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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.
Class of 2024 Valedictorian Hunter Simpson has been a member of the GHS community for much of his educational career. After leaving GHS for grades six through nine, Hunter decided to return for his 10th grade year to be with the classmates he’d grown up with.
“One thing I’ve always liked and respected about Gifft Hill is it feels like there are real relationships between everybody,” Hunter says. “It’s a pretty accepting community. I feel like the teachers are really there for me and all the students.”
Senior class advisor Ms. V. notes that Hunter excels in many different areas.
“He’s a very strong student, a strong writer, and a student athlete,” she says.
Hunter has spent the school year attending the University of the Virgin Islands, where he’s satisfying his remaining credits to graduate from GHS while getting a head start on his college freshman coursework.
“I wanted to get college over and done with sooner because I’m just ready to go out into the world and do my thing,” Hunter says.
During the month of May, as seniors were completing their capstone projects, Hunter worked with professional musicians to release his own music and will be featured as an opening act during St. John Celebration. He will also open for soca artists Voice, Kerwin Du Bois, and Skinny Banton in September in Philadelphia.
Hunter plans to study sports journalism, a career choice inspired in part by his love of sports.
“Gifft Hill definitely inspired this path because I was able to play sports at school from second grade on,” Hunter says. “I’ve played every sport I could and just kept playing all my life. I love sports and I can write, so I combined the two.”
Hunter is already working as a sports journalist, with pieces published in Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, BasketballNews, Bleacher Report, and Fox Sports. Hunter will attend Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia for the upcoming fall semester through the National Exchange Student program before returning to UVI in the spring. While in Philadelphia, he hopes to gain more hands-on experience working in sports journalism.
Hunter’s favorite memory during his time at GHS is scoring three touchdowns for our flag football team in his final tournament with our school. He played basketball and soccer for GHS during his elementary years, then played varsity basketball and football for GHS and played on a travel football team. He is a member of our National Honor Society chapter.
Hunter’s advice to next year’s senior class: “If you have a dream, chase it. It’s never too early to start chasing your dream.”
Upcoming Events
NO SCHOOL MONDAY, MAY 27
School will be closed Monday, May 27, in honor of Memorial Day. We hope everyone has a fun and safe long weekend!
BLAST OFF TO THE END OF SCHOOL!
We're celebrating the final days of school at the Lower Campus with a blast off to the last day of school countdown. All Lower Campus students are invited to participate in this themed countdown. Outfits should be school-appropriate, and students who choose not to participate in the day's theme should wear their school uniform.
NO BUS SERVICE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
There will be no bus service for the remainder of the school year. Please be sure to arrange alternate transportation for your child(ren)!
UPPER CAMPUS FINAL EXAMS SCHEDULE
Middle and high school students will take their final exams on Monday, June 3, through Wednesday, June 5. Students will take two exams per day on Monday and Tuesday and one exam on Wednesday, with a two-hour block allotted for each exam. The remaining time on Wednesday will be reserved for students to clean out their lockers and collect all their belongings to bring home. Thursday, June 6, is final exam make-up day. Upper Campus students who were present for all their exams on Monday through Wednesday do not need to report to school on Thursday. Dismissal time during final exam week is 1 p.m. and there is no bus service, so please be sure to arrange transportation for your children.
If you or your child has any concerns about final exams, please reach out to your child’s individual teachers. They are here to help and want to see your child succeed!
FIFTH GRADE MOVING UP CEREMONY JUNE 4
We look forward to celebrating the end of our fifth graders' time on the Lower Campus with a promotion ceremony on June 4 at 9:00 a.m. Fifth graders will deliver speeches and parents will receive their children's bare books at the event. After the ceremony, students are welcome to join their families off campus to continue the celebration. Students who choose to stay at school will follow their regular school schedule. Please note that those attending the assembly may not park until after 8:30 a.m.
KINDERGARTEN PROMOTION / ACADEMIC AWARDS JUNE 5
We will celebrate our kindergarteners' completion of the school year at our final academic awards assembly of the school year on June 5 at 8:45 a.m. at the Lower Campus great room. First, we'll award our Lower Campus students who met their May academic goals, followed by a promotion ceremony for our kindergarteners. Parents and guardians of students who will be receiving reading and math awards are welcome to attend, as are families of our kindergarten class. Please note that those attending the assembly may not park until after 8:30 a.m.
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.! Families are welcome to attend. Parking will be available at the Lower Campus parking lot; additionally, satellite parking will be available in the Upper Campus main lot and there will be a shuttle to the Lower Campus beginning at 9:15 a.m.
FAMILY BEACH DAY JUNE 7
All GHS families are invited to attend our traditional end-of-year beach day, hosted this year by the Barracuda Boosters Parent Association on Friday, June 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Hawksnest. Food from Sam & Jack's as well as water and ice will be provided. Families are encouraged to bring their own drinks. All children must be accompanied by an adult. We look forward to celebrating the start of summer with you! Please note both campuses will be closed to students on this day.
GHS Highlights
TAKE A PIECE OF TRAYSER FIELD!
Our own Trayser Field will be resurfaced this summer. After 15 years of use, it is no longer suitable as an athletic surface, but we recognize there may be individuals or organizations in the community who can put it to good use in other areas. Interested in taking a piece of Trayser Field for yourself or your organization? Please fill out this form and we will be in touch.
GHS SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION CLOSED!
Our 2024 summer camp offering has now closed registration. However, there are a few spots remaining for Sports Week running from 8/5-8/9. If you are interested in signing your child(ren) up, please email Ms. Emma J. at emmajohnson@giffthillschool.org.
MIA'S FASHIONS OFFERING GHS LOGO EMBROIDERY JULY 1-SEPTEMBER 15
Mia's Fashions is offering embroidery of the GHS logo on polo shirts for $10 per shirt from July 1 to September 15. Shirts should be dropped off at the St. John Business Center at The Marketplace, where you'll be provided a form to fill out and a bag to place the shirts in. Invoicing is done through email, and shirts can be picked up at the St. John Business Center. The embroidery process takes three to five days. Please call Mia's Fashions at 340-690-2523 with any questions.
Sports Central
KUDOS TO OUR VARSITY SOCCER TEAM!
Kudos to our varsity soccer team which tied its final game against VIMSIA last week. One goal was scored by Aden Trujillo. Go, Barracudas!
ATHLETES, PLEASE RETURN YOUR UNIFORMS!
Athletes whose seasons have ended should return their uniforms to Ms. Francis as soon as possible.
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
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.
NOAA YOUNG CHANGEMAKERS FELLOWSHIP NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the launch of its NOAA Young Changemakers Fellowship application for the 2024-2025 school year.
The program is designed for current high school students who are passionate about the environment, climate, ocean, Great Lakes, and/or coasts. Program participants receive mentorship, skill-building opportunities, and financial resources to design and lead an action project in their own community. They also learn about and share their perspectives on NOAA priorities, helping to inform the decisions that NOAA leaders make. Full participation comes with an $800 stipend and paid travel to Washington, D.C., for a kick-off summit in July 2024.
Click here for more information. Applications are due June 10.
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.
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