Dear Parent/Guardian of a GHS Student,

HAPPY 85th BIRTHDAY GHS!!

On Tuesday, September 18, the school turned 85! It was September 18, 1922 when the school doors first opened at Gulf High School. The building was located on Grand Boulevard (the current Schwettman building) ... 40 students came on the first day ... there were 3 teachers (including the Principal and the Assistant Principal) ... electricity did not come until February 1923 ... and a phone was installed during the summer of 1923! Quite different from the current school with 1,860 students, over 100 teachers, and a large facility with electricity - including air conditioning - and phones in every room!

MANY THANKS

...to the faculty, staff and Assistant Principals for everything each person did to help prepare the school for the opening of the year! It has been a great beginning! Kudos to all.

...to the NJROTC program - students and teachers - for the wonderful 9/11 remembrance we had. You're great!

...the coaches and their team members for the enthusiastic beginning of the sports seasons. Go Bucs!

WEB SITE

Parents need to check the school's web site frequently. Go to: gulfhigh.org. In early September the counter for the site went over 600,000 hits. Special thanks and appreciation go to Mr. Miller - The GHS Web Site Guru!

Through the web site you can find out about eSembler which allows parents to access student grades and attendance. This is an important communication tool.

HOMECOMING

• Week of October 1 - October 6
• Dress up days: Monday - Costume Day; Tuesday - Tacky Day; Wednesday - Spirit Day; Thursday - Buccaneer (Pirate) Day; Friday - Decades Day
• Wednesday, 10/3: Day Games (during the school day) and Night Games & Powder Puff at 6:00 P.M....Admission is $3.00.
• Early Dismissal on Friday, 10/5: Students will be dismissed at 12:15. Buses will take the students home.
• Parade: Friday, 10/5 at 2:00 P.M. Orange Lake to GHS via Grand Blvd.
• Football Game: 7:30 - Sun Lake HS vs GHS
• Homecoming Dance: 7:30 - 11:30. semiformal. Picture ID is required to enter. Cost: $12 until October 1 -- $15 October 1 - 6 -- $20 at the door.

If a student's name is on the NoGo List they may not purchase tickets. (See information below explaining the NoGo List.)

OPEN HOUSE - SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS

On Tuesday, September 11, we had our annual Back to School Open House. The parents followed student schedules. Attendance for both parents and teachers was very good. During the evening we asked parents to complete a "needs assessment' to let us know topics they felt they would like to learn more about. Over 200 families filled out the form.

Based upon the returns, we are going to be offering a number of parent education/discussion opportunities, the first of which is:

CHANGES IN FACILITIES

We are please to have had the following projects completed this last summer:

• School Road was widened as it opens onto Madison
• The gym floor was replaced (Thanks to Penny for Pasco - $200,000)
• Main office counter was refaced (made the office cleaner looking and brighter)
• New Buccaneer statue was installed in commons (Thanks to the Class of 2007!)
• The wrestling room ceiling was replaced

ATTENDANCE

Student abundance is perhaps the most important element to student success. In the Student Planner (which all students were given) attendance policies and procedures are outlined. This year we have an active Attendance Committee, headed by Dr. Lepley. Those students whose absences are excessive will have privileges revoked ... see NoGo List below. Also, students with parking permits may have their permits taken ... if they cannot make it to school maybe they should take the bus.

OUT OF FIELD TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS

Individuals who are teaching out-of-field are certified in at least one area and are qualified to teach but may need additional course work to add a coverage to their certificate. The following teachers have agreed to teach out-of-field while completing course work: (1) Mrs. Belknap - Math; (2) Ann Donlon - DCT; (3) Mr. Franks - Reading; (4) Mr. Stoneking - Industrial Arts. The following teachers have agreed to work towards ESOL endorsement: Mrs. Foote, Mr. Franks, Mrs. Gedraitis, Mrs. Klompus, Mrs. LaBarbara, Mrs. McCabe, Mrs. McClellan, Ms. Scott, Mr. Starkey, and Mrs. Simon.

ABC (Assist Believe Care) FUND

All schools in Pasco County have what is known as an ABC Fund. The money received into this fund is used to assist families who are in need. Each year parents are asked to consider giving to the fund. Mrs. Girardi, the school nurse, and Mrs. Kall, the School Social Worker, coordinate this program. If parents would like to contribute to the fund please make checks payable to Gulf High School with a note that the money is to be placed in the ABC Fund. With 1,800+ students, 51% of whom are on the free or reduced lunch program, there are many needs in the GHS community. Your generosity would be greatly appreciated.

PROGRESS REPORTS

On September 18 students received their first Progress Reports for the year. All students receive Progress Reports.

CALENDAR ITEMS

September 24: School Advisory Council - 6:00 P.M. - Media Center

October 3: Parent Education/Discussion Night - See article above

October 17 - End of First Quarter

October 18 & 19: No School for Students - Planning Days for teachers

October 31 : Report Cards Distributed

November 12: No School - Veterans Day

November 16: Progress Reports

November 21-23 - Thanksgiving Break

VOLUNTEERS

During the 2006-2007 school year GHS received the Golden School Award from the State of Florida. This award is based on the number of volunteer hours the school has Please take the time to complete a Volunteer Form (which can be found in during the year. Please take the time to complete a Volunteer Form (which can be found in the main office). We need volunteers for many activities: Helping out in the Media Center, working with students in reading or math, being a translator for students and parents who may not speak English, etc. Mrs. Buonsanto is the GHS Volunteer Coordinator. If you have questions or can offer your assistance please contact her at (727) 774-3371

SCHEDULE CHANGES & NEW TEACHERS

Within the last week we have received permission to hire two new teachers to help with the overcrowding in some classes ... especially English I, English II, Reading and Integrated Science (a freshman class). With the two new positions we will be creating new classes which will mean schedule changes for many students. We deliberately waited until after the first Progress Reports were distributed to initiate these changes. We are sorry for the lateness of these changes, but with tight budgets and a need to verify every detail this was the soonest the changes could be made. If your child is one of those alerted, please help them to understand the purpose was to reduce class sizes and hopefully better meet student needs.

A FEW HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS

• The administrative staff is very busy with lunch duty between the hours of 10:40 - 12:15. Please refrain from trying to call them during these times.
• If you wish to speak to someone - teacher, counselor, administrator - please call for an appointment. It seems more and more parents are just arriving and expecting to meet with someone. Many of us set our schedules and cannot always stop to see parents without notice.
• If you wish to take your child from school early please send a note in the morning (or the previous day) so we can make proper arrangements. Notes should be taken to the Clinic before school. Students must have a clinic card to be taken from school early. Clinic cards are available in the Clinic.

SPECIAL NOTIFICATION

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule, 40 CFR Part 763, Asbestos Containing Material in schools, commonly referred to as AHERA. The rule requires all Local Education Agencies (LEA's) to identify asbestos containing materials (ACM) in their school buildings and to take appropriate actions to control the release of asbestos fibers.

All inspections for Gulf High School have been completed and a Management Plan describing the results of the inspection and the action plan to control any asbestos found during the inspection, where applicable, has been submitted to the Governor for approval. A copy of this plan is located in the administrative office of the school and the District School Board of Pasco County Maintenance/Facility Operations Department and is available for review upon request.

NoGo LIST

The NoGo list indicates students who owe money to the school or whose absences are excessive. This list is posted throughout the school. Mrs. Riddle coordinates the list. In order to be removed from the list the student must pay the money owed, or in the case of attendance issues, complete a form to have their attendance reviewed by the Attendance Committee, which is headed by Dr. Lepley. Students on the NoGo List may not attend school sponsored events - pep assemblies, homecoming dance, prom, field trips, school assemblies, etc.

The year is already speeding by. “GHS is Poppin” I wish to thank each of you for your support of the school and your child. Parents are the most important link in their child's life!

Sincerely,
Thomas E. Imerson
Principal

Enclosure: School Calendar