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Student Spotlight
From now through the end of the year, we’ll be shining the spotlight on each member of our Class of 2024.
Pierce Hollen joined the GHS community for his preschool year then rejoined us for good in third grade. He says he appreciates the tight-knit Gifft Hill School community.
“You get a lot of help from the teachers and the students all work well together,” says Pierce. “During minimesters or any other group you get put into, it’s like you’re all friends and you coexist with each other well.”
Senior class advisor Ms. V. says Pierce connects well with everyone around him.
“He’s got great personal connections with adults and students alike, and he’s such a leader in the school for the underclassmen,” says Ms. V. “I see him regularly taking middle schoolers under his wing. He’s a magnet for humans.”
For his capstone project, a new addition to our curriculum this year that encourages students to apply their knowledge in a real-world context, Pierce will experience jewelry making at Bamboo Studio, a pursuit he’s looking forward to due to its hands-on nature. After graduation, he plans to begin an apprenticeship in plumbing.
“I worked construction with my dad and I really like doing things that are hands-on,” says Pierce. “I think it’ll be cool to learn jewelry making and it being a creative outlet adds an interesting element.”
Pierce says he plans to stay on St. John after graduation for a few years to “see where it takes me.”
He says his favorite memory during his time at GHS was his eighth grade class trip on the Roseway. Pierce will miss the relaxation and free time that comes with being a kid, but he says he’s looking forward to the transition to adulthood.
Pierce’s advice for next year’s senior class: “Do your work and don’t slack off. Just get your work done in the moment. You’ll be better off.”
Upcoming Events
GHS AND NEYT TO PRESENT SCENES FROM ROMEO & JULIET SATURDAY
Faculty from the New England Youth Theater have been working with interested middle and high school students all week on an immersive unit on William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Students will present scenes from the play on Saturday, April 27, at 2:00 p.m. and again at 6:00 p.m. at the Upper Campus atrium. These shows are open to the public, with a suggested donation of $10 per person to help purchase new theater lights and a sound system.
NO BUS APRIL 29
There will be no bus service on Monday, April 29. Please be sure to arrange alternate transportation for your children!
NO SCHOOL APRIL 30-MAY 3
School will be closed April 30-May 3 for Carnival break. Classes resume Monday, May 6. There will be no Barracuda Bulletin next week. Everyone have a fun and safe Carnival!
BARRACUDA BOOSTERS PARENT MEETING MONDAY, MAY 6
All parents are invited to the next Barracuda Booster parent meeting, which will be held on Monday, May 6, at 8:30 am. Those who can't attend in person can use this Zoom link with meeting ID 484 633 5633 and password McGuire.
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK MAY 6-10
Teacher appreciation week is coming up May 6-10 and the Barracuda Boosters Parent Association has some plans in store to show our teachers just how much they're appreciated. One way you can pitch in is by having your child bring in a flower for their teacher, which will be arranged in mason jars provided by the parent association, on Thursday, May 9. This can be a simple clipping from your yard as you head out the door — no need to enlist a professional florist! Please also consider bringing some extra flowers for our specials teachers, learning strategists, and support staff, as there will be a mason jar for each member of our faculty.
UPPER CAMPUS MAP TESTING WINDOW SHIFT
In order to accommodate dance lessons presented by the St. John School of the Arts for our middle school students, Upper Campus students will now have MAP testing on May 13 and 14 with makeups on May 15-17. As a reminder, the Measures of Academic Progress test is an adaptive, web-based assessment tool that provides both diagnostic and prescriptive data on student achievement. It contains four sub-tests — Reading, Language, Mathematics, and Science — and is administered to students in grades 3-12 three times a year. Individual student scores are used to set instructional goals for gains throughout the year. Scores from this third and final round of MAP testing will be shared with your child's final report card, which will be mailed home on June 20.
BINGO NIGHT MAY 17
Our National Honor Society will host an evening of bingo, with great prizes and food and drinks available for purchase, on Friday, May 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. All money raised will benefit our NHS chapter. Don't miss this night of family fun! This event is open to the community and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
RISING SIXTH GRADE PARENT MEETING MAY 22
The fifth grade class visited the Upper Campus on Thursday for a tour in preparation for their rise to middle school next year. To complement this experience, Upper Campus Principal Ms. McGuire will host an optional meeting for parents of current fifth graders on Wednesday, May 22, at 5:00 p.m. in the Upper Campus conference room. Ms. McGuire will share details on aspects and experiences that are unique to the Upper Campus including advisory, electives, lockers, summer reading, minimesters, and more.
LOWER CAMPUS TALENT SHOW JUNE 6
We are excited to give our students the opportunity to share their talents with their peers at a Lower Campus talent show on June 6 at 9:30 a.m.! This is open to all students and performances can be solo or in a group. The last day for students to sign up is May 4. Auditions will be held with Ms. Rachael on May 10 with a dress rehearsal set for June 3. If your child needs music for their performance, please email a link to the song to rachaelfox@giffthillschool.org before May 8.
GHS Highlights
KUDOS, MERIT AWARD RECIPIENTS!
Congratulations to this kind, caring, talented, intelligent bunch who received merit awards during Thursday's ceremony! Awards ranged from the Damien Smith Wallace Spirit of GHS Scholarship, which recognizes students who embody the values we seek in Gifft Hill students, to the Beth Jones Scholarship, which recognizes a female high school student who demonstrates ethics in the real world by fostering inclusion, celebrating diversity, serving others in the community, and by showing personal integrity. Our student body never ceases to impress and make us proud!
YEARBOOK ORDER DEADLINE EXTENDED!
Additional yearbooks were ordered due to popular demand. There are now 15 additional books up for grabs. The order period will end when all books are sold. Be sure to turn in your $30 to the front office on either campus today to secure your very own 2023-2024 Gifft Hill School yearbook!
GHS SUMMER CAMP NOW ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of sign-ups for our 2024 summer camp, hosted at the GHS Lower Campus by Ms. Melisa and Ms. Emma J. The camp will run Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. from July 15 through August 9 with a different focus each week. Camp is open to all St. John children who are rising kindergarteners and older, and the cost is $250/week. Registration will continue as long as spaces are open, and we encourage parents to sign up as soon as possible to reserve your child’s spot! Please direct any questions to Ms. Emma J. at emmajohnson@giffthillschool.org. Here is the link to register your child: https://tinyurl.com/uezd6uaf
Sports Central
KUDOS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL GREEN!
Our Middle School Green Soccer team played hard last week and though they lost two games and tied one, our players made some great goals. Ilo King scored against Antilles with an assist from Audie Weaver, Kyla Groetzinger scored against Antilles with an assist from Olivia Nicholas, and Reagan Marshall and Kallen Payne scored against BCB. Go, Barracudas!
SOCCER GAME SCHEDULE
Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our Barracudas. Here is the schedule for the coming week:
Elementary soccer
Monday, 5/6, 3:45 p.m. - GHS vs. JESS at Trayser Field
Middle school soccer
Friday, 4/26, 4:00 p.m. - GHS White vs. Antilles at Antilles
Monday, 4/29, 4:00 p.m. - GHS White vs. GHS Green at Trayser Field
Varsity soccer
Tuesday, 5/7, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles at Antilles
Thursday, 5/9, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. VIMSIA at IEKHS
DATES TO REMEMBER
See below for important dates to remember over the next two months. View the full school year calendar by clicking here.
Community Corner: News You Can Use
AEROSPACE CAREER EDUCATION ACADEMY TO RETURN TO THE V.I. THIS SUMMER
We are very excited to announce that GHS alum Makeda Dawson will once again bring the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals’ Aerospace Career Education Academy to the Virgin Islands this summer. The ACE Academy will take place Sunday, June 23 to Friday, June 28 on St. Thomas and the cost is $150. The program is open to students ages 13 to 18 and the registration deadline is June 11. Taxi and ferry transportation will be provided for St. John students.
While pursuing her career as a commercial pilot at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Makeda says she realized that GHS faculty helped set her up for success by encouraging her to take high-level courses in subjects like physics and math during high school.
“I always wanted to give back to students and help someone else become a pilot,” says Makeda. “It’s difficult for students on St. John to envision themselves in an aviation role because there is no airport. Now, I feel like kids can look at me and say, ‘Okay, if she can do it, I can do it too.’”
Ninth grader Bannon Beaty, who participated in the ACE Academy last summer, says he really enjoyed the experience.
“We learned a lot about how planes fly and what lift and drag are,” says Bannon. “I was surprised when we got into a plane and started flying and they said, ‘Here, take the controls.’ I would recommend ACE Academy to others because it’s a really cool experience. I can now say that I’ve flown a plane and not a lot of people get to do that.”
Click here to learn more about the program or to apply. Registration ends June 11 but may end sooner if the program is full.
UVI PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING CAMP NOW ENROLLING
The University of the Virgin Islands will host a physics and engineering camp for rising ninth to twelfth graders June 23-29 at the St. Thomas UVI campus. Participants will gain an understanding of the engineering process, engineering careers, and how UVI can help them prepare for those careers. Food and housing will be provided for all participants. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA and must submit a 250-word essay describing their reason for participating, as well as a one-minute video on which STEM pathway they are interested in (bio, chem, physics). Applicants must also provide a letter of recommendation from an academic reference and submit a survey that can be found by clicking here. The full application packet should be submitted in a single email to christina.chanes@uvi.edu.
UVI FREE ENTREPRENEUR BUSINESS INSTITUTE NOW ENROLLING
Registration is now open for the University of the Virgin Islands summer program, Entrepreneur Business Institute, to be held July 6-20. EBI is a free summer program for high school students throughout the territory who are interested in entrepreneurship.
Students will live on the St. Thomas campus for two weeks and will be provided the opportunity to enjoy a pre-college experience and learn about the advantages and challenges of entrepreneurship. Students will engage in team exercises to improve their team building and project management skills, and will experience mentorship from successful business leaders. Students will also participate in interactive discussions about concept development and business ownership.
Students will be given a minimum $250 stipend upon completion of the program. The application deadline is May 31. Click here to sign up.
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