Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. We're thrilled to report that the new school year is off to a beautiful start. Our students are eager and engaged, and their hard work is evident in their classrooms and on the playground.

Our sports teams have also hit the ground running, and we're excited to see them compete this season. We're proud of their dedication and teamwork.

As we enter September, the month of Mary and the Seven Sorrows, let us remember to pray for our students, teachers, staff, and community. Thank you to everyone who has been and continues to be involved in making GACC a top-notch place to learn and lead through Christ. Your support is invaluable.

Yours in Christ,

Justin Wardyn

GACC High School Principal

There will be a tailgate starting at 6 p.m. at tonight's home football game (Bluejays vs. Laurel-Concord-Coleridge). Serving burgers, chips and a cookie for a freewill donation. Thank you to Northeast Eyecare for sponsoring tonight's tailgate!

GACC has moved to a new text and email notification system called Flocknote for the 2024-2025 school year. It has replaced the School Beacon (2Hoots Message). Students are already signed up, but parents, grandparents and extended family will need to sign up for Flocknote notifications. If you have not signed up for Flocknote, please click the link below for information on how to sign up.

More than 35 branches of the military and college representatives were at the Cuming County College and Military Fair Wednesday night. Sixty-two area students attended and were able to visit with the representatives and gather information to help in planning their post-high school career. The House of Ignatius won House points for having the biggest percentage of their House in attendance.

Thank you to all the parents and students who attended, and a big thank you to the students who stayed to help put away tables and chairs.

Julianne Ridder (left), Ben Oligmueller (middle) and Caleb Ridder visit with the Wayne State College representative.

Amiah Dirkschneider (left) and Candela Abellan Alloza check out a National Guard vehicle.

Blayne (left) and Ava Knobbe gather information from the University of Nebraska, Omaha representative.

September

2 No School - Labor Day

4 Senior Retreat at Fontanelle, Nickerson

4 YDisciple Kick-off Party, 7-8:30 pm., Neligh Park

11 Junior Retreat at Calvin Crest, Fremont

25 Sophmore Retreat at River Crest, Fremont

16-20 Homecoming Week

18 No School - Archdiocese Staff Development

21 SPA Paper Trailer, 8-10 a.m.

25 Edge, 7-8:30 p.m.

25 SPA Drive Thru Supper, GACC cafeteria

October

2 - Staff School of Faith -NOON DISMISSAL

2 Jay Run

2 Grs. PS - 12 wear Life Runner Tshirts with uniform bottoms

9 K-12 Parent Teacher Conference - NO SCHOOL

10-11 Fall Break - NO SCHOOL

14 2nd Quarter begins

19 SPA Paper Trailer, 8-10 a.m.

23 Freshman Retreat at St. Leo's, Snyder

29 PS - 12 Picture Retakes

30 Edge, 7-8:30 p.m.

Starting on Wednesday, October 2, students may wear their Life Runner t-shirts on the first Wednesday of the month, with uniform bottoms.

The SPA Bluejay Pride t-shirt shop is open until September 2nd! Support your Bluejays and the Supportive Parents Association. Click the link below to order:

Looking for a couple creative, fun, caring high school students to work at St. Paul's After School Care program. Please contact Mrs. Quick at 402-372-2355.

Our paper trailer is a huge fundraiser for our association. However, without the help of everyone, the amount of work is not manageable for our small committee. Again, we are all members of SPA as we all have students at GACC. Please download the PDF below for the assigned work dates for each family.

Please click the link below for important technology information for parents and students.

• Digital Solutions of Norfolk will provide proofs with online ordering code via email prior to ordering. There is an opportunity to do a retake if you are not satisfied.
• ALL ORDERS must be completed online through Digital Solutions.
• Order DUE DATE will be listed on your proof.
• You can order for ALL of your children on the same online order (Preschool - 12).
• Family Plan: The family plan no longer exists. However, families can request a hardship by speaking with Celina Hall at Digital Solutions.
• Photo re-take day is October 29.
• Please contact Digital Solutions directly with questions at 402-844-0004.

Parents - Please click on the links below to sign up to take admission for one or more of the home games. Your help is greatly appreciated!

There are extra 2023-2024 yearbooks for sale. The cost is $65. See Mrs. Thoene if you would like to purchase one.

Parents - Please download the PDF below for a checklist of common questions asked on College Applications. UNL and UNK are FREE through November 1 this year - a huge improvement over the 10-day free application window the past couple of years.

• Deadline to register for the October ACT - Sept. 20

EXPERIENCE NORTHEAST:

Health Sciences

Thursday, September 5, 2024

9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

COX ACTIVITIES CENTER

Lunch provided!

Do you like to be of service? Help others?

This day is packed full of activities, guiding you to the right program for you!

Health Sciences

Students will tour facilities and meet with faculty from the following programs:

• Allied Health - Nurse Aide & Medication Aide
• Behavioral Health Studies
• EMS/Paramedic
• Health Information Management Systems
• Health, Physical Education & Recreation
• Nursing
• Physical Therapist Assistant

Seniors attending will have the opportunity to win a Northeast $1000 tuition waiver!

Click the link below to register:

Northeast Community College is hosting Hawk Visit Days once a month this year! This year's dates include morning sessions only (9:30 am - 11:15 am/11:45 am if eating in the cafeteria).

• Tuesday, September 17, 2024

• Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024

• Thursday, November 21, 2024

• Tuesday, February 20, 2025

• Wednesday, March 5, 2025

• Thursday, April 1, 2025

Each session will include a tour of campus and our residence halls, a student panel, a Next Steps presentation, and lunch in our Hawks Point dining hall!

Registration is limited to 150 students per day on a first-come, first-served basis.

** Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 **

9:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

**Hawk Visit Day - Applied Technology Focus **

This Hawk Visit Day will focus on the Applied Technology programs with lab tours led by faculty and current students. Limited space available.

Sept. 18 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

The UNK Health Careers Fair, one of the largest at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, will be an exceptional event for high school students to discover career possibilities in healthcare and the opportunities at UNK. It’s FREE, so plan ahead and mark your calendar!

Click the link below for more information:

EducationQuest puts out very informative videos and webinars that can help you understand the process. Plus, lucky viewers will win scholarships for watching.

EducationQuest will host virtual events throughout the fall semester focused on financial aid and college planning. Financial Aid Program webinar attendees will have a chance to win one of six $500 scholarships!

Webinars require advance registration. All times are Central.

September

11 Webinar: Financial Aid Program at 6:30 p.m.

16 Webinar: Financial Aid Program at 6:30 p.m.

18 Spanish Webinar: Financial Aid Program at 6:30 p.m.

20 Webinar: Financial Aid Program at 1 p.m.

23 Spanish Webinar: Financial Aid Program at 6:30 p.m.

25 YouTube Livestream: Your Senior To-Do List at 7 p.m.

October

2 Webinar: Financial Aid Program at 6:30 p.m.

16 YouTube Livestream: Scholarships…How to Score Big! at 7 p.m.

Watch at this link: https://educationquest.org/events/?utm_source=Professionals&utm_campaign=ef71b45fce-counselor_bulletin&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-ef71b45fce-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=ef71b45fce&mc_eid=03d02f5b9f

The Walter Scott, Jr. Pathway Scholarship supports students pursuing up to a two-year degree in approved skilled and technical fields of study. This scholarship covers full tuition and fees, plus room and board for up to four consecutive semesters. Download the .pdf below for more information.

Application Fee Waiver Aug. 1–Nov.1

The application for admission is open! First-year students from Nebraska can use the code "HUSKER" to apply for FREE through November 1. Students who apply for admission by November 1 will be notified of their scholarship awards on February 12. Encourage your rising seniors to consider applying to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for Fall 2025! They have the option to apply to all three of the Universities through the one application. If they want to go to UNK, the code is "Lopers." UNO hasn't given out a code yet.

Nebraska Universities are test-optional for admission and test-preferred for full scholarship consideration. I encourage students to take the ACT/SAT and submit their test score to maximize their scholarship consideration. Without an ACT, odds are against receiving a Presidents or Regents Scholarship.

Learning and Leading Through Christ

Email: justin.wardyn@gaccbluejays.org
Website: www.gaccbluejays.org
Location: 419 East Decatur St., West Point, NE 68788