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Barracuda Bulletin: Week of October 9, 2026
Student Spotlight
Ninth grader Jayla Williams has been part of the GHS community since fifth grade. She said she likes that GHS is a “tight-knit community.”
“You can talk to your teachers,” Jayla says. “You can have someone to lean on when you’re struggling.”
Jayla is a kind, thoughtful, and curious student, says ninth grade advisor Mr. Bill.
“Jayla’s warmth, creativity, and positive spirit have made a lasting impact on our community,” he says. “She approaches school and life with genuine enthusiasm, whether she is expressing her creativity through baking and singing, contributing her talents to Farm to Table events, selling mangoes for a fundraiser, or building meaningful friendships with those around her.”
Jayla enjoys math and science, both taught by Mr. D. this year. She says she enjoys the different personalities in her class and the bonds they’ve formed with one another.
“Last year, we got much closer as friends,” says Jayla. “We make each other laugh.”
Jayla is a dedicated student who consistently earns a spot on our honor roll.
“Her recognition as the recipient of Gifft Hill’s prestigious Giving Tree Scholarship speaks to her character, leadership potential, and promise as a young person,” says Mr. Bill. “Above all, Jayla is someone who brings joy and generosity to her community, leaving a lasting impression through both her accomplishments and the kindness she shows to others.”
Jayla is a member of our varsity volleyball team, our Identity, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability Club, student council, and singing club. Outside of school, she’s active in the Estrella de la Mañana Church where she enjoys attending youth bible study. In her free time, Jayla loves to cook and bake, play volleyball, spend time with friends, swim, and do “anything active,” she says.
Upcoming Events
NO SCHOOL/PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES OCTOBER 12
School will be closed to students on Monday, October 12, for parent-teacher conferences. All parents and guardians are invited to meet with their child’s teacher(s) between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Lower Campus parents should schedule an appointment directly with their child’s teacher. Upper Campus parents may arrive at their convenience and meet with each of their child’s teachers.
FARM TO TABLE DINNER THEATER OCTOBER 23
Join us Friday, October 23 for a medieval-inspired evening of family-style dining and live theater. Enjoy a multi-course feast prepared and served by Gifft Hill School students, featuring fresh produce from our campus gardens and locally sourced ingredients, while GHS student performers bring the evening to life in collaboration with New England Youth Theater. A feast, a show, and a Farm to Table experience like no other! Click here to buy your ticket today.
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.
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!
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 SEPTEMBER ACADEMIC AWARDS ASSEMBLY
We celebrated our Lower Campus students who met their September reading and math goals at our academic awards assembly Wednesday morning. During the assembly, Ms. Banen's seventh grade performing arts students led Lower Campus students in school spirit-inspiring chants (pictured below), and her fourth grade performing arts students showcased a video they made highlighting this month's student attribute: kindness.
As a reminder, monthly academic awards assemblies are now more student-centered, emphasizing personal goal setting, celebrating academic achievement, learning more about the attributes that make up GHS Pride, and supporting peers as they grow. Parents and other family or friends who would like to watch these assemblies are invited to tune in to the livestream broadcast on the GHS Facebook page, but in-person attendance is limited to our Lower Campus student body.
Parents, family, and friends of children being recognized are invited to attend our monthly birthday assemblies and our end-of-trimester academic goals and character growth assemblies, all of which will be livestreamed.
KUDOS TO OUR LOWER CAMPUS ST. JOHN RESCUE SHIRT DESIGN WINNERS!
Congratulations to third grader Tiahra Tyrell, fifth grader Nolan Thompson, and fourth grader Abu Abdulai for their winning designs in the St. John Rescue t-shirt design contest! The winners were announced during our Lower Campus academic awards assembly, when Tiahra, Nolan, and Abu were presented with shirts featuring their winning designs.
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 barracudaboosters@giffthillschool.org with any questions.
Sports Central
CORRECTION
Last week's Barracuda Bulletin incorrectly identified our middle school girls volleyball team's captains. The team's captains are Jazmyn Richards and Tianna Jn. Baptiste.
KUDOS TO OUR ATHLETES!
Cross Country
Congratulations to all our runners for showing up and giving it their all at their first cross country meet of the season, and congratulations to third graders Aksel Tarr and Harper Neil for winning third place in their division!
Middle School Girls Volleyball
Kudos to the sixth grade members of the team for doing a great job learning the ins and outs of the sport!
Varsity Boys Volleyball
Congratulations to our varsity boys volleyball team for their win against CAHS this week! Kudos to Jeremy Jimenez, '30, for his complete serves and Kellan Barton, '29, for strong rallies.
Varsity Girls Volleyball
Congratulations to our varsity girls volleyball team for putting in a good showing against IEKHS this week. Kudos to Jahda Polius, '30, and Renique Prentice, '27, for their strong serves.
Flag Football
Congratulations to our flag football team for their two wins this week against BCB! Kudos to Nevawn Brathwaite, '32, for scoring three offensive touchdowns, one defensive touchdown, and one interception touchdown plus an extra one point in the first game and three touchdowns and one extra point in the second game; Aliaune Samuel, '31, for scoring one rush touchdown and one receiving touchdown plus an extra one point in the first game and one touchdown in the second game; Rollie Simmons, '32, for scoring an extra one point in the first game and great interception and defense in the second game; Naudy Castillo, '31, for two catches and great defense in the second game; and Tafari Cazaubon, '31, for great defense in the second game.
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 15, 3:30 p.m. - IEKHS track
FLAG FOOTBALL GAMES THIS WEEK
Our flag football team has a regular season game in the coming week. Everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our student athletes. Go, Barracudas!
Tuesday, October 13, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles at Antilles
VOLLEYBALL GAMES THIS WEEK
Our volleyball teams have regular season game 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
Friday, October 9, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. BCB at GHS
Tuesday, October 13, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. JESS at GHS
Varsity Boys
Tuesday, October 13, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. Antilles Black at Antilles
Varsity Girls
Monday, October 12, 4:00 p.m. - GHS vs. CAHS 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
SENATOR AT LARGE DEBATE WATCH PARTY OCTOBER 15
The St. John Social Action Team, an affiliate of the Unitaritan Universalist Fellowship, will host a watch party for the Senator at Large Debate on October 15 at 8:00 p.m. in the GHS Lower Campus Great Room.
KATS TO BEGIN OCTOBER 17
KATS St. John, a nonprofit organization that teaches sailing, marine safety, and seamanship skills to St. John children between the ages of 8 to 18, will begin its first session of the 2026-2027 season on October 17. Those participating should meet to the right of the Coral Bay dinghy dock on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tuition is $150 with sponsorships available. Click here to enroll. Contact info@katsvi.com for more information.
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.
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.
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