ASSIGNMENTS:
In order for assignments to be collected from a student's teachers, the student must miss three consecutive school days due to illness. If a parent knows in advance that his or her child will be absent from school for three or more consecutive days, arrangements for assignments may be made on the day prior to or on the first day of the absence. These assignments may be picked up in the office at a time agreed upon by the parent and the office staff.
FINAL EXAMS:
Students must take final exams at the designated dates and times. Final exams will not be given early! A student who does not report to the final exam site at the designated time will receive a zero for the exam grade. Extreme hardships must be presented to the principal, who will consider them on a case-by-case basis.
Final examinations will be a component of each course offered at GHS and will count 20% of the final grade. All classes will have a final exam. Final grades will be calculated as follows:
1st grading period ............... 40%
2nd grading period .............. 40%
Final exam ......................... 20%
*Students who have earned an A average and do not have more than 5 unexcused absences are eligible for exemption. *Refer to GCSD Board Policy IHA for details on exemptions.
ATTENDANCE:
STUDENT ABSENCES AND EXCUSES:
Excuses for absences must be presented to the attendance secretary within three days of returning to school. It is the student's responsibility to get the excuse to attendance and then report to class before the tardy bell rings. Excuses may also be presented to the attendance secretary during the lunch periods.
Students will be allowed three school days to make up missed work after excused absences. Students are responsible for contacting teachers for make-up work. No work may be made up until excuses have been submitted to the attendance secretary. Absences of several consecutive days may constitute an extended period of time for students to make-up work. The designated administrator will make decisions concerning such situations.
ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, A STUDENT MAY MISS NO MORE THAN FIVE DAYS PER SEMESTER ON A BLOCK SCHEDULE. THIS INCLUDES UNEXCUSED ABSENCES AND ABSENCES EXCUSED BY PARENT NOTES. ABSENCES AFTER THIS POINT CAN ONLY BE EXCUSED WITH DOCTOR OR COURT NOTES. PARENTS OR GUARDIANS MAY DOCUMENT UP TO FIVE DAYS OF ILLNESS IN A SEMESTER COURSE AND THREE DAYS IN A HALF SEMESTER COURSE; PARENTAL NOTES AFTER THIS POINT WILL ONLY ALLOW STUDENTS TO MAKE UP WORKED MISSED.ALL OTHER ABSENCES DUE TO ILLNESS WILL BE UNEXCUSED UNLESS THERE IS DOCUMENTATION FROM A PHYSICIAN OR OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
ABSENCES DUE TO SCHOOL-APPROVED ACTIVITIES:
If a student misses class because of a school activity approved by the principal, the student is not counted as absent in class and will be allowed to make up work missed. The student must accept the responsibility for contacting their teachers for make-up work.
FAILURE DUE TO ABSENCES (FA):
Students who have excessive absences, IN ANY OR ALL CLASSES, as described above may receive FA in place of their final grade on their report card. This means that students will not receive credit for the courses in question, and a grade of FA will be assigned for each of the courses. Students must not have more than 5 absences out of a 90 day course or 3 absences out of a 45 day course, unless the absences have been excused by doctor or court notes. If the absences were excused by doctor or court notes then the notes must be submitted to the main office secretary on the day the student returns to school. NOTES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED MORE THAN THREE (3) DAYS AFTER THE ABSENCE(S) IN QUESTION. If a student and/or his or her parents feel that an error or errors have been made, they will have until the last day of the term to meet with the administrator in charge of attendance to discuss the situation. After the last day of the term, the FA (Failure due to absences) is final.
SIGNING IN LATE:
Students who arrive to school after 8:40 A.M. are to report directly to the attendance office instead of reporting to class. Students who do not to report to the attendance office and sign in will be subject to disciplinary action.
SIGNING OUT OF SCHOOL:
Only those people listed in the GHS computer system as parent/guardian or emergency contracts may sign the named student out of school. No one else will be allowed to take the student off campus during school hours. Students signing out of school must do so properly in the main office; otherwise, students will be considered cutting class. When a student signs out of school, absences will apply in those classes the student misses, and the student will need to bring in excuses in order to make up work missed and/or to have the absences excused.
TARDY POLICY:
Learning to be punctual is an essential part of the educational process. Promptness and punctuality are habits that are important to develop, and they are ones that are expected at Georgetown High School. Students are expected to be inside their classrooms before the tardy bell rings.
The following sequence of consequences will apply to students who are tardy to class:
1st offense: Warning
2nd offense: Warning
3rd offense: Warning
4th offense: After-school detention
5th offense: Overnight Suspension - Parent must meet with the designated administrator
6th offense: ISS (in school suspension) - One Day
Subsequent Offenses: ISS or (OSS) Suspension from school
Students who are tardy more than a few minutes to any class may be referred for cutting class.
IDENTIFICATION BADGE POLICY:
To keep our school safe, all students are to wear ID badges at all times during the school day. Lanyards and badges are given to students at no cost at the beginning of the school year. The badges are to be visible at all times. Students must wear their badges with their pictures facing away from their bodies. Stickers and marks are not allowed on the badges. In the event that a student's ID badge has been defaced, he or she must purchase a new ID badge. Students may not use or wear any badges other than their own.
Teachers will check for student IDs during the school day. A student not wearing an ID badge will be sent to a designated area to receive a temporary ID.
1st Offense: Warning
2nd Offense: Warning
3rd Offense: Warning
4th Offense: After School Detention
5th Offense: Overnight Suspension - Parent must meet with the designated administrator
6th Offense: ISS - One day
Subsequent Offenses: ISS or OSS (out of school suspension)
*Students who lose ID badges must purchase replacement badges for $5.00 each (and $1.00 for lanyards) from the NJROTC department during lunches, before school or after school. All teachers and administrators will be checking students' ID badges during the day.
Students must show ID badges to teachers and other staff members when requested to do so. Failure to identify oneself to a teacher or staff member or failure to stop to speak to a teacher or staff member when asked to do so is a major disciplinary offense.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
DELIVERIES TO STUDENTS AT SCHOOL:
Flowers, balloons, or any other gift deliveries for students will not be accepted at GHS during Valentine's Day or for any other occasion. Deliveries should be sent to the home address. Georgetown High School is not responsible for gift items that are delivered to any student at any time.
INCLEMENT WEATHER - SCHOOL CLOSINGS / DELAYS:
Severe weather or other hazardous conditions may require schools to close or delay opening for the safety of students. Announcements concerning closings or delayed openings will be made at the earliest possible time. If closings occur during the middle of the school day, parents will be notified via radio and television. The district's 24-Hour Information Line (436-7043) will also give updated information about school closings or delays. Parents are asked to tune to local radio and television stations when they are aware of possible hazardous conditions and to call the 24-Hour Information Line. Parents are reminded that severe weather is fairly common, and they should make arrangements ahead of time for their children's care in the event of such emergencies.
LOST AND FOUND:
Any items found should be turned in to the office. The school will not be responsible for personal belongings, money, electronics, etc. brought to school. Please do not bring excess money or valuables to school. Clothing items unclaimed after 30 days will be donated to charity.
RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION:
School records concerning an individual student shall be used for the promotion of the student's welfare. Student records may include, but are not limited to: name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, school, grade, dates of attendance, parent/guardian name, major field of study, academic history, standardized test scores, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height, athletic team membership, degrees and awards received, and most recent previous educational agency or institution attended. Directory information may be released by the Georgetown County School District unless otherwise requested by the parent/guardian or the student if 18 years of age or older. Parents may contact the school's guidance department to make such requests (546-8516). For details concerning student records, refer to GCSD policies JO and JO-R.
STUDENT SALES / SOLICITATIONS:
No student may sell items for an individual or a group or advertise for any individual or group without the written consent of the GHS administration. This includes, but, is not limited to, items from churches, fraternities, sororities, civic clubs, etc.
VISITORS:
ALL visitors to GHS must report to the main office. If approved by the GHS administration, visitors will be given a visitor's pass. STUDENTS MAY NOT INVITE FRIENDS OR RELATIVES TO COME TO SCHOOL WITH THEM. Any violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action and/or legal action.