| February 2005
Dear GHS Parent/Guardian: There are many items of which I would like you to be aware. Progress Reports The third quarter Progress Reports were distributed on Friday, February 11. Hopefully you have seen your child's report. Our faculty is available to assist if you feel you need information about your child's progress. Parent/Teacher conferences are available. If you would like to email your child's teacher(s) I encourage you to go to the school's website (gulfhigh.org) where the faculty email addresses are listed. Report Cards The third quarter will end on March 11. Report Cards will be distributed on March 30. Spring Break The spring break will be from Monday, March 21 - Friday, March 25. Campus Hours Earlier in the year I wrote asking for cooperation with the 30-minute-prior-to-school and the 30-minute- after-school policy. The students need to leave the campus within 30 minutes of the ending of the school day. We simply do not have the personnel to assure safety when students remain on the campus in unsupervised areas. Because we are a school surrounded by the community, many non-school related people are on and around the campus at all hours of the day and night. Parents - and students - need to realize that the school administration is working hard to clear all unauthorized people from the campus. I suggest parents be sure their child is really attending a school sponsored event when the child says they are going to stay after school. The Pasco County Code of Student Conduct - Planner, page 7: "Florida Statue 10003.31 (d) states that students must be under the control and direction of the principal or designee no longer than 30 minutes before or after school or an authorized school-sponsored activity. Parents should not rely on school supervision outside the time limits of such policy. Please refer to your school's beginning and ending hours and arrange for supervision of your child accordingly." GHS's school hours are 7:50 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. This means our official supervision hours are 7:20 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. Southern Association of Schools & Colleges (SACS) For the past two years GHS has been involved with a comprehensive self study which is one of the requirements of the school's accreditation association. As a part of the process, last year parents, students faculty and community members were surveyed. At the beginning of this school year results were shared with the faculty, students and School Advisory Council. As the faculty and staff have reviewed the results of many surveys and many statistical reports, we have developed an Action Plan which will be implemented during the next five year period. In mid-March we will be hosting a visiting team of educators from around the state who will be reviewing the work we have done. As a result of this visit the school will be accredited by Southern Association for the next five year period. FCAT During the weeks of February 28 and March 7 the school will be administering the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) to all 9th and 10th graders plus any 11th and 12 graders who have not yet passed the test. This is a very stressful time for the students. Under separate cover we will be sending FCAT materials to homes of 9th and 10th graders. These homes will receive the material on or about February 26 - just in time to really encourage the students! Graduation Requirements Earlier in the year we sent a post card to the homes of students who had a graduation agreement. In that mailing we indicated the three requirements students need in order to participate in graduation, which will be held on Friday, May 20 - 7:00 P.M. The graduation requirements are:
Communication Sometimes in schools there are situations which parents are concerned about. That is understandable. If you have a concern, please call the school and speak to the person(s) involved. If you still have a need to discuss the situation please call one of the Assistant Principals or myself. In many cases issues are the result of an error in communication. From parent surveys GHS has the best communication effort of any school in the county. I want this to continue and count on parents to call when they have concerns. The school year is certainly moving along quickly. It will be only 3 short months before this school year is over. Your continued support is appreciated. Sincerely, |