Duke Update March 22, 2026
Attention Parents/Guardians: Please note the following calendar changes for all GCPS schools: Friday, March 27th and Friday, May 1st are no longer early dismissal days and will now be full school days for students. In addition, Tuesday, April 21st will be a virtual learning day for students and a workday for teachers and staff. Please visit the GHS website to view a letter from Dr. Vladu for more information regarding these changes.
Congratulations to the Students of the Month:
9th Grade: Synclaire Cahilly, Izzabella McNair
10th Grade: Violet Whitmarsh, Joseph Briggs
11th Grade: Isabella Willett, Gage Grinnell
12th Grade: Mattie Shockley, Abdiel Santiago Ramos
Congratulations to the Teachers of the Month:
Mr. Martinez, Senior Chief Grant, & Mr. Burr
Congratulations to the Staff Member of the Month:
Ms. Kristy Hunter
Congratulations to both ESports Super Smash Bros teams for their victories on Wednesday. Stephan Arnold secured the match for the team with back to back wins against difficult opponents.
Juniors: Ring Dance tickets are now on sale! Tickets are $20 and available through SchoolCash Online. If you purchased a ring from Jostens, you receive one complimentary ticket. For guest information and details, check the junior class page in Canvas.
Yearbooks: There are currently less than 20 yearbooks available for pre-order. Please visit yearbookordercenter.com using code 4758 to guarantee your copy. The book will sell out and extra copies are not able to be ordered.
The Crochet Club will be meet on Monday, March 23rd, from 2:50 to 4:30 in Mrs. Fernandez's room, 138. New members are always welcome! Chill and chat, practice your stitches, learn new ones, and collaborate to create fun projects! See you there!
9th & 10th grade students will participate in a presentation by the Silent No More Team on Wednesday, March 25th during 4th block in the GHS Auditorium. This drug awareness initiative fulfills the Substance Abuse Module of Virginia’s Standards of Learning and has been educating students and communities since 2019 on the dangers of opioids, current drug trends, and ending the stigma surrounding addiction. Please note that some content may be emotional but delivers an important and potentially life-saving message. GHS counselors will be on hand to support students if needed.
Please join us in the Courtyard next Thursday evening, March 26th at 6:30 to learn more about our Japan and South Korea trip next summer 2027. If you cannot make the meeting, see Ms. Falkenberg in room 139 for a detailed brochure to enroll. Open enrollment will be until April 3rd with a $200.00 discount. Start saving and planning now! This will be your trip of a lifetime!!! New RSVP QR codes will be posted around the school - Hope to see you soon!!
👉 Find meeting info and RSVP here: https://rsvp.eftours.com/yg5yr35
Join Gloucester's Mu Alpha Theta Chapter! We are a math honor society dedicated to inspiring a keen interest in mathematics, developing a strong scholarship in the subject, and promoting the enjoyment of mathematics-and applications are now open! You must have completed Algebra I and Geometry, as well as having a 3.0 math GPA or higher. Join to make new friends, improve your math skills, compete and challenge yourself, look great on college applications, and be exposed to scholarships allocated for Mu Alpha Theta members. The deadline for applications is Friday, April 10th.
Athletics
Girls Volleyball is holding conditioning Mondays & Wednesday starting March 23rd from 6 - 8pm in the GHS Main gym. You must have a valid sports physical and be approved in the arbiter registration program to attend.
Boys Basketball is starting conditioning on 3/24 and will go on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5:00pm - 7:00pm in the GHS Main gym - students must have a valid sports physical and be approved in the arbiter registration program to participate.
Counseling
Seniors – Application materials for several scholarships are due to the Counseling Office in the upcoming weeks as follows. Don’t miss out on these opportunities:
PEO Chapter CA Scholarship (for females only) due March 31st
Gloucester Field Hockey Club Scholarship due April 15th
Abingdon Ruritan Club Scholarship due April 17th
Please stop in the Counseling Office and check out the scholarship table just inside the door. There are paper copies of the above scholarship applications as well as some additional local scholarship opportunities which have recently been added. Please check your Naviance account regularly and contact the Counseling Office if you have any questions.
The Peer Tutoring Club will be staying after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This club provides peer tutoring and homework help for students who may need extra assistance or a quiet place to complete their assignments. Please encourage any students who may benefit from additional academic support to attend. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Watkins or Ms. Hammack in the Counseling Office.
Attention Juniors and Seniors: We are gearing up for our Powder Puff Football Game and are looking for participants! We need 20 ladies for each team to play football and 20 gentlemen to join the cheer squads. If you’re interested in being part of this fun event, sign-ups will begin March 9 during all three lunches. The entry fee is $20 per player or cheerleader, and spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
Daily Reminders:
Dress Code: As the weather gets warmer, we want to remind you of the GCPS dress code policy. Students must be covered from shoulders to mid-thigh. Shorts/skirts above mid-thigh, exposed mid-driffs, and exposed shoulders are not allowed. Please see page 10 of the GCPS student code of conduct for details. Students addressed for dress code will have the opportunity to change, go to the CARE closet, or wait in a designated area for clothing drop-off.
Attention Parents/Guardians of Students with Early Dismissals: Due to new building safety procedures, students with an early dismissal must exit through either the Main Entrance doors or Door 2E (the old Main Entrance).
Please note:
Students may only use Door 2E during class change times.
They will have 5 minutes to exit before the alarm sounds.
If they are unable to exit through Door 2E within the 5-minute window, they must use the Main Entrance doors.
Reminder: Students arriving late to school should continue to report to the Main Entrance doors for required security check-in procedures. This policy is being implemented to help ensure the safety and security of all students and staff. Thank you for your attention and understanding.
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.
📣 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. Students, Follow the Duke Way! Don’t give in to social media trends that encourage behaviors that violate the code of conduct.
That concludes our Duke Update. Let’s Go Dukes!!