Comet Weekly Update
Granby High School - Summer Edition 1 - August 15, 2022
Granby High's Mission Statement
Here are some summer updates to help you start planning for the 2022-2023 School Year!
First Summer Update
I hope you are as excited as I am for the start of the 2022-2023 school year. For those who do not know me or who are new to Granby High School, I am Tommy Smigiel the very proud principal of our school. I will be starting my third year as our principal and I am looking forward to all of the great things that will happen with your student and their learning at Granby High School.
You will start to see our new Granby Comet Logos as we worked through a rebranding process last year. Students, staff, parents, and alumni participated in our selection process and we are excited to start using our new logos throughout the school.
During the school year, we use the Comet Weekly Update as the number one way of communicating what is happening at Granby to our students and families. You should expect the newsletter to be sent out no later than Sunday evening before the upcoming week. If for some reason a parent does not receive it, the newsletter is also emailed to student NPS emails, and is available on our school's web site home page.
There will be three published summer editions as we get closer to the start of the school year. Please watch for these newsletters as they will help our students have the best start to the school year. The next Granby Summer Edition will be released the week of August 22nd.
Sincerely,
Mr. Smigiel - Principal
In this Issue:
- #1 & #2 Return to School Frequently Asked Questions
- Back to School Open House Invitation
- Class of 2023 - LifeTouch Senior Formal Photo Registration
- Volunteers Needed - Moms and Dads on Duty
- 2022 Yearbooks are In!
- Welcome Class of 2026!
- Next Step to Success Program
- 2022-2023 Granby High Bell Schedule
- Granby Athletics
Plan Ahead
Wednesday, 8/31 - Class of 2026 [First-Time 9th Graders] - Back-to-School Open House, 5:30pm, Program Starts at 6:00pm
Thursday, 9/1 - Class of 2025 [10th Graders] - Back-to-School Open House, 5:30pm, Program Starts at 6:00pm
Friday, 9/2 - Class of 2024 & 2023 [11th & 12th Graders] - Back-to-School Open House, 12:00pm-2:00pm, No Formal Program
Tuesday, 9/6 - First Day of School
#1 Question: When will my student receive their schedule?
High School scheduling is a cumbersome process that takes months to organize. We are working diligently to make sure all schedules meet the requirements that students need in order to successfully complete their grade level and graduate. Our goal is to have all schedules completed the week before schools starts. Schedules can eventually be viewed in StudentVue and ParentVue once loaded. We also plan on having printed copies available at our Open House and Student Orientation events.
Please note that school counselors do not work in the summer. If you have any questions about your student's schedule, it is best to email AskGranby@npsk12.com so we can route it to the appropriate person.
Once schedules are finalized there will be a process to request a schedule change. We do not make schedule changes based on teacher selection. In addition, many of our electives fill up quickly so there may be limited options for changing electives.
Additional Scheduling Info:
- Virtual Virginia Courses - Please note that Virtual Virginia Courses start the week before NPS starts. Please check with your Virtual Virginia course instructors for more information.
- Virtual Learning through Norfolk's Virtual Scholars Academy (VSA) - VSA is closed for the 2022-2023 School Year. Virtual Learning is not an option unless you had registered for it in the spring.
- Seniors - seniors can be approved to only take 4 classes as long as they are on track to graduate. We are doing our best this year to schedule seniors who only have 4 classes to come all on the same day. For example, a senior may only need to come on even days (Bells 2, 4, 6 & 8). If we cannot get all classes on one day, we will work to have the student on a half day schedule. Please keep in mind that any senior athlete must be enrolled and passing at minimum of 5 classes in order to be eligible to play. Seniors will
- Juniors - for the first time, Granby is allowing some Juniors to have a reduced schedule of 6 classes. Any juniors approved for a reduced schedule will have Blocks 1 & 2 off and will be a late arrival student and demonstrate that they have their own mode of transportation.
- All 9th and 10th graders must have a full schedule.
#2 Question: What supplies do my students need for class?
In general, high schools do not provide a school supply needs list over the summer. High School students usually find out the first week of school, when they meet their teachers for the first time. At the high school level there are so many teachers and class options, it is extremely difficult to determine what each student would need.
To assist you, we are providing a general list of school supplies, that at some point will get used so it is not a waste:
- #2 Pencils
- Extra Erasers
- Personal Pencil Sharpener
- Pencil/Pen Pouch
- Black/Blue Ink Pens - *Some teachers like red or green pens for editing
- Highlighters
- A pack of dry-erase markers
- Paper - College Rule and Wide-Ruled
- 2 pocket folders
- 1-inch binders
- Composition Notebooks
- Index Cards
- A pack of colored pencils
- Book Bag - some students recommend one book bag for odd days, and one for even days.
Granby accepts donations of "real" paper towels and boxes of tissues.
Granby has plenty of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes and does not need any donations of these items.
Class of 2023 Senior Formal Photos by Lifetouch/Prestige - 8/24-8/26 @ Granby
Lifetouch is Granby's Official Photographer. It his highly recommended that all Granby Seniors have their Yearbook formal portrait done by LifeTouch to make sure the photo makes it into the yearbook. The deadline for all formal yearbook photos to be submitted is November 1, 2022.
For your convenience our school's Class of 2023 Prestige Photography sessions are coming up on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8/24 - 08/26 at Granby High School Gym. You must register using the link below.
Is your Senior scheduled for their upcoming session?
If not, head to schedule.prestigeportraits.com to confirm or reschedule.
Download the full flyer below.
Join our new program Moms and Dads on Duty!
If interested, please complete the Google Form below and Assistant Principal Mrs. Self will coordinate with you. Signing-up will require a volunteer background check as well as attendance at a brief training/overview meeting. We would appreciate your support!
2022 Yearbooks Can Be Picked-Up
The 2022 Yearbook has finally arrived. If you purchased one, you may pick it up from the main office Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-2:00pm.
If you did not purchase one, we have about 20 left for $55.00 each. There are less than 5 copies left of the 2021 yearbook which is selling at a discounted rate of $30.00.
We also have so some leftover Class of 2022 hoodies ($10) and t-shirts ($5) for sale in the main office.
Welcome Class of 2026!
Over 50% of our 1st Time 9th Graders Attended Our 9th Grade Transition Program
Ages 13-16 Next Step to Success Program Looking for Granby Students
NSTS Youth At Next Step To Success you will:
- Gain hands-on experience at the Chrysler Museum Perry Glass Studio, Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop, Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Sail Nauticus and more
- Try photography, dance, and art
- Make new friends
- Enjoy free meals and snacks
- Receive assistance with homework from our success coaches
- Benefit from youth mentoring
- Get free transport to and from the program
Free to qualified Norfolk youth ages 13–16 To register for our program: Visit us online at NextStepToSuccess.org Call 757-404-1818 Email us at info@NextStepToSuccess.org
Download the Full Flyer Below!
Download A Copy of 2022-2023 Granby High Bell Schedule Here
Fall Sports Have Started
Fall Sports Started a Few Weeks Ago
Fall sports have already started but we still have a few sports which may take a few extra athletes. Time is running out. Please contact the coach below if you are interested.
Boys and Girls Cross Country: Coach Harris: jonathanharris22@gmail.com
Cheerleading - Coach Meeks: ameeks@nps.k12.va.us
Field Hockey - Coach Staylor: payannstay@gmail.com
Football - Coach Archie: warchie@nps.k12.va.us
Golf - Coach Dixon: kdixon@nps.k12.va.us
To try-out and participate in athletics, athletes must have an updated Athletic Physical Form dated after May 1, 2022 and additional items below:
Athletic Physical Form: https://granbyhs.rschoolteams.com/sites/granbyhs.rschoolteams.com/files/files/Private_User/jharris/New%20physical/newphysical2021VHSL.pdf
Covid Information Form: https://www.npsk12.com/Page/16738
Concussion Protocol Completion: https://www.npsk12.com/Page/1935
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Form: https://www.npsk12.com/Page/18598
All Granby Athletes must also sign an Granby Athletics Contract.
On behalf of the NPS Office of Athletics, we encourage all student athletes to visit their primary care physician for a comprehensive physical before competing in athletics. We do offer on-site physicals throughout the year (See latest schedule listed below) for individuals who cannot obtain a comprehensive physical. The cost is $20.00 (cash only). Please access the physical form (link above) and fill out parts I, II, and IV prior to attending an onsite physical at one of our on-site locations. If any of the three parts are incomplete before attending an on-site physical, the student athlete will not be given a physical on that day.
August 17, 2022
Norview High, 5:00 p.m.
August 24, 2022
Granby High, 5:00 p.m.
August 29, 2022
Booker T. Washington, 5:00 p.m.
August 31, 2022
Lake Taylor High, 5:00 p.m.
Upcoming Sports Schedule
Field Hockey Scrimmage vs. Mechanicsville @ Gloucester High School, 11:30am
Monday, August 22nd
Girls and Boys Volleyball vs. Kecoughtan @ Granby High School, Girls (4:00pm), Boys (5:30pm)
Field Hockey vs. Booker T. Washington @ Powhatan Stadium, 6:00pm
Tuesday, August 23rd
Field Hockey vs. Kecoughtan @ Powhatan Stadium, 4:00pm
Wednesday, August 24th
Field Hockey vs. Maury @ Powhatan Stadium, 4:00pm
Friday, August 26th
Football vs. Menchville @ Powhatan Stadium, 7:00pm
Monday, August 29th
Field Hockey vs. Manor @ Powhatan Stadium, 4:00pm
Girls and Boys Volleyball vs. Nansemond River @ Granby High School, Girls (5:30pm), Boys (7:00pm)
Tuesday, August 31st
Girls and Boys Volleyball vs. Deep Creek @ Deep Creek High School, Girls (4:00pm), Boys (6:00pm)
Wednesday, August 31st
Cross Country vs. Bethel @ Bethel High School, 3:30pm
Field Hockey vs. Norview @ Norview High School, 4:00pm
Thursday, September 1st
Golf vs. Norview @ Sewells Point Golf Club, 1:00pm
Friday, September 2nd
Football vs. Western Branch @ Western Branch High School, 7:00pm
Join the Granby Comet Athletic Association
Please consider joining the GCAA by using the QR Code below. Different levels are provided and you get some “swag” with each level. Also, you will be notified of GCAA fundraisers or other GCAA related events.
GCAA is now on Facebook! Go to https://www.facebook.com/GranbyCAA to receive daily sports updates and events!
Important Links
Child Nutrition Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Granby Menu
A/B (Odd/Even) Calendar 2022-2023 (Not Released Yet)NPS 2022-2023 Student Handbook and Code of Conduct (Not Released Yet)
Granby Email Addresses
Granby's Two Emails
askgranby@npsk12.com - should be used for any communication with Granby, except for notification of absences. Parents reporting Covid symptoms, positive Covid, or Covid exposure should also use this email.
GranbyHighAttendance@npsk12.com - should be used for any communication regarding absences from school including absence notification, and submitting excused notes.
Like our Facebook Page for up-to-date information: https://www.facebook.com/GranbyHighComets.
Contact Us
Summer Main Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:00am-3:00pm
Enrollments by Appointment Only
During the School Year Main Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00am - 3:00pm
Enrollments 7:30am - 10:30am, Monday-Friday
Email: AskGranby@npsk12.com
Website: https://www.npsk12.com/ghs
Location: 7101 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA, USA
Phone: 757-451-4110
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GranbyHighComets