Also, a huge shoutout to Ms. Lauren Lorello (llorello@glnd.k12.va.us) for an amazing job organizing our prom this year at Hermitage Country Club. Her leadership is greatly appreciated!

THIS WEEK at GHS

End-of-Year Events

• Monday, May 6th - Teacher Appreciation Week!

  • AP Testing = Government in the morning

• Tuesday, May 7th - Teacher Appreciation Week!

  • AP Testing = Human Geo in the morning / Statistics in the afternoon

  • Fine Arts College Commitment Day at 1:45 pm in the auditorium (Contact Mr. Fowler for details - jfowler@glnd.k12.va.us) 

• Wednesday, May 8th - Teacher Appreciation Week!

  • AP Testing = English Lit & Comp in the morning / Computer Science A in the afternoon

  • Student-Athlete Commitment Day at 1:45 pm in the cafeteria (Contact Mr. Fowler for details - jfowler@glnd.k12.va.us)

  • GCPS Wellness Night - Color Run at the stadium from 5:00 - 7:00 pm

  • Spring Choir Concert in the auditorium at 7:00 pm

• Thursday, May 9th - Teacher Appreciation Week!

  • AP Testing = Environmental Science in the morning / Psychology in the afternoon

• Friday, May 10th - Teacher Appreciation Week!

  • AP Testing = US History in the morning

  • CTE Signing Day for seniors at 9:30 am in the auditorium

• Saturday, May 11th - FFA Plant Sale will start at 9:00 am at the GHS Greenhouse

Nurse’s Appreciation Week - Please join me in celebrating Nurses Appreciation Week by thanking Nurse Griffith (lgriffith@glnd.k12.va.us) for all that she does to support our students, staff, and community. She has simply been fantastic this year and has done a fabulous job of keeping us all safe and well. We are lucky to have her on our team, and we are grateful to benefit from her expertise and care!

PTSA Update - GHS PTSA is working with our Admin team to recognize the hard work and dedication of our GHS teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6th - 10th. Each day of the week has a theme. As such, they have put together a Signup Genius for the items needed for each day, as well as volunteer slots to help set up and take down lunches; and assemble snack baskets for each teacher pod and Gtech. No time to shop? They’ll do it for you! Monetary contributions can be made here. If you have any questions or want to help, please contact Peggy Finck, Charlene Bryce, or Keisha Carroll. They can all be reached at goochlandhsptsa@gmail.com. We all thank you in advance for your support.

SCA and Class Applications - Students, are you interested in being a leader next year and representing your class and school? If so, please consider applying for Student Council Advisory. Positions include President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer for each grade and the entire student body (rising 11th & 12th graders). Responsibilities include attending monthly meetings and helping plan fun events for the student body, such as Homecoming, and Spirit Weeks. Applications will be available May 6th - 10th and are due by Monday, May 13th to be eligible to run. Students who have submitted their application will be notified of their eligibility to run by Friday, May 17th, and can campaign from May 20th - 24th. All students will vote during Bulldog Block on Tuesday, May 28th.  The winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 29th. Please contact Mrs. Tate (rtate@glnd.k12.va.us) or stop in room E163 with any questions.

GCPS Wellness Night - GCPS is hosting a Wellness Fun Run for our Goochland Community on Wednesday, May 8th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at the GHS 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 join the GCPS mental health team, participate in games, and enjoy a free night of family fun! This event will be fun for all ages. Please contact Ashley Lawson (alawson@glnd.k12.va.us) or Kristin Dunnigan (kdunnigan@glnd.k12.va.us) with any questions.

Biology SOL Retake Students - Attention 10th and 11th-grade Biology SOL students: You have been added to a Canvas course by Ms. Borgie to help review for your upcoming Biology SOL. Please check Canvas for updates on tutoring dates and important SOL review information. Please contact Ms. Borgie (aborgie@glnd.k12.va.us) if you have any questions about our Biology SOL retakes. 

FFA Plant Sale - The Goochland FFA will be holding its annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, May 11th starting at 9:00 am. They will only accept cash or checks. Please contact Mr. Allen (dallen@glnd.k12.va.us) if you have any questions.

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. 

THIS MONTH at GHS 

Asynchronous School Days - GHS will function on an asynchronous schedule on Monday, May 13th, and Monday, May 20th. Only students who are required to take the Reading and Science SOL or Calculus AP test will report on Monday, May 13th. Only students who are required to take the Math SOL will report on Monday, May 20th. If you have specific testing questions, please contact Dr. Rainbolt (srainbolt@glnd.k12.va.us). 

Spring Testing Calendar - Please refer to the GHS Spring 2024 Testing Calendar for end-of-the-year testing information and upcoming events. This year, we plan to hold two asynchronous days (May 13th and 20th) to accommodate our staffing needs during SOL testing. Only students who must take an SOL will report on those dates. All other students will work on previously assigned work from home. No one will be required to log into a virtual class on those days. Additionally, all students must take their final exams during the specified testing window. Anyone unable to attend school during the exam window must have a parent contact their administrator.  Please contact me (bhahn@glnd.k12.va.us) or Dr. Stacey Rainbolt (srainbolt@glnd.k12.va.us) if you have any questions. 

Dual Enrollment Fees - Dual enrollment course fees have been assigned as an obligation in OSP for any student who has requested a Reynolds Community College class in their 2024-25 schedule. This includes all ACA students. The fees for summer courses are due no later than Wednesday, May 15th, while the fees for the 2024-25 school year are not due until Thursday, August 1st. As a reminder, the fees can be tricky to find! You will locate them by clicking on "Pay Obligation" in the blue bar at the top of the OSP screen. 

Please reach out to Dr. Fowler (bfowler@glnd.k12.va.us) with any questions regarding payment or to request an application for financial assistance.

Anticipated Yearbook Arrival - The 23-24 GHS Yearbook is currently in production and should ship in the middle of May. We are anticipating arrival sometime in the last two weeks of May. If you are currently on the waitlist, you will receive an email from Mrs. Mistler (kmistler@glnd.k12.va.us) to the email you provided once we have the yearbooks in hand and know how many extras we have to sell. Please look out for updates on Canvas and the Bulldog Bulletin in the coming weeks!

Senior Send-Off Week - Please join the Bulldog Family with our Prom Spirit Week dress-up days during the week of May 15th - 17th and May 21st - 23rd:

• This is for all students to show their school spirit and support our seniors for their last week(s) of fun at GHS!

• Wednesday, May 15th - First Day of School - Dress like elementary schoolers to remember the "old days."

• Thursday, May 16th - Future Day - Show off your future plans by dressing as your future career or wearing apparel for your future school or company.

• Friday, May 17th - Senior Citizen Day - Dress as yourself in 50+ years!

• Tuesday, May 21st - Twin Day - Match with a friend!

• Wednesday, May 22nd - White Lies Day -  Students write white lies on white tee shirts. Lies should be harmless and school-appropriate, such as "I'm always on time" (if you're known for being late) or "I'm really quiet" (if you're chatty). Students with inappropriate shirts will be given an alternate, school-appropriate shirt.

• Thursday, May 23rd - Senior Send-off Day -  Underclassmen will dress in black to show we will miss seniors. Seniors wear caps and gowns for a senior walk.

GHS Cheerleading Fall Sideline Tryouts - If you are interested in trying out for the GHS cheerleading team, please see the HERE. A current physical, an application, and parent permission are required to try out which can all be found in the letter. Current 7th-11th graders are eligible to try out. If you have any questions, please email or Canvas message Coach Madison Jackson (mjackson@glnd.k12.va.us.)

MCJROTC Awards Ceremony - The annual MCJROTC Awards Ceremony is on Friday, May 22nd at 6:00 pm in the GHS gym. Cadets should report at 5:30 pm in uniform. Parents are encouraged to attend and celebrate the Cadets' hard work during this year.

2024-25 Sports Physicals- The athletics department will have multiple doctors perform VHSL physicals on Thursday, May 30th at 3:45 pm. This will cover liability for athletes, including band members, from May 2024 - May 2025. VHSL physicals will need to be completed and turned in to Coach Fowler prior to participating in summer and out-of-season workouts. The cost is $20. Students will need to turn in a completed Tuckahoe Orthopedic form by a parent to be seen by a Tuckahoe Orthopedic doctor. Please contact Coach Fowler (jfowler@glnd.k12.va.us), Coach Gordon (prgordon@glnd.k12.va.us), Coach Krupp (kkrupp@glnd.k12.va.us), or Mr. Sykes (jsykes@glnd.k12.va.us) for more information.

REMINDERS    

GCPS Summer School - Goochland offers credit accrual virtual summer courses and there are still spots open in in Health/PE 9 (only 4 spots left), English 12, and Government. All courses will be delivered using Apex, a self-paced learning platform. ***Dates: June 11th, 2024-August 2nd, 2024 ***Tuition: Current GCPS Students, $280/course, in-county residents $280/course, out-of-county $499/course ***For more information and dates of the summer classes, and to get the registration form, please go to our Summer Programming website.   Registration closes on June 10th, 2024 and there are limited spots available and are filling up quickly.  Economics & Personal Finance, Health and PE 10, and Driver’s Education are full.

Parking Passes - GHS student parking passes are running low. Due to limited spaces for student parking, we only have 5 passes left. We will stop sales when we have reached our limit of spaces.  The remaining spaces will be sold on a first-come/first-serve basis. To purchase a parking pass, students must pay the parking fee and complete both the VDOE parking registration form and GHS student parking contract. Please reach out to Mr. Kempf (wkempf@glnd.k12.va.us) with any questions.

PTSA Board Members Needed - The PTSA is seeking the support of parents who want to join the PTSA Board for the 2024-2025 school year. It’s a great way to help support our students, staff, and community by providing an exceptional experience here at Goochland High School. If you or someone you know is interested in serving, please contact the GHS PTSA (goochlandhsptsa@gmail.com).

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 needs and availability.  Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you are concerned about your child passing a specific course for the year. If you have specific questions, please contact Ms. Hudak (amhudak@glnd.k12.va.us) or Dr. East (ceast@glnd.k12.va.us.) 

Vaccines Required for Rising Seniors - Are you the parent of a current 11th grader? If so, your student is required to have at least one dose of the Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) after the age of 16. These immunizations are provided through your healthcare provider and the Goochland Health Department. Various pharmacies and care centers like Patient First may also provide this vaccine. Your student must provide documentation of this vaccination (or a Religious Exemption form) by the first day of school in August 2024. Students will not be allowed to attend school until documentation is received. If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Griffith at 556-5322 or by email at lgriffith@glnd.k12.va.us.

Virtual VA Summer School Classes - Goochland County Public Schools will be utilizing Virtual Virginia this summer to provide credit accrual course options for high school students that are not offered through GCPS.  Courses offered ***Summer Session: June 17-July 26, 2024 ***Registration: March 1-June 18 2024 (Registration Form) ***Tuition: $375 per person, per course ***Who: Virtual Virginia summer school is for credit accrual 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).

Senior Class of 2024

All Night Graduation - Mark your calendars for the following Senior Events:

• Monday, May 13th - Our next meeting will be held at Mi Jalisco at 6:30 pm. We will be discussing the end-of-the-year celebration for our seniors.

• Saturday, May 18th - Seniors will walk in the Goochland Day Parade. Seniors will need to arrive in the GHS parking lot at 8:00 am. We will be bussed over to River Road Cottage to enjoy breakfast! Thank you to River Road Cottage for hosting our Seniors again this year! Our lineup spot will be on the Courthouse lawn at 9:45 am and the parade will start at 10:00 am. We hope that you will join this fun activity! This is your last opportunity to earn tickets for your Senior Sunset raffles!

• Monday, June 3rd - Byrd Elementary seniors and parents are invited to open their 2015-2017 BES time capsules at 6:30 pm. This will take place at Byrd Elementary School. Come and open your capsule to see what you and your family put in it back in 5th grade. This is a wonderful night to reconnect with Byrd families, and some of your favorite teachers and reminisce on your favorite memories!

• Thursday, June 6th - The senior class will participate in our annual “Senior Walk” at our GCPS elementary schools. Seniors will need to provide their own transportation. They can attend each school or just the one of their choice! We request that each participating senior wear their cap and gown. If you know of a staff member/retired staff member who meant a lot to your child, please invite them to attend. This is a wonderful day to reunite with teachers, principals, and staff who helped your senior! The school/times are listed below:

  • Randolph Elementary School at 9:00 am

  • Goochland Elementary School at 10:00 am

  • Byrd Elementary School at 11:00 am

• Friday, June 7th - Be sure to mark your calendars for our Senior Sunset Event on the GHS softball field. This event will take place from 7:00 - 10:00 pm. Please RSVP to ensure you receive an envelope with your name containing your tickets. Dinner will be provided via a food truck, alongside a sweet truck, and Kona Ice on site. This year's event features a variety of exciting activities: axe throwing, a mechanical bull, an obstacle course, cornhole, a dunk tank, 360 photo booth, and a DJ. Additionally, we're thrilled to offer HOT AIR BALLOON TETHERED RIDES. A signed waiver will be required for participation in this activity. 

Financial Aid Help - Do you need help filling out or making corrections to the FAFSA? Do you need someone to help explain your Financial Aid Award Letter? Do you still need to know what scholarships are out there? If so, please join Ms. Bradley, our GRASP Advisor, for a virtual pop-in on Monday, May 13th from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. This is an asynchronous day for our students who aren’t taking an SOL. To join the meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/wod-neuq-hqg. Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 208-606-0572 and enter this PIN: 131 556 176#

Senior Project Presentations - Attention, Seniors! Senior project presentations are scheduled for May 14 - 16th. Please review the presentation rubric and sample presentations posted in Canvas to ensure the presentation materials you're crafting meet expectations. You will also be shown the presentation schedule in your government class over the next week and asked to sign off in acknowledgment of your time. If you are scheduled during early release, you MUST present at your designated time. Schedule change requests will NOT be accommodated. Your hours, logged on a timesheet, are due to the teacher watching your presentation at the time you present. Please contact Mr. Cutro (kcutro@glnd.k12.va.us) with any questions!

Senior Materials Collection - Seniors will have an opportunity to turn in their GCPS-issued items (laptop, chargers, uniforms, textbooks, library books, etc.) following their senior walk on Thursday, May 23th at 9:30 AM. The final opportunity to return items is before graduation practice on Saturday, June 8th at 10:00 AM. All items must be returned before receiving tickets for graduation.

Senior Scholarship Breakfast- This year we will be holding a senior scholarship breakfast to present seniors with scholarships on Wednesday, May 29th. Students and parents will be invited to this program via email and will be asked to RSVP.  The time of the event will also be included in the email. 

Senior Awards Night and Decision Night Reception- Our senior awards night will be on Tuesday, June 4th at 6:00 PM. We encourage ALL seniors to attend this event as we will be celebrating all students with a slideshow presentation and reception to celebrate seniors post-secondary plans for college, trade school, military, apprenticeships or the work-force.  Parents of seniors earning an award will be notified by email.  We also ask seniors or their parents to submit a picture of their senior with their plans to this document or email Ms. Ferrell at rferrell@glnd.k12.va.us.  If a picture is not submitted, senior portraits will be used.  If you don’t want your child to appear in the slideshow, please email Ms. Ferrell.

Graduation - We are excited to announce that we will hold our Class of 2024 graduation services on Saturday, June 8th, at Goochland High School at 7:30 pm (rain date: Sunday, June 9th, at 7:30 pm). Additional details will be forthcoming, but rest assured, our graduation committee will work extremely hard to make this another exceptional graduation service, one deserving of an exceptional class. Feel free to contact Ms. Reahard (treahard@glnd.k12.va.us) with any questions.