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💥💥
This past Saturday Liam Fauver won the Virginia State BMX Championship for the Novice 14 Division. Liam qualified for the State Championship by winning three state qualifiers and was able to emerge victorious ahead of the tight competition last weekend. Congratulations Liam!
The following Bulldogs were recognized at the school board meeting on Tuesday as an ECCHO Award winner:
Kennedy Athey - nominated by Ms. Tolson
Rayne Brooke - nominated by Ms. Borsari
MaLeah Cowan - nominated by Ms. Tolson
Kierjaea Carter - nominated by Ms. Tolson
Kiershara Carter - nominated by Ms. Tolson
Arterius Rollins - nominated by Mr. Hahn
Leiara Scott - nominated by Ms. Tolson
Kennedy Smith - nominated by Ms. Tolson
Jake Williams - nominated by Ms. Tolson
Way to represent our Bulldog Family in front of our GCPS community! You make us proud!
On Wednesday, October 9th, we celebrated School Attendance Awareness Month with an ice cream social. School administrators scooped and served ice cream to over 400 students who had perfect attendance for September. Way to go Bulldogs!
THIS WEEK at GHS
Hurricane Helene Relief Fund Supply Collection - With the recent devastation in Southwest Virginia, West North Carolina, East Tennessee, and East Kentucky, The Goochland FFA will collect supplies to help with recovery efforts. The GHS FFA will be collecting items to be hauled down to Giles County FFA Land Lab to be then redistributed to areas greatly impacted by Hurricane Helene. We will start collecting items on Monday, October 7th - Friday, October 18th. HERE is a running list of items that will be collected. The collection trailer will be posted in the stadium parking lot near the greenhouse. If you have specific questions, please email Ms. Day (mday@glnd.k12.va.us) or Mr. Allen (dallen@glnd.k12.va.us).
Gifted Referral Window Open - The fall gifted referral window is open. 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.
PTSA Updates - 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 already signed up. Please see our donation link.
Friday, October 18th is Parent/Teacher Conference Day. Lunch is needed for teachers and staff, and PTSA will be providing a Taco Bar! Please see our Sign-up Genius and donation links.
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! Membership puts you in a raffle for a Target gift card.
More information can be found HERE. We are eager for your opinions and ideas. GHS students are always welcome to offer ideas, attendance, etc.!
Varsity Vocal A Cappella Auditions - Do you like to sing? If so, you should consider joining GHS’s very own a cappella group! The Varsity Vocals meet every Wednesday after school until 5:00 pm and perform at the GHS chorus concerts as well as at other special events throughout the year. Auditions to join the group will be held on Monday, October 14th, and Wednesday, October 16th until 4:30 pm. Please sign up HERE. There is no a cappella or chorus experience necessary! Please contact Ms. Halye with questions at ehalye@glnd.k12.va.us.
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.
Jostens at Lunches for Class of ‘25 - Jostens will be at GHS during all lunches on Tuesday, October 15th to assist with graduation items, class rings, and cap/gown orders. Please use THIS link to order online or call by phone: 1-800-Jostens (567-8367). Please note that your cap and gown unit does come with a tassel to be worn on graduation and can be ordered HERE. The senior apparel and keepsake items will ship directly to your home two weeks after your order. The graduation Announcements, personalized paper items, and cap and gown unit will be delivered in March. Feel free to contact Jostens with any questions during this process by phone (1-800-567-8367) or email (sarah.dunn@jostens.com).
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.
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.
PSAT Testing - On Friday, October 18th, we will be administering the PSAT test to students who opted in for this assessment. Registration for this testing has closed. Doors will open to testers at 8:00 am and testing will begin at 8:30 am. All students should enter through the front doors, including student drivers. Please contact Dr. Stacey Rainbolt (srainbolt@glnd.k12.va.us) if you have any questions.
Parent/Teacher Conferences - Conference registration is now open! 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 . 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!
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
Powderpuff Game Rescheduled - The Powderpuff game was postponed due to wet weather. It has been rescheduled for Monday, October 21st at 7:00. Please reach out to Mr. Funkhouser (jfunkhouser@glnd.k12.va.us) with any questions.
GHS Club Fair - We will be holding our annual Club Fair on Wednesday, October 23rd during 4th block in the Learning Commons. This is an opportunity for our clubs to showcase what they do and a chance for our students to explore the variety of clubs that GHS offers. Seniors with early release will get a chance to attend from 2:00 - 2:25 pm. All other students will rotate through the club fair with their 4th block class. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Fowler (jfowler@glnd.k12.va.us).
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!
ACA Orientation - Class of 2028 ACA students and newly admitted Class of 2027 ACA students are cordially invited, along with their parents, to attend ACA Orientation on Monday, November 4th, at 6:30 pm. This virtual event will feature an overview of the program, including recent curriculum changes, that will help families plan over the next four years (including summers). Topics covered will include dual enrollment fee projections, course requirements, academic standards, additional supports, and transferability of credits. We look forward to seeing you online at this Google Meet!
REMINDERS
AP Exam Registration - Students in Advanced Placement Courses have the option to take the AP exam associated with that course. Higher scores on the exam can result in possible college credit depending on the college/university. More information and test registration can be located HERE. If you any specific questions, please contact Dr. Rainbolt (srainbolt@glnd.k12.va.us).
Electronic Distribution of Flyers - Throughout the 24.25 school year, please visit this website for upcoming events or activities throughout the Goochland community.
Peru 2026 (Not a School Sponsored Trip) - Thank you again to those of you who were able to attend our informational meeting. To the travelers who have already joined our trip, welcome aboard! We are so excited to have you! For those not yet enrolled, there are still spots left! The sooner you can enroll ($95 Enrollment Fee on the Automatic Payment Plan), the higher the chance there will still be room on the trip. With EF’s risk-free enrollment period – you will also have 14 days to cancel with a full refund, should your plans change! You can enroll now HERE or by calling EF’s Traveler Support Line at 800-665-5364.
Wrestling Meeting - Attention any high schooler or any high school parent/guardian whose son or daughter is interested in wrestling for the GHS team, there was an interest meeting this past Thursday. If you or your son/daughter missed that meeting, please contact Coach Wampler in room B124 or by email at jwampler@glnd.k12.va.us.
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 1st, 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 - 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!
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). The signup document has been shared.
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.
Senior Portraits - The senior portrait make-up day is scheduled for Friday, November 1st! Students who have not yet taken senior portraits AND those students who have already requested retakes from Mrs. Mistler will automatically be scheduled. Students will receive SmartPasses for their portrait times in mid-October. Please contact Mrs. Mistler (kmistler@glnd.k12.va.us) with any questions. If you plan on taking your portraits with an outside photographer, please plan to have a digital file sent to Mrs. Mistler by Friday, December 1st. The requirements for senior portraits taken with other photographers are a blue background; vertical, formal poses; 300 dpi; and wallet-size crop.
GRASP Advisor Appointments- Our GRASP Advisory, Ms. Lindsay Bradley has return to GHS 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 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 Ads - Those families wishing to buy an ad in the yearbook for their senior can do so now HERE. Once you select and pay for your desired ad size, you can create and design the ad in Balfour’s online program. All ads are due by Saturday, February 1st.
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.