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Student Spotlight
Third grader Cailey Vanterpool joined the GHS community as a first grader.
“Gifft Hill has a lot of stuff that’s interesting and fun,” Cailey says of her experience at GHS. “It’s a good place to learn.”
Cailey is a very talented artist who loves drawing, painting, and all things creative, says third grade teacher Ms. Robin.
“Anything that involves creativity, she loves,” says Ms. Robin. “Cailey comes in the classroom with loads of energy and a big smile every morning. She lifts everyone’s mood and brightens the whole classroom.”
Art is Cailey’s favorite special and she says math is her favorite subject because “it’s interesting.” She says Ms. Robin is a good teacher because she makes learning fun.
Cailey’s love of art extends to her home life, where she says she enjoys drawing and painting people and animals.
“She’s a super hard worker and will keep trying until she gets it,” Ms. Robin says of Cailey’s performance in the classroom. “She really sticks with it. She’s a delight.”
Upcoming Events
MAP TESTING JANUARY 16-26
The second round of MAP testing for the 2023-2024 school year will take place for students in grades 3 through 12 during the window of January 16-26. Although we schedule a 10-day window to accomplish this, your child will only be engaged in testing for approximately 4 hours spread out across this window. We make every effort to administer the assessment in chunks that fit into students’ regular academic schedules.
The Measures of Academic Progress test is an adaptive, web-based assessment tool that provides both diagnostic and prescriptive data on student achievement. It contains four sub-tests — Reading, Language, Mathematics, and Science — and is administered to students in grades 3-12 three times a year. Individual student scores are used to set instructional goals for gains throughout the year.
Scores from this round of MAP testing will be shared with your child’s second-trimester progress report, which will be distributed on February 7.
HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING JANUARY 20
All St. John high school students are invited to the homecoming dance on January 20. Dress is formal and tickets are $30 apiece. Those who wish to attend must have a permission slip/liability form filled out by a parent or guardian. Contact Ms. Francis for more information or to buy tickets.
BECKY WARD BENEFIT JANUARY 21
Friends of toddler teacher, Becky Ward, are hosting a benefit called "Wardstock" January 21 at Skinny Legs. This event is meant to uplift and support our dear colleague/teacher/fellow GHS parent/friend as she navigates her health journey. There are many ways the GHS community can show up for Ms. Becky:
Simply attend the event and enjoy
Volunteer for jobs like selling shirts, running games, or doing henna or face painting
Donate a raffle prize
High school students can volunteer at the event for community service hours
High school students can donate an evening of babysitting as a raffle prize
Please send questions or indicate your interest by contacting event organizer Jessica Daigneault at jessiedaig@gmail.com.
SAT PREP COURSE TO BEGIN JANUARY 22
GHS will offer an SAT course to help students prepare for the April 10 SAT test. The class will be on Mondays and Wednesdays from January 22 through March 14. There is no school February 19 so that class will instead take place February 23. The course will cost $100 which includes the latest version of the Kaplan SAT Prep study guide with practice tests. Please sign up early, as the course is open to all St. John high school students and space will be limited. To register for the course, email Mary Burks at maryburks@giffthillschool.org. Payments can be made through the GHS business office.
GHS Highlights
BROADWAY IS COMING TO ST. JOHN
Our fourth graders began rehearsals for the annual St. John School of the Arts fundraiser, Broadway Comes to St. John, this week. It's a show you won't want to miss! See community corner below for more details.
AUCTION DONATIONS WELCOME
Our 38th annual auction is coming up on March 2, and we are now soliciting donations for the event. Students were sent home last week with a letter detailing the kinds of auction prizes we're looking for, as well as donation forms to fill out to accompany your donation. From a bottle of wine for our highly coveted Wall of Wine prize to villa stays, boat trips, and Jeep rentals, there are many ways you can support our most important fundraiser of the year. Bottles of wine can be dropped off at the Upper Campus front office. To donate goods or services, please click here to fill out the donation form or return the paper form sent home with your child. And save the date for the event! Tickets will be on sale soon.
Sports Central
MLK BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND
Our varsity boys basketball team will compete in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational Basketball Tournament this weekend at the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. GHS will play St. Croix's Central High School at around 8 p.m. The full tournament schedule can be found by clicking here.
ALL WINTER SPORTS, EXCEPT RUNNING CLUB, NOW CLOSED
Enrollment for winter sports has now ended, with the exception of running club, which is open enrollment throughout the school year. Parents should be sure to follow their child's sport on Class Dojo for the latest updates.
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
GET TRASHED CRUZ BAY CLEANUP TOMORROW
Get Trashed will host a cleanup of Cruz Bay Saturday focusing on the gravel lot, tennis courts, traffic circle, and south shore road to the dumpsters. Volunteers should meet at the gravel lot at 9:30 a.m. with water, a hat, sunscreen, and a friend. Trash bags, grabbers, and gloves will be provided. High school students can earn community service hours for participating in this cleanup.
MLK DAY CELEBRATION MONDAY
A fellowship of church leaders and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Sigma Theta Omega Chapter will host an event celebrating the life and spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday at 10 a.m. in the Frank Powell Park. Glen "Kwabena" Davis will be the featured speaker.
FREE ADULT ART CLASSES STARTING MONDAY
The St. John School of the Arts will host free adult art classes through the month of January. Art exploration will be held Mondays through January 29, jewelry making and beading will be held Tuesdays through January 30, and Caribbean movement will be held Wednesdays through January 31. All classes take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Register at www.stjohnschoolofthearts.org or by calling 340-779-4322.
BROADWAY COMES TO ST. JOHN JANUARY 26
The St. John School of the Arts will host its annual Broadway Comes to St. John event for friends and family of the performers — the island's fourth graders, including GHS's own fourth grade class — on January 26. This year's show is dubbed "The Missing Map: A Journey Around the World," created by Andrew J. Hanley and Suzanna Dupree. The Angel show will take place on January 27. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here or calling 340-779-4322.
