After discussion with teachers and parents, GCS has changed the way the schools will open for the 2023-24 school year and the way in which Parent/Teacher Conferences will be conducted.

Staggered Start:

In an effort to make the beginning of the school year more successful for students and parents, GCS has proposed a staggered start for the year. August 16 will be the first day of school for grade levels transitioning into school for the first time, or into a new building. The remaining grade levels will start a day later, on August 17. Below is what the plan will look like:

August 16, 2023

• Kindergarten and grades 5, 7, & 9 – Students will attend school.
• Grades 1–4 & Grade 6 – The teachers will contact families and/or pair up to help other teachers with new students.
• Grades 8, 10, 11, & 12 – Teachers will connect personally with families.

August 17, 2023

• All GCS students will attend school.

This staggered schedule will allow for greater attention and care to be given to those grade-level students who are new to a building, ensuring that the students will have the opportunity to get acclimated to their new school.

Parent-Teacher Conferences:

To communicate more effectively with parents during Parent/Teacher Conferences, GCS will expand the district’s fall Parent/Teacher Conferences. The schedule will be as follows:

• October 17, 2023
  • Kindergarten- grade12 Parent/Teacher Conference from  7:30 a.m.– 7:30 p.m. (12 hours)

• • No school on this date for all GCS students

• October 19, 2023
  • Kindergarten-grade 6 Parent/Teacher Conferences from 3:30-7:30 p.m. (4 hours)

• February 12, 2024
  • Grades 7-12 Parent/Teacher Conference from 3:30–7:30 p.m. (4 hours)

This new schedule will provide eight additional conference hours beyond GCS’s past practices. This time will also give parents greater flexibility to be in conference with teachers. Previously, conferences could only be conducted during the evening, which created barriers for parents who work in the evenings.

**If you have questions, please contact your student’s building principal.