Groton-Dunstable​ ​Regional​ ​High​ ​School

Important Upcoming Dates:

•  Friday, October 2:                Homecoming Game vs Greater Lawrence

•  Friday, October 2:                Term 1 Progress Reports

•  Saturday, October 3:           Homecoming Dance

• Thursday, October 8:           AM Bus Evacuation Drills

•  Monday, October 12:          No School Columbus/Indigenous People Day

•  Friday, October 16         District ½ Day

• Wednesday, October 21:     PSAT’s

•  Thursday, October 22:        DECA Leadership Conference/DCU Center

Principal Message

October has arrived and the school year continues to roll very quickly.  It is crucial to strike that elusive  balance and not become overwhelmed.  Students and staff still have to fulfill obligations and sometimes it becomes more challenging as we progress through the year. That is why it is important to recognize when and where we can decompress and exhale, and then commit to actually doing it! Forging ahead is admirable but not at the expense of our health and piece of mind. BALANCE is one of our Core Values.  As we advance deep into the fall season, we can get run down and susceptible to illness and even feeling overwhelmed. Help our students prioritize what responsibilities are important and what things can be addressed later. 

There are few days that create lots of energy and today is one of them.  With Homecoming weekend here, we finished up a great Spirit Week with a Pep Rally.  We had 5 days of Spirit including yesterday where we saw students and staff wearing PINK  to support Breast Cancer Awareness.  Today we witnessed a wave of Maroon and GD Spirit through the halls and in the stands during the Pep rally. See details below for more information about tonight.  We have over 300 students attending our Homecoming Dance tomorrow night and are looking forward to a spectacular event. We expect our students will continue to make good decisions and make this a proper end to our Homecoming Week. Seniors will then check their 3rd box on the “Last time” events banner. 

GUIDANCE NEWS

FAFSA NIGHT

Hi families,

Join us for our FAFSA Night! Forms like the FAFSA and CSS Profile can feel like a maze of confusing questions, but getting them right is one of the biggest levers you have for maximizing your aid. We've partnered with College Aid Pro to bring you a free webinar that walks you through both forms, so you can confidently submit them accurately and on time.

FAFSA & CSS Profile Made Simple: Successfully Navigate the Financial Aid Forms

Wednesday, October 7th at 7pm EST

Here's what you'll walk away knowing:

• The key differences between the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and who needs to file which

• Common mistakes that cost families aid dollars

• How to handle tricky questions around income, assets, and household size

• Deadlines you can't afford to miss

Can't make it live? No problem, register anyway and we'll send the recording straight to your inbox.

Exam payments are due in guidance by October 9, 2026 for all fall courses, full year courses and VHS courses.  Spring APs can be paid for once the class begins.   A check payable to GDRHS for $110 (Per exam/one check for multiple exams is ok), can be dropped off in guidance or mailed to:

AP Payments/GDRHS

703 Chicopee Row

Groton MA 01450

Each Exam ordered after the deadline will be charged a $40 late fee.

If you have any questions about the college board exam registration, deadlines, policies or fees, or if you wish to opt out, please contact Mary Cain mcain@gdrsd.org/978-448-6362 (ext 1003).

PSAT - PAYMENTS ARE DUE 10/5/26

The PSAT will be given to Juniors on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 during the school day.  Arrival time for the exam is 7:00 am and should be finished by lunch.   Students must be juniors and register below to reserve their exam.  Students must use their school issued Chromebook for this exam.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REGISTRATION

The cost is $25 per student.  Cash or check made payable to GDRHS. Payments can be mailed to: GDRHS, Attn PSAT, 703 Chicopee Row, Groton MA 01450. 

Small Comforts, Big Impact: 

Support Our Chemo Care Kit Drive 

The Student Council is hosting a WIN Block competition and asking students to donate comfort items which will be organized into Chemo Care Kits.  The kits will then be donated to a local hospital. 

Our goal is to bring a little comfort to patients who are undergoing long and fatiguing chemotherapy treatments. Last year, we were able to put together 50 Care Kits which were gratefully received by Burbank Hospital Cancer Center.  With your help we hope to surpass this number this year

The WIN Block who brings in the most items will win a Student Council sponsored breakfast. Collections will run from October 5th through 16th.

Items that we are asking for include:

·     Activity books ·     Coloring books ·     Colored pencils/gel pens/markers

·     Small craft item ·     Lip Balm ·     Fuzzy socks

·     Travel size tissues ·     Herbal Tea Bags (individually wrapped)

·     Hard candies ·     Small lotions ·     Small hand sanitizers

Thank you for your support!

Yearbook: Senior Portrait Deadline, Presale Orders, Senior Tribute Ads

Hello seniors! This is a reminder to submit your senior portrait by October 31st. If you haven’t taken one yet, schedule your session now with a photographer. The weather is only getting colder from here on out!

Remember to match the specifications for the portraits: a head-and-shoulders shot with you looking directly into the camera. When submitting your photo, make sure it’s high-resolution and name the file with your first and last name. Use this link ( https://yearbookshare.com/eShare) to submit your senior portrait to Varsity Yearbook. The school eshare code is gdyearbook.

To all students, remember to order your yearbook! We usually sell out all extra yearbooks. 

Use this link (https://yearbookordercenter.com/), and enter our job code 6666 to buy your yearbook for pre-sale at $80 until December 31st, 2026. Late orders will be $90 through the same link.

Parents of seniors, if you want to buy a tribute ad for your child, use the same link you used to order a yearbook.

SEPAC EVENT -  BELONGING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

BAE Systems’ Women in Technology

We are pleased to share that BAE Systems’ Women in Technology (WIT) program is currently accepting applications from high school students interested in participating in our Winter 2027 session.

Women in Technology details:  

• Dates: January 19 through May 11, 2027

• Time: Tuesdays from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

• Locations: Southern NH BAE Systems facilities (Hudson, Merrimack, Nashua)

• Eligibility: Students in grades 11 & 12

• Application link: https://tallo.com/talent/job/9783e558-e91e-43c4-9feb-fbc36f0d7be6

• Application deadline: November 15, 2026

• Website: www.baesystems.com/wit

If you have questions please reach out to the program team at  wit.es@baesystems.com

SEPAC EVENT - TRANSITION INFORMATION FAIR

High School Parents — Come Learn More About the Arts Boosters!

Do you have a student involved in music, drama, visual arts, or another arts program at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School? Or are you simply interested in helping support arts opportunities for our students?

Join the Groton-Dunstable Arts Boosters for a casual, in-person informational meeting:

Tuesday, October 6

7:00–8:00 PM — stop by anytime

Groton Public Library

Historical Room, 3rd Floor

Come learn who we are, what we do, and the many ways the Arts Boosters support students across the high school arts programs. Through fundraising and community support, we provide grants, resources, scholarships, and funding for opportunities that might not otherwise be possible.

We’d also love to introduce more parents to the organization. Getting involved doesn’t have to mean a big time commitment. Whether you’re interested in volunteering at an occasional event, helping behind the scenes, sharing a particular skill, or simply learning more about what we do, there’s a place for you.

There’s no obligation to join or volunteer — just stop by, meet us, ask questions, and find out more.

We’d love to see some new faces and hear some new ideas!

Questions? Contact us at gdhsartsboosters@gmail.com.

Annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser

Volunteers Needed - 3rd Annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser at Cow Pond Fields.

We will be hosting our third annual fundraiser this October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Thanks to our amazing community, we have already raised over $2,200 for this important cause.

To make this event a success, we need volunteers to lend a hand on Saturdays at the Cow Pond fields. If you're interested in helping out, please sign up using this Google Sheet. Just add your contact info and choose any open time slots that work for you—and we encourage you to sign up with a friend!

2026 Volunteering Hours | October GDYS Breast Cancer Fundraiser

Where: Cow Pond Playing Fields

When: 10/3, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31

Times: See the document above for time slots.

If you have questions or want more info:

sawyerbrumbaugh@icloud.com