Academics
Technology
Lower School projects are coordinated with homeroom and related arts teachers to support the interconnectedness of disciplines and promote technology as a vital tool that facilitates age-appropriate learning. Weekly computer lab classes provide students with a strong foundation of computer and technology skills. Areas of study include digital citizenship; keyboarding and mouse skills; file and network navigation; online safety and research; device usage and etiquette; programming; document and publication design and formatting; and video, audio and slideshow presentations. All Lower School students participate in the Hour of Code™ to celebrate Computer Science Education Week in December. This event launches the programming unit of study, which includes both online and offline activities and introduces students to the fundamentals of computer science and coding.
Middle School technology skills are integrated throughout the curriculum and are designed in collaboration with core subject teachers. Beginning in grade 5, students focus on mastering basic computer skills such as keyboarding, word processing and working with spreadsheets. More sophisticated skills are introduced each year thereafter. In technology classes, students design web pages, develop presentations, produce digital films and write research papers. Digital citizenship and work/study skills are integrated into the technology program each year. All students in the Middle School take a Makerspace class once per week. The Makerspace is an area for students to create, design, tinker and experiment with science, engineering and art. Students are encouraged to explore their creativity through hands-on projects designed for individual and team work.
Upper School Computer Science elective courses help students understand and utilize computer-based technology, software, and hardware. The curriculum is designed for all students, from those who wish to pursue a technological career, to those who want to express their artistic and creative talents through digital media. Many simply recognize that computer literacy is essential in today’s world. Courses are offered in two major areas: computer programming and computer design.
The objectives of the department are to prepare students to:
- design and implement computer-based solutions to problems in a variety of application areas;
- use and implement well-known algorithms and data structures;
- develop and select appropriate computer strategies to solve problems;
- code fluently in various computer languages;
- read and understand a large program consisting of interacting objects;
- identify the major hardware and software components of a computer system, their relationship to one another and the roles of these components within the system; and
- recognize the ethical and social implications of computer use.
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.