💰 Real World. Real Money. 💰

Students in Mr. Allen’s Ag classes and students in Ms. EYP and Mr. Hover’s Economics & Personal Finance classes got a taste of adulthood through a hands-on financial simulation!

They were assigned careers, families, and take-home pay — then had to budget for housing, childcare, insurance, and more. 💸 With help from professionals acting as apartment managers, financial advisors, and insurance agents, students learned what it takes to stay on track financially in the real world. A great day of learning how to make smart money moves for the future!

Special thanks to the Virginia Cooperative Extension for bringing this engaging activity to Goochland High School! 🙌
about 2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Financial simulation
Financial simulation
📚 Book clubs are underway at Goochland Elementary📚

Fifth grade students kicked off their first book club meetings by choosing a book that interested them, joining classmates who picked the same title, and reading parts of their book aloud together. Each group then set an independent reading goal for the week.

Next week, these young readers will meet again to discuss what they’ve read and set new goals as they continue their literary adventures! 🌟
about 2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
5th grade book club
5th grade book club
5th grade book club
5th grade book club
5th grade book club
5th grade book club
🎨🎲 Artopoly: Where Creativity Meets Competition!

In honor of this year’s “Game On” theme at Goochland Middle School, students in Ms. Alvis’s art classes are bringing the world of Monopoly to life with an art-themed twist! Each class competes on the Artopoly board, earning moves by “SOAR-ing” with class expectations — Safety, Own Actions, Achieve, and Respect.

The game features art-inspired spaces like the Ceramic Studio and Sculpture Showroom, “Happy Accident” and “Studio Surprise” cards, and even a few trips to “jail” for forgetting to wash those brushes! 🖌️

At the end of each nine weeks, the class with the most success on the board wins a special reward. What a creative way to blend art, motivation, and fun! 🎨👏
2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Artopoly wall display
The Goochland County School Board will hold its next regular meeting on October 14, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at the Goochland County Administration Building (1800 Sandy Hook Road, Room 250). GCPS School Board agendas can be found here: https://glnd.community.highbond.com/Portal/

All are welcome to attend.
2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
school board meeting notice

🔥 Fire Prevention Week in Action! 🔥

Fourth graders across all three of our elementary schools are learning important lessons in fire safety thanks to our partnership with Goochland County Fire-Rescue.

Students are discovering how to prevent fires, create home escape plans, and call 911 in an emergency — skills that could save lives.

A huge thank-you to Fire Life Safety Educator Lt. Keith Cousins, Fire Marshal Doug Davis, and Chief Eddie Ferguson for sharing their expertise and helping our students stay safe! 🚒👩‍🚒

2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
fire safety prevention lesson
fire safety prevention lesson
fire safety prevention lesson
Students in Ms. Exum’s Spanish class recently celebrated culture through food in a student-led collaboration with Ms. Landrum (Director of Nutrition Services) and our Nutrition Services team. 🌮🥑

From taste testing recipes to planning the menu, preparing the dishes, and even serving them, students brought their ideas to life with a special lunch featuring cheese enchiladas, tamales, and fresh guacamole.

A wonderful way to bring culture into both the classroom and the cafeteria! 🎉
2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Hispanic Heritage Month Lunch
Hispanic Heritage Month Lunch
Hispanic Heritage Month Lunch
Hispanic Heritage Month Lunch
If you caught a whiff of something sweet last Friday at GHS, you weren’t imagining it… 🍎✨ Mr. Allen and our FFA crew were up bright and early churning out a batch of homemade apple butter! Students helped stir and simmer all day long, and the smell made the hallways feel like fall. 🍂

Want to taste it for yourself? You can grab a jar at the Rassawek Autumn Festival!
2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
apple butter
apple butter
apple butter
apple butter
GES 5th graders scrubbed in and went to work in the “math operating room,” using the power of order of operations to save lives! Students traveled from patient to patient, solving problems and proving that math really is a lifesaving skill.

A huge thank you to our amazing teachers and volunteers for making this hands-on learning experience come to life! 👏❤️
2 months ago, Matt Caratachea
Student working with two adults to solve math problems
Two students working with an adult to solve math problems
Two students working with an adult to solve math problems
Group of students working with an adult to solve math problems
Group of students working with an adult to solve math problems
Group of students working with an adult to solve math problems
Teacher explaining the project to the group
Group of students dressed as doctors posing for a picture
Student and teacher smiling
Two students working on math problems
🍂🐾 Fall sports are in full swing at Goochland High School!

On Wednesday night, our Bulldogs showed their determination and teamwork across multiple competitions. The cross country team raced hard at their meet 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️, and our girls volleyball teams battled it out on the court with grit and energy 🏐.

We’re proud of the effort, sportsmanship, and Bulldog spirit our student-athletes continue to display this season! ❤️
2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Fall Sports
Fall Sports
Fall Sports
Fall Sports
Fall Sports
The RES Task Card Tailgate this past Thursday was the perfect way for 4th and 5th grade students to wrap up the 9 weeks and gear up for Homecoming! Students reviewed reading and math by tackling task cards, then celebrated correct answers with tailgate games.

Huge thanks to the amazing volunteers for providing snacks, games, and support. And thank you to the GHS Bulldog athletes who joined in as mentors, teammates, and role models. Your presence made the day extra special. Go Bulldogs! 🏈🐾
2 months ago, Matt Caratachea
Dr. Armstrong throwing a bean bag
students running
Student throwing a toy throwing star at a target
Student throwing a football at a target
Students figuring out a word problem with the SRO
High school student helping elementary school students figure out a word problem
Student throwing ball
Students figuring out word problems
Volunteer reading question
Students being greeted by GHS athletes
🎉✨ Homecoming spirit is alive at Goochland High School! ✨🎉

Our students went all out for the Hallway Decorating Contest this week, and the results are amazing! 🎨👀

🔥 Freshmen brought the heat with a fiery theme.
🇺🇸 Sophomores showed their pride with a USA theme.
🎶 Juniors turned up the volume with “Junior Jam.”
🎬 Seniors rolled out the red carpet with a Hollywood/movies theme.

Faculty will vote to crown the official winner, but we want to hear from YOU—
👉 Which hallway is YOUR favorite? Drop your vote in the comments! 🗳️
2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
hallway decorations
hallway decorations
hallway decorations
hallway decorations
hallway decorations
hallway decorations
hallway decorations
hallway decorations
hallway decorations
hallway decorations
🎉🐾 Homecoming Week at Goochland High School has been packed with Bulldog spirit!

From the high-energy Powderpuff game 🏈 to seniors putting their creativity on display during “Senior Chalk the Lot” 🎨🚗, our students have made this week one to remember. Spirit Days brought out the fun too — from matching looks on Twin Day 👯‍♀️ to the clever (and hilarious) “Anything but a Backpack Day,” where one Bulldog even hauled a kayak through the halls 🛶.

We love celebrating the traditions and creativity that make Homecoming at GHS so special. ❤️💛
2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming
homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming
🌱🐞 Fourth graders at Randolph Elementary had some special visitors earlier this week! The Goochland Powhatan Master Gardeners shared how bugs aren’t just creepy-crawly — they’re critically important to our ecosystem. From pollinating plants to keeping soil healthy, students learned how these tiny creatures play a big role in our world. 🌍💚
2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
RES master gardener presentation
👏❤️ Our Goochland High School students are building skills that could save a life! Each year, nearly 200 Bulldogs are trained in recognizing cardiac emergencies and performing CPR. This round of training was led by our very own school nurse, Nurse Duffey. By learning these skills while they’re young, students are gaining the confidence to step up in an emergency — both in school and out in the community🫀💪.
2 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
CPR Training
CPR Training
🍃🐝 Goochland Outdoors 2025 🐝🌳
Last Thursday, all of our 5th graders from Goochland, Randolph, and Byrd Elementary Schools came together at Westview on the James for Goochland Outdoors — a day of hands-on learning in nature!

Students had the chance to:
🐝 Learn from one of our very own teachers (and beekeeper!) about the vital role bees play in our ecosystem.
🌳 Hear from True Timber arborists about the importance of trees and vegetation in keeping our environment healthy.
🌱 Work alongside Master Gardeners to explore native and non-native plants and their impact on our ecosystems.

This special day gave our students the chance to connect classroom learning with the natural world around them — sparking curiosity and appreciation for the environment. 🌎✨
3 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
Goochland Outdoors
👏Real-World Learning in Action!👏

This week, Goochland High School students in Entrepreneurship Education, Graphic Arts & Design, and Marketing Education visited the VCU School of Business as part of their Work-Based Learning experiences.

Students connected with VCU Student Ambassadors to explore marketing strategy and branding, then pitched ideas on the responsible and effective use of social media—highlighting how different platforms reach unique audiences.

This hands-on experience gave students a firsthand look at college life and how today’s classroom lessons translate into tomorrow’s business opportunities.🌟
3 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
VCU trip
VCU trip
VCU trip
VCU trip
VCU trip
🍔🌭 Before kickoff at Goochland High School’s first home football game, our GCPS family came together for an employee cookout! Superintendent Armstrong and Assistant Superintendents Waggener and Geyer fired up the grill, serving burgers, hot dogs, chips, and drinks for staff and their families. 💛🐾❤️

It was a great night of food, fun, and Bulldog spirit! 🏈
3 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
employee cookout
employee cookout
employee cookout
employee cookout
employee cookout
📚 Reminder: Tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 26) is a Professional Learning Day for staff.
✅ No school for students.
We look forward to welcoming our students back on Monday!
3 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
No Schools on 9/26
🇺🇸 Kicking off the Veterans Project at GHS!

This week, Goochland High School launched the 2025 Veterans Project, created by US History teacher Rachel Tate. This powerful year-long journey brings together 45 veterans and 105 GHS students for connection, learning, and mutual understanding.

At the first event, students were paired with their veteran partners, interviewed them, and spent time playing games and building relationships. Over the coming months, students will continue learning from the experiences of our veterans while sharing their own perspectives as part of this meaningful collaboration.

We are so proud of our students and grateful for our veterans who are making this project possible! ❤️💙
3 months ago, Jennifer Waggener
Vet Project
Vet Project
Vet Project
Vet Project
Vet Project
Vet Project
Your Voice Matters, Goochland!

As part of Goochland County Public Schools’ strategic planning process, we are gathering input from families and the greater community to help shape our division’s goals for the years ahead.

If you have a student enrolled in GCPS or are a community member please visit https://goochlandschools.org/strategic-plan to take the appropriate survey. Both surveys are now live and will remain open for the next two weeks. Your feedback will help guide our planning and ensure GCPS continues to provide exceptional opportunities for every learner.

👉 Take the surveys here: https://goochlandschools.org/strategic-plan

Thank you for lending your voice to the future of our schools!
3 months ago, Matt Caratachea
Decorative image