Duke Update for 12/9/2024

Duke Update December 8, 2024
Congratulations to the following students for being accepted to the ODU Honor Band Festival:
Raelynn Hefferon
Natalie Johnson
Haley Thomas
Alyssa Smith
Alexis Chattin
Sophia Salisbury
Zach Conklin
Charlotte Knoller
Ash VanVranken
Jayden Clark
Tristan Vaught
Catherine King

Do you enjoy fishing? Want to be a part of starting a GHS fishing club? If you think you may be interested, come to our “Meeting of Interest” on December 10th at 3pm in room C150 (CTE Ag Sciences room). Interested faculty and parents are also welcomed and encouraged to attend.

There will be a meeting of the WEB Du Bois Honor Society on Wednesday, December 11th, at 3PM in Mrs. Carter's room 134. All members are required to attend.

Seniors 12/20 is the last day to submit photos of you and your pet, free time, or senior then and now pictures for the yearbook. Please email pictures to Ms. Schoenthal.

Y-Sters! Please come to the next mandatory meeting Monday, 12/9/24 during 2nd block in Mrs. Carter's 134. You will be excused from class but are responsible for making up any missed work.

Shop With A Cop tickets are now available for purchase through Deputy Skay and Lieutenant Petro for $5 cash or check made out to Shop With A Cop. The potential prize is $5,000 if all tickets are sold. The Drawing will take place on Friday, December 13th. Purchasing a ticket means that a child will have the opportunity to have a present this holiday season.

Medication Policy Reminder: This is a reminder that GCPS policy does not allow students to carry prescription or over-the-counter medications at school unless a student has an Asthma Action Plan, Diabetes Management Plan, or Emergency Action Plan on file with the clinic. All other medications must be kept in the clinic and require a completed Medication Consent Form. Students who bring medications to school are in violation of the Student Code of Conduct and subject to disciplinary action. Please visit the GCPS School Safety and Health Services webpage or contact the GHS clinic with any questions.

Gloucester High School is accepting students for Behind The Wheel. Openings begin the first week of October. The cost of the lessons is $89.00. Contact Coach Hooker for more details.

The Care Closet is not accepting anymore clothes donations unless the clothes are new with tags. We are not able to do laundry. We are still accepting food donations in the Main Office. If you need a list of food items please call or email.

Food Delivery: Please remember that students may not receive food orders from DoorDash or other delivery services before, during, or after school. Thank you for your cooperation.

Visitors must park in a visitor spot in our main entrance lot. Visitors must utilize the main entrance and show valid identification to enter the building. Please do not park in the main loop for any reason.

Yearbooks There are less than 150 yearbooks available for pre-order at yearbookordercenter.com using code 4758. There will be one final price increase at the beginning of January.

Parking Passes: Any student who does not have a parking pass but wants one should go to the Main Office to be put on a waiting list. We will be opening some spots up as soon as they are painted in the lot.

Cell Phone Policy: Gloucester County Public Schools has adopted “cell phone-free education.”Effective Monday, August 26, 2024, the use of cell phones, electronic communication devices, headphones, earbuds, smart watches, and or any other Bluetooth enabling device will be strictly prohibited. The Executive Order applies to students while in the school building during instructional times and at all times while on the school bus.

Dress Code: Parents and guardians, we appreciate your support in following the GCPS dress code, which is found on page 6 of the Code of Conduct . Please note that hats and hoods should not be worn indoors, and tops must cover the midriff and navel.

Security Screening: We want to thank our students for their continued cooperation with the security screenings that we have implemented. Here are some updates and reminders on the process:
- All visitors to GHS go through the screening. Visitors must come through the Main Entrance.
- All students who are getting dropped off in the parent loop must come in through the Main Entrance first before going to classes in C-Hall or the portables.
- In the morning, students going to first block classes in C-Hall or the portables should exit the main building through the doors near the School Counseling Office across from the cafeteria, and not through the Main Entrance. This change will help with traffic flow in the morning.
- Our students are doing a great job of being prepared and getting through the scanners quickly, and we are able to get students through the scanners before first block begins. With this in mind, we remind student drivers to enter the building promptly upon arriving at school so they can be in class on time. Failure to do so will result in being marked tardy.
- As a reminder, students should be prepared to take their Chromebooks, binders, and other large metal objects out of their backpacks before going through the scanners. Cell phones, keys, and other small metal items do not need to be removed from backpacks.

Parent drop-off and pick-up: Please use our main entrance loop to drop off and pick up before and after school. Please pay attention to our staff as they direct you around the loop.

Student Parking Lot: Only GHS students who have a valid parking pass should enter and park in the student parking lot. Teacher and Construction areas are marked and should not be used by students or visitors. Students entering the building from the parking lot/bus loop side should enter through the doors by the Theater room (formerly Chorus). Student driver late arrivals should also enter through the doors by the Theater room and check in with the Attendance Office before going to class.

Early Dismissal/Late Arrivals: To ensure a smooth and organized process, all Early Dismissals must be picked up before 2:20 pm. Early Dismissals occurring between 2:20 pm and 2:40 pm will be released during regular dismissal at 2:40 pm. Please take note and plan accordingly for the prompt pickup of your student. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated, and we thank you for helping us maintain a safe and efficient dismissal process. Students getting dropped off late should enter through the Main Entrance and sign in at the Attendance window.

Bus loop: No students, parents, or visitors should enter the bus loop from 7:00AM-8:00AM and 2:00 PM-3:00 PM for any reason.

Counseling
ATTENTION parents and guardians: The school counseling department will be finished scheduling for current juniors before winter break, and will begin scheduling for current sophomores in January. If you want to participate in the scheduling meeting for your student, please email your child’s school counselor and set up an appointment.

Attention Juniors and Seniors: An admissions representative from Richard Bland College of W&M will be conducting an information session here at the high school for interested GHS Juniors and Seniors on Thursday (December 12th). They will be providing information about degree pathways, campus life, and the admissions process. This is your chance to ask questions, meet a representative, and discover how RBC can help you seize your potential. To participate, please sign up through your Naviance account. E-hall passes will be sent to those who have signed up. Please see the Counseling Office if you have any questions.

Athletics
The GHS Athletics schedule can be found on the school website:https://ghs.gc.k12.va.us/o/ghs/page/athletics

Parents and Fans attending athletic events - Sportsmanship is always a top priority. Please show support and respect for the fans, opposing teams and game officials at all times while attending home or away events. This includes never engaging negatively with fans or players from the opposite team. Any misconduct can lead to dismissal from the game, and from attending future games.