New Teacher Orientation ✏️📘👏 We're so excited to greet our new educators and officially bring them into the JEFCOED family! You're joining a district committed to Inspiring Change and Creating Impact, one student at a time. We're so glad you're here!
Special thanks to Leslie Chatta and Shernell Lewis, our 2025-2026 Teachers of the Year, for sharing powerful words of encouragement and inspiration. We're also grateful to Gardendale High School, along with our many staff and volunteers who helped make the day such a success!
Special thanks to Leslie Chatta and Shernell Lewis, our 2025-2026 Teachers of the Year, for sharing powerful words of encouragement and inspiration. We're also grateful to Gardendale High School, along with our many staff and volunteers who helped make the day such a success!
Junior and Senior Parents and Students,
All of our GHS students qualify to take the ACT for free!! Sign up online at ACT.org and choose where you would like to take the test. Some tests allow you to get the questions and answers back after grading so you can see where to improve. Take the test at least 3 times and improve your chances or a great super score! The super score lets you take the highest score of each section resulting in the "super score"!!
All GHS juniors will take the test once in the spring during the school day. Plan on signing up and taking the ACT once or twice before then. Save hundreds of dollars by getting a waiver code from your school counselor.
The next testing date is September 6th and the deadline for early registration is August 1st. Sign up today!!
All of our GHS students qualify to take the ACT for free!! Sign up online at ACT.org and choose where you would like to take the test. Some tests allow you to get the questions and answers back after grading so you can see where to improve. Take the test at least 3 times and improve your chances or a great super score! The super score lets you take the highest score of each section resulting in the "super score"!!
All GHS juniors will take the test once in the spring during the school day. Plan on signing up and taking the ACT once or twice before then. Save hundreds of dollars by getting a waiver code from your school counselor.
The next testing date is September 6th and the deadline for early registration is August 1st. Sign up today!!
🎉JEFCOED was well-represented during AHSAA’s North-South All-Star week!🎉
Congratulations to our talented athletes and coach for being selected for this elite group!
🥎Softball - Anna Kate Smith, Corner High School
⚽Boys Soccer - Wyatt Chandler, Gardendale High School
🏀Boys Basketball - Jeremy Chatman, Shades Valley High School
🏀Girls Basketball - Zoey Little, Shades Valley High School
⚾Baseball Coach - Ryan Keedy, Gardendale High School
📷Photos courtesy of AHSAA, Shades Valley High School, Gardendale High School Athletics, and Gardendale High School Soccer 📷
Tomorrow, GHS will host an orientation for all rising 9th graders and incoming transfer students at 1pm. We strongly encourage everyone to attend, so we can discuss important "1st Day" procedures and expectations for the year. We will discuss how GHS will enforce the Focus Act, the implementation of MySchoolBucks and set the stage for another great year! We are excited to meet all of our new Rockets!
Parents & Students, GHS offers many opportunities including Co-Op for our 11th and 12th graders. See the attached information for details on our Co-Op program. Staff will be available next week during on-campus registration to answer any questions you may have about the Co-Op program.
In accordance with the ALSDE, all students must earn a College and Career Readiness Indicator (CCRI) to graduate. GHS offers many opportunities for our students to earn a CCRI. See the attachments to see all of the ways your student can earn a CCRI. Staff will be available next week during on-campus registration to answer any questions you may have about your student earning a CCRI.
Summer of STEM🔬🔭 — Several of our JEFCOED students participated in the NASA Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Summer Program!
It allows students to explore the world of STEM, paving the way for them to possibly pursue a career in related fields! We’re so proud of our students for working hard and challenging themselves this summer! Way to go!
🚀Destiny Steele, Minor High School
🧑🚀Laila Drake, Hueytown High School
📝Elise Miles, Gardendale High School
⭐Gemauri Perryman, Minor High School
It allows students to explore the world of STEM, paving the way for them to possibly pursue a career in related fields! We’re so proud of our students for working hard and challenging themselves this summer! Way to go!
🚀Destiny Steele, Minor High School
🧑🚀Laila Drake, Hueytown High School
📝Elise Miles, Gardendale High School
⭐Gemauri Perryman, Minor High School
Students & parents, as we approach the school year we want to share some important resources that will assist in preparation for the ACT or PreACT. Linked below is a newsletter with important information & resources. We hope these resources are beneficial to both students & parents.
https://www.canva.com/design/DAGsx3bFL4I/_zGwU0KtQUJaTzU9t8r8AA/view?utm_content=DAGsx3bFL4I&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h2f3b30f5d2
Parents & students, this coming school year GHS will utilize MySchoolBucks as our new payment system. ESchool is no longer available for online payments. Attached are QR codes, please use these QR codes to visit the MSB (MySchoolBucks) app and sign up before on campus registration.
Cash, check and card payments will still be accepted during on campus registration. However, MSB does not charge a "convenience fee" for paying online.
Cash, check and card payments will still be accepted during on campus registration. However, MSB does not charge a "convenience fee" for paying online.
Our JEFCOED students did an amazing job at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference!
🧵We want to congratulate Piper Rogers, a senior at Gardendale High School, who won gold in Fashion Construction Level 3!
👏We also want to give a big shoutout to Lynlee Nix, who became the first student to represent Bragg Middle School at the conference!
🧵We want to congratulate Piper Rogers, a senior at Gardendale High School, who won gold in Fashion Construction Level 3!
👏We also want to give a big shoutout to Lynlee Nix, who became the first student to represent Bragg Middle School at the conference!
Parents, on campus registration is approaching quickly. Online registration (including residency verification documentation) must be completed before coming in for on campus registration. Please see the schedule attached. We are looking forward to seeing everyone soon!
Parents and community members, on June 1st the state of Alabama passed new laws in regards to the distribution of vaping devices (link is below). This is a necessary step to combat the flooding of vape devices and other products to our youth. This is a safety concern and it is paramount that we all are educated on one of the biggest issues our youth are facing today. This school year, GHS will be introducing new procedures to help educate our students and assist those who are in need of healthy habits.
https://www.al.com/news/2025/06/alabamas-new-vaping-law-now-in-effect-how-hb8s-regulations-affect-you.html
https://www.al.com/news/2025/06/alabamas-new-vaping-law-now-in-effect-how-hb8s-regulations-affect-you.html
Parents of rising 9th graders and transfer students, we hope you will join us on July 23rd at 1pm in the GHS Auditorium. We will share pertinent information, expectations and discuss procedures to help for a smooth transition. When we finish in the auditorium, students and parents will be allowed to explore the building and find your students classrooms. Students will need to access their schedules via PowerSchool.
We look forward to welcoming our new Rockets!
We look forward to welcoming our new Rockets!
Looking for Gardendale gear? Get it here!
Men's
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/AgZgWBjAdJ
Women's
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/UmufqkH7eL
Men's
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/AgZgWBjAdJ
Women's
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/UmufqkH7eL
Parents & Students, the link below is to the attendance policy for Jefferson County Schools. We want to give your student the best experience, along with the best education possible. We have an incredible staff that can help your student get prepared for college, trade school, the military and/or the workforce. However, we need them to be present to use our skills to help them along to that next step in life. We are here for your student, please ensure they are here for us.
https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/ViewPolicy.aspx?S=2003&revid=GFuMtqYnE3Bt37jdmMaASg==&ptid=xJZSd0Scs4tXlslshtd9SowAA==&secid=&PG=6&IRP=0&isPndg=false
GHS will continue to partner with local businesses to provide incentives for students with great attendance. Last year we hosted luncheons, rewarded students with coupons, donations from local restaurants, a free period with gaming and even presented the opportunity for those students with great attendance to "Dunk an Admin" in the dunking booth. We have so much to offer each student that walks through our halls, so we want everyone to get the full experience of being a Rocket!
Thank you to all of the local businesses involved last year:
Buffalo Wild Wings
Taco Mama
Sweet Caroline's
Jim 'N Nicks
Whataburger
Jersey Mike's
Sonic
Real Deal Gaming
Fun Source Rentals
https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/ViewPolicy.aspx?S=2003&revid=GFuMtqYnE3Bt37jdmMaASg==&ptid=xJZSd0Scs4tXlslshtd9SowAA==&secid=&PG=6&IRP=0&isPndg=false
GHS will continue to partner with local businesses to provide incentives for students with great attendance. Last year we hosted luncheons, rewarded students with coupons, donations from local restaurants, a free period with gaming and even presented the opportunity for those students with great attendance to "Dunk an Admin" in the dunking booth. We have so much to offer each student that walks through our halls, so we want everyone to get the full experience of being a Rocket!
Thank you to all of the local businesses involved last year:
Buffalo Wild Wings
Taco Mama
Sweet Caroline's
Jim 'N Nicks
Whataburger
Jersey Mike's
Sonic
Real Deal Gaming
Fun Source Rentals
🚀The Rockets returned home with several awards from UCA Camp at Auburn University!🚀 Please help us congratulate Gardendale High School’s cheerleaders for their outstanding performance!
💛All Gold Ribbons in Evaluations
🥇1st Place - Camp Routine
📣1st Place - Band Chant
✨1st Place - Cheer/Chant
🤸♀️1st Place - Overall
🍌Banana Day One
👏Tradition Award
🥰Three Pin-It-Forward Athletes
🤩Six All-Americans
Congratulations on all your hard work!
Please help us wish Gardendale High School golfer, Noah Graham, the best of luck as he competes in the Press Thornton Future Masters!🏌️⛳ The tournament, which is held in Dothan, is in its 76th year and Noah is one of more than 200 competing!
Parents, students and community members, throughout the summer we will be sharing some resources to help better inform our parents and the community of Gardendale. These resources will vary from academics, policies/procedures, attendance, social media and challenges/dangers our youth are facing on a daily basis.
Jefferson County Schools provides various resources for all of our students through our Mental Health Services. Attached, you will find a graphic that details all of those services and what can be offered. Often, we neglect our mental health and push forward. Students at GHS and other Jefcoed Schools have the resources they need to get help. Parents, we hope this helps to inform you, so we can all work together to our students what they need to be healthy, safe and to succeed.
Parents and students, most of you are aware of the new legislation known as the FOCUS Act. This piece of legislation prohibits the use of cell phones and other similar devices (iPads, tablets, smart watches, etc.) during the Instructional School Day.
Please take time to read about the FOCUS Act in the links below. The 2025-26 Student & Parent Handbook will address this Act. When the updated Handbook is available, we will share that information, along with the procedures that will be implemented at GHS.
https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/.../HB166-int.pdf
https://governor.alabama.gov/.../governor-ivey-signs.../....
Registration is open! Make sure to complete your online portion of registration prior to these dates.
July 23rd, we will welcome our rising 9th graders & incoming transfer students. Make plans to attend as we will cover pertinent information that will allow for a smooth start to the 2025-26 school year.
Visit https://www.jefcoed.com/page/returning-student-registration to register online.
Who should use RETURNING Student Registration?
🔵 Students who completed the 2024-2025 school year in any Jefferson County School
🔵 Students moving up a grade or changing schools within our district
➡️ Registration Help Desk: (205) 379-2269
Monday - Thursday: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Monday Nights: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
➡️ In-Person Registration Help Sessions: We will have three in-person help sessions at the Board of Education. A Spanish interpreter will be available at these sessions.
Dates and times:
June 25, 2025: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
July 10, 2025: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
July 31, 2025: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
