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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.
Dennis Bigrigg is a GHS “lifer,” having joined our community in preschool. He says he appreciates the one-on-one attention our teachers give to our students.
“Everyone’s kind of like family because we are a small school,” he says. “Everyone knows how to work with everyone and get along. You get a lot of attention from the teachers and I think that’s pretty valuable.”
Senior class advisor Ms. V. says Dennis possesses a high level of maturity.
“He has a part-time job and he’s worked nearly every one of our Farm to Table dinners,” she says. “He’s such a darling kid and so sweet. He’s very compassionate.”
For his capstone project, a new addition to our curriculum this year that encourages students to apply their knowledge in a real-world context, Dennis will be working at Canines, Cats, and Critters on boarding, kennel training, and vet assistant training. He says he inherited his love of animals from his mom, retired Virgin Islands National Park Ranger Laurel Brannick.
“Being with her while she was with the park taught me how to love animals,” he says.
Dennis plans to begin his college education at the University of the Virgin Islands before transfering elsewhere to finish his bachelor’s degree.
“I want to do something with animals and being outside,” he says. “I may study biology. First I’ll focus on taking my core classes at UVI and go from there.”
Dennis says his favorite memory during his time at GHS was the survival minimester with Mr. D.
“It was such a fun minimester,” Dennis says. “He taught us all these survival skills and when we went camping we had no phones, so it was all of us just having actual conversations.”
Dennis has been a member of our football, basketball, and soccer teams. His advice for next year’s senior class: “Keep your head down and do your schoolwork. Have fun with your friends and enjoy the moment.”
Upcoming Events
SPIRIT WEEK NEXT WEEK
We'll celebrate spirit week with Student Council-sponsored events next week at the Upper Campus. Students are welcome to dress up per the following schedule, keeping in mind that outfits must be school-appropriate.
Monday: Character day
Tuesday: Pajama day
Wednesday: Decades day
Thursday: Heritage day. Events this day are sponsored by the IDEA club, which welcomes students to wear an ensemble that's representative of their culture/heritage, to bring in a dish to share that's representative of their culture/heritage, and to share a short performance that's representative of their culture/heritage.
Friday: Green & white day. This day will culminate with some fun and friendly competitions for students and faculty.
BARRACUDA BOOSTERS PARENT MEETINGS MONDAY
All parents are invited to the next Barracuda Booster parent meeting, which will be held on Monday at 8:30 am. and 6:00 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend whichever meeting works with their schedule. The association will recap its successful participation in Light Up the Night and work to formulate a plan to raise money for the fifth grade end-of-year field trip and Teacher Appreciation Week. Those who can't attend in person can use this Zoom link with meeting ID 484 633 5633 and password McGuire.
BINGO NIGHT APRIL 12
Join us for a night of family fun on Friday, April 12, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Trayser Field! 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 it! 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. 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
LOWER CAMPUS ACADEMIC AWARDS
Despite a short month due to spring break, many of our pre-K through fifth grade students met their math and/or reading goals in March! Kudos to each and every one. One lucky winner was chosen from each class to attend an art party.
SOLAR INSTALLATION COMPLETE!
Thanks to an incredible in-kind gift valued at $20,000 from Caribbean Solar's Kevin and Maya Schnell, generous donations from anonymous donors, and donations made during our gala and auction, we were able to expand our current solar array over spring break. The addition of these new solar panels will help defray the increased WAPA bills that came with the installation of air conditioners in Lower Campus classrooms. Thank you to Caribbean Solar and our other donors for helping us save money while reducing our carbon footprint!
PRE-ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK NOW!
Order forms will be sent home with students next week for pre-orders of the 2023-2024 yearbook. Only a limited amount will be printed, so 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.
LOWER CAMPUS FOOD & BEVERAGE NOTE
Heads up parents of Lower Campus students: we need your help! Due to overwhelming demand, we are currently out of utensils to borrow for lunchtime. To ensure that every child can enjoy their meal comfortably, we kindly ask parents to include silverware with their child's packed lunch.
Additionally, a friendly reminder to all parents: please ensure that your child brings a water bottle to school every day, labeled with their name. Hydration is key for a successful day of learning and fun. Thank you for your cooperation and support in making sure our students have everything they need for a great day at school! Together, we can make a difference.
FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION DUE TODAY; SIGNED TUITION AGREEMENT DUE APRIL 12
Those applying for financial aid for the 2024-2025 school year should note that the application deadline is today. Families have until April 12 to pay the deposit and sign the tuition agreement. After the April 12 deadline, applicants who are re-enrolling will be given consideration alongside new applicants. Please note that several classes are full or have waitlists, so meeting the April 12 deadline is critical to ensuring your child’s continued education at GHS.
The TADS re-enrollment portal opened March 1. You can now re-enroll your child and apply for financial aid. We are thrilled to share that tuition will remain the same next year. Your tuition payments for this school year must be up to date in order to re-enroll. The financial aid application must be completed by April 5, and you will have until April 12 to pay your deposit and sign your tuition agreement. Our first priority is to families who already have their children at GHS, so you have a full month to re-enroll and complete the financial aid application. All current GHS families should have received an email from TADS inviting you to re-enroll, or you can click here to log in to your account and begin the process today.
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 ages 6 and up 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
SOCCER HOME GAMES TODAY!
Our elementary and middle school soccer teams will have their first home games today at Trayser Field! Come out and cheer them on. Here is the schedule for the coming week:
Elementary soccer
Friday, 4/5, 3:45 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles at Trayser Field
Wednesday, 4/10, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. Ulla Muller at Castaways
Friday, 4/12, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. Joseph Gomez at Trayser Field
Middle school soccer
Friday, 4/5, 5:00 p.m. - GHS Green vs. Antilles at Trayser Field
Monday, 4/8, 4:00 p.m. - GHS Green vs. All Saints at Castaways
Varsity soccer
Thursday, 4/11, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles at Antilles
SOCCER SIGN-UP DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR SECOND & THIRD GRADERS
Second and third graders who'd like to join our practice/scrimmage soccer team now have until Monday, April 8, to sign up. Practices take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Upper Campus field, and students will be transported to practice by GHS van. Please direct any questions to our athletic director Ms. Francis at francinefrancis@giffthillschool.org.
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.
COMMUNITY PICKLEBALL
Donna Smith and Jeannie Herrema have offered to teach pickleball lessons to any St. John children in grades 4 through 12. Lessons will take place every Friday starting April 5 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Cruz Bay tennis courts. These lessons are offered for free. Players must wear sneakers and bring a water bottle.
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. If there is enough interest from St. John students, Makeda will help coordinate transportation.
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.