📊🛒 Budgeting for Thanksgiving Dinner!
This week, students in Economics & Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship took on a real-world challenge: planning a full Thanksgiving meal on a budget.

Teams compared grocery ads, used coupons, tracked costs in spreadsheets, and presented their strategies for making smart financial decisions.

This hands-on project helped students build practical skills in budgeting, collaboration, and problem-solving. Proud of their hard work—and grateful to Ms. Boehm, Ms. Dewey, and Mrs. EYP for bringing this engaging lesson to life! 🦃👏
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Economics and personal finance
Economics and personal finance
Economics and personal finance
Economics and personal finance
Economics and personal finance
Economics and personal finance
Economics and personal finance
Economics and personal finance
Last week, our fifth graders from RES, BES, and GES spent the day exploring the James River and learning what it means to be true watershed stewards! 🌊🌿

Students teamed up with educators from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to dive into hands-on science—testing water quality, examining river biodiversity, and playing interactive games to understand how our watershed works. They also hiked the river trail, packed donation items for Goochland Cares, and completed a nature scavenger hunt along the way.

It was an incredible day of learning, teamwork, and connecting our classroom science units to the real world💧📚✨
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Middle School National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) students spent the day spreading joy and lending a helping hand at Byrd Elementary! 💙🦅

Our students jumped into a variety of activities across the school—supporting kindergarteners with a Thanksgiving project (and some hot chocolate!), assisting with learning activities like escape rooms and reader’s theater, creating holiday crafts, and spending time with Pre-K students during play, art, and lunch.

We are so proud of their leadership, kindness, and commitment to service!
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
NJHS
NJHS
NJHS
NJHS
NJHS
NJHS
NJHS
NJHS
Last week, Randolph Elementary fourth graders teamed up with 4-H for a hands-on lesson all about weather! 🌦️ Students explored different tools used to measure and predict weather conditions—and then put their new skills to the test. A great mix of science, curiosity, and real-world learning!
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
4-H lesson
4-H Lesson
4-H Lesson
4-H Lesson
🎳 Our Goochland High School Unified Bowling team had a blast bowling at Short Pump Bowlero last week! 🎳

Students enjoyed spending time together and showing off their skills. A big thank-you to Short Pump Bowlero for hosting us and to Eternal Stoneworks for their support of our team!
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
GHS Unified Bowling
GHS Unified Bowling
GHS Unified Bowling
GHS Unified Bowling
Our Randolph Elementary third graders are getting creative in Mrs. Ware's art class! Students are using chalk and pastels to design colorful monster portraits, showing off their imagination and artistic skills. 🎨👾
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
RES Art
RES Art
RES Art
RES Art
🏃‍♀️ Girls on the Run!

This fall, students at all three of our elementary schools have been building confidence, teamwork, and perseverance through the Girls on the Run program. Last week, our teams completed a “practice 5K” at their schools in preparation for the big event — a regional 5K taking place this weekend with Girls on the Run teams from across the area.

We’re so proud of these girls and their coaches for all of their hard work and dedication! 💪💜
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
GOTR
GOTR
GOTR
GOTR
GOTR
GOTR
GOTR
GOTR
Our Goochland Elementary 3rd graders just finished the 6-week Teaching Kindness program with Goochland Pet Lovers. Over the past six weeks, students learned how to safely meet a dog, what shelter animals need to feel safe, how to care for pets responsibly, and how kindness and empathy impact both animals and our community.

During our trip to the animal shelter, students saw those lessons in action and met some very sweet adoptable friends! 🐾💛🦦
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Goochland Pet Lovers
Goochland Pet Lovers
Goochland Pet Lovers
Goochland Pet Lovers
Goochland Pet Lovers
🎉 Celebrating Student Leadership! Congratulations to Will Hyer and Ryan Johnson, who were appointed by the Goochland County School Board to serve as student representatives! ❤️💛🐾 Will and Ryan will begin their terms in January 2026, sharing student perspectives and helping guide the future of GCPS. We’re so proud of these outstanding students and grateful to their families for supporting their leadership journeys! 👏
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
student representatives
Fifth graders at Randolph Elementary let their creativity run wild with spooky stories inspired by The Mysteries of Harris Burdick! ✨👻 Focusing on figurative and sensory language, students crafted eerie expositions that truly set the scene. The best part? They got to share their chilling tales with classmates—flashlights in hand, reading in the dark—bringing their stories to life in the perfect spooky setting. 💡📖
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
RES Spooky Stories
RES Spooky Stories
RES Spooky Stories
RES Spooky Stories
RES Spooky Stories
RES Spooky Stories
📢 We Want to Hear From You!
Goochland County Public Schools is beginning the 2026-2027 budget planning process, and your input matters.

Take a few minutes to share your priorities, ideas, and feedback to help ensure our budget reflects the needs of our students, staff, families, and community. The survey is brief, confidential, and open through November 21.
Complete the survey here: goochlandschools.org/community-budget-survey-2025

Together, we’re shaping the future of Goochland schools!
10 months ago, Matt Caratachea
Graphic with three speech bubbles on a light gray background filled with faint finance-themed icons. The red bubble says “We Want,” the white bubble says “Your,” and the yellow bubble says “Feedback.” In the lower right corner is a red circular logo with a white “G,” representing Goochland County Public Schools.
🏺✨ Step back in time with Mr. Rorrer’s Quest II students! After studying ancient civilizations, students created their own artifacts and transformed the classroom into a museum exhibit.

From a sarcophagus and artwork to games inspired by ancient cultures, each display showcased their creativity and deep understanding of history. "Visitors" toured the museum as students proudly shared their knowledge and handmade pieces from civilizations long ago! 🌍📜
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Ancient Civilizations Museum Exhibit
Ancient Civilizations Museum Exhibit
Ancient Civilizations Museum Exhibit
Ancient Civilizations Museum Exhibit
Ancient Civilizations Museum Exhibit
Ancient Civilizations Museum Exhibit
Ancient Civilizations Museum Exhibit
Ancient Civilizations Museum Exhibit
Ancient Civilizations Museum Exhibit
📚 Families had a wonderful time at Randolph Elementary’s Family Literacy Night! Students and parents enjoyed fun, hands-on activities that promoted a love of reading and also had the chance to shop the book fair. ✨ It was a great evening celebrating learning and the school-family connection!
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
RES literacy night
RES literacy night
RES literacy night
RES literacy night
RES literacy night
RES literacy night
RES literacy night
RES literacy night
RES literacy night
RES literacy night
Virginia Launches Emergency Food Assistance to Support SNAP Recipients During Federal Shutdown

Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced the creation of the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) program to ensure that families continue to have access to food support during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The VENA program will use Virginia’s state budget surplus, not federal funds, to temporarily replace federal SNAP benefits and help families in need. Virginians currently receiving SNAP benefits will automatically receive VENA assistance using their existing EBT cards.

Key details about VENA:
• Provides weekly benefits instead of monthly (approximately one-quarter of the monthly amount each week)
• Uses the same EBT cards and beneficiaries as SNAP
• Funded entirely by Virginia’s state budget surplus—no federal dollars
• Distributes $37.5 million per week to support families across the Commonwealth
• Includes an additional $1 million for Virginia’s food bank network to help ease the transition

Benefit Distribution Schedule
Benefits will be distributed each week in November according to the schedule outlined in the graphic below. Payments will occur on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Virginians are encouraged to keep their EBT cards secure and monitor their accounts through the ConnectEBT app.

For more information and detailed FAQs, visit DSS.VIRGINIA.GOV.
10 months ago, Matt Caratachea
Informational graphic titled “Virginia Acts to Protect SNAP Recipients” announcing that Governor Youngkin launched emergency state-funded food assistance during a federal shutdown. The Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) program uses the same EBT cards and beneficiaries as SNAP, is funded by Virginia’s state budget surplus (no federal funds), delivers weekly benefits (about one-fourth of the monthly amount each week), and provides $37.5 million per week plus $1 million for the food bank network. A benefits schedule shows three groups: 	•	1st third: Regular SNAP date Sat, Nov 1 → New VENA date Monday, November 3 	•	2nd third: Regular SNAP date Tues, Nov 4 → New VENA date Wednesday, November 5 	•	3rd third: Regular SNAP date Fri, Nov 7 → New VENA date Friday, November 7  Benefits will be issued Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in November. Footer includes instructions to keep EBT cards secure, the website DSS.VIRGINIA.GOV for updates, and the Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin seal. The background is blue with red and white text.
✨📚 Once upon a time at Byrd Elementary… students and families gathered for Read for a Treat Night! Dressed in their Halloween and fairy tale costumes, guests enjoyed magical literacy activities, trick-or-treating, and a stop at the enchanted book fair. 🧚‍♀️👑 It was a storybook evening filled with fun, learning, and a little bit of magic! 🎃💫
10 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
BES Read for  Treat
BES Read for  Treat
BES Read for  Treat
BES Read for  Treat
BES Read for  Treat
BES Read for  Treat
BES Read for  Treat
BES Read for  Treat
BES Read for  Treat
📚✨ It’s Book Character Day at Randolph Elementary! The halls were filled with favorite storybook characters as preschool and kindergarten students showed off their creative costumes during a morning parade. Older students lined the halls to cheer them on and celebrate a love of reading! ❤️📖
11 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
RES Book Character Day
RES Book Character Day
RES Book Character Day
RES Book Character Day
RES Book Character Day
RES Book Character Day
RES Book Character Day
RES Book Character Day
RES Book Character Day
🎨🕵️‍♂️ Students in Ms. Alvis’s class put their detective skills to the test in an art gallery-themed escape room! The "Museum of Notable Art" had a painting stolen, and students had to solve the mystery using clues, QR codes, dichotomous keys, and puzzles—all while learning about famous artists and their masterpieces. What a creative way to combine art, problem-solving, and teamwork! 👩‍🎨🧩🔍
11 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Alvis MONA exhibit
Alvis MONA exhibit
Alvis MONA exhibit
Alvis MONA exhibit
Alvis MONA exhibit
Alvis MONA exhibit
🚀✈️🎨 Fourth graders at Randolph Elementary combined science, reading, writing, and art in one creative project! After reading about famous innovators like John Glenn, the Wright Brothers, and Rube Goldberg, students wrote about who these figures were, what they accomplished, why their work was important to science, and how their achievements inspired them.

To top it off, they decorated pumpkins to represent what they learned — a perfect mix of imagination and innovation! 🎃✨
11 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Pumpkin Writing Project
Pumpkin Writing Project
Pumpkin Writing Project
Pumpkin Writing Project
Pumpkin Writing Project
Pumpkin Writing Project
Pumpkin Writing Project
Pumpkin Writing Project
Pumpkin Writing Project
🎽 4th Annual Unified Track Meet! 🎽

Last Friday, our stadium was filled with teamwork, encouragement, and smiles as we hosted our 4th Annual Unified Track Meet! Athletes and partners participated in a variety of fun activity stations across the complex before wrapping up with an exciting, abbreviated track meet on the field.

We were thrilled to welcome teams from Fluvanna County and Albemarle County to join in the fun and competition! ❤️💛

It was an incredible day celebrating inclusion, sportsmanship, and Bulldog spirit—both on and off the track! 🐾
11 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Unified
Unified
Unified
Unified
Unified
Unified
Students in Mr. Rooke’s Spanish 3 class brought their learning to life on Friday by cooking arroz con gandules, Puerto Rico’s national dish. After a month of studying the island’s culture and history, this hands-on experience offered a delicious way to celebrate their learning! 🌎
11 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Spanish 3 Class
Spanish 3 Class
Spanish 3 Class
Spanish 3 Class