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Barracuda Bulletin: Week of February 13, 2026
- andreamilam
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Student Spotlight
Ninth grader Jeremy De Leon Valdez joined the GHS community in sixth grade. He says he appreciates the steps GHS takes to prepare students for the real world.
“I like things like STEAM Week and woodworking, because they give the opportunity for creativity,” says Jeremy.
Ninth grade advisor Ms. V. says Jeremy is learning to be organized and to understand self-advocacy in his first year of high school.
“I have really enjoyed being his advisor, especially as he is showing immense growth this year,” says Ms. V.
Jeremy’s classmates can always count on him for comedic relief, says Ms. V., and they look to him as a kind and trustworthy friend who communicates his thoughts expressively and honestly.
Jeremy says Mr. Bill is his favorite teacher due to his ability to teach to different learning styles, and he enjoys the “nice, quiet space to work” offered by Mr. Corey’s English class. Jeremy likes his classmates, with whom he says he has a “great relationship.”
Jeremy is a member of our varsity volleyball and basketball teams. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and learning about cars by helping his father at his mechanic workshop.
Upcoming Events
SCHOOL CLOSED MONDAY
In addition to the school's closure today for a professional development day for our teachers, school will also be on closed on Monday in honor of Presidents Day. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable long weekend!
LOWER CAMPUS FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY ASSEMBLY WEDNESDAY
We'll celebrate February birthdays at our monthly Lower Campus birthday assembly Wednesday morning, February 18, at 8:45 a.m. in the Lower Campus Great Room. Please note that those attending the assembly may not park until after 8:30 a.m. Please do not park across the street by the yellow house and along that stretch of road, as it is private property. Parents and guardians of preschool students, who will present at the assembly, are welcome to attend, as are parents of students with February birthdays.
RUN 8 TUFF MILES WITH GHS ON FEBRUARY 28
Our PE teacher and running club lead, Coach Emma, invites all GHS students to sign up for the 8 Tuff Miles road race on Saturday, February 28. Teachers are available to run with your child if needed. Parents whose children are signed up for the race, please let Coach Emma and Ms. Francis know at emmajohnson@giffthillschool.org and francinefrancis@giffthillschool.org.
GHS AUCTION MARCH 7
Our 40th annual Green & White Gala and Auction is set for Saturday, March 7, from 5:30-10:00 p.m. at our own Trayser Field. This is our school's largest and most impactful fundraiser of the year. The evening will feature live music with Quelbe Resurrection, silent and live auctions, local food and drinks, and all the beloved traditions plus a few exciting surprises. Here's how you can help support this event:
Bring a bottle of wine to either campus's front office to help us build our Wall of Wine
Donate products, services, gift baskets, hotel or villa stays, airline tickets, etc. to help us build packages for the silent and live auctions. Click here to complete the donation form.
Sign up to volunteer at the event. Please contact Andrea Milam at 340-776-1730 or andreamilam@giffthillschool.org if you're interested in pitching in.
Bid on prizes and packages in our silent auction from the comfort of your own home. We'll be adding items in the coming weeks to our Handbid site.
Attend the event! Tickets are $200 in advance or $250 at the door. Click here to purchase your tickets.
Whatever form your support takes, we are so grateful to all those who make our auction a success every year! Every dollar raised helps support the rigorous, experiential education we offer to about 40% of the island's school-aged children, 65% of whom are able to attend GHS thanks to financial aid.
GHS Highlights
MAKEDA GIVES BACK TO GHS
We'd like to thank PSA Airlines CRJ7/9 first officer and GHS alum Makeda Dawson, '15, for visiting GHS this week alongside aviation maintenance technician GeQuan Thompson, Delta Airlines B757/767 first officer Jayla Thompson, and JetBlue Airways A320 first officer Gleason Thompson, Jr. The four, who are members of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, talked to our Upper Campus students about careers in aviation and answered their many questions. They also shared information about the FAA's Aviation Career Education Academy opportunity this summer (more information in Community Corner section below). Thank you, Makeda, for being a shining example of the caring community leaders we nurture at GHS!
KUDOS TO OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH CHALLENGE WINNERS!
Congratulations to Dax Chouiniere, '26, Nhtalya Jacobs, '28, and Kayla Robert, '27 for winning Ms. Francis's Black History Month challenge by submitting the most profound facts about Black history!
Our first place winner, Kayla, was awarded a Valentine’s Day goodie basket for sharing information about the Great Migration, when approximately 6 million African Americans left the south due to discriminatory Jim Crow laws, reshaping cities in the north and laying the foundation for the Harlem Renaissance.
Our runner-up, Dax, wrote about the Haitian Revolution, 1791-1804, the first successful slave rebellion in the western hemisphere. In retribution, France forced Haiti to pay $20-$30 billion in reparations, crushing Haiti's modern economy.
Our other runner-up, Nhtalya, wrote about Queen Mary Thomas, one of the women who led the 1878 Fireburn labor revolt in St. Croix. Their resistance resulted in the burning of plantations and forced authorities to address labor injustice.
Kudos to our winners!
Sports Central
KUDOS TO OUR SAILORS!
Congratulations to our sailing team for putting in a great showing at the Crucian Open this past weekend! Zach Wilson, '27, and Anais Craig, '28, competed in the Sunfish fleet and took fourth and fifth place, respectively. Bannon Beaty, '27, and Elena Magnie sailed together and won the 420 division, while Max Beaty, '29, sailed with Coach Sam and the duo came in third in the 420 division. Go, 'Cudas!
KUDOS TO OUR BASKETBALL TEAMS!
Congratulations to our varsity boys basketball team, which won against IEKHS JV and VIMSPGIA this week!
Congratulations also go out to our elementary basketball team, whose season ended this week. Kudos to our players and their families for supporting the team!
BASKETBALL GAMES THIS WEEK
Our varsity basketball team has regular season games in the coming week. Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our student athletes. Go, Barracudas!
Varsity Basketball
Wednesday, February 18, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. CAHS JV at IEKHS
Saturday, February 21, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. CAHS at IEKHS
SOCCER PRACTICE UPDATES
There will be no soccer practice on Monday due to the holiday. Elementary Soccer will practice on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday next week from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
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
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
High schoolers in need of community service hours are invited to help move plants in preparation for the Audubon Society plant sale from the Gifft Hill area to The Marketplace on Friday, March 6, from about 3:30-6:30 p.m. Pick-up and drop-off from GHS or Cruz Bay may be available for those who sign up. Volunteers are rewarded for their work with cookies, pizza, and of course, community service hours. Those who are interested should call Dave at 716-472-6888.
VALENTINE'S DAY SIP & PAINT FEBRUARY 15
Island Time Studio and the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts will present a Valentine's Day sip & paint for children ages 5 to 13 on February 15 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at VICA on St. Thomas. Advanced registration is required. Sign up here: https://vicouncilonarts.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5bbaad5dd264d5af8c931d0a7&id=48122a5f14&e=0fa9c7ed48
BLAKE AND KAREN RAPIER SPACE CAMP SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE FEBRUARY 20
The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands announced the availability of the Blake and Karen Rapier Space Camp Scholarship at the Foundation, with funding provided by local global investment firm, RapierMed.
The scholarship, which covers the cost to attend Space Camp in 2026, will be awarded to deserving U.S. Virgin Islands high school students passionate about space and STEM with a GPA of 3.2 or higher.
Located at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the Space Camp experience immerses trainees in a setting rich with space, aviation, and defense exhibits that ignite creativity. Participants develop teamwork, leadership, and decision-making abilities through mission simulations, gaining personal and professional skills that shape their futures.
Advanced Space Academy explores college and career preparation through an immersive experience in science, engineering, technology and math.
Aviation Challenge Mach III missions challenge trainees with freedom of control, requiring them to think about maneuvers in all three rotational-axes of flight as they take on the most advanced flight simulations, engineering principles and leadership responsibilities. Field training is focused on discipline and attention to detail in survival situations. A night Field Training Exercise requires teams to work together to recover intelligence or rescue a downed pilot. Communication is paramount as everything is taken to the next level in Mach III.
GHS students Seamus O'Donnell, '26, and Anais Craig, '28, took part in this program in 2025. Seamus highly recommends the experience to any interested students.
"It was a fun experience," he says. "You can experience zero gravity and the moon's gravity, which is 1/6 of Earth's gravity. There are 1:1 models of real space shuttles with all the same buttons and controls, and you have to fly and land the shuttle. I highly recommend it."
The scholarship application process is open through February 20, 2026. Scholarship recipients will be announced in March/April. To apply, visit https://cfvi.co/SpaceCamp.
For more information about this scholarship opportunity, please contact Demi Trimm at demit@cfvi.net or visit https://cfvi.net/Scholarships.
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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