Cardinal Connections
August 21st, 2025
March 13, 2026
Message from GHS Administration
Gainesville Cardinal students are doing amazing things in all areas, and we are thrilled to share some good news. First, let’s congratulate Ava Repoli on her achievement at the National History Day District 5 competition this past weekend. The theme for 2026 is Revolution, Reaction, Reform. She earned second place in the Senior Individual Exhibition category for her research and presentation on The Ashcan School: How Robert Henri Led a Revolution to Reform American Art. As a result, she will advance to the state competition in Richmond at Virginia History Day on April 26 & 27! There, she will compete for the chance to move on to the national competition at College Park, Maryland in June.
Congratulations also goes out to our students who participated in the 2026 Senior Division Regional Science Fair! Our students represented our school with excellence, and their hard work truly shined. This year’s fair highlighted exceptional projects across all categories, including First Place awarded to Priyadharshika Raman and Priyadharshini Raman for biomedical research, Second Place awarded to Anushka Misra for a study on circadian rhythms, and Third Place awarded to Alyssa Whitfield for her work in space focused agriculture. Honorable Mentions were also earned by Adara Kryway for research on lung capacity, Angad Saini for a physics investigation on temperature and bounce height, and Ryqah Shaikh for a comparative study on digital vs. in person learning. Congratulations to all these students for their dedication, creativity, and commitment to scientific inquiry.
We would also like to recognize GVHS senior, Benjamin Fu, for being named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist for 2026. National Merit Scholars will complete for the National Merit $2,500 scholarships, corporate-sponsored awards, and college-sponsored scholarships. Congratulations, Ben!
March Staffulty Member
SALC is excited to announce March's Staffulty Member of the Month for March! Staffulty is made up of any person on Staff or Faculty at Gainesville High School. This person was nominated by advisory classes for the month of March.
Congratulations to Mr. Nate Nemerow! Thank you so much for all you do, Mr. Nemerow!
Information for all Students and Parents
Khan-A-Palooza
To help our students better understand the high value support Khan Academy can offer, teachers at GHS will be including at least 1 activity in the program March 18-19. We encourage our families to ask their students about their experience and to encourage them to use Khan Academy when they need help in a class. It is also a solid preparatory tool for Junior SAT day on April 15. Families and students can learn more about SAT prep through Khan Academy in a recently released video by PWCS.
Spring 2026 Testing
Please make note of these upcoming spring testing events, ensure your students prepare, and that they are present on their assigned testing dates.
Week of March 9 – Writing SOL for juniors
April 15 – Junior SAT School Day
All juniors will be registered for the SAT, to be taken during school hours
Juniors can and should prepare for the SAT via Khan Academy. All juniors have access to this via their PWCS Portal Log In.
This assessment can be used towards college admissions
The weeks of April 27 and May 4 – Reading SOL through English 11
Exact date will be shared by English 11/AP Language teachers
This assessment is a graduation requirement
The weeks of April 27 and May 4 – Other required SOLs, not passed in previous school years
The full spring SOL calendar will be shared soon, but they are the weeks of April 27 and May 4
If students do not pass other required SOLs for graduation during the spring testing window, there is remediation provided through summer school.
The weeks of May 4 and May 11 – AP testing for all students taking AP courses
If you have specific questions about required testing for graduation, please contact your student’s school counselor. Testing history is also available in Parent and Student VUE under Test History.
Gainesville High School PTSO
Have you been looking for a way to get involved at Gainesville High School? Consider getting involved with our PTSO! The PTSO at Gainesville High School plans and funds many of the activities that make Gainesville great including the After Grad party, senior graduation and athletic signs, the Cardinal 5k, Cardinal Call Out, and school staff appreciation weeks. You can join our PTSO by using this registration link or get more information by emailing gainesvillehighptso@gmail.com.
Cardinal Athletic Booster Club
The Cardinal Activity Booster Club (CABC) has a few open board positions for the next school year. Open positions include President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Spirit Wear Chair, and Sponsorship Chair.
We are looking for parents of student athletes to take on these roles that directly impact student sports teams, activities, and clubs. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the CABC is essential in bridging the gap between school budgets and the needs of our student-athletes and extracurricular clubs. Board members oversee operations including fundraising drives, corporate sponsorships, and managing home game concessions. These efforts directly fund new equipment, team travel, team requests, and senior banners.
If you are looking for a practical way to support the high-quality experience of Gainesville student-athletes, we invite you to join the board and help lead these initiatives. Please email communications@gainesvillecabc.com for more information.
GHS Counseling Information
Summer School Job Fair
PWCS is hosting a summer school job Fair on March 23, 5:30-6:30pm at Colgan High School. This is for student intern-teacher’s aide positions, and students must be 16 or older by 6/18/26. The pay is $17.78/hour and offers excellent experience in working with others, interviewing skills, and building a resume. To learn more, please view the Student Intern Summer Employment Application Process sheet.
2026-2027 Course Requests
All parents should check their student’s course requests for 2026-2027 in Parent VUE under Course Requests. Not all students have been met with, but counseling plans to have them all done by March 27. The final day for course request changes is May 8. Students can make changes via the course request change form in the Academic Advising module on the Counseling Canvas page.
Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs will be visiting GVHS on March 17. The therapy dogs will be stationed outside of the Red Commons during lunch from 10:30-12:30. Should you have any concerns about your child interacting with the therapy dogs, please contact the School Social Worker, Sassan Jahanian, by email at jahanis@pwcs.edu or by phone at (571) 248-3372 so that a specific plan can be made to prevent therapy dog interaction with your child.
Class of 2026
Senior Class Graduation Practice
Seniors, graduation is quickly approaching. Please make sure that you are working diligently in your classes to ensure you remain on track with all graduation requirements. Additionally, there are two mandatory graduation practices. You must attend both practices on time in order to walk with your peers on graduation day. The practices are Tuesday, 05/26 and Thursday, 05/28 at 8 AM.
Cap & Gown Distribution
Jostens will be on site on Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the lunch block to distribute Cap and Gown orders. Please bring your Student ID to pick up your order during your lunch period at the front of the Red Commons.
Cap and Gown Orders
Order your Cap and Gown Today! Students will be required to purchase a cap, gown, and tassel unit. Everything can be ordered online. Scroll all the way down the webpage to find the Individual Cap and Gown units. A cap and gown unit includes Cap, Gown, Stole, and Tassel for $57.50. Jostens Information for Cap and Gown ordering Link to order: Jostens.com
If you have any questions, please contact GVHS Jostens Representative, Dan Pasquarelli dan.pasquarelli@jostens.com or you may call 1-800-JOSTENS (567-8367) Monday through Friday from 9:00am-6:00pm.
Athletics and Activities
Monday, March 16, 2026
4:00pm Tennis: Girls Varsity Match vs. Charles J. Colgan Sr. @ Gainesville High School
4:00pm Tennis: Boys Varsity Match vs. Charles J. Colgan Sr. @ Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School
5:30pm Lacrosse: Boys JV Game vs. Freedom (South Riding) @ Gainesville High School
6:00pm Softball: Varsity Game vs. Mountain View @ Mountain View High School
6:00pm Softball: JV Game vs. Mountain View @ Gainesville High School
6:30pm Baseball: JV Game vs. McLean @ Gainesville High School
7:00pm Lacrosse: Boys Varsity Game vs. Freedom (South Riding) @ Gainesville High School
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
4:30pm Tennis: Girls Varsity Match vs. Osbourn High School @ Osbourn High School
4:30pm Tennis: Boys Varsity Match vs. Osbourn High School @ Gainesville High School
5:30pm Soccer: Girls JV Game vs. C. D. Hylton @ Gainesville High School
5:30pm Soccer: Boys JV Game vs. C. D. Hylton @ C. D. Hylton High School
6:00pm Baseball: JV Game vs. Riverbend @ Gainesville High School
6:00pm Softball: Varsity Game vs. Woodbridge Senior @ Gainesville High School
6:00pm Softball: JV Game vs. Woodbridge Senior @ Woodbridge Senior High School
6:30pm Baseball: Varsity Game vs. Riverbend @
7:00pm Soccer: Girls Varsity Game vs. C. D. Hylton @ Gainesville High School
7:00pm Soccer: Boys Varsity Game vs. C. D. Hylton @ C. D. Hylton High School
Thursday, March 19, 2026
4:30pm Tennis: Girls Varsity Match vs. Independence @ Gainesville High School
4:45pm Tennis: Boys Varsity Match vs. Independence @ Independence High School
5:30pm Lacrosse: Girls JV Game vs. Woodbridge Senior @ Woodbridge Senior High School
5:30pm Lacrosse: Boys JV Game vs. Colonial Forge @ Gainesville High School
5:30pm Soccer: Girls JV Game vs. Charles J. Colgan Sr. @ Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School
6:00pm Softball: Varsity Game vs. Forest Park @ Gainesville High School
6:00pm Softball: JV Game vs. Forest Park @ Forest Park High School
7:00pm Lacrosse: Girls Varsity Game vs. Woodbridge Senior @ Woodbridge Senior High School
7:00pm Lacrosse: Boys Varsity Game vs. Colonial Forge @ Gainesville High School
7:00pm Soccer: Girls Varsity Game vs. Charles J. Colgan Sr. @ Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School
Saturday, March 21, 2026
11:00am Lacrosse: Girls JV Game vs. Atlee @ Atlee High School
12:00pm Baseball: Varsity Game vs. McLean @ McLean High School
12:00pm Baseball: JV Game vs. St. John's College @ Gainesville High School
1:00pm Lacrosse: Girls Varsity Game vs. Atlee @ Atlee High School
Gainesville High School
Address: 13150 University Boulevard, Gainesville VA 20155
Phone: (571) 248-3200
Website: https://gainesvillehs.pwcs.edu/index
Facebook: facebook.com/GainesvilleHS
Follow us on X: @GainesvilleHS