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!
Absence Procedures
Attendance in school significantly impacts a student’s academic success, and families play a crucial role in making sure students make it to school on time each day. The Virginia Department of Education asks schools to report chronic absenteeism each year, which is included in their School Quality Profile. As in previous years, we ask that parents call the school before 10:00 am to report their child’s absence. Students who are absent must bring a note on the first day they return to school stating the reason(s) for their absence(s). Notes are held as legal records of student absences. Please assist us by following these policies throughout the school year so that we can continue to provide our students with a safe learning environment and ensure they receive the exceptional instruction our teachers provide.
All Night Graduation
Attention 12th-grade parents - Do you know what All Night Graduation is and how it can benefit your senior student? Please attend the next meeting on Tuesday, September 12th at 6:30 pm at Bella Sicilia Italian Restaurant.
A special thank you to all the seniors that came out to Senior Sunrise on Monday morning. We had over 100 seniors attend! Thank you to Goochland Restaurant and Dunkin Donuts, senior parent volunteers, and GHS staff members for providing food and fellowship to our class of ‘24.
Please follow ANG on Facebook HERE! If you have any questions or would like to join ANG, please email them at GoochlandANG@gmail.com.
Athletics and Activities
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 Mr. Joe Fowler (jfowler@glnd.k12.va.us) if you have any questions or need more information.
Boys Basketball Open Gym
Boys Basketball open gyms will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45 - 5:45 pm. Participants must have a completed VHSL physical form turned in to Coach Gordon or Coach Fowler. Everyone must also complete the concussion test before participating. An information meeting will be held in Coach Gordon's room (I-202) on Tuesday, August 29th during Bulldog Block. Players must see Coach Gordon for a pass before the meeting. Please contact Coach Gordon if you have any questions (prgordon@glnd.k12.va.us).
Calendar
Please reference the 2023-24 GHS Day 1/Day 2 Calendar to know which classes will meet on any given day.
Calling All Local Veterans
Mrs. Tate, one of our U.S. History teachers, is looking for veterans for the 2023-24 school year to be "adopted" by her ACA 11th-grade students. Local veterans willing to volunteer to be interviewed by 11th graders (and have an awesome time with our students all year!) are encouraged to join. Veterans can join via the Google Form on the GHS Veterans Project website or by emailing Mrs. Tate (rtate@glnd.k12.va.us).
Canvas
Canvas is the learning management system for Goochland County Public Schools. Teachers deliver instructional materials, assignments, etc. through Canvas, and it is recommended that parents create an account to view their child’s progress in Canvas. Parents should use the directions and resources found at https://www.goochlandschools.org/page/canvas to create an account and connect to their students’ Canvas accounts to view course assignments, school announcements, and our activities calendar. If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Richards, GHS Instructional Technology Coach, at crichards@glnd.k12.va.us.
Class Meetings
This week administrators will host class meetings during Bulldog Block (seniors during block 2). During these meetings, students will hear updates on disciplinary procedures, learn about some of our safety protocols, and hear more about the fantastic student services we provide at GHS. They will also have an opportunity to ask questions and have them answered directly by school administrators. We believe in transparency with disciplinary and safety procedures and look forward to another successful year inside and out of the classroom!
Code of Conduct
Please review the Goochland County Public Schools Code of Student Conduct regulations regarding our school division policies. Here is our GCPS conduct video for the 2023-24 school year. Please contact one of our Goochland High School administrators if you have questions.
College Colors Day
Friday, September 1st is College Colors Day. Students and staff are encouraged to wear their favorite college gear that day.
Early Dismissal Procedures
Students wishing to leave school early without their parents present must bring a WRITTEN excuse signed by their parents by 10:00 am the day of the early dismissal. In the case of an emergency, parents may call in and ask for administrative approval for an early dismissal over the phone. Please assist us by following these policies throughout the school year so that we can continue to provide our students with a safe learning environment and ensure they receive the exceptional instruction our teachers provide.
Free Feminine Care Products
Through a partnership with Sylvia's Sisters and the Virginia Department of Health, we are able to provide feminine care products for free to our students to take home when necessary. Please reach out to Nurse Duffey (kduffey@glnd.k12.va.us) if you are interested in your student receiving these products.
Girls Basketball Open Gym
Girls basketball open gyms will be held on Tuesday's and Thursday's starting August 22nd. Athletes need a completed VHSL physical to participate. Please see Coach Kempf (wkempf@glnd.k12.va.us) in room I207 for details.
G-Tech Classes
Students who attend classes in the GTech building will need to meet in the front bus loop once the bell rings for the block. Students with a block 1 class must be in the front bus loop no later than 9:05 am. We have a shuttle bus that will pick up and drop off students throughout the day. Students are not allowed to drive to GTech.
MacBook Air Insurance Payments
All students and parents should sign the AUP form on PowerSchool and can pay the $30 Macbook Air insurance fee using the Online School Payment System. This fee covers most laptop repairs and a one-time replacement of lost or damaged GCPS-issued technology. Without insurance coverage, all repairs and replacement costs are the responsibility of the student/parent.
MAPs Testing
Measures of Academic Performance (MAPs) testing will begin the second week of school in your student’s Math and English classes. Math MAPs will be given on Monday, August 21st, and Tuesday, August, 22nd depending on which day your student has Math class. English MAPs will be given in English classes on Wednesday, August 23rd, and Thursday, August 24th. This is a computer-adaptive test which means the next question changes based on whether the student answered the previous question correctly or not. While this test is not graded, teachers will use this data to help guide their student’s instruction throughout the year. Please help us reinforce the importance of giving their best effort on this assessment.
Outside Food Items
Federal regulations prohibit outside food vendors from selling or distributing food during school hours. Our food services staff has worked extremely hard to provide our students with different menu options. Please consult their daily menu here.
Parking Stickers
It's about that time again for students to apply for parking stickers. We have moved away from parking tags so students will have to display a parking sticker in their front windows. With that being said, students can now apply for their parking stickers by completing the parking pass application form. Parking stickers cost $75.00 and can be paid on the student OSP website. Please make sure that you present your driver's license when you submit your application to pick up your parking sticker. If you have any questions please reach out to Ms. Lauren Simmons (lsimmons@glnd.k12.va.us).
PSAT Registration
Goochland High School will host the PSAT on Thursday, October 12th at 8:30 am. This is the GCPS parent/teacher conference day. Students in grades 9th - 11th have the option to take the test free of charge. Transportation can be provided. Please use this link to register for the test and indicate if you require transportation. REGISTRATION IS DUE MONDAY, AUGUST 28th. The test should end around 12:30 pm. The PSAT will be online this year and students must bring their school-issued laptop. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Rainbolt (srainbolt@glnd.k12.va.us).
Senior Post-Secondary Planning Night
School Counseling will be hosting a virtual senior night for parents to learn about post-secondary planning for their child and how their School Counselor can help. This meeting will take place on google meet Thursday, August 31st at 6PM. You can access the meeting by going to https://meet.google.com/xvn-qcnr-bwh or you may call and listen 1-316-536-0921 PIN: 201 369 501#.
Student Drivers
Student drivers may drive to school for the first two weeks without a sticker. Within the first two weeks of school, we will distribute parking stickers to those who have completed the registration form and paid the parking fee in OSP. Additionally, student drivers are not permitted to return to their cars during the school day without administrative approval. Please reach out to Ms. Simmons (lsimmons@glnd.k12.va.us) or another administrator if you have any questions.
Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up
The high school student drop-off and pick-up area is located in the back stadium parking lot. Take advantage of the short line in the back instead of joining the middle school drop-off line in the front parking lot.
Student Growth Assessments
During the week of August 28th, students will take student growth assessments (SGAs) in Science and History classes. These are non-graded assessments used by teachers to see what students know already and which areas they need to cover. Assessments are created locally by each department. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Rainbolt (srainbolt@glnd.k12.va.us).
Student Schedules and Add/Drop Process
Once a student submits an add/drop form, school counselors will schedule a meeting with the student within the first two weeks of school to discuss the request. The last day to request a schedule change is Friday, August 25th.
Supervision After School
Students are asked to leave campus before evening activities because we cannot provide supervision after school. Any student who wants to stay after school must be accompanied by an adult. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation.
Virtual Family Assistance Center
Are you looking for assistance with food or clothing for your family? Do you need extra assistance around the holidays? Goochland Schools is working with various organizations to provide our families in need with school supplies, food, holiday assistance, and clothing. If your family needs extra assistance, please complete this form and we will do our best to assist or connect your family with an organization that can assist you!
Yearbook Update
The 2022-2023 Yearbook is officially here! Yearbooks were distributed to students through their day 1/block 1 classes this week. If you have a current GHS student who was supposed to receive a 2022-2023 yearbook but didn’t, please email Mrs. Mistler (kmistler@glnd.k12.va.us). If you have a graduate who purchased a 2022-2023 yearbook, please refer to the email that was sent out by Mrs. Mistler on pick-up procedures.
Please consider purchasing your 2023-2024 yearbook for $60 HERE! This fantastic deal expires on Monday, January 1st. After this date, prices will increase to $70. Make sure to order your yearbook through the Balfour website or scan any QR code on the yearbook signs in the school. Please contact Mrs. Mistler (kmistler@glnd.k12.va.us) if you have any questions. We will have a spring release this year, so yearbooks will be in your hands before we leave for the summer!
YMCA Teen Night
The Goochland YMCA will hold a “Teen Night” on Tuesday, September 5th. If your student is interested, please make plans to attend or contact Ms. Natalie Williams (goteen@ymcarichmond.org).