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Barracuda Bulletin: Week of April 17, 2026
- andreamilam
- Apr 20
- 8 min read
Senior Spotlights
From now through the end of the year,
we'll be shining the spotlight on our Class of 2026.
Gleidy Castillo Caraballo joined the GHS community in her eighth grade year. She says she loves the school community and how interconnected everyone is.
“Over the years, I’ve gotten close to many of my teachers,” she says. “They’re easy to talk to and always willing to listen to your problems. It has been fun to see my classmates grow and how they’ve changed throughout the years.”
Gleidy’s teachers describe her as a kind, compassionate student who is dedicated to serving her community. While each GHS student is required to have 100 community service hours in order to graduate, Gleidy’s tally is approaching 400.
“It’s such a definition of who she is,” Upper Campus math teacher Ms. Veronica says of Gleidy’s commitment to giving back. “She sees the end goal and wants to know how we get there. She is amazing at problem-solving, organization, and planning.”
Senior class advisor Ms. Rashida says Gleidy is committed to her studies and is a very hard worker.
“She’s not afraid to ask for help if she doesn’t understand something,” says Ms. Rashida. “Gleidy is very sure of herself and gets along well with everyone in the class. She’s also a great leader — in a situation where no one is willing to take charge, she will step up.”
Gleidy has enjoyed exploring her creativity through our electives and STEAM Week offerings. She counts photography and ceramics among her favorite electives, and says she had a lot of fun doing lights and sound for one of our theater STEAM Week presentations.
After high school, Gleidy plans to pursue a career in nursing. For her capstone project, a four-week immersion in the professional world during which our students have the opportunity to experience a career they’re interested in pursuing, Gleidy will work at Island Health & Wellness. Gleidy has narrowed down her college choices to Villanova University or George Mason University, where she will study nursing with the goal of working in health care in the Virgin Islands or the Dominican Republic.
“She’s got this super high level of compassion and caring that’s really beautiful,” says Ms. Veronica. “It makes perfect sense for her to want to be a nurse.”
Gleidy has been a member of our varsity volleyball team, cheerleading club, National Honor Society, and our Identity, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability Club. Outside of school, she’s a part of the Love City Pan Dragons; she’s very active in her church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel; she performs with the St. John School of the Arts’ Expressive Pantomime group; she works; and she’s published original works through Society 340 and St. John School of the Arts’ Hear Every Voice program.
Gleidy says she will miss the connection she has with younger GHS students.
Nyimah Jacobs has been part of the GHS community since fifth grade. She says she appreciates the school’s tight-knit community and how close everyone is.
“I feel like I can talk to my teachers about my feelings,” says Nyimah. “Our class really started coming together in ninth grade and now we’re like brothers and sisters.”
Nyimah’s teachers describe her as determined and a hard worker.
“From our very first class together, she was nothing short of impressive,” says Farm to Table teacher Chef Parris. “She has a quiet determination and I love that about her. She’s naturally talented in the kitchen, works hard to accomplish new tasks, and always has great input.”
Senior class advisor Ms. Rashida describes Nyimah as “unapologetically herself.”
“She is who she says she is,” says Ms. Rashida. “She won’t let anyone get in the way of what she needs. Her commitment to her academics has only become stronger as she’s gotten older.”
Nyimah has explored her interest in the culinary world through our electives and STEAM Week offerings.
“Each time I’m able to work front of house or back of house, I learn more about myself,” says Nyimah. “I’ve always been interested in cooking because I help my mom, but GHS showed me there’s more to it and I’ve learned a lot.”
Nyimah has combined her growing culinary skills with her interest in childcare through her work-study with Chef Parris, where she helps teach Farm to Table to Lower Campus students.
“I’ve always had a connection with younger kids; just seeing them makes me happy,” says Nyimah. “I get to work with kids in the kitchen and with our buddies in Mr. Bill’s class. It brings joy to my heart to see them.”
Nyimah will further explore a career in early childhood education through her capstone placement, a four-week immersion in the professional world during which our students have the opportunity to experience a career they’re interested in pursuing, at either Kidz First daycare or our Lower Campus. While she hasn’t yet committed to a university, she's narrowed it down to Texas State University, Texas A&M, or Baylor, where she will study early childhood education.
Nyimah has been a member of our varsity volleyball team, running club, National Honor Society, student council, our Identity, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability Club, and she’s served on her senior class trip fundraising board. Outside of school, she’s a member of the Love City Pan Dragons and she works at Cafe Concordia.
Nyimah says she will miss our assemblies, when everyone gathers to celebrate one another’s achievements.
Upcoming Events
COMING UP NEXT
April 22: Earth Day Fair
April 23: Merit awards assembly
April 23: GHS community career fair
April 29-May 1: School closed for St. Thomas Carnival
May 4-8: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6: Lower Campus April academic awards assembly
May 8: ELC Parents Day
May 14: Sports awards
GHS SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION ONGOING
Gifft Hill School's Summer Adventure Camp is still accepting registrations. The fee is $300 per week and children ages 4 and up are welcome to join. Please see flyer below for more information. Click here to register.
YOUTH TRAILBLAZERS RACE MAY 30
GHS will host a Youth Trailblazers Race on Saturday, May 30, at 7:00 a.m. The race is open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade and will consist of a 2-mile loop around Lind Point. Scan the QR code on the flyer below or click here to register.
GHS Highlights
BEST 8 TUFF WATER STATION!
We’re proud to once again be recognized as the best water station in the 8 Tuff Miles race! Each year, we look forward to greeting runners at the first stop as they leave Cruz Bay, an effort that reflects the spirit of service and giving back we strive to instill in our students.
BIRTHDAY KUDOS
We celebrated students with April and May birthdays at our monthly birthday assembly on Wednesday, an event where the special connection between our teachers and their students is on full display. We will host our last birthday assembly of the 2025-2026 school year for students with June and July birthdays on May 20 at 8:45 a.m. at the Lower Campus.
UPPER CAMPUS THIRD TRIMESTER PROGRESS REPORTS SENT HOME THIS WEEK
Third trimester progress reports were sent home with Upper Campus students this week. This marks an important checkpoint, as we enter the final stretch of the school year. Students should take this opportunity to check in with their teachers, address any areas of concern, and work to improve their grades before the close of the third trimester and the end of the school year. We encourage students to take full advantage of this time by seeking extra help, completing missing assignments, and staying engaged in their coursework.
Please remember that parents can monitor their child’s progress at any time through the ParentPlus app, and students have continuous access to their grades and assignments in PlusPortals. Regularly reviewing this information together can help ensure a strong finish to the year.
Sports Central
KUDOS TO OUR SOCCER PLAYERS!
Kudos to our varsity soccer team, which put in a good showing against CAHS with two goals with penalty kicks made by Thomas Nicholas.
And congratulations to our middle school soccer team, which won two games this week. The team defeated Lockhart 8-1 and scorers were Knox Stone with four goals, Ricardo Garcia-Sanchez and Blythe Loranger with one each, Ollie Stone with a goal and an assist from Rollie Simmons, and Rollie Simmons with a goal and an assist from Beau Ramsey. And our middle schoolers emerged victorious over VIMSIA 9-0 with four goals by Knox Stone, one by Blythe Loranger, one by Fox Fryman with an assist from Knox Stone, one by Lirin Loranger, one by Rollie Simmons, and one by Sekhem Sewer-Gibney.
Go, 'Cudas!
SOCCER GAMES COMING UP
Our elementary, middle school, and varsity soccer team have regular season games coming up. Home games are denoted with an asterisk*. Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our student athletes. Go, Barracudas!
Elementary Soccer
Friday, April 17, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. VIMSIA Too at Trayser Field
Monday, April 20, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. Ulla Muller at Montessori
Middle School Soccer
Friday, April 17, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. All Saints at Trayser Field
Varsity Soccer
Tuesday, April 21, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles at IEKHS
Thursday, April 23, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. IEKHS at IEKHS
ELEMENTARY VOLLEYBALL GAMES COMING UP
Our elementary volleyball team has regular season games coming up. Home games are denoted with an asterisk*. Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our student athletes. Go, Barracudas!
Elementary Volleyball
Monday, April 20, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles Blue at Trayser Field
Monday, April 20, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles White at Trayser Field
Tuesday, April 21, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. Bowsky at Trayser Field
Tuesday, April 21, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. VIMSIA at Trayser Field
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
V.I. DEPT. OF LABOR SUMMER YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINE TODAY
The Virgin Islands Department of Labor is pleased to announce that the application period for the 2026 Summer Youth Work Experience Program is now open!To be eligible, applicants must complete this form, be between the ages of 16-25, and upload all supporting documentation (listed below). In an effort to match applicants with their desired occupation and/or field of study, VIDOL staff request that customers complete the Career Interest section of the application carefully. To ensure that VIDOL staff will be able to contact you, please confirm the accuracy of your phone number and e-mail address before submitting your application. THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS APRIL 17, 2026.
Applicants must submit the following supporting documents:
Proof of Citizenship or Legal Residency Status (Passport, Birth Certificate OR Permanent Resident Card)
Proof of enrollment in High School/College, Basic Education or Adult Continuing Education (Report Card, Diploma or Degree)
Valid Picture ID (School or Driver’s License)
Resume (if available)
Important Note: All required documents must be submitted by April 17, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered. For questions or additional information, please contact Youth Services.
CREATIVE ARTS & LITERACY WORKSHOP PARENT & FAMILY ORIENTATION JUNE 6
Negus Education World Specialists will host a parent and family orientation on Saturday, June 6, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. At this orientation, information will be shared on the sixth annual St. John Outdoor Love City Learning Summer Creative Arts & Literacy Workshop. Visit www.neguseducation.com for more details.
FRIENDS OF VINP SUMMER JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is offering summer job opportunities for high schoolers. The summer trail crew is an opportunity for V.I. high schoolers interested in nature and conservation, getting outdoors, and learning lifelong skills. The summer camp coordinator position is open to anyone ages 16 and up who's interested in assisting with youth summer camp eco lessons and swim lessons at Cinnamon Bay in June and July from Monday through Friday. See flyers below or visit www.friendsvinp.org for more details.
AEROSPACE CAREER EDUCATION ACADEMY NOW ENROLLING
The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals' Aerospace Career Education Academy, set for June 22-26, is now enrolling. The program is open to students ages 12-18 who are interested in aircraft systems and components and aircraft repair. The cost is $175 per student. See more information and learn how to register below.
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