Duke Update April 26, 2026
This week, GHS recognizes School Lunch Hero Day on Friday, May 1st—celebrating our amazing cafeteria staff for all they do to prepare, serve, and care for our students. Thank you, lunch heroes!
Congratulations, the GHS ESports Mario Kart team is state Champion 2026!
We are very proud of the efforts of Coach Lauren Schoenthal and our students this season and at ODU yesterday.
Congratulations to the GHS Rowing team who competed last weekend at Regionals in North Carolina.
Results:
Men’s varsity 4- 1st Pl.
Men’s novice 8- 1st Pl.
Women’s novice 8- 1st Pl.
Men’s junior single- 2nd place
Men’s novice 4- 1st Pl.
Women’s novice 4- 2nd place
Men’s varsity 8- 3rd Pl.
Men’s varsity double- 3rd Pl.
On Saturday May 2nd and Sat May 9th, they will compete at the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championships in Occoquan, VA.
Congratulations to the following Students of the Month:
9th Grade: Alexander Vargas & Bayleigh Dominguez
10th Grade: Marlee Thorson & Hugh Smith
11th Grade: Savannah Anby & Grayson Orlando
12th Grade: Alexis Dishman & Milo Nelson
Congratulations to the Teachers of the Month:
Mrs. Foster, Mr. Scalf, & Mrs. Burns
Congratulations to the Staff Member of the Month:
Mr. Coleman
Attendance Recovery: GHS will offer after-school attendance recovery sessions from April 27 through April 30. This opportunity is highly recommended for students who have missed more than 14 days of school. Sign-ups began Monday, April 20, on the GHS website and will remain open until sessions are full or until 9:00 a.m. on the day of each session. Students must register for each day they plan to attend using their GCPS student email. If you have any questions, please contact your student’s counselor or administrator.
All Pro Dad Breakfast: Parents and guardians—don’t miss the final All Pro Dad Breakfast of the 2025–2026 school year! The breakfast will take place on Wednesday, May 6th at 8:00 a.m. in the GHS Cafeteria. Please complete the online registration form on the GHS website, or have your student pick up a paper copy in the Main Office if needed. All registrations must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1st. We look forward to seeing you there! https://forms.gle/gqRUup4neGHAtNDu7
Gloucester Fine Arts Department proudly presents the 21st Annual Student Art Show. Please join us on Wednesday, April 29th from 4 to 7 pm at the Gloucester Public Library on Main Street. We will be hosting a reception for our student artists. The reception is free and open to the public. The show will run until May 22nd
The GHS theatre department welcomes you to the land of Oz as they present The Wizard of Oz, at 7PM April 30, May 1, and 2, and 2PM on May 2. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through the link below as well with cash at the door. April 29 is GCPS student night, where all GCPS students (and employees) get half price tickets! Get blown away in this fun and magical journey. https://gofan.co/app/school/VA12891?activity=Musical
Dukes and Deputies Basketball game: Join us on Friday, May 8, 2026, for the 3rd Annual Dukes and Deputies Basketball Game at GHS! Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the game begins at 6:00 p.m. This exciting event supports the Sheriff’s Office Summer Camp for at-risk students. Enjoy pizza, drinks, popcorn, a 50/50 raffle, and great basketball. Come out and support a great cause! Tickets are $6 and available on GoFan. https://gofan.co/event/6491407
Students, check the Lost and Found daily if you have misplaced any items.
Counseling
Seniors –
1. Application materials for the Adam Stephen Neely Scholarship are due to the Counseling Office this upcoming Friday (May1st) at 3:00pm. Paper copies of this application are available in the Counseling Office on the scholarship table just inside the door. Please check your Naviance account regularly and contact the Counseling Office if you have any questions.
2. Prom guest forms are available in the Main Office. These forms are required for guests who do not attend Gloucester High School or for guests who have already graduated. Please make sure your guest is approved before purchasing prom tickets. Tickets are on sale now through SchoolCash Online.
3. You may now request 5 additional tickets for graduation. You will receive your graduation tickets at the mandatory graduation rehearsal on Friday, June 5th. Please stop by the Main Office during class changes or your lunch period to add your name to the extra ticket list.
Juniors and Seniors: An admissions representative from Richard Bland College will be conducting an information session here at the high school for interested GHS Juniors and Seniors on Tuesday, April 28th. 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.
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.
Daily Reminders:
The 2025-2026 Yearbook is officially sold out. No further copies can be pre-ordered at this time. Please see Ms. Schoenthal with any questions.
Dress Code: Shorts/skirts above mid-thigh, exposed mid-driffs, and exposed shoulders are not allowed. Students must be covered from shoulders to mid-thigh. Please also 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: 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.
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.
The GHS cafeteria offers 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! GHS 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.
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. 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!!