Achilles Elementary School -

As we approach the summer season, we want to ensure that children in our community have access to nutritious meals. Your feedback will help us better understand the needs of our families and plan accordingly. Please take a moment to complete a brief survey to let us know if your household will be in need of summer meals for children. Your responses are valuable and will assist us in providing essential support during the summer months. The survey is linked on the division website banner. Thank you for your participation!

🥞🍎 National School Breakfast Week 🍳🥛 Fuel your day the right way! 🏫💪 This week, we’re celebrating National School Breakfast Week, highlighting the importance of a nutritious start to your morning. Breakfast is not just the most important meal of the day—it’s also key to fueling learning, focus, and success in the classroom. Join us in celebrating and enjoying all the delicious, healthy options available at our school cafeterias! 🌟 #NSBW2025 #SchoolBreakfast #FuelForSuccess

Due to ongoing weather conditions, Gloucester County Public Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay tomorrow, Wednesday, February 12, 2025. We appreciate the efforts of VDOT in improving road conditions and thank our teachers, principals, and staff for their flexibility. • Elementary students should remember to bring their completed work to their teachers. • Secondary students should have accessed Canvas today and submitted their assignments. • Student drivers are encouraged to ride the school bus. We will conduct a road assessment in the morning. If additional schedule changes are necessary, we will provide an update as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we prioritize the safety of our students and staff. Anthony Vladu, Ed.D. Gloucester County Public Schools Superintendent

The National Weather Center is predicting snow for Gloucester County tomorrow, Tuesday, February 11, 2025. Snow is expected to move into the area between 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM. With student and staff safety as our priority, GCPS has decided to implement a remote learning day out of an abundance of caution. Here’s what to expect for tomorrow: • Students PreK – 5: Learning packets were sent home and should be completed at your own pace. Elementary students should bring their completed work to their teacher the first day they return to school. • Students Grades 6 – 12: Assignments will be available on Canvas. Students should work at their own pace and complete assignments anytime throughout the day. For any assignment-related questions or support, please contact your teacher via email, Canvas, or TEAMS. Teachers and instructional staff will work remotely and remain available by email during the workday. Central Office and 12-month school-based staff will also work remotely. Maintenance, transportation, and facilities staff will report as directed by their supervisors. We understand that remote learning does not fully replace face-to-face instruction; however, this decision helps reduce the need for make-up days later in the school year. Thank you for your understanding as we prioritize the safety of our GCPS community.

💙 Virginia Kindness Week – Challenge Accepted! 💙 Kindness is contagious, and we’re ready to spread it far and wide! This week, we’re taking on the Virginia Kindness Challenge by showing compassion, gratitude, and positivity in our schools and community. Let’s make kindness the norm, one act at a time! 🌟💛 How will you show kindness this week? Let's inspire each other! 💬✨ #VAKindnessWeek #KindnessChallenge #GCPS #BetterTogether

🌟 Happy National School Counseling Week! 🌟 This week, we celebrate and thank our incredible school counselors for the guidance, support, and encouragement they provide every day. 💙 From academic advising to emotional support, they help shape brighter futures for our students! Take a moment to show your appreciation for your school counselor this week! 📚✨ #ThankYouCounselors #NationalSchoolCounselingWeek #GCPS #BetterTogether

Due to ongoing weather conditions, we are announcing a 2-hour delay for tomorrow, Friday, January 24, 2025.

Gloucester County Public Schools Cancellation Announcement Due to ongoing hazardous conditions on back roads, all Gloucester County Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, January 23, 2025. While primary and secondary roads are safe for travel, many back and neighborhood roads remain snow-covered and untreated. Our road assessment teams determined this afternoon that melting during the day, followed by overnight freezing, has created hazardous conditions. More than half of the miles traveled by our school buses are on these back and neighborhood roads, which are unsafe for travel. Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing overnight and into tomorrow morning, with minimal improvement expected before noon. Out of an abundance of caution and to allow additional time for road treatments, we have made the decision to cancel school for students. We recognize that parents are eager for students to return to school, and we share in that excitement. To prepare for the start of the second semester, all teachers and staff are asked to report to work at 10:00 am. Additionally, due to extreme cold, the potential for refreezing and continued hazardous conditions, all afterschool activities are canceled to ensure the safety of students and staff. The Gloucester County School Board Budget Work Session with Public Input, originally scheduled for tomorrow, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 6:00 pm in the T.C. Walker Auditorium Thank you for your patience as we navigate this winter weather together! Sincerely, The Gloucester County School District

Gloucester County Public Schools Cancellation Announcement Due to higher-than-anticipated snowfall and hazardous road conditions, all Gloucester County Public Schools will be closed today, Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Our road assessment teams have determined that the roads are slippery and unsafe for travel. With temperatures expected to remain below freezing throughout the day, conditions are unlikely to improve. The safety of our students, staff, and community is our highest priority. Please stay safe, and we will provide updates as necessary. Thank you for your understanding.

Gloucester County Public Schools – Two-Hour Delay Announcement Due to anticipated weather conditions, all Gloucester County Public Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. The National Weather Service predicts less than 1 inch of snow Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. However, cold temperatures may increase the risk of icy roadways, potentially causing travel issues. Road assessment teams will evaluate conditions early tomorrow morning. Should road conditions warrant further adjustments, additional changes to the schedule may be announced early tomorrow. Buses will run their routes two hours later than normal, and all schools will open two hours later than their regular start time. We encourage everyone to travel safely and stay tuned for updates via email, text, and the GCPS website. Thank you and have a great evening. Anthony Vladu, Ed.D. Gloucester County Public Schools Superintendent

Tim Edwards – Achilles Elementary School This Principal Appreciation Week, we recognize Tim Edwards, principal of Achilles Elementary, for his strong leadership and commitment to excellence in his first year. Thank you for guiding your school to success! 🎉 #PrincipalAppreciationWeek #AchillesWarrior #GCPSLeadership

Gloucester County Public Schools Two-Hour Delay After careful evaluation by our road assessment team, we have determined that packed snow and ice on some back neighborhood roads make travel difficult. For the safety of our students and staff, Gloucester County Public Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Monday, January 13, 2025. Nighttime temperatures this week are expected to remain below freezing, which may contribute to icy conditions. Please remind your student to dress in layers to stay warm and comfortable throughout the day. We will continue to monitor road conditions early in the morning to ensure everyone’s safety. Your well-being is always our top priority, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this winter weather together. Stay safe and warm! Anthony Vladu, Ed.D. Gloucester County Public Schools Superintendent

After School Activities Canceled-Gloucester County is under a winter storm warning from 7:00 PM on Friday to 1:00 PM on Saturday, with forecasts predicting 2 to 4 inches of snow. We expect to receive more updates from Wakefield, but the latest information indicates that precipitation will begin in our area between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM tomorrow. Given the timing of the storm and the forecast of below-freezing temperatures through mid-morning on Saturday, all after-school activities are canceled on Friday, January 10, 2025, and Saturday, January 11, 2025. There are no changes to the regular school schedule.

Good Afternoon, We are pleased to announce that schools and offices are scheduled to open on time tomorrow, Wednesday, January 8, 2025. To ensure the safety of our students and staff, the district’s Road Assessment Team will evaluate road conditions early tomorrow morning at 4:00 AM. Should any adjustments to school schedules be necessary, we will communicate them promptly in the morning. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to welcoming our teachers, staff, and students back as we continue to make 2025 a phenomenal year! Sincerely, Gloucester County Public Schools

Weather Update for Gloucester County Public Schools Based on National Weather Center predictions, additional snow, an elevated risk of excessive cold, and below freezing road temperatures predicted for tomorrow, particularly on small narrow back roads, Gloucester County Public Schools will remain closed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. • All games and other student activities are canceled. • Essential personnel may be required to report to work by their immediate supervisors. To make up for the lost instructional time, Friday, January 17, 2025, will now be a full student day. The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. Thank you for your understanding and continued cooperation. Stay safe and have a great evening! Sincerely, The Gloucester County School District

Good afternoon, Gloucester families, Due to the National Weather Center’s prediction of snow and ice accumulation beginning Sunday evening and continuing into Monday morning, all Gloucester County Public Schools will be closed on Monday, January 6, 2025, to ensure the safety of our students and staff. In addition to the closure, all after-school activities, sports, and clubs scheduled for Monday are canceled. School buildings will remain closed, and no activities will take place. Please note that mission-essential personnel may be required to report to work at the discretion of their immediate supervisors. Our team will continue to monitor weather communications throughout Monday. Any updates or schedule considerations for the following days will be announced as early as Monday evening. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Stay safe and warm, Gloucester! Sincerely, The Gloucester County School District

Learning, Growing, and Leading at VSTE 2024! 🎓💻 Some of our incredible Computer Resource Teachers and Instructional Technology Resource Teachers (ITRTs) recently attended the Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE) Conference, the premier professional development and advocacy event for educators in Virginia. While at the conference, our team participated in sessions designed to enhance their skills and inspire innovative ways to integrate technology into education. They also joined a VSTE Certified Coach Meetup, proudly representing our division as all of our ITRTs are certified coaches! This conference embodies VSTE’s mission to promote excellence in education through emerging technologies, and our team is excited to bring these tools and strategies back to our schools. 💡✨ #VSTE2024 #EdTechLeaders #ProfessionalGrowth #GCPSITRTs

📢 Attention Special Education Parents! The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) wants to hear from YOU! Your feedback is essential to improving parent involvement and enhancing outcomes for students with disabilities. 💻 Take a few minutes to complete the Family Engagement Survey to share your experiences with the special education process. 🗓 Survey Open Now! ✔️ Submit one survey per child receiving special education services. 🔒 Your responses are anonymous. Your voice matters—help make a difference! #VDOE #FamilyEngagement #SpecialEducation

Fall Picture Retake Day is tomorrow, November 15, 2024.

GHS Renaissance is hosting a Trunk or Treat tomorrow, October 29 for kids 13 and under in the GHS student lot next to the field hockey field. Trunks will be hosted by GHS clubs, staff, and students. We will have games and more in the field hockey field as well! We want to host the next generation of Gloucester Dukes - hope to see you there!