Beginning next year, The Gilbert School will partner with Project Lead the Way (PLTW) to enhance our STEM offerings by implementing the PLTW Engineering curriculum. Project Lead the Way, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization, specializes in developing STEM curricula featuring hands-on, real-world learning experiences that will prepare our students for future academic and career opportunities in STEM fields. Students who enroll in our PLTW courses may also be eligible for exclusive scholarships and college credit.
In our first year with the program (2025/2026) we will offer Introduction to Engineering as an elective course for grade 9-12 students. The following year (2026/2027) we will introduce Principles of Engineering in addition to offering the Introduction to Engineering course with the potential to add on more advanced engineering courses to the program in the following years.
We are thrilled to offer this exciting opportunity to our students who may be interested in pursuing engineering or other technical STEM-related careers.
The Gilbert School will host schools from across the Northeast in its first-ever Aerial Drone Competition Tournament. On Saturday, March 22nd, we will welcome teams from across the region, including our very own TGS Drone teams, to compete in the REC Foundation’s Aerial Drone Competition. Students will showcase their piloting and programming skills, navigating their drones to complete obstacle courses and teamwork missions. Stay tuned for more details!
If you are interested in volunteering to help out at this event please contact Mr. Craig Levesque at levesquec@gilbertschool.org.
We are thrilled to announce the return of the World Language Honor Societies at The Gilbert School for the 2025 school year! After a brief hiatus, these prestigious societies are back to celebrate and honor students who have demonstrated excellence in language studies.
The World Language Honor Societies recognize the hard work, dedication, and passion that students put into mastering languages such as Spanish, French, Latin. Induction into these societies is a mark of distinction, offering students the opportunity to deepen their cultural knowledge, engage in community service, and connect with peers who share a love for languages.
Inductions will take place later this spring, and eligible students will receive more information on the application process in the coming weeks. We look forward to seeing many talented students join the ranks of these esteemed societies!
Stay tuned for more details, and congratulations to all language students for their continued commitment to learning and cultural enrichment. Let’s make this year one to remember!
Only weeks into the '24-'25 basketball season Gilbert senior Emily Arel broke the school’s basketball scoring record. The old record, 1806 points, was previously held by Ellen Garaghty since 1998. On December 20th, Emily scored the record-breaking basket against Shepaug.
Also historic in Gilbert Athletic history, Emily surpassed 2000 career scoring points and became the Berkshire League’s All-Time Girls’ Scoring Leader in a January win against Thomaston. She now ranks twelfth in the state for all-time scorers. Please congratulate her on these tremendous milestones and come catch the rest of her historic reign as the Gilbert Girls’ B-ball team hopes to continue their run to the league tourney and beyond! Click here to read about Emily's season in CT Insider.
On January 8, another Gilbert athlete made history! Please congratulate Evan Schibi if you see him - Evan hit 100 career wins as a junior! Click here to read the latest Register Citizen article about Evan's wrestling accomplishments at TGS this season, as well those of his father, TGS Wrestling Coach Darek Schibi. Way to go Evan!
Mike Pelletier has officially been named Facilities Director! Mike’s commitment and passion for The Gilbert School have been evident in everything he’s done during his time with us over the past several months. He has gone above and beyond to ensure our school runs smoothly and efficiently, and we are so lucky to have him leading the way for our facilities team. Congratulations Mike on this well-deserved recognition and his new role!
On February 20 The Gilbert School will host the Save the Life Tour. This important event will feature simulations focusing on impaired and distracted driving, providing students with valuable educational experiences. While the school day will continue with minimal disruption, students will be scheduled to attend these sessions throughout the day.
The organization explains The Save A Life Tour "is a comprehensive high impact safe driving awareness program that informs, educates, and demonstrates the potentially deadly consequences resulting from poor choices and decisions made by the operator of a motor vehicle. The program places emphasis on careless driving habits (speeding, turn signal use), impaired driving (alcohol usage, controlled substance, drowsiness), distracted driving cell phones, passenger activities, and more."
On January 17th & 18th we had five students represent Gilbert at the CMEA Northern Region Festival at New Britain High School! They rehearsed and performed wonderfully and made Gilbert proud! Once again they were:
Ethan Cavajani - Percussionist in the Orchestra
Freily Cruz - Tenor in the Mixed Choir
Victoria Parent - Alto in the Treble Choir
Natalia Rodriguez - Soprano in the Mixed Choir
Mackenzie Steeves - Alto in the Mixed Choir
- 7th and 8th-grade teachers are making course-level recommendations for next year - If you have any questions about which level/class your student was recommended for, you can reach out to the teacher.
- Between February and March, 8th-grade students will make their course requests for freshman year. The middle and high school counselors will provide presentations about what to expect in high school, their options and opportunities, and ultimately pick their classes for freshman year based on their interests and teacher recommendations.
- 7th-grade students will receive a presentation on their World Language options (Spanish, Latin, or French) for their 8th-grade year. Students will make their selections by the end of March.
Middle school students participated in their quarterly Town Hall assembly to recognize ‘Students of Quarter 2’, those with perfect attendance, the ones that made the honor roll, and 8th-grade students who made PSAT benchmarks. On February 12, a special celebration is planned for 7th and 8th graders who achieved honor roll for Quarters 1 and 2. Additionally, there is another incentive party for those who meet the contractual requirements for 8th graders.
Our big 8th grade BelieveKids fundraiser is underway! The goal is to raise funds for our Grade 8 field trip to High Meadow. Click on the button below to register your student. Any student that is registered and gets 10 shares clicked will be entered into a drawing for over $100,000 worth of prizes. The fundraiser runs from February 3rd to February 17th. Thank you in advance for all your help and support! For questions, please email Mrs. Daige at daiges@gilbertschool.org.
School social workers will continue meeting with 7th grade students 2-3 times weekly in groups to provide social/emotional support, curriculum, and skill development lessons during Hive Time. If you would like more information about Hive Time for your middle school student, please contact Ms. Thompson at thompsonm@gilbertschool.org.
This winter we have some teams who are rising to the top of the standings not only in the Berkshire League but in the State! The Girl's Basketball team is 14-4 overall and 11-1 in the BL. They are currently in 2nd place in the BL and 6th overall in States (Class S). They are led by Senior Captain Emily Arel, who is officially the leading scorer in Berkshire League history for both boys and girls. Emily is close to the top 10 in CT basketball HISTORY for leading scorers.
The Cheer team performed their halftime routine for the first time on Friday 1/31. The girls were amazing! At halftime on 2/3 the girls had another opportunity to perform and had a flawless routine. Keep up the good work!
Indoor Track looks to compete in the first Annual Berkshire League Indoor Track Championships on Friday 2/7. Good luck to all of the athletes who qualified!
Questions?
Contact Josh Penn, Gilbert Director of Athletics 7-12 at: pennj@gilbertschool.org or call 860 379-3721 with any questions regarding Athletics. If you have specific questions regarding practices and games please contact the coach directly.
The Gilbert School is pleased to welcome Ms. Mia DeStefano to our School Counseling team! Ms. DeStefano comes to us part-time as a social worker, funded through a grant with Ed Advance. She'll be at TGS every Monday and Tuesday, as well as every other Friday. Her office space will be in the B building wing.
Grade 11 and 12 students attended a field trip to tour the campus of Lincoln Technical Institute in East Windsor on Thursday, January 30th. This opportunity provided students with information about the following career training programs:
Every year the Gilbert School provides this multiple-aptitude battery to students in Grades 10 through 12. The ASVAB measures multiple abilities and helps predict future occupational success in military and civilian life. It’s a great way for our students to discover their strengths and see how those strengths transfer to future career opportunities.
Gilbert seniors can now apply for the $40,000 Phyllis C. Locascio Scholarship and the W.L. Gilbert Trust Scholarships (with over 100 scholarships on one application!) See the flyers below for more information. In addition, many Connecticut state, regional, and local scholarships are available to view on Naviance. The list continues to grow, so check in periodically to find area scholarships that are right for you.
Sign in to your Naviance account
Click “Colleges” on the top bar
Click “Scholarships & Money”
Click “Scholarship Search”
Seniors can also find various state, local, and regional scholarships on the TGS Scholarship Padlet, found under 'Resources' on our Gilbert School Counselling website. Or click on the button below to view it directly.
Khan Academy, in conjunction with College Board, offers free customized SAT prep based on a student's performance on the PSAT/SAT. 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!
In spring of 2025, all junior students will participate in the Connecticut SAT School Day 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. 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.
The TGS Health Office will be screening for scoliosis in the spring. Nurses look at each individual student’s back in a private area. If scoliosis screening has been documented by the student’s physician in the past year, it is not repeated by the nurse. Students eligible for screening are girls in grade 7 and boys in grade 9.
Winter Coats
With the onset of winter almost upon us, please remember to dress for the weather! If needed, we have new and gently used coats, hats, and gloves available for anyone that needs one! Contact Mrs. Webb at 860 379 8521 x1431 or email at webbd@gilbertschool.org.
Connecticut experienced a heartbreaking rise in teen suicides this summer. The 988 National Contact Center services include rapid 24/7 access to trained staff who can help students (and adults) experiencing suicidal, substance use and other mental health crises, provide referrals to resources, and perform warm transfers to Mobile Crisis or emergency services as needed/desired. Additional information, resources, and materials for Connecticut residents can be found at the links below.
All Grades 7 & 9 Students Are REQUIRED To Have A Physical By Their Physician
Students are required to have a physical exam for seventh grade, and also during ninth grade prior to the start of tenth grade. "Blue" physical forms were mailed out in your student's back-to-school packets in August. Forms can also be found in physician’s offices, the TGS main office, as well as the nurse's office. Physicals are also required every 13 months for students who are trying out for sports. If you have any questions regarding this State mandated requirement, please contact the nurse. If your child has already had a physical, please submit it to the Nurse's Office. If you would like to have your physician fax a copy, the confidential direct fax number is 860 738 9651.
- Would you like a part time job with summers off?
- Are you available to work during school hours?
- If you answered yes, School Food Service may be the place for you!
Opening for cafeteria workers, daily, or on a substitute basis. The work schedule follows the school calendar, approximately 5.25 hours/day, on an as needed basis. Applicants must be flexible with times, as school lunch schedules occasionally change. No experience needed, will train. Application, resume, letter of intent and 2 letters of reference are requested. Interested individuals should click HERE to apply online.
2025 Gilbert High School Yearbooks are on sale now for $85. Prices will only increase, so get it now before the price goes up! Click on the button below to purchase your yearbook and add ons.
New this year: Donate a yearbook to someone in need! Click on the button below to donate an entire yearbook to a student, or you can donate any dollar amount towards a yearbook. Any questions please email Mrs. Zaprzalka at zaprzalkas@gilbertschool.org.
Unsure how to set up your PowerSchool account? No problem! Follow these simple steps:
- Begin at The Gilbert School Webpage www.gilbertschool.org
- From the Parent dropdown menu, choose PowerSchool
- Click on the PowerSchool logo
- Click the create an account button
- Completely fill out the form
(The Access ID is your child’s student ID number, and the Access password is the first 8 letters of your child’s last name.)
PLEASE NOTE - PASSWORDS MUST BE:
- At least 7 characters
- At least one uppercase and one lowercase letter
- At least one number
- At least one special character (!,$,&,*, etc.)
Should you need assistance, please contact battistas@gilbertschool.org
