Greyhound Connect (September 7th)

Hello Greyhounds,

The school year is officially off and running! It is hard to believe we are already talking about Homecoming. Below, you'll find everything you need to know about this year's themes, location, event times, and ticket sales. We want every single Greyhound to have the chance to attend, tickets will not be sold the day of the dance, so grab yours early!

The Grove City Greyhounds continue to impress everywhere they go. Our sports teams and band have been putting up impressive performances, but most importantly, have been representing the community with kindness, respect, and discipline. These students make me proud to be a Greyhound every day.

Remember, each day presents a new opportunity to be bold, to learn, to be curious, and to make a new friend. Make each day amazing!

Go Dawgs!

Tara Thompson, Principal

As we progress through the school year, we wanted to take a moment to emphasize the critical role that regular school attendance plays in your child’s academic success and overall well-being.

The Impact of Attendance on Academic Achievement

Studies have demonstrated that even a small amount of absenteeism can have a significant impact on a child’s learning. According to the U.S. Department of Education, students who miss more than 10% of school days—about 18 days in a typical school year—are more likely to fall behind in their studies and struggle with graduation. In fact, the National Attendance Campaign reports that students who miss 10 or more school days in a year are 20% less likely to graduate on time than those who attend regularly.

Why Daily Attendance Matters

1. Consistent Learning: Each day of school is an opportunity for students to build on previous lessons. Missing class, even for one day, can disrupt this continuous learning process.

2. Social Skills and Emotional Development: Regular school attendance helps students develop crucial social and emotional skills that are harder to foster when they miss school. These skills are essential for navigating both academic and personal challenges.

3. Stronger Relationships with Teachers: Daily attendance allows students to form stronger relationships with their teachers, which can positively influence their academic and social development. Teachers can better understand the needs of regular attendees and provide tailored support.

Your Role in Encouraging Regular Attendance

We understand that occasional absences due to illness or family emergencies are unavoidable. However, ensuring that your child attends school consistently whenever possible can make a world of difference. Here are a few tips to support daily attendance:

• Set a consistent bedtime to ensure your child gets enough rest and is ready to attend school each day. Yes... this is still needed for high school students!
• Create a morning routine that reduces stress and helps your child get to school on time.
• Communicate with us if there are any barriers preventing your child from attending school regularly—we are here to help.

We believe that by working together, we can help your child reach their full potential and achieve their academic goals. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need additional support. We truly appreciate your partnership in fostering their success

A-D Jessica Wilson (614) 801-3316
E-Le Kaitlin O'Hara (614) 801-3312

Li-R Rachel Rendle (614) 801-3313

S-Z Valerie Williams (614) 801-3315

*All SWCSD employees can be reached via email at firstname.lastname@swcsd.us

Please complete this form to register for the PSAT. The cost is $18.00 and will be applied directly to your fees. The test will be on Thursday, October 22nd at 8:00am in the Rec Center at GCHS. Priority will be given to junior students. However, sophomores are also able to sign-up. Deadline to register for the PSAT is Friday, October 9, 2026 or until we sell out.

• They are only required to work on Tuesday November 3rd from 5:30AM-8:30PM. However, students are offered to help set up the Polling Location the night before the Election on Monday, the 2nd from 6PM-9PM. They receive an extra $50 in their paycheck if they choose to attend. All these details will be explained to the student at their training.
• Students’ deadline to apply is one week before the on-site training date. In this case that is, Friday September 18th.
• Please remind students to enter their personal email when they apply, as school emails often block our communication to them.
• To qualify, students must be 17 years old or older, a U.S. Citizen, a resident of Franklin County and a student who will represent the Board of Elections well.
• Poll worker pay is as following… (which will be received in a paycheck sent to their homes around 6 weeks after the Election)
• Election Day: $133.72
• Training Class: $60.00
• Monday Night Set Up: $50.00 (optional)
• Online Training Video: $25.00

Note: Students must serve on Election Day to receive pay.

OUR TRAINING FOR GROVE CITY STUDENTS THAT REGISTER WILL BE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY ON 9/25 FROM 8-10AM IN THE AUDITORIUM!

HOMECOMING DANCE

• Saturday, October 3, 7-10 PM, Convention Center (Short North Ballrooms)
• Theme: Sunsets in Malibu
• Guest Forms (required for any non GCHS student) are due September 25th, are available in the offices. Guests must go through the approval process before tickets will be released for the GCHS student to buy the guest ticket.
• Tickets are $20, and will be on sale the week of homecoming Sept 28-Oct 2 online until 11:59 PM. (The link will be posted in students' Cohort Google Classrooms on Mon, Sept 28)
• No tickets will be sold Saturday, or at the door

Homecoming Football Game

• Friday, October 2
• Ceremony will take place during PREGAME @ 6:30 PM

More details including a map, parking directions, spirit week etc, will be available as we get closer to the event

All Ohio public schools are required to enforce updated expectations for student electronic device use. In alignment with state law and SWCS Board of Education policy, GCHS is fully enforcing these expectations during the 26/27 school year to support focused, respectful, and safe learning environments. This policy includes cell phones, AirPods, wireless headphones, Meta glasses, and smartwatches (when used for purposes other than telling time).

What families should know:

• If students need to contact home during the school day, they should do so through the school office. Families who need to contact their child may call 614-801-3300.

• The policy is in effect daily from 8:00–3:20 and applies to students on lockout while still in the building.

• To support our electronics policy, the following enforcement steps will be implemented:

  • First offense: The device will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the school day.

  • Second offense: The device will be confiscated, and a guardian must come to the school to pick it up. The office is open from 7:30–4:00 for guardian pick-up.

  • Third offense: A personalized electronics plan will be created with the student and their guardian to address ongoing concerns and ensure future success in maintaining a focused learning environment. Guardian pick-up of the device is also required. The office is open from 7:30–4:00 for guardian pick-up.

9/8- Boy's Golf @ Northstar Golf Club

9/8- Girl's Golf @ Pinnacle Golf Club

9/8- Girl's Tennis vs. Westerville Central

9/8- Girl's Volleyball vs. Thomas Worthington

9/8- Girl's Soccer vs. New Albany

9/8- Boy's Soccer @ New Albany

9/9- Girl's Tennis vs. Hilliard Bradley

9/10- Girl's Volleyball @ Dublin Coffman

9/10- Girl's Tennis vs. Pickerington North

9/10- Girl's Soccer vs. Hilliard Davidson

9/10- Girl's Golf @ Oakhaven Golf Course

9/11- Football vs. Thomas Worthington

9/12- Boy's Golf @ Hickory Hills Golf Club

9/12- Girl's Soccer @ Marysville

9/12- Girl's Golf @ Scioto Reserve Country Club

9/12- Cross Country (both) @ Warrior Football Stadium

Important Reminder:

If your child is a student-athlete, they are required to pass the equivalent of five courses each nine weeks. Physical Education does not count as one of the five required courses. We recommend that student-athletes take six academic classes to help ensure they meet OHSAA eligibility requirements. Additionally, students must maintain a minimum 1.8 GPA to remain eligible. Parents and students are responsible for monitoring and meeting all athletic eligibility requirements.

9/11/26- Preparedness in Action Day- The purpose of this day is to review and practice our Stay Put, Secure Perimeter, and Lockdown drills.

10/7/26- Career Goals

11/4/26- TBD

12/2/26- Ohio Graduation Requirements

1/27/27- Scheduling Focused

2/17/27- Scheduling Focused

3/3/27- Resumes

4/28/27- Exit Survey

5/14/27- Senior Sendoff

Extended Homeroom provides students with 25 minutes once a month to focus on college and career readiness as well as other important action items throughout the year. A key tool in this process is SchooLinks, an award-winning, research-based online program that engages students in exploring their strengths, interests, and future opportunities. Through personalized, discovery-based learning, SchooLinks helps students plan for life after graduation while building the knowledge and 21st-century skills needed for long-term success.

If a student is absent on a day of Extended Homeroom, they are able to view and complete the activity in their Cohort Google Classroom.

2026

9/11- Extended Homeroom Schedule

10/3- Homecoming Dance

10/7- Extended Homeroom Schedule

10/15- End of 1st Nine Weeks

10/16- No School (Professional Day)

10/22- PSAT Testing- 11th Grade given priority- 10th grade also able to sign up HERE.

10/23- Fall Pep Rally

11/3- No School (Election Day)

11/4- Extended Homeroom Schedule

11/19-11/22- Fall Play

11/25-11/27- No School (Thanksgiving Break)

12/2- Extended Homeroom Schedule

12/16-12/18- 1st Semester Exams

12/21-1/1- No School (Winter Break)

2027

1/8- End of 2nd Nine Weeks

1/18- No School (MLK Day)

1/19- No School (Professional Day)

1/27- Extended Homeroom Schedule

2/15- No School (Presidents Day)

2/17- Extended Homeroom Schedule

3/3- Extended Homeroom Schedule

3/12- End of 3rd Nine Weeks

3/22-3/26- No School (Spring Break)

3/29- No School (Professional Day)

4/28- Extended Homeroom Schedule

5/4- No School (Election Day)

5/14- Senior Sendoff

5/14- Prom

5/26-5/28- 2nd Semester Exams

5/28- End of 4th Nine Weeks & Last Day of School for Students

5/30- Graduation for the Class of 2027

Principal: Tara Thompson

Assistant Principal: Brittany Kimbleton

Assistant Principal: Brady Stewart

Assistant Principal & Athletic Director: Scott Todd

Main Office: (614) 801-3300

Fax: (614) 871-6563

Website

Location: 4665 Hoover Road Grove City, Ohio 43123