This week is Homecoming at GHS! Please join me in participating in the spirit week festivities (see below). I met with our student leaders this past week, and they collectively identified increasing school spirit as their number one goal this year. 

Focus for the Week: Homecoming is a community celebration! 

Advisory this Week: 

On Monday, Ms. Kenigsberg will talk to students about Career Aspirations. This will be a school-wide Zoom meeting, so all advisors will login to a Zoom meeting and project the meeting for students to participate.  There are no structured activities for Advisory on Thursday.

This week at GHS

Looking Ahead

School Safety and Security

Please note that I have scheduled class meetings during the month of October to present to students on school safety and security as well as a school-wide drill or “table talk” exercise for the end of October on the 31st. More details to follow.

Important Message for Students regarding Dual Enrollment Courses

Students who are enrolled in Dual Enrollment classes at GHS may earn both college and high school credits when they successfully complete the course. In order to earn college credit, students must complete their enrollment on the ExplorEC portal prior to the registration deadline. Students may earn up to 12 free credit hours per year. Summer term courses count toward the following academic year (e.g. Summer 2024 classes count toward the 2024/2025 year). Enrollment in excess of the 12 credit limit will require students to pay 1/2 the tuition price per course. The deadline for payment is determined by the college, and students will need to access their bill directly through their college account. If your student has questions or concerns, please contact your student's school counselor.

Important Message for Students regarding SATs

Gorham High School will not be offering the School Day SAT in the Spring of 2025. Many colleges and universities have shifted to a test optional or test free admission policy. Students in the class of 2026 who are interested in taking the SAT should visit the College Board website for a list of Saturday dates and testing centers in our area. If students need support registering for a Saturday SAT, they are encouraged to set up a meeting with their school counselor. 

SAT Resources:

Digital SAT Registration & Saturday testing dates

What to bring to an SAT

List of Test Optional & Test Free Colleges

Spirit Week Theme Days

GHS Spirit Wear Sale Ends Tuesday, September 24, 2024

It’s time to show your school spirit! ⏰ Time is running out in the Gorham Back-To-School Spirit Wear Sale! Save 30% off the entire site before it’s too late. Don’t miss out! 🎒🛒 https://1stplace.sale/44748.

Mental Health Series Launch

The Gorham School District is pleased to share that we are offering new resources to support mental health and wellness. ParentGuidance.org is free to all staff, parents, and families in our district. 

ParentGuidance.org is a service developed by licensed therapists that provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community to learn how to support our children and get answers to mental health questions. 

Our hope is that ParentGuidance.org will give concerned parents a place to go for answers to support and help their children struggling with depression, anxiety, self-harm, bullying, grief and family strife, just to name a few, as well as provide tools to form stronger bonds between parents and their children. There are over 50 e-courses, free to families, which are led by licensed therapists as well as an ask-a-therapist section on the website. ParentGuidance.org is free and confidential. 

Additionally, our district will be able to join regularly scheduled webinars referred to as our Mental Health Series. This series will be available from October 1st to December 31st to educate parents and staff on topics our district has selected, such as: Your Child’s Anxiety, Helping Your Child Succeed – Three Parenting Styles, and Social Media: Protecting Your Child. Below are several flyers on each event topic for the month of October for parents to pre-register. Updated flyers will be shared for the months of November and December.

During this time, parents can anonymously join an Ask a Therapist LIVE, one-hour workshop with a licensed therapist who has expertise in youth mental health. The therapist will directly answer parents’ questions during the session, starting at 6 pm MT/ 7 CT/ 8 ET.

Look for the ParentGuidance.org logo on our homepage to learn more about the services available to our district. 

Career Exploration Opportunities 

Maine Space Conference

Students interested in exploring careers in space are invited to apply to attend the Maine Space Conference. This is an opportunity to learn about the future of spaceflight in Maine. The Maine Space Conference will be an opportunity to network with industry professionals from the government, education, and investment community. To learn more and apply, fill out this form: aspiregorham.live/MaineSpaceConference. 

Maine Career Construction Day

Freshmen and sophomores are invited to sign up for Construction Career Day on Thursday, October 10th in Bath. This is an opportunity to explore careers in construction through hands-on experiences and exhibits. Students will be exposed to heavy equipment operation, bridge construction, welding, plumbing, electrical wiring, surveying, and engineering. Accepted students will leave GHS at 7:50 a.m. and return at noon. Students must be in good academic standing to participate in the trip. Apply using this link. 

Inside Medicine

Students interested in exploring careers in healthcare or science are encouraged to join Inside Medicine, a 6-part live Zoom series happening monthly on Wednesday evenings from October to March. This is an opportunity to explore the fascinating world of medicine. Participants will learn more about careers in health care from Tufts Medical Students & MaineHealth Staff. To learn more and register, visit this website. 

Law Exploration Program 

Students interested in exploring careers in law are encouraged to consider Maine Law’s Group ELO. Participants will learn about law through connections with professionals and hands-on and interactive activities connected to the field.  Students will observe court proceedings, participate in mock hearings, and learn the best way to object in court. Sessions will be held twice per month on Thursdays at 3:30 between October and April in Portland. Students will be eligible to earn school credit and a stipend for participating. To learn more and apply, visit this form. 

Architecture, Construction & Engineering (ACE) Program

ACE is an after-school mentorship program that helps high school students discover the many exciting and rewarding career opportunities available to them in the design, construction, and engineering industry. It gives you access to scholarships, job opportunities, and career guidance. Sessions will be held weekly at 3:30 at Scarborough High School (Tuesdays) or Baxter Academy (Portland) from late October through April. To learn more and register, check out the student flyer. 

Questions? Email eliza.kenigsberg@gorhamschools.org. 

Important Message from Superintendent Perry

Your participation in the Survey Below is more than just a few minutes of your time. It's a direct contribution to the future of our schools. Your insights will help us develop our FY 26 (School Year 2025-2026) Budget Priorities that will be used to build our proposed budget later this winter/spring.  

The past few years have been difficult when it comes to passing our school's budget (I know - understatement of the year already).  

As costs continue to increase, now more than ever, we need to hear from YOU, our staff! Your input is vital in determining what we value and prioritize most in our schools.

Please take a moment to use the QR code and/or link below to participate in this BRIEF survey.  It should take just 5-10 minutes to complete.  The information gathered will be an invaluable resource to us moving forward.  The survey will be open through October 6, 2024 for your participation.  THANK YOU!

Survey Link: https://tejoin.com/scroll/561521647

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