Gorham High School 

Summer Newsletter 

Monday, August 17, 2026

Dear GHS students and families,

I am excited to welcome you back to Gorham High School! 

Freshmen begin on Wednesday, August 26th and sophomores, juniors, and seniors begin the next day on Thursday, August 27th.

The day before school starts, on Tuesday, August 25th, we will host an orientation for freshmen families and other families new to GHS beginning at 5:00 followed by a traditional open house from 6:00-7:30. Our annual Senior 101 will be from 6:30-7:30 in the auditorium.

Freshman & New Family Orientation is a great opportunity to learn how to navigate GHS – from understanding the bell schedule to learning how to call a student out or have a student dismissed, we will cover a host of helpful topics to navigate life at GHS. 

Senior 101 is an opportunity for seniors and their parents or guardians to hear from our post-secondary specialist, Trisha Cherry, about important activities and deadlines seniors need to be thinking about as they prepare for graduation and their life after high school. 

Open House is a chance for students and their families to tour the building, find their classes, meet teachers, ask questions, and more. From 6:00-7:30, the building will be open, teachers will be in their classrooms, and school counselors will be stationed outside the Guidance Office in case anyone needs their schedule or a map of the building.

I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Brian Jandreau, Principal, Gorham High School

The Schedule for Next Week – August 24th through the 28th

Freshmen Day - Wednesday, August 26th

Freshmen Day helps 9th graders acclimate and feel comfortable at GHS before all students return.

• What to Expect: Freshmen will start with a welcome assembly, connect with peers in advisories, participate in summer reading book groups, meet their teachers, and practice navigating their daily schedule and lunch.

• Reminder: Students must bring their summer reading book to school on August 26th.

• Full Schedule: View the complete GHS Schedule for Freshman Day 2026.

All Students - Thursday, August 27th

All 9th–12th graders return on Thursday, August 27th, starting the day in advisory.

• Assemblies & Photos: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors will attend grade-level welcome presentations in the MPAC and get class pictures taken.

• Class Schedule: Students will follow an abbreviated 8-period schedule to meet each of their teachers.

• CTE Students: Students attending CTE programs must attend an informational meeting with Ms. Cifelli and Mr. Sawyer.

• Full Schedule: View the complete GHS Opening Day for All Students 2026 schedule.

Maroon Day – Friday, August 28th

The Maroon-White alternating bell schedule will begin on Friday, August 28th. 

GHS Bell Schedule

Important Information

(listed in alphabetical order)

Activity Bus

Activity Bus service begins on Monday, August 31st.

• Schedule: Departs Monday through Thursday at approximately 4:00 PM.

• Eligibility: Reserved exclusively for students staying after school for academic help, school-sponsored clubs, or athletic programs.

Athletics

Any student who plays sports at GHS should check out the GHS Athletics page for important information: https://ghs.gorhamschools.org/o/ghs/page/athletics

Attendance/Absences/Tardies/Dismissals

Parents or guardians must report any absence, tardy, or early dismissal by calling the Main Office at 207-222-1100.

• Reporting Absences: Call the morning of the absence. State law excuses absences for medical/dental/court appointments, parent-verified illness, school activities, religious observances, family emergencies, and pre-approved college visits.

• Tardies & Early Dismissals: Tardy students must check in at the Main Office or Gym Lobby for a pass. Early dismissals require advance parent phone calls so a pass can be issued.

• Planned Absences (2+ Days): Planned absences of 2 or more consecutive days require administrative pre-approval at least 3 days in advance. Submit the digital Planned Absence Approval Form or pick up a paper copy in the Main Office. Students are responsible for arranging makeup work prior to departure.

• Vacations & Attendance Impact: Regular attendance is vital and mandated under Maine Compulsory Attendance Law. Please plan family vacations exclusively during scheduled school calendar breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, February, and April breaks). Absences during instructional weeks disrupt learning momentum and can lead to academic probation, credit loss, or formal truancy interventions.

Bell Schedule & Calendar

Block Schedule: GHS operates on an alternating block schedule of Maroon Days (Periods 1–4) and White Days (Periods 5–8), with one advisory session on a Maroon Day and one on a White Day each week. View the full daily schedule on the GHS Bell Schedule webpage.

School Calendar: View key district dates, holidays, and term schedules on the official 2026–2027 District Calendar.

Building Expansion & New Spaces

We are thrilled to unveil our brand-new 7-classroom addition and expanded cafeteria for the upcoming school year! These upgraded facilities provide much-needed room to grow and will significantly enhance the daily campus experience for our students and staff:

• Expanded Cafeteria: Thanks to the increased seating capacity, all student lunches will now take place exclusively in the cafeteria. Students will no longer eat in the lobby or the back of the MPAC.

• New Classroom Addition: Our World Language classes will be moving into the new learning spaces housed within the new 7-classroom wing.

Communication, News, and Updates

Please note that you can contact any GHS staff member by calling 207-222-1100 or sending an email to firstname.lastname@gorhamschools.org.  For more specific contact information, please see below:

Community Service Requirement

• Graduation Requirement: All Gorham High School students must complete a minimum of 20 hours of approved, unpaid community service in order to participate in graduation exercises.

• What Qualifies: Volunteer work benefiting a non-profit, school, or community organization (e.g., food pantries, shelters, town clean-ups, tutoring outside of class, or service projects through Interact, Key Club, or NHS).

• What Does Not Qualify: Paid work of any kind, tasks performed for family members, or activities completed as a required component of a class or job.

• Submission: Service must be supervised by a non-family adult and documented on an official Community Service Log signed by the supervisor. 

GHS Community Service Form

Directory Information & College and Military Recruiter Notice (FERPA)

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Gorham High School may release designated "directory information" and student contact details to military recruiters without prior written consent unless families explicitly opt out.

• What is Directory Information? Details generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy, used strictly for school recognition and publications, including the school website, honor roll lists, graduation programs, yearbooks, and sports rosters.

• Military Recruiter Access: Federal law requires high schools to provide military recruiters, upon request, with student names, addresses, and telephone numbers.

• Action Required ONLY if Opting Out: You do NOT need to return a form if you consent to your student's information being shared. Parents, guardians, or students aged 18 or older should ONLY return a form if you DO NOT want this information released.

• Opt-Out Submission: If you wish to opt out, please complete and return the appropriate form(s) to the Guidance Office:

  • Directory Information Letter.docx

  • Military Letter 2026-27.docx

Food & Nutrition Program

All Gorham High School students will continue to receive free reimbursable breakfasts and lunches during the 2026–2027 school year.

• What is a Reimbursable Free Meal? To qualify as a free reimbursable meal, a student must select at least three of the five offered meal components (Entrée/Protein, Grain, Fruit, Vegetable, and Milk), and at least one of those components MUST be a full serving of a fruit or a vegetable. Meals that do not meet these criteria will be charged at à la carte rates.

• À La Carte Items & Extra Purchases: Items outside of the reimbursable meal — such as single à la carte snacks, extra entrees, specialty drinks, and desserts — are not free and must be paid for at the time of purchase.

• Adding Funds via MySchoolBucks: Parents and guardians can create an account and deposit funds for à la carte items online via MySchoolBucks. Funds may also be added by delivering cash in a labeled envelope directly to the cafeteria.

• Menus & Outside Food Rules: Menus for the upcoming school year are currently being finalized and will be posted on the district website and Dining Services social media pages prior to the start of school. Note: Food deliveries from outside commercial vendors (e.g., DoorDash, UberEats, local delivery) are strictly prohibited during school hours, and delivery drivers will be turned away.

Contact: Jon Bastian, Food & Nutrition Director | 207-222-1196 | jon.bastian@gorhamschools.org

Guidance Department Updates

School Counselor Caseloads

Health Services

All district health forms are available on the district Health Forms webpage. Please review the key requirements below for the upcoming school year:

• Sports Physicals: Athletes must have a physical on file from within the past 2 years. You may use the Physical Form or a doctor's letter, submitted via mail, email, or fax.

• Over-the-Counter Meds: Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen require signed annual consent via the OTC Form before administration.

• Prescription & Daily Meds: Must be dropped off by a parent/guardian prior to the start of school in a pharmacy-labeled bottle. Requires a signed provider order (Medication Administration Form or physician letterhead).

• Annual Action Plans: Students with chronic conditions or emergency medication needs (inhalers, EpiPens, etc.) must submit plans signed annually by a physician:

  • Asthma Action Plan 

  • Allergy Action Plan 

  • Seizure Action Plan

Contact: Carlye Homan, BSN RN | carlye.homan@gorhamschools.org | Phone: 207-222-1105 | Fax: 207-839-7742

Lockers

Students may be assigned a locker for the school year if they want one. Any student who wants a locker should contact Ms. Ryan in the gymnasium lobby office or email her at laura.ryan@gorhamschools.org

Parking

Student parking at GHS is a privilege, limited in availability, and provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking privileges may be revoked at an administrator’s discretion, and student vehicles are subject to search based upon due process and reasonable suspicion.

Designated Parking Areas

• Staff Parking:

  • In front of the high school on Morrill Avenue

  • Along the side of the high school on Access Road

  • The first row and a half in the parking lot in front of the gym

• Student Parking:

  • All remaining spots in the gym parking lot

  • Spots along the stadium field

  • New spots on Access Road near the daycare

  • Available spots on Ball Park Road near Robie Park

Rules & Enforcement

• Students are strictly prohibited from parking in designated faculty/staff areas.

• Parking on light pole islands, grass, or other non-designated spaces is illegal.

• Students who park illegally are subject to office detention, local law enforcement ticketing/towing, and loss of parking privileges.

Personal Electronic Devices

Per Maine State Law and Gorham School Committee, GHS enforces a strict "Bell-to-Bell" prohibition on personal electronic devices (phones, smartwatches, earbuds, etc.) from the start of Period 1 through dismissal, including passing periods, lunch, study halls, and advisory.

• Expectations: Devices must be turned off (not on silent/vibrate) and stored in backpacks or designated classroom containers. School-issued laptops are exempt.

• Exceptions: Limited to pre-approved, documented needs (IEP/504 plans, IHPs for medical monitoring, EL translation tools, or direct admin emergency clearance).

• Progressive Discipline:

  • 1st Offense: Device confiscated for the class period.

  • 2nd Offense: Device held in the Main Office; office detention assigned; parent notified; student picks up at dismissal.

  • 3rd Offense: Device held in Main Office; parent/guardian must retrieve it; student assigned detention/ISS and daily device check-in/check-out.

  • Note: Refusal to surrender a device is insubordination, resulting in immediate ISS.

• Liability: GHS is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal devices on school property, buses, or athletic fields.

Robie Park Playground & Community Stewardship

We are excited to celebrate the official opening of the brand-new Robie Park Playground right next to our campus! It is a fantastic new community resource, and we want to do our part to help keep it safe and enjoyable for everyone.

• Playground Equipment is for the "Littles":

  The new play structures are specifically engineered for young children (ages 12 and under). We ask all GHS students to refrain from climbing, swinging, sliding, or stepping on the play equipment, as it is not designed to support adult weight.

• Lead by Example:

  We encourage our students to be great community stewards by modeling positive behavior, taking pride in our shared neighborhood spaces, and helping keep the park clean and welcoming for young families.

• Future Park Additions:

  As the park development continues, new features designed for older youth and adults — including shaded seating, walking paths with swing benches, a basketball court, and an enclosed futsal court — will be added for everyone to enjoy.

Thank you for helping us be great community partners and keeping Robie Park safe for our youngest neighbors!

School Pictures

Picture Day is Friday, September 4th.

• Ordering & Camera Passes: Order online at www.pictureportal.org up to 24 hours after Picture Day. 

• Proofs & Delivery: Prepaid photo packages will be delivered to the school. Students who do not order in advance will receive a proof package with a second opportunity to order online (shipped directly home; shipping fees apply).

• Support: For portal password resets or questions, use the link on the login page or email schoollist@barksdalephoto.com. 

Traffic & Pick-Up/Drop-Off Procedures

To keep our campus safe and manageable during peak travel hours, please follow the designated routes and guidelines for student arrival and dismissal:

Morning Arrival

• Arrival Time: Students should not arrive on campus before 7:00 AM.

• Bus Riders & Student Drivers: Enter the building through the Gym Lobby doors.

• Parent Drop-Off: Students dropped off by parent/guardian vehicles may enter through either the Gym Lobby doors or the Morrill Avenue entrance near the Main Office.

Afternoon Dismissal & Route Rules

• Access Road Closure (1:30 PM – 2:15 PM): Access Road from Morrill Avenue to the GHS parking lot is completely closed to traffic during dismissal.

• Parent Pick-Up Location: All parent pick-ups occur in the bus loop by the Gym Lobby. Please form a single-file line and remain inside your vehicle while waiting.

• Arrival Route: Enter the pick-up loop via Ball Park Road (by the municipal building) or via Access Road from Narragansett Street.

• Exiting Options: Drivers may exit via Access Road toward Narragansett Street or follow school buses out via Morrill Avenue after the 2:15 PM road reopening. 

• Prohibited Route: Drivers are strictly prohibited from exiting via Ball Park Road toward Morrill Avenue. This is actually now one way from the Municipal Center toward GHS.

Bus & Van Staging

• School Buses: Load students on the Robie Park side of the building.

• School Vans: Load students in the Main Office parking lot off Morrill Avenue.

Please drive slowly, remain alert for pedestrians at all times, and follow all staff directions in the loops.

Visitors

Check-In Requirement: Only adult visitors with legitimate school business are permitted in the building during the school day. All visitors must check in at the Main Office to receive and visibly wear a visitor pass while on campus.

Student Guests Prohibited: Students are not allowed to have friends, former students, or younger siblings visit or accompany them during the school day without prior approval from GHS administration.