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From the Head of School
Archive
Observations, Comments and Occasional Reflections
List of 20 news stories.
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August 2, 2020: Commencement
Mr. Matthews and other members of the Board of Trustees, colleagues, parents, special guests and members of the Class of 2020, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this long delayed, highly modified, and slightly humid Commencement ceremony.Read More -
May 31, 2020
Read MoreDear GSB Community,It is a heartbreaking and difficult time in America. Sitting at my desk, I struggle to find words that are adequate in expressing the pain, anger, and frustration I feel for our country and the GSB community at the tragic death of yet another unarmed African-American person. This time it was George Floyd last week in Minneapolis. The all-too-common violence and threats of violence enacted against African-Americans and other communities of color continue to occur in our country with maddening frequency. Sorrow weighs heavily on members of our community; we are grieving over the inhumanity, injustice, and senselessness of his death. As a direct result, a number of protests have occurred around the country, including last night in Morristown and Newark. America is hurting and it is important for us to come together and agree that the violence must stop. -
April 24, 2020
Read MoreDear Parents,While much has changed over the past two months, there are still some things which remain a constant at Gill St. Bernard's. One of them is outstanding teachers. It is with this in mind that I ask that you consider submitting a nomination for the St. Bernard's Chair of Excellence in Teaching award. More than twenty-five years ago, a group of St. Bernard's School alumni endowed this annual award to formally acknowledge the powerful impact that a teacher has on his/her students. Furthermore, the SBS alums saw this as a way to thank their teachers of many years ago by honoring the present teachers at GSB. -
March 9, 2020
Read MoreDear Friends,It is with tremendous sadness that I share the news of the passing of one of our very finest, Russell “Junie” Hockenbury, one of our groundskeepers. Junie died this morning at Morristown Memorial Hospital, and the arrangements will be posted on our website once they have been finalized. -
February 24, 2020: At Gill, One Size Does Not Fit All
Read MoreEverywhere I go, in person or online, I seem to be bombarded by marketing efforts of all kinds. Whether it is selling a product, a service, or a subscription, they come at me fast and furiously each day. Along with the many other things in my life; all compete for my attention and try to persuade me to buy something. -
January 30, 2020
Read MorePlease know that Gill St. Bernard’s has been and will continue to monitor the well-publicized novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and its implications for the community. We are receiving regular updates and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), and the Bernard’s Township Health Department. For your information, I have attached the most recent guidance from the NJDOH, which includes answers to basic questions about the situation. -
January 10, 2020
The New Year brings with it a fresh start, resolutions and most of all, renewed hope. Of course, in schools, the “fresh start” may be somewhat contrived as the academic year is almost halfway completed. Furthermore, the majority of our seniors are into college and for some of them, June cannot come soon enough. Their fresh start will have to wait until August! Nonetheless, as the semester changes, there is still the chance to begin again for most, if not all our students.Read More -
November 19, 2019: Thanksgiving Message
Read MoreDear Friends,Once again, we find ourselves on the cusp of the holiday season, and it is certainly one of the most joyful times in the academic year. Furthermore, it seems quite fitting given the recent burst of cold weather that has descended upon the region. Soon enough the campus will be in the words of the poet, Robert Frost, “almost covered smooth in snow.” -
November 13, 2019
In one of his New York Times columns last April, David Brooks offered a new name for the times in which we live. Whereas others categorized the last decade or so as the “Age of Information” or the “Internet Age,” Brooks dubbed it an “Era Defined by Fear.” He traces the origin of this to the terrible events of September 11, 2001, the negative implications of the war on terrorism, as well as the growing number of mass shootings in our country.Read More -
October 25, 2019
In my remarks this year at our opening Parents’ Association Welcome Breakfast, I intentionally departed from my traditional script. First, I spoke in depth about only one of the books I read this summer. Second, I dispensed with my usual beginning of the year words of advice. Finally, I kept my remarks under ten minutes!Read More -
September 4, 2019: Convocation
Mr. Matthews and members of the Board of Trustees, special guests, colleagues, parents, members of the Class of 2020 and to everyone in the community; it is my privilege to formally open the 2019-20 academic year at Gill St. Bernard’s.Read More -
August 30, 2019
Read MoreDear Parents,At GSB, the safety of our students is our top priority. To that end, we regularly review our policies, procedures, and facilities to ensure that the GSB environment remains secure. Regrettably, given the number of incidents that have occurred in schools in the past several years, we must constantly be vigilant and proactive in our approach to this concern. As the academic year begins, it is important that you know about some of the ways we work to keep our students, teachers, parents and visitors as well as our campus safe -
August 16, 2019
Read MoreDear Parents,Given the warm, humid weather of the last few weeks, it is hard to believe that the summer is almost over! I do hope that you had an enjoyable and restful time this summer, as well as ample opportunities to reconnect with friends and family. -
June 2, 2019: Commencement
Read MoreHonored guests, trustees, colleagues, parents, grandparents, family members, friends and members of the Class of 2019, it is my privilege to open this Commencement.Once again, we gather to celebrate the achievements of a senior class at GSB and an extraordinary year. Indeed, the weeks since Convocation in September have been nothing short of amazing. Of course, I am referring to the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series last October and the New England Patriots collecting another Super Bowl trophy in February. And now the Boston Bruins are in the Stanley Cup finals; yes, it has been a truly special year… at least for me. I know… I better enjoy it while it lasts! -
May 29, 2019
Read MoreWith Commencement soon upon us and the end of the academic year less than a week away, the time has come to begin thinking about the summer and all that comes with it. For many, it brings the opportunity to escape to the shore or some other place for rest and recreation. For me, a big part of the change in daily schedule is the newfound time to read without interruptions. -
April 17, 2019
Read MoreDear Friends,I am pleased to share the news with you that Meredith Marks has been appointed Interim Director of Institutional Advancement, effective July 1, 2019. The search for this position was a lengthy one and Meredith emerged as the best choice from a strong pool of candidates.The coming months will be busy as we work to complete the campaign and prepare for Jim's transition.Please join me in congratulating Meredith on her new responsibilities. -
December 17, 2018
Read MoreDear Friends,It is with deep sorrow that I write to share the news with you that one of our teachers, Marilyn Dori, passed away this afternoon. Marilyn was one of Gill St. Bernard’s best, having taught and served as a dean for almost 20 years at the school. During this time, she touched the lives of countless students, alumni, parents and teachers. -
November 20, 2018
Read MoreDear Friends,The period of time from the start of classes in early September through the Thanksgiving holiday represents the longest part of the academic year without an extended break. Indeed, the month of November can often bring special challenges, and last week’s surprise snowstorm provided us with a particularly messy one! -
October 29, 2018
Read MoreThe following remarks were made in the Upper School assembly this morning. Because of their nature and importance to the school community, they comprise today’s post. -
October 9, 2018
Needless to say, the repaving of Old Chester Road and St. Bernard’s Road caused lengthy delays this morning and a great deal of frustration for our school community.Read More
Gill St. Bernard's School
Gill St. Bernard’s is a private, coeducational day school for students age three through grade 12, located in suburban New Jersey. Each of the three school divisions provides a rigorous, meaningful, and age-appropriate curriculum, and all students benefit from the environmental learning opportunities that exist on our 208-acre campus.