The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
News
December 2013
December 2013
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
Inside 2 Spreading the Spirit of
the Holidays
3 Lower School Musical
Cinderella KIDS
4 Turkey Day Recap
Habitat for Humanity 5 Fashion Show 6 Swedish Visitors Offer
Experience of a Lifetime
7 "On The Ball" Learning 8 HOPE offers Hope to
Liberian Students in Need
9 Student Life Recap: Advanced Acting Class Presents Vanities Scientist Brings Real World Lab to Students
10 Hearts for Honduras Novice Actors Make their Debut on Stage
11 Middle School Remembers the Holocaust
From the Headmaster Unfortunately, the recent winter weather has added many extra challenges to our already busy school calendar. I truly hope it is not a harbinger for the next two months. However, it has certainly helped set more of a festive tone at Gill St. Bernard’s. Blanketed in snow, the campus has a unique beauty this time of the year. From the holiday concerts which feature the sights and sounds of the season to the toy drive; the holidays are a special time for the entire Gill St. Bernard’s community. Over the past two weeks, we have enjoyed concerts from all three school divisions as well as the GSB Strings Ensemble and the annual presentation of The Nutcracker by our early childhood classes. With each of these performances, I am reminded of our students’ talents and of our faculty who make such wonderful events possible. The hallways throughout the Lower School, decorated festively, leave no doubt that the holiday season is upon us. In the Upper School, special thanks to junior Gabrielle Morris for her exceptional watercolor of Founders Hall in the snow. This was chosen for the cover of the 2013 Gill St. Bernard’s holiday card.
Headmaster Sid Rowell.
The holidays are a special time, but also a hectic time. It is easy to get lost in the “hustle and bustle” (read: stress) of the season. We are fortunate to have so many things at Gill that help keep us mindful of what the holidays are truly about—being thankful for our many blessings and remembering those in need. As the semester comes to a close and our students depart this afternoon, (or after tonight’s games!) I hope everyone will have the chance to spend some quality time with family and friends in the next few weeks.
As it has become a tradition at GSB, the school has also been active helping others beyond the campus. Following our 11th annual Turkey Day on November I wish everyone an enjoyable holiday season and a 22, students, parents and faculty members supported very happy New Year. such initiatives as Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots, Kids CAN Help, Head Start of Dover and more. I am Warm regards, particularly proud of the selfless work and generosity of so many members of our community.
Sid Rowell
12 Volley for Life 13 Lower School Celebrates National French Week
Helping the Homeless with Bridges
14 College Spotlight: Laura Wood '13
15 Athletics: Varsity Boys' Soccer
16 Varsity Cross Country 17 Dates to Remember
First grade students, including (l. to r.) Abigail Novinski, Mary Young, Duke Delehanty, Kaitlyn Pavagadhi, Nevan Sameth and Ethan Tai, collected more than 500 cans through the Kids CAN Help program in the Lower School this holiday season. They were donated to the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program (SHIP) in Somerville, N.J. on December 18.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
1.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
Spreading the Spirit of the Holidays through Performing Arts Students across all three divisions at Gill St. Bernard’s School spread holiday cheer and warmhearted wishes to faculty, family and friends during concerts, recitals, theatrical performances and more this season. The holiday festivities began with a Lower & Middle School piano and guitar recital on November 11 and continued well into December. Amid Gill’s three divisional choir concerts were a winter strings concert on December 17 and the early childhood program’s annual production of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” on December 19.
From top: Alyssa Morrison ’23 presents five solos, including Ode to Joy, for family and friends during the Gill St. Bernard’s School Strings Ensemble’s winter concert on December 17 in Evans Hall; (L. to r.) Finn Brown ’26 and Sebastian Miscia ’25 play the part of Russian Candy Cane dancers in the early childhood program’s annual performance of The Nutcracker.
Top right: Maxwell Lieblich ’14, Aniello “Neil” Ianniello ’16, Henry Holmes ’14 and Mycroft Zimmerman ’16 sing Little Saint Nick along with the men’s ensemble on December 18 in the Chapel; Bottom row from left: Pianist Haven Miscia ’25 performs Soccer is My Favorite during Gill St. Bernard’s Lower & Middle School piano and guitar recital on November 11 in Evans Hall; (L. to r.) Fourth grade musicians Hayden Chan, Eideen Mozaffari and Benjamin Sturman play O, Come Little Children on the recorder at the Lower School’s December 12 holiday concert; Kierstyn Brown ’20 (l.) and Skylar Macak ’20 (r.) of the Gill Gals perform Jingle Bell Rock at the 2013 Middle School holiday concert on December 12.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
2.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
Lower School Gives Magical Performance During Cinderella KIDS On November 22, GSB’s Lower School students brought the Walt Disney fairy tale Cinderella to life during a magical performance. Working with co-directors Amy and David Southerland, first through fourth grade student-performers began rehearsals for Cinderella KIDS in mid-September. By opening night, this young group of actors was ready to go. And, as if reciting the magic words, "bibbidi-bobbidi-boo," they transformed into princesses, mice, fairy godmothers and more.
midnight, she rushes from the ball, leaving behind a single glass slipper. The prince searches the kingdom far and wide to find the rightful owner of this slipper. He finds Cinderella, and the two live happily ever after.
Family, faculty and friends revisited the tale of Cinderella (Liliana Micera ’22), a young girl living with her wicked stepmother (Madison Frantz Pandell ’22) and evil stepsisters (Meghan Cohen ’22 and Alyssa Morrison ’23) in a small kingdom. With the help of her fairy godmother (Regan Macak ’22) and mice friends (Brooke Babinec ’22, Eric Bozek ’24, Peter Frantz Pendell ’24, Matthew Getzoff ’23, Edward “Tommy” Ginty ’25, Daniel Propper Struehr ’25 and Aidan Richardson ’23), Cinderella attends a Royal Ball, where she meets Prince Charming (Tristen Miscia ’23). As the clock strikes
Top to bottom, from right: Cinderella’s wicked stepmother (Madison Frantz Pendell ’22) calms her two jealous stepdaughters, Meghan Cohen ’22 (l.) and Alyssa Morrison ’23 (r.); Cinderella’s mice friends (from left) Eric Bozek ’24, Peter Frantz Pendell ’24, Edward “Thomas” Ginty ’25 and Brooke Babinec ’22; (L. to r.) Cinderella (Liliana Micera ’22) receives a new glass slipper from her fairy godmother, Regan Macak ’22; The cast and crew of GSB’s 2013 Lower School musical, Cinderella KIDS, co-directed by David (l.) and Amy Southerland (r.).
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
3.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
GSB Offers 489 Turkeys to New Jersey Families in Need Members of the GSB community celebrated the school’s 11th annual Turkey Day on November 22. Through the generosity of parents, students, faculty and staff, Gill was able to donate 489 turkeys to The Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Since 2003, the time-honored GSB tradition known as Turkey Day—or Take a Turkey to School Day—has led to the successful donation of more than 5,000 pounds of poultry to New Jersey families in need. “Turkey Day is one small step that the entire school community can take together to reach out to others,” said Community Service Coordinator and co-founder of Turkey Day Peter Schmidt. “No one should go hungry at this time, or at any time of the year, in our communities.”
From left: As is tradition, Samantha DeRing ’16, Kaila Gong ’15 and Michael Tafaro ’15 dress in turkey costumes on Turkey Day; Justin Durcan helps the Sameth family—including mother Kristen and daughters Grace ’27, Emma ’23 and Caroline ’21—take turkeys from its car; Top to bottom: Charlotte Tuohy ’26 proudly wears the Turkey Day hat that she has made with her classmates; Alexandria Delehanty ’18 carries her turkey to the Middle School for donation; Jordan Taylor ’14 reads ’Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey to a first grade class in the Lower School.
Community Service Invitation Extended to Parents This past October, eight Upper School students as well as one parent volunteered their time at a Morris County Habitat for Humanity construction site in Dover, N.J. Building upon the longstanding relationship between Gill and the international organization, Director of Academic Technology Michael Chimes organized another volunteer day—this time extending the invitation to more GSB parents. Four individuals returned to the Dover build site on November 23, including Cheryl and David Lowe P ’15, ’17, their son Jack ’15, and another parent, Ronald Pilla P ’14, ’17. Together, the group continued to work on both interior and exterior projects for the Dover home. “It was great to see Jack helping and learning,” said Cheryl Lowe, also noting the rewarding feeling she felt when the family whose house they were working on came by to say thanks. (L. to r.) Jack Lowe '15 with his father, David Lowe P ’15, ’17, and another GSB parent, Ronald Pilla P ’14, ’17, at the Morris County Habitat for Humanity construction site in Dover, N.J.
Based on these positive experiences, Chimes shared hopes of continuing involvement with the Habitat site in Dover throughout the school year. “I am very proud of parent involvement in this event,” he said. “Community service is a great way to bring the entire GSB family together and make a positive difference in people's lives.”
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
4.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
A Day of Fashion, Friends and Finds More than 240 guests joined together November 12 for the Parents’ Association’s 18th annual fall Fashion Event: In Style, Every Day, Every Wear at the Bridgewater Manor. This year, the Fashion Event raised $39,000 for the GSB Parents’ Association, which helps financially support the school to enrich the lives of students. Event goers received a look at this season’s hottest trends during a Fashion Show presented by The Red Toad women’s fashion boutique of Gladstone, N.J. and special guest Hunter Bell— season two winner of NBC’s Fashion Star. In all, Taking a moment to celebrate a successful Fashion Event, (l. to r.) Parents’ 12 parents, faculty members and administrators, Association President Lee Amoroso P ’11, ’13, ’19 with Fashion Show Co-chairs Sharon Macak P ’20, ’22, ’25, ’27, Sheri Cohen P ’22, ’23 and Tracey Sloan P ’19, including Danielle Babinec P ’21, ’22, Julie and Headmaster Sid Rowell. Bliss-Chan P ’20, ’22, Ilona Bozek P ’24, Allyson Daly P ’28, ’27, Jill Gateman P ’17, ’20, Kassandra Hayes P ’18, Diane Lipnickey, Julie Margolis P ’16, ’20, Pippa Michaels P ’18, Elise Smith, Takisha Sulton P ’20 and Janine Udoff P 16, ’18, ’21, ’23 volunteered to rock the runway. Event Co-chair Tracey Sloan P ’19, who managed the school’s partnership with The Red Toad and helped coordinate the show, extended a special thanks to all models and also to The Red Toad’s owner Barbara Davis P ’11 without whom the event would have been impossible. “Barbara spent countless hours and donated countless resources to make this year’s Fashion Show a truly unique and fashion-forward event for our parents and friends,” said Sloan. When not perusing gift and fashion merchandise from boutique vendors like The Furnished Paw, Enjou Chocolat and Abra Couture, many tested their luck on the ever-popular Pandora’s Box. This year’s keys offered contestants a chance to win up to 23 luxury items, from fine jewelry to handbags and more. Others took a chance on the 57 Not-Just-Baskets on display—containing between $250 and $800 in fabulous prizes. The well-received BLING item—“No Apron Needed”—also featured over $1,200 in gift cards to area restaurants! Along with Sloan, Co-chairs Sheri Cohen P ’22, ’23 and Sharon Macak P ’20, ’22, ’25, ’27 created an exciting and successful event. A warm thanks to all who attended, donated to and supported this year’s fundraiser.
Far right: A total of 12 parents, faculty members and administrators, including Kassandra Hayes P ’18, volunteered to rock the runway at this year’s Fashion Show; Bottom row, from left: A job well done! Tracy Silverschotz P ’18 (l.) congratulates Pippa Michaels P ’20 on her debut on the runway; Fashion, friends and finds for (l. to r.) Not-Just-Baskets Co-chair Kathleen Brown P ’24, ’26, her guest Liana Chirachella, LaShonda Chaney P ’18, ’20 and Melissa Lapper P ’21, ’24; With key in hand, Lisa Connell P ’11, ’13, ’16 makes a wish that this is the key that will unlock Pandora’s Box.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
5.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
Swedish Visitors Offer Experience of a Lifetime to Host Families
Emily Western ’15 (r.) goes pumpkin picking with her Swedish guest, Lovisa Nonnen, at Alstede Farms in Chester, N.J.
Thirteen GSB students and faculty members opened their doors this fall to 11 Swedish visitors who enjoyed a week of learning. In the end, what began as a way to accommodate guests from abroad resulted in new friendships and a lifelong connection among both teachers and students.
For junior Emily Western, the opportunity to host an exchange student proved truly rewarding. “My three siblings are in college so it was nice to have someone at home with me,” she said. “It was neat to experience another culture.” Throughout their time in the States, the foreign students visited Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and Princeton, toured New York City and explored local history at the Morristown Museum. They also attended several Upper School classes with their mentors, watched the GSB Players perform The Servant of Two Masters, savored delicious foods at area restaurants and celebrated Halloween with pumpkin picking at Alstede Farms in Chester, N.J. While Western noticed some differences between the Americans and the Swedes, such as the added importance of receiving a college education in America compared to in Sweden, she also found that many similarities lay within herself and the teenage girl she hosted, Lovisa Nonnen.
“Lovisa introduced me to the Swedish blog because she’s into photography like I am,” said Western, who has since kept in touch with Nonnen via Facebook and plans to visit her family through the GSB Unit this May. According to Middle School science teacher Teri Cosentino, there was much to be learned from Marie Bacchus, the English teacher from Uppsala to (L. to r.) Teri Cosentino, Marie Bacchus, Randell whom Cosentino Schmidt, Goran Brolund, John Ripton, Barbara Ripton, Marina Roslund, Jonas Petersson, Marilyn Dori and offered her home. Peter Schmidt attend a farewell party, complete with “We had a lot of apple cider and donuts, on November 1. common interests and were very compatible,” said Cosentino. “The minute I met her, I looked at her shoes and they were hiking boots so we went hiking in Dismal Harmony Park near my house. During the hike, she shared a lot about Swedish ecosystems and information on the animals there. She even saw an opossum for the first time.” Before returning to Europe on November 1, Bacchus likewise invited Cosentino and her husband Tom to stay at her home in the future. “I think it would be tremendous fun,” said Cosentino. “Having this really wonderful person in my home for one week, I got to learn about our very similar yet different cultures as we shared stories and experiences together.”
GSB’s hosts (l. to r.) Sarah Fenton ’15, Kenneth “Casey” Meyer ’15, Ivor Guest ’15, Olivia Salama ’15, Brianne Hanafin ’15, Emily Western ’15 and Gabriella Gomes ’14 bid farewell to their Swedish friends at the Gladstone train station.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
6.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
Lower School Pilots “On The Ball” Learning Program In Susan Zimmerman’s fourth grade classroom, students bounce up and down at their desks and swing their feet from side to side, yet discipline has never been better. Her secret? Zimmerman marks one of several GSB Lower School teachers who have replaced traditional straight-backed chairs with specially designed furniture including balls, disks and standing desks. “Often, there is one size table and one size chair, but many differently sized students,” said Lower School Director Peggy Campbell-Rush, who has spearheaded the use of progressive seating at Gill St. Bernard’s School. Stability balls, standing desks and seating disks—short cylindrical cushions that upgrade existing straight-backed chairs to allow students more mobility while seated—are among the alternative seating arrangements offered in classrooms at Gill. Campbell-Rush attributes the use of stability balls and similar equipment to an increase in students’ mind-body connections and proprioceptive inputs, which in turn allows for increased focus in the classroom. This holds especially true for kinesthetic learners, those students who need an outlet for their energy and require body movement in order to learn. “It’s more natural for students to move,” she said. “Having them stay still has a negative impact on learning.”
Elise Gill ’24 enjoys sitting on a stability ball.
Campbell-Rush relies on the “plus two rule.” The idea behind the rule is simple: take a student’s age and add two— the sum represents the total number of minutes that child can remain seated before losing his or her ability to focus. Stability ball chairs, as opposed to traditional desk chairs, allow students to focus longer while remaining seated. Thus far for Zimmerman, the stability balls have made a positive difference in class. “Some kids just need to move around,” she said. “And, all the kids have shown more focus. I’ve never had such a quiet, hardworking math class.” According to a 2007 article from the Mayo Clinic, replacing a standard office chair with the stability ball also improves balance and core stability in addition to increasing both fine and gross motor skills. When needed, Campbell-Rush keeps a standing desk and stability ball on hand in her office. She was inspired to implement the stability ball pilot program based on her own positive experiences with the equipment. And, after seeing a former colleague pilot a similar program to great effect, she decided the time was finally right to try one out at Gill. Before stability balls, standing desks and seating disks are fully incorporated into the classroom, students are taught how to properly use the equipment and sign a contract, which they later bring home, promising to follow established safety guidelines. “Parents are definitely involved in the process,” said Campbell-Rush. “They are notified and informed about all stages of implementation.” Feedback received thus far from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Emma Turse ’22 reports that she prefers using a stability ball because, “It strengthens my core and makes me feel more energetic.” For Matthew Getzoff ’23, seating disks are the way to go because they “make the seats more comfortable. You sit up higher and straighter.” Meanwhile, second grader Maxwell Lutz prefers using the standing desk. “I like to write at an angle, and you can’t do that at a regular desk,” he said. (L. to r.) Jamison “Jamie” Wright ’23 and Kate Chen ’23 complete their schoolwork using standing desks.
continued on next page Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
7.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
Like their children, many parents have also been pleased with the results. One father, Nikesh Thakkar ’24, was so impressed that he even reached out to the school about purchasing stability balls for his son, Sohum, to use at home. “Sohum was really interested in having a stability ball at our house,” Thakkar said. “It improves whatever he wants to do.” Thakkar was so intrigued by his son’s reaction to the stability ball in class that he even went ahead and ordered two of them: one for Sohum, and another for himself.
Drew Vollrath ’23 uses a seating disk to help him concentrate while reading.
Disciplinary issues, although never a major problem in the Lower School, have practically disappeared in participating classrooms, and many teachers have shared that their students appear more focused and receptive during lessons. While skeptical, at first, about allowing the standing desk in her own classroom, fourth grade teacher Janet MacDonald acted on a recommendation by Campbell-Rush and brought a single standing desk into her class. “It was like a miracle,” MacDonald said, reporting that by using the standing desk, one easily distracted student was able to produce quality work throughout an entire class period. Now a believer, Macdonald has ordered several more standing desks for students to use as needed.
Creating Hope for Liberian Students in Need “There is no better feeling in the world than knowing you’ve had a hand in something bigger than yourself,” said Katherine Giordano ’14, president of the student-run organization known as HOPE (Helping Other People and the Environment). Working together with fellow seniors Gabriella Gomes and Rebecca Richardson during the 2012-13 academic year, Giordano was responsible for organizing the collection and distribution of more than one thousand books, as well as school supplies including backpacks, notebooks and pencils, to the Jarflor Preparatory School (JARFLOR) in Monrovia, Liberia. Established in March 2011, JARFLOR offers support and sponsorship to young girls who wish to obtain an education, and currently provides direct primary educational services to nearly 360 pupils.
school for volunteering their time and donations toward the cause. “To help children on another continent receive the schooling they deserve is extremely humbling.” Since forging its relationship with JARFLOR, ideas for fundraising for new playground equipment and the establishment of a pen pal program have also been discussed by members of HOPE. “Although our friends in Liberia may seem far, they are in so many ways like GSB students,” Giordano explained. “They, too, are a community of dedicated, outgoing learners whom it is my honor to know.”
Upon receiving the shipment—funded by proceeds from other HOPE-related events—word quickly spread throughout Liberia. The efforts of Gill St. Bernard’s School even made headlines in the Liberian newspaper The New Republic (See right.) on May 15. The publication recognized Gill’s generous donation as the first shipment of books ever received by JARFLOR. “It was extremely rewarding to see the youngest members of the GSB community excited to share their favorite books and stories with children on another continent,” said Giordano, extending thanks to all members of the Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
8.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
STUDENT LIFE RECAP Advanced Acting Class Presents Vanities A semester of preparation paid off for three advanced acting students—Alexandra Baker ’15, Katherine Coscia ’15 and Katherine Giordano ’14—who presented Act I of Jack Heifner’s Vanities to their fellow peers in the Theater on December 17.
Katherine Coscia ’15, Alexandra Baker ’15 and Katherine Giordano ’14 depict three cheerleaders attending high school in the ’60s.
Vanities, which ran for five years in New York City, was published by Samuel French and became one of the longest-running plays in Off-Broadway history. With Act I set in Texas in 1963, this comedy-drama stage production depicts the lives and friendship of three cheerleaders, Joanne (Giordano), Mary (Baker) and Kathy (Coscia), and highlights their journey through high school, college and beyond. “Vanities is a complex piece, but I was confident that this group of three women could certainly handle the material,” said performing arts instructor Margery Schiesswohl. “I specifically like this material for this level class because each character is so uniquely different, allowing for great study in character development.”
Scientist Brings Real World Lab to Students in the Classroom Dr. Cheyney Meadows, VMD Ph.D., manager of clinical research of Merck Animal Health, met with 40 juniors and seniors from statistics classes at Gill on December 12. His presentation coincided with the introduction of experimental study. “We enjoyed learning about the different stages when testing medicines and the steps taken before a product is sold,” said Dylan Rowell ’14, who attended the seminar. Senior Kathryn Bednarsky added, “It was especially helpful to see that what we are learning inside the classroom has everyday applications.”
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
Dr. Cheyney Meadows, VMD Ph.D., visits Isabel Corbin’s Upper School statistics class to discuss his role as manager of clinical research of Merck Animal Health.
9.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
Hearts for Honduras Pays Visit to Gill Gill St. Bernard’s welcomed two new students to its Lower, Middle and Upper School Spanish classrooms on December 13. Both visitors, Jose Abraham Gonzalez Ramos and Jose Roberto Portillo Guerra, made their first-ever trip to the United States this winter to share the story of Hearts for Honduras with students at Gill. Established with help from the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church of New Jersey, the Hearts for Honduras School (HFH) is dedicated to providing a safe haven, family support and well-rounded education to impoverished children living in La Entrada, Honduras. Since its establishment in 2000, HFH has grown to accommodate approximately 190 students and 13 teachers. Thus far, five members of its graduating classes, including Portillo Guerra, have continued their education at the university level in Honduras. Gonzalez Ramos, a third grader at HFH, openly responded to questions and even asked a few of his own while meeting with Diana Fiore’s seventh grade class in Conover. “Having the opportunity to interact with an international student is both linguistically and culturally beneficial for the Spanish language learner and also for the visiting student,” said Fiore. “Our students had the intrinsic desire to communicate and engage in conversation. This was one of the most meaningful
(L. to r.) Olivia Showell ’19 and third grade Hearts for Honduras School student Jose Abraham Gonzalez Ramos.
experiences I have seen take place in the classroom and I am sure it will be remembered by both my students and by Jose.” Spanish translations were conducted by Fiore and an HFH administrator, Sarai, who helped the seventh graders learn about Honduran climate, culture, customs and more throughout the session. “The day provided a rewarding experience for our visitors as well as for all our students and teachers at Gill,” said Gina Wendell, chair of the world language department.
Novice Actors Make their Debut on Stage For the first time in their young acting careers, Upper School students Jacqueline Luberto ’16, Malika Jones ’16 and Larisa Drzik ’17 successfully transformed from genie to giant to wolf and more while making their debut on the GSB stage during a children’s theater performance. On December 11, the three members of Gill’s acting one class presented several well-known Brothers Grimm fairy tales as well as individual monologues to a first through fourth grade audience in the Theater. “They worked very hard and were excited to perform for the younger students,” said performing arts instructor Margery Schiesswohl. While the ever-popular Little Red Riding Hood again proved a crowd favorite—also offering second grader Lance Hollingshead the opportunity to fulfill the role of a woodsman— Larisa Drzik ’17 presents a additional Brothers Grimm performances included The Brave Tailor and The Spirit in the monologue by Peter Pan. Bottle. Meanwhile, individual monologues represented famous fictional characters such as Disney’s Peter Pan and the Peanut gang’s own Peppermint Patty and Lucy. “Before this semester, none of these three girls had a wealth of experience outside of class plays or the Middle School drama,” said Schiesswohl. “Looking at where they started and where they are now, I’m proud to say they have improved tremendously since September.” . Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
10.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
Middle School Students Remember the Holocaust “I will never forget.” These words rang out as 87-year-old, Edward Mosberg, shared the story of his Holocaust survival with eighth graders in the Middle School on December 9. Growing up in Krakow, Poland, Mosberg witnessed the devastation caused by the Nazis. Then the same Holocaust survivor Edward age as his audience, 13, Mosberg shows students some artifacts including barbed wire, Mosberg still grieves the which was placed along the loss of his entire family— tops of fences surrounding each concentration camp. his parents, two siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins—who were among the six million victims of genocide in Europe. “As long as I live, it is my obligation to tell about the atrocities of my family and those six million,” Mosberg recalled the harsh conditions the Jews were exposed to in concentration camps and the brutality of the Nazi regime against individuals of all ages. “How can we forget and forgive?” he asked. “The parchment of the Torah may burn, but its letters will forever remain indestructible.” Similar to Mosberg, the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. also provided students an in-depth look at the horrors engulfing Europe in the early 1940s. The Class of 2018 read Night by Elie Wiesel to prepare for its three-day trip to Washington, D.C., and corresponding visit to the Holocaust Museum. This November, approximately one week after the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht or the “Night of Broken Glass,” students caught a glimpse of the conditions described in the short narrative by Wiesel, who was sentenced to the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Buchenwald with his father at the age of 13.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
“It was very visual,” said one student, Amanda Lazar ’18. “We saw books burning and the shoes they were forced to leave behind when they were stripped of their humanity.” Like Lazar, eighth grader Emily Cavanaugh was also deeply moved by the items she encountered in the museum. “Watching videos, hearing stories and stepping inside a replica gas chamber made the book Emily just read in class seem that much more real,” said her mother, Rhea Cavanaugh. “Seeing the tragedy first-hand really had an impact on her, and when she came home she told us about it. That’s when we suggested that she ask Mr. Mosberg to come to school.” A dear friend of the Cavanaugh family, Mosberg has worked with James Cavanaugh, Emily’s father, in the construction business for more than 30 years. “Taking part in such a personal experience means so much to our kids,” said GSB English teacher Sarah Martin.
Edward Mosberg describes the food that was served in each camp while showing the students an original plate used by his father-in-law throughout the Holocaust.
11.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
Volley for Life Event Passed Down as Gift from Senior Class While a freshman, Carly Meyers ’14 looked on in wide-eyed amazement at the three seniors and one sophomore who organized Gill’s first-ever Relay for Life. Now nearing its fourth year, it was this lasting gift made to the school by alumnae Kathryn Corcoran ’11, Jaclyn Fleurant ’11, Gina Richardella ’11 and Caragh Corcoran ’13 that inspired Meyers to establish her own event with a similar focus. Held November 8, Gill’s inaugural Volley for Life tournament served as a precursor to the 2014 Relay for Life campaign and raised more than $420 in the fight against cancer. “I thought it would be special to wait until my senior year to leave the event behind as a legacy,” said Meyers. More than 150 Upper School students as well as 12 faculty members came out in support of the new fundraiser, which was organized with help from student government officers Jade Macaylo ’15, Ryan McCluskey ’14, Meyers, Kaitlyn Sleyster ’17 and Erin Wetzel ’15. “The spirit was really high and participation was great,” said Assistant Dean of Students Michael Wendell. “So much, that we hope to make it an annual event each fall.”
(L. to r.) Emma Corbett ’16 and Mycroft Zimmerman ’16 show their support for GSB’s inaugural Volley for Life event.
Thirteen teams showed-off their volleyball skills at Gill’s first-ever Volley for Life event, which concluded with a formal trophy presentation in the Athletic Center. Most Valuable Player was awarded to Ian Demarest ’15 and the trophy for best uniform was granted to the holiday-themed team, Crystal Light. A championship trophy was also presented to the Average Robs after defeating the All-Stars 21-16 in the final match of the night. “As one of the most spirited grade levels at Gill, it’s really important to all us seniors to come back and see what we’ve started continuing on,” Meyers said. “In my opinion, a fun night that went to a good cause like Relay for Life was the perfect event to leave behind as a class.”
From left: The holiday-themed team known as Crystal Light, including sophomores (l. to r.) Kara Saladino, Dylan Blackman and Renee Turner, earns best uniform; Luke Fischer ’16 (l.) and Jane O'Connor ’16 (r.) with Upper School teacher Candace Pryor Brown.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
12.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
Lower School Celebrates National French Week A large part of discovering French culture involves the opportunity to experience an assortment of delicious foods. The members of the Class of 2022 introduced their palates to tangy goat, marbled blue, soft Brie and other French cheeses during a November 6 food science lesson in Evans Hall. “I always encourage students to try something new, whether it’s tasting new foods, learning a language or meeting new people,” said Lower School French teacher Hope Napolitan. “The experience might be a bit scary at first, but the more you challenge yourself, the more comfortable you become, and the more new experiences you will want to try in the future.” French culture proved a common theme throughout the lesson, as fourth graders celebrated National French Week—sponsored for the past 15 years by the American Association of Teachers of French—by discussing the region’s geography, customs and language. In addition, GSB Executive Isha Vemuri ’22 helps herself to a sampling of Chef Anthony’s ratatouille. Chef Anthony Abate of Flik Independent School Dining demonstrated the steps for making the classic French Provencal dish, ratatouille, which students then sampled. “It is wonderful to see the pride and sense of accomplishment children have when they have cooked something,” said Abate. “One of the most important habits to build in children is to be adventurous with food so they grow up eating a wide variety, especially fruits and vegetables.” Hands-on food science experiments requiring that students use their olfactory senses—taste and smell—while discovering staple ingredients such as onions, garlic and peppers were also conducted.
Helping the Homeless this Holiday Season This holiday season, several Upper School students devoted their Saturday mornings to making as well as delivering sandwiches for the homeless. This community service initiative was organized with assistance from the nonprofit organization Bridges Outreach, Inc. For 25 years, Bridges has committed to bringing the housed and homeless together in community. Gill St. Bernard’s School was recognized by Bridges this summer for its role in helping to fulfill this mission.
(L. to r.) Jonathan Sonnenberg ’15, Corinne Chowansky ’15, Jade Macaylo ’15, Alessandra “Allie” Haversat ’15, Carly Meyers ’14 and Justin Marcus ’17 gather in Newark, N.J. to serve food to the homeless with Bridges Outreach, Inc.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
13.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT Laura Wood ’13 Laura Wood, Class of 2013 Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Major: International Studies Amnesty International, UNICEF, Vassar Haiti Project, Mock Trial, Vassar Alliance for Women in Foreign Affairs Q. Entering college is all about new experiences. Can you tell us about one or two that have really stood out for you since entering school earlier this fall?
A. One of the first experiences would simply be: meeting new people. It was a big change to go to a new school where I knew no one, but it was amazing to just jump in and find people I'm already so close with now. A second would be attending an art show in the city that was sponsored by one of the organizations I'm involved in, the Vassar Haiti Project. The show raised money for a village in Haiti and I learned about Haitian art, sold the art and talked to so many interesting people from around the com munity. It was a great experience.
Q. What do you like the best about your college so far? A. The people. Everyone is so quirky, smart and open-minded. Vassar is such a great place to encounter people you want to connect with. Q. What’s your favorite class this semester and why?
Laura Wood ’13.
Q. What do you miss the most since starting at college?
A. Perspectives in international studies. It is the best class A. Being at home. There’s something about being in my because we talk about different world issues and debate cozy house that smells like my family. I also miss the life about their effects on society today, and how they came to I had before; everyday things like driving the same route be in the past. It has completely changed my perspective on to school, seeing friendly faces, knowing the community the inner workings of the world. like the back of my hand. I’m outside my comfort zone, but glad to be off exploring a new place. Q. How has your education and experiences at GSB helped to prepare you for this first year of college? Q. If you could offer the Class of 2014 any advice, what would you say? A. GSB has given me the confidence to go to college with very little fear. Yes, I was nervous on the first day, but I A. Be open to change. There will be so much of it in the got to know people very quickly and was able to find my coming months, through graduation and into college. You own little community that made me feel right at home. just have to take it one day at a time and know that Also, academically, I feel that GSB has definitely prepared although it seems scary, it's all going to work out. me for the college workload and time management requirements. It can be stressful at times, but it’s a stress that I have felt before and know that I can overcome.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
14.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
ATHLETICS Varsity Boys’ Soccer Earns Second Non-Public B State Championship The varsity boys’ soccer team defeated Roselle Catholic 6-0 in the Non-Public B South Sectional quarterfinals on November 8. The Knights were led by Kevin Brito ’17 and Justin Durcan ’14 with one goal and one assist apiece as well as by Jack Lowe ’15, James Reiner ’14, Tyler Kwaak ’16 and Armeen Mozaffari ’17 with goals. Durcan and Reiner scored two goals apiece to give Gill a 6-0 semifinal win over Trenton Catholic on November 12. Kwaak and Lowe each scored goals while Nicolas Ricciardi ’16 (two), Brito, Steven Bednarsky ’17, Lowe and Durcan chipped in with assists. Goalkeeper Jordan Schreer ’15 also worked hard to preserve the shutout. GSB earned its third consecutive Sectional title with a 2-1 win over Moorestown Friends on November 14. After a scoreless first half, Kwaak assisted Durcan in the 42nd minute to give the Knights the lead, and Reiner converted a pass from Lowe shortly after for the second goal of the game. In the State final on November 18, Durcan scored one goal and kicked an assist to Reiner to lead the team to a 2-0 victory over Montclair Kimberley at The College of New Jersey. This marked the boys’ second Non-Public B State championship since joining the NJSIAA in 2004.
The 2013 NJSIAA Non-Public B State champion, varsity boys’ soccer.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
15.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
December 2013
Varsity Cross Country Sprints to Success at Championship Meets The varsity cross country team competed in the Prep B Championships on October 30. The girls sprinted to a second place team finish behind Dana Klein ’14 (1st/18:51), Alexandria Benoit ’14 (2nd/19:13) and Sahara Ensley ’16 (6th/19:52). Meanwhile, Patrik Andersen ’16 (16:17) finished first and Felix Andersen ’17 (16:46) took third to lead the boys’ squad to its first Prep B title since 2002. Mathieu Petit ’17 (12th place/17:43), Jacob Kruger ’15 (13th/17:45) and Peter “Alec” Johnson ’15 (15th/17:58) all scored valuable points as well in the milestone victory.
On November 16, Klein became the first girl in school history to win the NJSIAA Non-Public B Group Championship, taking first in 18:41 to lead the girls to fifth place overall at Holmdel Park. Both Klein and Benoit (7th/20:33) also qualified for the Meet of Champions, where Klein placed sixth overall in 18:20—the third fastest Somerset County time in history—and Benoit shined in 74th (19:59). P. Andersen took third in his field, followed by F. Andersen in ninth, at the Group Championships to help the boys to third place overall and their first-ever Meet of Champions qualifier as a team. Also finishing in the top-25 were Petit (21st/18:04) and J. Kruger (24th/18:13). P. Andersen led the way for the Knights (16:35), taking 57th in a field of nearly 200 of the best runners in the state at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions on November 23. F. Andersen, the second fastest freshman in New Jersey, was 96th in 17:07. Both were followed by J. Kruger (18:26), Michael Iannaconi ’16 (18:57), Edward Fischer ’15 (19:29) and Andrew Wible ’15 (19:50).
From left: (L. to r.) Dana Klein ’14 and Alexandria Benoit ’14 placed first and seventh at the NJSIAA Non-Public B Group Championship on November 16; The varsity boys’ cross country team earned its first NJISAA Prep B title since 2002 on October 30.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
16.
The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School
African Children’s Choir to Present at GSB After making its debut at Gill St. Bernard’s School in October 2011, the internationally acclaimed African Children’s Choir will return to the 79-acre Gladstone campus for a 7:00 p.m. performance on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 in the Athletic Center.
December 2013
Dates to Remember
The show, which is free and open to the public, will feature a talented group of seven- through 12-year-old performers who are sure to melt the hearts of audience members with their charming smiles, beautiful voices and lively presentation of well-loved children’s songs, traditional spirituals and gospel favorites. The African Children’s Choir—a nonprofit humanitarian and relief organization dedicated to helping Africa’s most vulnerable children today so they can help Africa tomorrow— was founded in 1984 by Music for Life. Since then, the group has been responsible for educating more than 52,000 children in seven African countries including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, and has had an impact on the lives of over 100,000 individuals.
Monday, December 23— Friday, January 3
RSVP for the event on our website. Voluntary donations will also be accepted throughout the performance and will benefit the African Children’s Choir.
Monday, January 20
Winter Break No Classes Monday, January 6 Classes Resume Sunday, January 12 Winter Art Exhibition
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day School Closed Wednesday, January 22 African Children’s Choir Voluntary Donations Accepted (RSVP at gsbschool.org) Wednesday, January 29 Star Gazing Party
To view more school events, or for information on the above, please see GSB’s online calendar.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
17.
Gill St. Bernard’s The Monthly Newsletter for Gill St. Bernard’s School School
December 2013
St. Bernard’s Road P.O. Box 604 Gladstone, NJ 07934 908-234-1611 www.gsbschool.org
Watercolor by Gabrielle Morris ’15.
Gill St. Bernard’s School • St. Bernard’s Road • Gladstone, NJ 07934
18.