
Teacher Spotlight

Upper Campus math teacher Ms. S. joined us this year from Sand Creek High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she taught math and business at the high school level.
“I was ready for a new opportunity,” says Ms. S. “I saw the job posting and thought it was too good to be true.”
Upper Campus Principal Ms. McGuire says Ms. S. has a calm approach to teaching and quickly connected with her students.
“She really helps students understand the importance of math,” says Ms. McGuire. “She has an ability to get students excited to be learning. I see her students enjoying class and engaging in the content.”
Ms. S. earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 2015 and did student teaching in Germany. After graduation, she moved to Colorado where she worked as a teacher and earned her MBA from Grand Canyon University.
“I grew up in small towns in the midwest and being here is very much like going back to that,” says Ms. S. “I love the small town feel.”
Ms. S. says the GHS community has been very welcoming.
“I find the students here to be really respectful and nice,” she says. “The teachers helped me find a place to live and a car.”
Ms. S. enjoys the “good morning” greetings shared by students and faculty at the start of each school day, and she loves the familiarity that comes with knowing every student.
“I feel like I got to know the kids really quickly,” she says. “I love seeing them in town, playing baseball and just being kids. It’s been nice.”
In her free time, Ms. S. enjoys hiking, walking, going to the beach, playing volleyball, and reading.
Upcoming Events
SAT PREP COURSE TO BEGIN MONDAY
GHS will offer an SAT course to help students prepare for the SAT test. The class will be on Mondays and Thursdays from January 27 through March 13. There is no school February 17 or March 3, so those classes will instead take place April 7 and 14. 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. Click here to register for the course.

NO SCHOOL JANUARY 31
A teacher workday is scheduled for Friday, January 31. School will be closed to students.
GHS GREEN & WHITE GALA AND AUCTION MARCH 1 - SAVE THE DATE!
Our 39th annual Green & White Gala and Auction is officially set for March 1! Here's how you can get in on the fun:
Visit https://handbid.app.link/GHSAUCTION to purchase tickets to the event and register to bid
Donate bottles of wine at either campus's front office for our much-loved Wall of Wine prize
Donate an auction prize or commit to volunteering at the event
Visit https://handbid.app.link/GHSAUCTION to browse our silent auction, where new items are added daily. Bidding opens February 1.
Contact auction@giffthillschool.org to donate an auction prize or volunteer at the event. You don't want to miss one of the best St. John parties of the year, all in the name of supporting equitable access to a GHS education!

GHS Highlights
WATER TABLE FUN
Our toddler students always have a great time at the water table! This week, Ms. Beth misted the water table with a hose which brought lots of smiles, squeals, and laughter.

SEEKING BAKED GOODS FOR GHS GIVES BACK DAY
GHS Gives Back Day is coming up, and as is our tradition, our ELC students will host the island's senior citizens at the Lower Campus. We are reaching out to families to ask for donations of baked goods for the students and seniors to share during their time together. We will need enough for 34 kids and 25 seniors. Baked goods can be delivered the morning of Thursday, February 6. Please reach out to Ms. Rachael at rachaelfox@giffthillschool.org if you're interested in supporting this effort.
FIRST GRADE COLLECTING NON-PERISHABLE FOODS FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Our first grade class will be stationed at three locations on GHS Gives Back Day, February 7, collecting non-perishable foods for Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands: The Marketplace, Midway Supermarket, and St. John Market. You can help them get a head start on collecting donations by bringing non-perishable food items to either campus office. Thank you for your support!

Sports Central
MLK REGATTA SUCCESS!
Kudos to our GHS sailors who experienced their first regatta together last weekend at St. Thomas's MLK Regatta. Sailors battled strong winds and challenging currents, and they learned a lot from the experience, reports GHS Sailing Coach Samuel Normington. Next up, some of our more experienced sailors will compete in St. John Yacht Club's Dukes Trophy Race this weekend, and the whole team will compete in the Crucian Open on St. Croix next month.

GHS PLACES FOURTH IN MLK BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Our boys varsity basketball team came in fourth place out of six teams at last weekend's Martin Luther King Jr. Varsity Basketball Invitational Tournament. The team showed a lot of improvement and progressed further than they have previously at this event. Shout-out to our senior players, Kevin De Leon, '25, and Justin Richards, '25, for giving it their all at the tournament.

RUNNING CLUB TO RESUME
Running club will resume and is open to any students in grades 1 through 12. Practices will take place on Tuesdays from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. at the Lind Point trail, with transportation provided from GHS. Dismissal will be at the Virgin Islands National Park pavilion. There will also be practices on Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the Upper Campus field. Those who are participating in 8 Tuff Miles, as well as any students interested in running, are encouraged to attend these practices. Volunteers are needed. Please contact francinefrancis@giffthillschool.org to volunteer.
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
FRIENDS OF VINP'S YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD TO PRESENT TALK ON EXPLORING MARINE LIFE TONIGHT
The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park Young Professionals Board will host its first monthly talk series at the NPS Lind Point conference room on Friday, January 24, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. This month's topic will be about exploring marine life in the Virgin Islands with University of the Virgin Islands' Kaitlyn Rommelfanger discussing mangroves, Dr. Marilyn Brandt discussing coral reefs, and Dr. Tyler Smith discussing Ciguatera fish poisoning. This free event is geared toward creating more engagement among younger generations.
Free transportation will be provided from the NPS Visitors Center at 5:30 p.m. and will return by 7:30 p.m.

BROADWAY COMES TO ST. JOHN THIS WEEKEND
The island's fourth graders will present "Out of This World," a thrilling play that blends celestial adventure with classic Broadway flair, this weekend at the St. John School of the Arts fundraiser, Broadway Comes to St. John. The friends and family show takes place tonight, and the main performance is set for Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Visit www.stjohnschoolofthearts.org or call 340-779-4322 for more information or to buy tickets.

GET TRASHED CLEANUP JANUARY 25
Get Trashed St. John will host a cleanup along Cruz Bay beach starting at 10:00 a.m. on January 25 at the Beach Bar. Participants should bring a friend, water, and sunscreen. Bags and gloves will be provided.
GHS ALUM KI'JANNE' ALFRED TO SPEAK AT FRIENDS ANNUAL MEETING JANUARY 25
Gifft Hill School graduate Ki'Janne' Alfred, '20, will deliver the keynote presentation at the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park annual meeting on Saturday, January 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Raintree Cafe at Cinnamon Bay Beach & Campground. All are welcome. A reception with lunch and light refreshments will follow. Shuttles will be available from Caneel Bay and Coral Bay. Those who wish to attend should click here to register.

LOW KEY WATERSPORTS TO HOST CRUZ BAY BEACH CLEANUP JANUARY 26
Low Key Watersports will host a Cruz Bay beach cleanup on Sunday, January 26, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Volunteers should meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Low Key storefront. Coffee, donuts, and cleaning supplies will be provided. Students who volunteer will earn community service hours.
STYC OPEN HOUSE FEBRUARY 2
St. Thomas Yacht Club will host an open house on Sunday, February 2, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to learn about sailing courses, youth sailing, court sports, membership, and club activities. There will be free sailing and a sunset cruise raffle.

VIRTUAL COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT FEBRUARY 6
V.I. Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy is hosting a virtual college planning night on Thursday, February 6, at 6:00 p.m. Admissions representatives from the University of Vermont and Southern Methodist University will present on the topics of general college search, application process, transitioning from high school to college, and financial aid. This event is open to everyone. All high school students and their parents/guardians are welcome. Click here to attend: https://vimsia-org.zoom.us/j/9646853003
ADULT ESL CLASSES TO BEGIN FEBRUARY 10
UVI CELL in partnership with UVI Modern Languages will offer ESL classes to those 18 and older beginning February 10 at The Marketplace. These free classes, offered twice weekly for 10 weeks, will include an elementary level and an intermediate level. For more information, contact cell@uvi.edu.

BLAKE & KAREN RAPIER SPACE CAMP SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE FEBRUARY 21
Virgin Islands high school students with a GPA of 3.2 or higher are invited to apply for the Blake & Karen Rapier Space Camp Scholarship. The scholarship covers all costs for space camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. with program dates running from May through August 2025. Students will participate in simulated space missions, astronaut training, and hands-on activities including robotics and engineering challenges. Applications must include one letter of recommendation, a personal statement (500-750 words), and a resume. To apply, visit https://cfvi.co/SpaceCamp. For more information, contact 340-626-9396 or allena@rapiermed.com.
FEMA NOW ACCEPTING YOUTH PREPAREDNESS COUNCIL APPLICATIONS
FEMA is looking for students in grades 8 through 11 who are interested in supporting disaster preparedness to join the Youth Preparedness Council. The YPC provides young people an opportunity to learn about emergency management, develop professional skills, and share their perspectives with FEMA staff. During their one-year term, YPC members can gain valuable leadership and emergency management experience and work with like-minded peers to help strengthen preparedness and resilience across the country. YPC members collaborate virtually with each other to develop projects that promote preparedness on a local and national scale. Members will have the chance to engage with top leaders within FEMA, the federal government, and nonprofits.
During their one-year term, council members collaborate virtually with each other to develop projects that promote preparedness on a local and national scale. Members will have the chance to engage with top leaders within FEMA, the federal government, and nonprofits.
The online application closes March 3. To learn more about the YPC and application requirements, visit the YPC website and visit the application page to apply. FEMA will also host two webinars to learn more about the application process for potential applicants January 30 at 9:00 p.m. and February 11 at 6:00 p.m.
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