March 6th, 2025
Dear student, parent, caregiver/guardian(s),
As we approach March Break, we want to take a moment to share some important school reminders. Our goal is to ensure that all students continue to make positive choices, stay engaged in their learning and uphold the values that make them outstanding members of the GCI community.
We encourage you to review the information below and take some time to talk it through with your child(ren). Your support in reinforcing these expectations at home helps ensure a positive and successful school experience for everyone.
Students should be in their first period class, before 8:10, to ensure they are not missing any learning.
Attendance matters – being late or missing classes negatively impacts students’ learning. It is important that students are in class everyday, on time and ready to learn.
As shown in the graphic linked here, students being present and on time is essential to their academic success. Please review the provided, researched information, to see the importance of students being present and on time.
REMINDERS:
Hallway Citizenship
As part of our GCI community, we are all responsible for ensuring a safe and productive learning environment. As part of this responsibility, students are expected to be a good hallway citizen by:
Same Floor: Students should strive to use the bathroom or water fountain on the same floor as their class when possible so that they can quickly and efficiently return to their classrooms. Students always have permission to access all-gender bathrooms located on each floor.
Bathroom Rights: Students have the right to use the bathroom safely and privately. Bathrooms are not gathering places to hang out.
Identification: For safety reasons, ALL students and visitors are required to identify themselves by first and last name to any staff member that works at GCI, when requested.
Out of Bounds: All hallways and stairways are out of bounds during class time. Students with a spare period who wish to remain in the school must be in the cafeteria or library.
Five Minute Limit: When using the bathroom or water fountain, students should strive to return to class within approximately five minutes. Staff members understand that there are times when students need longer (e.g. travelling to an all-gender bathroom, accessibility needs).
GCI Cell Phone and Other Mobile Devices Policy
At GCI, we care about you and the ultimate goal of this policy is to reduce distractions as we support an effective and healthy learning environment.
Cellphones and other mobile devices must be powered off (or set to silent mode) and placed out of sight (ex. in your locker, purse/bag, or backpack) during class-time in classrooms, hallways, stairways, washrooms, etc.
Limited Exceptions:
- for educational purposes, as explicitly directed to you by an educator;
- for health and medical purposes (ex. diabetes app);
- to support special education needs (ex. assistive technology).
Cell phones and other mobile devices are permitted during the following times of the school day:
- before the first morning bell (before 8:10 AM)
- lunch time (ex. 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM)
- after school (after 2:20 PM)
- between classes
- designated spares (indicated on your student timetable) in the Cafeteria only.
For additional information on the impacts and expectations around cell phone use during instructional times, please review the linked Ministry Guidelines.
If you have any questions, please reach out to a GCI administrator.