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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.
Liandra Dagou 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 the support our students receive from their teachers, and the connections fostered among students across various grades.
“I liked that the older kids would talk to us and hang out with us, and now I’m doing the same thing with the second graders,” says Liandra. “It’s a skill I learned at Gifft Hill and I’m passing it on.”
In fact, she counts her relationships with our current second graders as one of the things she’ll miss the most when she graduates.
Senior class advisor Ms. V. says Liandra has been a guiding force for her class.
“She always wants to be doing the best she can do and she’s got a really strong moral compass,” says Ms. V. “She leads by example to encourage her peers to do the right thing.”
For her capstone project, a new addition to our curriculum this year that encourages students to apply their knowledge in a real-world context, Liandra will be working at Island Health & Wellness with the ultimate goal of working in the medical field. She says she sees herself working in nursing in the Virgin Islands as a way to give back to her community.
“I like helping people, and everything about the medical field intrigues me,” says Liandra.
Liandra plans to attend the University of the Virgin Islands for two years before potentially transferring to a stateside institution for a change of scenery. She says her favorite GHS memories are movie nights on the field and a snorkeling minimester she enjoyed as an 11th grader.
“During the minimester, I went out to places I’d never been before on St. John and I got more comfortable with the water,” says Liandra.
Liandra played on our basketball team in middle school and our volleyball team in middle and high school. She is the student council president and NHS president.
Liandra’s advice for next year’s senior class: “Whatever you want to do or are doing, take pride in it and don’t let anyone guilt trip you or make you feel bad for making your decision. You have to be able to be uncomfortable with how people feel so you can become comfortable.”
Upcoming Events
UPPER CAMPUS MERIT AWARDS THURSDAY
We will recognize rising third through twelfth graders who've been selected for merit scholarships on Thursday, April 18, at 8:30 a.m. at the Upper Campus atrium. Our merit scholarships are designed to celebrate excellence and recognize students who have used their gifts to further enrich GHS school programs. Parents whose children will be receiving an award were notified by phone today.
NO BUS APRIL 29
There will be no bus service on Monday, April 29. Please be sure to arrange alternate transportation for your children!
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.
BINGO NIGHT RESCHEDULED FOR MAY 17
Bingo night has been rescheduled for Friday, May 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Our National Honor Society will host an evening of bingo, with great prizes and food and drinks available for purchase. 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.
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. 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
NEW ENGLAND YOUTH THEATER VISITS ST. JOHN
Thank you so much to Mr. Dory of the New England Youth Theater for spending time this week with our fourth and fifth graders and middle and high school students! He led our students through fun theater and improv games, and joined in on the 10th graders' already-in-progress lesson on William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Dory's work will continue at the Upper Campus next week as he leads a group of interested students through an intensive week of preparing to perform adaptations of selected scenes from Romeo & Juliet. The play will be open to the public on Friday, April 26, at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, April 27, at 2:00 p.m. at the GHS Upper Campus. The play is open to the public. A $10 per person donation is suggested to help purchase new theater lights and a sound system.
NHS RECEIVES $500 DONATION
As part of one of the four NHS pillars — service — our NHS members lent a hand recently to the St. John Revolving Fund (administered by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands) by scanning and digitizing years of documents. As a "thank you," the Revolving Fund made a $500 donation this week to NHS, the cost of which was covered by a grant from the Rotary Club of St. John. Thank you to the St. John Revolving Fund and Rotary Club of St. John! Our NHS chapter will use this money for future events including the upcoming bingo night.
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
UPPER CAMPUS PARENTS: HELP US LOCATE MISSING COMPUTER CHARGERS!
As the end of the school year draws near, it's important for students to locate and return any school property they've been using. In particular, we are missing several computer chargers at the Upper Campus. Students who do not return their computer charger by the end of the school year will be billed $30. Parents, please help your students look around for any school computer chargers that may be in your home or car. Thank you for your cooperation!
Sports Central
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, 4/19, 3:45 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles Grey at Trayser Field
Friday, 4/26, 3:45 p.m. - GHS vs. All Saints at Trayser Field
Middle school soccer
Monday, 4/22, 4:30 p.m. - GHS Green vs. All Saints at Trayser Field
Wednesday, 4/24, 4:00 p.m. - GHS Green vs. Antilles at Antilles
Thursday, 4/25, 3:45 p.m. - GHS Green vs. BCB at Trayser Field
Friday, 4/26, 4:00 p.m. - GHS White vs. Antilles at Antilles
Varsity soccer
Tuesday, 4/23, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. CAHS at Antilles
Friday, 4/26, 4:45 p.m. - GHS IEKHS at IEKHS
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.