Gallatin High School
Back to School Information - Fall 2020
General Overview
As you would expect, between opening a new school, regular back to school information, Covid guidelines, and the blended learning model, there is a lot of information here. Please read through all of the information below and contact the main office if you have any questions.
Back to School Information
Each year parents/guardians update all family contact information and sign off on a number of permission and approval forms. These forms are in electronic format, located in your PowerSchool Parent Portal, under Forms. These forms are referred to as "All-in-One Parent Permission" forms. Once you have submitted your forms, you will receive a notice they are pending until our registrar approves them. There are multiple forms to complete; however, you do not need to submit forms once they are labeled as "pending".
Schedule Release and Schedule Changes
Student class schedules will be released to students and parents in PowerSchool on Tuesday, September 1. We will not be holding a traditional schedule change day in school this year. With the transition to two schools and the scheduling logistics of the blended learning model, please know that schedule change requests will only be honored on a limited basis. The following are appropriate reasons for requesting a schedule change:
Missing a required class on schedule.
Missing a prerequisite or are misplaced in the wrong level of class.
Double-booked during one period.
Have fewer than the minimum required classes on schedule (5 for seniors, 6 for juniors, 7 for sophomores and freshmen).
School Picture Days
Students will have their school pictures taken on September 8 or September 11, depending on their alphabetical assignment. We will offer the opportunity for 100% remote learning students to have their pictures taken on those days as well. Details will be announced closer to our return to school.
Lockers
Lockers will be not be checked out to students in the blended model. When we move to the cohort or traditional model, any student may request a locker.
Freshman Orientation
We are planning to hold two freshman orientation sessions to welcome freshmen Raptors and make their transition to Gallatin High School smooth and successful. Freshmen will have the opportunity to meet our administrators and learn their way around GHS.
Freshmen with the last names A-L attend freshman orientation on Wednesday, September 2, at 1:00 p.m.
Freshmen with the last name M-Z will attend on Thursday, September 3, at 1:00 p.m. These sessions will include physical distancing, and students will wear masks.
We will communicate more details with freshmen and their families next week.
Welcome to the new Gallatin High!
Gallatin High’s grand opening was Monday, August 17th. We would like to offer GHS students and parents the opportunity to come in for a self-guided tour to see the building before school starts.
All juniors, sophomores, and the parents of any GHS student are welcome to come in for a self-guided tour during the following days/times:
Monday, August 24 - 8:00AM-8:00PM
Tuesday, August 25 - 8:00AM-5:30PM
Friday, August 28 - 8:00AM-4:00PM
All freshmen will have the opportunity to tour the school during freshman orientation so we ask that you wait until then for a tour to keep overall numbers low.
To keep our students and building as safe as possible, please follow these safety guidelines:
Groups may not have more than four people and family groups are recommended.
Cloth face coverings (multi-layered, well-fitted around mouth and nose) must be worn on school property at all times.
To maintain physical distancing, groups must wait at least ten minutes before starting the next self-guided tour. If there are more than two groups waiting to start the tour, additional groups will wait outside.
Groups will complete a check in and check out sheet listing all group members as part of their tour.
The self-guided tour is set up as a scavenger hunt. Completed scavenger hunt sheets will be collected and entered into a drawing for Raptor gear.
Covid Related Information
Return to School Playbooks
Earlier this week, Superintendent Connors published the district’s return to school playbooks and FAQs. These documents will be updated as necessary as new information and questions arise. You can access these documents on the superintendent’s web page.
Blended Learning Alphabetical Assignments
Now that the district’s remote learning registration has closed, we are working diligently to review course rosters to ensure student balance in the blended learning model. Thank you to those who have submitted requests to change their alphabetical assignments. We will consider each request, and we will respond as soon as possible. Student Council is already working on plan to create a sense of community between the two groups of students and build connections to strengthen our school culture. They have some exciting ideas to share.
School Supplies
We are asking all high school students to bring the following supplies to school every day:
Personal/Small container of hand sanitizer (that can be refilled every evening)
Most commercially available alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubs (ABHSR) contain either ethanol or isopropanol as active ingredients. On June 19, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by “Eskbiochem SA de CV” in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol, a “toxic alcohol”, as an active ingredient, which can cause blindness and/or death when absorbed through the skin or when swallowed. Since then, FDA has identified additional ABHSR products that contain methanol and is working with manufacturers and distributors on a voluntary recall of these products:
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitzers-methanol
Please note that additional hand-washing stations have been installed in schools and hand sanitizer dispensers will be located in classrooms and throughout our schools. A personal container of hand sanitizer that a student can carry in a pocket or backpack is a great way to help support personal safety measures throughout the day, whether in school or out of school.
Cloth Face Covering (Cloth Mask)
Cloth masks should include multiple layers of fabric and should be worn snugly over the mouth and nose. Masks should be washed after wearing, so please make sure your child has enough clean masks to wear throughout the school week.
For more information about face coverings, please see the CDC website.
Water bottle
Water fountains will be turned off, but filling stations will be available. Each student should have a water bottle that is labeled with their full name.
Upcoming Events and How to Get Involved
- Get your raptor gear at bit.ly/Raptorgear
- Join our PAC by emailing gallatinhighpac@gmail.com
- Become a Raptor Booster-website coming soon!
Contact Us
Email: erica.schnee@bsd7.org
Website: www.ghs.bsd7.org
Location: 4455 Annie Street, Bozeman, MT, USA
Phone: 406-522-4603
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gallatin-Raptors
Twitter: @gallatinraptors