Duke Update August 24, 2025
First Day of School Information: The first day of school is Monday, August 25th.
First block begins at 7:40 AM
Dismissal is at 2:25 PM this week only
Staff will be available in the morning to help students find their first block class. Students will receive their first semester schedules from their first block teacher. We look forward to a great start to the school year!
No School for students and staff on Friday, August 29th and Monday, September 1st in observance of the Labor Day Holiday.
Bus Loop Procedures: For safety reasons, no students, parents, or visitors should enter the bus loop between:
7:00 AM – 7:45 AM
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
Thank you for helping us keep arrival and dismissal times safe and efficient for all.
Parent Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures: Parent drop-off and pick-up will remain the same as at the end of the 2024–2025 school year. Please use the main entrance loop before and after school for drop-off and pick-up. Follow the directions of our staff members as they guide traffic through the loop.
Dress Code Reminder: Parents and guardians, we appreciate your support in ensuring that students follow the GCPS dress code, which can be found on page 6 of the Code of Conduct.
Please note:
Hats, hoods, and head coverings should not be worn indoors.
Tops must cover the midriff and navel. Sleepwear, blankets and slippers are prohibited.
Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and distraction-free learning environment.
Visitor Procedures: All visitors must:
Park in a designated visitor spot in the main entrance lot.
Enter through the main entrance and present valid identification to check in. Please do not park in the main loop for any reason. Thank you for helping us keep our campus safe and accessible.
Attention Parents/Guardians and Students:
Effective immediately:
All food and drinks must be finished before entering the school building in the mornings.
Students may not have food or beverages in the classroom (water bottles/containers are permitted).
Food delivery services will not be allowed during or after school.
Yearbooks are now available for pre-order on yearbookordercenter.com using code 4758.
There will be an ESports Team interest meeting for the fall season after school until 3:30 on Wednesday, August 27th in room 234 with Coach Schoenthal.
Parking Passes are now available for all Seniors and Juniors. You must purchase your parking pass using School Cash Online. Print or take a screenshot of the receipt and bring that along with your completed application signed by your parent or guardian to the main office to pick your parking spot for the year.
Students' class schedules are now visible in PowerSchool.
Activity Bus: Starting on September 2nd, the evening Activity Bus Run will be departing at 6:00 pm for the Fall & Winter season. Schedules can be found on the GHS website and in the Main Office.
Demographics Form: All returning GCPS students received an email from PowerSchool with a link to update demographic and emergency contact information. Please be sure to log in and verify that all information is correct, and make any changes that are necessary. If you need any help with PowerSchool, or have any other questions, please call the GHS Main Office at (804)-693-2526.
Changes to school meals: School meals are not automatically free this school year for GCPS students. Free/Reduced Meal applications are available online and paper applications will be available in the GHS Main Office.
The GHS Care Closet would like to thank the New Vision Pioneers Old Dominion Chapter for donating a huge shipment of new backpacks for students to start the year. We would also like to thank RKL Tools for making a large monetary donation. Our Gloucester community is so incredibly generous. If you would like to make a donation to the Care Closet, please email or call Sally Hartley.
GHS Counseling will have a Managing Stress group that will start up September 17th. If your student is interested in participating, please have them sign up in counseling or send an email to the SEL counselor, Vanessa Morris.
Dear families and community members, take advantage of an amazing opportunity of a lifetime; a Summer 2027 Trip to Japan and South Korea! Our first interest meeting will be on September 4th for your 👉 RSVP here to join us: https://rsvp.eftours.com/keg7jhv
If your student is interested in traveling to Costa Rica and Panama next Summer 2026, this trip is also still available and enrollment for this will take place on September 4th.
During Summer 2025, Ms. Falkenberg took a group of students to France and Spain! It was amazing. She looks forward to sharing her experiences with you all and keep these travel experiences going! To hear more about it, please come to the meeting in the courtyard on September 4th. **If you have traveled with EF already and are planning on traveling again, use your same account info to receive an additional repeat traveler discount!**
Please contact Ms. Falkenberg via email or stop by her classroom in room 139 at GHS for a more detailed brochure
We look forward to a great start to the school year!