Greetings from the Nest,

We’ve made it to December, and I’m pleased to report that as I circulate throughout the building, teachers and students are focusing on instruction and working to make as much academic progress as possible before winter break. With November behind us, these three uninterrupted weeks are a great opportunity for students to check in with teachers, ask questions regarding challenging learning targets, and complete assessments. It’s a chance for everyone to go into winter break feeling as though January will bring us a strong end to fall semester.

With that in mind, the potential exists for us to experience some inclement weather in the coming months. With the resources we have available, PWCS will most likely utilize more Code Orange days than our traditional Code Red closings. I’ve asked teachers to review Code Orange procedures with students on Monday and Tuesday. However, briefly, students should be prepared to log in to their teachers’ Zoom classrooms (via Canvas in a “Code Orange” module). Students should turn their cameras on and follow the posted Code Orange schedule. We will continue with our normal array of classes, including Nest and Advisory blocks via Zoom. Students who do not log in or turn their cameras on will be marked absent in accordance with PWCS expectations. In the event that your neighborhood loses power during a storm, we’ll take that into account as we tally attendance. The faculty, staff, and I are hopeful that Code Orange days will help students maintain headway against curriculum goals regardless of our Northern Virginia weather.

In good news this week, I was proud of the nearly 200 students who qualified for induction into the National Honor Society this week. Applicants showed sufficient scholarship, leadership, character, and service to gain membership into this prestigious society. I appreciate all that our teachers and parents did to support applicants in the process. Also, our winter sports teams have been hard at work and are already off to a strong start. Please see the schedule below and join us for a basketball game, wrestling match or gymnastics meet this month.

Finally, I’m pleased to pass on that we’ve had 11 students’ artwork accepted into this year’s “Off the Wall” exhibition at the Manassas Art Factory. Students’ work will be on display from December 21 – January 30. Don’t miss this chance to help us celebrate some of our most talented and creative artists. For more information, check out the Art Factory web page.

Specialty Program Application Deadlines

The Specialty Program Application Portal is now open. Information about Specialty Programs and the application process can be found on the PWCS Specialty Programs webpage. Please note that applications for the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Program at Colgan High School are due by 11:59 p.m. on December 14, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.

All other applications for Specialty Programs are due by 11:59 p.m. on February 1, 2024.

Student acceptances will be communicated in mid-to-late February, and families must accept an offered seat by March 5, 2024. For more information on the process, please reach out to Dr. Scott at scottrm@pwcs.edu. 

Attendance Reminders

All day absences should be reported in ParentVue each day. Please allow up to two school days for attendance to be updated online. Absence notes should be turned in to the attendance office within five days of the absence.

If your student needs to leave early, use the form under the Attendance tab on the school website. By submitting this form, you do not need to call the office to report each early dismissal, but office staff may need to contact the parent/guardian to verify the dismissal request.

If your student arrives late to school, they need to have a note, signed and dated, with a valid excuse. Otherwise, the tardy will be considered unexcused. Please reach out to Ms. Johanna Portillo at portilj@pwcs.edu or 571.248.3200 if you have questions.

Curriculum Night

GHS is hosting a Curriculum Night for students and families on December 7 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. This is to help families prepare for academic advising for the 2024-2025 school year. This event will include tables from our departments and programs such as Project Lead the Way: Biomedical Sciences and Teachers for Tomorrow. We will also be hosting 3 information sessions for families and students to attend. Please check out the detailed agenda, and we hope to see you on 12/7!

Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College

The cost of a college education is higher than ever. The College Funding Coach® is here to help families figure out HOW to pay for college and still retire one day! You'll discover strategies that may enable your student to qualify for financial aid, minimize your out-of-pocket costs, sources for scholarships, and strategies for maximizing your wealth and minimizing your tax exposure giving you greater cash flow for funding a college education. Please join Gainesville High School on December 11 at 5:30 p.m. for this in-person presentation, as The College Funding Coach presents their nationally acclaimed free parent workshop called “Little Known Secrets of Paying for College.” This is information you can't afford to miss! To register for this FREE event click here!

GHS Spirit Store

Want to purchase GHS Spirit wear and can't make it out to a game. Check out the GHS Online Store. All items purchased will be mailed directly to you.

Spring Sports Athletic Paperwork

With the return of Ms. May, our athletic trainer, we will utilize the activity registry for submitting required physicals and evidence of concussion training. Just a reminder that all athletes must have an updated physical (dated after 5/1/2023) and completed concussion training to try out. If you have any questions about the registry, please contact Ms. May at maykt@pwcs.edu.

Finally, winter sports are underway. Please come out and support your Cardinals. All game schedules can be found on athletic website.

As we look forward to Thanksgiving break next week, I hope all our students and families take some time to unwind and spend some time enjoying the company of friends and family. If you didn’t get a chance to go to the Gainesville Theatre’s presentation of Macbeth last weekend, there are two more opportunities this weekend, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students.

Congratulations to the 13 GHS orchestra students selected for the PWCS All County Honors Orchestra and the 10 GHS orchestra students selected for the PWCS All County Select Orchestra! Students in the Honors Orchestra auditioned against 194 students from all 13 high schools to earn a spot in the ensemble. Only 82 students are chosen each year based on the quality of their audition. Gainesville HS had the second highest number of students successfully complete the Honors Orchestra audition. All students will perform at the PWCS High School All County Orchestra event in January at Forest Park High School.

“Like” Video in Advisory

On November 21st, in advisory, students will be watching a documentary called LIKE. This 50-minute video explores the impact of social media on our lives and the effects of technology on the brain and on learning. This is a great opportunity for students to learn about and discuss how social media impacts their day to day and overall growth. I encourage our families to engage in conversations with their student(s) about some of the benefits of unplugging from electronics and social media even for a short period of time.

Talent Show

The Class of 2026 is hosting Gainesville High School’s First Annual Talent Show! We have a lot of exciting acts planned to include dancers, singers, instrument players, and more! The Talent Show will take place on Friday, December 1st at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium. Doors open at 6:30pm. We hope to see you there! Tickets can be purchased on Ticket Spicket using the following link: https://events.ticketspicket.com/agency/8695ad96-b2a0-4f9f-bfe8-f9898300775d/events/fa6c795d-0b0f-40b3-94c8-78c1616b9adc

Counseling Corner

Students who took the PSAT at GHS on the November 16th can now access their score reports. Please visit the link for additional information. gainesvillehs.pwcs.edu/news/2023/11/psatscorereport

Juniors and Seniors have the opportunity to take the ASVAB on December 1st. If interested in signing up, students can do so in Naviance.

Naviance-->College-->College Visits-->Find ASVAB-->Click Register

Gainesville is hosting its first Military Panel on November 30th in the Library! Students will be able to ask questions and hear from various branches about their experiences in the Military. Students from any grade are welcome to attend but must sign up in Naviance under College Visits to reserve their seat. Thank you to the parents who volunteered to be panelist!

Save the date! GHS is hosting a Curriculum Night for students and families on December 7th. This is to help families prepare for academic advising for the 2023-2024 school year. More information to come.

Upcoming Events

• Thanksgiving Break (no school) 11/22-11/24
• National Honor Society Induction 11/30
• PTSO Meeting 11/30
• Curriculum Night 12/7

As we start the 2nd marking period, we remind families to use tools such as ParentVUE to access grades and track student progress. If you have questions about specific classes, please contact your student’s teachers directly. We are proud of the work our students and teachers did in the 1st marking period, and we look forward to what is accomplished this fall and winter.

Best of luck to our Girl's Cross-Country team and Trent Daniels as they compete in 6A State Championships. In addition, best of luck to our Varsity Football team as they travel to Colonial Forge for their Regional Quarterfinal match-up. Let’s go Cardinals!

Happy Veteran’s Day to those who served! We are grateful for our staff and community members who served in the Armed Forces, and we honor their commitment. A reminder that in celebration of Veteran’s Day, there is no school on Friday November 10th.

Macbeth

The Gainesville Theatre proudly presents William Shakespeare's Macbeth opening this Friday at 7 PM. The play will occur on 11/10 at 7pm, 11/11 at noon and 7pm, 11/17 at 7pm, and 11/18 at 7pm. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for students, and free for faculty/staff.

Naglieri Non-Verbal Ability Test

GHS ninth graders should plan to take the NNAT during their World History class on Monday or Tuesday, November 20 & 21. This 30-minute, online assessment yields data to help in identifying students who may be eligible for additional gifted & talented services. All ninth graders should attend that block with a fully charged device for ease of test administration. Students already identified as gifted do not need to participate.

Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College

The cost of a college education is higher than ever. The College Funding Coach® is here to help families figure out HOW to pay for college and still retire one day! You'll discover strategies that may enable your student to qualify for financial aid, minimize your out-of-pocket cost, sources for scholarships, and strategies for maximizing your wealth and minimizing your tax exposure giving you greater cash flow for funding a college education. Please join Gainesville High School on December 11th @ 5:30pm for this in-person presentation, as The College Funding Coach presents their nationally acclaimed free parent workshop called “Little Known Secrets of Paying for College”. This is information you can't afford to miss! To register for this FREE event click here!

Apprenticeship Week

Apprenticeship Week is November 13-17th! We will celebrate by having various businesses visit throughout the week. Students can visit the business of the day during their lunch in the cafeteria to learn about an exciting new profession. Businesses that will be there include: Caliber Collison, Lockhead Martin, Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Steamfitters Union 602, Virginia Court Reporters, Universal Technical Institute, and more.

Lost and Found

The Gainesville High School lost and found has an impressive collection of coats, sweatshirts, and water bottles. If your student has lost any items, they can come by the main office to search the lost and found. Items not picked by Friday, November 17 will be donated to a local organization.

Upcoming dates

Principals Advisory Council 11/13

Academic Awards Night 11/15

Specialty Information Night 11/16

Underclassmen Pictures 11/16

Senior Pictures 11/30

PTSO Meeting 11/30

This week we wrap up the first quarter of the school year, it has been a strong start, and we hope you take the time this long weekend to recharge and get ready for the second quarter of the school year.

Congratulations to our 2023 Girl's Cross Country Regional Champions! The Girl's brought home our school's first team Regional Championship. Best of luck at State Competition to Caroline Tribett, Isabella Savage, Riley Long, Faith O'Shea, Emily Johnson, Jamie Davis, Emily Miller, Eliana Bernarte, Josephine Swonger, and Anna Gidaspova. Go Cardinals!

Congratulations, also, to the Cardinal Marching Band on an outstanding finish to their competitive season! The Cardinals delivered a strong performance at the USBands Maryland-Virginia State Championships, winning Best Percussion and Best Ensemble Music in their class, and were crowned 3A Virginia State Champs!!

Our Varsity football team looks to close out the regular season with victory over Unity Reed, which would push their record to 8-2 on the season. The Cardinals have already qualified for next week's 6B Regional playoffs, which start on November 10th.

Underclassmen Pictures

Underclassmen make-up pictures will take place on Thursday, November 16. Please note the criteria below to retake pictures:

• This photo day is for students who were absent, new to the school, or who were not happy with their original PURCHASED package (NOTE: Students are required to return their original package to the photographer prior to taking a new photo. Students will not be allowed to just leave class to retake pictures). Passes will be sent to students who were absent or are new to the school.
• In an effort to minimize unnecessary student absence from class, we have a list of criteria for underclass makeup day to reference here, vosphoto.com/retakes.

Please feel free to direct Parent/ Guardian questions to our office, using the following email: underclass@vosphoto.com.

Military Panel

Are you a military connect family? Mrs. Harris is holding a Military Panel on November 30th from 9-10 am and needs volunteer panelists. This event will include each branch of the military and will provide students with an opportunity to hear from each panelist about their journey as well as ask questions about the military. Contact Mrs. Harris via email at harrist@pwcs.edu if you are interested or have any questions.

“Like” Video in Advisory

On November 21st, in advisory, students will be watching a documentary called LIKE. This 50-minute video explores the impact of social media on our lives and the effects of technology on the brain and on learning. If you wish to have your child opt-out, please fill out this Microsoft form by November 17th. 

Specialty Program Information Night

What’s your Pathway? On Thursday, November 16, we will host our first Pathways Program Information Night starting at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Families interested in applying for transfer to GHS for the 2024 – 25 school year are invited to come learn more about this innovative, inclusive specialty program. We’ll outline the various pathways available to transfer students and introduce the Extended Learning Experience option for juniors and seniors. For more information, interested students should visit with their counselor or reach out to Dr. Scott at scottrm@pwcs.edu or 571.248.3265.

Naglieri Non-Verbal Ability Test (NNAT)

GHS ninth graders should plan to take the NNAT during their World History class on Monday or Tuesday, November 20 & 21. This 30-minute, online assessment yields data to help in identifying students who may be eligible for additional gifted & talented services. All ninth graders should attend that block with a fully-charged device for ease of test administration. Students already identified as gifted do not need to participate.

JMU Brain Bee

Students interested in competing as part of Gainesville’s 2024, JMU Brain Bee Competition team should plan to attend an information meeting after school on Wednesday, November 15 in room 2021. Team sponsors and former student competitors will be on hand to share information about the competition. Registration opens November 17. See your gifted or BioMed teachers for more information.

MLK Competition

Students interested in competing in this year’s MLK Oratorical Competition, there is still time to prepare a speech and enter the GHS round of competition. Speeches need to be drafted shortly after the Thanksgiving break, so be sure to see Dr. Scott in the next two weeks for more information.

GHS Spirit Store

Want to purchase GHS Spirit wear and cannot make it out to a game. Check out the GHS Online Store. All items purchased are mailed directly to you.

Upcoming Events

Teacher Workdays 11/6, 11/7

Veterans Day (no school) 11/10

Principals Advisory Council 11/13

Academic Awards Night 11/15

Specialty Information Night 11/16

PTSO Meeting 11/30

Greetings from the Nest! This week was a week of accomplishments for many of our students and athletes at Gainesville. The Gainesville Marching Band succeeded at the VBODA Assessment! The band earned a straight Superior rating in all Captions. A first in program history! Be sure to see their final performances of the season at Friday’s Senior Night football game and Saturday at the USBands VA/MD Championships.

Congratulations to our Golf, Volleyball, and Field Hockey teams on a successful season. Field Hockey and Volleyball were one game away from qualifying for regionals. The Golf team advanced to regionals, with Jack Schimler and Christian Carroll qualifying for states. Our Girls Cross Country Team won our schools first ever District Title on Monday, our Boys Cross Country Team finished 3rd and both teams advance to Regionals on Thursday. Standout performers were Trent Daniels, who won the boys District race, and Caroline Tribett, who placed second in the girls race. Congratulations student athletes. Our Football team is well on its way to securing a spot in the regional playoffs come the end of regular season. Go Cardinals!

Graduation 2024

Graduation will be on May 29, 2024 @ 7 P.M. at EagleBank Arena on the George Mason Fairfax campus. Please visit our Class of 2024 website for more information.

Cap and Gown Orders

Caps and gowns are available for purchase through Jostens. A unit includes the cap, gown, and tassel. The cost is $50. Please make sure to buy these soon as the price will increase in January. If you need assistance with the cap and gown, please contact your school counselor.

Senior Pictures

The next senior make-up picture date will be Monday, November 6. All students who have pre-registered for a time slot, please be sure to arrive at the auditorium at least 5 minutes prior to their reservation. ALL TIME SLOTS ARE BOOKED FOR November 6. There are no remaining spots available.

Underclassmen Pictures

Underclassmen make-up pictures will take place on Thursday, November 16. Please note the criteria below to retake pictures:

• This photo day is for students who were absent, new to the school, or who were not happy with their original package (NOTE: Students are required to return their original package to the photographer prior to taking a new photo. Students will not be allowed to just leave class to retake pictures). Passes will be sent to students who were absent or are new to the school.
• In an effort to minimize unnecessary student absence from class , we have a list of criteria for underclass makeup day to reference here, vosphoto.com/retakes.
• Please feel free to direct Parent/ Guardian questions to our office, using the following email: underclass@vosphoto.com 

Impact Aid Survey

The Impact Aid survey is now open and available for completion in ParentVUE. All parents should complete this survey as soon as possible. Please visit the PWCS Federal Impact Aid website for instructions on how to complete the survey. For assistance with your ParentVUE account, please contact the school.

SALC presents... Scream on the Green!

Bring your family, friends, chairs, and blankets for a free, fun-filled movie night on the Gainesville High School Football Field on Saturday, October 28th! Our feature film is Hotel Transylvania.

Gates open at 5:30 for entry. Games and activities will be available before the movie starts at sundown (approximately 6:30).

We look forward to seeing you all there!

National Honor Society

Invitations to apply to the Gainesville High School National Honor Society were sent out to eligible Juniors and Seniors, via email on October 13, 2023. Applications are due Oct 31st. Reach out to Mr. Baird at bairdmc@pwcs.edu with questions.

Meal Deliveries

Students are not permitted to have food delivery services drop off food during the school day. We do not have staff available to deliver food within the building, nor do we want unknown food delivery employees seeking to gain access to the school through various doors around the building. Parents: we appreciate your help in monitoring this trend if your child uses grub hub, uber eats, or other vendors.

GHS Spirit Store

Want to purchase GHS Spirit wear and cannot make it out to a game. Check out the GHS Online Store. All items purchased are mailed directly to you.

Upcoming Events

Scream on the Green 10/28

Teacher Workdays 11/6, 11/7

Principals Advisory Council 11/13

Specialty Information Night 11/16

PTSO Meeting 11/30

Greetings from the Nest! We’ve had an exciting past few weeks at Gainesville. This past week our underclassmen took the PSAT test and group of our seniors went to Washington, DC to compete in the Amazing Race scavenger hunt competition. We will now turn our focus to the end of the first quarter. Congratulations to Mara Cerven who was selected to attend the Virginia Senior Honor Choir in Richmond from November 16-18th! It is the most challenging audition and choir experience available within the state of Virginia and the guest conductors that they secure are world-renowned. Mara earned the 2nd highest score in the state on her voice part, which was an added accomplishment and a testament to her hard work! Congratulations Mara!

Impact Aid Survey

The Impact Aid survey is now open and available for completion in ParentVUE. All parents should complete this survey as soon as possible. Please visit the PWCS Federal Impact Aid website for instructions on how to complete the survey. For assistance with your ParentVUE account, please contact the school.

MLK, 2024

Students interested in writing and performing a speech for this year’s Martin Luther King Oratorical Competition should plan to meet with Dr. Scott during any lunch this Monday or Wednesday, October 23 or 25 in grey commons. He will share details regarding the competition and how to record and submit your speech for judging. This year’s theme is Pursuing the Dream through Service and Commitment. See Dr. Scott for more information.

College Essay Prep

Seniors – if you haven’t started drafting your college admissions essays, now is the time to begin. Stop by the Career Center for one of GHS Counseling’s essay preparation sessions. We’ll offer startup tips, reminders, and guidance regarding the array of essays in the common application and how to tackle those challenging first drafts. If you’re already working on your essays, we’ll address how to ensure your final edits are ready to go by your application deadline. Sessions will run during all lunches on Tuesday, October 24.

Athletic Paperwork

As winter season approaches, we are going to continue to collect paperwork both by hand and online. If you choose to turn in paperwork, please submit it to Ms. Luna or Ms. May. Just a reminder that all athletes must have an updated physical (dated after 5/1/2023) and completed concussion training to tryout. Please check the athletic website soon for sport specific tryout information.

SALC presents... Scream on the Green!

Bring your family, friends, chairs, and blankets for a free, fun-filled movie night on the Gainesville High School Football Field on Saturday, October 28th! Our feature film is Hotel Transylvania.

Gates open at 5:30 for entry. Games and activities will be available before the movie starts at sundown (approximately 6:30).

We look forward to seeing you all there!

Senior SAT Day is on October 26th

Students who are taking this assessment will be given their testing location on Tuesday October 24th. SAT Student Guides were given out during lunch on October 19th. If you student did not pick one up, they can stop by the counseling center to get one. Seniors who opted out of the SAT are expected to report to school on the 26th and attend class as regular. It will be a normal bell schedule for all other students.

If your senior needs help with applications, Ms. Harris, College and Career Counselor, is hosting application workshops on 10/23, 10/25, and 10/27. Seniors can sign up via Naviance under College -> Visits.

Attendance Letters

Attendance is the best predictor of student graduation and dropout rates. PWCS is partnering with A2A (Attention to Attendance) to help monitor student attendance. These letters act as a notification of where a student stands with regards to missed school days. Please know that your child is too ill to attend school if she/he has a contagious disease, a temperature over 100 degrees, symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, chronic illness, or other conditions with written orders from a doctor to stay home. If there are persistent health problems that we should be aware of please let us know.

Meal Deliveries

Students are not permitted to have food delivery services drop off food during the school day. We do not have staff available to deliver food within the building, nor do we want unknown food delivery employees seeking to gain access to the school through various doors around the building. Parents: we appreciate your help in monitoring this trend if your child uses grub hub, uber eats, or other vendors.

Community Outreach

In an effort to expand our community outreach and partnerships we ask families and/or staff members if you own a local food establishment or other family-owned business and are interested in working with GHS to please complete this form. We are interested in collaborating and working with local businesses to support different events throughout the school year to include Homecoming Dance, Prom, Teacher Appreciation, etc.

National Honor Society

Invitations to apply to the Gainesville High School National Honor Society were sent out to eligible Juniors and Seniors, via email on October 13, 2023. Applications are due Oct 31st. Reach out to Mr. Baird at bairdmc@pwcs.edu with questions.

GHS Spirit Store

Want to purchase GHS Spirit wear and can't make it out to a game. Check out the GHS Online Store. All items purchased are mailed directly to you.

Upcoming Events

Senior SAT 10/26

Scream on the Green 10/28

Greetings from the Nest! It has been a fun-filled spirit week for our students as we celebrated this year’s homecoming. Grade levels competed to be crowned the most spirited during our spirit days such as Barbie Day, Pajama Day, Duo Day, Student vs. Teachers Day, and Class Colors Day. The week culminated in an outside pep rally this afternoon in the stadium where students competed in a series of games and activities, and various groups performed for the crowd. More information about this weekend’s homecoming game and dance can be found below.

Homecoming Game

Come out and support our Cardinals as they take on Battlefield High School tonight! The game starts at 7pm. The theme is Blackout, so wear your black clothing. At halftime, the GHS dance team and GHS marching band will perform. Following their performances, we will present our 2023 Homecoming Court, and crown our Homecoming Royalty, the two senior students who were chosen by their classmates. Tickets for the game can be purchased on Ticket Spicket.

Homecoming Dance

As a reminder, the Homecoming Dance will take place Saturday, October 14 from 7:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. at Gainesville High School. Students should bring their paper copy of the ticket and a photo ID. Students without photo ID can use StudentVue to verify their identity. For students who did not get a paper ticket or lost their ticket, there will be a staff member available to tell students their ticket numbers. For students that purchased their ticket on Ticket Spicket and did not receive or pic-up their homecoming ticket, there will be a station for them to check in to enter the dance. No tickets will be sold at the door. Parents pick up your students at Door #1 at 11:00 p.m.

Outside guests must have a completed outside guest form that was submitted to GHS earlier this week. Outside guests who do not have an outside guest form submitted will not be permitted to attend, regardless of ticket purchase. No refunds will be given for students or guests who do not attend.

College Fair

The PWCS College Fair will be hosted at Battlefield HS on Monday October 16th, 6-8 pm. All grades are welcome. There will also be information sessions on military college pathways, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Naviance senior overview, and an overview of the Common App.

PSAT

GHS will be hosting the PSAT for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders on October 18th. Students should arrive that day with a fully charged device and their power cord. On-time attendance is essential for that day, and we ask that families not pick up their students early. Students who leave mid-test will have their scores canceled. Full information about the PSAT can be found on the GHS website.

Attendance Letters

Attendance is the best predictor of student graduation and dropout rates. PWCS is partnering with A2A (Attention to Attendance) to help monitor student attendance. These letters act as a notification of where a student stands with regards to missed school days. Please know that your child is too ill to attend school if she/he has a contagious disease, a temperature over 100 degrees, symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, chronic illness, or other conditions with written orders from a doctor to stay home. If there are persistent health problems that we should be aware of please let us know.

Meal Deliveries

Students are not permitted to have food delivery services drop off food during the school day. We do not have staff available to deliver food within the building, nor do we want unknown food delivery employees seeking to gain access to the school through various doors around the building. Parents: we appreciate your help in monitoring this trend if your child uses grub hub, uber eats, or other vendors.

Community Outreach

In an effort to expand our community outreach and partnerships we ask families and/or staff members if you own a local food establishment or other family-owned business and are interested in working with GHS to please complete this form. We are interested in collaborating and working with local businesses to support different events throughout the school year to include Homecoming Dance, Prom, Teacher Appreciation, etc.

National Honor Society

Invitations to apply to the Gainesville High School National Honor Society were sent out to eligible Juniors and Seniors, via email on October 13, 2023. Applications are due Oct 31st. Reach out to Mr. Baird at bairdmc@pwcs.edu with questions.

GHS Spirit Store

Want to purchase GHS Spirit wear and can't make it out to a game. Check out the GHS Online Store. All items purchased are mailed directly to you.

Upcoming Events:

Homecoming Football Game vs. Battlefield High School 10/13 at 7:00 pm

Homecoming Dance at Gainesville High School – 10/14, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

PWCS College Fair @ Battlefield High School 10/16

PSAT for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders 10/18

Senior SAT 10/26

Greetings from the Nest,

While it may feel as though we’re just getting the 2023 – 24 school year off the ground, our annual Homecoming festivities are upon us. With Monday, October 9 off for Touchbase Conferences, our students kicked off their Homecoming celebrations on Friday with a Barbie Pink Out for our home game against Patriot High School. At the time of this writing, I’m not certain if we won the game against PHS; however, either way, next Friday’s Homecoming game against Battlefield is shaping up to be the contest of the season for our Cardinals. I hope to see everyone out supporting our still-undefeated squad.

As a reminder, other Homecoming themes include:

• Tuesday, October 10 – PJ Day with our senior night volleyball game at 7:00 pm
• Wednesday, October 11 – Duo Day with our annual powder puff football game at 6:30 pm
• Thursday, October 12 – Teachers vs Students Day
• Friday, October 13 – Class Colors Day with our 7:00 pm game, a black out, against Battlefield
• Saturday, October 14 – The Homecoming Dance from 7:00 – 11:00 pm
• Tickets for all games and events are available via Ticket Spicket. Purchase tickets in advance to speed up your admission process!

While I encourage all students to participate enthusiastically in Homecoming week, I need to remind everyone that this is still a school week, and the Code of Behavior applies for all outfits, costumes, and evening events. For more information, be sure to check the Homecoming page.

In other good news, I ask that you join me in wishing Jack Shimler and Christian Carroll the best of luck as they compete in the VHSL State Golf Championship in Harrisonburg. Reaching the state final match is a great accomplishment for any young player. Good luck Jack & Christian!

Touch Base Conferences

Touch Base will be held on Monday October 9, from 7:30-9:30 a.m. These 3-5 minute meetings are designed for brief check-ins between teachers and families regarding student progress. There will also be information sessions, spirit wear sales, and information tables set up by the Cardinal Athletic Boosters Club. We encourage families to explore the Touchbase agenda prior to the event.

AP Family Night

The GHS Gifted team will be hosting an AP Family Night on Tuesday October 10, 5:30-7 p.m. Current and prospective Advanced Placement students and their families are invited to select breakout sessions hosted by faculty and students, all of which will address common questions and offer helpful insights about taking AP coursework. Topics include growth mindset, the student experience, digital tools, and college credits.

PSAT – Device Readiness Checks

To prepare for this year’s PSAT administration, all students in grades 9 - 11 are required to bring their fully-charged laptop/device to advisory on Wednesday, October 11. Advisory teachers will guide students through an online pre-registration device readiness check and ensure that students’ login/testing registration information is correct and functioning properly, so we have time to troubleshoot issues prior to the scheduled PSAT administration. Twelfth graders will have the option during that advisory period either to register to vote in the library, to complete planning paperwork with our counseling staff, or to work on SAT prep materials provided via Canvas.

PSAT Testing

GHS will be hosting the PSAT for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders on October 18th. Students should arrive that day with a fully-charged device and their power cord. On-time attendance is essential for that day, and we ask that families not pick up their students early. Students who leave mid-test will have their scores canceled. Full information about the PSAT can be found on the GHS website.

New Weather Detection System

A Perry Weather System has been installed at Gainesville High School. This system will warn students, staff, and spectators when dangerous weather is approaching. The system will detect wet-bulb temperature conditions, wind chill, and lightning. If lightning is detected within 10 miles of the school, a siren will sound a 15 second warning, and a strobe light will flash and continue to flash until 30 minutes have passed without lightning. Once the area is lightning-free, the siren will sound off three short blasts to let everyone know it's safe to return outside.

National Honor Society

Eligible juniors and seniors will receive invitations to apply to Gainesville's chapter of National Honor Society by the end of the day on October 13. These invites will be sent through students' PWCS email accounts, so be on the lookout. If students receive an invitation to apply, applications are due by October 31. Contact Mr. Baird with questions.

Senior Makeup Pictures

Seniors can make up their missed portraits on October 16, October 17, and November 6. The attire for the school’s yearbook pose will be in the traditional Tuxedos and Drapes. Victor O'Neill Studios (VOS) will provide the Tuxedo and Drapes. If you have questions, please email seniors@vosphoto.com and mention Gainesville High School.

Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) Survey

Students will take the “Equal Opportunity School Survey” on Friday, October 27 during their advisory period. Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) is a national non-profit education organization, with the aim of examining and developing the learning culture within our schools and develop strategies to increase student participation in challenging high school coursework. Survey questions will solicit feedback from students about their views on coursework, school experience, and how our school supports their educational goals.

Upcoming Dates:

Touch Base - October 9 (7:30 AM – 9:30 AM)

AP Family Night - October 10 (5:30 PM @ Gainesville Auditorium)

Powderpuff Football – October 11 (6:30 PM @ Gainesville Stadium)

Homecoming Game - October 13 (7:00 PM Kickoff @ Gainesville High School)

Homecoming Dance - October 14 (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM @ Gainesville High School)

PSAT for 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students October 18

Senior SAT - October 26

Trunk or Treat/Movie Night – October 28 (6:00 PM @ Gainesville Stadium)

Fall Theatre Production – November 10, 11, and 17

Greetings from the Nest,

We are six weeks in and enjoying a good head of steam as we prepare for spirit week, homecoming, PSAT/SAT assessments, and what will hopefully be a productive few months of academics between now and winter break. As temperatures fall in the region, our teachers will be ramping up expectations for students to draw inferences, make connections, and demonstrate what they know or can do in engaging assessments designed to measure learning so far. While every fall semester can be enjoyable, everyone looks forward to exciting activities and sporting events – especially when GHS athletes are in the hunt for district and regional honors. If you haven’t yet been out to support one of our fall teams, the next two weeks are packed with competitive events that will test coaches and players alike. Don’t miss our homecoming game, October 13, against Battlefield – it’s shaping up to be a battle between the two top teams in the district.

Not to be outdone, our golf, volleyball, and field hockey teams have made an impressive showing this season, and both men’s and women’s cross country squads have runners who’ll be among the top finishers in the region.

In other good news this week, we learned that GHS has had eleven students receive National African American Recognition Awards, three students receive National Hispanic Recognition Awards, and one student receive a National Indigenous Award. To be recognized, these students have GPA and PSAT scores among the highest achievers in the nation. We’ll plan to celebrate each of them as part of senior awards during spring semester. Until then, congratulations to each recipient for this impressive accomplishment.

Underclassmen Pictures

School Picture Day is coming Thursday October 5 & Friday October 6, 2023. Images will be available to view and purchase approximately two weeks following our school's picture day. Save time and pre-order online via the 2023-2024 picture day sign up. For questions about ordering please email underclass@vosphoto.com Please direct all questions about your school's upcoming event to eventconfirm@vosphoto.com

Class of 2024

Seniors and families please make sure you check the Class of 2024 page on the website for the most up to date information on upcoming events and graduation. Next Thursday, October 5, a representative from Jostens will be at all lunches to help students with cap and gown sizing and orders, announcements, as well as class ring orders.

Senior Makeup Pictures

Seniors can make up their missed portraits on October 16, October 17, and November 6. The attire for the school’s yearbook pose will be in the traditional Tuxedos and Drapes. Victor O'Neill Studios (VOS) will provide the Tuxedo and Drapes. In addition to the yearbook session, VOS also offer sessions that include casual/personality portraits and cap and gown portraits. Please look for the link via School Messenger on or before Monday, October 2 to choose your session type and appointment time. If you have any questions, please email seniors@vosphoto.com and mention Gainesville High School.

Touch Base Conferences

Touch Base will be held on Monday October 9, 7:30-9:30 a.m. These 3-5 minute meetings are designed for brief check-ins between teachers and families regarding student progress. There will also be information sessions, spirit wear sales, and information tables set up by the Cardinal Athletic Boosters Club. We encourage families to explore the Touch Base agenda prior to the event.

AP Family Night

The GHS Gifted team will be hosting an AP Family Night on Tuesday October 10, 5:30-7 p.m. Topics will include digital tools to support AP students, study skill and the student experience, the impact of taking AP classes on transcripts and transfer credits, and how to develop a growth mindset. The target audience for this event are students currently in AP Classes and their families. GHS will be hosting a Curriculum Night in December for those interesting in taking advanced coursework in future school years.

Spirit Week/Homecoming (October 9 – 14)

Students and staff will be showing off their school spirit the week of homecoming by participating in themed spirit days this week. For all things spirit week/homecoming (tickets to the powderpuff game, the homecoming dance, guest approval form, etc.) please see the Homecoming page on our website.

PSAT

The PSAT will be offered to all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders on October 18 during the school day. Families can learn more about the PSAT and NMSQT on the PWCS PSAT site.

Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) Survey

Students will take the “Equal Opportunity School Survey” on Friday, October 27 during their advisory period. Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) is a national non-profit education organization, with the aim of examining and developing the learning culture within our schools and develop strategies to increase student participation in challenging high school coursework. Survey questions will solicit feedback from students about their views on coursework, school experience, and how our school supports their educational goals.

National Honor Society

National Honor Society will be inviting prospective members to apply at the beginning of October. This organization is open to junior and senior students who have shown strong scholarship, leadership, character, and dedication to service throughout their high school career. 11th and 12th grade students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher will be invited to complete an application via their PWCS email. The applications will then be reviewed by a faculty council, who will make final admissions decisions. Students who are admitted will be inducted in a ceremony at Gainesville High School on November 30. Please reach out to Annemarie Moore (MooreA@pwcs.edu) and Michael Baird (Bairdmc@pwcs.edu) with any questions.

Upcoming Dates:

Touch Base - October 9 (7:30 AM – 9:30 AM)

AP Family Night - October 10 (5:30 PM @ Gainesville Auditorium)

Powderpuff Football – October 11 (6:30 PM @ Gainesville Stadium)

Homecoming Game - October 13 (7:00 PM Kickoff @ Gainesville High School)

Homecoming Dance - October 14 (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM @ Gainesville High School)

PSAT for 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students October 18

Trunk or Treat/Movie Night – October 28 (6:00 PM @ Gainesville Stadium)

Fall Theatre Production – November 10,11, and 17

Greetings from the Nest,

Thanks to our students for their diligence and patience in navigating the implementation of our security scanners this week. After day two of full implementation, our “alarm” rate has already dropped by 50% from day one. This is testament to the positive attitude of our students in ensuring the start of our school day goes smoothly. So, thanks to our students and community for helping ensure that we started this implementation well.

The class of 2024 has had an exciting start to the school year. Between senior meetings, senior lessons, senior interviews, Senior Information Night, and senior parking spot painting, the class of ’24 is making their mark! Don’t forget to refer to the Class of 2024 webpage on the GHS site.

Congratulations to our various Cardinal teams for a great start to the fall season! Our varsity football team is 4-0, varsity volleyball is at 6-5, and varsity field hockey is 4-4 and our Cross Country and Golf Teams have had strong showings in recent competitions, including individual wins. In addition, our Marching Band finished 1st place in Class AA at the Woodbridge Viking Invitational this past weekend. Great job, Cardinals and thank you for all of your hard work.

PSAT

The PSAT will be offered to all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders on October 18 during the school day. Families can learn more about the PSAT and NMSQT on the PWCS PSAT site.

Touch Base Conferences

Touch Base conferences will be held at GHS on October 9 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. This event is an opportunity for parents/guardians to meet briefly with their students’ teachers. We will also be hosting information sessions on various topics. More information to come as we get closer.

Meal Deliveries

Students are not permitted to have food delivery services drop off food during the school day. We do not have staff available to deliver food within the building, nor do we want unknown food delivery employees seeking to gain access to the school through various doors around the building. Parents: we appreciate your help in monitoring this trend if your child uses grub hub, uber eats, or other vendors.

Community Outreach

In an effort to expand our community outreach and partnerships we ask families and/or staff members if you own a local food establishment or other family-owned business and are interested in working with GHS to please complete this form. We are interested in collaborating and working with local businesses to support different events throughout the school year to include Homecoming Dance, Prom, Teacher Appreciation, etc.

Underclassmen Pictures

School Picture Day is coming Thursday October 5 & Friday October 6, 2023. Images will be available to view and purchase approximately two weeks following our school's picture day. Save time and Pre-order online via the 2023-2024 picture day sign up. For questions about ordering please email underclass@vosphoto.com  Please direct all questions about your school's upcoming event to eventconfirm@vosphoto.com 

Senior Makeup Pictures

Seniors can make up their missed portraits on October 16, October 17, and November 6. The attire for the school’s yearbook pose will be in the traditional Tuxedos and Drapes. Victor O'Neill Photography will provide the Tuxedo and Drapes. In addition to the yearbook session, we also offer sessions that include casual/personality portraits and cap and gown portraits. A link with information on how to choose your session type and appointment time will be coming soon. If you have any questions, please email seniors@vosphoto.com  and mention Gainesville High School.

Free SAT Prep for High School Students

Help your high school student get ready for college admissions. PWCS is providing in-person SAT prep options to all high school as they prepare for the SAT testing. This opportunity is free to all high school students and priority will be given to seniors testing on October 26. Transportation will be provided. Click here to let us know if you’re interested in having your student participate in SAT Prep. The deadline to sign up for SAT Prep is Friday, September 29.

Cardinal Athletic Booster Club

Our school year is in full swing and Cardinal Athletic Booster Club (CABC) is working hard to grow. We are focused on adding more members, engaging with other clubs & activities, and helping to promote “Cardinal Pride” within our student body & parents. If you’d like to learn more about how you can support CABC checkout these links: CABC Important Sites

Upcoming Dates:

No School September 25

Touch Base October 9

AP Parent Night October 10

Homecoming Game October 13

Homecoming Dance October 14

PSAT for 9, 10, 11 October 18

Senior SAT October 26

Greetings from the Nest,

Students have been working hard and had a strong start to the year. As we approach the mid-point of the quarter, I encourage you to reach out to your student’s teachers if you have any questions or concerns with how your student is currently achieving in class, as this is a good time to identify supports available.

Last week’s introduction to the safety screening system (Evolv) has been helpful in preparing for tomorrow’s full implementation. Students have had a chance to go through the system, and identify items that are being flagged. We continue to ask our students to plan ahead by emptying unnecessary items from bookbags that will be flagged by the scanners. We also ask students to be alert and ready to pass through the scanners as they approach the school entrance each morning.

Here are some suggestions to continue to make this process efficient:

• Phones, Keys, Air pods, and chargers are generally not flagged, and students can keep these items in their possession.
• Three ring binders with metal clips are often flagged and should be passed around the scanner with laptops. Glasses cases are generally flagged, also.

We ask our parents to remind students that all exterior doors should remain locked during the school day, and that students should only enter the building through one of the four designated entrances in the morning. Any student who is identified opening an exterior door for another student, parent, or vendor, etc., will be addressed in accordance with the PWCS Code of Behavior.

This week is Annual National Security Officer Appreciation Week, we are privileged to have a robust team including one security officer, three assistants, and a school resource officer that are hardworking, highly trained individuals, who ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff at Gainesville HS. If you see any of our security staff this week at drop-off or events, please take a moment to thank them for their tireless dedication to our GHS community.

Bus Evacuation Drill

Wednesday, September 20, Gainesville High School will hold our bus evacuation drill at morning drop off. Students are reminded to wear clothes, pants and shoes, conducive to jumping out of the back of the bus.

PSAT

The PSAT will be offered to all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders on October 18th during the school day. This is a great opportunity for students to practice for their SATs, a common requirement for college admissions. The PSAT for 11th graders is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT); this testing opportunity may open up scholarship opportunities for current 11th graders. We encourage all GHS students to take advantage of this opportunity. Families can learn more about the PSAT and NMSQT on the PWCS PSAT site.

Senior SAT Opportunity

We are excited that seniors are being offered a chance to take the SAT on October 26th during the school day. We recognize that some seniors have already met this application requirement and do not wish to test again. Seniors who do not plan to take the SAT on 10/26 must complete the SAT School Day Opt-Out Form before Monday September 19th in order to be exempt from testing. We appreciate your help in ensuring we have accurate numbers for the Senior SAT test day.

Touch Base Conferences

Touch Base conferences will be held at GHS on October 9th 7:30-9:30 a.m. Please note this is a date correction from last Cardinal Connection. This event is an opportunity for parents/guardian to meet briefly with their student’s teachers. We will also be hosting information sessions on various topics. More information to come as we get closer.

Student Laptop Chargers

We have had students request additional laptop chargers for the student issued devices. If you are interested in purchasing an additional laptop charger or replacement charger for your students device, there is a $25 fee that can be paid through Ticket Spicket. The charger can be picked up from Mr. Justin Holly, in room 2007.

Upcoming Dates and Activities

October 5 & 6 – Underclassmen pictures

October 9 – Touchbase conferences (no school for students)

Week of October 10 – Homecoming

October 16 & 17 – Senior make-up pictures

October 18 – PSAT, 9th-11th graders

October 26 – Senior SAT Day

November 3 – Last day of Quarter 1

Athletic/Activity Event Schedules go to gainesvillecardinals.com

Greetings from the Nest,

We had another positive week at Gainesville High School. Our students have settled into academic routines and have progressed quickly into the curriculum.

During our advisory lessons this week, our students took Emotional Needs Assessment that was provided by PWCS. We will have a chance to review and respond to these data in a week or two. Additionally, we asked about 400 students to visit the Evolv safety scanners to “practice” entering the building with their belongings to see what was flagged, and how to best save time upon entry to the school.

Here are some things we found:

• Metal glasses cases are always flagged by the scanners.
• Laptops are almost always flagged by the scanners and will need to be passed around the scanning system to a staff member on duty. Students should have their laptop out of their bookbag before entering the building. It’s a good idea for students to label or put an identifying sticker on their laptop for easy recognition during scanning.
• Three ring binders with metal clips are often flagged. These could be removed from a book bag prior to entry for scanning or replaced with all plastic products (if possible).
Phones and jewelry have not typically been flagged by the scanner.

Starting Tuesday, September 12, we will practice students entering the building through the Evolv safety scanning systems. Students will be asked to pass laptops around the system, learn how to move through the line quickly, and identify the types of items that could be flagged when we go live on September 19. We ask our student to plan ahead by emptying unnecessary items from bookbags that will be flagged by the scanners. We also ask students to be alert and ready to pass through the scanners as they approach the school entrance. More information will be sent next week. In the meantime, please view the FAQ page from PWCS.

Attendance Letters

Attendance is the best predictor of student graduation and dropout rates. PWCS is partnering with A2A (Attention to Attendance) to help monitor student attendance. These letters act as a notification of where a student stands with regards to missed school days. Please know that your child is too ill to attend school if she/he has a contagious disease, a temperature over 100 degrees, symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, chronic illness, or other conditions with written orders from a doctor to stay home. If there are persistent health problems, we should be aware of please let us know.

Counseling Department

A message to the class of 2024 and their families was sent earlier in the week that includes upcoming events and information. We encourage families to review this message together. Seniors, please also visit the class of 2024 page on our website for announcements, upcoming events, and graduation information.

PWCS offers many opportunities for families to learn about their student’s education and how best to support their learning process through the Family Engagement Series. This includes a session entitled Academic and Career Planning for Secondary Students on 9/28/23 at 6 p.m. More information on future sessions can be found on the PWCS Family Engagement Series webpage.

The PSAT will be offered to all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders on October 18th during the school day. This is a great opportunity for students to practice for their SATs, a common requirement for college admissions. The PSAT for 11th graders is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT); this testing opportunity may open up scholarship opportunities for current 11th graders. We encourage all GHS students to take advantage of this opportunity. Families can learn more on the PWCS PSAT site.

Seniors are being offered a chance to take the SAT on October 26th during the school day. Recently GHS sent out an interest form to gather information on how many seniors may want to take the SAT that day. PWCS will be sending a survey out soon for seniors to opt out of taking the SAT; seniors who do not plan to take the SAT on 10/26 should complete the opt out form.

Touch Base conferences will be held at GHS on October 10th, 7:30-9:30 a.m. This event is an opportunity for parents/guardian to meet briefly with their student’s teachers. We will also be hosting information sessions on various topics. More information to come as we get closer.

Get involved?

Parents interested expanding their partnership with Gainesville High School are encouraged to consider the array of options available. There are lots of ways to be involved at GHS and interested parents can use the link here to let us know if you would like to be contacted to help throughout the year.

Upcoming Dates and Activities

September 11 – Principal’s Advisory Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

September 14 – Senior Information Night

October 5 & 6 – Underclassmen pictures

October 9 – Touchbase conferences (no school for students)

Week of October 10 – Homecoming

October 17 – 18 – Senior make-up pictures

October 18 – PSAT, 9th-11th graders

October 26 – Senior SAT Day

November 3 – Last day of Quarter 1

Athletic/Activity Event Schedules go to gainesvillecardinals.com

Greetings from the Nest,

Thanks to everyone who came to Back to School Night on Wednesday evening. We thankful for the positive turnout and good feedback from the event. I enjoyed meeting many new and returning parents, and hope that the event was useful to our families.

Last week’s football game capped off a great first week of the school year. We had strong student support with our cheerleaders leading the way. On show were outstanding performances from the Dance Team, and Marching Band, and the first home win of the season for our football team. Remember we have another home game against Gar-Field High School this evening. We hope that there’s a good community attendance for the game.

Safety Screening Kick-Off

Next week, we will begin a two-week process of introducing the safety screening system to our students, ahead of our September 19th start date. Students will watch a short video during Advisory, which you can also watch here, prior to several classes walking through the Evolv scanners to test identify items that may be flagged when we go live. More information will be coming out ahead of the start date, in the meantime, please view the FAQ page from PWCS.

Attendance Letters

Attendance is the best predictor of student graduation and dropout rates. PWCS is partnering with A2A (Attention to Attendance) to help monitor student attendance. These letters act as a notification of where a student stands with regards to missed school days. Please know that your child is too ill to attend school if she/he has a contagious disease, a temperature over 100 degrees, symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, chronic illness, or other conditions with written orders from a doctor to stay home. If there are persistent health problems we should be aware of please let us know.

Counseling Department

A message to the class of 2024 and their families was sent earlier in the week that includes upcoming events and information. We encourage families to review this message together. Seniors, please also visit the class of 2024 page on our website for announcements, upcoming events, and graduation information.

A reminder that PWCS is offering seniors to take the SAT during school hours on 10/26. If your student is interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please have them sign up via the Senior SAT interest form. This form closes on 9/5 and late sign-ups will not be accepted.

Senior Information Fair

The GHS Counseling Team is hosting a Senior Information Fair on September 14, from 6 - 7:30 pm. Families will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions that will help seniors explore their post-secondary options. Representatives from the Princeton Review, Laurel Ridge Community College, Northern Virginia Community College, and ECMC The College Place will be presenting. We hope to see you there!

Get involved?

Parents interested in partnering with Gainesville High School are encouraged to consider the array of options available. There are lots of ways to be involved at GHS and interested parents can use the link here to let us know if you would like to be contacted to help throughout the year.

Upcoming Dates and Activities

September 1-4 – Labor Day Weekend

October 5 & 6 – Underclassmen pictures

October 9 – Touchbase conferences (no school for students)

Week of October 10 – Homecoming

October 17 – 18 – Senior make up pictures

October 18 – PSAT, 9th-11th graders

October 26 – Senior SAT Day

November 3 – Last day of Quarter 1

Greetings from the Nest,

On Monday we welcomed 2400 students to Gainesville High School, a couple of hundred students below our capacity. As we approach the end of our first week, I thank our faculty and staff, parents and guardians, and community members for the combined efforts that helped us open the school year smoothly. Our students have been wonderful this week, adjusting to a new schedule, quickly getting into good habits, and learning from the first bell. Thank you for your support in getting the school year off to a positive start. In no time at all we’ll be organizing our Homecoming activities and then looking forward to Thanksgiving break. I appreciate everyone’s efforts to maximize learning throughout these early weeks.

Home Game This Evening

We’re eager to see how each of our athletic teams fare this year, and it’s exciting that we host our first home football game this evening. However, tonight’s game does coincide with a concert at Jiffy Lube Live and traffic will undoubtedly be heavy around campus. Please try to arrive early for the game and access the school from Limestone and Wentworth Drive, if possible. Also of note is that we moved to online ticket sales last year. Tickets for all of our sporting or performance events can be purchased via Ticket Spicket. Having this link on your phone will ensure that you’re always ready to join us for a game or a concert. Purchase Tickets for GHS events.

Back to School Night

We will host Back to School Night on August 30, starting with an optional open house between 5:30 and 6:45 pm. The open house will include a drop-in curriculum and activity fair in our gym as well as three, 20-minute information sessions for parents between 5:30 and 6:45. The “traditional” back to school night where parents and guardians rotate through their child’s schedule (advisory period, followed by periods 1-7) will start at 6:45 pm and run until about 8:20 p.m. Additional details can be found on the GHS website.

Transportation

Four days into the school year, our transportation office continues to work out the kinks in our bus schedule and routes. We are also working to accommodate the significant uptick in student driver and drop-off traffic in the mornings. I appreciate everyone’s patience as our administrative staff work with the PWCS transportation team to get everyone back and forth as efficiently as possible. As a reminder the Find My Bus app is a useful resource to monitor bus locations and times.

Lockdown Drill Update

On Tuesday, August 29, during advisory period, we will conduct a scheduled lockdown drill. During the drill, a voice announcement will inform faculty, staff and students to respond as if we were in a lockdown situation. The drill will last approximately 5 minutes before we return to normal instructional conditions.

Senior Information Fair

The GHS Counseling Team is hosting a Senior Information Fair on September 14, from 6 - 7:30 pm. This evening will include information tables with 4- and 2-year universities, military recruiters, possible employers such as Amazon Web Services, and even a representative from Jostens to discuss cap and gown orders. Students and parents are welcome to attend. Bring questions! This is a great opportunity to start thinking about your post-graduation plans.

PTSO News

The Gainesville High School PTSO is up, running, and actively recruiting members for the 2023-2024 school year. If interested, please visit our website: https://www.gainesvillehighptso.com/. Our next meeting will be on September 28th, at 6:30 p.m. in the GHS Library, and will also be available via Zoom.

Get involved?

Parents interested in partnering with Gainesville High School are encouraged to consider the array of options available. There are lots of ways to be involved at GHS and interested parents can use the link here to let us know if you would like to be contacted to help throughout the year.

Upcoming Dates and Activities

August 30 – Back to School Night

September 1-4 – Labor Day Weekend

October 5 & 6 – Underclassmen pictures

October 9 – Touchbase conferences (no school for students)

Week of October 10 – Homecoming

October 17 – 18 – Senior make up pictures

October 18 – PSAT, 9th-11th graders

October 26 – Senior SAT Day

Cardinal Connections - Back to School Edition

Cardinal Students and Families,

Welcome to year three, 2023-24 at Gainesville High School. Speaking for the faculty and staff, I want to share how excited we are to get the year started. The 2022-23 experiences will be difficult to top; however, I am looking forward to working with all of you - students and parents - as we tackle an array of exciting and challenging new undertakings together. The administrative and counseling teams have been hard at work to ensure that all students will enjoy a rigorous, engaging schedule of classes that lead all of us to another year of outstanding achievements across academic departments.

Before we begin, there is a great deal of information I need to share. And while I promise that the remainder of our Cardinal Connection publications will not be as lengthy, this opening edition is filled with what I hope will be sufficient reminders and requests that all students and families will feel up to speed before buses run on Monday, August 21. If I've forgotten something or failed to anticipate information you might need, please visit the GHS website. I've asked our tech team to update the page regularly this year, expanding its role as a communication tool. Most of the links I'll mention in Cardinal Connections can be reached from our main page: https://gainesvillehs.pwcs.edu/

Additionally, the admin staff and I recorded a webinar of useful information I encourage you to review at your leisure. Granted, it echoes much of the content I'll outline in these pages. But please have a look, perhaps digesting it in smaller bites, since the whole presentation runs for about an hour. You can find that recording here.

Reminders for Families

NEST/ADVISORY periods

This year, the one significant change to our daily routine will be the addition of a NEST block into the bell schedule. Slated to occur between second and fourth blocks on even days, NEST is intended for remediation, relearning, and reinforcement and will progress on a rotation through all seven blocks with a new class scheduled for NEST every other day. Teachers and counselors can help students understand the new schedule, and in no time we'll all have it down to a science. Every eighth rotation will be for our new ADVISORY. Similar to NEST, this time is intended for support and relationship building, plus a chance for staff members to address schoolwide initiatives or assessments without interrupting the normal bell schedule.

Cell-Phone Usage

While we understand how important cell phones are and how they keep busy families in touch throughout the day, again this year, the staff and I are asking that students put cell phones away during instructional time. Unless authorized by the classroom teacher as part of instruction, cell phones are not to be used in classrooms during instructional time. Nor should they be used in locker rooms or bathrooms (for reasons of privacy). I understand that this is a weighty request. However, the time we forfeit to cell phone distractions is critical for students to demonstrate progress and truly learn the content. Recent research suggests that American teens spend about 7:20 daily on their cell phones, approximately 45% of their waking hours. I hope you'll agree that this represents an alarming trend and that we need to work together to keep the 90 minutes between the bells free from this level of distraction.

I am happy to have students check their phones in the corridors between classes, before and after school, or during lunch.

Attendance

Last spring, GHS wrapped up the 2022-23 year with an 18.9% chronic absenteeism rate.

As plainly as I can say it, this needs to improve. As we prepare for school to begin, I'm asking all students and parents to commit maintaining good attendance, because the recipe is simple: Students can't learn effectively if they're not in the classroom with the teacher.

I've asked teachers to document tardies and contact parents when students are late to class more than three times in a quarter. Alpha administrators will assign detentions for those late to class on four or more occasions. If students need to be away from the building, I ask that parents use ParentVue or this link from the GHS website to report absences or arrange early dismissals. For other attendance questions, please visit the GHS home page.

Meals

As you get ready for the first day of school, families who qualify for free- or reduced-price lunches should apply on the PWCS Nutrition page. Similar to pervious years, your My School Bucks account can be activated and updated for ease of purchasing lunch. These links and more can be found on the Back to School tab on the GHS website.

Get involved?

Parents interested in getting involved or staying in touch with faculty, staff, or events this year are encouraged to consider the array of options available. From the Principal's Advisory Council to PTO events or our booster organizations, a growing student body (and faculty) require more assistance organizing and hosting events, raising funds, or just communicating throughout the community. Interested parents should use the link here to let us know which roles might work best for you. Thanks!

Campus Security

New Evolv Technology

As you are probably aware, GHS has had Evolv weapons screening technology installed at Doors 1, 6, 30, and 33. Everyone entering school after 7:00 a.m. will be required to pass through one of these systems for screening. Because each unit will be operated by school staff, no students or other visitors will be permitted to enter the building before 7:00 a.m. Please plan accordingly. Parents who have historically dropped children off prior to 7:00 a.m. should keep in mind that students will have to wait outside until the Evolv systems are staffed and operating. I am hopeful that we will only require a few days to get into a smooth routine with our Evolv units in early September. I will be in contact regarding this process in the coming weeks. For now, suffice to say that the fewer large metal items that students carry into school (laptops aside), the easier everyone's morning entry will be.

Morning Arrival

For parents or guardians who drop off or pick up students on campus, the Kiss & Ride traffic pattern has been updated. Traffic will now flow down into the football stadium parking lot, loop around by the softball field, and then return to the building for drop offs at the Evolv Doors 30 and 33 (near the auditorium and Grey Commons). I ask that all drivers - parents and students - remain patient with our security staff as they direct traffic, especially in the first few days of the year. Please see the graphic at the end of this document or review the Kiss & Ride portion of our Back to School webinar for more information.

Transportation

Students who ride buses can find their bus number, route, and pick-up/drop-off times in Student Vue or Parent Vue in the coming weeks. Please check for this information around August 16. If transportation confirms that route information will be delayed, I will reach out to the community with an update. To date, we currently have no plans for activity buses.

For students who drive, please plan to purchase a valid 2023-24 parking pass from Mr. Wall or our security staff. For more information on student parking and expectations, please visit the GHS webpage or reach out to Mr. Wall when you return to campus.

Counseling Updates

Counseling Staff

As enrollment has grown, so has our counseling staff. I'm excited at the talented people we-ve hired to work in the Counseling Office and encourage all students to find a time to visit with your counselor - even just to introduce yourself and say "hello" in the coming weeks.

For students who need to discuss something important with a counselor, please use the Bookings app on the school website. Parents or guardians can call or email for an appointment time. Also, please check the webpage to ensure that your child's counselor hasn't changed. Adding 400 students this year, we've adjusted the alpha-assignments for each counselor. Your assigned counselor might have changed.

Schedules

Student schedules will be available online in StudentVUE and ParentVUE on Wednesday, August 16. Prior to gaining access, parents must have completed the Annual Back to School Packet. This will activate your account for use. Students, please keep in mind that the schedule you see on the 16 ^th might not be your final version when school opens on Monday, the 21 ^st. There is always the possibility that a slight change or edition might be made in the master schedule over that last weekend. So please come to your second block class on opening day, log into StudentVUE, and use that schedule as your official copy.

Students, also . . . only come to counseling for a schedule change if there is an error in your schedule, and plan to attend during the block that is incorrect. No other schedule change requests will be honored.

Immunizations

Parents, please keep in mind that there are required immunizations for students to attend public schools. Our clerical staff have been reaching out to families with incomplete or missing immunization records. These must be updated prior to Friday, August 18 for students to attend classes on Monday, the 21 ^st. Please check Parent Vue->Health->Immunizations or contact one of our alpha secretaries for more information. Records are easy to update in Parent Vue, or feel free to bring a copy to Ms. Smith in our clinic.

Laptops

All students have the option of using a PWCS provided laptop (and charger). These will be distributed during the ADVISORY on the first day of school, Monday, August 21. If students have a device already, they are welcome to use them. However, PWCS technology staff are not able to provide tech support for personal devices.

Activities Updates

Sports and Athletic Events

Fall athletic seasons are getting under way, and I hope that everyone in the GHS community will find time to cheer on one of our sports teams in the coming months. The Athletics link from the school's home page will take you to our comprehensive sports and activities calendar. However, as you plan for the next month, here are a few important dates/times. I hope to see you out supporting our student athletes this season.

8/21/23 Volleyballvs. Woodbridge 5:45, 5:45, 7:00 pm

8/22/23 Field Hockey vs. Battlefield 5:30, 7:00 pm

8/22/23 Golf vs. Multiple Schools @ Prince William Golf Course 5:00 pm

8/25/23 Varsity Football vs. Potomac 7:00 pm

8/28/23 Freshman Football vs. Paul VI 5:30 pm

8/28/23 JV Football vs. Gar-Field 7:00 pm

Other Upcoming Events

Some additional dates to keep on the calendar include:

August 17 - New Student Orientation (7:45 am - 11:30 am)

• Express bus stops will be provided - please watch for email and GHS web posts for details
• This event is for students. An optional parent session with Mr. Beech will run from 9:00 am - 9:45 am in the auditorium. Please enter door 32 at 9:00 after dropping off students.

August 21 - First Day of School (7:30 am - 2:10 pm)

• Students attend second block (see Student Vue)

August 30 - Back to School Night

September 1-4 - Labor Day Weekend

October 5 & 6 - Underclassmen pictures

October 9 - Touchbase conferences (no school for students)

Week of October 10 - Homecoming

October 18 - PSAT, 9 ^th-11 ^th graders

October 26 - Senior SAT Day

October 17 - 18 - Senior make up pictures

Updated Kiss & Ride Map