What a spectacular night for our GCPS family! ❤️ Last Friday, the GHS Auditorium and Gym came alive for our Fine Arts Festival.

From the wonderful choral performances by Randolph, Goochland, and Byrd Elementary Schools to the incredible talents of our GMS and GHS bands and drama, it was a beautiful celebration of student creativity! 🎶✨

Beyond the stage, guests explored a stunning gallery featuring artwork from every school in the division and enjoyed hands-on activities in the cafeteria. A huge thank you to everyone who supported our GHS ceramic students by purchasing a handmade soup bowl!

It’s nights like these that show just how much talent and heart we have in our Goochland community. 🎨🥣
about 8 hours ago, Jennifer Waggener
Fine Arts Festival
Fine Arts Festival
Fine Arts Festival
Fine Arts Festival
Fine Arts Festival
Fine Arts Festival
Fine Arts Festival
Fine Arts Festival
Fine Arts Festival
Fine Arts Festival
To observe National Financial Literacy, Mr. Montgomery invited Mrs. Monica Van Arsdale, the Director of Financial Education and Program Manager at Virginia Credit Union, to lead sessions in his 6th Grade "Make It Your Business I" classes, as well as his 7th Grade "Make It Your Business II/Intro to Marketing" classes.

Together, Mr. Montgomery and Mrs. Van Arsdale delivered a lesson on Budgeting Basics and Money and played the M &M Budget Game with the 6th Grade classes. They conducted an engaging, interactive session on All Things Credit and finished with a Credit Game that involved applying their knowledge to real-life scenarios. Finally, they facilitated an Eagle Block titled "Careers in Finance," providing students from various grade levels the opportunity to learn about Spending, Saving, and Giving, gain insight into Mrs. Van Arsdale’s daily responsibilities, ask questions about careers in finance, and participate in a game with the chance to win prizes.

We sincerely appreciate Mrs. Monica Van Arsdale and Virginia Credit Union for visiting Goochland Middle School and sharing valuable lessons on Financial Literacy with our students.
#GameOn #GoEagles
about 15 hours ago, Jade Miller
Woman presenting on FICO Score to middle school students
Woman presenting on expenses to middle school students
Students playing credit game with M&Ms
Woman explaining, students looking at her
Woman asking questions, students looking at her, one boy raising his hand
Students working on expenses activity
The heart of Goochland beats through the arts! 🎨🎭🎶

We are so proud to celebrate our Fine and Performing Arts Team as our Team of the Year! This incredible group of educators represents talent from across all five of our schools, working together to inspire creativity and confidence in every student.

From the first notes in elementary music to the standing ovations at the high school, these teachers create a sense of belonging and "connectedness" that makes GCPS so special. Our community is brighter because of your dedication!
2 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
Fine and Performing Arts Team
The School Board will hold a work session at 3:00 p.m., followed by a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The work session and meeting will be held at the Goochland Annex Building (2938 River Road W, Building I). Agendas for the meeting are located here: https://glnd.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=365
3 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
School Board Meeting Graphic
Wellness in full color! 🏃‍♂️💨🎨✨

Last night’s Wellness Night was a blast! Our Goochland families hit the track for the color fun run, tackled the bouncy slide, and enjoyed some delicious eats from the local food trucks.

It was a wonderful evening for our families to connect with incredible community resources and learn more about the support networks available right here in Goochland. 🤝💛

Shoutout to our Sunshine Food Bus for feeding bodies and minds with those free books! 📖🚌 There’s nothing better than seeing our students leave with a smile and a new story to read. It was a beautiful night of movement, connection, and Goochland pride.
5 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
Wellness Night
Wellness Night
Wellness Night
Wellness Night
Wellness Night
Wellness Night
Wellness Night
Wellness Night
Wellness Night
Mr. Rorrer's QUEST II students took their talents to Byrd Elementary for an incredible STEM Day! 🚀🔬 But they weren't just there to watch—they were the teachers! They researched SOLs, built custom lesson plans, and taught BES students through hands-on experiments. It was a day filled with "Aha!" moments, scientific discovery, and community building. We are so proud of the leadership and creativity shown today! 🧪✨
#GameOn #GoEagles
5 days ago, Jade Miller
Middle school boy and elementary school boy high fiving
Two middle school girls in a group with elementary students working on a STEM activity
Two middle school boys in a group with elementary students working on a STEM activity
Students sitting around two chess boards
Middle school girl watching two elementary aged boys work on a STEM activity
Science is a team sport at Goochland Middle School! 🧪💪

Before heading off for spring break, Mr. Govan Baird’s science students took their learning outside for a high-energy lesson on force and distance. The challenge? Testing their strength by pulling a truck! 🚛💨

It wasn't just about the physics; it was about working together to see how much force it really takes to move a massive object. Even Mrs. Borgie couldn't resist joining in on the fun! We love seeing our educators and students connect through hands-on learning that brings the textbook to life.

Check out these future engineers and physicists in action!
6 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
Baird's Class
Baird's Class
Baird's Class
Baird's Class
Baird's Class
Tomorrow: GCPS Wellness Night! A fun run/walk, food trucks, local community partners - all you could want for a fun evening out!
#GameOn #GoEagles
6 days ago, Jade Miller
Stronger Together Fun Run and Walk Flyer for April 8, 2026
Big thank you to our assistant principal Ms. Montgomery! 💙 Often, everything an AP does behind the scenes can go unappreciated and we want to say a big Eagle thank you for all the things Ms. Montgomery does every day! When you see her this week, take a minute to say "thanks" for all the hours she puts in to make GMS a great place to be!
#GameOn #GoEagles
7 days ago, Jade Miller
Assistant Principal Appreciation Week post with a headshot of Helen Montgomery
Congratulations to our 2026 Employee of the Year: Mrs. Rosie Holman, Director of Transportation! 🚌✨

From our dedicated bus and car drivers to our expert mechanics and routing specialists, Rosie leads the team that ensures our students start and end their days safely. She was nominated by her GCPS colleagues for her unwavering commitment to our kids and her "above and beyond" heart for service.

We are so lucky to have her leading the way (literally!) in Goochland. Congratulations, Mrs. Holman!
12 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
Rosie Holman, Employee of the Year
🚀 Our middle schoolers are taking flight! Last week, students in Mr. Beasley’s Technology Foundations class stepped into the world of aeronautics by coding and flying their own drones. This wasn’t just about pushing buttons—our scholars had to master the "why" behind the "how," calculating flight paths while accounting for physics, air resistance, and precise navigation.

It is incredible to see our students collaborating to solve complex problems and cheering each other on as their code came to life! We are so proud of the innovation happening right here in our Goochland community.
13 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
Beasley and Drones
Beasley and Drones
Beasley and Drones
Beasley and Drones
Beasley and Drones
Beasley and Drones
Beasley and Drones
Setting the standard for excellence! 🎼✨

Big news from the stage: The Goochland Middle School and Goochland High School Bands have officially earned Superior ratings at assessment! This achievement cements a historic "first" for GCPS, as both GMS and GHS have now reached VMEA Blue Ribbon status in the same year.

This level of success doesn't happen by accident. It’s the result of tireless work from our student musicians and the incredible mentorship of our directors. We want to give a special shout-out to Mr. Jay Sykes (GMS) and Mr. Jacob Gittleman (GHS) for their commitment to our students and for fostering a love of music that unites our schools.

The "Blue Ribbon" distinction requires excellence across the board, and we are so proud of the collaboration between our band and choral departments. It is the combined dedication of Mr. Sykes, Mr. Gittleman, and Ms. Erinne Smitherman that has led us to this prestigious milestone! Goochland is officially a "Blue Ribbon" community! Please join us in celebrating our directors and our dedicated musicians for this historic achievement! 🎷🎤🏆
14 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
GMS band
band/choral directors
band GHS
🌟A "Superior" performance for a historic milestone!🌟

Congratulations to the GMS and GHS Chorus for earning Superior ratings at assessment! Under the expert leadership of choral director Mrs. Erinne Smitherman, our students have reached new heights. For the first time ever, both Goochland Middle and Goochland High School are now Blue Ribbon Awarded Schools—the top honor in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Our students’ voices are stronger together, proving that excellence is a community effort. Please join us in thanking Ms. Smitherman for her dedication and congratulating our talented vocalists! 🎶✨
15 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
It’s getting tropical in here! 🌴🍍 To recognize reaching our Kindness Month goal, students celebrated with a pep rally! Students played a variety of tropical-themed games, all capped off when the winners decked out Mr. Gordon for an island getaway!
#GameOn #GoEagles
17 days ago, Jade Miller
Ms. Blackley in an inflatable parrot costume
Students playing Hungry Hippos game
Students playing a game in the gym
Mr. Gordon with a hula skirt and an inner tube on his head
A group of students with Ms. Blackley, Mr. Singleton, and Mr. Gordon
We’re wrapping up our Rookie of the Year week at Goochland High School! 🐾❤️

Please join us in celebrating Ms. Crystal Neilson-Hall, our GHS Rookie of the Year! As a CTE teacher, Crystal is helping our students build the real-world skills they need for the future. Her expertise and enthusiasm for the subjects she teaches are a huge win for our Bulldogs! 🎥💻

Thank you to all five of our Rookies for choosing Goochland. We are a stronger community because you're here!
18 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
Neilson-Hall Rookie
Neilson-Hall Rookie
So incredibly proud of Enzo! 🐝 He took home 3rd place in the Regional Spelling Bee! 🥉 More importantly, he had the best time meeting so many talented, kind, and brilliant kids. Seeing him handle the pressure with a smile (and some serious spelling skills) was un-BEE-lievable! Way to go, Enzo!
#GameOn #GoEagles
18 days ago, Jade Miller
Enzo smiling at spelling bee
Spelling bee participants holding up trophies
Moving on to Goochland Middle School for Day 4 of our Rookie of the Year Series! 🌟

We are proud to announce Mr. Gene LeMarr as the GMS Rookie of the Year! Mr. LeMarr's work in the special education department has been instrumental in supporting our middle schoolers as they navigate these important years. Thank you, Mr. LeMarr, for your commitment to every student's journey! ✨

Only one school left... stay tuned for our final reveal tomorrow!
19 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
Le Marr
Le marr
Today, Mr. Tate's robotics class took a field trip to Luck Stone! 👷 They had the opportunity to explore the intersection of heavy industry and advanced technology. We learned about the massive machinery required for quarry operations and about the tools that make everything more efficient. We also got to meet their drone operator and learn all about how drones are transforming the industry, providing a clear look to students of where their robotics studies can lead them into the professional world!
#GameOn #GoEagles
19 days ago, Jade Miller
Man in hard hat
Levels of a quarry
Drone operator standing in front of an orange drone
Drone operator and orange drone
Drone operator showing students his ipad with drone software
Drone operator landing orange drone
Class picture
It’s Day 3 of our Rookie of the Year series! 🌟 Today, we’re at Randolph Elementary to honor Ms. Taylor Flagg.

Ms. Flagg may be a veteran in the classroom, but this is her first year with the Roadrunner family! In just a few short months, her dedication to her students and RES has made a lasting impression on our community. 💚💛
20 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
Taylor Flagg
🌟The celebration continues! 🌟Day 2 of our Rookie of the Year countdown takes us to Goochland Elementary School to celebrate Ruth Patterson!

As a fourth grade teacher, Ms. Patterson has shown a deep commitment to her students and a wonderful ability to connect with the GES family. We are so lucky to have her energy and dedication in our halls—she is already a vital part of the Otter pond! 🦦✨

Who will be next? Check back tomorrow to find out!
21 days ago, Jennifer Waggener
Patterson
Patterson