IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
Friday, August 29th - No School
Monday, September 1st - Labor Day/No School
Thursday, September 11th - Activities Fair + Open House
Friday, September 18th - Early Release (10:50) PD District
Friday, September 26th - Picture Retakes
Tuesday, September 30th - Mid Point of Term 1
PRINCIPAL MESSAGE
With two days under our belt, we have been off to a spirited start! Sean Kiley, the new Assistant Principal, and I spoke to the classes on the first day and talked about how many good people are at GD. The 15 new staff, new 9th graders and transfers, only support that claim as our interactions have been really encouraging. There is a new energy in a building where I have worked since its opening. My office is in a bit of disarray, but that is because after I moved furniture and painted a couple of walls, I am currently waiting to get paint so a student can put a spirit mural on a very drab brownish accent wall. We will be changing that to reflect our sense of belonging and community.
Orientation Leaders and Members of the Class of 2029:
We spoke about a Core Value which will be our focus for this year, Respect. We even played a clip of Aretha Franklin belting out, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”. Respect for how we treat our building, other students, peers, property and staff. Respect for our schedule which ensures students arrive on time and are present. Respect for the 659 students’ right to learn and respect for the 86 educators’ right to teach. Above all else, we really emphasised respect for oneself, which drives our goodness.
Enjoy the extended weekend!
Sincerely,
Rick Arena
DON’T LET YOUR DAY END AT 2!
On Thursday, September 11, we will be holding our Activities Fair. It will be an opportunity for all students to be exposed to the many clubs, organizations and sports we have at GD. Please encourage your student to sign up or join one of these organizations. Success follows those who participate and engage in school outside of the classroom. Don’t Let Your Day End at 2!!
CLASS OF 2027 FUNDRAISER
Help build community spirit while supporting the GD Class of 2027! Check out the options: https://groton-dunstable.itemorder.com/
ATHLETIC BOOSTER NEWS
Fall Mums Are Back! Support GD Athletic Boosters
It’s that time of year again—our 2nd Annual Mums Fundraiser is here! Brighten your porch with beautiful fall mums while helping the GD Athletic Boosters support our student-athletes.
Orders are open now and can be placed online:
https://gdboosters.square.site/
Thank you for helping us make this school year a great one for our teams and community!
Groton Dunstable High School Drama Guild is excited to announce Much Ado About Nothing as its fall show. Much Ado is the original Rom-Com! We are looking for actors, techies, designers, artists and musicians. Sign ups will be posted outside room 203. Ms. Lamson and crew are excited to work with you! Auditions are Monday, September 8 from 2-5 pm. Call backs are September 9 from 3-6 pm. Performances are November 7 and 8 in the high school Black Box Theater.
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Chromebook Distribution & Handbook Acknowledgment
Dear GDRHS Families:
As we prepare for the new school year, please review and sign off on the GDRHS Student Handbook (link when it is available) in the SchoolBrains Community Portal.
In particular, please read Section 8: Technology & Digital Learning, which outlines responsibilities, expectations, and details of the GDRHS 1:1 Chromebook Program. Key expectations include:
Bring the Chromebook to school every day, fully charged.
Caring for the device and reporting any damages to a GDRHS staff member, who will then submit a ticket at helpdesk@gdrsd.org.
Understanding repair/replacement costs as outlined in the handbook.
Personal laptops will no longer be permissible.
JOIN THE GD ARTS BOOSTERS TEAM!
The GD Arts Boosters work year-round to raise funds that directly support our incredible student artists and the programs they love — music, theater, visual arts, and more. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we surpassed our fundraising goals for the 2024–2025 school year!
This means:
- More scholarships for graduating seniors pursuing the arts
- More grants to strengthen ALL of our arts programs
But we can’t do it without you. The more helping hands we have, the stronger (and more fun!) our efforts become.
- Want to get involved or stay in the loop?
- Email us at gdhsartsboosters@gmail.com
- Join our low-volume mailing list: https://forms.gle/Pw851NFjJEHyvc6n8
- Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gdartsboosters
Whether you can give a little time or a lot, we’d love to have you join us in supporting the arts at GD!
Let's work together to ensure the arts continue to thrive for our students at GDRHS!
LENTZ & LENTZ SAT/PSAT PREP FOR THE FALL
LIVE IN-PERSON CLASSROOM SAT/PSAT prep. Monday Evening Schedule Starts Sept. 22nd For New Students.
The in-person SAT/PSAT prep course will be held in Groton on the following Mondays and two selected Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.:
Sept. 22 & 29
Oct. 6, 8 (Wed), 15 (Wed), 20 & 27
Nov. 3
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT NEWS
SCHOOLHOUSE is a non-profit with the mission of connecting the world with free, peer-to-peer tutoring. They offer free, virtual tutoring programs for high school students. They were founded by Sal Khan of Khan Academy. They are offering:
Prepare for the SAT with a peer tutor who excelled on the test.
Expert Peer Tutoring: Attend two 75-minute sessions each week led by a top-scoring SAT tutor
Practice & Feedback: Take full-length practice tests and receive personalized feedback
Flexible Scheduling: Fit sessions around your summer plans with flexible scheduling options
Link to register: https://schoolhouse.world/w/sat-bootcamp?ref=marketing-calendar-learner