Embedded Files
Parent and Family Engagement
Parent and Family Engagement
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a federal program to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair,
equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps. A requirement of ESSA is that each school
shall jointly develop with, and distribute to parents and family members a written plan that describes how the school will meet
legislative requirements.
A School-Parent Compact for Achievement is an agreement developed jointly by parents, students and teachers
that follows the federal guidelines as stated in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The compact explains how
parents and teachers will collaborate to make sure all students reach or exceed grade-level standards.
2024-2025 School-Parent and Family Compact
2024-2025 School-Parent and Family Compact (Spanish)
Visitors to the School Campus
Visitors to the School Campus
The Board of Education of the Guilford County School District is dedicated to maintaining a secure and educationally sound environment for its students and staff. Therefore, to ensure safety, security, and an atmosphere conducive to teaching and learning on all campuses, it shall be the policy of this board that upon entering the campus of any school within this district, all visitors must report immediately to the main office of the school and obtain his/her permission before visiting any part of the campus. Permission to travel within the school may be denied by the principal if there is the potential to disrupt the security or education of students and staff within the building.
Visitors will need to ring the front doorbell to be admitted. Each visitor must sign-in in the main office and state their business. A visitor's badge will be issued and must be worn at all times while on the school campus. The badge will be returned to the main office when the visitor departs the campus. Visitors are expected to exhibit respectful, courteous behavior at all times.
Please remember that our students and teachers are busy working throughout our instructional day from 7:00 until 2:00. We will protect that time from disruptions so that opportunities to learn are not impacted. Please email or Dojo message your child’s teacher to schedule conferences.
No one without authorization will be allowed on campus. The Guilford County Sheriff’s Department will be called to investigate persons of interest and/or to investigate disruptions to the learning environment.
Invitations and Gifts
Party invitations and gifts may not be distributed at school unless they include EVERY CLASS MEMBER. This is to avoid hurt feelings of children who might be excluded. If you have questions about how to handle this, please talk to your child’s teacher or the principal.
The school will not accept balloon/flower deliveries from florists/parents for students on special occasions.
Celebrations
We will have up to two class celebrations each year – one before Winter Break and one at the end of the school year. These are usually arranged by the grade parents who would appreciate cooperation of parents providing snacks, favors, etc. The teacher must be involved in the planning and will have final say over activities and snacks. Due to limited classroom space and various safety factors, we ask that parents make other arrangements for pre-schoolers and/or older children during these times. This is an opportunity for you to share quality time with your school-aged child.
A simple snack planned with the teacher may be provided by grade parents for other special occasions such as Halloween, Valentine’s Day, etc. Teachers will share the snack with students at the convenience of their class schedule.
REMINDER: Homemade foods are not allowed to be shared at school. Healthy snacks are encouraged such as fruit, cheese, veggies.
Volunteers
Parents and grandparents are urged to volunteer their help at our school. We believe that volunteers have much to contribute to the educational process. Our school welcomes and encourages parent participation through various projects and programs. All volunteers must register online with GCS Volunteers. Once you have signed up as a volunteer, make a note of your login information. Volunteers are required to update their registration yearly in August by logging into the GCS Volunteers website, making any necessary changes, and selecting Submit.
If you are chaperoning a field trip, remember to sign up at least 10 days prior so that you can be processed and approved. Only GCS approved volunteers are allowed to chaperone a school group.
When you come to school to volunteer, please sign in with the office so that we will have a record of all volunteer hours, and wear a nametag so that you will be recognized as a volunteer. Please let your child’s teacher know if you have a special interest or if you would be available to help in a particular way.
If you have any questions or need help, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah Chrisman, through a ClassDojo message or email chrisms@gcsnc.com
Field Trips
Field trips are aligned with grade level standards and curriculum for each grade level. They are designed to allow our students hands-on opportunities to apply what they have learned in the field. Field trips are not family outings; it is a regular school day at a different location where students can experience, apply, and/or explore what they are learning in school. Some events require additional chaperones, and some do not allow parents to attend. It depends on the event. Teachers will send out a request for volunteers when chaperones are needed.
All chaperones must fill out the GCS volunteer application online. Any parent wishing to chaperone should allow at least 10 days to be processed prior to the field trip date. Chaperones are parents or grandparents who have been GCS approved, who are volunteering to supervise a small group of students. Chaperones must follow the schedule created by the teacher. Chaperones ensure the learning activities and goals are met. Chaperones are to model responsible, respectful behavior for the students they are supervising. Adults are not allowed to ride the GCS buses due to liability. Only enrolled student attendees and employees can ride the buses.
Students or children of any age, who are not enrolled in the grade level at Southern Elementary are not allowed to accompany the class on field trips. Guests are not allowed on field trips, except in Pre-Kindergarten. Again, this is a school day activity to support learning goals.
Parents who arrive at the field trip site having not registered as a volunteer or with additional children, will be required to sign their student out for the day. They may tour the site as a family unit rather than with the school group. Parents are encouraged to follow the field trip guidelines so that their child may enjoy the learning experience with their classmates. Students who are touring with their families may not have the opportunity to engage in the learning activities the rest of the class will be experiencing.
PTA
PTA
Please become a member of the Southern Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to show your support for our school and students. Membership is $7 for 1 person and $10 for the family. You don’t have to commit time to be a member. There is no obligation to be a member. Membership in the PTA makes you a part of the nation’s oldest and largest advocacy group for children.
The PTA coordinates volunteer efforts for school activities such as field day and raises funds to support school programs that further enrich the experience of all students. The PTA pays for several instructional and/or motivational programs that support student achievement such as Accelerated Reader and the field trips, Book Fair. PTA sponsors Teacher Appreciation Week activities and much, much more.
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