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August 12, 2022
Volume 4・Issue 1
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Welcome to a new school year! |
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We are so excited to start this new year with you and your student(s)! We are grateful to God for this blessing to meet together under His name as we, adults and students, learn and grow by His grace. Great is His faithfulness to us! As we start our 42nd year as a school, it is our sincere prayer that this will be our best school year yet. Please join us in praying for our school, our students, and our staff as we embark on the path He has called us to.
As we go forward, you can expect a Warrior Weekly email like this one every week this school year (often Thursday night at 7 PM) filled with important upcoming information. It is broken up into 5 sections: All-School, ES/MS, HS, Athletics, and Fine Arts. Be sure to click either the "View entire message" link at the top or bottom of your email to not miss out on anything. For convenience, past Warrior Weekly newsletters will also be posted on the website under "Resources."
Another way to stay fully informed is to link your personal iCal or Google Calendar to ours. Information on how to accomplish that is listed below.
If you are having trouble with receiving emails, linking your calendar, or receiving Parent Alert Texts (you should receive one tonight about this Warrior Weekly), please reach out to either office. (HS: 540.886.9109, ES/MS: 540.886.0937) Open and clear communication with you, the parent, is our goal.
Have a blessed, restful, and fun weekend! We can't wait to see your children next week!
To God be the glory!
Kristen Lihos
GCS Advancement Director
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Head of School "Back to to School" Blog
By Donald M. Larson, PhD
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The new school year is upon us! The new faculty and staff began training last week. This week, the returning employees joined them. Next week students will return, and we are excited about the new school year. Our theme for the year is “Thankfulness”. We want to focus on the many blessings that we have as we go through this year. Joy begins with gratitude, and we want this year to be a year filled with joy. Continue reading HERE.
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Aug. 15 - Monday
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6:30-8:00 PM New Parent Orientation [MS Gym]
Aug. 17 - Wednesday
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12:00-1:00 PM HS 9th-Grade/New Student Orientation
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1:00-3:00 PM ES/MS/HS Open House/Supply Drop
Aug. 18 - Thursday
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FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL*, Half Day of School / Pick-up schedule here./ [*Preschool begins Aug. 23.]
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6:30-7:30 PM HS Parent Back-to-School Meeting [HS Campus]
Aug. 19 - Friday
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Half Day of School - Pick-up schedule here.
Aug. 22 - Monday
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6:30-8:00 PM PS-8th Parent Back-to-School Meeting [ES Campus/MS Gym]
Aug. 23 - Tuesday
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Parent Calendar PDF is HERE. (updated 8/12/2022)
View or learn how to link your iCal or Google Calendar HERE.
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ES/MS First-Day-of-School |
Our beloved GCS Warrior will be at the GCS ES/MS campus greeting your students on the first day of school! Be sure to grab a photo and share it with the hashtag #GCSWarriors!
We will also have a tent set up with coffee and donuts for the ES/MS parents after drop off. Come by and say hello!
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Back-to-School Party for Everyone! |
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Join us for our first-ever GCS Back-to-School Party for all GCS families! There will be fun for every age and an opportunity to have true connection before the first day of school. This event will take place at the Frontier Culture Museum Octagonal Barn on Wednesday, August 17 from 5-7 PM.
The GCS High School Prefect will be selling dinner. You may preorder your meal(s) HERE. Orders must be submitted before 10:00 AM on Monday, August 15.
Staff and students in 7th grade and up with musical talent to share are encouraged to join our live music lineup. Sign up HERE by Monday, August 15th at noon.
Come on out and meet your teachers and fellow students and parents in a relaxing and fun environment. Check out the suggested shirt-color coding below to help you find your people. We are well on our way to this being our best school year yet!
God Bless,
Donald M. Larson, PhD
GCS Head of School
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Elementary/Middle School News |
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We have missed your children and can't wait to see them next week! |
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Wednesday - (the day before school begins) there will be an open house from 1-3. Please bring your students by to find their classrooms, meet their teacher and bring in their school supplies. This will give your students time to see their friends and feel a bit more comfortable for the first day of school. |
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Reminders for the First Days of School
- Thursday and Friday are 1/2 days of school with dismissal at noon. There is no before or after-school care on these two days.
- Please don't forget water and a snack. Students do not need to bring a lunch on the first two days.
- Arrival begins at 7:45 AM, and school begins at 8:10. Please feel free to walk your kids into their classroom.
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- Our water fountains are now up and running! (This is great news and will significantly decrease the phone calls asking you to bring a water bottle.)
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Special Bell Schedule for the First Two Days of School |
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During the first two days, we will be following a special schedule ( link) and then the following Monday we will begin to follow the normal schedule ( link).
Please note that on "Half Days" we will be conducting all classes that normally would occur but for shorter time periods.
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This annual event is scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM on Thursday, August 18.
After brief introductory comments in the Meeting Room, you will follow an abbreviated version of your student's Wednesday schedule, interact with his or her teachers and fellowship with other parents who are equally thrilled about school beginning.
At 7:30 p.m., senior families will be provided information about the various events occurring throughout the senior year, beginning with the Senior Retreat (August 25 & 26) and culminating with Graduation (May 27). This half-hour meeting will wrap up with a Q & A session. Parents and seniors are invited to attend this part of the evening.
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Summer Reading: Due in Two Weeks |
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The HS summer reading assignment is due on students' first English class day of the week of August 22. Students are to submit to their English teacher a dated, completed hard copy of page one of the assignment doc (linked below), signed by both parent and student. Here are the details:
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All kidding aside, safety and thoughtfulness (especially of our neighbors) must always be more important than being on time or other considerations.
You may drop off your student(s) as early as 7:30 AM, when the Locker Room entrance will open. If you arrive after 8:00 AM, students must use the front entrance.
School is dismissed at 3:20 on "Full Days" and 12:20 on "Half Days." However, parents are encouraged to stagger their arrival time to pick up their student(s) 5-10 minutes after these times. Students will be supervised for 15 minutes, and any remaining students will then need to re-enter the building and wait until their ride arrives.
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Underclassmen will join the Seniors at Camp Eagle in Fincastle, VA, for a day of fun, fellowship, and food.
Buses will depart from the Activities Center by 8:15 AM, so families are encouraged to drop off their students by 8:00 AM.
It is anticipated that underclassmen will arrive at the Activities Center by 8:40 PM and the seniors by 9:00 PM.
All questions regarding this event or the Senior Retreat should be directed to Mr. Kerr via email or by calling 540-886-9109. |
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First Day of School
Special Schedule
Half Day Dismissal (12:20 PM)
Back-to-School Parents Meeting
(6:30-8:00 PM)
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Second Day of School
Special Schedule
Half Day Dismissal (12:20 PM)
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Thursday-Friday,
August 25-26
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Fall sports season is on the horizon.
Click here to view upcoming games on the Warrior game calendar.
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***IMPORTANT***
If you are planning to play any Varsity or JV sport in the upcoming school year, please schedule your sports physical NOW. You will be allowed to participate only after your physical has been received by the school.
Physicals dated after May 1st are good for the entire school year. Please click on the link to the sports physical form below.
Also, if you are participating in Middle School, JV, or Varsity sports this school year, please click on the appropriate link below to
complete the electronic sports forms.
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FINE ARTS MISSION STATEMENT |
Grace Christian School's Fine Arts Program encourages and assists students in developing their God-given gifts and talents through music, visual arts, and drama as a way of honoring and worshipping God, the Master Artist.
As image-bearers of our creator God, engagement in the arts deepens our understanding of Him as the Creator and furthers our relationship with him. At GCS, it is our goal to nurture student-artists from preschool through graduation and beyond. Students will develop artistic thought and skill, be challenged to articulate effectively through various artistic media, and practice their skills to engage the culture and redeem it for Christ and His kingdom.
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Be sure to contact Cheri Kahrs if you missed the signup for private music lessons, elementary chorus, or after-school art. These programs will begin in September. Stay tuned for all the start-up dates and details! |
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Connect With Us: Grace Christian School | 19 S. Market Street, Staunton VA 24401 | 540.886.9109
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