Duke Update May 3, 2026
Duke Families,
This week, GHS proudly recognizes Teacher Appreciation Week and National School Nurse Day on Wednesday, May 6th. Teacher Appreciation Week celebrates the dedication, hard work, and lasting impact our educators have on students each day. National School Nurse Day honors the important role our school nurses play in supporting student health, safety, and academic success. Please take a moment this week to thank a teacher and our school nurse for all they do!
Congratulations to the ESports Mario Kart Team for earning the title of VHSL ESports State Champions on Saturday April 26th at ODU. Lane Briggs, Jason Hancock, Logan Williams, Paul Trotman, Erik Waters, and Luis Seda set a new school record for the team by earning this achievement. They are also the first team to earn the title of State Champions in Mario Kart under VHSL as a fully sanctioned ESport activity. The team will be advancing to the National playoffs in this month.
Congratulations to the GHS Crew who competed in Elizabeth City N.C. in the Eastern Virginia Scholastic Rowing Regional Championships and were Awarded 2 Trophies and 28 Medals!
The Men's Varsity 4 (MV4+) - 1st Place - Trophy & medals Jacob Gross, Jacob English, Willis Redding, Tristan Buswell, Joshua Littlefield (Cox)
Men's Novice 8 (MN8+) - 1st Place Trophy & Medals: Makai Barker, Ryan Arnold, Mason Wood, Aidyn Noe, James Sanford, Gage Copeland-Garcia, Jackson Wright, Carson Promersberger, Jakob Johnson (Cox)
Men's Novice 4 (MN4+) - 2nd Place Medals: Ryan Arnold, Jackson Wright, Aidyn Noe, Makai Barker, Jakob Johnson (Cox)
Women's Novice 4 (WN4+) - 2nd Place Medals: Olivia Moore, Sutton Stocki, Lauren Chapman, Lyla Moore, Annabelle Neal (Cox)
Men's Jr Single (MJ1x) - 2nd Place - Medals: Mason Dominguez
Men's Varsity Double (MV2x) - 3rd Place Medals: Jacob Gross, Tristan Buswell
Men's Varsity 8 (MV8+) - 3rd Place Medals: Jacob Gross, Jacob English, Willis Redding, Tristan Buswell, Mason Dominguez, Zackory Crowell, Joseph Boulay, Blake Dorris, Jakob Johnson (Cox)
Crew is continuing to complete in States May 2 and May 9th at Sandy Run Park in Fairfax Station, VA. More updates to come!
Congratulations to our Dukes JV and Varsity softball teams and Boys and Girls Soccer teams for their wins in the past couple of weeks.
Please also come out to support our JV and Varsity Baseball teams! Your encouragement goes a long way. Visit the Dukes athletic pages for schedules.
Special shoutout to Coach Joe Dougherty, Coach Joshua Nichols, Coach Brad Jeffrey, and Dr. Croft for their support in ensuring our Spring athletics are safe and running smoothly.
The WEB Du Bois Honor Society will have an OFFICERS' meeting on Monday, May 4th, and a general membership meeting on Monday, 11th. This is a change from the previously published schedule. If you have not yet completed your WEB DuBois Honor Society application, please do so immediately. Stop by Mrs. Carter's room 134 if you have questions.
The Student Advisory Committee will meet after school Tuesday, May 5th in room 123. Please let Mrs. Rowe know if you are unable to attend.
Gloucester Fine Arts Department proudly presents the 21st Annual Student Art Show. Please join us at the Gloucester Public Library on Main Street. The show will run until Friday, May 22nd.
Crochet Club will be meeting the first Monday of May this time due to attendance recovery. Looking forward to seeing everyone Monday, May 4th, from 2:50 to 4:30 in Mrs. Fernandez's room, 138. Chill and chat, practice your stitches, learn new ones, and collaborate to create fun projects! See you there!
Dukes and Deputies Basketball game: Join us on Friday, May 8, 2026, for the 3rd Annual Dukes and Deputies Basketball Game at Gloucester High School! Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the game begins at 6:00 p.m. This exciting event supports the Sheriff’s Office Summer Camp for at-risk students. Enjoy pizza, drinks, popcorn, a 50/50 raffle, and great basketball. Come out and support a great cause! Tickets are $6 and available on GoFan. https://gofan.co/event/6491407
The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) works with the School Board to improve services and support for students with disabilities in our schools. The committee is made up of parents of students with disabilities, adults with disabilities, school staff, and community representatives. Together, we share resources, raise awareness, and make recommendations on how our division can best meet the needs of all students.
We would love for you to join us at our next meeting on Monday, May 4th, at 6:00 p.m. at the T.C. Walker Education Center.
Counseling
The Peer Tutoring Club will be staying after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This club provides peer tutoring and homework help for students who may need extra assistance or a quiet place to complete their assignments. Please encourage any students who may benefit from additional academic support to attend. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Watkins or Ms. Hammack in the Counseling Office.
Seniors
Seniors, prom guest forms are available in the Main Office. These forms are required for guests who do not attend Gloucester High School or for guests who have already graduated. Please make sure your guest is approved before purchasing prom tickets. Tickets are on sale now through SchoolCash Online.
Seniors, you may now request 5 additional tickets for graduation. You will receive your graduation tickets at the mandatory graduation rehearsal on Friday, June 5th. Please stop by the Main Office during class changes or your lunch period to add your name to the extra ticket list.
Senior Week Events:
Monday, June 1
Scholarship Night @ GHS, 6:00–8:00 PM (invitations will be sent out)
Tuesday, June 2
Senior Awards, 8:30–10:30 AM
Class Picture (cap and gown), 10:45 AM
Senior Walk through GHS, 11:15 AM
Senior Walk at Peasley, 1:30 PM
Senior Walk at all elementary schools, 2:30 PM
Wednesday, June 3
Senior Walk at Page, 1:30 PM
Thursday, June 4
Senior Picnic @ GHS Practice Field, 8:00 AM–2:00 PM
Friday, June 5
Senior Social (GHS Cafeteria), 7:30–8:15 AM
Graduation Practice, 8:30–10:30 AM
Graduation tickets will be distributed at practice
Please note: Practice is mandatory. Seniors who do not attend will not be permitted to participate in the graduation ceremony.
Daily Reminders:
The 2025-2026 Yearbook is officially sold out. No further copies can be pre-ordered at this time. Please see Ms. Schoenthal with any questions.
Dress Code: As the weather gets warmer, we want to remind you of the GCPS dress code policy. Students must be covered from shoulders to mid-thigh. Shorts/skirts above mid-thigh, exposed mid-driffs, and exposed shoulders are not allowed. Please see page 10 of the GCPS student code of conduct for details. Students addressed for dress code will have the opportunity to change, go to the CARE closet, or wait in a designated area for clothing drop-off.
The GHS cafeteria will offer Second Chance Breakfast for students who have a late-in or may have missed breakfast earlier in the morning. The cafeteria doors will open from 9:10 a.m. until 9:20 a.m.
If you need to pick your student up early, please arrive PRIOR to 2:20 PM.
The Care Closet will only be accepting new, high school appropriate clothing for the remainder of the school year. The Care Closet can not accept perishable food items or food items in glass containers. Thank you for your generosity.
Safety: All GCPS students go through security and weapons detectors each morning. Please continue to encourage students to be careful not to bring prohibited items to school such as vapes and lighters. Students, Follow the Duke Way! Don’t give in to social media trends that encourage behaviors that violate the code of conduct.
That concludes our Duke Update. Let’s Go Dukes!!