Dear Parents/Guardians,
I’m excited to extend an invitation to you for the upcoming Gilbert Parent Ambassadors Committee (GPAC) meeting, scheduled for Tuesday night, November 7th, at 6:00. The meeting will be held in the Library Learning Commons.
The focus of this meeting will be on the invaluable services provided by The Gilbert Counseling Department, and we are honored to have our esteemed School Social Worker, Mr. Jason Cerbone, as our guest speaker for the evening. Mr. Cerbone will provide crucial insights into the utilization of our school social workers and will shed light on the current state of mental health within our school and community. Furthermore, he will share practical examples of interventions conducted with students and their families, providing a comprehensive understanding of the Counseling Department's daily operations.
The information shared at this meeting will be beneficial for all parents, helping to foster a deeper understanding of the resources available to students and families within our school community. Your attendance and active participation in this meeting will contribute to our collective efforts to create a supportive and nurturing environment for our students.
I highly encourage you to mark your calendars and make every effort to attend this significant event. Your presence and participation are integral to the success of our school community. Together, we can ensure that our students receive the necessary support and guidance for their academic and emotional well-being.
Should you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to reach out to me at any time. I can be reached at shugrueg@gilbertschool.org
I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming GPAC meeting.
Sincerely,
Greg P. Shugrue
Head of School
Gilbert Senior Becomes Wake Surfer World Champion!
Gilbert Athletics & Mr. Penn
Science Olympiad Team For Grades 7-9
Michelle Farrar is looking to start a Science Olympiad team for students in grades 7 through 9. Interested students can contact her during the school day, or through email at farrarm@gilbertschool.org to find out more information.
Gilbert's Varsity ESports Team Ranked 25th in CT
Electronic Sports, or ESports, is a CIAC recognized sport comprised of multiplayer competitive video gaming teams. Gilbert's team of nine Varsity Squad members practice two afternoons each week, competing against other schools primarily in Connecticut. Currently, the Yellowjacket team is 2-4, ranking 25th in the state. At present, Gilbert's game is Super Smash Brothers. Sound like fun? See Ms. Pfeffer in the library for more information, "Our goal is to add another one to two teams for the spring." To learn more about high school ESports in Connecticut, click here.
Back By Popular Demand!
Fall Coffee House will return on Thursday, 11/9 in the TGS school library at 6.30 pm. Open to all grades, the Fall Coffee House is an evening of the arts-- music, poetry, and more. However, only high school students may perform at this open mic style event. If you are a high school student who would like to perform, you can find a signup sheet in front of room 308. Please be sure to submit your sign up sheet to Mrs. Daniele by Tuesday, 10/31. For questions, email her at danielef@gilbertschool.org.
Hat Day Fundraiser 11/8
NJHS Fundraiser 11/10
More Middle School Updates from the School Counseling Office
7th and 8th Grade Families: Town Hall & Celebrations
- To celebrate students that have demonstrated good behaviors, strong work ethic, good character, and high grades, the quarter one ‘Town Hall’ meeting for all middle school students will be held soon!
- Teachers will recognize ‘Students of the Quarter’ in the grade-wide assembly. Students who made honor/high honor roll will be invited to an event to celebrate their success. More info to come!
Grade 8 Career & Self Assessment
In the coming weeks Grade 8 students will be participating in lessons around career and self exploration to prepare them for high school planning. Students will take assessments that consider their learning styles, interests, and related career paths.
Representatives from NWR7 presented their VoAg program to the 8th grade class on 10/4.
For more info, see their frequently asked questions document, and recruitment letter linked here or on the NWR 7 website.
Students should visit the School Counseling Office to notify Mrs. Thompson with intent to apply and/or for instructions on how to apply. Applications must be returned to Mrs. Thompson by Wednesday, December 13.
Oliver Wolcott Tech
Wolcott Tech representatives presented their program to 8th grade students on 10/13.
If you are unable to attend their Open House but would like more information, virtual tours can be found linked here or on their website, or reach out to their admissions office to schedule a private/small group tour
The online application portal will open on November 1, and can be found on their website under the ‘Admissions' tab. Interested students should meet with Mrs. Thompson to ensure a thorough application.
The 8th grade application priority deadline is December 16.
Hive Time for 7th Graders
Gilbert Yellowjackets Athletics
By Josh Penn, Gilbert Athletic Director
The fall season is beginning to wrap up with only Football having any games left. Girls Soccer had its final game on Halloween, closing out the season against our cross-town rival Northwestern. Girls Soccer had their Senior Night under the lights against Wamogo. The team was down 2-0 and made an epic comeback led by Senior Captain Ivy Davis who scored 2 goals in the 5-2 victory. Girls soccer also made history this season by playing the first soccer game at The Gilbert School in over 30 years! Great season girls - and I look forward to next season when we are competing for the Berkshire League Title and a run in States!
Boys Soccer finished their season with two straight wins against the Thomaston Boys. Freshman James Slauta and Junior Bernardo Aguiar scored 3 goals a piece in the final game! Great job this season boys, I appreciate and respect your commitment to the team and we will be back to playing varsity next year!
Important Athletic Dates & Information
Winter Sports Start Dates:
- Girls Basketball - 11/27
- Boys Basketball - 11/30
- Indoor Track - 11/30
- Wrestling - 11/30
- Cheerleading - 11/30
- Middle School Sports - 12/4
Coaches for Winter Sports:
- Basketball (Boys) - Mark Douglass, douglassm@gilbertschool.org
- Basketball (Girls) - Kurt Root, rootk@gilbertschool.org
- Cheerleading - Rachel Gagnon, gagnonr@gilbertschool.org
- Indoor Track(Boys) - Tom Scarangelo, scarangelot@gilbertschool.org
- Indoor Track (Girls) - Tom Scarangelo, scarangelot@gilbertschool.org
- Wrestling - Darek Schibi, schibid@gilbertschool.org
- MS Basketball (Boys) - TBA
- MS Basketball (Girls) - Kevin Lillie, lilliek@gilbertschool.org
- MS Cheerleading - Jillian Pignatello, pignatelloj@gilbertschool.org
Miscellaneous Information:
- Eliminating the Fall, Winter, and Spring sports awards and having one big “Espys” style sports award event at the end of the year. Teams are encouraged to have team events at the end of the season where they can present their varsity letters and patches. More information to come.
- The Travel Release Form is available on the Gilbert Website and is an online form. Once completed the Athletics Office will receive a notification.
- Game schedules are posted on the Gilbert Athletics website. I look forward to a great fall season and hope to see the stands filled with Blue and Gold!
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.
Reminders for Seniors!
Early Action or Early Decision- November 1st or 15th- typically the deadlines for most colleges. If you plan to apply early, be sure to check your colleges’ EA and ED deadlines.
Check Naviance “Scholarships & Money” to see the local scholarships that are available to Gilbert students. See Mrs. Kirsch or your school counselor for assistance.
JUNIORS & SENIORS: Earn College Credit In High School
Interested in taking a college course at NCCC for free?
On Thursday, December 7, a representative from NCCC will be at Gilbert to register students for their High School Partnership Program. Interested students will be able to enroll in free college courses for the Spring 2024 semester.
Students should see their counselor if they are interested.
WNEU Instant Decision Day 11/9
November 9 - Application Decision Day for Western New England University
WNEU will be sending a representative from their Admissions Department to Gilbert to meet and interview our seniors who have applied. After the interview, students will be notified of the Admissions decision. This is a great opportunity for our Gilbert students to shine, bring their college application to life and showcase themselves for college admissions. Why wait weeks or months for an Admissions decision when students can find out on November 9th??
Seniors can sign up with Mrs. Kirsch in the school counseling office for an interview appointment time.
Students should dress appropriately in business casual attire to make a good impression during the interview.
There is no obligation to attend WNEU if accepted.
SENIORS: Apply FREE To Select CT State Universities in November
In an effort to minimize the expense of applying to college, some Connecticut universities offer application fee waivers for November application submissions.
November 1 to 30 - Central Connecticut State University
Submit your application on November 1 through November 30 and select Application Fee Free Day waiver. Click here for more information.
November 1 to 15 - Southern Connecticut State University
Connecticut Students who apply to SCSU for the Fall 2024 term will be eligible to waive their $50 admission application fee. Click here for more information about applying to SCSU.
November 1 to 30 - Western Connecticut State University
Connecticut high school seniors can apply for free during the entire month of November. Click here for more information about applying to WCSU.
SENIORS: Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program (CAAP) Update
Seniors, are you considering applying to one of these Connecticut schools for college?
- Central Connecticut State University
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- Southern Connecticut State University
- Western Connecticut State University
- Mitchell College
- University of Bridgeport
- University of New Haven
- University of Saint Joseph
If so, we have GREAT NEWS! You may be eligible for the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program, or CAAP. And, CAAP has now partnered with the Common App for a more streamlined application process, too! What is CAAP exactly? Essentially, it's automatic acceptance to any of the schools listed above if you meet certain eligibility criteria. If you qualify, the applications to those schools are also FREE! Click HERE to learn more about CAAP, and connect with your Gilbert counselor to see if you're eligible!
College Rep Visits at Gilbert
Admissions Reps for the colleges/universities listed below will be visiting The Gilbert School this month. College rep visits are for junior and senior students, and will take place in the library. Students should check their emails for the college visit sign-up forms. Students are responsible for all missed classwork. Check Naviance for an updated list of schools, as additional colleges/universities may be added!
- 11/3 - Westfield State University - 12:00 PM
- 11/6 - Rutgers University-New Brunswick - 9:15 AM
- 11/6 - Quinnipiac University - 1:00 PM
- 11/15 - University of Bridgeport - 9:15 AM
- 11/17 - Southern Connecticut State University - 10:30 AM
Questions? Contact your counselor, or Mrs. Kirsch in Guidance.
SENIORS: The FAFSA Opens in December
The School Counseling office is hosting a Financial Aid Event on January 16th at 5:30 to 7:30 pm in The Gilbert School library. Counselors and a financial aid representative from NCCC will assist students and parents with FAFSA completion. Parents and students can create their FSA ID required to complete the FAFSA, prior to completing the FAFSA in December. Social Security numbers for both parents and students will be required.
Additionally, Connecticut College Bound (#CTCollegeBound) is an initiative created through a partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education, the College Board, New Haven Promise, the Connecticut Association of Financial Aid Administrators (CAPFAA), the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities, ECMC The College Place, and the University of Connecticut. These organizations have joined forces to host FREE FAFSA workshops for students and their families.
Financial aid professionals will be available to help students and families navigate the process of need-based federal aid. Those who sign up will receive a checklist of items that they will need to successfully complete the process. Virtual workshops and designated in-person workshops are open to all high school students. Click on the button below for more info about upcoming workshops.
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
In spring 2024, all junior students will participate in the Connecticut 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. 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 Gilbert School Cafeteria is at full staff and offering many choices at Lunch each day! Every student is entitled to one free breakfast and one free lunch daily. We have the Main hot meal, the Grill line with a second hot option, Grab and Go Sandwich and Salad Meals (several varieties of
each daily).
We also sell Ala carte offerings including Water, Switch, fresh baked cookies, Ice cream, chips and several other snack items. Ala carte items are sold only if students have money in hand or on account, charging is not allowed.
Senior Parents/Guardians: Buy An Ad For Your Senior
