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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.
Kasia Cornelius joined the GHS community in sixth grade, when we opened our doors to all St. John students for a tuition-free education following the devastating 2017 hurricanes. She says she appreciates that our teachers encourage their students to do their best.
“If you’re failing they will try their best to help you get your grade up,” says Kasia. “They say, ‘come to me during snack or lunch so we can work together.’ The communication is good.”
Senior class advisor Ms. V. says Kasia is the “mother” of the class.
“She’s a guiding force for her peers,” says Ms. V. “She is trusted by her peers and by the faculty. If she says she’ll do something, you know she’s going to do it.”
For her capstone project, a new addition to our curriculum this year that encourages students to apply their knowledge in a real-world context, Kasia will be working at Island Health & Wellness with the ultimate goal of becoming a pediatrician or a nurse, a path she was inspired to follow after a medical scare faced by a family member.
Kasia hasn’t yet decided whether she’ll attend the University of the Virgin Islands or Rhode Island College, where her uncle lives. She says her favorite memory of her time at GHS was her eighth grade class trip aboard the Roseway.
“It was the first time I went away without my parents and at first it was kinda scary,” says Kasia. “When we came back, COVID had hit and St. John looked like a ghost town. It was a good experience because I overcame fears and was pushed to do things I wouldn’t normally do on a daily basis. We saw dolphins and we also saw a whale.”
Kasia was a member of our volleyball team throughout middle and high school, and she’s been involved in student council, serving as the organization’s vice president this year, with the goal of connecting with her schoolmates and “bringing fun into our day to day.”
Kasia’s advice for next year’s senior class: “Believe in yourself more than anyone else believes in you.”
Upcoming Events
BINGO NIGHT RESCHEDULED
Bingo night will be rescheduled due to the weather. Stay tuned for the new event date next week.
APRIL BIRTHDAY ASSEMBLY APRIL 17
We'll celebrate April birthdays at our monthly birthday assembly Wednesday morning, April 17, in the Lower Campus Great Room. Please note the time of this event has changed from 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. to allow us to finish drop-off. Those attending the assembly may not park until after 8:30 a.m. Parents and guardians of pre-K students, who will present at the assembly, are welcome to attend in person, as are parents of students with April birthdays.
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! This is open to all students and performances can be solo or in a group. 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.
GHS Highlights
SPIRIT WEEK
We had a wonderful week of fun, creativity, and laughter with spirit week at the Upper Campus. Sponsored by student council, the week included character day, pajama day, decades day, heritage day, and green & white day. Heritage Day, sponsored by the IDEA Club, invited students to share cultural dress, dishes, and performances. Click here to see a video compilation of Heritage Day activities. Kudos to student council and the IDEA Club for a fun, spirit-filled week!
YEARBOOKS AVAILABLE BY PRE-ORDER ONLY; ORDER DEADLINE APRIL 17
Order forms were sent home with students for pre-orders of the 2023-2024 yearbook. Yearbooks are available by pre-order only; there may be only a very limited supply available for purchase once the printed yearbooks arrive. Make sure you return your order form and $30 cash or check by Wednesday, April 17. The yearbook includes a portrait and interesting info on each and every student, as well as fun candid photos of sports and other activities. Order your yearbook today!
SY 24-25 CALENDAR ANNOUNCED
Our calendar for the 2024-2025 school year has been finalized and is included here for your convenience. The calendar can also be reviewed on our website by clicking here.
SIGNED TUITION AGREEMENT DUE TODAY!
Today is the deadline for paying your deposit and signing your tuition agreement for the 2024-2025 school year. After today, applicants who are re-enrolling will be given consideration alongside new applicants. Please note that several classes are full or have waitlists, so meeting today's deadline is critical to ensuring your child’s continued education at GHS.
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
ELEMENTARY SOCCER WINNERS!
Kudos to our elementary soccer team, which won against Antilles last Friday! Special shout-out to our scorers for that game, Rollie Simmons, Otis Magnie, and Olivia O'Born with an assist from Jahslynn Clendinen. Our elementary team tied Ulla Muller with Nevawn Brathwaite scoring a goal.
Our middle school team lost to All Saints and Antilles last week. Kudos to our goal scorers, Kallen Payne with two goals, and Kyla Groetzinger with one.
SOCCER GAME SCHEDULE
Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our Barracudas. Here is the schedule for the coming week:
Elementary soccer
Friday, 4/12, 3:45 p.m. - GHS vs. Joseph Gomez at Trayser Field
Wednesday, 4/17, 4:15 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles at Antilles
Friday, 4/19, 3:45 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles at Trayser Field
Middle school soccer
Monday, 4/15, 4:00 p.m. - GHS White vs. Antilles at Trayser Field
Wednesday, 4/17, 5:00 p.m. - GHS White vs. All Saints at Castaways
Friday, 4/19, 5:00 p.m. - GHS Green vs. GHS White at Trayser Field
Varsity soccer
Thursday, 4/18, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles at Antilles
SOFTBALL GRADES 6-12
Athletic Director Ms. Francis is collecting names of anyone in grades 6 through 12 interested in playing softball. Please contact her at francinefrancis@giffthillschool.org or 340-776-1730 to let her know you're interested.
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.