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At St Bernard’s we strongly believe in providing the children with exciting, creative, and meaningful learning experiences, which build their enthusiasm for learning and challenge them to achieve. Striving for excellence in teaching and an enjoyment of learning is at the heart of everything that we do. We nurture and develop resilient, resourceful, confident learners who gain a sense of who they are, and how they can thrive in the wider world. With Christ as our light we constantly strive to be the “best that we can be”, embracing and celebrating the uniqueness of each individual. St Bernard’s is a joyful, aspirational community rooted in faith. At St Bernard’s we strongly believe in providing the children with exciting, creative, and meaningful learning experiences, which build their enthusiasm for learning and challenge them to achieve. We want to enable children to become resilient, resourceful, confident learners and gain a sense of who they are, and how they can thrive in the wider world. With Christ as our light we constantly strive to be the “best that we can be”. The school has a Nursery and Reception intake in September each year. We use your child’s age on 1st September to work out their curriculum year group. Nursery is for Children aged 3 on this date. Reception is for Children aged 4 on this date. There will be further forms/online registration to complete, to ensure the school has all of the necessary information about your child. We will also ask about personal circumstances as the school relies on top-up funding from the government to maintain free places. At St. Bernard’s R.C Primary School we aim to create and maintain a safe learning environment where all children and adults feel safe, secure, and valued and to know they will be listened to and taken seriously. We have developed a safeguarding policy that ensures that all adults in St. Bernard’s R.C Primary School are working together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This is integral to all activities and functions at the school. Our approach to working with parents and carers is one of transparency and honesty and our responsibility is to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in our care. We aim to do this in partnership with our parents/carers. In most cases, parents and carers will be informed when concerns are raised about the safety and welfare of their child. Our rich curriculum embraces our Catholicity at its heart and complies with the Religious Education Directory requirements. Children currently follow the ‘Come and see” scheme alongside the ‘Caritas in Action’ program which looks at the social teachings of the church. Each term begins with a focused day to introduce the key messages to be explored. Our job in school is to ensure all the children within our care achieve their very best and to do this we offer a broad and balanced curriculum, delivered through high-quality teaching and learning. We deliver high-quality teaching to all of our pupils but for some, or all, of your child’s time here they may require additional help and support. This booklet will guide you through the types of support we can offer your child and who within the school will help you in this process. Nursery and Reception follow the EYFS Programme of Study. The work the children undertake is based very much upon self-initiated learning which encourages independence and discovery. Early years learning concentrates on 7 areas split between prime and specific areas of learning. With Jesus as our guiding light and central to all we do, we offer a rich, exciting and creative education that allows each child to grow information. Respect, communication, and confidence are at the heart of our curriculum. The Governing Body has 12 members varying from support staff, parents, and members of the local community. We work as a team with the Head Teacher for the benefit of all the pupils and staff. We are all volunteers and have a diverse background, from education to business owners' accountancy and police. We’re here to give the school a strategic direction and to act as ‘a critical friend’ – helping to guide the school to improving the standard of education for all our children. We don’t get involved in the day-to-day operation of the school, but set the criteria by which the school is managed. We ensure that local and national government legislation and targets adhere to that we spend our school budget wisely, that the safety of everyone is paramount, and that the curriculum is delivered for the benefit of all the children. Governors both support and challenge the Headteacher and senior staff to ensure that the school performs as well as it should and that all pupils have the very best opportunity to learn & grow. Working very closely with the Head Teacher, the Governing Body is ultimately responsible for the curriculum delivery, the school’s finances, personnel matters and also maintaining the school premises. The Head Teacher, with her staff, is responsible for the planning, teaching, and monitoring of the National Curriculum and the day-to-day running of the school. The Governors, Head Teacher, and staff work in partnership to promote the aims of the school. View full school

Gill St. Bernard's results from the merger of two Somerset Hills schools — St. Bernard's School for boys in Gladstone and The Gill School for girls in Bernardsville. Our Mission is to provide a balanced, diverse, and secure community that prepares students academically, socially, and ethically for college and meaningful life. We affirm that a diverse community of students, faculty, administration, staff, trustees, and alumni is essential to who we are as a school. We respect and value diversity, which includes but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, family structure, age, physical ability, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background, as the basis for fostering a strong sense of self, community, and global understanding. Gill St. Bernard's does not discriminate in the admission process, its scholarship programs, or in the administration of its other programs or policies based on characteristics or conditions, such as race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability not related to the requirements for being a successful student at GSB. In reaching admission or other decisions, GSB may consider conditions that it reasonably believes would adversely affect a student's or prospective student's ability to succeed at the school, taking into account any reasonable accommodations that would not materially alter the fundamental nature of GSB's programs or services or place an undue burden on the school. Each day we challenge our students to push themselves in new directions to stretch their minds, hone their strengths, and develop new skills. They are encouraged to embrace personal responsibility and demonstrate honor, integrity, and leadership. We expect no less of ourselves as a school and community. Ours is a learning organization committed to continuous improvement and growth. Our dedication to strategic planning allows us to focus on our vision of becoming the very best school possible. Even with this exciting growth, Gill St. Bernard's remains committed to preserving a small school's distinct features. By design, our student body and class sizes are optimal. Everyone has something to contribute to concern, care, and support for one another are self-evident. Academically, Gill is known for its vigorous and rich curriculum and the personalized attention that we devote to each student. A premium is placed on a commitment to balance in promoting the health and well-being of our students. Students are encouraged to explore their interests, and we support them as they juggle multiple activities rather than require them to specialize prematurely. While competition does have a place at our school, it is not between students, and it does not set the tone for daily school life. Our co-curricular programs are extensive, and the typical GSB student is engaged in many of them. These activities provide students with valuable opportunities for leadership and success. Athletics, the arts, student clubs, and community service help create a well-rounded GSB experience. Many of these programs have received state and national recognition, as is also the case for a number of our faculty members and students. At Gill St. Bernard's, character counts. We actively promote the development of personal integrity and teach the importance of connecting consequences to actions. Students were involved in establishing the school's honor system and a group of seniors sits on the Honor Board. Our students advocate for countless initiatives with passion, and the unique atmosphere of the GSB community is guided by respect. Gill St. Bernard's School believes that a school community should reflect various ethnic, racial, economic, religious, and social circumstances, all of which are fundamental to a 21st-century education. Among its core values, Gill St. Bernard's affirms that a diverse learning community of students, faculty, administration, trustees, alumni, and staff is essential to who we are as a school. Beginning with the early childhood program and culminating in the Upper School, GSB students respect and value individual differences, seeing them as the basis for fostering a strong sense of self, community, and global understanding. View full school