May 28, 2021

Congratulations Falcons!

Family, friends and school officials gathered at the Carrington Pavilion on Friday morning to celebrate Galileo High School’s Class of 2021 with an in-person ceremony.

Sixty-eight students turned their tassels next to their classmates, after beginning the school year virtually in August. The class amassed more than $2 million in scholarships earned from various colleges, universities and other institutions.

Congratulations Galileo Class of 2021!

DPS Names Graduates Of Distinction For 2020/2021 Academic Year!

The Danville Public Schools (DPS) Graduate of Distinction program recognizes student accomplishments in five categories: academic achievement, attendance, citizenship, community service, and participation in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. Students must accumulate points in each of the five areas in order to qualify. Forty-five (45) students from both Galileo Magnet High School and George Washington High School (GWHS) achieved this honor for the 2020/2021 academic year.

DPS recognizes the following Galileo students as Graduates of Distinction for the 2020-2021 academic year: Ainsley Reece Allen, Brionna Belinda Chappell, Lucy Evelyn Cross, Zachary Aubrey Crumpler, Emily Paula Ebalo, Zoie Janai Eliacin, Anijiah Delany Ferrell, Seraiye Keye Johnson, Emily Grace Larking, Vishaal Mehta, Sarah Caroline O'Daniel, Jada Micaiah Pridgen, Dylan Jefferson Shelton, Za'Khyia Sharnasia Stamps, Sydney Lynette Stone, Kacie Pierce Whitley, Caroline Stinson Woods and Christa Biana Zakhary.

DPS recognizes the following GWHS students as Graduates of Distinction for the 2020-2021 academic year: Alexis Tiarra Beasley, Claudia Charlise Belk, Katie Paige Buchinsky, Ethan Henry Casteel, Daniel Douglas DeAndrea, Carol Louise Dixon, Hannah Elizabeth Dow, Jerlia' Mone't Edmunds, Micah Lamont Elmore, Antwanette Briana Fuller, William Riley Gunn, Jaiden Lemar Harris, Jamiyah Monique Harris, George Bryant Jackson, Dylan Matthew Kendrick, Edith Guadalupe Madera Yepez, J'Nya Danae' McMoore, Brooke Elise Mondul, Makiya Zhané Poke, Erin Xiaomei Pruitt, Thaniyah Jharne Saunders, Shane'ya I'yana Snipes, Ny'Asia Cyntria Stephens, Tamia Alease Stewart, Thanh Lam Truong, Shauntasia Tameia Walton and Nicolas Kent West.

Through scholarships provided by the Danville Public Schools Education Foundation, each graduate will receive a $200 scholarship. In addition, the top eight Graduate of Distinction students with the highest grade point average will receive $900 each. Those students include: Hannah Dow (GWHS), Nicolas West (GWHS), Lucy Cross (Galileo), Caroline Woods (Galileo), Emily Ebalo (Galileo), Christa Zakhary (Galileo), George Jackson (GWHS), and Claudia Belk (GWHS).

The top eight Graduate of Distinction students who attended an elementary school in Danville Public Schools for all six years (K-5) will receive $700 each. Those students include: Ny’Asia Stephens (GWHS), Antwanette Fuller (GWHS), Dylan Kendrick (GWHS), Thaniyah Saunders (GWHS), Makiya Poke (GWHS), Ainsley Allen (Galileo), Carol Dixon (GWHS), and Ethan Casteel (GWHS).

Kacie Whitley, a Galileo graduate, will receive a $1,000 Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) STEM scholarship offered through the IALR Foundation. The scholarship is intended to support a graduating senior who expresses a desire to continue his or her education, specifically, in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math.

American National Bank, through a random drawing, awarded two Graduate of Distinction students with a $1,000 scholarship each, totaling a $2,000 contribution. The Galileo winner is Kacie Whitley and the GWHS winner is Ny’Asia Stephens.

“This past year has been challenging for our students,” stated Superintendent Angela Hairston. “Today we recognize and celebrate students who have persevered, students who have overcome the difficulties associated with COVID-19 classroom restrictions, and students who faced these obstacles head-on in spite of inconveniences. Congratulations to our 2020-2021 Graduates of Distinction on a job well done.”

Thank you to our gracious corporate sponsors and partners in education: Danville Public Schools Education Foundation, H.B. Moorefield Charitable Trust, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Community Foundation of the Dan River Region, American National Bank & Trust Company, Essel Propack, EBI, The Wednesday Club, The Jr. Wednesday Club, Alpha Phi Omega, Davis Storage and Warehouse, Piedmont Printing, Negril, The Danville Chapter of the Links, and Clement & Wheatley.

The awards for all Graduate of Distinction scholarships total $24,800.

DPS to Host Two Virtual Career Fairs!

DPS Education Foundation Announces Scholarship Recipients

The Danville Public Schools Education Foundation recently awarded the following scholarships:

Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship Award

College scholarships of up to $3,000 per academic year, known as The Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship Award, will be given yearly to students currently enrolled in or will be enrolling in a machining-based program at Danville Community College (DCC) and who graduated from Danville Public Schools.

On behalf of the Danville Public Schools Education Foundation, this year’s winners of the Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship Award are: Jaiden Lemar Harris, Jeffrey Reyes, and Blake Melton

Booker Award

Renewable college scholarships of $2,000 each, known as The Booker Award, will be given yearly to two former Glenwood Elementary School students who graduate from Danville Public Schools. The award is named in memory of Jack and Ilah Tate Booker, who valued education, and in honor of their daughter, Margaret Booker Gabel, a dedicated educator.

On behalf of the Danville Public Schools Education Foundation, this year’s winners of the Booker Award are: Akierra Amari Childress and Brandon Ledezma Lopez

It's Signing Day at GW!

Congratulations to our student athletes!! The following players will be attending college to play football: George Jackson (Hampton Sydney); Jalen Strange (Virginia State); and Shakobe Hairston (AHOP Christian Academy).

Congratulations to our Galileo Retirees!

The Galileo faculty gifted each retire with rocking chairs, "Teacher Off Duty" shirts, and coffee mugs! They also received a clock from the school for the time that they have given to education. Mr. Cary Wright wrote each a special song to the tune of their favorite songs. Congrats to the following and thank you for your service to our students:

Lisa Coyne - 26 years teaching (19 at Galileo)

Vanessa Riddle - 36 years teaching (19 at Galileo)

Nancy Rook - 30 years teaching (14 at Galileo)

Kathy Shanks - 31 years teaching (19 at Galileo)

Combined 123 years total in education, 71 of them at Galileo.

Congratulations to our DPS Teachers of the Year!

Congratulations to the following Teacher of the Year award winners!. These teachers were chosen by their peers for a job well done.

Grant Poole (Grove Park and Northside); Gary Chapman (Schoolfield); Sheryll Jeffries (Gibson); Lindsey Huckstep (Forest Hills); Amanda Burke (Johnson); Karen Chilton (Park Avenue); Judith Brown (Woodberry); Sandra Arnn (Westwood); Gordon Thompson (Bonner); LaWanda Ca'stle (GWHS); David Thaxton (Galileo); Terry Bright (Danville Alternative Program); and Kimberly Toothman (W.W. Moore)

GWHS's Graduation Ceremony Rescheduled!

Due to expected inclement weather, George Washington High School's graduation will now be held on Tuesday, June 1 at 9 a.m. at the GW stadium.

Have a Wonderful Holiday Weekend!