The School Day SAT will be on Wednesday March 23. It is required that all Juniors take the SAT. It is free and scores can be used to send to colleges. For the first time, the SAT will be electronic and all students should bring their charged chrome book to the exam. Students must arrive by 7:40 am and report to the lobby of the gym.

Juniors may leave school at the end of testing with parent permission.

Please email Mrs. Kirsch at kirschd@gilbertschool.org indicating your permission for your student to leave school at the end of testing at approximately 11:45am.

On February 10, TGS kicked off the first monthly Wingman Day. Wingman Student Leaders led the student body in trust-building group activities designed to foster and inspire real connections between peers, in an effort to create a welcoming and inclusive school community.

Last October, Gilbert School Administration introduced the Wingman program to our student body through presentations by Ian Hockley, Executive Director of Dylan’s Wings of Change. Among the many objectives of the program is the primary goal of improving school climate and culture. Click on the button below the photos to learn more about the program.

8th GRADE AWARDS

• Academic Achievement - Sophia Sessa
• Band - Ethan Cavajani
• Business - Dominic Sogliuzzi
• Chorus - Adrayni Sarmiento
• Electronic Media - Stella Boucino
• English - Nathan Della Valle
• General Music - Keegan Connelly
• Language Arts - Nicky Jiang
• Latin I - Tobin Gangi
• Math - Elizabeth Salmon
• Science - Kate Hudak
• Social Studies - Alan Gutic
• Spanish I Award - Katie Marino
• Technology Education - Madalyn Donovan
• Wellness - Daisy Leach

Join the Torrington and the Winchester Youth Service Bureaus' virtual Minecraft Club to have fun while creating new worlds, being creative and interacting with peers on our own private creative server! Start date is March 8th! Click HERE to sign up.

By Buckley Morgan, Gilbert Director of Athletics

“If you persevere long enough, if you do the right things long enough, the right things will happen.”

-Manon Rheaume

With March finally here, winter sports are winding down for the season. The only thing left going as of this date is Girls Basketball and Cheer. After taking second in the Berkshire League playoffs, I look forward to seeing Girls Basketball progress through the State playoffs. Boys Basketball made it into the first round of the BL playoffs before they suffered a season ending loss. They fought a hard fight all season with barely enough players to make a varsity team. However, they're looking very good for next year.

For Boys Basketball, congratulations go out Adam Biraga who was selected to "Second Team" Berkshire League All Star. The Girls Basketball team had two players selected to All Star status - Emily Arel was selected for 1st Team, and Ajla Gutic was selected for 2nd Team. Way to go Yellowjacket hoopsters!

Spring sports will be starting on March 19th with some aspects starting before that. Spring sports registration is open now at the Family ID website. Registration will close on April 19. Parents of student-athletes who plan to play in Spring sports, mark your calendar for an orientation on March 8th at 5:00 pm here in the Gilbert Library. If you attended the Fall or Winter orientation then you do not need to attend the Spring orientation. You do need to meet up with your coaches and attend their team-specific meeting.

Spring sports include, High School Boys & Girls Tennis, Baseball, Softball, and Outdoor Track & Field. The Middle School has Baseball and Softball. 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 & Field: Coach Tom Scarangelo scarangelot@gilbertschool.org
• Tennis B&G: Coach Buckley Morgan morganb@gilbertschool.org

For grades 8-11 there will be an Elective Fair on March 11 at the end of the day. There will be an adapted schedule and seniors will be dismissed early for the day (at 1:32). The four grades participating will be listening to presentations from each department on elective courses that they are able to take in high school. Seventh grade will have an alternate activity with their teachers. The adapted schedule and more information will be sent shortly and posted online.

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test will be given to all interested high school students on Friday April 1st in the Gilbert library. There is no military obligation if students elect to take this test. It is an aptitude test that will provide students with information about possible careers that best utilize their acquired aptitudes and skills. 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. Results will be reviewed on April 29th.

An essay of 1,000 words or less could win you $500 to $1,500. Not bad for an hour or so of your time! Each year during Worker Memorial Day ceremonies on April 28th, workers, legislators, members of organized labor unions, worker advocates and others gather together to honor the memory of those workers who have lost their lives because of workplace injuries or illnesses. The ceremonies highlight the sacrifices made by these workers and of the families left behind and inspire us all to work harder on behalf of the welfare of all workers.

This year the Connecticut AFL-CIO Health and Safety Committee, as part of its efforts to “mourn the dead but fight like hell for the living”, is offering a scholarship essay contest to inspire high school seniors to think about the importance of workplace health and safety, of the consequences that arise when workers are forced to toil in unsafe working conditions and of the role that organized labor has played in protecting workers both in the past and present.

In this year’s scholarship essay contest, Connecticut high school seniors are asked to respond in 1,000 words or less to ONE of the three questions below with serious thought, some research, and, most importantly, awareness of the true cost of workplace hazards on the lives of workers.

All entries will be judged anonymously. 1st Prize is $1,500 2nd Prize is $1,000 3rd Prize is $500. This essay contest is open to all Connecticut high school seniors.

Please email the completed essay and application to pamela@ctcosh.org or send it to ConnectiCOSH 683 North Mountain Road Newington, CT 06111 ATTN: Pamela Puchalski The essay and application must be received by April 1, 2022. The link to their website and the application itself is posted on Naviance.

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!

Southern Connecticut College & Gap Year Fair 4/3

It's never too early to start exploring college options! Spring Recess is the perfect time to plan a college visit/tour. If you already have plans for the break, consider attending a college fair the week before. Fortunately, you won't have to go far to attend one of the largest in-person fairs in the area: the Southern Connecticut College & Gap Year Fair. The event will be held Tuesday, April 12 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the new outdoor Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, CT. Click here for more information.

NACAC College Fairs (multiple dates)

Hundreds of colleges and universities from the US and worldwide will be ready and waiting to talk with you at the upcoming spring NACAC Virtual College Fairs listed below. Click on the image/flyer for more information.

Spring sports are just around the corner. Just a friendly reminder that students must have an up to date physical on file in the nurse’s office in order to participate. Any questions, please contact the nurse’s office.

Project Covid Detect is a weekly testing program that is offered through the State of Connecticut. Weekly testing will be continuing on Mondays for those students who are currently registered.

In collaboration with the Connecticut State Departments of Public Health and Education, The Gilbert School is participating in this unique no-cost, voluntary COVID screening program entitled Project COVID DeteCT for students in Grades 7-12.

This program is funded through a federal grant to provide weekly screening and does not cost the district or family any money, nor will the family’s health insurance be charged for the screening services. Regular screening testing is a safe, effective way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help keep our schools open for in-person learning.

Many people with COVID-19, especially children, don’t have symptoms but can still spread the virus, so regular screening helps find infections before they can spread to others. Programs like this will help keep schools open and allow students to take part in the other activities they love.

How does it work?

The Gilbert School is partnered with Quest Diagnostic Labs or Progressive Labs, LLC, which will be visiting the school on a predefined day and time each week. Students whose parents have signed the consent agreement for their child to be screened/tested each week will be brought to the screening testing room where technicians from the testing lab will assist the students with self-swabbing (or complete swabbing for those students who are unable to self-swab). The Q-tip swab is inserted into the lower nasal passage and twirled around in the student’s nostrils. This is not the “brain tickler” test that many people experienced during the early days of the pandemic. This process will take a short amount of time out of the learning day each week.

Each swab is then taken by the lab technician to the lab and tested using the highest standard PCR molecular COVID test. Individual results will be provided to the parent’s school and DPH within 24-48 hours. The benefits of this program will allow us to:

• Keep students and staff safe: catch cases before they spread to other students & staff
• Keep our schools open: prevent further time away from in-person learning & friends by knowing whether it’s COVID, a cold, or the flu
• Stop the spread: prevent infecting another member of your household or community

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the school nurse, Kelli Gilbert at 860-379-8521 X 1431 or gilbertk@gilbertschool.org.

The Sophomore class held a carnation sale for Valentine's Day, delivering nearly 120 cards and flowers throughout the school. Class officers appreciated the support, and were happy to spark enthusiasm and spread good cheer.

The Junior Class will be selling flowers during the month of March. Please see a member of the Class of 2023 for more details.

Senior Trip, Outing, Prom and other activities are fast approaching. This is a reminder that class dues must be paid in full to take part in these events. Also, be sure to check your email for the information regarding the Munson's Chocolate fundraiser to benefit the Class of 2022 that is currently underway. Please contact Mrs. Nardine or Mr. Penn with any questions.

Interested in writing, acting, or editing? Interested in writing, acting, or editing? If so, then our new Audio Drama Production club is right for you. You and your fellow peers will take part in the creation of one or multiple podcasts, be it fiction or non-fiction. The club is open to anyone and everyone, regardless of skill. If you're interested or have any questions, please email Mr. Tarabara or stop by room 213.

No School

3/4 - Schools Closed for PD

Early Dismissal

3/16-18 (12:16 pm)

Activity Day

3/10

Wingman Day

3/22