The mission of Greenwich Country Day School is “to enable all children in our care to discover and to develop what is finest in themselves—to achieve the highest standards in their studies, in their play, and in their character.” Further, the school seeks to “prepare students to be ethical, confident learners and leaders with a strong sense of purpose—ready to embrace opportunities and challenges in a world of rapid change.” Academic Integrity is crucial to our community, which is based on a culture of trust, fairness, ambition, respect, and responsibility. This means that students will always complete their work to the highest standard of integrity and will seek appropriate assistance when needed. These values are represented within the Upper School Academic Integrity Policy.

In adhering to the Academic Integrity Policy, all students must:

1.  Sign their pledge each year to follow this policy.

2.  Write and sign for each graded assignment: 

                                  I pledge my honor that I have neither given nor received any unacknowledged aid on this assignment.

Greenwich Country Day School Policy on Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity: 

Any use of generative AI requires instructor permission as well as acknowledgment when signing the honor pledge. Failure to disclose the use of AI is a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Academic Advising

Our advising program provides each student with a mentor from the Upper School faculty who is available to the individual student and their family throughout the student's four years at GCDS. The advisor supports the advisee’s social, emotional, and academic growth.  Advisors serve as an advocate and mediator of student and faculty relationships, course selection, the college process, and the judicial process. 

The Advisor also oversees course registration for their advisees. In the weeks leading up to registration, each student's advisor will work with them and their family to finalize course selection for the 2024-2025 school year. Additionally, the advisor is the primary connection between school and home. Parents are encouraged to keep in close contact with their student’s advisor throughout the school year, as well as during regularly scheduled events such as Student-Led Conferences and Presentations of Learning. 

Questions About a Grade or Assessment

If a student or family has a question about a grade or an assessment, they should follow the process outlined below: 

1. The first step is always to meet with the course instructor.  

2. If meeting with the course instructor does not yield a resolution, the student should contact the Academic Dean. The Academic Dean will meet with relevant faculty members and/or the Dean of Faculty and open an investigation if necessary.

3. If the Academic Dean's investigation yields compelling evidence that an assessment or course grade should be changed, upon consultation with the Head of the Upper School, that information will be communicated to the instructor. The instructor will confirm the revised grade with the student. In order for the Academic Dean to issue a grade change, compelling evidence of at least one of the following circumstances must be present:

• Mathematical error in grade calculation

• Lack of adherence to stated academic policy

• Compelling evidence of exceptional mitigating circumstances (as determined by the Academic Dean and the Head of the Upper School)

Course Syllabi

At the start of the semester (and in September for year-long courses), each course will provide a course syllabus, which outlines the standards, expectations, and policies for the course. This document includes division-wide standards on grading, handbook policies, academic integrity, as well as information related to the philosophy and goals of the course.

Academic Status 

At each reporting period (both the Interim and Semester marks), the Academic Office coordinates the Student Support Team to review reports of student growth and performance. The Student Support Team may determine that a student's report qualifies them for one of 3 supportive statuses. The expectations involved with any academic status require a strong partnership between home and school. Each progressive status is summarized below, and a complete explanation can be downloaded here. 

• ACADEMIC WATCH 

Academic Watch is a status applied at the discretion of the Upper School Student Support Team (SST). The duration and conditions of the status are tailored by the SST to the specific needs of the student. This supportive status is designed for students who 1) are returning from Medical Leave or an absence from school, 2) experience a precipitous drop in academic performance, or 3) are identified by faculty or family/guardians as needing additional academic support. The Academic Dean’s Office will track students’ academic status and will coordinate with the Student Support Team and the student’s Advisor to recommend removal from status. 

• ACADEMIC WARNING 

Students who earn more than one grade of “C-“ or below at the interim or at the end of a semester may be placed on Academic Warning status. Academic Warning represents an intermediate status, which formalizes the school’s academic support to assist in a student’s efforts to regain a strong academic standing. Should a student’s grades not improve by the end of the semester, the student may be moved from Academic Warning to  Academic Probation.

• ACADEMIC PROBATION

Upper School Students who earn an “F” or “D-” grade in one or more courses at the end of a semester may be placed on Academic Probation status. Students on Academic Probation should expect to have re-enrollment contracts withheld for the upcoming school year pending further review of the student’s academic progress at the end of the current school year.  Students on Academic Probation will be required to follow specific prescriptions around use of Student Support resources, class attendance, and academic performance.  Students on Academic Probation may also be limited from participating in co-curricular programs (athletics, theatrical programs, etc.)

Planned Absence Due to Athletics or Other School Programs

Students occasionally need to miss class in order to participate in an athletic competition or other school program commitment. In this case, it is the student’s responsibility to submit any work due on that day PRIOR to their scheduled absence.  In the rare event that this is not possible, the student should contact the teacher at least 48 hours in advance of the absence to set an alternative schedule for submission of coursework.

Multiple Assessments

If a student has more than two significant assessments (projects, tests, presentations, major labs) due on the same day, they may work with the instructor of the most recently assigned assessment to schedule that assessment for a different day. They should contact their instructor as soon as possible after the assessment has been assigned.