The Grizzly Growl
November 2021
From the Bear Den
Hello Grizzly Families!
November is the month where we count our blessings and give thanks for what we have. We have certainly endured many trials these last 18 months, and I am thankful for the support and grace of the Grassfield community. I am thankful to see students and teachers back in classrooms interacting and learning. I am thankful to see our athletes back on the fields and in competitions. I am thankful to hear our fine arts programs making music again.
I recently met with students to get their feedback about the start of the school. Upperclassmen commented that they didn't think the underclassmen knew about The Grizzly Way or understood why it is so important to the culture of Grassfield. They were right, so we are embarking on a plan to remind everyone what it means to be a proud Grizzly and how to exemplify The Grizzly Way. We are calling it GROWL.
G-give respect
R-accept responsibility
O-operate safely
W-walk in excellence
L-live with integrity
Parents, we need your help, too. Please ask your children about GROWL and The Grizzly Way and encourage them to model this behavior both in and out of school. Safety continues to be a priority for us, so we are also asking for your help to remind your children that vandalizing school property (including bathrooms) has serious consequences. We also ask you to follow the safety guidelines for picking up and dropping off students. We added new 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. Remember 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.
There is a Hansa proverb that advises, "Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot." I wish you lots for which to be thankful. 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.
Student attendance matters!
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.
Trips, vacations, and other lengthy unexcused absences should be preapproved by Mrs. Pallister (our Assistant Principal for Instruction) to ensure student progress in class. Please email or send a note 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.
Students may attend Extended Day to earn back seat time from excessive absences. See the flyer below.
Study Hall
We are pleased to offer a hybrid study hall this fall. Students may attend in person (with their own transportation) or may get help through virtual sessions. We encourage students to take advantage of this excellent resource.
Study Hall Dates:
November: 3, 4, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 20
December: 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16
January: 4, 5, 6, 11 12, 13, 18, 19, 20
Transportation is not provided.
The Show Will Go On!
Grassfield Theatre Company is thrilled to present Puffs.
The New York Times proclaims, "PUFFS, IS A FAST-PACED ROMP through the ‘Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic.’ For POTTERphiliacs, who grew up alongside Potter and are eager to revisit that world, PUFFS exudes a jovial, winking fondness for all things Harry!”
This clever and inventive play is filled with moments of laughter whether you are a Potter fan or not. Hollywood Life proclaims The Puffs are a group of well-meaning, loyal outsiders with a thing for badgers “who are so lovable and relatable, you’ll leave the theater wishing they were in the stories all along." Join us on this hysterical, epic journey takes the classic story to new places and reimagines what a boy wizard hero can be.
The show will be November 18, 19 and 20 at 7:00 p.m. Only 350 tickets will be sold for each performance. All ticket sales will be at the door on the evening of the show. The Box Office will open at 6:15 each evening. All tickets are $5.00.
Due to COVID, we respectfully ask that if you plan to attend, you monitor your health status prior to the event and when in doubt, refrain from attending.
All patrons will be asked to wear masks in accordance with school policy.
The auditorium will have sections/rows taped off to avoid contact with other guests.
If you have any other questions, please contact Laura Agudelo via email at laura.agudelo@cpschools.com
Congratulations to our GFH National Merit Scholars
In September, the National Merit Scholarship Program announced the names of semi-finalists in their program. We are proud to recognize Megan Neumann and Jennifer Lee as semi-finalists.
The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million that will be offered next spring.
Good Luck to our Grizzlies!
AP TEST REGISTRATION ENDS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5th
SCA News: Movie on the Lawn
On Monday, November 22nd SCA will be showing Ratatouille on the Lawn at 6pm. Get a ticket in exchange for one canned good, which will go towards our canned food drive, during all lunches on November 15-19. Grassfield High School students only. There will be a limited number of tickets. No tickets will be sold at the door.
Class Dues-Be sure to pay your class dues, $5.00 for each year, to support your class activities.
Grizzly Gridiron Giveback Game
This is Grassfield's Powder Puff football game where the junior and senior girls battle it out on the field in flag football, while the junior and senior boys show their support as cheerleaders. The game is being held to kick off this year's holiday canned food drive, sponsored by National Honor Society.
The admission fee for the game is a donation of at least 3 canned or non-perishable food items. All donations will be given to the Food Bank. Students will drop their donations in a box to support their class (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior) and these will tally into the school-wide competition between the grade levels. Bring your family and friends and come out to watch this always entertaining event, and support a worthy cause in the process!
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.
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 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
Mr. Kelly is available Wednesdays and Thursdays to assist students at Grassfield. Snap a picture of the QR code in the attachment and it will take you straight to Mr. Kelly's Virtual Office . Seniors can also follow me on REMIND to receive updates.
- Junior Class of 2023: Junior students looking to take the SAT can use this link to join Mr. Kelly's Virtual Junior Office
- Please follow the information listed in the office to be eligible for the Khan waiver.
- Students will need to submit the Khan Academy Packet back to Mr. Kelly and JOIN his class to be eligible for the waiver code to register for the SAT test. This program is only eligible during a student's Junior Year.
- Senior Class of 2022: There are 233 DAYS until graduation . Seniors and/or their parents can click on this link to Schedule an Appointment with me through zoom or in person to file the FAFSA.
- In Mr. Kelly's Virtual Senior Office students can search for scholarships, apply to colleges, go on virtual college tours, seek military information, receive important updates and much more.
- Students must fill out these two documents to be eligible for waivers and are very important to get started with Access. If eligible for waivers or Access 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.
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
November is a traditional time for Thanksgiving and family celebrations. It is also the month our nation observes Veterans Day and Military Families Month. We honor our past and present veterans, in gratitude for their willingness to serve in the United States Armed Forces and have sacrificed for the common good. During Military Family Month, we thank military families for supporting our service members, the military mission and our nation.
Our nation pays special tribute to our deployed forces and their families who are separated during the coming holiday season. Military life imposes unique demands on the family, such as separations, shifting roles, losing friends, as well as frequent relocation to new communities and schools. During difficult times the military family demonstrates sacrifice, resiliency and courage.
Grassfield High School’s administration, faculty, staff and student population hold our veterans and military families in high esteem. This school and community is thankful to you and your families for your dedication, service and sacrifice to our great nation.
As the holidays draw near, remember active-duty military and family members, recently retired veterans, and survivors, have the supportive presence of a Military and Family Life Counselor, (MFLC), at Grassfield High School. Mrs. Mary Williams, LPC, is available for individual and group counseling sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays and every other Friday, from 8:45am to 4:00pm. The MFLC is available outside of school hours, when needed. Please call, 757-404-3112, or email williamsm@magellanfederal.com, if you would like to schedule an appointment.
Our Military & Family Life Counselor, (MFLC), is currently offering opened-ended Deployment Support Groups for Grassfield's military-connected students. The group(s) will be held during normal school hours. Please contact our MFLC, Mrs. Mary Williams, by phone, email, (see above contact information) - or visit her in the Media Center, (Monday, Tuesday, or E/O Friday), for additional information. Thank you!
SENIOR NEWS
The time to order senior caps and gowns, graduation announcements, and other senior items has arrived! Grassfield Senior Week starts today! Please follow these instructions to place your Senior order.
- Visit www.Jostens.com
- Click on shop my school and type in Grassfield, If ordering on your phone when you scroll down you will see the yearbook tab, swipe right until you see the Graduation tab.
- The mascot package will load, this is the most popular package. If that is what you want select that package, if not, scroll down and click shop all
- All other options will appear.
- Once you check out, all senior apparel will ship to your home in 7-10 days and the Senior announcements and cap and gown will be delivered in the spring at the school during senior week.
- If you are needing to order your students' class ring this can also be done online or Jostens will be on campus with ring samples and sizers Wednesday Nov 3rd and Thursday Nov 4th during school lunch and Thursday Nov 4th at night from 6-8 to view class rings.
If you have any questions please feel free to email eric.harvell@jostens.com Thank you.
SENIOR YEARBOOK ADS: Celebrate your senior by purchasing a recognition ad at www.thesenioradcompany.com to appear in The Pawprint Yearbook.The deadline to purchase an ad is Jan. 14. Please call 757-774-7129 with questions.
Please see additional information here.
Follow the Class of 2022 on Instagram for the most timely updates @grassfield2022
Junior Class Rings
School Pictures
YEARBOOK SALES: The 2022 Pawprint Yearbook: Take advantage of Josten’s Early Bird Special to purchase your 2022 yearbook at the discounted price of $78 through December 31 by visiting www.jostens.com.
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.
MEDIA CENTER NEWS
Our first few book club meetings were a success! We read a creepy book- Rules for Vanishing. Our book club members recommend it! If you are interested in joining, use this code to join our group (67Q9-PKKF-DGBWS). We will select our next book soon!
Check out our new Unplug and Unwind Zone! Puzzles, board games, coloring sheets, Green screen and more! We are open at 8:35 am and during all lunches! Come in to chill and relax!
Interested in designing a new library card? Check out the Chesapeake Public Library site for details!
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 November 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 post a sign-up genius on our PTSA Facebook page as well.
We will have a PTSA Executive Board Meeting on November 8, 2021 at 6:00pm at GFHS. Any member may attend.
Please follow the GFHS PTSA on twitter @GrizzlyPTSA and our Facebook page is GrassfieldPTSA.
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
2021-2022 Winter Sports Tryouts - Grassfield
Boys Basketball - Contract: Erik.Johnson@cpschools.com
Nov 8th 7-9pm both JV and Varsity
Nov 9th 6:30-7:50am VARSITY ONLY
7-9pm JV and Varsity (Varsity will make selections at the end in person)
Nov 10th 7-9pm JV ONLY (selections will be made at the end in person)
Girls Basketball - Alan.Jones@cpschools.com
Girls Basketball tryouts will start on November 8,and continue to November 10 .The time will be 4.30pm to 6.30pm - Gymnasium.
Indoor Track and Field - Contact: Leroy.harperjr@cpschools.com
Indoor Track and field Tryouts will be held on November 10th, 11th, and 12th from 4:15 to 6:40 pm at the track.
Wrestling - Contact: Patrick.Shuler@cpschools.com
Monday 11/8-11/12 - Wrestling Room 4-6 p.m.
Boys/Girls Swimming - Contact: echenniker@gmail.com
BOYS -Monday 11/8 8p.m - 9:30 p.m. at The Portsmouth Boys and Girls Club 5905 Portsmouth Blvd. Portsmouth Va.
GIRLS - Tuesday 11/9 8p.m - 9:30 p.m. at The Portsmouth Boys and Girls Club 5905 Portsmouth Blvd. Portsmouth Va.
Winter Cheer - Contact: Zoe.m.rich@gmail.com
Tryouts will take place Wednesday, November 10th & Friday, November 12th from 4:15-6:15 in the gym. (Final selections made on 11/12)
We will have our parent meeting on Monday, November 15th at 6:30 pm in the forum.
Gymnastics - Contact: Kelleyw1322@gmail.com
Hurricane Gymnastics - 409 Network Station, Chesapeake, VA - Wednesday 11/10/21 at 8 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
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.
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
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