The Grizzly Growl
Parent and Student Newsletter for GFH--January 2020
From the Bear Den
Grizzlies Giving Back
Part of the Grizzly Way is to serve and give back to our school community, and our students and staff focused on that in December. We are humbled to share just a few examples of how we were able to help our community in the following ways:
- The Winter Gear and Toy Drive for Truitt Intermediate School garnered 27 boxes of items for our sister students.
- Grizzly Cheer made and donated 140 blankets to CHKD.
- GFHS DECA served the homeless at a local church.
- The Can-Dos collected nearly 10,000 canned goods through Lead for Change for the local foodbank.
Grizzlies Moving Forward
As we enter into the new decade of 2020, we extend wishes to the entire Grizzly family for good health and good luck. Let us remember that we are at our best when we serve ourselves and others through patience, kindness, gratitude, and grace.
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @grassfield_hs. Our website is updated regularly for additional information.
Motivational Moment
Grizzly Outfitters
The school store is open daily from 8:15-8:35. We have a new partnership for Grizzly Outfitters, so if you want to get your Grizzly Glamour look on, check out the link below where you can select your design and style of shirt.
Mr. and Miss Grassfield
Join us for the annual Mr. and Miss Grassfield Pageant Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 7:00 pm. The theme is Grizzlies Roarin' in the 20's.
Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door. Pre-sale tickets will be sold January 8 and 9 during lunches.
Study Hall and SOL Study Sessions
Study Hall is available to students every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday after school until 4:30 pm. Transportation is provided. Visit here for more information.
SOL Study Sessions Each year, we offer SOL study sessions taught by the content experts to help students prepare for their SOLs. Students who attend regular sessions that end at 4:35 may ride the study hall bus. Attendance at SOL Power Sessions may also count as an extended day. Our data indicates that students who participate in the study sessions are very successful. Please encourage your child to attend these valuable sessions. See the schedule below.
PTSA News
After Prom
Every year, we ask all families to make a donation to the After Prom Fund that is equal to their child’s graduation year. The “pool” of money from their class will grow and be used for THEIR After Prom. Therefore, all students will benefit from this fundraiser.
Click on the following here if you would like to donate by cash or check.
Click on the following here if you would like to donate by credit card.
PTSA News
PTSA Executive Board Meeting and After Prom Meeting- January 13th at 6:00 p.m. in the media center.
The AfterProm Winter Dance will be held February 8. Tickets will go on sale the week of January 27-31 for $10.00 for GFH students and $20.00 for guests. The week of February 3, tickets will cost $15.00 for GFH students and $20.00 for guests.
Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Leslie Wecht @ leslie.wecht@cpschools.com.
Follow us on Facebook at Grassfield High School PTSA
Senior Success
College application season is in full swing. Check out this month-by-month timeline to keep you on track as you navigate through senior year and complete your college applications. Some dates and information may vary, depending on the college or your own circumstances.
Order Your Yearbook Now!
SENIOR PORTRAIT SELECTION
Due to a delay with Candid Color’s access codes, some seniors were unable to select their desired portrait for the yearbook. If your senior was unable to make a selection, please have your student see Mrs. Peterson by January 17 during blocks 3 or 4 in Room D122.
SENIOR ADS
The deadline to purchase yearbook ads to commemorate your senior has been extended to Jan. 31. For more information, visit www.ybcads.com.
PRE-ORDER A PERSONALIZED YEARBOOK The last chance to order a personalized yearbook is Jan. 31. Visit Jostens Yearbooks to make your purchase.
School Safety
Grassfield High School is committed to student safety. All exterior doors will remain locked during the school day, and all visitors are asked to activate the buzzer outside the main office doors to be admitted to the building.
We will hold several lockdown drills this year. You will receive a PAS to notify you in advance of the drill.
Junior Rings
Ring Dance will be held January 24 from 8:00-11:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale January 15-21 in the food court. Tickets are $20.00 for GFH students and $25.00 for non-GFH students. Invitations and permission forms will be distributed in homerooms. Forms may be returned to the main office or room B102 by January 10.
2020-2021 Calendar Options
ACCESS College Support
Seniors: If you haven’t filed the FAFSA, NOW is the time! You don’t have to be done with your applications to complete it, and it’s important to file the FAFSA as soon as possible to be eligible for the most college financial aid. Complete the FAFSA with your parent or contact Mrs. Moorhouse, ACCESS Advisor, to make an appointment for her to complete it for you (mmoorhouse@accesscollege.org).
Juniors: If you are interested in (or already) using Khan Academy for SAT Prep, make sure to see Mrs. Moorhouse, ACCESS Advisor to earn prizes such as movie tickets and a raffle entry for a $300 VISA gift card. Khan Academy offers free, adaptive SAT practice—the software adjusts the questions based on a student’s PSAT/SAT results. In the past 2 years, GHS juniors who used Khan Academy raised their SAT scores as much as 160 points--- that can make a HUGE impact on your chance of acceptance to your dream college.
**Juniors who sign up for Khan Academy can also take the SAT for free in the Spring—a $48 value!** See Mrs. Moorhouse (mmoorhouse@accesscollege.org) for more information or to sign up.
The Counseling Corner
Calling all Rising 9th Grade Grizzlies
We're Starting to Schedule for 2020-2021
It's hard to believe, but we will start scheduling for the next school year in January and February. Videos and scheduling information will be posted on our website and shared with students during homeroom. Please review this information carefully with your child to ensure he/she has selected appropriate courses for next year. It's imperative students make their course decisions wisely as course offerings for next year are based on those requests. Look here for information about block scheduling and advanced courses.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Jan. 10-14 Middle School Visits by counselors & Scheduling Sheets go home (Rising 9th Graders)
- Jan. 16 Rising Freshman Night
- Jan. 27-30 Elective Videos on GNews
- Jan. 31 Scheduling Video on GNews
- Jan. 31 Scheduling Sheets go home (Rising 10th-12th)
- Feb. 6 Open House/Elective Walk
- Feb. 5-26 Scheduling (Rising 10th-12th)
- Feb. 28 Students receive schedule verifications to take home
- Mar. 4 All schedule changes due back to the School Counseling Office
College, Career, and Beyond
Attendance is Important
School attendance matters. It is arguably one of the most important indicators of school success. You cannot learn what you are not here to learn. Students who attend school regularly are more academically successful.
Please send a note for every absence so we can maintain accurate attendance records. Please continue to monitor your child’s attendance in each class to ensure he/she does not exceed the maximum allowable absences (in most classes, nine days).
Also, please send a note with your child if you plan to pick him up early. He can submit the note to the attendance office in advance and save you from having to wait in a long line to check him out.
All truancy and excessive absence notices are being sent directly to ParentVue accounts, so please check ParentVue regularly.
Students will be wondering about the Attendance Exam Exemption soon. Check your child's course syllabi for Attendance Exam Exemption details or see FAQ here.
Extended Day
Attendance at SOL Power Sessions may also count as an extended day.
Students who have excessive absences may be eligible for extenuating circumstances. Applications will be available December 16 on the school website and in the attendance office. The applications are due January 10.
Dodgeball Tournament
Get ready to dodge, duck, dip, dive & dodge! Join us February 21, 2020 for the annual dodgeball tournament. The early bird sign-up special is $30.00 and is available from January 6-January 31. After January 31, regular sign-ups cost $40.00. All sign-ups are due by Feb. 14th in order to make brackets. The Tournament will start at 6:00 pm. Admission to watch will be $1.00 or 3 canned food items. Team registration forms can be found outside of room A124. See Ms. Snyder with any questions.
Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS)
Our school is preparing to participate in an important district initiative called Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS).
PBIS is a process for creating safer and more effective schools. It is a systems approach to enhancing the capacity of schools to educate all children by developing school-wide and classroom behavior support systems. The process focuses on improving a school’s ability to teach and support positive behavior for all students. It is also an approach to creating a safe and productive learning environment where teachers can teach and all students can learn. As part of our PBIS process, teachers and other staff members will use evidence-based practices to increase student learning and decrease classroom disruptions. We feel we already have a strong foundation for PBIS through our commitment to The Grizzly Way and the Community of Excellence. In this team-based process for systemic problem solving, planning, and evaluation, we look forward to working with all members of the Grassfield community to develop and refine our program.
PBIS.org
Grizzly Greatness
Congratulations to:
Mrs. Patricia Cawley for earning the Chesapeake Reading Council Teacher of the Year.
Mrs. Lee Mongold for earning the VFW National Citizenship Education Award. She is the winner for Post 2894, District 2, and the state of VA.
Upcoming Events
December 21- January 1- Winter Break- School Closed
January 2—School reopens
January 16—Rising Freshman Night (Elective Fair at 6:00; Auditorium at 6:30 p.m.)
January 20-Martin Luther King Day, No School
January 22 and 23-Semester 1 Exams
January 21-Junior Class Ring Ceremony
January 23-End of 1st Semester
January 24-Teacher Work Day
January 24-Junior Ring Dance
January 27-Start of 2nd Semester--To begin semester 2, students will report to their first semester homerooms to receive their semester 2 schedules. An announcement will be made for students to report to their new homeroom.
January 28-College, Career, and Beyond Night (Auditorium at 6:30)
February 6-2nd Semester Open House and Elective Fair
Grassfield High School
Email: beth.pallister@cpschools.com
Website: https://cpschools.com/gfh/
Location: 2007 Grizzly Trail
Phone: 757-558-4749
Twitter: @grassfield_hs