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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.
Class of 2024 salutatorian Roshan Kalantarian joined the GHS community in third grade. She says she appreciates that she’s been encouraged to pursue her interests from day one.
“In elementary school it was reading and writing, and all my teachers allowed me to find different avenues to continue doing that,” she says. “As I’ve transitioned into art and computer science, my teachers have found different ways for me to pursue those as part of my academic career.”
Senior class advisor Ms. V. says that Roshan is a quiet, steady force among her classmates.
“She is very diligent in her studies,” says Ms. V. “She’s a strong member of the IDEA Club and attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, and she’s really blossomed in terms of learning about diversity and identity. She’s really become interested in wanting to be heard.”
For her capstone project, a new addition to our curriculum this year that encourages students to apply their knowledge in a real-world context, Roshan will combine her interests in computer science and art by creating a website for the Gri Gri Project’s basket weaving project. Roshan plans to attend Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, where she’ll study computer science, art, and the Chinese language family. She will attend Swarthmore as a QuestBridge scholar.
“Through Stanford’s China Scholars Program and a virtual Mandarin language learning opportunity, I realized the importance that China has in the world and how U.S.-China relations affect the entire globe,” says Roshan. “I want to see the different ways we can collaborate using technology and art to help with the bridging of cultures. I would like to own my own business that’s dedicated to fostering better cultural interactions around the world, and I want to bring St. Johnian arts and culture to a bigger stage.”
Roshan says her favorite GHS memory is creating a submarine from scratch during a minimester in seventh grade, an experience that furthered her passion for STEM.
Roshan is a member of our IDEA Club and she founded her own GHS robotics club this year. Her advice for next year’s senior class: “Find the people you share interests with and always push yourself academically. Don’t leave high school having regrets about what you didn’t do.”
Upcoming Events
UPPER CAMPUS MAP TESTING WINDOW SHIFT
In order to accommodate dance lessons presented by the St. John School of the Arts for our middle school students, Upper Campus students will now have MAP testing on May 13 and 14 with makeups on May 15-17. As a reminder, 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 third and final round of MAP testing will be shared with your child's final report card, which will be mailed home on June 20.
WINTER, SPRING SPORTS AWARDS MAY 16
We will celebrate our winter and spring athletes with a sports awards ceremony on Thursday morning, May 16, at 8:30 a.m. at the Upper Campus atrium. Families of winter and spring athletes are welcome to attend.
ACADEMIC AWARDS ASSEMBLY RESCHEDULED FOR MAY 17
The Lower Campus academic awards assembly has been rescheduled to Friday, May 17, at 8:45 a.m., when we'll award our Lower Campus students who met their April academic goals at the Lower Campus great room. Parents and guardians of third grade students, who will present at the assembly, are welcome to attend in person, as are parents and guardians of students who will be receiving reading and math awards. Please note the time of this event has changed from 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. to allow us to finish drop-off. Those attending the assembly may not park until after 8:30 a.m.
BINGO NIGHT MAY 17
Our National Honor Society will host an evening of bingo, with great prizes and food and drinks available for purchase, on Friday, May 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. All money raised will benefit our NHS chapter. Don't miss this night of family fun! This event is open to the community and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
RISING SIXTH GRADE PARENT MEETING MAY 22
The fifth grade class visited the Upper Campus on Thursday for a tour in preparation for their rise to middle school next year. To complement this experience, Upper Campus Principal Ms. McGuire will host an optional meeting for parents of current fifth graders on Wednesday, May 22, at 5:00 p.m. in the Upper Campus conference room. Ms. McGuire will share details on aspects and experiences that are unique to the Upper Campus including advisory, electives, lockers, summer reading, minimesters, and more.
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 at 9:30 a.m.! This is open to all students and performances can be solo or in a group. The last day for students to sign up is May 4. 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 before May 8.
GHS Highlights
ELC AWESOME AUTHORS
We enjoyed one of our most beloved traditions, the ELC Awesome Authors Tea, at the Lower Campus this morning. After our toddler, preschool, and pre-K classes each delivered a heartwarming performance in the great room, students shared their bare books with their parents over breakfast treats, tea, and lemonade.
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
From gorgeous flower bouquets and a delicious taco bar, both organized by our Barracuda Boosters Parent association, to yummy treats like tiramisu and gifts of homemade infused olive oil and garlic butter, our teachers have been showered with love for Teacher Appreciation Week this week. Not all superheroes wear capes; some have teaching degrees. We are so thankful for our team of superheroes!
YEARBOOK ORDER DEADLINE EXTENDED!
Additional yearbooks were ordered due to popular demand. There are still 10 additional books up for grabs. The order period will end when all books are sold. Be sure to turn in your $30 to the front office on either campus today to secure your very own 2023-2024 Gifft Hill School yearbook!
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 who are rising kindergarteners and older, 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
KUDOS TO OUR ELEMENTARY SOCCER TEAM!
Congratulations to our elementary soccer team, which won against JESS on Monday with a score of four to one. Kudos to Rollie Simmons for scoring two goals, and Beau Ramsey and Jahslynn Clendinen for scoring one goal each. Go, Barracudas!
SOCCER GAME SCHEDULE
Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our Barracudas. Here is the schedule for the coming week:
Middle school soccer
Friday, 5/10, 3:45 p.m. - GHS White vs. All Saints at Trayser Field
Monday, 5/13, 3:45 p.m. - GHS White vs. BCB at Trayser Field
Wednesday, 5/15, 4:00 p.m. - GHS Green vs. BCB at Antilles
Thursday, 5/16, 4:00 p.m. - GHS Green vs. GHS White at Trayser Field
Varsity soccer
Tuesday, 5/7, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles at Antilles
Thursday, 5/9, 4:45 p.m. - GHS vs. VIMSIA at IEKHS
FREE CHEERLEADING CLINICS MAY 14 AND 21
All students in grades 5 through 11 are welcome to come out to free cheerleading clinics on May 14 and 21 from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. at the Upper Campus. Participants will learn safe practices and progressions for crowd-leading stunts and pyramids with Coach B. Sneakers and appropriate athletic attire are required. No advanced sign-up is required.
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
UVI FREE ENTREPRENEUR BUSINESS INSTITUTE NOW ENROLLING
Registration is now open for the University of the Virgin Islands summer program, Entrepreneur Business Institute, to be held July 6-20. EBI is a free summer program for high school students throughout the territory who are interested in entrepreneurship.
Students will live on the St. Thomas campus for two weeks and will be provided the opportunity to enjoy a pre-college experience and learn about the advantages and challenges of entrepreneurship. Students will engage in team exercises to improve their team building and project management skills, and will experience mentorship from successful business leaders. Students will also participate in interactive discussions about concept development and business ownership.
Students will be given a minimum $250 stipend upon completion of the program. The application deadline is May 31. Click here to sign up.
VINP YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 22
The Virgin Islands National Park is looking for great young people to join their crew this summer. Residents of St. Thomas and St. John between the ages of 15 and 18 are invited to apply for summer employment with the Youth Conservation Corps. The program runs June 10 to July 26. The crew will work 32 hours a week for $15 per hour. Applications can be found by clicking this link or picked up in person at the Visitor's Center in Cruz Bay. Applications are due May 22 and should be emailed to Janice Williams at janice_williams@nps.gov or mailed to Cruz Bay Visitor Center, 1300 Cruz Bay Creek, St. John, VI 00830.
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 and the registration deadline is June 11. Taxi and ferry transportation will be provided for St. John students.
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.
UVI PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING CAMP NOW ENROLLING
The University of the Virgin Islands will host a physics and engineering camp for rising ninth to twelfth graders June 23-29 at the St. Thomas UVI campus. Participants will gain an understanding of the engineering process, engineering careers, and how UVI can help them prepare for those careers. Food and housing will be provided for all participants. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA and must submit a 250-word essay describing their reason for participating, as well as a one-minute video on which STEM pathway they are interested in (bio, chem, physics). Applicants must also provide a letter of recommendation from an academic reference and submit a survey that can be found by clicking here. The full application packet should be submitted in a single email to christina.chanes@uvi.edu.
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