GSSV Gazette

Outreach Success

Our students worked hard the first six weeks of the semester planning for our annual Outreach event. For these two days, we hosted our feeder schools' gifted/advanced elementary school and middle school students to visit GSSV for the morning to participate in hands-on activities while learning a little bit about our program.

In Keysville, our students created engaging lessons and hands-on activities for the visiting elementary and middle school students. From energy and archaeology to light refraction, magnetism, density, and simple machines, there was something exciting to discover at every booth. Our visiting students helped defeat the Disney Villains and save GSSV by gathering clues at each station to find the treasure that the villains had stolen.

In Alberta, the visiting elementary and middle school students boarded GSSV Airlines and embarked on World Tour 2026! Our students created interactive booths based on their country to teach the younger students about mythology, motion, architecture and ancient Egyptian culture, renewable energy, poetry, and the importance of reading carefully and using context clues. The students had a great trip learning about the countries and GSSV!

Class on the River

Our Alberta seniors took their learning beyond the classroom and onto the water with an unforgettable field experience on the James River with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

While aboard the boat, students conducted eight different water quality tests, discussed threats facing the local ecosystem, identified aquatic species, and gained hands-on experience observing and learning about wildlife from the river.

A huge thank you to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Captain Aaron, and Julia for providing this unique and meaningful learning experience! We are so grateful for opportunities that allow our students to extend what they’re learning in the classroom and experience science firsthand.

Staff Highlight

Congratulations to our director Wesley Swain on being awarded the Dr. Robert Lowerre Award for Leadership in Advanced Learning at the annual VCGEA Conference! Dr. Lowerre was a dedicated educator and passionate advocate for the gifted community and Academic Year Governor’s Schools. He also served as the director of Maggie Walker Governor’s School before his passing in February 2025. This award honors his legacy of leadership and service to gifted education.

Mrs. Swain was nominated and selected by her AYGS colleagues in recognition of her leadership, dedication, and commitment to the Academic Year Governor’s School community and GSSV!

Congratulations to Keysville chemistry instructor Leslie Poling for receiving the Franklin B. Kizer Distinguished High School Chemistry Teacher Award from the Virginia American Chemical Society at VSU. This is the highest award presented by the VACS.

Leslie, thank you for your dedication to GSSV, your students, your colleagues, and to science education across Virginia. Your work represents the very best of what a high school chemistry teacher can accomplish.

Parents' Corner

SENIOR PARENTS ONLY

Our Senior Night last month was a success. We know that times are busy and some of you couldn't attend, so the presentation is available for you to view on our website: College Planning Presentation

Communication

GSSV is implementing a new system for contacting students and parents/guardians regarding announcements/reminders, closures, delays, etc. These messages can be sent via phone call, text message, and/or email. GSSV will primarily use text and email to send notifications. We will not send announcements daily or weekly. This will be used sparingly and only when needed.

If you did not receive notification last week, then you have not signed up to accept text messages from this program. Please text ALERT to 22300 to opt in to receiving text messages.

If a phone number and/or email needs to be changed, please email Mrs. Swain (wesley.swain@southside.edu).

Parent Advisory Committee

In an effort to continue the partnership and communication with our parents, we are hoping to grow our Parent Advisory Committee that will meet at least twice a year. We would like at least two parents from each participating high school to be on this committee. These parents will be the liaison between the community and GSSV. Of course, direct communication with Mrs. Swain is still always welcome if there is an immediate or private concern. These meetings will be a combination of in-person and virtual meetings. Please email Mrs. Swain (wesley.swain@southside.edu) if you would like to be be on this committee.