ADVISOR: Ian Prevost

Tuesdays - Chapin 115

Students interested in finance meet to discuss financial topics and news.  Students run mock brokerage accounts where they buy and trade stocks and compete as a GSB team.

ADVISOR:  Fernando Gomez

Saturdays/Sundays - Home Winds or Local Waterways

The Fishing Club is a great way to go out and experience all that the expansive Gill campus has to offer. The Fishing Club meets during the week in the fall and spring, usually at the Home Winds pond. Instruction is provided in knot-tying, casting, lure/bait selection, the importance of stealth, and humane catch and release. Students who participate in this club will learn about enjoying the outdoors, treating fish gently, and the importance of perseverance. In addition, fishing is a great antidote for everyday stress.

ADVISORS: Jared Ciocco, Paul Canada
Tuesdays

The club is an affinity space for students to receive support, socialize, and educate the community on topics related to the spectrum of gender and sexual identities.

ADVISOR: Tracey Barrett

Thursdays - Hockenbury 202

The Gill for Diversity Club (GFD) is an Upper School leadership group of students who have attended various conferences and summits, participate in facilitation skills trainings and demonstrate an interest in working with other students on issues of diversity and social justice. Their mission is to educate their peers about issues concerning diversity and equity that affect the school community and the world. GFD meets every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

This past year, GFD has hosted several student forums focused on religious identity, body image, and race identity where students are provided the space to voice their perspectives in a respectful and meaningful environment.

ADVISOR: Steve Rossi

Fridays - Chapin 102

The club's purpose is to raise awareness and incorporate service opportunities at GSB that relate directly to America's heroes who suffer from PTSD and other mental and physical disabilities.

ADVISOR: Ana LaTournous

Tuesdays - Founders Room 4

The club works to support the 150+ orphan children and 100+ senior citizens who live in three orphanages and one senior home in the poverty-stricken and remote region of Ayacucho, Peru.

ADVISOR: Andrew Lutz

Tuesdays and Fridays - Hockenbury 305

The club provides a safe, laboratory space for the development of ideas and writing. Club members manage, construct, and edit an annual literary magazine featuring fiction, poetry, and artwork.

ADVISOR: Anita Kurisko

Tuesdays or Thursdays - Chapin 101

Club members enter competitions as part of a GSB team, practice interesting math problems, and spend time with other students who enjoy math.

ADVISORS: Margery Schiesswohl and Christine Chan

Tuesdays and Thursdays - Hockenbury 303/202

Now in its 26th year, Mock Trial is one of the older clubs at the school. The club is led by multiple faculty members who help prepare students for the New Jersey Mock Trial Competition. Students hone their skills on creating opening statements, establishing lines of questioning, and closing arguments. This is a great club for students who are interested in law, legal process, or government. The club runs from late September to February.

ADVISORS: Carrie Grabowki and Candace Pryor Brown

Thursdays - After Advisory

Model UN meets weekly to help prepare students to attend and participate in the Model UN Conferences.  The Model UN experience helps students to understand the geographical world, learn how to collaborate with others, and to negotiate for a positive result. In 2016, the club won Outstanding Small Delegation at the Philadelphia Model UN.

One Drop at a Time

ADVISOR - Mr. Cascini

Throughout the School year

One Drop at a Time is a club that helps protect the wildlife in the ocean, mainly those animals affected in oil spills and plastic pollution. The club meets to figure out community service initiatives that can be done to help better the environment for animals in our oceans and to spread awareness about safer eco-friendly practices.

ADVISORS: Jared Ciocco, Mark Signorelli, and Margery Schiesswohl

Thursdays - Hockenbury 308

This club is designed as a student-run podcast highlighting different areas of student life.  Students organize, perform, and edit each final podcast.

ADVISOR: Jared Ciocco

This club produces the official

GSB Knight Nation podcast

Reading Buddies is one of the most interactive clubs that is offered at Gill. The program pairs Upper School students with Lower School students, with the older students reading to the younger ones and working with them on a range of activities that connect to the stories read. The main goals of the club are to encourage reading in the Lower School and create a bond between Upper School and Lower School students. The students meet at the Lower School every other Wednesday throughout the school year. It is one of the most popular clubs in the Upper School.

ADVISORS: Hayley Katz and Carrie Johnson

"Team Chaos?" you ask. "What kind of name is that for a robotics team?" Well, our nominal meaning is twofold. First, our team works in a sense of organized chaos. Every year the FIRST Robotics Competition releases a new game, and we have just six weeks to understand it and use our knowledge to build and code the best possible robot that will compete well in said game. We are constantly preparing for the FIRST Robotics Competition every way we can, covering all the basics: programming, mechanical, and strategy are just a few of the duties we work on. Another chaotic factor that makes it more accessible to be part of the team is the fact that in addition to having our core work squad, we allow people to drop in whenever they can make it. This way, students who have busy schedules or simply do not know much about robots in general can still experience the team setting, allowing them to gently ease their way into the field of robotic engineering. Finally, we're called Team Chaos because while we are always there with help and support for other robotics teams with FIRST's expected gracious professionalism, on the field we are the dominating chaotic factor the opposing alliance was never expecting us to be. Visit the club's website at chaos2458.com

ADVISORS: Robert Ort, Cos Arnett, Francesco Mazzotta

Fridays - Camelback Mountain, PA

Ski Club meets on Fridays throughout the months of January and February at Camelback Mountain in Pennsylvania. Participants depart campus at 3:30 p.m. and return to school by 10:00 p.m.  It is an opportunity to practice and improve one’s competence in winter sports.  Both snow boarders and skiers are welcome at all skill levels and instruction/rental equipment is available.  There is an important social/community aspect, as well.

ADVISOR: Brittany Casser and Christine Chan

Tuesdays - Founders 3 or Hockenbury 303

The club helps plan, organize, and generate excitement for the two main social events of the school year: 9th & 10th dance and prom.

ADVISORS: Deepack Bhagat and Fred Corona

Wednesdays and Thursdays - Todd Quad

The purpose of the club is to discuss current events in sports.

Student Government is comprised of a President (senior) and Vice-President (junior) along with three representatives from each grade level. The group meets on a weekly basis throughout the year to plan events, discuss student life, and meet with members of the administration. Throughout the years, student government has been instrumental in providing input on student life, as all members are encouraged to be advocates for their respective classes.

ADVISOR:  Brendan Flanagan

TBD

In the past, GSB alternated hosting a TEDx event in collaboration with Blair Academy. Seven students shared presentations during the February 2019 event. This year's club details and format are currently under construction.

ADVISOR: Shari Poticny

Wednesdays - Hockenbury 307

Members practice writing through journalism, and they advocate and communicate school activities.