Teacher Protocols

Complete your attendance for each block in PowerSchool within the first 15 minutes of class.   Instructions for completing your attendance can be found here. Please adhere to Ms. Cline's attendance instructions for the first 10 days of school.

The schoolwide dress code, or Community Dress Standards, can be found here.

Mailboxes- Nothing will be put in mailboxes this year all documents will either be electronic or hand delivered by custodians

Comp/Flex time

Can only be used on Optional Workdays in increments of ½ day (3.75 hrs.) or full day (7.5) for most staff members. Not carried over from year to year.

Teachers/Certified Staff-

Can only use sick leave, personal leave, or w/o pay options on student days in increments of ½ day or full day. Leave Form

A sub is required when using ½ day or full day leave.

Remember to put multiple days on one leave form

Please let Ms. Harris know if you cannot log into Aesop/Frontline

Even though our times have changed the logged in time for Aesop has not. You must key absences by 7:30 a.m. the day of your absence or email Ms. Harris so she can enter the absence for you.

Late arrivals/Early departures/Leaving campus- You must sign in/out any time you leave/arrive on campus late in the front office with Ms. Ognosky.

Link to Emergency Coverage

Emergency coverage this year will be centered around a flexible rotation system as opposed to a rigid and static coverage plan.

• Daily High 5s

• Attendance should be completed within the first 15 minutes of each class via PowerSchool.  Instructions for completing attendance can be found here. Please adhere to Ms. Cline's attendance instructions for the first 10 days of school.

• Lesson plans should be updated and visible in the classroom. 

• Lesson standards/objectives should be posted for students & visitors to access.

• Building safety protocols should be reviewed with students (cafeteria expectations, hallways, etc).

• RANCH lessons should be reviewed with your classes each day for the first week of school.  

• Students will immediately report to homeroom on the first three days of school, and to their first block on Thursday(8/31) and Friday(9/1). 

• Students needing breakfast will pick up their breakfast and take it to their homeroom/first block each day. 

• One Cards should be scanned upon arrival and should always be visible.  Students will receive One Cards in homeroom on the first day of school. Click here for SWGHS's One Card process.

• Schedule changes can be requested via the form from student services.

PLCs should be established within the first two weeks of school. Administrators assigned to your team/department should be invited to your meeting. PLC leaders should check with administrators to ensure there is not a scheduling conflict. PLC frameworks will be sent soon.

Lunch duty roster linked here.

Lunch presentation for staff and students linked here.

Duty Rosters

If you are out sick or are unable to make your coverage due to a parent conference, you are responsible for finding coverage. Embedded is the 1st Semester Duty Roster . Do not leave your duty spot uncovered. It is expected that we are all on duty in our spots and at doors every morning to greet students. Teacher presence and daily greetings promote a positive culture and sends a message of "I am happy to see you!" 

Morning Duty

Staff Duty Expectations & Procedures:  All teachers should be in their classrooms to greet their students upon arrival.  Students may enter the building at 8:55am and will report directly to their homeroom or first block teacher.

Sweeper Expectations & Procedures:  Sweeps begin at the ringing of the bell, and continue through the first 10 minutes of the block.  Sweepers should remain on post the duration of this time.  Sweepers will check the stairwells and hiding places.   Teachers should make students tardy in PowerSchool if they arrive after the bell rings.

To view the documents linked in the safety section, you must be into Google under your GCSNC account for safety and security reasons.

Lockdown

In the event of a lockdown, procedures can be located here.

General

When a crisis occurs that calls for the halting of all school activity for at least a period of time, then that fact must be conveyed in simple, easily understood, non-ambiguous language.   You want everyone to know that you are stopping the normal school day activity because there is a situation that needs your immediate attention.  You want every staff person, substitute teacher, parent volunteer, itinerant teacher, educational aide and, most importantly, every student to know what is expected of them during this “crisis” period.  To avoid any confusion, it is recommended that you do not use a code word, but rather say straight out: “Students and staff, we have a lockdown.” It is absolutely essential that everyone working in, or attending school, knows what he or she is to do in the event of a lockdown.  This means these procedures MUST be practiced.

School-Wide Practices

1.   Keep all classroom doors locked. 

2.   Keep all exterior doors closed and locked

3.   Blinds: Exterior blinds need to be open; if possible.  Interior blinds need to be closed; if possible

4.   Have your class roster printed and available in the case of an evacuation.

Recommended Steps to Follow

1.   The bell system is turned off.  Linda Ognosky

2.   Teachers will close and lock, if possible, their doors and immediately identify the names of students not in class. Use of magnetic strip should alleviate any door concerns of being left unlocked. If you are unable to lock your door, barricade the door so that no one is able to enter. 3.   Teachers who have classes out of doors will take students to the pre-designated rally area unless instructed otherwise. 

4.   Every student who is out of class and in a building should be instructed to go to the nearest occupied classroom.  

5.   If appropriate, teams will deploy across campus checking for students not under the supervision of an adult and for any outsiders.  Students found will be identified and placed in the nearest classroom.  Law enforcement and administration will be notified when outsiders are observed.  When a drill or incident occurs, please e-mail the ”absent students” and “joined students” to your designated administrator. If all students are accounted for, then e-mail “All students accounted for,” to your evaluator. (See updated Evaluation Roster for safety accountability)

6.   Missing and unaccounted for students will be identified.  (Administration)

7.   When the crisis is under control and you are ready to resume normal activity, an administrator will make an “all clear” announcement to that effect. Based on the situation, you may choose to speak to the incident. Letters to be read in the classrooms are the recommended way to inform students.  (Principal/Senior Manager or Designee)

8.   Consideration should be given to advising faculty and staff of the incident at an impromptu staff meeting to help ensure rumors are kept to a minimum.  (Principal/Senior Manager or Designee)

Fire

In the event of a fire or evacuation, procedures can be located here.

Tornado/Severe Weather

In the event of a tornado or severe weather, procedures can be located here.

General

A tornado watch indicates that tornadoes are probable; a warning indicates that a tornado has been sighted.                          

* Watch = Probable                           * Warning = Sighted

Steps to Follow When a Tornado WATCH Is Issued

1.  The superintendent or the School Safety and Security Office will notify the Cabinet (Chief Officers) and then the Principal/Senior Manager or Designees by emailing a notification alert. (Superintendent/School Safety and Security)

2.  Turn on battery-operated radios and listen for local weather advisory information on either NOAA Radio System or any local FM station that participates in the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  (Superintendent/Principal/Senior Manager or Designees)

3.  Notify all teachers and employees in school by personally visiting them or by announcing a coded message on the public address system all-call.  (Ognosky)

4.  Send staff to notify teachers with classes outside the building, physical education areas and cafeterias.  (10th Grade Administrator)

5.  Teachers will continue regular classroom activities.  (Teachers)

6.  Designate persons to serve as lookouts on all fours sides of the building.  (11th Grade Administrator)

7.  Principal/Senior Manager or Designees with transportation sites will notify the bus supervisor of the WATCH.  (Principal)

8.  School will be dismissed at the normal hour, and bus drivers will follow regular routes using due caution. 

Steps to Follow When a Tornado WARNING Is Issued

1.  The superintendent and the School Safety Office will notify all Principal/Senior Manager or Designees via e-mail.  (Superintendent/School Safety)

2.  Designee will notify staff of a tornado warning via the intercom system. (Ognosky)

3.  Send employees to notify teachers with classes outside the building, physical education areas, and cafeterias.  (10th Grade Administrator)

4.  All students and staff will immediately proceed to a tornado shelter area in accordance with the tornado shelter plan posted in each room.  (Principal/Senior Manager or Designee)

5.  During this drill:

a.  All persons should assume the safety position on the floor in a tucked position with their hands covering their head, and head against the wall.

Utilize Educator's Handbook to refer students to the office, or to track minor incidents.  Educator's Handbook can be found here.   If you need help creating an account, contact Mr. Blair.  

The student handbook can be found here.

Students may not use any electronic device or personal entertainment device during instructional time unless authorized by the classroom teacher or other school personnel with supervision responsibilities during instructional time. Further, students are prohibited from using electronic devices in an unauthorized manner, including but not limited to, playing games, sending messages, and browsing websites, unless authorized by the classroom teacher or school personnel with supervision responsibilities during instructional time. In addition to other disciplinary interventions, any device used in violation of this policy may be confiscated and only returned to the students' parents/caregiver.

No student shall be on the campus of any school except the one to which the student is assigned without the knowledge and consent of the officials of that school. Students who remain at school after the close of the school day or come onto school grounds when school is not in session without permission will be considered trespassers. A student under suspension from school is trespassing if they appear on the property of any school or at any school sponsored activity during the suspension period without the express permission of the principal. Aggravating factors particular to this rule violation include but are not limited to circumstances indicating that the student violated this rule in order to engage in fighting, destruction of property, or violation of a suspension. Note: GCS reserves the right to deem any person who is prohibited from being on its property a criminal trespasser and seek support from law enforcement to enforce the school’s prohibition.

Technology / Cell Phone Policy & Violation Chart 

Technology / Cell Phone Use Authorization Form 

Staff will have "Sweep" duty to ensure students arrive to class

Teachers will mark students tardy in PowerSchool if they arrive after the bell

Teachers may use their own system such as QR code scans to track late students as well as completing the Sweeps form if they do not have one upon arrival. This is for documentation purposes.