Gainesville High School Families,
We are now at the mid-point of the first quarter and our students and staff are off to a strong start. Routines, organization, and goal setting are a great way for students to set themselves up for success. I encourage all students to find habits and routines that work for them. Head home and rest, get a snack, then spend some time studying or practicing a new skill you learned in school that day. Start setting yourself up now, for a smooth and successful year. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your School Counselor, teacher, or Assistant Principal for assistance, we’re here to help!
National Merit Scholar Commended Students
Congratulations to Victor Gidaspov, Alani Hoffman, Ariana Van, Derek Waters, and Ming Hui Zhang for being recognized as Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program! These students are being recognized for their outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT taken last October. Their hard work and dedication to their academic success makes us very proud and we are pleased to share their success with the Cardinal community.
Underclassmen Photos
Underclassmen pictures will take place on Friday, October 4 and Monday, October 7. You can pre-order online by visiting the ordering website: If you have questions about ordering, you can e-mail Victor O’Neill Studios at [email protected]
Parent volunteers are needed to assist on Underclassmen Picture Day. Please provide your name and email address to Mr. Washington ([email protected]) if interested. As a thank you, all volunteers will receive a $25 discount code via email after Picture Day.
Senior Photo Make-ups
Victor O’Neill will be back for Session C on the following dates for your Senior portraits at Gainesville!
Session C: Monday October 21, and Tuesday October 22, 2024. Do not miss this opportunity to be photographed for the yearbook! The required attire for the school’s yearbook pose are traditional Tuxedos and Drapes; provided by Victor O’Neill Studios! In addition to the free yearbook session, Victor O’Neill Studios also offer sessions that include casual/personality portraits and Cap and Gown portraits.
Please follow the following link to choose your session type and appointment time on the Victor O’Neill website. As a friendly reminder, appointments are needed for Senior Portraits. If you have any questions, please email the Senior Portraits Team at [email protected]. Please kindly include your Senior’s first and last Name and “Gainesville Class of 2025” when emailing, for faster assistance.
New After-School Student Pick-up Location & Procedures
Starting this week, student pick-up for after school activities will be moved from the small parking lot behind the gym to the parking lot outside the amphitheater (outside of door 30).
Please do not stop and wait in the fire lane for pickup. Traffic needs to be able to flow in both directions as there are frequently busses, other drivers, employees, and potentially emergency personnel that need to be able to move freely.
Impact Aid Survey Coming Soon
Impact Aid is a federal education program that reimburses school districts for lost revenue and additional costs due to the presence of nontaxable federal property (such as military installations, national parks, federal office buildings, and Veterans Affairs hospitals) in a community.
Impact Aid, like revenue generated by taxes, can be used for any general fund purpose, such as instructional materials, teacher salaries, transportation, technology, social-emotional support, and facility improvements. Decisions on how Impact Aid funds are spent are made by school district leaders which provides the flexibility needed to ensure funds are targeted to meet the greatest needs.
Additional information regarding Impact Aid can be accessed on the U.S. Department of Education’s Impact Aid webpage.
Varsity Tutors
PWCS students in kindergarten through 12th grade have access to free online tutoring 24 hours per day, 7 days a week through Varsity Tutors. Varsity Tutors is a secure, online tutoring service that provides students with unlimited academic support. This service can provide homework help, feedback on essays, and even assistance with college applications and personal statements. Students can access Varsity by logging in to Clever. To log in to Clever, students use their PWCS email address (for example, [email protected]) and password (this is same password students use to log in to their PWCS computer). Once you’re logged in to Clever, you can find the link for Varsity in the PWCS Resources section. Reach out to Mrs. Moore ([email protected]) with any questions you may have.