Middle school students enjoyed a visit from an ice cream truck yesterday, compliments of donors to last year's Joy At Every Level Bid for Cause.

Elementary/Middle School News

Important Carpool Notes!!

• Please remember when coming through the carpool line in the morning to have all of your kiddos ready to quickly hop out of the car. Lately the car line has been backing up to Thornrose Avenue, and this gets the attention of the Staunton Police Department. If you find that your kids need extended time to get out of the car, please park in one of the spaces and walk them to the door. (Although the afternoon has not been as much of a problem, this applies to dismissal as well.)
• Please do not allow your children to walk across the parking lot by themselves. For safety, we ask that they are always escorted by an adult.

Full-Time Aide Position

We are still looking for a full-time aide for the elementary and middle school. Please contact Mrs. Morel if you are interested. See the website for other open positions.

4th-6th Grade Grandparents' Day!!

Grandparents’ Day invitations and instructions came home in white envelopes this week. The students have been working very hard for this wonderful event. Please try to confirm at least one special guest for your 4th-6th grade student. Please remember that parents are asked to attend the Thursday evening performance (October 20th at 6:30 PM) so that the Friday morning performance is reserved for your student’s invited guests.

Grandparents’ Day Events

October 20 - 6:30 PM performance for parents

October 21 - 10:00 AM performance for grandparents and special guests

 October 27: ES/MS Class Photo Day

Class pictures will be taken on October 27th. Ordering information will be in Monday envelopes. If your student was absent on individual picture day, he or she will also have an individual picture taken. If you received your student's pictures and have decided you would like a retake, please send in their original pictures to the office. Students may not get a retake if those pictures are not returned.

Middle School Events

 Dear MS Parents,

There are a couple of events I want to put on your radar. First, the MS retreat to CrossRoads has been rescheduled for Monday, October 17th. It will be a welcome break from cumulative testing for the 8th graders and just a break for the rest of us. Please see the attached form which provides all the details. It will be a fun-filled day of outdoor adventures and bonding for students and staff.

Secondly, our MS students will also be participating in the HS Great Escape II on Friday, October 21st. It will be a half-day event. We are asking parents to drop off their student(s) at Victory Worship Center Church (200 Hammond Lane, Staunton) between 7:45 and 8:00 AM. There will be a GCS bus to bring them back to the MS by 11:25 AM so that they are on campus at the end of our 4th-6th Grandparents' Day celebration in case they have grandparents eager to take them to lunch. All other students will be dismissed at noon.

Thank you for all your support of these important and memorable events. It is always a blessing to “do school” together!

Best,

Cherie

8th-Grade Cumulative Testing Schedule

The 8th graders began their 1st quarter cumulative testing on Thursday, October 13th. Please read information from Mrs. Morel here.

Shoes for Kenya

For the last thirteen years, our school has been collecting used shoes to support the Well of Hope in Kenya. The goal of this organization is to help the widows of Kenya and their children. The Well of Hope organization has a vision of providing each homeless woman and her children a place of their own. In Kenya there is a market for lightly-worn American shoes. By giving each woman shoes to sell, she can learn to run a business and earn money to purchase a small plot of land and put money towards a house. This also provides the widow and her children safety and protection.

If your family has shoes you to donate, please have your kids bring them in to the office. Shoes of any size and style are acceptable!

High School News

HS Photos: Orders & Makeups/Retakes

Tomorrow, Oct. 14, is the ordering deadline for 9th-12th grade classroom group photos. It is also the deadline for the first of two options for ordering 9th-11th grade individual photos.

ORDERING IS ONLINE-ONLY. Cash/check ordering was an option only on the Oct. 10 picture day. To order:

1. Go to https://www.strawbridge.net/
2. Click on the red "Order Pictures and Yearbooks" button.
3. Enter order code: FM405563 for individual photos; FM405565 for classroom group photos, then proceed as instructed on the website. 

9th-11th Grade Individual Photos: Those who prefer to view a proof of their 9th-11th grader's individual photo before ordering will have that opportunity after the student brings home the proof that Strawbridge will mail to the school at a later date. Orders will be online-only.

12th-Grade Individual Photos: Those ordering 12th-grade individual photos should follow the guidance emailed on Oct. 5 regarding proofs emailed by Strawbridge. Orders are online-only. If after viewing the emailed proofs you decide you would like a retake on Nov. 14, please notify Kathy Kilmer via email: [email protected].

Makeup and retake student and staff individual pictures

will be taken the morning of Monday, Nov. 14 from 8-9.

Great Escape II

While routines are often beneficial, it can also be good to break away from them, which is one reason we organize Great Escapes during the school year. Our next event will be hosted at Victory Worship Center (200 Hammond Lane, Staunton) next Friday, October 21. 

Be sure to make arrangements for your student(s) to be dropped off (7:30-8:00 AM) and picked up (3:20-3:45 PM) at VWC. 

Lunch and snacks will be provided, so please communicate any food allergies/limitations to Mr. Kerr by Monday, October 17.

Pastor Shawn McBride will be the speaker at this event and during chapel on Thursday, October 20. Please click the button below for the special schedules we will use on Wednesday and Thursday of next week.

Fall Formal

While the Prefecture is still finalizing a contract with the venue, please be informed that this year's Fall Formal dance will occur on Saturday, November 19, from 7:00-9:30 PM. Ticket prices will be $10 per individual.

As you make your apparel choices for this event, please refer to our Formal/Semi-formal Attire Guidelines.

If you are bringing a guest who is not currently a GCS student, please submit this form to Mr. Kerr on or before November 4. 

Unless parents communicate with Mr. Kerr via email that they grant permission for their student(s) to leave early (please indicate a time), participants must remain for the duration of the dance.

Winter Sports Signups Deadline: Tomorrow, Oct. 14

Please click the link below to sign up for GCS Winter Sports.

Fall sports season is in full swing!

Click here to view upcoming games on the Warrior game calendar.

JVG Celebrating at Ridgeview!

• JVG Volleyball VACA Playoffs Oct. 13 @ Ridgeview Christian School: #3 GCS vs. #6 UCA @ 7:15 PM. 
• Semifinals Oct. 15 at GCS. If we win Thursday, we play at 1:45 PM. Championship game is @ 4:30 PM on Oct. 15 at GCS if we win in the Semifinals.

Come on out and support the JVG!

Our MSG Volleyball Warriors will play at GCS in the VACA North Region Volleyball Tournament on Oct. 14 in the Quarterfinals. We are #3 in the Central District and will play #2 Regents School of the North District at 6:30 PM. If we win we will play in the Semifinals at 10:00 AM on Oct. 15, and if we advance to the Championship that will be held at 3:00 PM. All of the MSG tournament will be at the GCS Activities Center on Oct. 14 and 15. Match times are listed on our website.

VB Soccer improved to 11-2-3 and remains #1 in VACA and #5 in VISAA, with big wins over Dayspring and Timberlake.

Kylee Roes (8th) and Evie Hobbs (7th) finished in the top 20 in the Augusta County MS XC Championships!

Our XC Warriors will be competing in back-to-back home meets on Oct. 15 and 22. We race at Coyner Springs Park in Waynesboro and would like you to come out and support the teams. The Oct. 15 meet is an open-GCS Invitational with nearly 500 runners from over 30 public, private, and homeschool teams. The Oct. 22 event is our annual VACA State Championships with all of our Conference schools attending. 

Winter Sports Signups!

If your 6th-12th grade student would like to participate in basketball or wrestling, please use this link to sign up. Signups will be open through tomorrow, October 14th.