Check out this week's updates, information, and upcoming events at Goochland High School. The Bulldog Bulletin is your weekly look into the great things happening at GHS. Go Bulldogs!
All Night Graduation
The All-Night Graduation Committee (ANG) would like you to mark your calendars for the final Senior Events:
Saturday, May 20th - Senior Cap and Gown Walk in the Goochland Day Parade (Meet at GHS at 8:00 am)
Sunday, May 21st - Baccalaureate Service at GHS at 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 31st - Senior Walk through the Elementary schools-meet at RES at 9:00 am, GES at 10:00 am, and Byrd at 11:00 am
Friday, June 2nd - GHS Senior Sunset ANG celebration from 6:00 - 10:00 pm at the stadium
Please look for additional details closer to the events. To help stay connected for future events through ANG, please use their Google page or follow their Facebook page.
Athletics and Activities
GHS spring sports season is right around the corner. Please visit www.GoochlandBulldogs.com for up-to-date schedule information. Many of these events can be streamed live at www.NFHSNetwork.com. Feel free to contact Joe Fowler (jfowler@glnd.k12.va.us) if you have any questions or need more information.
Congratulations to the GHS Junkyard Dogs Robotics Team! They competed in the Finals at the First Chesapeake District Championship at George Mason University over Spring Break! Their Alliance took 2nd place, and they finished the season ranked 15th (out of 139 teams) in the First Chesapeake District. Wish them well as they prepare for the First World Championship in Houston, TX from April 19th - 22nd. You can watch it live (https://www.twitch.tv/firstinspires) or attend in person! Let's go Junkyard Dogs!
Boys Basketball Open Gym
Boys basketball will have open gym on Thursdays from 3:45 - 5:15 pm starting on April 13th. Contact Coach Gordon for any questions.
Career Speaker
Goochland County Fire Chief Eddie Ferguson will be providing an informational session about his career on Monday, April 17th during Bulldog Block in the auditorium. If your student is interested, please fill out this form.
Students who sign up will receive a SmartPass on the day of the event. Please check in with your Bulldog block teacher first. If you have any specific questions, please contact Ms. Christin East (ceast@glnd.k12.va.us).
Class of 2023 Message
Did you attend Byrd Elementary School in 5th grade? If so, please join Mr. Tomlin at BES on Monday, May 22nd at 6:30 pm in the BES library. You will have the opportunity to open your time capsules from 5th grade! Parents are also welcome to attend.
Dress Code Reminders
As we head into the warmer months, we would like to remind our students and their parents of our GCPS Dress Code. Parents, we ask that you speak with your child about this policy, as we will ramp up enforcement of the policy this spring. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns, and thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Dual Enrollment Courses
GCPS is dedicated to making dual enrollment courses accessible to any student who can benefit from them. Therefore, financial assistance is available to any family who financially qualifies and whose child has academically qualified for a Reynolds dual enrollment class next year. Please find the application for Dual Enrollment Assistance linked here. Directions for completing and returning the form are included. All forms should be submitted no later than Friday, April 28th. Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Beth Fowler, GCPS Coordinator of Advanced Programs and Equity, with any questions (bfowler@glnd.k12.va.us).
Ending the Silence Program for 9th-Grade Students
The School Counselors along with the National Alliance on Mental Illness Central Virginia will be introducing a program in our 9th-grade Health & PE classes called “Ending the Silence”.
There will be a 50-minute presentation designed to educate our students on mental health, mental illness, signs of suicide, and resources available to them. Each presentation is led by two trained presenters, one being a young adult who tells the story of their mental health recovery journey. Our counselors will then break each class into small groups to process the presentation and reemphasize how to get help for themselves or a friend in need. We will have extra counselors and our Mental Health Counselor will also be available for individual conversations with students during this week. These presentations will be from April 11th - April 14th in your child’s Health & PE class.
If you would like to opt your child out of the presentation, please contact your child’s school counselor by Monday, April 10th. Also, if you would like more information about the program or view program resources, please contact Renee Ferrell (rferrell@glnd.k12.va.us), the Director of School Counseling.
English 11 Practice Assessment
Students in English 11 will be taking the Integrated Reading and Writing Field Test on Wednesday, April 12th during 1st and 2nd blocks. This is a one-time test required by the Virginia Department of Education this year for all students in English 11 as a way to gather information for future assessments. Students will not be given a score. Please refer to the email from Dr. Stacey Rainbolt (srainbolt@glnd.k12.va.us) on Friday, March 17th for more detailed information.
EPF W!se Assessment Optional Tutoring
Students enrolled in Economics and Personal Finance are invited to take advantage of tutoring every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:35 to 5:05 pm in room E161 until Thursday, April 27th. This dedicated block of time will help provide additional support for the W!SE assessment, which will be administered during the last week of this month and the first of May. During after-school tutoring sessions, snacks will be provided but transportation is not. If you have any questions please email Mrs. EYP at eyearoutpatton@glnd.k12.va.us
GCPS Wellness Night
GCPS is hosting a Wellness Fun Run for our Goochland Community on Wednesday, May 10th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at the stadium. The purpose of the event is to promote health and wellness among students, families, and staff. We'll have food trucks, games, bouncy houses, and door prizes. We'll also have various community organizations there to help connect families with resources. Participants will also be able to participate in a "fun run" with colored chalk. Come out and see your administrators participate in games and possibly win a raffle for a meal at a local restaurant. This event will be fun for all ages. Please contact Ashley Lawson (alawson@glnd.k12.va.us) with any questions.
PTSA Needs Your Help
Please help the GHS PTSA recognize the hard work and dedication of our GHS teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 1st - 5th. They are helping with three events to celebrate our teachers and need volunteers. They have listed specific items necessary for the events on their Signup Genius and included slots for your ideas. Please contact Beverly St. John (Beverly.stjohn@gmail.com) or Kecia Carroll (kcarroll305@gmail.com) if you have any questions or want to help.
We thank you in advance for your support!
Senior Projects
Seniors, you have less than three months to graduation. If you have not started your Senior Project, now is the time to get it done. Do not put this off until the last minute. Remember that you must complete a Senior Project to participate in graduation. If you need help, please contact Ms. Bolt (abolt@glnd.k12.va.us) or your government teacher as soon as possible.
Sense of Belonging Survey
Linked here, please find a preview copy of the 6-12th grade GCPS Sense of Belonging and Inclusion Survey that will be administered at GHS during Block 2 on Tuesday, April 18th. The purpose of the survey is to provide input on how GCPS is doing towards meeting our annual School Board Equity Goals established per policy JFHB/GBAA so that we can create an even better experience for all of our students. Any parent wishing to opt their child out of taking this survey may do so by emailing our Survey Coordinator, Catherine Richards, at crichards@glnd.k12.va.us.
Summer Credit Accrual Parent Meeting
Do you want to learn more about our credit accrual summer program?
Please join us virtually on Monday, April 17th from 6:00 - 6:30 pm as we discuss course offerings for credit accrual delivered online via Apex: Health/PE 9, Health/PE 10, Economics and Personal Finance, English 12, and Government. Please note that all courses will be capped at 15 students. GCPS students will have first-priority enrollment through Thursday, June 1st.
***Join the discussion at meet.google.com/igj-zqqb-bdm OR call in at 1-857-529-7795 PIN: 160 235 629#
Summer Credit Recovery Information
Be on the lookout in the coming weeks for information about summer courses offered for credit recovery. Courses will be offered based on student need and availability. Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you are concerned about your child passing a specific course for the year.
Virtual Virginia Summer School
Goochland County Public Schools will be utilizing Virtual Virginia this summer to provide acceleration course options for middle and high school students that are not being offered through GCPS.
Summer Session: June 20th - July 28th
Registration: Now - June 21st
Tuition: $375 per person, per course
Virtual Virginia summer school is for acceleration only, not recovery of failed classes. Students should be motivated and task-driven. Students should plan to spend approximately 4-5 hours per day on a course. Students may take a maximum of 2 courses (8-10 hours per day for two courses).
To sign up, please fill out the Goochland Virtual Virginia Sign Up form, and for more information, please contact Renee Ferrell, GHS School Counseling Director, rferrell@glnd.k12.va.us, 804-556-5322 ext 4704 for more information.