GSSV Gazette

Prospective GSSV students from Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, and Prince Edward counties spent the morning with our GSSV seniors on Friday, January 13. The prospective students were able to tour the John H. Daniel Campus and spend twenty-five minutes in each class. They participated in hands-on activities in chemistry, learning about Boyle's Law by using the LabQuest digital data collection and pressure sensors; in biology, learning about the diversity of living things; in research, learning about GSSV's 2-year research project and analyzing their own fingerprints; in math, using their critical thinking skills and Desmos to learn about line movement; and in English, writing round-robin poems.

SPAREC Visit

Kylie Atkins, Nick Bates, and Kenny Harris traveled to Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Blackstone, Virginia, in order to work on their research project. Dr. Carol Wilkinson (plant breeder) and Grace Rogers (analytical chemist/biologist) instructed students in making tobacco mosaic virus inoculum and in proper lab techniques. The students will use the inoculum in their senior research project "A Comparison of Prevention Methods for the Control of Tobacco Mosaic Virus Infected Solanum lycopersicum".

Longwood Visit

On January 12th, senior research students visited Longwood University to prepare and analyze samples with chemistry instructor Dr. Sarah Porter. Brittany Flynn, Jewel Fenwick, and Malik Goodwyn were able to identify debris collected from salt samples using infrared spectroscopy. In addition, Camdyn Pulley, Miguel Ballesteros, and Skyler Reese processed and ashed plant samples, which would be analyzed at a later date. All students had a fun time learning proper laboratory techniques using state-of-the-art equipment. We thank Longwood University and Dr. Sarah Porter for their help and for supporting our students!

Congratulations to junior Janie Pennington who has been selected to serve as a Senate Page for Senator Warner for the Spring 2023 session. While in Washington, D.C., Janie will learn about Congress while continuing with her coursework. Some of her responsibilities will be centered around assisting Senators in the Senate Chamber when Congress is in session.

Junior Dava Turner was honored this past weekend for her heroic efforts last summer to save her aunt's life in San Antonio. The San Antonio Police Department bestowed upon Dava the Citizen Hero Award and praised her for her quick response when her aunt was in need. Congratulations to Dava!

In an effort to expedite communication with parents, Mrs. Swain will be creating a parent email list-serve by site and grade. If you would like to be added to these emails, please complete the following GoogleForm. If you cannot access this form, please email Mrs. Swain with your email address, and she will add you.

Parent Email Form

Washington, D.C. Trip

For those students attending the Washington, D.C. trip, the second payment ($67) is due by Friday, February 3. Please bring cash or a check (made out to GSSV) to your English instructor, who will issue you a receipt.

Students, you have also received a Google Form from Mrs. Swain to select the mandatory museum so we can get the tickets. That also needs to be completed by Friday, February 3. We will work on roommate assignments in the coming weeks.

Graduation

SVCC has set its graduation for Saturday, May 13, at 9:30 a.m. at the John H. Daniel Campus in Keysville. Information about graduation will be updated on the SVCC graduation page soon; this includes the purchase of a cap and gown and the required arrival time for graduates. I suggest you keep a check on this page for these announcements. As soon as it has been updated and information announced, Mrs. Swain will email the seniors and place it on Facebook.

The GSSV Spiritwear store has reopened for the month of February! If you missed the first opportunity, please take the time to purchase some gear with our new logo. As a reminder, a portion of the proceeds will be returned to GSSV to help offset the costs of the upcoming field trips this semester.

As cold weather continues, this is a reminder of our inclement weather policy. Please check our Facebook page for announcements; a Remind will also be sent if we are delayed or closed.

Remember that the Christanna site in Alberta follows the Brunswick County Public Schools' weather closing and delays, and the John H. Daniel site in Keysville follows the weather closing and delays of Lunenburg County Public Schools.

See our website for more information on our policy.

Important Upcoming Dates

February 15 -- GSSV Joint Board Meeting, 4:00, Nottoway School Board Office

February 17 -- Alberta juniors field trip to Vulcan

March 3 -- Joint Site Events (all juniors to Keysville and all seniors to Alberta)

March 7 -- End of 3rd Marking Period

March 31 -- Joint Site Event (all juniors to Keysville)

April 3-10 -- Spring Break

April 17-18 -- Washington, D.C. Trip

April 26 -- Keysville Senior Symposium

April 27 -- Alberta Senior Symposium

April 28 -- Keysville Junior Symposium

May 5 -- Alberta Junior Symposium

May 12 -- Last day for seniors

May 13 -- SVCC Graduation

May 16 -- Last day for juniors

Mrs. Tara Beck -- tara.beck@southside.edu

Mrs. Kristen Beekwilder -- kristen.beekwilder@southside.edu

Mrs. Katherine Clatterbuck -- katherine.clatterbuck@southside.edu

Mrs. Sarah Fenwick -- sarah.fenwick@southside.edu

Mrs. Wendy Kidd -- wendy.kidd@southside.edu

Mrs. Ann Moore -- ann.moore@southside.edu

Mrs. Lori Moore -- lori.moore@southside.edu

Mrs. Leslie Poling -- leslie.poling@southside.edu

Mrs. Chelsea Thorpe -- chelsea.taylor@southside.edu

Ms. Connie Tucker -- connie.tucker@southside.edu (Administrative Assistant)

Mrs. Wesley Swain -- wesley.swain@southside.edu (Director)