In order to keep students and staff safe, blankets are not allowed during school hours. If you are someone who brings a blanket and uses it before walking into the school building, you will need to fold it and place it in your locker until you are dismissed. If you are someone who is frequently cold it is suggested that you dress in layers. The administration thanks you for your compliance.

Beginning this week, tardies to school will disciplined according to the Tardy and Truancy Policy. This message has also been communicated with all GCAA families.

Parent teacher conferences are this week on Thursday, the 20th, from 4:30 to 7:30 pm and Friday, the 21st, from 7:45 to 11:45 am. There is no school on Friday.

Congratulations to all of the artist who have been accepted to perform in the talent show on Monday, October 24th . Tickets will be sold for $7 for adults and $5 for students, and will be available for purchasing before the show, starting at 5pm. Doors will officially be open around 5:30pm. The balcony will be reserved for adults and students accompanied by an adult. All students will be allowed to watch the show from the main floor. Special reminder that the Talent Show is always in October, so anyone interested in auditioning next year should start practicing!

Next week Tuesday, October 25, Flu shots will be administered from 9am-11:30 am. The VNA will administer injections to staff and students. No flu mist vaccines will be administered. A consent form was distributed last week in advisory. Students will need to have consent forms filled out by guardians and returned to school prior to receiving flu shot. If you did not receive a consent form, please see your advisory teacher.

The Gay-Straight Alliance meets on Tuesdays from 3:15 to 4:00 pm in room 113. They have also organized a day of silence for victims of LGBT hate crimes next Wednesday, October 26th.

The Social Justice Solidarity Network has its next regularly scheduled meeting today in Mr. Evan Smith’s room, room 501, from 3:15 to 4:00pm.

The Photography Department is kicking off a fundraiser and needs to raise $2,500 to purchase DSLR cameras for its photography students. The department is thriving and with your help, the purchase of new cameras would only enhance the curriculum and increase student learning tremendously. This year, the Photography Department is taking orders for GCAA Tervis Tumblers. The fundraiser will end on November 4th and products will be delivered December 9th! See Ms. Munguia for more information.

Next Friday, October 28th from 3:30- 5 p.m. the middle school costume party will be held in the south cafeteria. A DJ will be there, snacks will be available for $1, plus professional makeup artist, Maggie Haberberger, will be present and doing makeup on students for $4 (permission slip required.) and so much more! Ask for the flier and permission slip if you’re interested middle school students.

High School students, Saturday, October 29 from 6:45-9:45 pm will be the date and time of this years homecoming! The dance music will begin at 6:45 pm and end at 9:45 pm. The school doors will open at 6:30 pm to begin the check-in process, no student will be admitted after 8:15pm. All students must be out of the building by 10:00 pm. Please make transportation arrangements prior to the dance. Students must be picked up by 10:15 pm. Tickets are $15 per person (cash only) and will be sold during high school lunch shifts October 17-19 and October 24-27. Tickets will not be sold at the door, in the main office, or during parent conferences so please plan accordingly.

Also, students may bring one outside guest. Guest forms are available in the main office and on the GCAA website. The completed guest form must be turned in at the time of ticket purchase. If you plan to bring a non-GCAA student guest to the dance, please secure a guest form and read it thoroughly. The form requires several signatures—most importantly, your guest’s principal and parent or guardian. Guests must also show a photo ID at check-in. Guests must be in at least the ninth grade and may not be 21 years of age or older.

There will be a meeting for Global Ethos on Monday October 24th at 3:15 in rm. 501. This meeting is for students interested in a service travel adventure to Nicaragua or Hawaii. This will be our last “interest” meeting, so tell your friends! Please see Mr. Dinwiddie or Mr. Evan Smith if you have any questions.

Congratulations to the nine new members of the St. Louis Metro District Honor Choir from Grand Center Arts Academy. Members include: Gabby Jordan, Tess Brown, Preather Pruitt, Zach Clawges, Shaquana Williams, Lainey Jester, Heather Williford, Patra Patton and Gabe Jones. These students were selected from auditions of more than 360 students from the area for a choir of 170 vocalists. Of the nine from GCAA, Jordan, Brown, Pruitt, Clawges and Williams qualified to audition for the All-State Honor Choir.

Congratulations also to the new members of the District 8 Honors Orchestra from GCAA: Nicholas Baggett, Tessa Wild, and Kareemah Thomas.

Senior Bisa Adero became St. Louis’s FIRST youth poet Laureate Friday night! She competed with 36 St. Louis area poets and will now serve as a representative of youth poetry in a slew of events this year. After Bisa read two of her works, Juan Felipe Herrera, the current US poet laureate read some of his works, and repeatedly referenced Bisa’s talents and the power of her poems.