
Thursday,
September
30,
2021,
marked
the
dedication
of
the
13th
high
school
in
Prince
William
County,
Gainesville
High
School.
The
beautiful,
state-of-the-art
school,
designed
by
Moseley
architects,
is
in
the
Brentsville
District,
serving
students
in
ninth
through
twelfth
grade.
Gainesville
High
School's
school
colors
are
red
(crimson),
black,
grey,
and
white.
The
ribbon-cutting
ceremony
hosted
elected
officials
and
their
representatives
from
the
federal
to
the
local
level
and
school
officials,
as
well
as
community
members
who
celebrated
the
opening
of
the
new
school
and
special
dedications
of
the
Officer
Ashley
M.
Guindon
Library
Media
Center
and
Lillian
M.
Orlich
Student
Services
Center.
Principal
Neil
Beech
hosted
a
reception
in
the
school's
Grey
Commons
lunchroom,
which
is
located
next
to
the
school's
unique
outdoor
amphitheater.
In
addition
to
the
school's
ribbon-cutting
ceremony,
the
school's
Student
Services
Center
was
dedicated
to
long-time
teacher
and
school
counselor,
Lillian
M.
Orlich.
Former
mayor
of
Manassas
and
student
of
Ms.
Orlich,
Harry
J.
Parrish
II
(Hal),
attended
the
reception
and
ceremony
and
extolled
on
the
life
and
vast
accomplishments
of
'Miss
O's'
67-year
career.
"She,
Miss
O,
came
to
teach.
And
teach
she
did.
So
many
have
benefitted
from
this
young
teacher
over
so
many
years,
over
so
many
decades,
I
know
that
I
have.
I
recall
Miss
O
being
a
tough
social
studies
teacher,
setting
expectations
high
for
her
students.
Miss
O,
I
am
thankful
for
having
you
as
a
teacher,
with
your
demand
for
excellence,
we
all
worked
hard,"
shared
Parrish.
In
addition
to
the
school
's
ribbon-cutting
ceremony,
the
school's
Library
Media
Center
was
dedicated
to
the
late
Prince
William
County
Police
Officer
Ashley
M.
Guindon.
Officer
Guindon's
mother,
Sharon
Guindon,
attended
the
reception
and
ceremony
and
shared
why
she
felt
naming
the
library
after
her
beloved
daughter
was
so
appropriate.
"As
students
and
teachers
walk
into
Ashley's
Library
Media
Center,
I
hope
they
will
be
inspired
by
the
character
and
life
of
a
young
woman
who
was
filled
with
ambition
and
love
for
her
country,
who
was
always
there
for
her
community,
and
who
dedicated
her
strong
commitment
to
serving
and
protecting
the
community
she
cherished,"
Guindon
shared
with
the
audience
that
included
many
Prince
William
County
Police
Department
officers
Superintendent
of
Schools
Dr.
LaTanya
D.
McDade
shared,
"Ms. Orlich and
Ms.
Guindon
are
beacons of leadership
for
PWCS
students.
Both women
followed
their
distinct
passions
and
demonstrate
the
importance
of
empowering
students
to
set
goals and
develop
strategies
to achieve
them."
During
the
ceremony,
speakers
shared
their
praise
for
the
honorees
and
spoke
of
their
excitement
for
all
the
things
that
will
happen
at
the
new
school.
School
Board
Chairman
At-Large
Babur
B.
Lateef,
M.D.,
said,
"Mr.
Beech
handled
logistical
challenges
opening
Gainesville
High
with
grace
and
began
building
the
Gainesville
High
School
family
right
away.
This
is
a
place
where
students
will
work
hard
and
play
hard
and
set
and
reach
new
academic
milestones."
Daania
Sharifi,
Gainesville
High
School
student,
served
as
emcee
for
the
evening.
The
Gainesville
Marching
Band
started
the
ceremony
with
the
National
Anthem
under
the
direction
of
Vincent
Byrk.
Two
more
student
performances
followed,
starting
with
a
special
combined
choral
ensemble
of
Gainesville
High
students
performing
a
poignant
song,
"Let
There
Be
Song,"
under
the
direction
of
Kristina
Sheppard,
followed
by
a
performance
by
the
orchestra
performing
"A
Birch
Bay
Celebration:
I.
Bayside
Rendezvous,"
under
the
direction
of
Jennifer
Malecheck.
After
Beech
announced
the
ribbon-cutting
for
Gainesville
High
School,
he
invited
guests
to
join
a
tour
of
school,
which
included
a
stop
for
the
ribbon-cutting
for
the
Officer
Ashley
M.
Guindon
Library
Media
Center
and
the
Lillian
M.
Orlich
Student
Services
Center.