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Barracuda Bulletin: Week of June 13
- andreamilam
- Jun 13
- 5 min read
Senior Spotlight
From now through the end of the year,
we’ll be shining a spotlight on each member of our Class of 2025.
Class of 2025 Valedictorian Santiago Terrón Lucero joined the GHS community as a ninth grader. He says he’s enjoyed the opportunities provided to him as a GHS student.
“With every STEAM Week and every elective, I get to do something new,” says Santi. “Like fishing, or visiting the airport during Mr. Bill’s STEAM Week offering on the Science of Birds and Flight.”
Santi says he appreciates the tight-knit community at GHS.
“Everyone’s so close and willing to help one another,” he says.
Senior class advisor Mr. Bill shares that Santi has a creative mind and a dedication to his art.
“He’s an open-minded individual whose smile can light up a room,” Mr. Bill says of Santi. “He works amazingly with his peers. He’s demonstrated incredible perseverance these last few years and has set a high bar for his future goals.”
Santi explored his passion for art through his senior capstone project. He paired with Bajo El Sol Gallery & Art Bar, where he worked on a short film highlighting Taino culture.
Santi says he’ll miss his teachers and the close connections they have with their students. His fondest GHS memory is spending five days aboard the schooner Roseway with his classmates in ninth grade. During his time at GHS, Santi has been a member of our student council, the National Honor Society, and our high school varsity flag football team. He’s created original artwork for the cover of GHS yearbooks twice during his high school career.
Santi will attend his top-choice school, Ringling College of Art and Design, where he’ll study illustration with the goal of one day working in film production.
Upcoming Events
REPORT CARDS TO BE MAILED JUNE 20
Final report cards for all students will be mailed home on Friday, June 20. Also included in this mailing will be transcripts for high school students, summer reading lists, school supply lists and student physical forms for the 25-26 school year, MAP scores, the 25-26 school year calendar, ILPs for students who have them, and welcome letters from your child's teacher (LC)/advisory teacher (UC). Current ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders will also receive a community service hours report.
GHS Highlights
LOWER CAMPUS TALENT SHOW
Thank you to our Lower Campus students for sharing their gifts with us at Wednesday's talent show! Below is a compilation of the acts.
FIFTH GRADE MOVES UP!
We celebrated our fifth graders' upcoming move to the Upper Campus this morning in a heartwarming ceremony, where each student was recognized for their unique traits. Each fifth grader also gave a speech during the ceremony. Congratulations fifth grade! We can't wait to welcome you to the Upper Campus next year.
FAMILY BEACH DAY
Teachers, students, and their families gathered at Hawksnest Beach this morning in a beloved GHS tradition: Family Beach Day. We were treated to gorgeous weather, and this event was the perfect endcap to another incredible year at Gifft Hill School. Huge thanks to our Barracuda Boosters Parent Association for hosting this fun family day!
YEARBOOKS HAVE ARRIVED
Gifft Hill School's 2024-2025 yearbooks have arrived and were distributed to those who placed pre-orders. If you did not receive your yearbook, please contact andreamilam@giffthillschool.org. There are a limited number of additional yearbooks for sale. Please bring $30 cash or check made out to Gifft Hill School to either campus's front office to purchase yours today, before they sell out!
Sports Central
KUDOS TO OUR RUNNERS!
Kudos to all runners who participated in our Trailblazers Race on May 31, and thank you to all the parents and volunteers who made this event a great one!
SPRING SPORTS SEASON HAS CONCLUDED
The spring sports season, and the 2024-2025 athletic year, have come to an end. All athletes should please return your uniforms as soon as possible in order to avoid an additional charge.
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
PRIDE MONTH ACTIVITIES CONTINUE
The St. John Pride organization will host several events this month in honor of Pride Month. See details on the flyer below.
RIDGE TO REEF CSA TO KICK OFF TOMORROW
Gifft Hill School is proud to partner with St. Croix's Ridge to Reef Farm to once again serve as the St. John distribution point for the farm's CSA. Ridge to Reef's summer CSA farm share kicks off on June 14. All Ridge to Reef vegetables and fruits are 100% organic and 100% GMO free. The farm share also offers products from other Virgin Islands farms and participants can customize every delivery. Click here to learn more or to sign up for Ridge to Reef's summer CSA.
CASTAWAYS SOCCER SUMMER CAMP
Castaways will host three weeks of soccer summer camps, one for ages 7 to 11 and two for ages 8 to 17. Please see flyer below for more details.
PRINCESS & QUEEN PAGEANT JUNE 21
The St. John Celebration Princess & Queen Pageant is set for June 21 at 5:00 p.m. at Celebration Village in Cruz Bay. Gifft Hill's own Nyimah Jacobs, '26, and Jahslynn Clendinen, '32, are in the running for queen and princess, respectively. See event flyer for ticket details.
CHILDREN'S VILLAGE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Students who'd like to earn community service hours this summer can sign up to volunteer at Children's Village during St. John Celebration. Those who are interested should click here to sign up. Please contact Robin Wallace at robinwallace@giffthillschool.org with any questions.
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.
FRANCIS BAY FIVES RACE SET FOR AUGUST 31
The St. John Landsharks Francis Bay Fives Road & Trail Race event will be held on Sunday, August 31. Both races begin at 8:00 a.m. Choose from a 5K or 5-mile course. Both include segments on the Francis Bay boardwalk, trail, and beach. New this year is a 500-yard kids run down the beach and back for ages 8 and under. Walkers are welcome to sign up for the 5K. No dogs are allowed to join, sorry.
Sign up here:
The $10 entry fee can be paid via PayPal or Venmo. You'll receive an email with instructions after completing the registration form. Entry is free for children under 18 and they will need signed permission from a parent or guardian.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three men and women finishers of the 5K and 5-mile races.
The event is limited to 100 participants, so participants are encouraged to sign up early!
Please contact stjohnlandsharks@gmail.com with any questions. More details, including course maps, will be shared closer to the event.
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