.png)
Barracuda Bulletin: Week of October 23, 2026
Student Spotlight
Eighth grader Tafari Cazaubon joined the GHS community in seventh grade. He says he likes that it’s easy to talk to our teachers about both academics and personal matters.
“The students are very close and tight-knit,” says Tafari. “My classmates and I make each other laugh a lot. When it comes to assignments, we help each other to make sure everyone has done their homework and is caught up to speed with everything going on in class.”
Eighth grade advisor Ms. Banen says Tafari is a very inquisitive student.
“He’s not afraid to ask questions to gain understanding for himself, which in turn helps his classmates gain a more clear understanding as well,” says Ms. Banen. “He works hard to maintain his academics.”
Eighth grade co-advisor Mr. Pete says Tafari is approachable and kind to those around him.
“He really cares about his classmates,” says Ms. Banen. “He has been a great addition and has really made a positive impact on his class. He’s a very neutral, safe person for them to turn to.”
Tafari is a member of our flag football, basketball, and sailing teams. Outside of school, he participates in Kids and the Sea. In his free time, Tafari enjoys playing video games like Madden and Sea of Thieves.
Upcoming Events
THE FESTIVAL OF GIFFTHILLIA PLAY THIS SATURDAY
Everyone is welcome to join us for The Festival of Giffthillia, a performance created in collaboration with the New England Youth Theatre, this Saturday, October 24, at 4:00 p.m. at the Upper Campus. The play will be performed by students who took part in our theater STEAM Week offering. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person.
TRICK OR TROT RACE OCTOBER 25
Children ages 3-13 are invited to participate in GHS's second annual Trick or Trot event on October 25 at 7:00 a.m. in Fish Bay. Click here to see more details and to register.
PICTURE MAKEUP DAY/FALL ATHLETE INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS OCTOBER 28
School picture makeup day will be held on October 28 for students who missed the original picture day. We’ll also be taking fall student-athlete photos for those who would like to order prints commemorating their participation in GHS athletics.
Package options are listed in the graphic below. If you’d like to order prints for your child, please send an envelope to either campus’s front office containing cash or a check payable to Creating Memories.
Please write the following information on the outside of the envelope:
Student’s name
Grade
Package number
Parent/guardian email address
Who should order? This applies to students who missed picture day, fall athletes who would like prints, and families who didn’t order prints on picture day but would now like to purchase them.
NHS ACCEPTING BOOK DONATIONS FOR TRUNK OR TREAT UNTIL OCTOBER 29
Our National Honor Society is seeking donations of books for children ages 12 and under for the organization's trunk at trunk or treat. Please bring your book donations to either campus's front office no later than Thursday, October 29.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR LOWER CAMPUS HALLOWEED CRAFT FAIR
Help the Barracuda Boosters Parent Association make Halloween Fun Day a spooktacular time for our Lower Campus students!
Friday, October 30
Approximately 8:30 AM–2:30 PM
Following the Lower Campus Halloween Parade
Barracuda Boosters is looking for parent volunteers to help decorate, host games and activities, and join in the Halloween fun!
Whether you can stay for the full day or help for an hour or two, we’d love to have you. The more helping hands, the more fun we can create for our kids!
Want to volunteer? Email barracudaboosters@giffthillschool.org and let us know what time you’re available to help.
We can’t wait for a fun-filled Halloween with our Lower Campus Barracudas!
LOWER CAMPUS HALLOWEEN PARADE OCTOBER 30
At this beloved annual tradition, our Lower Campus students will parade around the green top in their Halloween costumes while parents and Upper Campus students watch from the ramp. All GHS families are welcome to attend. Please note that those attending the parade 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.
GHS EVENT IN BOSTON DECEMBER 4
Do you have friends or family in the Boston area? Please encourage them to consider attending our Sip, Support, and Celebrate event at Row 34 on Friday, December 4, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. They'll enjoy beer, wine, and appetizers plus a cash bar for cocktails, as well as the company of other St. John enthusiasts. Here is the link with more information and to purchase tickets.
GHS Highlights
LOWER CAMPUS STEAM WEEK
Our Lower Campus students have had a great time engaging in projects centered around science, technology, engineering, art, and math during STEAM Week. From early chemistry and sensory exploration with toddlers' oobleck-filled pumpkin and preschoolers' pumpkin playdoh to engineering challenges with fourth graders' Rube Goldberg machines and fifth graders' boat construction project and float test, it's been a fun and engaging week of learning.
UPPER CAMPUS STEAM WEEK
Our Upper Campus students took learning to a new level this week by immersing in the topic of their choosing. From scuba diving to building and coding robots to creating a hosting a Farm to Table dinner and performance in conjunction with the New England Youth Theatre, it's been a busy, inspiring, and hands-on week of exploration, creativity, and discovery.
THANK YOU VIRGIN ISLANDS FIREFIGHTERS!
We'd like to thank the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services for visiting our Lower Campus this week! We love this annual outreach because it gives our students the opportunity to get to know their local firefighters, explore their gear, and become familiar with the sounds of a fire truck in a fun, welcoming environment.
DEADLINE TODAY! BARRACUDA BOOSTERS SEEKING RECIPES FOR FUNDRAISING COOKBOOK
Our Barracuda Boosters Parent Association is seeking recipes for a community cookbook that will serve as a fundraiser for the organization, which hosts Lower Campus holiday craft fairs, leads Teacher Appreciation Week initiatives, and delivers breakfast goodies to staff on teacher workdays, among other projects. Cookbooks are slated to be available for sale in December. Please scan the QR code or click here to submit your recipe, email your recipe to ghsrecipes@gmail.com, or stop by either campus's front office to pick up a paper form to fill out. Recipes are due by October 23. Contact sandy@islandhealthcenter.org with any questions.
Sports Central
KUDOS TO OUR ATHLETES!
Middle School Girls Volleyball
Shout to to Sophie Schnell, '33, and Tianna Jn Baptiste, '32, for doing a great job in their role as setters.
CROSS COUNTRY MEET THIS WEEK
Our cross country team has a regular season meet in the coming week. Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our student athletes. Go, Barracudas!
Thursday, October 29, 3:30 p.m. - IEKHS track
VOLLEYBALL GAMES THIS WEEK
Our volleyball teams have regular season games in the coming week. Home games are denoted with an asterisk. Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our student athletes. Go, Barracudas!
Middle School Girls
Tuesday, October 27, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. VIMSIA Bolts at VIMSIA
Varsity Girls
Monday, October 26, 5:00 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles at Antilles
Varsity Boys
Thursday, October 29, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles Black at GHS
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
GOFUNDME LINK FOR DYANA & MARK
Dyana Tarr and Mark Blessing lost everything, including their pets, in a devastating house fire last week. Additionally, Mark is beginning cancer treatment. Dyana is the grandmother of two GHS students, kindergartener Renee and third grader Aksel. Please click here to learn more or donate.
ST. JOHN CANCER FUND BLOCK PARTY OCTOBER 24
The St. John Cancer Fund will host its Save Second Base block party on Saturday, October 24, from 6:00 p.m. to midnight in Cruz Bay. There will be live music, games, and food and drinks.
TRUNK OR TREAT OCTOBER 30
Trunk or Treat will take place at the Cruz Bay gravel lot on October 30 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult and should bring their own treat bag. To add your car to the lineup, contact dana.neil@yahoo.com.
ELAINE I. SPRAUVE LIBRARY TO OPEN OCTOBER 31
The Elaine I. Sprauve Library will open on Saturday, October 31, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join in their favorite costume for sweet treats, story time, face painting, balloon animals, scavenger hunts, and sign up for a library card.
JOHNNY LIME TRUNK OR TREAT OCTOBER 31
Johnny Lime will host a trunk or treat event with food, drinks, live music, and more on Saturday, October 31, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. To sign up your car for trunk or treat, contact 340-228-4774.
FALL FESTIVAL OCTOBER 31
The Family Readiness Group will present a fall festival on October 31 from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Leonard B. Francis Armory on St. Thomas. There will be candy stations, treats, games, music, and more. There is a $5 entry fee.
WORLD OCEAN SCHOOL WINTER AMBASSADOR PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINE NOVEMER 1
World Ocean School is now accepting applications for the Winter Ambassador Program, which will welcome 18 high schools aboard the Denis Sullivan from December 27 to January 2. Sailing out and back from Christiansted, students will become part of the crew. They will learn seamanship skills, make new friends, and sail into the new year.
In order to be considered, students must apply here and complete this reference form. The application deadline is November 1.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY WITH ACC
The Animal Care Center of St. John is looking for volunteers for its spay/neuter event November 7 and 8 at Our Place in Coral Bay. Tasks would include carrying trapped cats from the staging area to the surgery prep area and monitoring cats as they wake up from anesthesia. The ACC is seeking three volunteers for each day. To indicate your interest, contact 340-774-1625 or info@stjacc.org.
PATHWAY TO PURPOSE YOUTH FINANCE SUMMIT NOVEMBER 7
Students in grades 8-12 are invited to take part in the Aliyah Boston Foundation and Parach Resource Management's Pathway to Purpose Youth Finance Summit on November 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports & Fitness Center on St. Thomas.
This free, one-day event is designed to help students build real-world money skills through games, activities, and hands-on simulations. Students will also enjoy an interactive lunch with Aliyah Boston, St. Thomas native and forward for the Indiana Fever. See flyer below for more details. Registration closes October 16.
FALL FEST NOVEMBER 14
The Pelican Post will host a fall fest on November 14 from noon to 7:00 p.m. at the Cruz Bay courtyard on St. John. For more information, contact 340-693-4535 or thepelicanpostvi@gmail.com.
Comments