Student Life and Helpful Hints

Interscholastic athletics are a vital part of school life and Greenwich High School offers a variety of opportunities. We believe that participation in athletics provides many experiences in the development of young people. Our athletic program strives to provide our student athletes with an educational, worthwhile, and memorable experience. While some sports are very competitive because the number of players and the facilities are limited, other sports are more open. We encourage all students to participate in our athletic program to enjoy the teamwork and friendships that come from playing high school sports.

Please see our Athletics homepage for information about the GHS Athletic program and look to our Athletic Handbook /Code of Conduct regarding our athletic offerings,  requirements  to participate, our Athletic Code of Conduct.

Buses are available for all students living more than two miles from school. Bus routes are posted to the Transportation/Busing webpage for the BOE Transportation Policy, in addition to bus schedules.

All requests from groups or individuals to have students distribute materials to the community or posted in the school, with the exception of school-connected organizations, will be referred to the office of the superintendent to determine whether the request complies with school policy.

Any Greenwich Public Schools student, employee, or individual seeking employment not covered by a Board of Education collective bargaining agreement, with a complaint of an alleged violation of Board of Education polices or regulations on equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in educational programs, services and employment should first informally discuss his/her concerns with the principal or director most immediately involved. A student may discuss his/her concerns with the principal or director most immediately involved. A student may discuss concerns with a teacher, counselor or other staff member with whom he/she feels comfortable.

Any staff member in the school system who received a complaint from a student or other staff member about harassment or discrimination is required to follow up on the complaint and to refer it to an administrator.

1. On receiving a complaint or upon hearing of alleged harassment, the principal or his/her designee must investigate thoroughly. An investigation should be initiated within 48 hours and completed within five business days or a reasonable extension of time thereafter for good cause.
2. If the complaint or grievance is not settled through informal discussion, it must be reduced to writing with specific reference to alleged inequities under Board of Education policies and an explanation of the requested solution. It must be filed with the principal or director most immediately involved within sixty days of the occurrence of the grievance or knowledge thereof by the individual making the complaint. The principal or director must, within fifteen business days, give a written response to the individual making the complaint with a copy to the Director, Personnel.
3. If the complainant is not satisfied with the response, he/she may, within five business days, forward the grievance to the Director, Personnel. The Director, Personnel, must, within fifteen business days, give a written response to the complainant with a copy to the Superintendent of Schools.
4. If the individual making the complaint is not satisfied with the response at level three, he/she may, within five business days, arrange a mutually convenient hearing date. Within fifteen business days of the hearing, Board of Education designees will give a written response to the complainant and shall report findings and recommendations at the next full meeting of the Board of Education. Time requirements may only be extended by mutual agreement. If a grievance is not filed within the time provided, any further action within the grievance procedure shall be waived.

Director of Human Resources, Title VI and Title IX Coordinator, Director of PPS, Section 504 Coordinator

Materials that are part of the basic education program are provided without charge to students. A student is expected, however, to provide his or her own supplies of pencils, erasers, and notebooks. The student may be required to pay certain other fees or deposits.

A variety of hot and cold lunch items including a deli bar, plate lunch and a la carte are served 11:24 a.m. – 12:49 p.m. Hot and cold breakfast items are served 8:00 am – 10:30 am. Students may use the automated debit program (MySchoolBucks.com) to pay for lunch in advance. Snacks are available in the vending machines. Current menus and nutritional information are posted on the GPS Food Services website.

There is a free/reduced lunch program for students whose families meet the income criteria. Parents should contact their child’s school counselor if they wish to discuss the provisions. Application forms and further information is available on the GPS Food Services Free and Reduced Priced Meal website and in the main office. See GPS Free or Reduced Price Lunches (National School Lunch Program)  (3542.31) 

Student clubs or classes may be permitted to conduct fundraising drives for approved school purposes. An application for permission must be made to the Student Activities office before the event. Unless approved, fund raising by clubs or classes is not permitted on school property.

Lost and found is located in the Student Activities office. If students have lost a personal item they should report it to Security, and if students have found something, they should turn it in to Student Activities.

There are four lunch waves during the lunch block.  Students are assigned to a lunch wave according to where they are scheduled during lunch block. The lunch schedule may rotate each semester.

Specifics about lunch waves and other schedules can be found on the GHS Schedules webpage.

The GHS Library Media Center is open to all students before school and throughout the school day (7:45am-3:15pm). Students are welcome to use the media center during opens and lunches to utilize books and computers/printers or to find a quiet place to complete work alone or with friends. Students can also seek help with research or technology related questions.  Please see the GHS Library Media webpage for more information

Please see the GHS Student Parking page for general information about parking.  Also refer to Parking Violations and Consequences for detailed information about student parking at GHS.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents, guardians, and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the District received a request for access. Parents, guardians, or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask the Greenwich Public School District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify whyit is inaccurate or misleading. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent the FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll (NOTE: FERPA requires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the student of the records request unless it states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.)
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA the name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office 600 Independence Avenue, SW U.S. Department of Education Washington, D.C.

Student safety on campus and at school related events is a high priority of the District. The cooperation of students is essential to ensure school safety. A student should

• Avoid conduct that is likely to put the student or other students at risk.
• Follow the school’s code of discipline.
• Remain alert to and promptly report safety hazards, such as intruders on campus.
• Know emergency evacuation routes and signals.
• Follow immediately the instructions of staff who are overseeing the welfare of students.

All students will be issued two lockers at the beginning of the school year, one in the house and one for participation in physical education. Personal possessions and school materials and equipment should be protected at all times. The high school is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged personal property. Students should not bring valuables or large amounts of money to school. Thefts should be reported promptly to the Security officer stationed at the front desk in the glass corridor or to one stationed in the student center. An incident report will be completed and a police referral may be made. Lockers are the property of the high school and may be searched by the school administration if there is reasonable suspicion. The police may assist the school administration and may use trained dogs if the school administration deems it advisable.

All students should be encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities. It is a privilege of all Greenwich High School students to join school clubs. Students are required to adhere to The Cardinal Rules while participating in GHS sponsored clubs or activities. Students found to be in violation will receive consequences including, but not limited to, revocation of privileges (i.e. participation in the club, attendance to school dances and proms, field trip, parking privileges, etc.)

Students and Parents can find out more information about clubs on the Clubs and Activities page.

The GHS PTA sponsors student access to QuadJobs, an online platform that connects students to flexible, part-time jobs. 

Students between the ages of 14 and 18 years are eligible for working papers. The application form is available from the switchboard operator in the main office. In order to receive working papers, students must present a birth certificate, current passport or driver’s license and the employer’s signature confirming a promise of employment.  Please see Student Employment for more information.

The Greenwich High School Student Government provides students with a forum to:

1. increase school spirit
2. effectively communicate with the student body and promote ethical behavior
3. support community service projects
4. improve equity and access for students who have been historically marginalized and/or underrepresented
5. represent the voices of all GHS students in the community

The Student Government consists of representatives from the student body and an executive committee. Representatives are identified from each grade. The executive committee shall be elected by the representatives and composed of committee chairs and an officer from each grade.

Meetings of the Student Government are held one block per month during school hours in order to involve all segments of the school population. Representatives report back to their peers and survey constituents. Standing committees meet regularly and the schedule of meetings appears in the Student Planner and Student Bulletin and is posted in the Student Center.

The Student Government may initiate proposals or recommendations by majority vote at a monthly meeting. Recommendations must be presented in writing and votes shall be taken only after discussion. Recommendations must be considered by the Principal. If approved, the recommendation becomes part of school procedure for the next school year or sooner if mutually agreed upon.

If the Principal vetoes a recommendation, the veto must be in writing and must indicate areas of possible compromise or modification. At this point, the Student Government may choose to drop the recommendation, pass a revised version, or appeal.

For more information, please see our Student Government page.

Students have the right to express their views in speech, writing, or through any other medium or form, limited solely by those restrictions imposed on all citizens generally and those specifically applicable to children and youths in a school setting.

All student publications must comply with the rules for responsible journalism. The following will not be permitted: Libelous statements, unfounded charges and accusations, obscenity, statements or materials advocating racial or religious prejudice, hatred, violence, the breaking of laws and school policies and/or regulations, or materials designed to disrupt the educational process.

Expressions of personal opinion must be clearly identified as such and must bear the name of the author. Opportunity for the expression of opinions differing from those of the student publishers must be provided.

In addition, student newspapers and/or publications which are paid for by the school district and/or produced under the direction of a teacher as part of the school curriculum are not considered a public forum. In such cases, the Board of Education reserves the right to edit or delete such student speech which is felt to be inconsistent with the district’s basic educational mission.