The Buzz
School Community News
Issue #14
For the third week of the school year, students in Cohort A will report for in-person classes on Monday, Sept. 21 and Tuesday, Sept. 22. Cohorts A and B will work remotely on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Cohort C will be online with their teachers on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Students in Cohort B will report for in-person classes on Thursday, Sept. 24, and Friday, Sept. 25.


All students, teachers, and staff must wear a mask when present in the school building!

The Gilbert School requires all students and staff to wear masks. These may be paper, disposable masks or cloth masks. We do not allow masks with external vents, gaitors, or bandanas. If you need assistance with masks, please do not hesitate to contact the school nurses-we are here to help! For more information on mask guidelines click here.

Attention parents: help us screen for Covid symptoms take your child’s temperature! 

The Gilbert School wants you to help us with screening students for Coronavirus symptoms. Please screen your children before you send them to school! If they display ANY symptoms, please keep them home!

Remote and hybrid learning will be part of this semester. We anticipate there may be some technological glitches. However, we will work on any solutions to any disruption to remote learning. We ask that you please be patient with us as we go through this unusual opening of school!

The Gilbert School fully intends to deliver the best education to our students in this school year!
Despite obstacles, International Program broadens horizons
This semester, amongst the challenges of an ever-changing global classroom, Gilbert’s International Program will have students from several new countries joining their campus. The program was first founded in 2012 by The William L. Gilbert Trust Corporation has evolved to a well-known boarding school with Agency contacts around the world. Click here for the full story.
Teacher of the Week: Charles Harbach
Teaches: Middle School Social Studies, Assistant Athletic Director.

Started teaching in 2004 and at Gilbert in 2011.

Education: Certification, Management, Lebanon Valley 1985, Bachelor of Science, Social Studies, Central CT State University 2003.

Awards: The Pellerin Classroom Teacher Award from the Connecticut Association of School Librarians in 2013, Gilbert School’s Teacher of the Year 2020. 
What I like about teaching: “Being with the students. I love helping them out and I love the interactions with them. It’s exhilarating. I always try to work not only on the student’s skills to be successful in school, but also their skills to be successful in life.”

What I like about Gilbert: “It’s a great place to teach. We have a very supportive administration and a great faculty. It’s a great place to work and everyone is supportive of each other. We all are willing to lend a helping hand with every type of situation. Gilbert is a great place to teach and I’m lucky to be here.”
Student of the Week: Evan Blass
Age: 17

Grade: 12

Parents: Jennifer and Robert Blass

Favorite classes: “Definitely the history ones. I took AP US last year and I'm AP Gov this year. I love my history courses. Also, video broadcasting class with Mr. Hodges. He’s an amazing teacher!”

Extracurricular activities: Peer leader, student ambassador, and Yellowjackets Varsity Baseball team.

What I have learned during my time at Gilbert: “Outside of academics I have learned how to be a good person. All the teachers I have as role models they just portray this positive atmosphere. I feed off of that and I have learned to be a positive person.

Future plans: “I plan on attending college in Connecticut and am interested in politics, history, and technology. I would love to pursue a career in which I can include these interests in my day to day life. I would also love to be able to have the opportunity to help people in my career and have a positive impact on people's lives.”
Yearbooks now for sale!
2020-2021 High School Yearbooks are officially for sale! 

Special early-bird discount price of $55 available until September 30th-- get yours today at this special rate before prices go up in October!!

Visit https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectYearbookOptions and enter code 12380021 for the high school yearbook. 

This is sure to be a year to remember, so secure your part of the legacy today!

Please contact Mrs. Wood with any questions. 
Google Classroom Cheat Sheet
CIAC Calls off football season
After months of trying to have at least some type of football program, the CIAC has finally exhausted all options for a football season this fall. High school football has been in a state of apprehension since early this summer. Everyone has always been aware that football could possibly be canceled but as time moved on, with regionalization and a shortened season, it seemed that they might actually get to play. Click here for full story.
Important sports update
Important Update for Parents, Fans, and Community Members Of The Gilbert School

While we are all looking forward to the beginning of the Gilbert athletic season, we must keep a cautious eye on the Covid-19 situation and take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of the virus.

With that in mind, attendance at all games, meets, and events will be by personal invitation only. Specifically, only parents or legal guardians of student-athletes will be allowed to attend the contests.

Your student-athlete will be given two tickets prior to each game. These tickets are only for parents and cannot be shared with students or siblings. The tickets will be specific to each contest.

Everyone in attendance must properly wear a mask and keep a proper distance from others (spouses not included). Those who do not follow these requests will be asked to leave. We ask that you understand these decisions are made in the interest of keeping our students and our community healthy and we appreciate your support of The Gilbert School Athletic Department.

Free breakfast and free lunch to all students
Beginning September 14, 2020, The Gilbert School Food and Nutrition Services Program began serving FREE LUNCH and FREE BREAKFAST to all of the students at The Gilbert School. The Gilbert School Food and Nutrition Services Program is able to do this for our students on behalf of the USDA extending the SSO Program (Seamless Summer Operations). Click here for the full story.
Gilbert School Food Services Information
The following links include important information about Gilbert's Food Services Program:



Breakfast and lunch available for virtual learners
Lunches are available for pick up for students who are taking part in remote learning Monday through Friday at the school. Students can also pick up grab and go breakfasts at the school as well. For more information contact Food Service Director Lynn Metcalf at metcalfl@gilbertschool.org
TGS COVID Assessment guide
Main elevator repair update
Progress has been made on repairing the school's main elevator. A critical part has arrived and we will install it this weekend. However, it has to be tied into the system and inspected before it can be operated.
Roof repair project update
A roof repair project for the school building is ongoing. The roofing project will begin this Friday work will continue through the weekend. The project will hopefully be completed by next week.
Important informational videos for parents
Travel advisory
Attention all parents and students and families taking trips outside of Connecticut this summer:

The Gilbert School wants to remind you that if you travel to one of 30 locations on Connecticut's travel advisory list, when you come back to Connecticut you must self-quarantine for 14 days. You have to self-quarantine before the start of school.

Attention Gilbert Alumni! We want to stay in contact with you!

The Gilbert School
200 WIlliams Avenue
Winsted, CT 06098
860-379-8521