Clubs and Activities

List of 31 items.

• Academic League

  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.

• Admission Hosts and Tour Guides

  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 are able to convey important information about GSB and also share stories about their own experiences.

• Blood Drive

  ADVISORS: Steve Rossi and PJ Brennan
  Wednesdays - Chapin 102
  
  The club promotes and organizes two blood drives within the academic year.
  
  
  

• BSU - Building Stronger Unity

  ADVISOR: Tracey Barrett
  Tuesdays - Hockenbury 303
  
  The club promotes studen forums and conferences.
  
  
  

• Chess Club

  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 have the opportunity to 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.

• Community Art Club

  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.

• Debate Club

  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.

• Environmental Club

  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.

• Ethics Club

  ADVISOR:  Kathleen Hiott
  Tuesdays - Hockenbury 301
  
  The club focuses its research and discussions on ethical dilemmas.

• Fashion Club

  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.

• Finance Club

  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 stockes and compete as a GSB team.

• Fishing Club

  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.

• Gay Straight Alliance (GSA)

  ADVISORS: Jared Ciocco, Paul Canada
  Tuesdays
  
  The club is affinity space for students to support each other and educate the community on issues related to the spectrum of sexual identities.

• Gill For Diversity Club

  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 as a whole. 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.

• Gill for Veterans

  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.

• Hands for the Ande

  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.

• Literary Magazine

  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, poety, and art work.
  
  Read the latest issue!

• Math League

  ADVISOR: Anita Kurisko
  Tuesdays or Thursdays - Chappin 101
  
  Club members enter competitions as part of a GSB team, practice interesting math problems, and spend time with other students who enjoy math.

• Mock Trial

  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.

• Model UN

  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 workd, 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

  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. 
  
  

• Podcast

  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.

• Podcast Club

  ADVISOR: Jared Ciocco
  
  This club produces the official GSB Knight Nation podcast.

• Reading Buddies

  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.

• Robotics

  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.

• Ski Club

  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 ones 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.

• Social Committee

  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.

• Sports Debate

  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

  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. 

• TEDx

  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.

• The Fourth Estate Online Newspaper

  ADVISOR: Shari Poticny
  Wednesdays - Hockenbury 307
  
  Members practice writing through journalism, and they advocate and communicate school activities.