Principal’s Paragraph:
On Tuesday, September 17th we held our annual “Senior Knight” for our parents and students. Senior Counselor, Christina Lang, and Senior Class Advisor, Cindy Hohmann, did an outstanding job introducing our exciting senior events and activities for our soon-to-be alumni. We outlined the college application process and keys to finding the correct college for our students. We outlined the GCHS Graduation requirements and provided examples of how our biblical and academic plan far exceeds State of Arizona requirements. Laura Fellows (Yearbook Advisor) presented on the importance of senior dedication pictures. Julie Conover spoke about baccalaureate and graduation at our amazing school. It was a wonderful night full of fellowship and learning and a perfect example of how we are carrying out our mission statement to “Partner with Parents to Prepare the Next Generation to Impact the World for Christ.”
September Staff Birthdays
Michelle Petrey – September 24th
Marc Jette – September 26th
Holly Garza – September 28th
Mike Paasch – September 29th
*If you would like to bless our staff, here is the favorites list
Important Dates
9/27: Homecoming Football Game
9/28: Homecoming Dance
10/3-10/4: Freshmen Retreat at UCYC in Prescott
10/23-10/25: HS Fall Play – Radium Girls (Grace CC)
A Note from StuCo
Homecoming “At Last I See The Light” is NEXT Week!
SPIRIT WEEK: 9/23-9/27 All high schoolers are encouraged to dress up and participate.
Spirit Week: No matter what the theme, students may not wear the following items for spirit dress:
- Tights or leggings (unless covered by appropriate-length shorts).
- Skirts or mini dresses.
- Short shorts.
- Bathing suits.
- Tank tops, sleeveless shirts, or shirts with sleeves that are cut off.
- Shirts with open backs or low-cut backs.
- Any shirts or bottoms that show undergarments.
- Shirts that show midsections.
- Any clothing that has vulgar, anti-Christian, political, or other unlawful material on it.
- Any clothes with holes in them except if appropriate for the spirit day and approved by administration or STUCO Advisor.
Dress up days
Monday – Mother knows best! (Soccer mom vs. BBQ dad)
Tuesday – Maximus and Pascal (Twin Day)
Wednesday – When will my life begin?? (Future Career Day)
Thursday – I’ve got a dream! (PJ Day)
Friday – Wear your Hoco shirts
Lunchtime Activities
Monday: 4×4 basketball
Tuesday: Big Bumper Ball soccer
Wednesday: Rapunzel’s Sweet Hair – Cotton Candy
Thursday: 12v12 Dodgeball
Friday: Snowcones
Homecoming Football Game: Friday 9/27, 7pm GCHS STUCO will be hosting fun pre-game activities. Join us for face painting, snow cones, and cotton candy. We will also be handing out thunder sticks, clappers, etc. to our GCS students. First come, first serve! NOTE: **Due to campus construction, we will not be having bounce houses or food trucks this year. But we encourage everyone to come out early and support our GCHS Knights!
GCHS Homecoming Dance: Saturday, 9/28 7:00pm-10:00pm. Online ticket sales will close Friday, 9/27 at 3:30pm! Make sure your guest passes are completed and turned in by 9/25. Join us for an unforgettable evening of celebration at the High School… you won’t want to miss it!! (Please see the GCHS Student Handbook for Dress Code policies.)
Purchase tickets here.
Volunteer Corner
- Sign up here to bless the staff with snacks during our monthly all-staff meetings
- Sign up here if you (or your high school-age child) would like to watch staff kiddos during weekly Tuesday meetings.
A NOTE FROM OUR ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
We are ONE week away from the 2024 Homecoming Football Game! Set your alarms for next Friday (9/27), bring some friends, and head over to GCHS to see the Knights take on Fountain Hills. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm.
Football is at Crismon tonight (7:00pm). If you plan on attending, please be aware that it is their Homecoming, and all fans will need a ticket to attend. There will also be a clear bag policy in effect, and no outside food or drinks will be allowed in the stadium. To purchase a ticket to the game, click HERE.
Believe it or not, none of our fall squads are home this weekend! Swim is spending today at the Northwest Arizona in Kingman, and cross country is running in Prescott!
Varsity volleyball is slated to spend today and tomorrow at ASU’s Epic Tourneys Invitational, but all three teams are back in action at home on Monday against Bourgade Catholic, and on Tuesday versus Benjamin Franklin.
Check our official website, gcsknights.com, for recaps, rosters, schedules, and much more! Go Knights!
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 that school is in session at 8AM. Praying aloud is not required and babies through preschool-aged children are welcome. Contact Mary for more information: [email protected].
Yearbooks
On sale now! Prices are based on a sliding scale. Order early and save money! Place your order here, Job #7107. Note: this link works best in the Chrome browser.
Questions? Email the yearbook adviser at [email protected].
Seniors automatically receive a yearbook – no need to place an order.
PSAT/NMSQT – October 29, 2024 – All 11th Graders
Annually GCHS administers the PSAT/NMSQT to our students. There are two primary purposes for giving this nationally normed, standardized test. First, it gives our students experience with a standardized test aligned with college preparatory standards/expectations and allows them to accurately gauge how they might perform on the SAT or the ACT. Juniors who score exceptionally high on the PSAT/NMSQT are eligible to be considered for National Merit Scholarships. Second, the PSAT/NMSQT provides valuable information for GCHS in terms of evaluating our curricular program, identifying areas of strength, and identifying areas for improvement.
More details will follow as the administration date approaches but there is nothing for students or parents to do to register. Just know that all 11th graders will sit for the Digital PSAT/NMSQT on October 29th, during periods 1-4. If a student is interested, the College Board offers guidance on how to prepare and practice resources on their SAT Suite of Assessments: Practice webpage.
College & Career
West Point recruits:
Save the Date for our Christian College Fair- scan to register!
The 2025 Christian College Guide contains articles that discuss navigating self-discovery, purpose, and the college application process with a Christian worldview. This is an excellent resource for all HS grades!
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is holding an Admissions Information Meeting for prospective students and their families on Saturday, Sept. 21st at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort from 1-2:30pm.
The Phoenix Admissions Officer for the Prescott campus is giving a multimedia presentation discussing Embry-Riddle’s world-class STEM-focused degree programs, career outcomes, scholarships/financial aid, etc. There will also be an extensive Q&A session after the presentation with Admissions staff, current students, parents, and alumni.
Embry-Riddle has extremely high employment rates and return on investment in fields like engineering, Space Physics, intelligence studies, cyber security, biology, flight and much more!
Any interested students and their families are invited! Light refreshments will be served. (The event is FREE!)
Hilton Scottsdale Resort
6333 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Saturday, Sept. 21st
1-2:30pm
Please RSVP at: https://erau.edu/admissions-events
Counselor Corner
Last week we had a visit by Ken Sande, who is an expert on Peacemaking and Reconciliation. Ken met with all the teachers of the high school, to emphasize the importance of strengthening relationships.
Some of the high points of his presentation were:
- Life is all about relationships (Ephesians 2:11-21)
- Relationships are fueled and moved by emotions!
- Emotions can overthrow us.
What he called Relational Wisdom is a way to overcome and prevent conflict.
“Relational Wisdom, in essence, is the desire and ability to live out Jesus’ two Great Commandments, namely to love God with all your heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).”
Relational wisdom is an awareness of God, self, and others. This awareness leads to engagement.
Relational wisdom is taught throughout Scripture and is really an outworking of the gospel.
Ephesians 4:30-32 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
He left us with the acrostic to improve our Relational Wisdom: SERVE
Smile – Your approach with a smile to someone you are trying to connect with is very winsome.
Explore and Empathize – Be curious about what he/she has to say. And then try to put yourself in their position.
Reconcile – Whenever you can, as it is in your power, win the relationship, not the argument.
Value the person as an image bearer of God.
Encourage them with your words and actions.
Soft skills, like these, are not only honoring to the Lord Jesus but are more and more rare. If we can exercise our Relational Wisdom and pass it on, we will be a powerful apologetic of love to the community and beyond!
