The final deadline to order a yearbook is this Friday, Feb 23rd! Visit www.jostensyearbooks.com to secure your copy today!
Please enjoy volume 26 of the GCH Community Newsletter.
It's here! The final week to apply for your spot at The Berkeley Center for the Arts. Applications will remain open until 11:59pm on 2/26/24. Follow along this week as we spotlight each of our fine arts areas and share a little about what you can expect. Visit https://www.bcsdschools.net/o/gchs/page/bca to complete your application before it's too late!
Reminder: BCSD schools and offices are closed tomorrow, February 19, in honor of Presidents' Day!
Please see the attached flyer regarding Goose Creek High School’s upcoming Career Fair that will target all 11th and 12th grade students.
#DYK February is Love The Bus Month and this week is Bus Driver Appreciation Week? Our bus drivers and bus monitors play a critical role in ensuring our students get to school safely. Take a moment to thank them for their hard work this week! #makingapositivedifference #lovethebus
Good evening GCH families! Please enjoy volume 25 of the GCH Community Newsletter. Have a wonderful Sunday night.
Yearbook sales are taking place during all lunches. Sales are cash only for $80. Contact Mrs. Cobilla or Mr. Taylor with questions.
GCHS would like to announce Mrs. Berkos as our 2024 Teacher of the Year! As a dedicated educator with eight years of teaching experience, Mrs. Berkos is thrilled to have been named Teacher of the Year. Her journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Middle Level English and Social Studies from Winthrop University in 2016, followed by a Master's degree in Teaching and Learning with a specialization in Teacher Coaching from Clemson University in 2019. Recently, she expanded her expertise by completing a second undergraduate degree, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design in 2024. Throughout her career, she has taken on leadership roles, such as serving as the English 2 PLC Lead Teacher and contributing as a member of the MTSS Team. Her commitment to excellence has been recognized with awards, including Faculty of the Month in November 2022 and October 2023.
"I am truly honored to be part of the GCHS community and am eager to continue supporting our students and school. GCHS holds a special place in my heart, and I am excited for the opportunities ahead." - Mrs. Berkos
Our school counselors help our students succeed and always make a positive difference in our schools! Take a moment to thank a school counselor this week for National School Counseling Week! #NSCW24 #makingapositivedifference
Please enjoy volume 24 of the GCHS Community Newsletter
Congratulations to Delaney Pulley on making 15th chair for Violin 1 in BCSD's High School All County Orchestra! Delaney will perform with the rest of the musicians Saturday, March 9 at 3:00 p.m. at Cane Bay High.
Never miss a message from your child's teacher or an important school update again! Enable notifications in the Berkeley County School District app to stay connected to anything and everything BCSD.
Our teachers are LOVED! Dozens of our students asked to fill out thank you cards for their teachers tonight while we were at the SC Stingrays game!
Please enjoy volume 23 of the GCHS Community Newsletter.
Rising ninth and tenth-grade students in the Berkeley County School District (BCSD) are encouraged to make what might be a life-changing decision on how they spend the next several years of their educational career.
The Berkeley Center for the Arts (BCA) opened applications for the 2024-25 school year on Jan. 23, giving rising ninth and tenth graders a chance to audition for their choice of six fine arts disciplines offered by the secondary-level magnet program: creative writing, dance, theatre, visual arts, voice/choral performance, and winds and percussion.
Located at Goose Creek High School (GCHS), BCA allows students–like senior Hannah Bennett and junior Harrison Chandler–to refine their skills in a chosen fine arts discipline to prepare them for various collegiate and professional pursuits post-graduation.
Bennett, a voice major, and Chandler, a wind and percussion ensemble major, have no regrets about their decision years ago as rising ninth graders to audition for the BCA program.
Bennett, 18, of Daniel Island, is ending her span at BCA on a high note, having played the role of Marmee in the fall musical production of “Little Women” and presently preparing for the South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA) All-State Choir’s performance in the spring. She will also attend the February SCMEA conference with the school’s treble choir, Szirendal.
“My years at BCA have provided more of an opportunity for me to be invested into the arts than I may have otherwise been afforded at a regular school,” says Bennett, who is currently preparing for her senior one-hour voice recital while auditioning for potential colleges to attend this fall. “With the way the administrators and teachers work around our schedules, I have been able to participate in multiple choirs, while also attending theatre classes, joining school productions, and taking voice lessons.”
Bennett encourages upcoming ninth and tenth graders to take the initiative and apply for BCA.
“BCA prioritizes my interests in the arts, offering me ample opportunities while also allowing me to keep a strong focus on my academics, which I take seriously,” says Bennett, who is ranked among the top ten in her class.
Chandler, 16, of Moncks Corner, agrees.
“All my teachers have pushed me to have a greater realization of my musical ability, and they also have kept me informed about all the opportunities outside of school that I can be a part of,” says the saxophone player who recently was one of only eight students in South Carolina selected for the highly coveted South Carolina Band Directors Association Honors Jazz Combo.
“In addition, I have found inspiration in the students ahead of me in the program, seeing how good they are. I wanted to be like them.”
It worked as Chandler was named first chair in the All-County Honors Band this year and is a member of the distinguished Advanced Jazz Combo of the Charleston Jazz Academy, playing gigs around the Charleston area.
“Take hold of your opportunities because you could be great,” says Chandler.
Bennett offers similar encouragement.
“Who knows what doors will be open to you for just doing it,” she says.
Students interested in attending BCA must submit their application by Monday, Feb. 26. Applications can be found at https://www.bcsdschools.net/o/gchs/page/bca. Students will be contacted to schedule an audition to be held on Mar. 23. Audition requirements vary for each discipline and can be found on the website. Acceptance or rejection letters will be mailed by April 1.
Workshops for each discipline will be offered to assist students in preparing for auditions. The dates and times of the workshops will be shared with those students who have applied after applications close.
“BCA is a unique opportunity for the Berkeley County School District students,” says Dr. Lauren Canfield, BCA director and GCHS assistant principal. “The workshops are offered to build students’ knowledge and their confidence, which is what BCA is all about–giving young artists a space to explore and create based on their individual passions.”
While allowing students to gain exposure to the top arts programs at major colleges and universities nationwide, successful completion of BCA requirements also allows students to earn a SC Fine Arts Seal of Distinction upon high school graduation.
Notable BCA accomplishments can be found in all disciplines. Voice alumni and graduates of the choral department, for example, have been awarded over 2 million dollars in academic and music scholarships over the last three years. Its alumni have been accepted to numerous institutions, including Furman, Clemson, College of Charleston, Converse, Winthrop, University of South Carolina, University of Michigan, Belmont, Florida State University, New York University, Berklee College of Music, and Boston Conservatory.
For more information, visit https://www.bcsdschools.net/o/gchs/page/bca or call GCHS at (843) 553-5300.
Good Evening. Edits have been made to the GCHS Community Newsletter formatting as well as to the Spring 2024 Attendance Updates. Please enjoy and have a wonderful week.
Volume 22 of the GCHS Community Newsletter
GCHS Rising 9th Grade Night Information
Please enjoy volume 21 of the GCHS Community Newsletter
