Yellow Jacket Family News
Volume 4, November 9, 2026
Greetings Yellow Jacket Families!!! π£
We are now in the second quarter of school and have 11 school days until Thanksgiving Break. It is officially HOLIDAY and playoff season! First quarter grades will be officially released on ParentVue on November 16, 2026, and the grade appeal window opens on November 24, 2026.
Please see the flyers below for PTSA and grade-level fundraising opportunities.
Parent-teacher conferences will be on Wednesday. Links to select a meeting time will be posted on the website on Monday Morning at 8:00 am. Parents have the option of virtual and in-person meetings.
As we work together to support student success, I also want to remind parents and guardians of the importance of consistent communication and monitoring academic progress. If you have a question or concern about your child's performance in a class, please contact the teacher first. Our teachers are committed to supporting student learning and managing the needs of more than 100 students. If you do not receive a response within a reasonable timeframe (48 hours), please follow up by including your child's grade-level counselor and administrator in the email correspondence.
Let us finish this quarter with purpose and prepare for an even stronger second quarter.
One School, One Family, One Jacket!
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at naima.hopkinsmalloy@pgcps.org
Please join our new official School Instagram: @gphsyellowjackets
Your Purposeful Principal,
Dr. Naima Hopkins
CTE Application Window Open
CTE Application Open until December 11, 2026
Computer Science 1, 2, 3
Culinary 1, 2, 3
Horticulture 1, 2, 3
Cosmetology 1, 2, 3
Fire cadet (2-year program)
Rotc (4-year program)
FULL UNIFORMS ARE EXPECTED!!
Administrative Team Emails
Administrative Team Email Communication
12th Grade Assistant Principal
Rashieda Addison, rashieda.addison@pgcps.org
11th Grade Assistant Principal
John Quinn, john.quinn@pgcps.org
10th Grade Assistant Principal
Yolanda Clark, yolanda.leonardclark@pgcps.org
9th Grade Assistant Principal
Eric Harrison, eric.harrison@pgcps.org
Cell Phone/Mobile Device Request π€³π²
While mobile phones continue to be useful tools in education, they have also become a harmful distraction for many teenage learners during the school day. We are asking all parents to help by exploring ways of implementing parental controls on student mobile devices during school hours. We also ask that you have regular conversations with your children about responsible usage of mobile devices and social media. We will be having ongoing conversations with the community about this throughout the year to promote a safe and healthy learning environment for all.
Please note that TEACHERS ARE PERMITTED TO HAVE NO CELL PHONE POLICIES IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, and students must adhere to these classroom rules.
Parental control guides for iPhones, Android, and other devices
Class of 2027
πππ«Graduation is May 24, 2027 at 10:30 am πππ
As you prepare for this exciting milestone, please keep the following important updates in mind:
β’ Service Learning Hours are a graduation requirement. These must be completed, especially if you plan to apply for an early release schedule. Be sure to check the 2027 Canvas page for details.
β’ Review your Graduation Notification Agreement (GNA) provided by Ms. Greene to ensure you are on track with your credit requirements for senior status.
β’ Parents & Students: Please join the BAND app to stay informed. Important updates, including Senior Pictures, have already been posted.
Athletics
Fall Sports season began August 12th. Eligibility requirements are a 2.0 4th quarter GPA, a current physical, and completed sports registration on Aktivate.com
(Incoming 9th graders have a GPA waiver). Try-outs have closed for most teams, please reach out to AD Hubb for additional information. linda.hensonhubb@pgcps.org
Gwynn Park charges for all home sports, football, soccer, flag football and volleyball. Tickets can be purchased on GoFan.co. Cash tickets will not be available at the gate. The cost of athletic events is $5. Games can also be viewed online at NFHSnetwork.com Subscription required.
Winter Season Begins Saturday, November 14th (eligibility requirements above)
Week 9 Recap: (Fall Season)
Volleyball defeated Crossland in the Regional Quarter Final and lost to Douglass.
Soccer lost to Fairmont in the Regional Final
Varsity Football defeated Fairmont in the 1st round football playoffs
Monday-no events
Tuesday-no events
Wednesday-no events
Thursday-no events
Friday- Varsity Football vs. Wicomico @ GP 6:30 pm (2nd round playoffs)
Saturday- Basketball Try-Outs @ GP
Girls- 8 am -11 am
Boys-11 am - 1:30 pm
Noteworthy and Newπ°
Prince George's County Library Upcoming Programs
November
Book Discussion: "Dungeon Crawler Carl" by Matt Dinniman
Wednesday, November 18 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Join a thoughtful conversation about "Dungeon Crawler Carl" by Matt Dinniman. Share your insights, hear different perspectives, and connect with fellow readers.
Book Discussion Dungeon Crawler Carl Link click on the right side to view it
Piscataway Conoy Tribe Wellness and Sage Practices
Presented by Troi Madison Newman
Wednesday, November 18 6:30pm - 7:30pm
In this program, Troi Madison Newman, will discuss the history of tribal wellness, specifically with sage, sweetgrass, cedar, and tobacco. She will share how the Piscataway Conoy Tribe uses tobacco for wellness and explain traditional sage practices. Each individual will be provided their own ethically sourced, indigenous-grown sage bundle for smudging.
Parking Enforcement
All parked cars need a parking pass. Student parking passes can be purchased from MySchoolBucks for $25. A copy of a valid license, registration and insurance is required for the application, which is available in the main office. Towing has resumed. All visitors to the school can receive a parking pass from the main office.
SCHOOL HOURS REMINDER
First period starts at 7:45 am! Any student arriving afterwards will have an unexcused tardy for the day. The number of unexcused tardies because of car drop offs is unacceptable. Please be mindful that students are missing instructional time in the first period and grades will be impacted.
STUDENT FOOD DELIVERIES π₯‘
Students, Parents, and Guardians,
- Student lunches should be sent with them when they arrive for school or lunch can be purchased in the cafeteria via MySchoolBucks.
- Please refrain from bringing fast food to the school for your students and their friends throughout the school day and during their lunch period, as it is a distraction in classes.
- Food deliveries ordered by students, parents, family members or friends will NOT be accepted from DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubHub or any other food delivery service or vendor. It will be confiscated.
π‘ Upcoming Events
IMPORTANT DATES π
Wednesday, November 11, 2026: Schools Closed for Students | Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thursday, November 12, 2026: FAFSA Night 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Friday, November 20, 2026: Honor Roll Student Celebration
Tuesday, November 24, 2026: PBIS Event
November 25-27, 2026: Schools Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
- December 11, 2026: Teacher PD, Half-Day for Students
- December 21-31, 2026: Winter Break
Gwynn Park High School
Location: 13800 Brandywine Road, Brandywine, MD, USA
Phone: 301-372-0140
School Instagram:@gphsyellowjackets