Duke Update January 28, 2024
Thank you, students, parents, guardians, and families! During the first semester of this school year, GHS had a 44% decrease in the number of in-school and out-of-school suspensions, and a 23% decrease in the rate of chronic absenteeism compared to last school year! The GHS staff appreciates everyone’s support in making our school a great place for students to learn. Keep up the great work!
GHS students will take the Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions in their second block class on Thursday, February 1, 2024. Students who arrive at school after second block will be given the chance to take the survey when they arrive. The survey will remain open until March 1. The notification letter from December 15, 2023 can be found at the links below:
Survey Parent Letter (English)
Survey Parent Letter (Russian)
Survey Parent Letter (Chinese)
Survey Parent Letter (Italian)
Survey Parent Letter (Spanish)
We are excited to announce that Gloucester County Public Schools is participating in Virginia Speak Up! This survey will help us answer questions, such as:
● How are our students using technology for learning in and out of school?
● How important is the use of technology to our teachers and parents?
● What types of technology do our teachers find of value and how are they using it in the
classroom?
● Do our ideas about technology align with our students’ parents?
Speak Up, a national research project facilitated by Project Tomorrow, provides an easy way for students, parents, and educators to share their views on technology and learning with Gloucester County Public Schools. Your input informs our decisions about technology, as well as contributes to the national dialogue about educational technology. Since 2003, Project Tomorrow has collected and shared the viewpoints of more than 5.4 million students, educators, and parents. All responses are 100% confidential. No identifying information is collected about/from any participant.
As a nonprofit educational organization, Project Tomorrow provides Speak Up as a free tool for all schools to use – allowing us to conduct this research while also keeping our resources focused in the classrooms. Gloucester County Public Schools receives our results with state and national comparisons, providing us with valuable data that can be used for our strategic planning, professional development, and budgeting plans during the school year.
Taking the survey is easy! Plan to spend approximately 20 minutes.
Gloucester High School 9-12 Student
Gloucester High School 9-12 Family
Gloucester High School Educator
Gloucester High School Administrator
We look forward to GCPS’ strong participation in Virginia Speak Up! Be sure to take the survey by February 1, 2024.
The GHS-NAACP will meet on Wednesday, January 31, at 3:00 in Mrs. Carter's 134. Please come help plan our Black History Month activities, contest, and fun for the rest of the year. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Congratulations to the Scholastic Bowl Team for making it to the Scholastic Bowl regionals which will be held on Saturday, January 27, in Portsmouth.
Gloucester High School is pleased to announce students can take the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles learner’s permit test online at the school on the following dates: February 7, February 28, and March 20 at the Gloucester High School Media Center. Students 15 years and 6 months or older are eligible to test. Please see Canvas, Mr. Morgan, or Ms. Hypes for more details.
The All Pro Dad Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, February 7th in the GHS Duke Rock cafe. Forms are due back to the GHS Main Office by 3:00 pm on Friday, February 2nd. Extra forms can be picked up in the GHS Main Office.
Parking: Parents, please do not park in the DSS parking lot across from GHS when you come to pick up your children from school.
The evening activity bus will now depart GHS at 5:30 pm – students riding the bus should wait in the Duke Rock.
Student illness: Please see this note from our school nurses about policies and procedures for when students are sick.
Yearbooks are now for sale online at yearbookordercenter.com using code 4758. The book sold out the past 2 years so order before it’s too late!
Counseling:
ATTENTION parents of rising 11th graders. Scheduling for next year’s classes will begin for rising juniors on February 1st. If you would like to participate in your child’s scheduling meeting please email your child’s school counselor and set up the time. School counselor assignments and emails are on the GHS website in the School Counseling section.
Seniors : Now is the time to apply for scholarships. The GHS Scholarship Application has been emailed to your school based email and it can also be accessed from your Naviance account. Paper copies are available in the Counseling Office. This application enables you to apply for multiple local scholarships with just this one application. If you are thinking of attending any trade school or a 4-year or 2-year college, you should apply for local scholarships using this application. The deadline of March 13 th will approach quickly. No late applications will be accepted. Please contact the Counseling Office if you have any questions.
In December and January school counselors will meet individually with juniors and do course requests for next year. Counselors will also go over what juniors need to do to start planning for after high school. If you want to be part of that meeting please email your child’s school counselor and arrange an appointment for December or January. School counselors emails are on the GHS website and in student Canvas accounts.
Intervention and Treatment Specialist: We are very excited to announce that we are offering a new service to students at GHS! In partnership with the Middle Peninsula Northern Neck CSB, a Substance Abuse Intervention and Prevention Specialist will be on site at GHS. The goal of the position is to offer substance use intervention/prevention and counseling services to lower the rate of substance use and abuse in Gloucester County Schools by offering intervention and prevention services to students.
Athletics:
Congratulations to the Wrestling Team for winning the Peninsula District Wrestling Tournament
Championship for the second year in a row! Individual place winners were:
Varsity
113lbs Aiden Sheesley - Gold
120lbs David Lewis - Bronze
126lbs Christian Hartz - Gold
132lbs Grayson Orlando - Bronze
138lbs Corey Skay - Gold
144lbs Karl Dean- Gold
165lbs Kenneth Hamilton - Gold
175lbs William Murrell - Bronze
190lbs Hayden Fox - 5th
HWT JR Jones - Gold
JV Jamboree
113lbs Oliver Ramos - Gold
HWT Colby Morris - Bronze
Baseball Players: There will be a meeting on Feb 2nd for anyone interested in trying out for baseball after school in Room 121 of the new section (Coach Mathews Room). Meeting should last 30 mins. Please make arrangements to attend.
Sportsmanship is a top priority of the Virginia High School League and GHS. Please show support and respect for the fans, opposing teams, and game officials at all times while attending home or away events. Any misconduct can lead to dismissal from the game, and from attending future games. Please help us enjoy another successful athletic season by showing extraordinary sportsmanship at all times.
Ticket Prices: Peninsula District athletic event ticket prices have increased this year for the sporting events that charge. Students and Adults are $7 each, children 6-12, and senior citizens are $5 each. This is for all home and away events.