Cardinal Connections

As we head into the Thanksgiving break, I want to extend my appreciation for the hard work of our students, faculty and staff, and the support and contributions of our community. I’m grateful for the wonderful community that Gainesville High School serves and what we’re able to accomplish together in support student learning ; we’ve had a positive first grading period and great things are happening both inside our classrooms and throughout the school.

We wish our families a safe and restful Thanksgiving break.

Last week, Gainesville High School Theater performed Alice by Heart. The 40 strong cast, our amazing crew members, and live pit band provided four spectacular performances that were well attended by families and community members. A huge shoutout goes to Ms. Rodriguez-Snellings and Ms. Sheppard for their efforts in leading this production, with the support of Ms. Shade. The the entire production was superb.

Continued best wishes to our winter athletes as the start of the game play quickly approaches. We’ll share the upcoming game schedules each week in the Connections through the winter season.

Communication & Teacher of the Year Surveys

We are requesting your assistance with completing two surveys to help us collect feedback on communication between the school and our families as well as to request nominations for the PWCS Teacher of the Year. Please see the additional information below as well as the link to the two surveys.

We’re committed to keeping our families informed and connected. Please take a few minutes to complete our Parent Communication Feedback Survey to let us know how we’re doing and how we can improve. Your input helps us ensure that the information we share is timely, relevant, and helpful.

Nominations for the PWCS Teacher of the Year are now open. These awards are an opportunity to recognize the hard work and commitment of our staff. To nominate a teacher and/or support employee who goes above and beyond and excels in their profession, please complete the Gainesville High School - Teacher of the Year Nomination Form.

PTSO Co-Treasurer Opportunity for 2025-2026

Are you interested in helping manage finances and supporting our school’s PTSO? We are seeking a dedicated volunteer to serve as Co-Treasurer for the 2025-2026 school year. The selected candidate will work alongside the current treasurer to learn the ropes, with the goal to fully transition into the treasurer role for the 2026-2027 school year. Key responsibilities include: Assist with managing purchases and payments, use Quicken to track financial records, process transactions through Square, prepare financial reporting and maintain the checkbook.

If you have an eye for detail and a passion for supporting our school, we encourage you to apply! Previous experience with financial software and bookkeeping is helpful but not required.

Contact us today to learn more about joining our team as the PTSO Co-Treasurer at: gainesvillehighptso@gmail.com

PSAT Score Reports

PSAT Score reports were shared by the College Board via text and email to students around November 6. GHS is currently printing paper score reports for all students; this is the same information that students will find on their College Board accounts. Paper score reports will be delivered to advisory classes on November 25, along with a short lesson to interpret these scores.

Families are encouraged to explore the SAT and course specific practice modules in Khan Academy. Students’ PWCS logins allow Khan Academy to prescribe student specific SAT practice from their PSAT scores, and has shown to be an effective SAT prep tool for many students.

SAT prep and Khan Academy

Students who spend 6–8 hours preparing for the SAT using Khan Academy typically see an average score increase of about 90 points. PWCS students have free access to Khan Academy through the PWCS Portal and can use their PSAT score report to personalize their study plan. SAT School Day for current juniors is April 5, so we strongly encourage them to take advantage of this free resource!

Student Assistance

The holidays are a wonderful and often stressful time for families and their students. To help navigate challenges, we encourage families to check out the “When Your Student Needs Assistance” page. This page covers many topics include Attendance, College and Career Readiness, Depression and Anxiety, as well as Tutoring. Take a moment to explore the many helpful resources available to PWCS students and families.

College Career Ready Virginia

NOVA will host an information session about College Career Ready Virginia on December 4 at 6:00 PM. This session will help students and families learn about CCRV requirements, how to register, and what to expect in spring 2026. Advanced registration is required. Families should use the provided link to sign up.

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, the price will increase on February 1. 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.

Mark Your Calendars

November 26- No School-Thanksgiving Break

November 27- No School-Thanksgiving Holiday

November 28- No School-Thanksgiving Break

Monday, Nov. 24th

Girls Basketball JV/Varsity @ Riverside, 5:30, 7:00 pm

Wrestling Varsity Wrestle-offs @ Gainesville, 6:00 pm

Tuesday, Nov. 25th

Boys Basketball Freshmen/JV/Varsity @ Riverside, 5:00pm, 6:15pm, 7:30pm

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

GHS YouTube