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Barracuda Bulletin: Week of April 4
- andreamilam
- Apr 7
- 6 min read
Student Spotlight
Seventh grader Jenelle Giraudel joined the GHS community in fifth grade. Seventh grade co-advisors Ms. Banen and Dr. Brittany say Jenelle has shown great maturity this year.
Jenelle says she appreciates our teachers’ approach to educating their students.
“The teachers are great,” says Jenelle. “They’re good with helping you learn. When I ask teachers questions, they try their best to guide me to the answer without giving me the answer.”
Ms. Banen says Jenelle is very supportive of her classmates when they need assistance with their schoolwork and that she’s respectful to her teachers.
“She wants to spend time with someone because of who they are as a person,” says Dr. Brittany. “She doesn’t feel pressure to conform. She just is who she is.”
Jenelle says English is her favorite subject and she plans to join the GHS running club. She’s a regular churchgoer and in her spare time she enjoys sleeping and watching TV. Jenelle particularly enjoys historical documentaries and books on Greek mythology.
Upcoming Events
UPPER CAMPUS SPIRIT WEEK NEXT WEEK
We'll celebrate Spirit Week at the Upper Campus next week. The schedule is below. Students are reminded that all clothing must be school-appropriate.
Monday: Decades Day
Tuesday: Bikers vs. Surfers
Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday and Anything but a Water Bottle Day
Thursday: Pajama Day
Friday: Green and White Day
The week will conclude with Green & White Field Day on Friday afternoon.
GHS Highlights
UPPER CAMPUS HONOR ROLL/MERIT AWARDS
We raise the bar and our students rise to the challenge! Despite more stringent requirements, a solid number of Upper Campus students continue to earn their place on our honor roll and high honor roll. Kudos to these hard-working students!
FIFTH GRADE ENGINEERING FAIR
After working hard on their problem-solving prototypes during STEAM Week before spring break, our fifth graders showed off their inventions to fellow Lower Campus students and their parents this week. From a book-shelving robot to a shovel that doubles as a broom, students came up with some very creative designs!
2024-2025 YEARBOOKS NOW ON SALE
2024-2025 yearbooks are now available for pre-order. This year's book features back cover art hand-drawn by Santiago Terron Lucero, '25, portraits and interesting tidbits of every student and teacher, class themes chosen by the students, fun candids of sports and other activities, and much more! A limited amount of books will be ordered, so be sure to pre-order yours today by bringing $30 cash or check made out to Gifft Hill School to either campus's front office.
GHS MIGRATING APPLICATION PORTAL AND FINANCIAL AID/TUITION MANAGEMENT PORTAL
We have reached the original deadline for submitting financial aid applications for the 2025-2026 school year. If you have not yet submitted your application, you can still apply for consideration in the second round of funding. We are switching platforms for financial aid and tuition management as of tomorrow, Saturday, April 5. Please use this link to submit any new financial applications moving forward. This change will NOT affect those who have already enrolled for the 2025-2026 school year. If you have already enrolled, your information will be automatically migrated to the new system.
Sports Central
ELEMENTARY SOCCER GAMES NEXT WEEK
Our elementary soccer team has two games on the schedule for next week. Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our players. Good luck and go, Barracudas!
Monday 4/7, time TBD - GHS vs. Antilles Grey at Antilles
Friday, 4/11, time TBD - GHS vs. VIMSIA Too at Montessori
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER GAMES NEXT WEEK
Our middle school soccer team has three games on the schedule for next week. Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our players. Good luck and go, Barracudas!
Monday, 4/7, time TBD - GHS vs. Antilles at Antilles
Wednesday, 4/9, time TBD - GHS vs. All Saints at Castaways
Friday, 4/11, time TBD - GHS vs. BCB, location TBD
VARSITY SOCCER GAMES NEXT WEEK
Our varsity soccer team has two games on the schedule for next week. Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our players. Good luck and go, Barracudas!
Tuesday, 4/8, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. CAHS at Kean
Thursday, 4/10, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles at Antilles
CHEER CLINICS TO BEGIN MONDAY
Coach Banen will host cheerleading clinics in April and May on Mondays from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. for students in grades 6 through 12. Practice begins on Monday, April 7. Students will learn cheer basics and stunts, and will put on performances to promote school pride. Contact francinefrancis@giffthillschool.org for more information.
RUNNING CLUB TRAILBLAZERS RACE MAY 17
Running club will host a trailblazers race on Saturday, May 17 at 7:00 a.m. Registration is at 6:45 a.m. with a post-race party from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. The route will follow the Lind Point loop starting and finishing at the VINP visitors center, with runners going around the hill rather than up the stairs. Runners will sign waivers and St. John Rescue will be on call.
VARSITY BASKETBALL CLINIC SUCCESS
Kudos to our varsity basketball players and all the elementary players who came out to our basketball clinic this week!
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
AUTISM CONFERENCE APRIL 8 IN ST. THOMAS
The V.I. University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities will host the 15th Autism Conference on April 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Victor's New Hideout in St. Thomas. The theme will be "Beyond the spectrum: Understanding autism and celebrating differences" with the goal of bringing awareness to research and best practices that highlight stories of empowerment, challenges faced, and victories achieved for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. See event flyer for more details including how to register for this conference.
V.I. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
The Virgin Islands Department of Labor's Summer Youth Employment Program and Career Exploration Program are now accepting applications. The Career Exploration Program is a four-week experience open to those age 14-15 and the Summer Youth Employment Program is a five-week experience open to those age 16-25. The application deadline for both programs is April 11. Please see attached flyer or click here for more information.
CORAL BAY YACHT CLUB FLOTILLA APRIL 12
The Coral Bay Yacht Club will host a "A Party with a Purpose" on Saturday, April 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Hansen Bay beach. All proceeds will benefit competitive youth sailing programs on St. John. The day will include chili contests, live music, cash bar, 50/50 raffle, and sailing demonstrations. Guests can arrive by boat or car. Volunteer boats and crews will ferry guests from Coral Bay to Hansen Bay. Reservations are required in advance for boat transportation, which is $40 per person. Those arriving by car will be granted free entrance to Hansen Bay. For more information, to register as a chili chef, or to reserve your spot on a boat, contact Mary Burks at 340-513-8141, Dave Dostall at 340-643-2630, or email coralbayyachtclubstj@gmail.com.
ALL-EXPENSES PAID FIELD TRIP APPLICATION DEADLINE APRIL 16
In 2026, the United States will mark its Semiquincentennial: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. America’s Field Trip is a contest that invites students across the country in grades 3-12 to be part of America’s 250th anniversary by sharing their perspectives on what America means to them with the opportunity to earn a field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks. Students are asked to submit writing or original artwork in response to the contest’s prompt: “What does America mean to you?” Click here to learn more or apply.
EARTH DAY FAIR AND LITTER STOMP APRIL 22
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park will host an Earth Day fair and litter stomp on Tuesday, April 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Cruz Bay ball field. The event is open to all local schoolchildren. Additionally, as part of the Friends' earth week activities, high schoolers can earn community service hours by volunteering at the Drunk Bay cleanup on Saturday, April 19. Volunteers should meet at 9:00 a.m. in the Salt Pond Parking lot.
WORLD OCEAN SCHOOL OFFERING SUMMER PROGRAMS
World Ocean School, which runs the Denis Sullivan program that all GHS eighth graders are fortunate to take part in, offers summer programs for students ages 12-19.
Program at a Glance:
Summer Ambassador Program (Ages 12-15) August 1-8, 2025
Advanced Summer Ambassador Program (Ages 16-19) August 17-26, 2025
No sailing experience required – just curiosity and a willingness to grow!
See flyer below for more details.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR FRIENDS SUMMER TRAIL CREW
The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park summer trail crew work opportunity, which runs from June 9 to August 1, is now open for applications. This paid opportunity is open to those ages 15 to 18. Work consists of maintaining hiking trails and historic sites, working in the Friends nursery, and learning about kayaking, boating, traditional uses of plants, marine ecosystems, and more. Click here to apply online or see Ms. Burks at the Upper Campus front office for an application.
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