IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
Tuesday, September 19 - College Aid Pro Webinar (see details below)
Thursday, September 21 - Activities Fair
Friday, September 22 - Homecoming Dance 7:00-9:30
Tuesday, September 26 - High School Open House 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Saturday, October 14 - PSAT Exam
PSAT EXAM (NEW DEADLINE: PLEASE REGISTER BY MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2023)
The PSAT Exam will be held at the High School on Saturday, October 14, 2023. Due to the change to digital testing, registration must be done early. Please register by Monday, September 19, 2023. If you don’t register by 9/19/23, we may not be able to accommodate you. The cost is $25.00. Juniors and Sophomores can register at this link. PSAT Registration
VOLUNTEER CLUB
The GD Volunteer Club is running a clothing drive for Catie’s Closet this and next week (Sept. 11th-22nd). We are looking for new & gently used clothing for all ages up to 18 years old, as well as full-sized toiletries. Please donate to the bins located in the front commons. Spread the word and let's make a large impact with our first drive of the year!
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT NEWS:
"HOW FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS WORK"
Virtual webinar by College Aid Pro on Tuesday, September 19th @ 6:30 pm ET. Even if you cannot attend live, you will receive an email the next day with the recording of the presentation (but you still need to register!).
Among other things, financial aid experts will discuss:
Will you be eligible for financial aid?
Where is your student likely to receive scholarships?
How do we get discounts even if we won't qualify for financial aid?
FAFSA dos & don'ts (and 2024/2025 changes!).
Business & homeowner dos & don'ts.
What divorced/separated families should know.
Click below to register:
https://collegeaidpro.zoom.us/webinar/register/7916945447831/WN_1a-v6vGmQMWx9CmNOhX3HQ
COLLEGE VISITS DURING WIN BLOCK!
College visits have started. Listen to morning announcements to hear of upcoming visits. Log into Naviance to see the full list of colleges and sign up to attend a visit.
You must sign up on Naviance in order to attend a college visit. Visits will occur during the WIN block. Once you are signed up in Naviance, I will schedule you in Enriching Students for the visit.
See your guidance counselor if you are having trouble logging into Naviance, or finding the college visit list.
https://student.naviance.com/grotondr
Juniors and seniors interested in attending any local college fairs this fall, use this link to see attending colleges and register - https://www.neacac.org/fall-college-fairs-2023
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR MASSACHUSETTS STUDENTS
Click the link below for a list of 15 Scholarship Programs available to Massachusetts students. More than 800 individual Scholarships will be distributed through these 15 Programs. Students from Massachusetts high schools are eligible for all awards.
https://studentscholarships.org/newsletter/september_scholarship_newsletter.pdf
STEM OPPORTUNITY - BAE SYSTEMS FOCUS PROGRAM
BAE Systems will be offering their FOCUS Program beginning in September 2023. FOCUS is an 11-week in person program which provides hands-on experiences in STEM fields to help grow students' interest in technical education and careers.
The program takes place at BAE Systems Nashua Canal Street facility from September 27 through December 6. Students will participate on Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. You can learn more about FOCUS on our website: www.baesystems.com/focus
Students in grades 9 – 12 from schools within a reasonable driving distance from Southern New Hampshire are welcome to apply for the program through September 18, 2023. Our application is hosted on Tallo: https://app.tallo.com/talent/opportunity/view/45748aef-bd27-4f43-9481-18d72356d0d5 (note: students will need to create a Tallo profile to apply, this is easy and free and compliant with NH student privacy standards).
Questions may be directed to the program team via focus.nashua@baesystems.com or to Laurel Skiff, Pre and Early Career program manager.
CHAMBER GROTON INN:
This past weekend on Sunday Sept. 10th, the GD Chamber Choir performed at the Groton Inn during their art showcase. The choir’s attendance at this event was to spread public knowledge of their fundraising. They are currently fundraising to perform in Ola Gjeilo’s World Premiere of his new symphony at Carnegie Hall in November. These donations can also go towards future Chamber Choir events. The Chamber Choir’s trip to New York will take place on November 10th, performing on November 13th. The Choir needs to arrive a few days prior to the performance to practice with all of the other invited choirs, and Ola Gjeilo himself. They will be performing a roughly 45 minute symphony and will spend the weeks leading up to the trip learning and perfecting it. When the group gets to New York, they will be staying in the heart of New York City. The choir will also get the wonderful opportunity to see two popular Broadway shows, Hamilton and Wicked. If you are interested in donating to make sure all of our students can attend this amazing trip, please send checks made out to GDRHS Music to the attention of Tim Savoy, 703 Chicopee Row, Groton, MA 01450. Any support will be greatly appreciated!
BAND’S ATTENDANCE OF THE 350TH DUNSTABLE PARADE:
This past weekend on Sunday Sept. 10th, the GD Band walked and performed in Dunstable’s 350th Birthday Parade. The parade started at 10 am, with people arriving to walk at 9:45. According to Groton Dunstable junior and member of the band, William Wang, the group walked at “a pretty brisk speed, so surprisingly the parade ended early” at 11 rather than the projected 12 o'clock (Wang). The band marched through Groton center, ending their walk at the Dunstable cemetery. The group was awarded 1st place in the youth group category for their performance. If you are interested in donating to the Music Honor Society, please send checks made out to GDRHS Music to the attention of Tim Savoy, 703 Chicopee Row, Groton, MA 01450. Any support will be greatly appreciated!
FROM THE NASHOBA ASSOCIATED BOARDS OF HEALTH
To avoid mosquito bites, use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient, wear clothing to reduce exposed skin, drain standing water and repair window screens. Remember that mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk.
SENIOR YEARBOOK PORTRAIT INFORMATION
To the families of the Class of 2024:
Hopefully many seniors have had their senior portraits taken or have plans to do so soon.
This is a reminder that the deadline for submitting your senior portrait for the yearbook is October 31, 2023.
Please take a look at this senior portrait information sheet, which contains specifications for the portrait you will submit to the yearbook. (We originally gave you this information on April 25 during WIN Block.)
Photographers typically take a variety of photos during a session, and one of them needs to follow the specifications on our yearbook information sheet. That's the one you will submit to the yearbook.
Of course, you are free to choose other prints from your photo session to share with your family and friends.
Because of our page layout, we need to have consistency (vertical orientation and head size) among the 176 portraits seniors submit. This way, your heads will fit in the photo boxes and will be the same relative size as those of your classmates whose photos will be placed next to yours on a page.
Thank you. Any questions, please contact Mr. Adams (jadams@gdrsd.org), who keeps track of the senior portrait submissions.
SEPAC GENERAL MEETING
Weds, September 27th@ 7pm via Zoom
Zoom Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88302346308
If there are any questions please feel free to respond to this email. We hope that you can join us!
