The Grizzly Growl
October 2021
From the Bear Den
Hello Grizzly Families!
What a tremendous start to the new school year! Students are happy and lively in the halls, and teachers are reporting that students are starting to come out of their shells, interacting with each other, and making connections to their learning.
We held our annual grade-level assemblies last week to remind students about how to be good students and how to demonstrate appropriate behaviors at school. Some of what we discussed is in the student handbook.
Parents, we need your help. We have had a rash of destructive incidents in our student bathrooms which have forced us to close some bathrooms. Please talk to your children about the serious consequences of vandalizing school property, and remind them that this is not The Grizzly Way.
Additionally, Dr. Cotton recently provided district messages about making a threat against a school or spreading that information. These incidents cause a disruption to the learning environment and divert our school resources from what they should be doing--helping your children learn. Please stress the seriousness of these actions and know that CPS will work with the Chesapeake Police Department to investigate these incidents.
Should a student hear or see something concerning, we encourage them to immediately report it to an adult. Our motto is Report, Don't Repost.
We are also working to improve safety for our student drivers and students who are picked up and dropped off. Soon, you will notice additional crosswalks in the lane in front of the school. Please mind those crosswalks and ensure that our students can get to the parking lots safely. We also want to remind you that it is both illegal and dangerous to stop on Scenic Blvd. to drop off or pick up your child. Instead, please follow the traffic flow to the lane at the front of the school.
October is a busy month! We are excited have Spirit Week and to host the Homecoming parade and football game again on October 15th. It also marks the end of the first marking period, the PSAT, the first SOL test of the year, 11th grade writing, and Trunk or Treat. Let's make is a great month!
We have provided LOTS of other important information in this edition of the newsletter.
Please also follow our social media pages on Twitter and Instagram for any last-minute updates. If you have any questions, please contact our administrators at 757-558-4749.
Be safe out there, Grizzlies! And as always, Go Grizzlies!
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael Perez
Principal
IMPACT AID CARDS
SCA News
Spirit Links for a Cause- SCA will be collecting change during all lunches the week of October 4th-8th leading up to our home football game. Each $1 raised will add a link to the chain that will be presented at halftime along with Hickory's chain. The school that has the longest chain will win our Links for a Cause competition. If Hickory wins, all proceeds will be donated to CHKD and if Grassfield wins all proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The losing principal will have to wear the other school's gear to school on Monday.
October 8th- Home Varsity Football game vs. Hickory-Scholarship night and student section theme: 70s/hippie
Trunk or Treat- Friday, October 29th
Join us at 5pm before the home varsity football game in your best Halloween costume. School clubs and teams will have booths set up near the tennis courts to visit.
Class Dues-Be sure to pay your class dues, $5.00 for each year, to support your class activties.
PSAT
GFH HONOR CODE
Students at Grassfield are expected to abide by the Honor Code; it's the Grizzly Way. Students are expected to verify that the work on each assignment is their own. Collaborating with another classmate on any assignment must be pre approved by the teacher.
Report Cards will be available in ParentVue and StudentVue October 14
The Counseling Corner
Hello Grassfield High School community! Your school counselors welcome you back!
School counselors are available to students virtually and in-person by appointment. Students should join their Class of 2022, 2023, etc. Schoology group to request an appointment. Additional information, including Schoology Group codes is available in each classroom and on the GFH website. Please contact the school counseling department at 558-4509 for additional help.
School stress impacts students of all ages and backgrounds. Stress for students can come from a variety of sources including doing well in school, making and sustaining friendships, or managing expectations .
How do you teach students to deal with stress ? What strategies work? How do I support my students' stress management plan ?
Teach what stress is
Help identify feelings and emotions
Establish and develop healthy coping skills
Set a calm morning and night routine
Get organized
Eliminate stressors
Focus on social supports
Teach conflict resolutions and communication skills
Limit screen usage
Teach gratitude practices
The School Counseling Department strives to have an impact on supporting student’s social/emotional needs. We will continue to provide a supportive environment designed to propel students toward positive mindsets and behaviors supporting social/emotional development through direct and indirect services. We are here to serve our students and families in any way needed . We look forward to the continued partnership.
School counselors are certified/licensed educators who improve student success for ALL students by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program. School Counselors can help students by providing:
- individual student academic planning and goal setting
- school counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards
- short-term counseling to students
- referrals for long-term support
- collaboration with families/teachers/ administrators/ community for student success
- advocacy for students at individual education plan meetings and other student-focused meetings
- data analysis to identify student issues, needs and challenges
Go, Grizzlies!
Meet Mr. Kelly, Our New ACCESS Advisor
Senior Class of 2022: Seniors and/or their parents can click on this link to Schedule an Appointment with me through zoom or in person.
- They can also visit Mr. Kellys Virtual Senior Office to search for scholarships, apply to colleges, go on virtual college tours, military information, receive important updates and more.
· Filling out the waiver application and release form are important to get started with Access. If eligible for waivers or fee payment students can take their SATs, ACT’s, Apply to Colleges, take AP tests and apply for eligibility as an athlete all for FREE.
“Primary”Access Email: akelly@accesscollege.org
Junior Class of 2023: Junior students looking to take the SAT for FREE regardless of income can use this link to join Mr. Kellys Virtual Junior Office
- If juniors follow the khan academy modules and the SAT Guide it can guarantee a better chance of increasing their SAT scores and getting into their dream college.
- I will need them to submit the Khan Academy Packet back to me and once completed I will send them a waiver code to register for the test.
Connect with TCC
If you have a student who is interested in TCC, please see the TCC Prospect Interest Form. A TCC advisor will be at Grassfield every Wednesday to meet with students.
Available for on-demand viewing at: https://vccs.zoom.us/rec/share/vZmr4EIKLCIu4qChqUxB-wryas_EyTmfw8kWyh8-TZfMO-T9IUFoBPydhE08NdFX.O9T07tYzrqX4fJjt?startTime=1630595509000
Password: d%^YZ3Xn
TCC Virtual Information Sessions
Students and parents can preregister at: https://tinyurl.com/TCCinfosession
TCC Interest Form
Students who complete this will be contacted by a TCC Outreach Advisor upon their start in October.
https://www.tcc.edu/hscontact
Karen Warren
Your Grassfield Counselors!
The Military and Family Life Counseling, (MFLC) Program
Chesapeake Public Schools, in conjunction with the United States Department of Defense, is offering us a valuable resource for our military-connected students, the Military and Family Life Counseling, (MFLC) Program.
Grassfield High School is fortunate to have a Child and Youth Behavioral Military Family Life Counselor (CYB-MFLC) in our building to serve the students who have an active-duty, reservist, or recently retired from the military, parent or guardian. Our MFLC, Mrs. Mary Williams, MSEd, LPC, CSAC, is available to meet with and provide counseling and support services to these students (once they have returned a consent form signed by their parent or legal guardian, available on the GFH website under military families).
Mrs. Williams, a licensed professional counselor, will be housed in our school building, (in the media center), on Monday, Tuesday and every other Friday, from 8:30am – 4:00pm, and is able to schedule time for family sessions during or after school hours. The consent form for counseling services may be obtained from Grassfield High School’s Counseling Office, Media Center, or through this link on our website.
Mrs. Williams is able to address student needs and challenging behaviors by conducting individual and group sessions, provides short-term, non-medical, solution-focused counseling, education and support to military service members and their families. She also assists the family by addressing day to day stressors of military life. Possible topics of sessions may include communication, family dynamics, grief and loss, deployment support, transitions, divorce, social skills, peer relationships, study skills, stress reduction, relaxation skills, conflict resolution, and building resiliency. Services are confidential, with legal limits of confidentiality of duty to warn for safety concerns to prevent harm to self or others.
SENIOR NEWS
SENIOR PICTURES: Candid Color will offer a final senior portrait session in the auditorium on Oct. 25. Appointments must be scheduled at https://www.pickatime.com/candidcolor/grassfieldhs. Same-day appointments and those who do not schedule in advance cannot be accommodated. Please contact Candid Color Photography at (703) 590-0187 with any questions.
Seniors must select their pose choice for the yearbook through Candid Color by Dec. 1. If a pose is not selected, Candid Color will submit its choice for publication in the yearbook.
Seniors who are photographed by outside studios must have their photographer digitally submit their portrait to Patti Peterson (patti.peterson@cpschools.com) by Dec. 1.
SENIOR YEARBOOK ADS: Celebrate your senior by purchasing a recognition ad at www.thesenioradcompany.com to appear in The Pawprint Yearbook. Discounts apply through Oct. 21. The deadline to purchase an ad is Jan. 14. Please call 757-774-7129 with questions.
Please see additional information here.
Class of 2022 will hold a seniors-only tailgate on Friday October 29 from 5:30-6:30pm. Come join your classmates for snacks, beverages, games, and prizes. The event is free for all seniors whose class dues for all four years are paid in full. The football game against Nansemond River will be the last home game of the season and they will be celebrating senior fall athletes as well. Hope to see you there, seniors!
Follow the Class of 2022 on Instagram for the most timely updates @grassfield2022
School Pictures
UNDERCLASS MAKE-UP PICTURES: Candid Color will take make-up portraits in the auditorium on Oct. 25 for those who missed the originally scheduled session. TImes will be posted as the date nears. Registration is not required.
YEARBOOK SALES: To purchase the 2021-22 Pawprint yearbook, please visit www.jostens.com. The early bird price of $75 is available through Oct. 8.
Students who purchased a 2020-21 yearbook and have not picked it up may see Mrs. Peterson in D122 during third or fourth blocks. A limited supply also is available for purchase. The cost is $80.
SPORTS PHOTOS: Visit https://vando.imagequix.com/s1710107206?mid=126032281#login to access your athlete’s sports pictures. Candid Color offers various package and print products, specialty team and individual products, and digital downloads.
AP TEST REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
National Hispanic Month
MEDIA CENTER NEWS
Interested in joining our book club? If so, join the Grizzly Book Club group in Schoology (67Q9-PKKF-DGBWS). Our first book is Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall.
October is TeenTober! To learn more about TeenTober visit our GMC Google Site. Students can access the site by clicking on the link from our Schoology course (55JB-G3FF-9FVGG).
Visit our Grizzly Media Center Google Site to participate in our monthly activities. For every activity you participate in your name will be entered into our monthly drawing! Click on the tab labeled TeenTober to access the monthly activities.
Grassfield Parent Teacher and Student Organization
Parents- if you have not joined our PTSA , please consider becoming a member and supporting our school community. Seniors who wish to apply for the GFHS PTSA Scholarship must be a member. The cost is $7.00 per member and you may join by using the link below.
https://grassfieldhigh.memberhub.com/store
Our biggest fundraiser of the year, our annual craft show, will be held on November 20, 2021 from 9am-4pm. If you would like to participate with a booth, please contact grassfieldcraftshow@gmail.com for an application. The PTSA will be in need of student and parent volunteers to help on Friday, Nov 19th and Saturday, November 20th. This is the perfect event for students to earn community service hours for NHS or other organizations. . Please contact Lisa.McCoy at grassfieldcraftshow@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering for us.
We will have a PTSA Executive Board Meeting on October 12, 2021 at 6:00pm at GFHS. Any member may attend.
Please follow the GFHS PTSA on twitter @GrizzlyPTSA and our Facebook page is GrassfieldPTSA.
School Building Hours for Students- Students may not enter the building prior to 8:35 a.m. Upon arrival, students should report directly to their homeroom classroom or directly to the food court for breakfast. Students may drop off instruments before they report to homeroom.
Bus Transportation- Bus routes may be found on the CPS website (www.cpschools.com). Students should review and memorize their bus route number. Since time of pick-up will be irregular for the first few days, cooperation from everyone is necessary and appreciated. Students are required to wear masks on the busses.
Students will remain on the busses until 8:35 a.m.
Student Parking- Student drivers will not be allowed in the building until 8:35 a.m. and should only enter through door 2A (the gymnasium entrance). Remain in your car until 8:35 a.m. to avoid crowds at door 2A. Students may still purchase parking passes on Wednesday mornings before school in the main office.
Student Drop off and Pick up- Students should be dropped off and picked-up at entrance 2A (the gymnasium entrance) and can be dropped off no earlier than 8:35 a.m. The doors will not be unlocked prior to 8:35 a.m., so please do not drop off your child earlier to avoid crowds at this entrance. Students may be picked-up beginning at 3:53. Please watch for students crossing the parking lot and medians during these times.
Students who need to leave school early must be checked out at the Attendance Office at entrance 1A. Parents will be asked to show ID. Masks must be worn in the building.
Athletic News
Tickets, Schedules, and Live Streaming
Sporting Event Tickets - Tickets for all fall Chesapeake Public Schools sporting events can now be purchased online at GoFan.co (Not .com). Varsity high school sporting event tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Junior varsity tickets are $5 for Adults and $3 for students. Students may also purchase a "Student Pass" at GoFan for $20 that will allow them access to all home and away high school sporting events - A great deal for the price!! Tickets and passes are accessible and redeemed using your smartphone. There is a service fee charged by GoFan for all tickets and passes.
Watch the Games Live - All Grassfield High School sporting events that take place at Carolyn F. Bernard Stadium or Grassfield's gymnasium can now be live streamed through the NFHS Network. Go to NFHS Network and set up your monthly or annual subscription and watch the varsity football and volleyball games this fall, basketball games this winter, and boys and girls soccer this spring.
Grassfield High School Sports Schedules - Want to know who's playing and when? Go to Southeasterndistrictva.org, click on Grassfield and you'll find all the fall, winter, and spring sports schedules listed. Sign up for the app using your smartphone to receive updates on schedule changes and postponements.
Water Bottles- All students are encouraged to bring a water bottle. Students will be allowed to refill their water bottles at the bottle filling stations around the building.
Deliveries/Forgotten Items- Due to health and safety guidelines at this time, limited items may be dropped off. The acceptance of forgotten items is limited to medicine delivered to the clinic or necessary items too large to be transported on the school bus. Any student who forgets his/her lunch will be offered a school lunch at no charge. Food delivery, including fast food and carry-out from restaurants, is strongly discouraged. This policy is for student safety and to maximize instructional time.
Student Handbook
Important Information About Chromebooks
Computers- Students will be issued a Chromebook on the first day of school. Full time CVA students may pick up a Chromebook in the main office during school hours. Students should bring the devices to school each day fully charged. Charging stations and/or cords are not available. Students should know their One Login username and password.
Grassfield High School
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @grassfield_hs. Our website is updated regularly for additional information.
Email: beth.pallister@cpschools.com
Website: https://cpschools.com/gfh/
Location: 2007 Grizzly Trail
Phone: 757-558-4749
Twitter: @grassfield_hs