GCS Cancels Field Trips, Restricts Visitors and Limits Large Gatherings

Guilford County Schools (GCS) announced several new protocols to help limit the spread of COVID-19. The district made the changes as state officials announced the virus had spread to more North Carolina counties.

Effective (tomorrow), Friday, March 13, GCS is:

• Postponing and/or cancelling school and district events of 100 people or more such as concerts, plays, theater productions, dances and assemblies – a recommendation made late this afternoon by Governor Roy Cooper and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

In addition, the district also is:

• Canceling all student field trips and travel.
• Restricting visitor and volunteer access to schools to parents or guardians only.
• Parents or guardians may visit their students in the nurse’s office, or in the front office only. Parents or guardians will not be allowed into classrooms. This applies to early/middle colleges as well.
• All parents or guardians who travel to and from a CDC Level 3 country, which currently includes China, South Korea, Iran, Italy and most of Europe, are asked to notify schools and their healthcare providers, and not enter schools and/or not go on college campuses.
• Moving all parent-oriented meetings to conference calls or online formats. This includes Parent Teacher Association meetings, Parent Teacher Organization meetings, booster clubs, parent-teacher meetings, etc.
• Moving district- and school-based meetings to conference call or online formats to the maximum extent possible.

These actions will remain in place indefinitely as our goal is to help slow the spread of the virus in our schools and communities.

Additionally, in accordance with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), the men’s and women’s basketball championships have been suspended indefinitely.

The NCHSAA has also suspended all high school interscholastic athletics beginning at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020 through Monday, April 6, 2020. In addition, GCS is suspending middle school interscholastic athletics, effective at the same time and date,

Please check our COVID-19 webpage for the most up-to-date information regarding the situation. The district plans updating its webpage each evening, and is also sharing information via social media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram) and GCSTV. Principals are sharing school-specific information with students, staff and parents/guardians.