SCGSSM Student Handbook 2025-26

This K-12 policy document outlines the comprehensive academic, residential, and ethical standards for students at the South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) for the 2025-2026 academic year. It emphasizes holistic development, academic integrity, and community responsibility.

i Welcome to the 2025-2026 Academic Year… a New Season and a New Day!!! At the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM), the overall well-being of our community is and always will be our primary focus. We are committed to developing the total person; focusing on our students’ intellectual and developmental growth with safety and wellness guiding all we do. Our goal is to assist students in becoming responsible citizens and ethical leaders. Opportunities to support leadership and character development are offered throughout the GSSM experience. This educational journey for our students is greatly enhanced when GSSM families embrace academic and community standards and partner with GSSM educators who are committed to ensuring our students’ success. The teachers and staff at the Governor’s School are committed to promoting and encouraging the values of accountability, commitment, compassion, fairness, honesty, respect, responsibility, safety, trust, and wellness. As a member of this community, we ask that you embrace these ideals. To support student success and an effective partnership, students (and their parents/guardians) must be familiar with the policies, procedures, and practices that govern our community. Students and their parents must also keep the lines of communication open between those who are here to provide support services. This allows us to provide support and to help facilitate resolution before things escalate and get out of hand. We are committed to providing appropriate support, but we cannot be expected to do so if we are not made aware of matters that may need attention or intervention. Several years ago, our president began to encourage us toward a culture of kindness. Last school year, the school initiated GSSM: A Community of Consciousness. This initiative highlights eight constructs (welcome, safe, nurture, respect, thrive, belong, value, and empower) designed to encourage community and collective responsibility for all. We want these key words to be actualized throughout your experience. Each of you is an important part of this reality for yourselves and your peers. This ties in very closely with our president’s promotion of kindness. How we treat each other matters and what we do and say not only impacts us, but those around us. All students and families are expected to read this handbook thoroughly and in its entirety. We also recommend that you discuss it as a family and contact us if you have questions. This document is the substructure of the three-prong partnership that exists among our students, their families, and the school; and several departments contribute to its content. Students are responsible for all of the material in this book, and they are expected and required to follow all guidelines and policies contained within its pages. These policies have been designed for students’ benefit and safety, and they support the best possible learning environment and outcomes for all community members so please keep it close for reference. All students are bound by the Honor Code of GSSM while enrolled at the Governor’s School and when participating in school sponsored activities. This applies on campus and off and during Long Weekends and breaks. Also, be aware that GSSM reserves the right to revise, create, and clarify policies and procedures as warranted for the safety and well-being of the school community. HAVE A GREAT YEAR!!! i TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION AND STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLE ........................................ 1 A. B. C. D. E. F. II. STUDENT RECORDS, RESIDENCY, AND FEES ............................................... 4 A. B. C. D. E. F. III. Mission Statement............................................................................................................... 1 Student Development Mission ............................................................................................ 1 Curriculum and the Educational Experience ....................................................................... 1 Philosophy and Expectations .............................................................................................. 2 Importance of Community ................................................................................................... 3 Honor Code and Honor Statement ..................................................................................... 3 Notification of Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) ...... 4 Policy for Maintenance, Retention and Disclosure of Student Records ............................. 5 State and United States Residency Requirement .............................................................. 5 Fees and Deposits .............................................................................................................. 5 Room Security Deposit ....................................................................................................... 6 Withdrawing from GSSM .................................................................................................... 6 ACADEMICS ........................................................................................................ 7 A. Academic Calendar ............................................................................................................. 7 B. Academic Requirements ..................................................................................................... 7 C. Academic Eligibility to Continue at GSSM .......................................................................... 8 D. Research & Inquiry Program ............................................................................................... 9 E. Community Engagement .................................................................................................... 9 F. January Interim ................................................................................................................... 9 G. Academic Integrity............................................................................................................. 10 H. Grade Appeal Policy ......................................................................................................... 15 I. Grade Point Average Equivalencies ................................................................................. 16 J. Class Rank ........................................................................................................................ 18 K. Academic Advisors............................................................................................................ 18 L. College Credit Hours for GSSM Courses ......................................................................... 18 M. Independent Studies ......................................................................................................... 21 N. Attendance, Absences, and Makeup Policy ..................................................................... 21 O. General Course Policies ................................................................................................... 24 P. Meetings and Assemblies ................................................................................................. 26 IV. STUDYING ON CAMPUS AND LIBRARY USE ................................................ 27 A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. V. QUEST .............................................................................................................................. 27 ConQUEST (CONcentrated QUEST) ............................................................................... 27 Pre-QUEST ....................................................................................................................... 28 Guided QUEST ................................................................................................................. 29 PUG QUEST .......................................................................