Academics
Middle School
Athletics and Physical Education
The goal of the Middle School physical education and athletics program is for every student to have a positive experience in which he or she enjoys taking part in fitness and sports. The program fosters growth in the areas of overall physical fitness and wellbeing, social interaction, cognitive development, and character education. Our young student-athletes develop the skills to create a healthy lifestyle and to value balance as part of their education.
Students in fifth and sixth grade attend hour-long physical education classes three times per week. Their program consists of group rotations that introduce students to sports traditionally offered in those seasons. In many cases, these are sports that GSB offers in grades 7 and 8 and at the JV and varsity levels.
• Fall rotations: Cooperative Games, Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Physical Fitness
• Winter rotations: Basketball, Cooperative Games, Fencing, Floor Hockey, Physical Fitness
• Spring rotations: Baseball/Softball, Lacrosse, Tennis, Track & Field, Physical Fitness
Students in seventh and eighth grade attend hour-long physical education classes five days per week. The program is based on skill and character development through sports and fitness. excellence. Teamwork and sportsmanship are an integral part of our athletic focus, and classes and participation on teams contribute to the overall spirit of fair play and model GSB’s core values of courage, integrity, respect, and compassion.
Students may choose from interscholastic athletic participation and practices or traditional physical education offerings. Students who choose the athletic route will have their practices during their physical education class time, allowing them to participate in after-school athletic contests and/or other extra-curricular activities. This is also a great opportunity to prepare our younger student-athletes for JV and varsity athletics in the Upper School, as many of our coaches are closely affiliated or currently on staff in Upper School athletics.
Our Middle School athletics program has a “no-cut” policy so that any students who wants to take part in a sport has the opportunity to do so. In keeping the “no-cut” policy, some sports may offer two levels of competition, such as an A and B team, to provide a valuable opportunity for those students seeking a more highly competitive experience or students still working on developing their skills within that sport.
Athletic/physical education offerings (based on interests):
• Fall: Boys’ & Girls’ Cross Country, Boys’ & Girls’ Soccer, Girls’ Tennis, Girls’ Volleyball, Physical Fitness, Cooperative Games
• Winter: Boys’ & Girls’ Basketball, Cheerleading, Boys’ & Girls’ Fencing, Boys’ & Girls’ Ice Hockey, Boys’ & Girls’ Swimming, Physical Fitness, Street Hockey, Cooperative Games
• Spring: Baseball, Softball, Boys’ & Girls’ Golf, Boys’ & Girls’ Lacrosse, Boys’ Tennis, Boys’ & Girls’ Track & Field, Physical Fitness
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.