Wingman Kick Off Is 2/10
Starting on 2/10, we will launch the first of our monthly student-led activities with the primary goal of improving school climate and culture, as well as to inspire our students to be more empathetic, courageous and inclusive, in an effort to create a school community that is a welcoming place for everyone. We look forward to hearing student feedback in the coming months!
Testing For Selected 8th Graders 2/17
It’s a GREAT day to be a Yellowjacket!
By Buckley Morgan, Gilbert Director of Athletics
It’s hard to believe January is already behind us. The snow on the ground makes it clear that winter is still here. This winter Gilbert teams are limited in numbers of athletes, but the talent on those teams is very good for having such a small number of players. At the time of this writing, the girls basketball team has a record of 9-2. Not too bad for a team without enough available players to play JV.
All of our teams have struggled with numbers this season. Not only are our teams small, but we often have several athletes out due to the pandemic. This has resulted in very few JV games being played in Basketball. CIAC rules dictate that all Varsity games must be played, if at all possible. At this point in time, it's unlikely that we will be able to make up all of our postponed JV games. However, we are talking about a possible tournament for JV girls on February 25 - more to come on that soon.
The Wrestling and Indoor Track teams have been practicing daily. Wrestling is doing a great job of developing skills and understanding the concepts of leverage and balance on the mats. Again, the team is very small and cannot compete in all 14 weight classes. Indoor Track has had a couple successful meets so far this season. They are in the hallways daily preparing for upcoming meets - and keeping departing faculty on their toes as they leave the building for the day.
Cheer has been practicing daily and doing a great job of cheering our teams to victory. They are participating in a few cheer contests this year, with their first one scheduled for February 12 at Thomaston High School. Many of us have had the privilege of seeing some of the cheer routine during our halftime shows. Good luck to them.
Spring sports will be starting around March 19th depending on the sport. Spring sports registration will open on February 20 and continue through March 18 on the Family ID website. Parents of student-athletes who plan to enroll in Spring sports, please mark your calendar for an orientation on March 8th at 5:00 pm here in the Gilbert auditorium. If you attended the Fall or Winter orientation then you do not need to attend the Spring orientation. However, you do need to attend team-specific meetings with the coaches.
Spring sports include: High School Boys and Girls tennis, Baseball, Softball, and Outdoor Track & Field. Baseball and Softball are offered for Middle School students. The Outdoor Track team has two meetings set for those interested to attend, March 2 and March 16 at 2:30 in the Health classroom. If you have any questions about a specific sport, or would like to touch base with the coach, feel free to email them at the email listed below.
- Baseball: Coach Pat Cooke cookep@gilbertschool.org
- Softball: Coach Gerry Brochu brochug@gilbertschool.org
- Track and Field: Coach Tom Scarangelo scarangelot@gilbertschool.org
- Tennis B&G: Coach Buckley Morgan morganb@gilbertschool.org
Course Selection For The 2022-23 School Year
In late February students will meet with the counselors to discuss the course selection process and review courses that are available for the 22-23 school year. The student portal will then open for course selection and will remain open through the end of March.
Students in grades 9-11 will meet with their counselors during advisory to select courses for the coming school year and enter their selections into the portal.
8th grade students will meet with Mrs. Kutz to complete their course requests.
In April, courses will be finalized and student schedules will be developed. During the remainder of the school year students will finalize schedules with counselors and make any adjustments that are needed.
Junior Planning & Junior Parents Night
Starting mid-February, counselors will be working with juniors to further explore their career interests and opportunities available in trade schools and colleges, which will then inform course selection for next year. Junior year is particularly important for post-secondary planning and parents are encouraged to join their student in a planning meeting with their counselor.
Contact Diane Kirsch at 860-379-8521 in early March to schedule an appointment.
On March 30, 2022 at 6pm, counselors will host our Junior Planning Night in the Library to discuss post secondary options and the timelines associated with each option. All junior parents are encouraged to attend
Senior Scholarships
The Gilbert Trust Scholarship and the Locascio Scholarship applications are now open to our seniors. Each year, the Scholarship Committee awards Gilbert Trust Scholarship money to all seniors in good standing who apply on time. Seniors can also apply for the Locascio Scholarship, which awards one senior $40,000 to be dispersed over four years.
Counselors frequently email seniors and post scholarship application information to Naviance. Paper copies may also be available in the Guidance office. We encourage seniors to continue applying to local scholarships. Please make sure to apply for these by the following deadlines:
Greenwoods Scholarship - February 18th
Locascio Scholarship - March 7th
Gilbert Trust Scholarship - April 1st.
ASVAB Testing
The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test has been rescheduled for April 1st at Gilbert. This is a free test that helps students discover their strengths and potential success in a variety of areas including military training. Students in grades 10 through 12 are eligible to take the exam. Students interested in taking the ASVAB should sign up in Guidance or email your counselor before March 18th.
Save The Date: School Day SAT Is 3/23
FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, & JUNIORS: Get FREE Customized Online SAT Prep
Khan Academy, in conjunction with College Board, is offering free customized SAT prep based on a student's performance on the PSAT. Generated SAT practice is tailored specifically to focus on those areas in which the student requires the most practice. Click on the button below to find out more information!
GRADES 9-11: SAT & ACT Test Dates
On March 23rd, all junior students will be participating in the SAT School Day here at The Gilbert School. However, any student (not just juniors!) can register online to take the SAT and/or to take the ACT throughout the year - as many times as you choose. Additional testing dates are listed below. Like anything else, the more you practice, the better you'll get!
*Please note that The Gilbert School is no longer a testing site and will not be hosting SAT testing on alternate dates.
FAFSA Workshops Continue
Still need assistance with your FAFSA? Sign up for an in-person or virtual FAFSA workshop, right here in Connecticut. You can also check out these great FAFSA resources for CT residents.
Chinese Lunar New Year 2022
By Debra LaRoche Walls
Tuesday, February 1, 2022, over a billion people in China and millions around the world will celebrate the Chinese New Year. The Lunar New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of Chinese holidays and is also celebrated by those from Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore and many other Asian countries. From late January until the middle of February, the national holiday will be celebrated. It is a time to honor deities, ancestors and to be with family.
With a strong cultural and historic significance, this year also represents the year of the Tiger. Since ancient times, Chinese people have been using the Chinese Zodiac animals to represent the years. Each lunar year is related to a zodiac animal, beginning at Chinese New Year.
Those celebrating the New Year will enjoy traditional foods such as; fish, symbolizing prosperity, dumplings and spring rolls, symbolizing wealth, longevity noodles, symbolizing happiness and longevity, and good fortune fruit, for fullness and wealth. The celebration is also believed to be significant to ensure good fortune for the coming year and has many religious traditions and beliefs that hold value.
The International Program of The Gilbert School has traditionally celebrated with students from the program coming from China, Vietnam and South Korea in a variety of ways. This year, a dinner of traditional foods will be prepared and shared with the international students at the Residency Hall. Residential Coordinator, Cristina Rutherford will prepare traditional food dishes such as hot pot, dumplings and fresh fruit. The cultural tradition will be celebrated for a happy, healthy year ahead.
Happy New Year to all of Gilberts Asian students celebrating on February 1.
Free COVID Test Kits by Mail from the Government
Did you know that you can order free test kits from the government? There is a limit of one order per residential address. One order includes 4 rapid antigen COVID tests. Orders will ship starting at the end of January. Order here: https://special.usps.com/testkits
Sick student? Need a home COVID test kit?
Is your TGS student sick and exhibiting signs of COVID? Need a home antigen test kit? We can help! Contact TGS school nurses to get a home rapid COVID antigen testing kit.
Project Covid DeteCT
Students attending public K-6 schools, as well as those in Grades 7-12 are eligible for FREE weekly Covid-19 Testing during the 2021-2022 school year through Project COVID DeteCT.
- Screening will be FREE to all students attending eligible schools in Connecticut regardless of vaccination status
- No insurance information will be collected
- The tests will be performed weekly using lower nasal swabs, not the long upper nasal swabs
- Tests will be performed only with students that have submitted a signed Parent Consent Form. This signed form will cover testing through the end of the 2021-2022 school year
- Benefits of participating in weekly Covid testing include helping to stop the spread of Covid-19 thereby protecting high risk family members from becoming seriously ill from the virus as well as others in the community.
- Testing will keep schools open, preventing time away from in-school learning and friends
Inclement Weather Communication
With the winter season officially here, we want to reiterate our inclement weather procedures. The State Department of Education will not permit us to use remote instruction and therefore, any days missed for weather will need to be made up at the end of the school year.
Mr. Shugrue, along with other area superintendents, will participate in an early morning conference call with our weather consultant to discuss the weather situation and its impact on schools. Based on this information and the information that Superintendent Brady-Shanley gets from our local Public Works Department, the Town of Winchester Police Department, WPS Maintenance Department, and Litchfield County Dispatch a decision regarding school will be made. It is ultimately Superintendent Brady-Shanley’s charge to make the decision.
Once a decision has been made by Superintendent Brady-Shanley, Mr. Shugrue will immediately relay the information to all The Gilbert School’s faculty, staff, and students’ families by 6:00 AM via School Messenger, local news stations, local radio stations, and an alert will be posted on our website.
In addition to School Cancelations, The Gilbert School uses the following inclement weather scheduling options:
- Early Dismissal - 12:16 PM
- Late Opening - 2-Hour Delay - 9:45 AM start, 3-Hour Delay - 10:45 AM start
Lastly, to ensure clear and uninterrupted communication, it is vitally important to ensure that you have your phone numbers updated with Gilbert’s Main Office. If you have recently made any changes in your contact information, please call our Main Office at 860-379-8521 to update those changes.
For your information and convenience, the following is a list of both radio and television stations used to report any changes to our schedule due to inclement weather.
RADIO:
WZBG FM 97.3, WTIC 1080 AM
TELEVISION:
WFSB 3, NBC 30, FOX 61, WTNH 8
Should you have any questions about our procedures, please feel free to contact us at 860-379-8521.
