Buccaneer Family Bulletin
Gulf High School August 14, 2020
~ Return to School Issue ~
Principal's Corner
Let me be the first to welcome you back to school for the 2020-21 school year! Many of you already took part in our Virtual Orientation and Registration process. You've viewed all the great information in myStudent, set up other accounts, and are ready to go when classes resume on August 24th. Many of you will be walking through our doors that day. Others will be logging in online. Either way, always remember that you are an important part of our Buccaneer Nation. The administration, counselors, teachers, and staff are here for every student and parent/guardian. Our goal is your success and well-being.
There is a lot of information for you in this Buccaneer Family Bulletin. Please read through carefully, click and follow links, download fliers, and come back to this link when you want to have another look at the details.
Having been apart for so long, I can guarantee you this: All of us at Gulf High School are eager to see our students and help them grow academically and as members of our community.
Now, more than ever, we must rally together and be there in support of one another. There is nothing we can't achieve as long as we are Sailing the Rising Tide ~ Forward for the Future.
-Mr. Morgenstein
Stay Informed By Text Message
Here at Gulf, we do our best to send you important information about everything going on. These come to you by phone and email, but can also arrive by text message. Just address a new text message to 67587 and write Yes in the body of the text. Then hit Send. It's that easy and you won't miss out on the great things happening at Gulf High School.
Our Bell Schedule for 2020-21
Gulf High School has a new bell schedule for our day together. This is due to the change in start date. While we begin the same time, because we are ending our day after 2:00pm, students will arrive home about 20 minutes later than last year. Also note that:
- There will be NO Early Release Days during 1st semester.
- There will be NO Club/Activity periods during 1st Quarter.
- There will be no activities held with 50 or more students during 1st Quarter.
- Many family and community events will take place virtually or with limited attendance.
Ramp and Stairs
During the rest of the school day. RAMP UP / STAIRS DOWN. The exterior stairs too!
At dismissal, the Ramp and all stairs will be DOWN only.
Student Dress Code
Our goal is that each student arrives on campus ready to learn. This includes being dressed appropriately for learning.
When leaving the house for school each day, check that your student's clothing adheres to our dress code.
In its simplest form, clothing should cover the body and not be full of holes. The top you're wearing should overlap the waist of the bottoms. There shouldn't be any offensive art or writing on clothes. No hats, hoods, or other types of head coverings are permitted (except for documented medical or religious purposes).
Download a copy below and get ALL the details.
Arriving Each Morning & Breakfast in the Classroom
- Buses will begin arriving at 7 o'clock and start unloading.
- Students will go to breakfast carts off the parking areas and in the Commons to pick up breakfast. Please take a full set breakfast items.
- Then they'll head right up to their first period for breakfast in the classroom around 7:10am. The first period late bell rings at 7:25am.
You may take off your mask while eating, but then put it right back on when finished. And we ask everyone to be considerate of others and clean up after eating.
Building Passes
Students may not leave class to go to the vending machines during class time. Please be respectful of this rule!
ONE-MINUTE MASK BREAK A pass will not be needed for a one-minute mask break. If a student needs to have a brief mask break, please politely ask the teacher for permission to step into the hallway for one-minute during class (when the halls are empty). Stay right outside the classroom door. You may then remove your mask for a break. After one minute, put the mask back on and return to your seat.
Lunches and Seating
And remember: Gulf High School is a closed campus. No one is permitted to leave during the day. We are all here from arrival to departure at the end of your scheduled class day. This includes lunches.
Cleaning Our cafeteria is sanitized each day and tables cleaned with germicide between each lunch period. We've installed hand sanitizer dispensers across campus - in the cafeteria as well. We encourage hand-washing and custodians check soap dispensers throughout the day.
Must be Seated All students will be required to be seated if eating. No one is permitted to be standing up or walking when eating their food or snacks (at lunch or during passing periods).
Masks and Movement When you are moving, walking, or standing anywhere during lunch, you must have your mask on. This is true throughout your day, too.
Cafeteria and Patio Students may eat in the cafeteria seated apart (seating is marked). Upperclassmen only may eat on the Patio, four per table maximum to maintain distance.
Media Center The Media Team will have special passes for students they allow in for lunch/study hall. Passes are only available from the Media Team and are limited in number. Stay seated in your assigned seat. To request a pass, stop by if you wish to use the Media Center for lunch and quiet study hall.
Tutoring in the Classroom Some teachers may choose to allow students to eat in their classroom for lunch tutoring. If you have a teacher who offers this, please express your gratitude by being polite and keeping the room clean. The teachers who offer this will issue students a special pass, limited in number. Stay seated in your assigned seat. Remember: These teachers are giving up their lunch break to be with you, so be kind!
End of Day Dismissal
At the end of the day, the ramp and all staircases will be down only. This will help divide up the students exiting the building and avoid crowding.
Get right on your bus or head directly home please! No one is permitted to gather on campus after dismissal unless with a teacher or coach for school-related activities.
Masks on when moving!
Virtual Orientation for Grades 10 through 12
And of greatest importance is the electronic version of the school Emergency Card. - click here for detailed instructions
Get started by downloading the documents that follow:
Do you have a myLearning / Canvas account to see your student's courses online? If not, click here to set one up!
Freshman and New-to-GHS Orientation August 19
**Please note, each student is only allowed to bring one additional person to orientation, practice social distancing, and wear a mask at all times.
Your Health and Safety Matter to All of Us at GHS!
Every Single Day Self-Assess with the Student Screener
Every morning, your students must get in the habit of going over these self-screener questions before heading out for school. If you answer "Yes" to any question(s), please follow the guiding information in italics. Just ONE Yes response means "Don't come to school today."
Note: This is the current edition of the screener. You will be advised if updates occur.
Look for the Student Screener at this link or below.
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Student Self-Screener
Pasco County Schools expects that all parents/guardians will complete this pre-entry screening tool daily on behalf of their child before the child attends school.
Does the student have new or worsening onset of any of the following symptoms? Fever (greater than 100.4º), sore throat, new uncontrolled cough, that causes difficulty breathing (for students with chronic allergic/ asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline); diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain; and new onset of severe headache, especially with a fever. Other symptoms listed by the CDC include chills, fatigue/muscle or body ache, new loss of taste or smell, and congestion or runny nose.
YES ___ NO ___
The student cannot come on campus and is required to stay home for at least 24 hours after last fever (without taking medication to reduce fever) AND have improvement in other symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) AND at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Students may be permitted to return sooner with written clearance to return to school from their treating physician.
Within the past two weeks, has the student had prolonged AND close contact (closer than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and is still under a required isolation by the Pasco County Department of Health?
YES ___ NO ___
If the student is currently living with someone who has recently tested positive for COVID-19, they cannot come on campus and are required to quarantine as advised by the Pasco County Department of Health.
Has the student recently tested positive for COVID-19? YES ___ NO ___
The student cannot come on campus and is required to stay home for at least 24 hours after last fever (without taking medication to reduce fever) AND have improvement in other symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) AND at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Students may be permitted to return sooner with a written clearance to return to school from their treating physician.
If you answer yes to any of these questions, your child needs to remain at home and cannot attend school. Please contact your medical provider for further guidance. You can access the CDC coronavirus self-checker at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html
Please note that Executive order 20-139 encourages anyone with a significant underlying medical condition (moderate to severe asthma, serious heart conditions, immunocompromised status, cancer, diabetes, severe obesity, renal failure and liver disease) to take measures to limit their exposure to COVID-19.
The novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, is an extremely contagious virus, which can cause serious medical conditions, including death. COVID-19 has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization, and as a result, federal, state, and local governments along with federal and state health agencies recommend social distancing and have, in some circumstances, limited the congregation of people. The District School Board of Pasco County (DSBPC or District) has initiated reasonable, precautionary measures in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, given the extremely contagious nature of COVID-19, the DSBPC cannot guarantee that your child(ren) will not contract the virus while attending or engaging in school-related and/or extracurricular activities. To reduce the risk of exposure, the District has provided parents and guardians with several virtual educational options outside of the traditional brick and mortar classrooms, which include Pasco eSchool and mySchool Online. We look forward to educating your child(ren) and we appreciate your cooperation and efforts as we all work together to keep our students, children, and society healthy.
Visitors Coming To Campus
All visitors must
- Complete the Visitor Self-Screener found at this link.
- Come to the front office for check-in
- Remain in a designated location as directed during the visit (ex. front office, student services)
NO DELIVERIES Please note that Gulf High School does not allow deliveries from outside services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, pizza, restaurants, florists, etc. Please do not order or send items to be delivered to the school. Anything that does appear will be sent away.
JESSICA LUNSFORD ACT COMPLIANCE For your peace of mind, please know that any workers contracted to be on campus when students are here must pass a background check consistent with the Jessica Lunsford Act.
VOLUNTEERS As well, all volunteers must be pre-screened by Pasco County Schools through an application found here. We welcome you to apply to be a Gulf High School Volunteer!
Health and Safety Procedures
To follow are health precautions and procedures implemented throughout our school:
MASKS Masks are required of adults and students. Everyone must wear masks in school buildings and when engaged in school activities. Read the district's face covering policy here.
SIGNS Students and visitors will see signs all around the campus about social distancing, hand washing, directional arrows for keeping to the right when moving about the building, and requirements for people entering campus.
HYGIENE Hand sanitizer stations are being installed in visible areas throughout campus. Soap dispensers are in all bathrooms. Please talk to your student about treating the dispensers gently. We want all to have easy access to soap and sanitizer.
DISINFECTION Custodians will be disinfecting each room daily. Germicide spray is in each room with a microfiber cloth. Cleaning is in place for cafeteria, hallways, handrails, and frequently touched surfaces. Does your student prefer to wipe down the desk when arriving in class? Classroom supplies or your own wipes may be used!
Masks and Social Distancing
Hallways - Keep Right / Keep Moving
Water Fountains
SINGLE USE SUPPLIES: Students will not be sharing supplies. In classes such as Art, we ask that students use their own set of supplies.
WATER FOUNTAINS Fountains will be "on" for the filling of bottles. Bottles or other approved containers must have a lid that stays on tight to avoid spills. No drinking directly from fountains please!
STUDENT BEHAVIOR We believe that all students and families will take health and safety seriously. Therefore, I am confident that we will have full cooperation with wearing masks, staying socially distanced, washing hands, and following all the best practices for good health. However, if there is a pattern of a student not following the rules (such as for masks), we will enact disciplinary consequences. This may include rescheduling to mySchool Online from Traditional.
CLINIC The clinic will have a separate room nearby for any unwell students exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. We will contact parents/guardians for students to be taken home. We have procedures in place for situations that might come up. Our goal is the safety and well-being of all our Bucs.
#gulfhighschoolstrong
Join the GHS School Advisory Council
We value your commitment as either a family member or business partner. If you are interested in being part of this valuable team, please contact Andrea Morrow at amorrow@pasco.k12.fl.us.
Important Dates
August 19, 2020: Virtual Orientation/Meet the Teacher (see entry above)
September 7, 2020: Labor Day - No School
September 11, 2020: Progress Reports Available
About Us
Email: jmorgens@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: http://ghs.pasco.k12.fl.us
Location: 5355 School Road, New Port Richey FL 34652
Phone: (727) 774-3300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GulfHighSchool/
Twitter: @GulfHSPrincipal