Academics

Lower School | Primary–Gr. 4

The Lower School at Gill St. Bernard’s radiates joy and excitement for learning. Our teachers nurture and build upon each child’s natural sense of wonder and innate curiosity, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. Combining a deep understanding of child development, best practices and evolving curricula with a profound love for children, GSB lower school faculty fill each day with rich and challenging learning experiences for our children.  Our students love to come to school each day, and our warm and supportive community encourages and celebrates the intellectual risk-taking essential to learning and growth.
 
Gill St. Bernard’s values balance in education, offering:

  • A rigorous, challenging, and living curriculum
  • PE and fine and gross motor skills activities every day
  • Facilities designed to foster collaboration, creativity and problem solving through work and play
  • A school community that nurtures and celebrates good citizenship skills
  • An emotionally safe and welcoming environment that encourages intellectual exploration
We work with parents throughout their children’s education, recognizing that every child’s journey is unique. Our collaborative approach strengthens our understanding of each child, enabling us to guide and support children to become their absolute best. 

A Day in the Life of a Lower School Student

The Lower School fills each day with rich and challenging learning experiences for our students. In addition to instruction in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and World Languages, Lower School students also have classes in Art, Library, Music, Physical Education and Technology. Below you will find sample schedules, indicating what a typical day might look like for a student in the Lower School at GSB.

List of 7 items.

  • Primary 3/4

    8:00-8:15Arrival
    8:15-9:15Free play, table centers, sensory projects, character education, Handwriting, one-on-one instruction in Languages Arts and Math
    9:15-9:45Circle/song/story time and work with the Smart Board
    9:45-10:00Snack
    10:00-10:15Outdoor Play
    10:15-10:40Guest Readers
    10:40-11:10Physical Education
    11:10-11:40One-on-one Handwriting instruction (Readiness and Writing)
    11:40-12:00Music
    12:00-1:00Lunch and Recess
    1:00-2:30Rest; Half-day dismissal at 1:00
    2:30-2:45Collect books and pack up
    3:00Dismissal

  • Primary 4/5

    8:00-8:15Arrival
    8:15-8:30Writing Workshop
    8:30-9:20Free play, table centers, sensory projects, character education, Handwriting, one-on-one instruction in Languages Arts and Math
    9:20-9:40Snack
    9:40-10:15Recess
    10:15-10:40One-on-one instruction in Language Arts and Math
    10:40-11:10Music
    11:10-11:40Physical Education
    11:40-12:00Complete morning work and time for Show and Tell
    12:00-1:00Lunch and Recess
    1:00-2:30Rest; Half-day dismissal at 1:00
    2:30-2:45Centers
    3:00Dismissal

  • Kindergarten

    8:00-8:15Arrival
    8:15-8:30Morning jobs and free choice activity
    8:30-9:00Morning Meeting
    9:00-9:30Reading
    9:30-10:00Physical Education
    10:00-10:30Music
    10:30-11:00Science
    11:00-11:30Lunch
    11:30-12:10Math
    12:10-12:30Snack and Story
    12:30-1:00Recess
    1:00-1:45Journal Writing and Phonics
    1:45-2:30Handwriting
    2:30-2:45Collect books and pack up
    3:00Dismissal

  • Grade 1

    8:00-8:15Arrival
    8:15-8:30Morning Meeting
    8:30-9:30Assembly and Reading
    9:30-10:15Art
    10:15-11:00Math
    11:00-12:05Lunch and Recess
    12:05-1:00Reading and Handwriting
    1:00-1:45Writing Workshop
    1:45-2:00Snack
    2:00-2:45French
    3:00Dismissal

  • Grade 2

    8:00-8:15Arrival
    8:15-8:25Morning Meeting
    8:25-9:00Science
    9:00-10:00Math
    10:00-10:30Physical Education
    10:30-11:00Language Arts
    11:00-12:05Lunch and Recess
    12:05-12:20Reading
    12:20-1:00Social Studies
    1:00-1:40Music
    1:40-2:00Snack
    2:00-2:45Technology
    3:00Dismissal

  • Grade 3

    8:00-8:15Arrival
    8:15-8:30Morning Meeting
    8:30-9:30Math
    9:30-10:30Language Arts
    10:30-11:00Physical Education
    11:00-12:05Lunch and Recess
    12:05-12:20Reading
    12:20-1:00Writing Workshop
    1:00-1:40Spanish
    1:40-2:10Social Studies
    2:10-2:50Science
    3:00Dismissal

  • Grade 4

    8:00-8:15Arrival
    8:15-8:30Morning Meeting
    8:30-9:30Math
    9:30-10:00Social Studies
    10:00-11:00Science
    11:00-12:05Lunch and Recess
    12:05-12:20Reading
    12:20-12:50Physical Education
    12:50-2:05Language Arts
    2:05-2:45Music
    3:00Dismissal

Biome Museum

The focus of this year's biome museum is the African savanna, with work from each of the grades featured throughout the hallways of the Cox building. Beyond the eye-catching aardvark burrows, cardboard giraffes and life-sized bird silhouettes are layers of information representing a collaboration among the related arts classes of art, computers, library, music, science and world languages. Throughout the exhibit, QR codes, iPads and Lower School docents help visitors understand the richness of each display. Read more >>

Why Pre-K Through 12?

Gill St. Bernard's is one of only a handful of independent, college-preparatory schools in New Jersey to offer preschool through grade 12 on a single campus. Learn more!
You may also view a standard PDF of GSB's Curriculum Guide.

Lower School Director

Honor Taft brings to GSB her remarkable dedication to children and her passion for early childhood and elementary education. She has twenty years of experience in independent schools and holds a master's degree in educational leadership from Columbia University Teachers College and a master's degree in education from the Bank Street College of Education. Prior to joining GSB, Taft served as assistant head of school for the Caedmon School in New York City, an independent school that comprises early childhood through grade five. Taft has served as a faculty member on the NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) Leadership Institute and as a mentor for the NYSAIS (New York State Association of Independent Schools) Emerging Leaders Institute. Taft's two children also attend GSB's Lower School.

Gill St. Bernard's School

Gill St. Bernard’s is a private, coeducational day school for students age three through grade 12, located in suburban New Jersey. Each of the three school divisions provides a vigorous, meaningful and age-appropriate curriculum, and all students benefit from the environmental learning opportunities that exist on our 208-acre campus.