GHS Principal's Newsletter
October and November 2020
Dear Greenbrier High School Families,
While it hardly feels like a time to celebrate, we have so much to be grateful for this month. I want to take an opportunity to highlight the incredible accomplishments of our students and the amazing events occurring on our campus. Thank you to the students and staff who have made our milestones possible and continue to keep safety at the center of our work.
- As of today, we have welcomed back 1503 students who selected on-campus learning! Our total enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year is 1720.
- This week is National School Bus Safety Awareness & Driver Appreciation Week. Nationally, while school buses are the "gold" standard of safety and considered the Titans of Transportation, school bus drivers are the heroes of safety that go above and beyond the call of duty as they deliver the most precious cargo – our students. Greenbrier High School plans to celebrate this special week by showing appreciation for our bus drivers who make special deliveries, arrive in early hours, help students in need, focus on safety, and more. On Friday, October 23, 2020, Greenbrier High will deliver a Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit to each bus driver and monitor their commitment to student safety. During this important week, GHS will promote bus safety awareness by posting information about keeping children safe while riding the bus, waiting at the bus stop, and loading and unloading the bus. Please take a moment to visit the CCSD Department of Transportation’s website to obtain additional information on our bus transportation policies.
- Last week was National School Lunch Week. At GHS, we celebrated our school’s nutrition department by treating our nutrition assistants and manager to “lunch.” Mrs. Drew-Mabry, our manager, works hard to ensure her department prepares nutritious meals for all of our stakeholders. Recently, the GHS Nutrition Department earned a grade of “A” on its annual inspection. As a reminder, all students are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch per day at no cost as a reminder. CCSD students learning at home and children 18 and under can pick up meal bundles from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at the school entrance located near the cafeteria.
- Greenbrier Pack Players and Greenbrier Marching Wolfpack Band are a couple of our fine arts programs taking advantage of every performance opportunity the new year has to offer. As a result, our stakeholders are enjoying live performances from both groups. Currently, Mr. Steven Hansen's Greenbrier Pack Players perform Disney Channel’s High School Musical on our school's front lawn. The outdoor venue provides our community with an opportunity to enjoy this exciting musical in a safe and healthy environment. The last performance dates for High School Musical are October 23 and 24, 2020. The Greenbrier Marching Wolfpack Band performs a new show entitled, "Back to the 80's". Dr. Brian Toney, GHS Band Director, has created a program that showcases our band students' musical talents and passions. Please, come out and support both of these incredible programs.
- Wolfpack Athletic Programs are back in action! Our softball and volleyball teams were extremely successful throughout their regular seasons, and both teams advanced to the state playoffs this year. The GHS Cross Country Team has experienced much success. Currently, the Wolfpack Varsity Football Team’s record is 5 Wins and 1 Loss in their regular season. On October 30, 2020, the team will play under the big lights at Wolfpack Stadium. Our athletic teams have provided our school community with a renewed sense of school spirit. Also, they remind us why it is crucial to stay masked up and follow all athletic spectator guidelines outlined by the CCSD for Fall 2020.
While the school's opening this year did not look the same as it typically would, our teachers have done an amazing job instructing students in both traditional and online models to ensure learning continues. At the same time, COVID-19 remains present in our community. At GHS, we know the change in our school framework has been difficult for our families. To all of our parents, thank you for working with your children. The GHS faculty and staff appreciate your support and patience. As we enter into the second nine weeks of the new year, let’s keep the momentum going, keep safety protocols and precautions at the forefront, and keep celebrating the amazing work we have accomplished together.
Sincerely,
Carla F. Shelton
Red Ribbon Week at GHS October 26 - 30, 2020
In 1988, The National Family Partnership sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. The Red Ribbon Campaign is a media and activity driven strategy aimed at building general population (universal) awareness of the importance of a drug free lifestyle. Each year, schools and communities are encouraged to develop messages and activities to demonstrate their commitment to living drug-free lifestyles.
On Monday, October 26, 2020, Greenbrier High School will kickoff this year's Red Ribbon Campaign. The theme for our 2020 campaign is "Be Happy Be Brave Be Drug Free." During morning announcements each day, a student speaker will provide information pertaining to the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and other illicit drug abuse to our students.
Academic Letter Awards Program
The faculty and staff of Greenbrier High School cordially invite you to our Academic Letter Awards Program scheduled on Monday, October 26, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. in the football stadium. The school sent letters to all eligible students the week of September 21, 2020. Students participating in the program are asked to dress professionally for the event.
Academic letters are awarded annually based upon students’ previous year’s grades. Letters are awarded to students in grades 9-12 who have demonstrated satisfactory behavior and have earned an annual grade of not less than 90.0 in each subject required for graduation. High school courses taken in middle school will not be used in the academic letter criteria. The school's Academic Letter Awards Program celebrates our students and parents for a job well done.
In addition to requiring strict social distancing at all school activities and events, GHS established the following guidelines for this event:
- Guests are limited to two family members per participant.
- All participants and guests must wear facial covering upon entering the stadium and while moving about the stadium.
- Guests sitting in stands and student participants must sit at least 6 feet apart.
GHS Veterans Day Program
During this special time of year, Greenbrier High School will continue to honor the men and women who have worn their uniform who continue to serve our country.
High School Final Exam Information
Semester exams are required of students in credit-bearing courses, grades eight through twelve, except in those courses in which a Georgia Milestones End of Course (EOC) assessment is required. A student’s numeric score on the semester exam shall count as 20% of the student’s final numeric grade in the course. No exams may be administered early without written permission from the principal for extreme situations only.
EOC assessments shall be used as the final exam in the courses assessed by an EOC assessment. Students may not exempt from EOC assessments. A student’s numeric score on the EOC assessment shall count as 20% of the student’s final numeric grade in the course. Student scores must be recorded on, in, or with the individual student's report card.
Students who have no disciplinary referrals that result in out-of-school suspension or in-school suspension may exempt qualifying exams as follows:
- Seniors can exempt a final exam in a course with a 90 average or higher.
- Students in grades 9-11 can exempt up to three final exams per semester. To exempt from the final exam, the student must have a 90 average or higher.
Students who wish to exempt any exams must clear all fines and lunch charges. All textbooks, library books, uniforms, and/or materials assigned to the student must be turned in, and/or all fees paid before permission to exempt is granted.
A senior who is a candidate for graduation and in the final semester before graduation must be allowed to take two retests of the Columbia County School District school final exam for any course in which the student is currently enrolled that semester if the class is required for graduation. Students will not be allowed to retake an examination unless a sufficient score enables them to pass the course. If the student is still failing after these two retests, the student must retake the course.
October 30, 2020 GHS "PINK OUT" 2020
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. The Greenbrier High School Athletic, Band, and Cheer organizations have joined forces to raise funds to donate to University Breast Health Center in Augusta, Georgia. These organizations selected "One Team. One Fight." as the theme for their campaign. To date, they have sold pink shirts containing this year's theme. October 27 - 29, 2020, bracelets, glasses, and ribbons will be sold to students during each lunch. All monies collected from the shirts and other items will be donated to the University Breast Health Center. On October 30, 2020, we invite our school community to participate in the GHS "PINK OUT" 2020 event by attending the football game dressed in pink. Representatives from the athletic, band and cheer booster organizations will present a check to a representative from University Breast Health Center.
Important Dates for October 2020
Week of October 19, 2020:
- National School Bus Safety Awareness & Driver Appreciation Week
- 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.: High School Musical Performance
- National Red Ribbon Week October 26, 2020 - October 30, 2020
- 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: All A's Academic Letter Ceremony at GHS Wolfpack Stadium
- 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: PSAT for 10th Grade Students Group L-Z (Including LFH L-Z)
- 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: GHS Varsity Football Team vs. Clarke Central at Home Senior Night at Game
- GHS "Pink Out" at school and Football Game
Important Dates for November 2020
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
- Election Day: School Closed for Students/Professional Learning Day for Teachers
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
- Progress Reports Available in Parent Portal
- 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: GHS Veterans Day Program in Cafeteria
- 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Jostens Senior Order Make Up Day in Gym Lobby
- 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Fall Choral Performance in Auditorium
- Thanksgiving Break - School Closed
As we gear up to welcome back more students into our building beginning on Friday, October 23, 2020, safety protocols will be more important than ever. At GHS, we consider our students' and staff's health and well-being to be of the utmost importance. Since the beginning of the school year, we have created a health and safety plan and continue to implement safety measures designed to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for our students, staff, teachers, and families. The following sections contain the specific safety measures implemented beginning with the 2020-2021 school year and the process our administrators follow when there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 at our school.
GHS Health and Safety Plan
The following health and safety measures were established and implemented based on the current community and/or school spread and other available information as provided by local and state health agencies:
- GHS teachers and staff have received training to recognize Covid-like symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, the new loss of taste or smell, vomiting or diarrhea, and/or sore throat.
- Reinforce hand washing/hand sanitizing guidelines and covering coughs and sneezes among students and staff. If soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizer will be available for students and staff.
- Signs on how to slow the spread of COVID-19 are posted in key areas of the school
- Students are taught how to stop the spread of germs.
- School custodians conducted deep cleaning before students/staff returning to school.
- Hand sanitizing stations are located at the end of each hallway in our building.
- School custodians intensify cleaning and disinfecting throughout the day and ensure the safe and correct application of all disinfectants.
- School custodians clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces throughout the day (door handles, sink handles, shared objects).
- School custodians Isolate and deep clean classrooms and spaces following positive COVID-19 test results.
- All water fountains are turned off except for automated bottle fillers. Also, students and staff are allowed to bring water bottles from home.
- In the morning, school staff sanitize buses once students and drivers have exited.
- Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization Modules are installed throughout the school building.
- All items that are shared with other students in the class are cleaned or disinfected.
- When returning books or materials to the Learning Commons/Media Center, items are shelved for 72 hours before returning to circulation.
- Require parents to check their children’s temperature before sending them to school.
- Require school district employees to check their temperature before coming to work.
- Students enrolling from high spread areas as defined by the DPH may be asked to quarantine before starting school.
- Students and staff use face coverings, particularly when social distancing is difficult.
There are no specifications for the type of face coverings to be used. When face coverings are not being used, social distancing practices must be observed.
Face coverings will not be provided at school for students unless they are exhibiting Covid-like symptoms. Then they will be given to the student to wear until he/she has one.
School staff and students must wear face coverings during transitions, when gathered in large groups, on the bus, and when social distancing is not possible.
Protocol when there is a confirmed case at school
The following information outlines the steps our school follows when there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 at a school:- School administrators follow all guidelines and procedures outlined in the Columbia County School District’s Return to School Plan and work closely with our school system’s Head Nurse.
- School administrators confidentially use contact tracing procedures.
- If school administrators determine employees or students have had direct or close contact with the confirmed COVID-19 person, they notify parents and employees by telephone and/or e-mail.
- Because of our obligation to protect students' and employees' privacy as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) federal laws, the school cannot release specific information about a confirmed case. The names of the people affected and other personally identifiable information will be provided to public health officials following reporting requirements; however, this information will not be released to the public or the media.
Protocol when a student/employee exhibits symptoms
The following information outlines the steps that a school administrator will follow when a student or employee exhibits COVID-19 symptoms while at school:
- If the person is an employee, he or she will be sent home immediately. If the person is a student, a parent will be contacted and asked to immediately pick up the student.
- Parents/employees will be advised to contact their healthcare professional or the local health department for further guidance on general questions about COVID-19 and information about testing.
- A face covering will be given to the person if he or she does not have one. If the person is a student, they will be taken to the designated sick room located in the main office for isolation from others until being picked up by a parent/guardian.
- The student will be supervised by a staff member who maintains at least six feet of space and wears personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Areas where the student or employee may have been will be closed off and cleaned/disinfected properly.
School Personnel Collective Responsibility Agreement
As school employees, we pledge to abide by the safety precautions outlined in the Return to School Plan and commit to the following measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19:
- Stay home when we are sick.
- Report possible contact with infected individuals and positive test results.
- Social distance and avoid large group gatherings.
- Wear masks when social distancing is not possible.
- Teach and practice good hygiene habits, such as washing hands and using sanitizer.
- Frequently clean classrooms and common areas.
- Utilize scheduling options to reduce the number of students coming in close contact with each other throughout the day.
- Limit large group gatherings and cancel off-campus field trips unless approved by administration.
- Limit visitors to the office area.
- Honor the confidentiality of our colleagues, students, and peers when they become ill from COVID-19.
- Welcome students or staff back without exclusion following an illness.
- Encourage each other, particularly our essential employees who are taking on the challenge of meeting our students' needs during the pandemic.
Student and Parent or Guardian Collective Responsibility Agreement
As a student and a parent or guardian of a student, we understand that participation in school activities within the CCSD during the COVID-19 pandemic presents certain risks beyond the district's control, even though it exercises the utmost care in trying to prevent anyone from getting sick. To show our support and to help the community reduce the chance of transmission, we commit to the following measures to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19:
- Stay home when we are sick.
- Stay home when a COVID test is pending results.
- Monitor daily symptoms of COVID-19, such as:
- Fever over 100 F
- Chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Report positive test results or possible contact with infected individuals.
- Practice social distancing and avoid large group gatherings.
- Wear masks when social distancing is not possible, if not for ourselves, for our teachers and fellow students who may be more vulnerable.
- Practice good hygiene habits, such as washing hands and using sanitizer.
- Honor the confidentiality of staff and students when they become ill from COVID-19.
- Treat those who are returning from illness with respect.
- Encourage essential employees who are taking on the challenge of meeting our students' needs during the pandemic.