Duke Update October 12, 2025
Shout-Outs
Congratulations to our 25-26 Homecoming King and Queen: Declan McCann and Mylah Santiago!
Congratulations to the Students of the Month:
9th Grade: Caitlyn Gayle & Nina Sweitzer
10th Grade: Alexis Menard & Ian Martinez
11th Grade: Alan Thomas & Destiny Tanner
12th Grade: Emerson Dutton & Avalynn Hutton
Congratulations to the Teachers of the Month: Ms. D'Auria, Ms. Szulgit, & Ms. Ralph
Congratulations to the Staff Member of the Month: Ms. Neal
Athletics
Congratulations to Boys Volleyball players on amazing career milestones while playing for GHS - Hayden Simmons with 500 kills, and Grayson Shield with 1000 assists.
Starting next week Tuesday October 14th & Thursday October 16th 3:15-4:30pm, Indoor track and field will be having conditioning in the weight room with Coach Nichols. The first day of tryouts will be November 10th at the high school on the track. Conditioning and tryouts are for 8th-12th graders. Conditioning is for those who are not currently involved in a fall sport. Tryouts will only be during the week of November 10th -14th. All information about eligibility can be directed to Ms. Hunter and it should be on the GHS website.
Please be advised, for safety reasons, students attending GHS home Varsity football games must sit in the stands unless going to the restroom or concession stand. There is no standing along the fence line or walking around the stadium edges.
General Announcements
Jostens will return to GHS on Tuesday, October 14th to hand out senior items and take senior and junior orders. Representatives will be available in the commons area during all 3 lunch blocks from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm.
📋 Federal Survey Cards: Parents/Guardians - Federal Survey Cards will be distributed to all students during 2nd block classes on Tuesday, October 15th.
Students with late-ins may pick up their cards from the Main Office.
All students must return their cards completed and signed by a parent or guardian by Wednesday, October 22nd.
Extra copies will be available in the GHS Main Office if needed.
GHS Conference Night! ✨📅Mark your calendars! Conference Night will be held on Tuesday, October 15th from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Parents and guardians are encouraged to schedule a conference time directly with teachers via phone or email. Walk-ins are also welcome as teacher schedules allow.
All Pro-Dad Breakfast: The 1st All Pro Dad Breakfast of the 25-26 school year will take place on Wednesday, October 22nd at 8:00 am in the GHS cafeteria. Permission forms were handed out to students last week, extra forms may be picked up from the Main Office. You may also sign-up online via the GHS website under the Events tab. The deadline to sign-up is 3:00 pm, Friday, October 17th.
GHS strives to keep all students and staff safe in accordance with division guidelines. All GCPS students go through security and weapons detectors each morning. Please continue to encourage students to be careful not to bring prohibited items to school such as vapes and lighters. Thanks for your support!
Yearbooks are now available for pre-order on yearbookordercenter.com using code 4758.
Parking passes Additional parking passes are on sale via School Cash Online for Juniors and Seniors. Passes will be on a first come first served basis. If you have already purchased a pass but have not yet selected your spot, please bring your completed parking pass application along with a screenshot or printed copy of your receipt to the Main Office.
Free/Reduced Meal applications are available online and paper applications are available in the GHS Main Office.
Demographics Form: Parents and students, please check and verify contact information for you and your emergency contacts in PowerSchool. 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.
Clubs/Activities
The next meeting of the W.E.B. Dubois Honor Society will be on Monday, October 13th at 3:00 pm in Mrs. Carter's room 134. You can hear from Candidates for Club Offices, plan fun fall activities, and meet cool people. Y'all come!
The International Thespian Society will meet on Wednesday, October 15 from 3-3:30. Please see Mrs. Hunter in the blackbox (room 305) for more information.
HOSA is selling breast cancer awareness bracelets for $5 see a HOSA member or Mrs. Nester in room 236 if you would like one. The next HOSA meeting is after school on Wednesday, October 15th in the cafeteria.
The STEM Club will be having a meeting on Thursday, October 16th, after school, in room 111.
NHS Chapter meeting will be held Thursday, October 16th in the CAFETERIA at 2:50. Remember attendance is mandatory. See you then!
Are you interested in studying abroad? Would you want to go for free? There is a unique scholarship opportunity that might be just right for you called the CBYX Program. Our very own GHS student Kat Gibson earned this scholarship opportunity last year and is currently spending her junior year in Germany. Who knows, you could be next! There will be an informational session offered during school on October 16 for current, former and future German students. Check Canvas or see Mrs. Ballew for more information on how you can attend.
Click for more info: https://usagermanyscholarship.org/?state=Virginia
Costa Rica Trip Summer 2026- Future travelers, now is the time to sign up and go to Costa Rica/Panama with us in summer 2026. It is not too late if you are still interested. Make it your fun summer trip with friends and join the Explorers club to fundraise money to possibly go! See Ms. Falkenberg for more details or email her at: hilary.falkenberg@gc.k12.va.us
Click below to enroll: https://www.eftours.com/2814681HK
Explorers Club – Explorers, if you missed our Oct. meeting last week or couldn’t make it – we have started our 1st official fundraiser. Come by Ms. Falkenberg’s room in room 139 to pick up your chocolate & snacking order form to start fundraising – our next meeting will not be until November
All items on the Care Closet food list are needed for weekly food bags. The items can be found on the GHS website under the "Find It Fast" page. Any donations will be greatly appreciated.
Counseling
Three will be a substance use and prevention group that will be starting in November on Wednesdays. If you are interested in participating, please sign up in the counseling office, on Canvas or email Mrs. Peters with your student I.D. # and choice of 2nd or 4th block. The deadline to sign up is October 31 so please don’t miss out on this opportunity!
Attention Juniors and Seniors: Admissions representatives from several colleges and universities will be conducting information sessions here at the high school for interested GHS Juniors and Seniors. This week, George Mason University will be visiting. 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.
Parents and guardians of current seniors. The school counseling department has begun scheduling for your student. We would love for you to participate alongside your student. Please check out the GHS School Counseling Hub in Canvas for a sign up genius link for your student’s school counselor. Alternatively, you can send an e-mail to your child’s counselor as well to set up a time that works best for you.
That concludes our Duke Update. Let’s Go Dukes!!