The Grizzly Growl
February 2022
From the Bear Den
Hello Grizzly Families! Welcome to the spring semester of 2022! One of the great things about high school is that we get a fresh start with new classes and a fresh start! We encourage all students to continue to work hard in the classroom and to take advantage of the opportunity to reset.
It is always exciting when the calendar changes to a new year, which brings us closer to another graduating class of Grizzlies. We have many activities planned to celebrate our 15th graduating class, the Class of 2022, when we are able to. We are also proud to celebrate Black History Month with many inclusive activities planned all month. We are also excited about region playoffs for our winter athletes and the beginning of spring sports soon to follow.
February is when we begin scheduling and staffing for the 2022-2023 school year. Please take some time to talk with your child about course offering and selections for next year to ensure they are taking the right classes to put them on a successful path towards their post-graduation aspirations.
Please let us know how we can support you and your student.
Be safe out there!
And as always, Go Grizzlies!
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael Perez
Principal
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.
If your child feels sick, please do not put them on the bus or send them to school.
Please contact the school nurse if your child tests positive for Covid or has a close contact.
Automated Parent Alert System (PAS) Calls From GFH
GRASSFIELD CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
February is Black History Month, and the GFH Multicultural Club and BHM committee has been working hard for the last few months to make this celebration expansive and meaningful. Here are just a few of the activities we have planned:
- GNEWS will feature daily lessons about black people in history and today. There will also be announcements about live and online events that are planned for the student body.
- Mr. Brian Hunt, steel drum percussionist, will be visiting during all lunches on 2/4 and 2/25. Students will be able to ask him questions and interact with the steel drums.
- Historically Black Colleges will be featured February 7 - 11, during all lunches. Displays will be hosted by faculty alumni of regional universities and out-of-state schools. Video virtual tours, sports, music, admission, and campus life information will be featured.
- From January 23 - February 15, we will sponsor 5 schoolwide academic contests promoting research in black history and creative expression. Winners will be recognized at the GFH Black History Month Assembly. The art department will host a visual media contest. The English department will host a Poetry and Spoken Word Slam. The science department will host a video and visual arts contest. The foreign language department will host a video and visual arts contest, and the history department will host an essay contest. Winners will be announced at the GFH Black History Assembly.
- A virtual HBCU Q & A with Grassfield alumni, teachers and community members will be held afterschool the week of February 21-25.
- At the end of the month, videos featuring Black fashion designs created by our year-long fashion design classes will air during morning announcements.
FREE TUTORING
SCA NEWS
Every Friday during the month of February, SCA and Grassfield clubs will be selling Chick Fil A biscuits for $4 in the concession stand from 8:35-8:55am.
Friday February 11th- Pop up spirit day for Super Bowl Weekend: Jersey Day
Monday, February 14th- Pop up spirit day for Valentines Day: Wear Pink or Red
Tuesday, February 15: RED OUT/Senior Night for Boys basketball game vs. Hickory 6:00/7:30pm
Virginia Climate Survey
Grassfield High School will participate in the VDOE School Climate Survey. Please read the information below for additional details.
Dear Grassfield High School Parent(s) and/or Guardian(s),
Re: Virginia Department of Education School Climate Survey
This spring our school, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Department of Education, is conducting the Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions of students, classroom instructors, and staff. The purpose of this survey is to measure student support, student engagement, school discipline, and safety conditions in each school. This information will be used to guide educational practices that produce a safe and supportive school environment.
I am writing to provide you with information on the student survey. The survey will be completed online between February 7, 2022 and March 4, 2022. The survey does not ask for your child's name and all answers are anonymous (no one will know how your child answered the survey). Parents and guardians will not have access to their child's survey answers. You may review the student survey at this
The survey will ask questions such as how students feel about their school, how students get along with one another and their teachers, how students feel about school rules, and their perceptions of their teachers' willingness to help them. Students will also be asked what kinds of bullying they may have observed during school and whether they have been bullied themselves.
All students in your child's grade level will be eligible to participate in the survey. Students participating in remote instruction and in-person instruction are both eligible to participate. The survey is voluntary and your child can decide not to participate. No action will be taken against you, your child, or the school if your child does not participate. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please notify the school office by telephone or letter by February 14, 2022. You may also email Ms. Sapieka, assistant principal, to opt out via email at helen.sapieka@cpschools.com
Your child will not receive any immediate benefit from participating in the survey, but the survey will help us to maintain a safe, inviting, and supportive learning environment for your child.
Thank you for your cooperation in this important study of Virginia's schools.
Mr. Michael Perez
Principal, Grassfield High School (757) 558-4749
Spring Semester AP Test Registration
Student Attendance Matters--Potential Loss of Credit
Your child's attendance is posted in ParentVue. A letter alerting you to a potential loss of credit is posted in ParentVue when your child reaches 6, 9, and 10 absences in each class. This is your official notification of excessive absences, so please check ParentVue often to monitor your student's attendance. Students can make-up a portion of missed time by attending extended day.
If a student must be absent, please email or bring a note to our attendance secretary (lisa.curling@cpschools.com) so we can code the absence appropriately.
Mrs. Pallister (our Assistant Principal for Instruction) should be notified in advance about trips, vacations, and other lengthy unexcused absences to ensure student progress in class. Please email or send a note to Beth.pallister@cpschools.com explaining the absence prior to the absence.
The Chesapeake School Board has defined an excused absence to include any of the following: Sickness of a student, medical appointments, severe illness or death in the family, exposure to contagious disease, religious holidays, or extenuating circumstances such as fire, accident, or extremely inclement weather. Absences other than those listed above will be recorded as unexcused absences.
The Counseling Corner
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 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
2022-2023 Course Scheduling
On February 3rd, students watched a scheduling video in homeroom and completed a rough draft of their course request forms. The video and a copy of the course request form is also on the school counseling website. Please review these with your child to ensure they are making responsible requests. Students may select their courses through StudentVue. Those requests must be completed by February 8.
Beginning this week, school counselors will meet with students in small groups to review the requests and to make any necessary suggestions or changes. Students will receive an email with their scheduling appointment date and time. Parents should expect course verification forms to be available for review in Synergy around February 24. Since staffing for next year is based on course requests, courses cannot be changed after March 2.
School counselors are available for individual scheduling meetings upon request. Please contact your child’s school counselor directly via email for an appointment or with questions.
We encourage students and parents to visit our scheduling website for lots of detailed information about courses and the scheduling process.
ACCESS Information
Grizzlies please visit Mr. Kellys Virtual Office for wonderful resources and to sign up for an appointment
SENIOR STUDENTS:
The long-awaited Access College Commitment Day is back so SAVE THE DATE; April 26, 2022.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO:
- Receive assistance with the FAFSA
- Complete college applications
- Review scholarship opportunities-- Mr. Kelly's suggestion is that seniors approach applying for scholarships like a FIFTH class!!
- Not sure if college is your next step? Let's discuss other possible possibilities
- Please fill out the Access Fee Waiver Application and the Access Release Form to see if you are eligible for waivers to take the SAT, ACT, apply to colleges, AP test, and apply for eligibility center to play sports.
- Follow Mr. Kelly on Remind
JUNIOR STUDENTS:
- FREE SAT WAIVER by filling out these Forms and Joining Mr. Kelly's Khan class. SAT waivers are available to all juniors regardless of income. Waivers will be given on a first-come-first-served basis.
- Check this out Preparing for College Junior Checklist
- Visit Mr. Kelly's Junior Class Lobby
- Internship possibilities Next Gen- Pathways
- Follow Mr. Kelly on Remind
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.
The Military and Family Life Counseling, (MFLC) Program
Welcome to those military families who have recently POC'd to our area. The United States Department of Defense has provided Grassfield High with the Military & Family Life Program, a valuable resource, available to you and your family.
Our Military & Family Life Counselor, Mrs. Mary Williams, is a licensed professional counselor and provides supportive services to our military-connected students and their families. She conducts individual and group counseling and can be found at Grassfield High in our Media Center, Monday, Tuesday and every other Friday from 8:30am - 4:00pm. In addition, she is able to arrange her schedule to meet your needs outside of the posted days and/or time frame listed above. She is pleased to offer an introductory support group to newly enrolled military-connected students who have recently relocated to our area. Please contact her by using her contact information listed below.
As you are aware, the Covid-19 variance is impacting the Chesapeake community. In light of the situation, we wanted to inform you we are being proactive and preparing for the possibility of temporary virtual counseling sessions in the future. In the event our school is impacted by this variance, Mrs, Williams will be available to provide confidential virtual support to our students and staff through the secure platform, Zoom. If a temporary closure were to occur, you can contact our MFLC and schedule individual and/or group sessions to assist you during the transition. She requests you sign a consent form or provide her with your oral consent for services. If you are interested in her services, or have questions or concerns about the program, please contact her.
Mrs. Mary P Williams, MSEd, LPC, CSAC, ACS
Military & Family Life Counselor
Grassfield High School
757-404-3112
SENIOR NEWS
Class of 2022 Senior Banquet
On Saturday, March 12, 2022, the senior class officers will present the Golden Grizzlies award show for all graduating seniors. This event will take place in the food court at Grassfield High School and consists of a catered dinner, with a DJ, and an awards show where senior superlative winners will be announced. Doors will open at 6:oo pm, dinner will be served upon arrival, and the show will commence at 7:00pm. Dress code is semi-formal, so no jeans or sneakers, please.
The cost of the event is $30 per person and is only open to members of the Grassfield Class of 2022. Underclassmen and students from other schools are not permitted at this event. Tickets will be on sale via two payment methods:
1. To pay with a credit card, tickets may be purchased online via OSP through Wednesday, February 9.
2. To pay with cash, tickets may be purchased during all lunches Tuesday, February 8 or Wednesday, February 9 only.
Additionally, senior class dues must be paid in full for all years of attendance at Grassfield. Please contact Mrs. Anderson, Ms. Knight, or Mrs. Mongold with any questions. (*NOTE: Masks are required for admittance to this event.)
Class of 2022 Apparel
Anyone who ordered a senior t-shirt, sweatshirt, or sweatpants may pick up their items from Ms. Knight in room D117. Thank you for your support of the senior class!
MEDIA CENTER NEWS
Media Center News:
February is Black History Month !!! Swing by the media center to check out some great books that celebrate Black History American history! This month’s contest activities include a black history month trivia, Valentine’s Card creation and President’s Day game. Visit our Grizzly Media Center Google Site to participate in these monthly activities. For every activity you participate in your name will be entered into our monthly drawing! Click on the tab labeled February to access the activities. Congratulations to our January winner: Emmanuel Sander.
Swing by the media center on Wednesday, February 9 and 16 to complete a Black History Month Make it and Take it crafting a bead bracelet activity!
Interested in joining our book club? Use this code to join our Schoology group (67Q9-PKKF-DGBWS). We meet during lunches typically every two weeks. Our current book is The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
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 next PTSA Executive Board Meeting will be held on February 7th at 6:00 pm in the media center. All members are welcome to attend.
Please follow the GFHS PTSA on twitter @GrizzlyPTSA and our Facebook page is GrassfieldPTSA.
All visitors and spectators must wear masks at athletic events.
Athletic News
Tickets, Schedules, and Live Streaming
After Friday, December 17th Grassfield High School will no longer accept CASH for tickets at Grassfield High School athletic events.
- Tickets may be purchased using a credit or debit card at the ticket table/gate via the GoFan Box Office with one of our ticket attendants.
- Parents, students, and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online prior to the sporting event at GoFan.co (not .com) and simply redeem their tickets on their phone at the tickets table/gate upon arrival. This method offers a faster and more efficient entry into sporting events.
- Students also have the option of purchasing a "Student Pass" at GoFan.co that is good for the entire year and allows them entry into any and all Chesapeake high school or middle school sporting events (except playoffs) for only $20.
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.
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.
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