Cardinal Connections

Greetings from the Nest! It may be hard to believe, but we are officially at the end of quarter 1. Congratulations to all our fall athletes and performing arts students on a successful season! A special shoutout to our marching band on being names the VMBC Class 4A State Champions. As we end the quarter, we would like to remind students and families to please take a moment to review ParentVUE/StudentVUE to check grades and communicate with your student’s teachers if you have any questions or concerns about class progress. Touch Base conferences on November 3rd will also serve as a great opportunity to connect with your students’ teachers. As a reminder, report cards will be mailed in early November.

Dean of Students

We’re excited to share that Ms. Allison Kural will be joining Gainesville High School as our new Dean of Students, starting November 4. Ms. Kural comes to us from Marshall High School in Fairfax County, where she has served as a Health, Physical Education, and Driver Education teacher. In addition to her teaching role, she has been actively involved in school leadership and student support, contributing to the MTSS team, leading collaborative learning teams, and helping plan Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). She has also supported student life by supervising athletic and school events and serving as a senior class sponsor. She brings a strong background in athletics as a former Division I lacrosse player and multi-sport coach. We’re thrilled to welcome Ms. Kural to the Gainesville community and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our students and school culture.

Touchbase Conferences – November 3

GHS will be hosting Touchbase conferences on November 3, 7:30-9:30 a.m. There is no school for students on this day. Touchbase is an opportunity for families to have a brief 2-3 conference with their student’s teachers. If a longer conference is required, families are asked to schedule those directly with teachers. A full Touchbase schedule is posted on the GHS website.

Specialty Program Information Night

What’s your Pathway? On Thursday, November 20, we will host our first Pathways to Global Citizenship Program Information Night starting at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Families interested in applying for transfer to GHS for the 2026 – 27 school year are invited to come learn more about this innovative and inclusive specialty program. Current students and families are welcome to attend as well. We’ll outline the various pathways available to GHS students and introduce the Extended Learning Experience option for juniors and seniors. For more information, interested students should visit their counselor or reach out to Mrs. Terenchin at terencce@pwcs.edu or (571) 248- 3265.

SOL Notification for 2025-2026

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) developed the Virginia Assessment Program to measure student progress in the Standards of Learning (SOLs), which outline expectations in reading, writing, math, science, and history/social science. High school students participate as needed for graduation credits or federal requirements. Some tests, like Algebra I, are course- or grade-specific. Parents may request additional testing for high school students enrolled in related courses. After testing, performance results are shared with families. For general testing windows, visit PWCS Testing Calendar. GHS will be testing for non-writing SOLs in December, and the 2025-2026 SOLs will occur in April/May 2026. If you have specific questions about testing requirements for graduation, please contact your student’s school counselor.

Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3)

This fall, Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) will administer the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test – Third Edition (NNAT3) to students in Grades 2, 6, and 9 as part of the universal screening process for Gifted Education. The NNAT3 is a 30-minute test that evaluates reasoning and problem-solving skills through non-verbal logic problems, allowing students to demonstrate their abilities without relying on language. Testing will occur at GHS on November 14 and 17 through 9th graders’ World History 1 class, and results will be combined with other academic data to help staff tailor instruction to each student’s strengths and needs. Families will receive score reports once available, and the best way to support students is by encouraging them to do their best.

Report Cards

Teachers are posting grades to Marking Period 1 by November 4, and report cards are mailed on November 12. A reminder that report cards are a snapshot in time, and the most up to date grades can be found in ParentVUE. If you have questions about specific class grades, please contact your student’s teachers.

November Application Deadlines

November 1 and 15 are early application deadlines for some schools. Students MUST hit submit on their college applications before any college deadlines, even if supporting documents like letters of rec and transcripts are not showing as submitted. These deadlines are not negotiable. To ensure timely delivery of transcripts and letters of recommendation from GHS staff, students should request both with at least 10 school days’ notice through Naviance. Directions on how to request are on the GHS Counseling Canvas page.

SENIOR PHOTOS - Session F

FINAL Opportunity: Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Don’t miss this FINAL OPPORTUNITY to be photographed for the yearbook! The required attire for the school’s yearbook pose is traditional Tuxedos and Drapes; provided by us! In addition to the free yearbook session, we also offer sessions that include casual/personality portraits and Cap and Gown portraits. Please follow this link to choose your session type and appointment time: www.vosphoto.com/gainesville

As a friendly reminder, appointments are needed for Senior Portraits. Questions? Please email our Senior Portraits Team: seniors@vosphoto.com Please kindly include your Senior’s First and Last Name and “Gainesville Class of 2026” when emailing, for faster assistance.

· November 3 – Touchbase conferences, no school for students

· November 4 – Teacher workday, no school for students

· November 5 – Marking period 2 starts

November 3rd

Football: Freshmen/JV @ Patriot, 5:30/7:00

November 4th

Volleyball Regional Quarterfinals TBD

November 5th

Flag Football vs. TBD, 6:00/7:00

November 7th

Football: Varsity vs. Patriot, 7:00

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

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