Duke Update February 8, 2026
Hello GHS Dukes!
This week, GHS recognizes VDOE Kindness Week! Kindness Week highlights the impact of everyday acts of kindness in creating compassionate, safe, healthy, and welcoming schools and communities. Kindness Week will be celebrated February 9th through February 13th. Show up and dress out for kindness!
Monday – Brighten Someone’s Day: Wear bright colors and say something kind to others.
Tuesday – Team Up for Kindness: Wear your favorite sports team gear and offer to help someone who may be struggling.
Wednesday – “You Can Sit With Us”: Wear pink and show kindness to yourself and others.
Thursday – Kindness Rocks: Wear an appropriate shirt or sweater of your favorite band and give high-fives or fist bumps to others.
Friday – Kindness Ties Us Together: Wear tie-dye and thank a staff member for all they do.
Let’s work together to spread kindness throughout GHS all week long!
Congratulations to our 2025-26 GHS Teachers of the Year, Dianne Carter de Mayo and Suzanne Nester! Their dedication, passion, and commitment to our students truly make a difference every day. We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and thank them for all they do for GHS!
Congratulations to our Support Staff Members of the Year, Destiny Horton & Cartrina Jones! Thank you both for your hard work, dedication, and the positive impact you make on our school community each and every day!
Congratulations to the Mario Kart and Varsity Smash Bros ESports teams for starting the season strong by winning scrimmage matches this past Wednesday and Thursday. Shout out to Luis Seda for helping be an anchor player during the Mario Kart match.
The GHS cafeteria will offer Second Chance Breakfast for students who have a late-in or may have missed breakfast earlier in the morning. The cafeteria doors will open from 9:10 a.m. until 9:20 a.m.
The next All Pro Dad Breakfast will take place on Wednesday, February 18 at 8:00 AM in the GHS Cafeteria. Parents/Guardians may sign up online by visiting the GHS website, clicking on Events, and selecting All Pro Dad under the February 18 date. Then click RSVP Here to register. For those without internet access, students may pick up a paper form from the GHS Main Office. All forms must be returned to the Main Office by Friday, February 13. The online link will also close on that date.
Attention Junior Class: This is a reminder that there is still time to purchase your Junior Class ring! Please visit Jostens.com to place your order.
Families, students and community members are you still looking to go somewhere warm and tropical this summer? Come to Costa Rica and Panama! There will be an All-Aboard meeting on Thursday, February 19th at 5:30 PM at the High School in room 139 (Ms. Falkenberg's room) for families and students already signed up. Families who have not signed up can still enroll and learn more about this amazing Caribbean trip!!
Click here for more info: https://www.eftours.com/2814681HK
Click here to RSVP to the meeting to learn more about our Costa Rica/Panama trip this summer of 2026. https://bit.ly/3ZlTBDu
Yearbooks are available for pre-order at yearbookordercenter.com using code 4758. Less than 50 copies are available, so order soon!
Lace up, Gloucester! Join the Gloucester County Educational Foundation 3K or 8K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 14—or go virtual anytime from February 27 through March 14. Sign up online through the Canvas announcement and run for a great cause supporting Mini-Grants and Teacher of the Year!
Valentine's Day sneaking up on you? Roses from the Renaissance sales last week will be delivered on Friday, Feb. 13.
GHS will be having students complete the VSS survey on Tuesday 2/10. The Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions a tool for division leaders and principals to monitor and ensure all students and staff have access to a healthy and positive environment in which to learn, work, interact, and grow, whether remotely or in-person. It is mandatory for our school staff and students to participate. We will be having students complete the survey on Tuesday at 9:30am. We will post the student survey link on Tuesday morning in Canvas.
Athletics
Field Hockey: There will be a Field Hockey player and parent interest meeting on Tuesday, February 17th at 6:00 pm in the GHS cafeteria.
Tryouts for spring sports will start 2/23 – dates, times and locations are posted on the GHS athletics page. All students must meet GCPS eligibility requirements and have a valid sports physical on file and approved in the new Arbiter Registration Program – steps are on the GHS website under athletics. Coaches emails are listed on the GHS Athletic page.
All student-athletes currently playing or planning to play a sport must complete the Arbiter registration to be eligible to participate in conditioning, tryouts, practice, or competition. The registration link and tutorial can be found on the GHS athletics website, and info flyers are located outside room 314. See Dr. Croft or Ms. Hunter in the athletic office if you have any questions.
Seniors
WANT TO HELP CREATE AN UNFORGETTABLE PROM? The 2026 Prom Committee is now accepting members! If you are a Senior interested in planning, decorating, and bringing our theme to life, we want you! There will be an interest meeting on Wednesday, February 11th from 2:45 pm until 3:30 pm in the GHS Commons
Counseling
Parents and guardians of current sophomores. School Counselors will begin scheduling for students the week of February 9th. 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.
Daily Reminders:
📣 Attendance Notes Now Accepted Online!
Gloucester High School now accepts digital attendance notes. If your student is absent or tardy, visit the GHS website, click the “Digital Attendance Notes” button in the top right corner, complete the form, and submit. Notes are received instantly and can be submitted 24/7 for your convenience.
If you need to pick your student up early, please arrive PRIOR to 2:20 PM.
Parking passes for the 2nd semester have been reduced to $25.00 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking pass application forms may be picked up in the Main Office or found on the GHS website. Please bring your completed application along with a screenshot or printed copy of your receipt to the Main Office.
The Care Closet will only be accepting new, high school appropriate clothing for the remainder of the school year. The Care Closet can not accept perishable food items or food items in glass containers. Thank you for your generosity.
Lost and Found: Students, check the Lost and Found daily if you have misplaced any items.
Bus Notes Reminder: All students who need to submit a bus note must turn it in to the Main Office in the morning to allow time for review and approval. Submitting notes later in the day may result in delays or the note not being approved.
The Activity Bus departs GHS at 5:30 p.m. for the remainder of the school year. The bus runs Monday through Thursday only. Please see the link for scheduled Activity bus stops: https://5il.co/3sjxt
Parents/guardians must be at their student’s designated stop when they arrive. If a student will not have a ride from their stop, a completed permission form must be turned in. Copies of the form are available in the Main Office, and completed forms should be given directly to the Activity Bus driver.
Safety: 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!
That concludes our Duke Update. Let’s Go Dukes!!