History
Gill St. Bernard's is the result of the merger of two Somerset Hills institutions — St. Bernard's School for boys in Gladstone and The Gill School for Girls.
St. Bernard's School was founded in 1900 by the Rev. Thomas A. Conover. In the early days, academic classes alternated with work in the carpentry shop, the print shop or on the farm. Daily attendance at religious services was required.
Rev. Robert L. Clayton, Jr., Headmaster in the 1940s, brought a broader vision of operation to the school. The emphasis now was on scholarship, along with physical well-being, discipline and personal industry while a college preparatory program started to gain momentum.
The Gill School was established by Miss Elizabeth Gill in 1934 as the Wychwood School. Her educational philosophy was based on the value of the individual and she sought, through small classes and direct teacher-student relationships, to establish a "rich school experience" for the pupils. The physical development of the individual was not neglected — at least two hours each day was spent out-of-doors. In 1940 Miss Gill's School moved to Stronghold, the former Dryden estate on Bernardsville mountain. In 1956, boarding was discontinued.
By the 1960s and 1970s, coeducation was becoming more fashionable, and in 1972 St. Bernard's School combined with Miss Gill's School to become Gill St. Bernard's. At this time the religious affiliation of St. Bernard's was dropped. The new school had younger grades on the old Gill campus in Bernardsville and upper grades at St. Bernard's in Gladstone.
The two divisions consolidated in 1996 in Gladstone. Today, there are three divisions - a Lower, a Middle and an Upper School- located on 72 acres (290,000 m2) which span the Somerset-Morris County line between the Boro of Peapack-Gladstone and Chester Township. The school today consists of seventeen buildings which include separate buildings for the Upper, Middle and Lower schools, two athletic centers, a 33,000 sq ft (3,100 m2). Academic Center and library, an art center and three administrative buildings. There is also a field lodge, five playing fields, a track, tennis courts and an outdoor swimming pool.
Mr. Rowell became Headmaster in 2001.
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