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!
THIS WEEK at GHS
Student Growth Assessments - During the week of September 9th, 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).
Textbook/Instructional Resource Review - Goochland County Public Schools is currently considering a textbook & digital resource adoption for the AP Environmental Science. Please see the details HERE. This opportunity will be available for review during the week of September 9th. Thank you for your help!
PSAT Registration - Goochland High School will be a testing site for the PSAT/NMSQT (also known as the PSAT) on Friday, October 18th at 8:30 am. This is a non-school day (parent/teacher conference day). If students are interested in taking the SAT for college entrance, the PSAT is a great practice test. Goochland County Public Schools will cover all fees for GHS students in grades 9-11. Please use this link to register for the test and indicate if your student requires transportation. There is a quick turnaround for this. All registrations are due by Monday, September 9th. This is the last day to order the test from CollegeBoard. The PSAT is online and takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes once the test has begun. Students should bring their school-issued laptops for this test. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Stacey Rainbolt (srainbolt@glnd.k12.va.us).
All Night Graduation - Click here to purchase your “Class of ‘25” t-shirt or sweatshirt! The deadline is Monday, September 9th.
Staff Recognitions - Please take a moment to nominate one of our GHS staff members for a September BARKS award. All nominated teachers will be notified of their nominations. Two specific staff members will be selected and celebrated at our faculty meeting on Wednesday, September 18th. This was very special for our teachers last school year! We look forward to reviewing the responses! Please make your submissions by Tuesday, September 10th.
Join the PTSA - Take a look for details on how to join the PTSA. The first meeting of the school year is Tuesday, September 10th at 4:15 pm.
Junkyard Dogs Robotics Team is Looking for New Members - The Goochland Junkyard Dogs Robotics team is looking for new members and will be collecting applications (linked HERE) through Wednesday, September 11th. Interviews will follow on Friday, September 13th. As part of FIRST Robotics, the Junkyard Dogs practice and implement skills that translate to almost ANY employment environment. These skills include planning, budgeting, time management, observing deadlines, leadership, communication, design, outreach, fund-raising, building, using tools, machining, web design, programming... the list is extensive. Their six-week season starts in January and competitions follow. During the season, the team designs, builds, programs, and tests (and iterates) a robot from scratch to compete with other robots in our district. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Maloney (rmaloney@glnd.k12.va.us.)
Central Virginia Regional College and Career Fair- A college and career fair will be held for the central Virginia region on Thursday, September 12th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Monticello High School. The Regional College and Career Fair is an excellent opportunity for students of all grade levels to speak with admissions representatives from over 80 colleges and universities. In addition to the colleges that will be in attendance, we will also showcase additional opportunities including career training programs, workforce services, and military options. Regardless of where students may be in the process, having access to so many opportunities in one location is invaluable. Early exposure to colleges and careers can assist students in developing their academic and career plans. Please register to attend and see the flier for more information.
Senior Projects - This year, students will complete a total of 20 service hours, 10 hours due in December and 10 hours due in April. Students will not be permitted to walk at the GHS graduation ceremony if they do not complete their senior project. Lastly, Education for Employment and Blue Ridge Virginia Governor's School students complete a separate senior project through those experiences. Parents, the first step in this process is yours! Please fill out this Parent Acknowledgement Form by Friday, September 13. Please contact Mallory McMullin at (mmcmullin@glnd.k12.va.us) with any questions.
Bulldog Gear - Check out our new online school store. We have hundreds of products that can be customized to show your GHS spirit! For a limited time, you can get 20% off most items until Sunday, September 15th. Purchases are shipped directly to your home. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Fowler (jfowler@glnd.k12.va.us).
All Night Graduation - We will hold a car wash on Saturday, September 14th from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm at United Bank. Please sign up HERE to assist!
Update from the School Nurse - Please take a moment to review the notes HERE from Nurse Griffith. If you have any questions, please contact her (lgriffith@glnd.k12.va.us). Thank you!
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. Fowler (jfowler@glnd.k12.va.us) if you have any questions or need more information.
THIS MONTH at GHS
Attendance Awareness Month - September is Attendance Awareness Month, and we encourage students and families to stress the importance of attending school. Be on the lookout for a detailed Thrillshare message about our attendance, tardy, and early dismissal process at GHS. We will also be highlighting facts about the importance of school attendance on our morning announcements in the building. Students who have perfect attendance for the month of September will receive a special treat from GHS administration. More details to come via Canvas messages throughout September!
Competitive Cheer Team - The Competition Cheerleading Team will have a preview of their routine on Tuesday, September 17th at 5:30 pm in the GHS Gym! GHS Students and Staff are welcome and encouraged to come to cheer our girls on before heading to their first competition at Cosby High School the following Saturday! We appreciate your support!
Marking Period 1 Interim Grades - Please be mindful that the interim for Marking Period 1 is Wednesday, September 18th. Please take a moment to view your child’s assignments and grades in PowerSchool, and contact their teachers if you have any questions or concerns. They are here to help!
Academic Awards Night - Our Academic Awards Night will be held on Monday, September 23rd at 6:30 pm in the auditorium. If your student is receiving an award for honor roll from the end of last year, has earned a CollegeBoard recognition, is being recognized for an honor society, is receiving a book award, or is receiving another award, you will be contacted via email by Wednesday, September 11th. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Ferrell (rferrell@glnd.k12.va.us).
SAT Practice Test- The Goochland Education Foundation and Huntington Learning Center are partnering to offer SAT Practice Test Prep for Goochland High School students. Practice tests are located at Goochland County Central High Cultural and Educational Complex on Dogtown Road. The feedback sessions are held at Goochland High School. Please go to the GEF Website for more information including other practice test dates and registration links. The Goochland Education Foundation will support any student who cannot pay the $25 registration. The next Practice Test is Saturday, September 21st, 2024 with a feedback session on Thursday, September 26th, 2024. The registration deadline is 4:00 PM on Thursday, September 19th, 2024.
Advance College Academy (ACA) Applications - Advance College Academy (ACA) is a dual enrollment program between Goochland High School and Reynolds Community College that allows students to earn a transferable associate's degree in social science while in high school. This degree is designed to fulfill many general education requirements at four-year colleges, and the classes are taught on the campus of Goochland High School. ACA applications are open for current 9th and 10th-grade students until Monday, September 30, 2024. Previously admitted students need not reapply. To be eligible for ACA admission, a student must:
complete Algebra II no later than 10th grade with a final grade of C or higher,
complete a third year of language by the end of junior year, and
be capable of maintaining a 3.0 high school GPA.
Applications are available online HERE! If you have any questions, please contact your school counselor or Dr. Beth Fowler (bfowler@glnd.k12.va.us), GCPS Coordinator of Student Advancement.
Homecoming Floats - Attention students! Does your club or sports team want to create a float for our Homecoming Parade before the Homecoming Game on Friday, October 4th? Reach out to Mrs. Tate (rtate@glnd.k12.va.us) for more information. We can't wait to see your Bulldog pride on Friday, October 4th!
Fire Rescue Show - The Goochland County Department of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services is hosting a Fire-Rescue Show at Goochland High School on Saturday, October 12th, at 5:00 pm. They are planning an evening of fire and EMS demonstrations for Goochland County citizens and their children. It’s also a kick-off to Fire Prevention Week. To top it all off, a small fireworks show is planned to end the evening. This is a great opportunity to promote community risk reduction while showcasing the department. Please consider coming out and spending an evening with your local Firefighters and EMS providers.
Virginia Space Grant Consortium Opportunities- The Virginia Space Grant Consortium provides FREE NASA-related programs for Virginia's high school students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. The programs have an interactive online STEM learning experience and are highlighted by a seven-day residential summer academy at NASA.
Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) for 10th-grade students focuses on the current missions flown or managed by NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Applications are open until October 24th.
Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) for 11th and 12th-grade students focuses on NASA’s human spaceflight missions and the Journey to the Moon and onto Mars. Students learn from NASA experts on how to design space missions! Applications are open until October 24th.
Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS) for 11th and 12th-grade students focuses on the challenges of the next generation of scientists and engineers to become part of the solution to the societal issues faced by the impacts of climate change. Engaging students in real-world investigations of the Earth and its systems using the latest research and data from NASA. Applications are open until October 24th.
REMINDERS
Absence/Tardy 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 also 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. This school year, students who arrive after the tardy bell at 9:06 am must enter through the front doors at GHS and report to the tardy table for a pass to class. Please take a moment to view this letter regarding the impacts of compulsory attendance.
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 to the main office. This written excusal note can also be in the form of an email (coming from the parent’s email account) sent to bulldogs@glnd.k12.va.us. 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.
Electronic Distribution of Flyers - Throughout the 24.25 school year, please visit this website for upcoming events or activities throughout the Goochland community.
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.
PTSA - Your GHS PTSA welcomes YOU - students and families to our hallowed halls, fields, courts, and classrooms - returning and new! We are reachable by email at goochlandhsptsa@gmail.com. Consider joining the PTSA; details can be found here. Please follow our Facebook page HERE. We are celebrating your child and you being here! Go, Bulldogs.
Yearbooks - Yearbooks are for sale! And due to last year’s shipping issues, Balfour has given us a one-year discount on yearbook prices! Please consider purchasing your 2024-2025 yearbook now. Yearbooks will be $55 through the end of the year and $65 after January 1, 2025. Make sure to order your yearbook through the Balfour website. 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!
Senior Class of 2025
All Night Graduation - Please take a moment to sign up HERE for the Fall concessions! Thank you!
Please follow ANG on Facebook, “Goochland All Night Graduation 2025.” If you have any questions or want to join ANG, please email them at GoochlandANG@gmail.com.
Are you interested in purchasing a “Bulldog Discount Card?” If so, email the ANG team (email above) or visit the ANG table at the home football games!
Senior Information from School Counseling - Last week, School Counselors went to English 12 classes and presented information about plans for after high school. If you missed Senior Parent Night, please view the VIDEO. You can also view the slides and get the links HERE. School Counselors will be meeting with seniors to discuss their individual plans. If you would like to attend your child’s senior meeting, please schedule an appointment with their school counselor using the links.
Ms. McMullin (A-G) https://calendly.com/mmcmullin/senior-meeting?month=2024-09
Ms. Salazar (H-Ph) https://calendly.com/salazar24/senior-meeting
Ms. Ferrell (Pi-Z) https://calendly.com/mrsferrell/senior-meeting
Class of ‘24 Graduation Details - Please mark your calendars for our GHS class of 2025 graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 31st at 7:30 pm at the GHS Stadium. The rain date will be Sunday, June 1st at 7:30 pm. We will have follow-up details in the coming months regarding the senior students' last day of school, senior exam week, etc.