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!
💥💥Student Highlights💥💥
Golf Sub-Regional - Congratulations to the golf team for winning the subregional on Tuesday in rainy weather. Dawson Handy led the Bulldogs with a 75 and Kasey Cronin carded a 78. The golfers qualified for the regional championship this coming Tuesday in Front Royal. Good luck, Bulldogs!
Student-Athletes of the Month - We are excited to announce a new program that will recognize student-athletes who excel at balancing academics and athletics. September’s winners are Marin Pullen and Dustin Brown. Marin is a junior on the volleyball team and Dustin is one of only two seniors on the boys cross country team. These individuals are great representatives of our school and exemplify what it means to be a student-athlete. Congratulations Marin and Dustin - thank YOU for representing our Bulldog Family!
THIS WEEK at GHS
Hispanic Heritage Month - Hispanic Heritage Month takes place until Tuesday, October 15th. To celebrate, students in the Goochland High School ESL class and Spanish IV Honors class have put together daily trivia questions for our morning announcements. Students will have the opportunity to win prizes for participating and answering correctly. We will start and end our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration with two school-wide Kahoots held during Bulldog Block. We held one last week and the second one will take place on Monday, October 14th. This celebration will be an opportunity to highlight the contributions, influence, and achievements of Hispanic people in our world today. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. David (mdavid@glnd.k12.va.us) or Ms. Exum (oexum@glnd.k12.va.us).
Homecoming Details - Spirit Week Days:
Monday, September 30th - 'Merica Monday (Patriotic gear)
Tuesday, October 1st - Tropical Tuesday (Beach/ tourist wear)
Wednesday, October 2nd - Humpday Slumpday (PJ Day)
Thursday, October 3rd - Athlete v. Mathlete (Get your jock or nerd on)
Friday, October 4th - Bold Red & Gold (School spirit)
Dance Guest Forms: Guest forms are available in the office and Mrs. Tate’s room in the history hallway, room E163. All guest forms are due on Wednesday, October 2nd.
Powder Puff Football Game: Attention 11th and 12th-grade females: Sign up for the annual Powder Puff football game in the main office. Spots are limited to 24 players per grade level and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. The game will occur on Wednesday, October 2nd at 7:00 pm at the stadium. If you have any questions please reach out to Mr. Funkhouser (jfunkhouser@glnd.k12.va.us).
Pep Rally: The pep rally will take place on Friday, October 4th. If your student would prefer to not attend, please fill out this quick form for Ms. Hudak. Thank you!
Floats: 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!
Hallway Decorating: Students may decorate grade-level hallways from 3:40 - 8:00 pm on Thursday, October 3rd. No decorations can be on floors or hung more than 2 feet from the ceiling. Clean-up will begin at 7:30 pm and no new decorations may go up on the walls after 7:45 pm. Hallways must be clear of students and supplies at 8:00 pm.
Dance Ticket Sales: Tickets for the Homecoming Dance will be available for purchase starting Friday, Sept. 30th - Thursday, Oct. 3rd during lunches. Tickets are $10 each and can only be purchased by cash or check. Non-GHS guests must have a dance guest form submitted before having a ticket purchased for them. Tickets will not be sold at the door!
Dance: The Homecoming Dance will take place on Saturday, October 5th from 7:00 - 10:00 pm in the GHS gym. Please be aware that bags and water bottles will be checked in by GHS staff at the entrance. Students will not be permitted to go out to their cars and return to the dance. We appreciate your cooperation as we prioritize the well-being of our students! Water and light refreshments will be provided and Kona Ice will be available for purchase, beginning at 8:00 pm.
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.
Gifted Referral Window Open - The fall gifted referral window opens on Tuesday, October 1st. Teachers, students, parents, and community members may complete a referral for gifted evaluation throughout October. As a reminder, Goochland identifies students as gifted in the following areas:
English / Language Arts / Math / General Intellectual Aptitude / Fine Arts (including vocal music, instrumental music, dance, acting, technical theatre, and studio arts) / and Career and Technical Aptitude
If there is a student you'd like to refer for evaluation, please contact Kecia Howell (khowell@glnd.k12.va.us) before Thursday, October 31st.
All Night Graduation - The next ANG meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 1st at 6:30 pm in the GHS cafeteria.
If you have ordered a Senior T-shirt, please contact Michele Brooks at 804-221-2336 to schedule a pickup. The next order is being processed now. The very last time to order a Senior shirt or the Mom and Dad Senior shirt is Tuesday, October 1st. We will also have shirts for pick up at the home football games. Thank you to all who have already ordered!
Senior Pictures (Make-ups) - Seniors, if you missed the senior photo session over the summer, or need to retake your formal drape/tux photo, senior photo make-ups will be held at GHS on Friday, November 1st. Students who have not yet taken senior portraits will automatically be scheduled. If you took portraits in August, but wish to retake your formal drape/tux, please email Mrs. Mistler (kmistler@glnd.k12.va.us) by Tuesday, October 1. Students will receive SmartPasses for their portrait times in mid-October. Feel free to email Mrs. Mistler with any questions!
Custodian Appreciation Day - Please join me in recognizing our amazing custodians at Goochland High School during National Custodial Appreciation Day which is on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024. Our outstanding staff consists of Janet Senegar, John Richards, Daniel Lythgoe, Bryant Cox, George Jackson, Dorothy Pleasant, Howard Shelton, Orelia Tyler. They are the folks who keep our building sanitary and clean throughout the school year, and we truly appreciate all they do to support our Bulldog Family. If you see them in the hallways or after school during an event, please take a moment to thank them for all they do.
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
CTE Testing - Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses will be administering a pre-test for the Workplace Readiness Skills (WRS) test during CTE classes the week of October 7th. This test measures how a test-taker would react given an on-the-job scenario. Pre-tests are not graded for achievement. The test will be used by teachers to see which skills need to be covered during the CTE courses.
Fall Choir Performance - The Goochland Choral Department will be hosting their Fall Concert on Tuesday, October 8th at 7:00 pm in the GHS Auditorium! The theme of their concert is Folk Songs, featuring a captivating selection of traditional melodies from different countries and cultures. The concert is free and open to the public, so bring your friends and family for a night of community, culture, and music. We look forward to seeing you there!
GHS Astronomy Club - Are you curious about astronomy? Come visit the GHS Astronomy Club on Friday, October 11th during Bulldog Block in Mr. Maloney's room (J-212) for their first "official" meeting of the 2024-25 school year! Students can look forward to:
Studying/observing our star (The Sun) and our planets
Observing other stars in the Milky Way galaxy during one of our "Star Parties"
Observing deep-space objects outside of the Milky Way
Learning how we measure distances to nearby stars
Conducting exoplanet research (studying confirmed planets in OTHER solar systems)
All are welcome! We hope to see you there!
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.
PTSA Updates - The GHS PTSA wants to give a huge shout-out of appreciation to the volunteers who staffed our very first GHS Football Concessions stand fundraiser. Here are the upcoming PTSA events:
Monday, October 14th is the GHS PTSA-sponsored fall event - FREE POPCORN!!!! Over four lunches, professionally prepared popcorn will be scooped, bagged, and passed out with smiles by GHS parents and family members. THANK YOU to all who've signed up for every slot!
Please visit the PTSA table at our home football and basketball games for our membership campaign.
If you are interested in volunteering for future events, please email (goochlandhsptsa@gmail.com.)
Have you joined the PTSA? If not, please join HERE! Help us get to 100 members! More information can be found HERE. We are eager for your opinions and ideas. GHS students are always welcome!
End of Marking Period 1 - The end of our first marking period of the school year is Thursday, October 17th. Please take some time to view your child’s current grades in PowerSchool before the end of the quarter. Feel free to communicate with their teachers if you have any questions.
Parent/Teacher Conferences - The teachers at Goochland High School are looking forward to meeting with you during Parent-Teacher Conferences on Friday, October 18th, from 11:00 AM- 6:00 PM. Parents will be able to make appointments with teachers for the Parent-Teacher Conferences online. You have the option to meet in person or request a Google Meet link to meet virtually. You will be able to register by visiting the following link: https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Goochland_High_School . Conference registration will open on Sunday, October 13th. If you would like to request a virtual conference, please reply with that request to the confirmation email you receive when you sign up with each teacher. Directions for using this system are available here: https://tinyurl.com/GHSPTCDirections. You are a vital partner in your child’s education, and these conferences play an essential role in helping us plan and implement programs to meet the educational needs of your child. If you cannot or do not wish to register online, or if you cannot schedule a conference for this day, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher(s) directly to arrange a meeting. If you have technical difficulties, please contact the school and ask for Catherine Richards, Goochland High School’s Instructional Technology Coach, or you can reach her by email at crichards@glnd.k12.va.us. We look forward to seeing you on Friday, October 18th!
Kindness Campaign - October is Bullying Prevention Month and for this month, we will be promoting one of our core values, kindness, at GHS. We will have a weekly quote on our announcements and ask teachers to catch students who are demonstrating kindness to let us know so those students can be recognized. We will also have a Kindness Campaign from October 21st - October 25th. GHS will celebrate Unity Day by wearing orange on Wednesday, October 16th. The goal of Unity Day is to bring together youth, parents, educators, businesses, and community members across the nation to emphasize the message that bullying is not acceptable and that all students deserve to be safe in school, online, and in the community.
Sense of Belonging Survey - Linked here, please find a preview copy of the student GCPS Sense of Belonging and Inclusion Survey that will be administered to students during their English class on Thursday, October 24th, or Friday, October 25th. The purpose of the survey is to collect student input on how our school is doing in creating a safe, welcoming, inclusive environment for all students and to solicit input on how we can improve. Any parent wishing to opt their child out of taking this survey may do so by contacting our survey coordinator, Catherine Richards, at crichards@glnd.k12.va.us or (804) 556-5322.
Underclassmen Pictures - Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors - get ready for picture day on Thursday, October 24th, and Friday, October 25th! You will attend picture day with your English class. Be on the lookout for picture day packets coming home at the beginning of October.
Goochland Drama Presents: The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe - This adaptation of C.S. Lewis' timeless classic brings to life the enchantment and intrigue of Aslan, the mighty lion, his battle with the White Witch, and the journey of four children who unknowingly step through an old wardrobe into the unforgettable world of Narnia. This show features a cast and crew of both GHS and GMS students and is perfect for family members of all ages!
SHOW DATES AND TIMES:
Friday, October 25th at 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 26th at 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 27th at 2:00 PM
TICKETS:
Students and Senior Citizens (60 and Up): $10
Adults: $15
Click Here to purchase tickets and more information concerning the show!
REMINDERS
Electronic Distribution of Flyers - Throughout the 24.25 school year, please visit this website for upcoming events or activities throughout the Goochland community.
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!
Poinsettia/Cactus sale is coming soon! Please be on the lookout for the flyers and links soon.
ANG BINGO is coming in November! Be on the lookout for more details in the coming weeks.
Are you interested in purchasing a “Bulldog Discount Card?” If so, email the ANG team (email above) or visit Goochland Pharmacy, Goochland Cares, Virginia Archery, River Road Cottage, and Simply Fetching along with parents and at football games. You can enjoy a discount at over 24 different local businesses. The cost is only $10!
During the Fire Show on Saturday, October 12th, ANG will be selling Bulldog discount cards, poinsettias/Christmas cactus’, raffle tickets, bingo cards, and daubers! Come on out to support our community and senior class!
Be sure to mark your calendars for our Fall Bingo Night on Saturday, November 9th in the GHS cafeteria. The doors will open at 5:30 pm and the games will begin at 6:00 pm. Please come out for a fun night of gift card bingo, lots of awesome raffle prizes, and a 50/50 raffle. You can purchase your presale bingo cards at River Road Cottage. Presale cards will be $20 ($25 at the door).
Be sure to mark your calendars now for the “Senior Sunset” on Friday, May 30th. We will have more details during the second semester!
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.
College Application and Resume Writing Workshops- The School Counselors will be holding college application and resume writing workshops on Monday, October 14th, and Tuesday, October 15th during your child’s senior English class. Students will have the opportunity to work on college applications, and scholarship applications, or update their resumes in the Learning Commons. Ms. Bradley, our GRASP Advisor, will also be there to meet with students who have questions about scholarships and financial aid.
GRASP Advisor Appointments- This week, Ms. Lindsay Bradley will be returning to GHS as our GRASP Advisor to help students and parents with college financial aid. She can help students find more efficient ways to search for scholarships and help families fill out the FAFSA. This year, the FAFSA opens on December 1st, 2024. If you would like to make an appointment with Ms. Bradley, please go to GHS GRASP appointments or you can email her at goochland@grasp4va.org.
Senior Information from School Counseling - School Counselors are currently meeting with seniors for one-on-one meetings to discuss their post-secondary plans. If you missed Senior Parent Night, please view the VIDEO. You can also view the slides and get the links HERE. 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
Senior Pictures (Make-ups) - Seniors, if you missed the senior photo session over the summer, or need to retake your formal drape/tux photo, senior photo make-ups will be held at GHS on Friday, November 1st. Students who have not yet taken senior portraits will automatically be scheduled. Students will receive SmartPasses for their portrait times in mid-October. Feel free to email Mrs. Mistler (kmistler@glnd.k12.va.us) with any questions!
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. Please contact Mallory McMullin at (mmcmullin@glnd.k12.va.us) with any questions.
Senior Advertisements - Those families wishing to buy an ad in the yearbook for their senior can do so HERE. Once you select and pay for your desired ad size, you can create and design the ad in Balfour’s online program. Ad purchases are due by Saturday, February 1st! If you have any questions or would like help designing an ad, please contact Mrs. Mistler (kmistler@glnd.k12.va.us).
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.