From our Principal
GCHS Teaching Staff 2025-2026
Bible Department
- Mr. Burgett
- Mr. Jones
- Dr. Littlefield
- Mr. Miller
- Dr. Mitchell
- Mr. Robinson
CTE
- Mr. Nemec – Entrepreneurship
- Mrs. Griffin – Digital Media
- Mrs. Jones – StuCo & Internships
- Mrs. Bridgman – Yearbook (new to GCHS)
English
- Mr. Birdsall
- Ms. Boylan
- Mrs. Ceton
- Mr. Martin (new to GCHS)
- Mrs. Phillips (new to GCHS, but joining us from GF)
- Mrs. Ridgeway
Fine Arts
- Mrs. Burgess – Theatre
- Mrs. Cisneros (new to GCHS, but joining us from VV) – Choir, Worship Team, Guitar
- Mr. Griffin – Band, Chapel Tech
- Mr. Holsinger – Art
- Ms. Perry – Piano
- Mrs. Shultz – Strings
GEAR
- Mrs. Liddy
- Mrs. McLaurin
- Mr. Pireh
Mathematics
- Mr. Bruney
- Mr. Heintz
- Mr. Kass
- Mrs. McCollum
- Mr. Russell
- Mrs. Trainor
PE
- Ms. Klassen
- Mrs. Petrey
Science
- Miss Bridinger
- Mrs. Field
- Mr. Ives
- Mrs. Keiser (Miss Juist)
- Mrs. Kerth
- Mrs. Whitney
Social Studies
- Mr. Fraher
- Mr. Noble
- Mrs. Oplinger (new to GCHS)
- One position to be filled (new to GCHS)
World Languages
- Mr. Jette – ASL
- Ms. Kronwald (new to GCHS) – Spanish 1 & 3
- Mrs. Langford (new to GCHS) – Spanish 1 & 2
Knight Class Awards 2024-2025
GCHS students were honored this week by their high school teachers for their outstanding academic performance and exemplary Christian character.
Upcoming Staff Birthdays
Katie Ceton – May 28th
*If you would like to bless our staff, here is the favorites list
Staff Appreciation Week (May 5th – May 9th)
If you would like to donate to Staff Appreciation Week (staff in general), you can do so here. As always, if there is a particular staff member you would like to honor, you are more than welcome to do that via gifts, gift cards, notes, emails, etc. Everything can be dropped off at the front office or delivered by your student.
SENIOR FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE
| Wednesday, May 7 |
Thursday, May 8 |
Friday, May 9 |
||
| 7:45-9:00 | Exam 1 | English (Cafeteria) |
Bible (Cafeteria) |
Social Studies (Cafeteria) |
| 9:00-9:15 | Break | Break | Break | Break |
| 9:15-10:30 | Exam 2 | Mathematics (Cafeteria) | Science (Rm 105) |
World Languages (Rm 105) |
9th-11th Grade Finals
In elective courses, assessments are administered in class during the days leading up to the scheduled Final Exam Days. In other words, no elective classes will have finals May 20th, 21st, or 22nd. Final exams are administered in the core academic departments (Bible, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages) according to the schedule below:
Tuesday, May 20 (Half Day)
7:45-9:00 Period 1 Final Exam
9:00-9:10 Snack Break/Passing Period
9:10-10:25 Period 2 Final Exam
10:30-11:45 Period 3 Final Exam
Wednesday, May 21 (Half Day)
7:45-9:00 Period 4 Final Exam
9:00-9:10 Snack Break/Passing Period
9:10-10:25 Period 5 Final Exam
Thursday, May 22 (Half Day)
7:45-9:00 Period 6 Final Exam
9:00-9:10 Snack Break/Passing Period
9:10-10:25 Period 7 Final Exam
The Fine Print:
- For periods when a student does not have a final exam, they do not have to be in attendance.
- Example #1: If student does not have a Period 3 exam, because they have an elective during Period 3, they can be picked up after 10:25am
- Example #2: If a student does not have a Period 4 final exam they can arrive at 9:00am.
- If a student has no Period 2 Final Exam on Tuesday (because that is an elective for them), then they report to the cafeteria for a supervised study hall.
- If a student is at school during any other period when they do not have a final exam (when they would typically have an elective), then they report to the cafeteria for a supervised study hall.
- Once the exam periods have finished for the day, students should be off campus unless under the direct supervision of a staff member.
SAFETY
Please drive cautiously when entering campus, especially by maintaining a safe speed. Due to ongoing construction, there are many blind spots, heavy machinery, and workers present. Slowing down will help prevent accidents and ensure everyone’s safety.
A NOTE FROM OUR ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
Congratulations to our girls tennis team for its 5-1 upset of ALA-West Foothills in the first round of the 2025 AIA Division III Girls Tennis Championship Tournament. With the win, the Knights advance to the quarterfinals to face top-seeded Cicero Prep on May 6th (3:00pm, Indian School Park).
The individual and doubles state tennis tournaments are also in progress at the Paseo Tennis Center, starting today. Singles’ standout Lauren Kheshvadjian will represent the Knights this afternoon (1:00pm), while Megan Russell and Kendall Hayes, who enter the doubles’ tournament as the No. 3 seed, will follow at 2:30pm. Hailey Fincher and Sophia Kiesow also qualified in the pairs portion, and are scheduled to start round one at 2:30pm.
Boys tennis has two of its doubles’ teams competing this weekend at state: Mason Berkshire/Landon Dunn and Brady Albert/JP Russo. Both teams start round one today (11:00am) at the Paseo Racquet Center. Go Knights!
This week we celebrated senior athletes from our softball, baseball, boys volleyball and track teams. It has been such a joy watching these special kids compete this spring. We appreciate you, we see you, and we will definitely miss you all as you graduate, and go out into the world to chase your dreams!
Baseball hit it out of the park, literally, in its final game of the season, defeating ALA-Ironwood 34-0. Dane Coyle and Sam Webb started the game with back-to-back homeruns, and freshman Camden Pallas hit his second career homerun (second career grand slam) later in the contest. Brody Aubut and Caleb Johnson were excellent on the mound, teaming-up to pitch the shut-out. The Knights are scheduled to host Odyssey Institute in the first round of the state tournament on May 6th. All fans will need a ticket to attend. Purchase tickets HERE.
Boys volleyball hosted an orange out for leukemia awareness on Tuesday, and were joined by Bennett Warren, a GCS student who is currently battling the disease. The Knights put on a show for the cause, sweeping Gilbert Classical in straight sets. Please continue to keep Bennett and his family in your prayers!
Next week, the AIA Division II Beach Volleyball Pairs Tournament kicks off. The Knights have two teams competing, Sienna Cathey/Tylee Fox, and Alex Heyn/Lillie Duitsman. Cathey/Fox are scheduled to take the sand at Casteel High School on May 5th (5:00pm) in round one, and third-seeded Heyn/Duitsman will start a day later, on May 6th, after earning an automatic bid into round two (5:00pm).
A big shout-out to Addision Bisceglie, who set another personal record (and school record) in the 1600m at the Seton Catholic Last Chance Qualifier on Tuesday. She destroyed the competition, running a 5:02.39 to beat the second-place finisher by 17 seconds. Mila Russo also PR’ed at the meet in the 800m and the 200m (5th, 26.70) races. Russo took second overall in the 800, with a 2:23.07 performance. Both athletes will compete for the Knights at the upcoming Division and State Meets.
Physicals
Get Ahead for the 2025–2026 School Year: Student-Athlete Physicals Available!
We’re making it easy for families to prepare for the upcoming athletic season! GCHS is offering a convenient opportunity for student-athletes to complete their required physicals for the 2025–2026 school year. Don’t wait until the last minute—take advantage of this chance to check it off your list early.
Get printable forms HERE.
ROOTED IN PRAYER
Parents, Grandparents, and all friends of GCHS are invited to join the team of volunteers that make up Rooted in Prayer every Wednesday morning when school is in session, starting at 8 AM. Praying aloud is not required and babies through preschool-aged children are welcome. Contact Mary for more information: HSPrayer@gcsaz.org
College & Career
Colorado Christian University is hosting a free summer Discovery Days camp July 14-17 for all current sophomores and juniors. For more information and to register for this week-long Colorado experience, click here.
ASU Summer Programs are taking applications now. Future engineers should look into the NSTI program (a free 5-day camp in Tempe) and Fulton Summer Academy. Summer camps are excellent resume builders and a great way for HS students to check out future majors.
Westmont College is currently accepting applications through May 1 for their summer Trailhead program. Please reach out to your student’s counselor for a nomination if interested.
Huntington University is excited to announce their Summer Digital Media Arts Camp for ages 14-18. You can find all of the details of the camp at this link.
Aspiring teachers, did you know that NAU offers a fully funded teaching degree program? This covers the entire cost of tuition, plus fees. Please check out the Arizona Teacher’s Academy website for more information.
The FBI 2025 Teen Academy is now taking applications (through 5/16) for their summer program. This program is open to the Class of 2026 and 2027 only. This one day academy gives students the opportunity to engage in hands-on training, interact with FBI special agents, and learn about the overall mission of the FBI. To learn more and apply, please click here.
Juniors, now is the time to build your college application list. Please check out this resource for more information on Christian colleges around the country.
STUCO
Theatre
Knights’ Theatre Camp
**Audition for HS Theatre Camp Monday, May 5 and Tuesday, May 6 ….you must sign up for camp to audition!! (Sign up in the packet link)
Camp Date: June 2-6
Time: 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Who: Incoming Freshman through 12 grade
Cost: $250.00
All students interested in performing as well as students who want to learn sound/lighting/set building skills/hair and makeup
Theatre Camp audition and information packet
Spanish Club
GCHS Spanish Club is traveling to Guatemala for Spring Break 2026. Early bird registration ends June 1st. See www.simplyventure.net/gchsguatemala for more details.
