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Strengthening our community one student at a time.

Policies

ASSEMBLIES Students are expected to conduct themselves properly during assemblies and to show proper courtesy to speakers and guests. Unwarranted acts in an assembly such as whistling, booing, or stamping feet are out of order.  Students are asked to cooperate by:

  • Entering front doors of auditorium.
  • Sitting in assigned grade sections.
  • Not sitting on the stage or around the walls.
  • Following directions from faculty and staff. 

Improper conduct at assemblies will result in loss of privilege to attend in the future, as deemed appropriate by the administration.  

BOOK BAGS, EQUIPMENT BAGS AND LOCKERS Students are allowed to bring book bags to school. Please understand that book bags can be searched at any time by an administrator.  Equipment Bags for Athletics/Band/Clubs should be given to the sponsor for keeping by 7:55 A.M.   It is essential for students who enroll in physical education to bring a small padlock to secure items in P.E. lockers.  Students should remove padlocks daily to allow other students to use the locker facilities in the gymnasium.  

BUS PROCEDURES - (see ECS 2025-2026 Student Handbook)

CAMPUS LITTERING Students are not to litter the campus with soft drink cans, cups, bottles or containers, food wrappings or food bags.  These items are not to be brought on campus in the mornings and will be confiscated when seen.  Repeat violations will result in campus clean-up day.

CARE OF CLASSROOMS, BUILDINGS, AND GROUNDS All students are expected to do their part in keeping Swainsboro High School clean and attractive.  No food or drinks (excluding bottled water) will be allowed in the classroom areas or parking lots during school hours.  Please use trash cans!

DRESS AND GROOMING - (see ECS 2025-2026 Student Handbook)

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION The health curriculum includes AIDS prevention, nutrition education, human reproduction, aid, safety and drug awareness. For more information, refer to Emanuel County School Policy IDB: "Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Program."

FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS All financial responsibilities must be cleared by the student each year. Students who fail to meet their financial obligations will not be able to obtain a copy of their permanent record, have a transcript mailed from the school office, participate in graduation exercises (even though eligible), and/or receive an Emanuel County high school diploma (even though otherwise eligible). Students with financial obligations may be denied the opportunity to participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities for which monies are owed from prior year(s). 

All debts incurred by the student during the semester will be paid by the end-of-the-semester final exams. Any student who pays a fee and has the check returned for insufficient funds will be charged a fee of $15.00. The principal's office will not cash personal checks for students.

EMERGENCY AND DISASTER PROCEDURES Fire and severe weather drills will be conducted periodically during the school year.  Each classroom will have an evacuation plan posted.  

The following rules should be observed during the fire drills:

  • No talking or playing during drill.
  • Do not take books or other articles from the room.
  • Move quickly, quietly, and carefully from classrooms to designated areas.

In case of a tornado drill, the following will apply:

  • Move to designated areas of hallways.
  • Protect the head.
  • Stay away from windows.

FLOWERS AND GIFTS Flowers, balloons, gifts, cards, etc. will not be delivered to students during the school day.  Students, parents, or friends desiring to give these items should make arrangements to have them delivered to the home of the student.  

FOOD No food deliveries will be allowed.  See “Outside Food” for more details.

INSURANCE Swainsboro High School offers an accidental insurance program for all students to purchase, if desired. Athletes, cheerleaders, and band members should have school day insurance, and others are strongly urged to have the program. A brochure can be requested by parents at the beginning of the school year. Parents will have the opportunity to take out the insurance if desired. A link for the insurance is found on the Emanuel County Schools website www.emanuel.k12.ga.us.  Members of all athletic teams are required to purchase school insurance or have parents or guardians sign a waiver of insurance form before they can participate in any team practices or games.

MESSAGES Only in an extreme emergency may students be reached during school hours. Office phones are reserved for official business and should not be used by students. 

OUTSIDE FOOD Students are not to order food from outside restaurants during school hours. Neither parents nor students may bring food from outside restaurants to students at school. Students are not allowed to leave campus for lunch.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES Dialogue and communication are critical for the success of the students at Swainsboro High School.  Teachers are expected to make contacts on a routine basis and will ask for conferences, if it is felt to be necessary.  Parents who desire to speak with a teacher may call the teacher, a guidance counselor, or an administrator to set a parent-teacher conference.  SHS closes at 4 p.m. Appointments to meet with a staff member after 4 p.m. must be scheduled in advance. In most instances, conferences will be set one day prior to the meeting.  

PERSONAL PROPERTY Students are responsible for their own personal property. Great care should be taken not to leave purses, watches, billfolds, etc., in places where they may be misplaced. Theft from the locker room, cafeteria, library, or any classroom should be reported immediately to teachers or the administration. SHS discourages students from carrying large amounts of money during the school day. The school will not accept responsibility for loss due to theft.

SCHOOL COUNCIL In an effort to improve the academic achievement, to solve difficult education problems, and to share ideas for school improvement, House Bill 1187 provides for the creation of a school council at each school. Members of the school council will provide advice, recommendations, and assistance while representing the community of parents and businesses.  

HOMECOMING REPRESENTATIVES  In order to be chosen as homecoming representatives, students must have no discipline referrals, be in good academic standing, and have no attendance/tardy issues.  All representatives must have their attire approved by the Homecoming Adviser and Administration. Guidelines for attire will be provided once the court has been selected.  

SCHOOL DAY The school day for students transported to school by county school buses starts once the student boards the bus and does not end until departure from the bus in the afternoon.  For students who walk to school or provide their own transportation, the school day starts with their arrival on campus and terminates with their departure from school grounds.  Student disciplinary rules (Student Code of Conduct) describe behaviors prohibited during school hours, on the campus of Swainsboro High School or any other school of the Emanuel County School System during school hours or otherwise, at school-related functions and activities, whether at home or away, on Emanuel County school buses, and at Emanuel County school bus stops.

SELLING UNAUTHORIZED PRODUCTS Students caught selling unauthorized products on the school grounds will have both the money and the goods confiscated and not returned. The second offense of this nature will result in disciplinary action.

PARKING Students who drive a motor vehicle on campus must park in student designated areas only.  Students must register their vehicle in A-100 office. The driver must also present proof of insurance and license verification. Students must rent a parking spot for $25 for the school year. Students are not to park in areas reserved for faculty/staff parking and/or visitor parking.

Students are reminded that extreme caution must be taken at all times when driving on campus.  Speeding and reckless driving will be considered a police matter and tag numbers will be reported to the department for appropriate action.  The SHS Administration reserves the right to search all vehicles driven and parked on school campus.

The following will govern use of the parking lot:

  • Cars should be locked the entire day for owner protection.
  • No one is to be in the cars or the parking lot at any time. Cars cannot be used as school lockers. 
  • Students will not be allowed to return to their cars during the school day without special administrator permission or unless leaving school.
  • Traffic regulations are to be observed at all times when entering and leaving the parking lot. School speed limit is 10 m.p.h.
  • All cars without permits may be towed away at owner's expense.
  • Cars that are restricted from Swainsboro High School property are restricted on an indefinite basis.
  • Students are to park in designated asphalt areas (student parking lot), never in front of the school.
  • 1st offense – Warning, 2nd offense – Fine, 3rd offense – Parking Permit revoked, 4th offense – Car towed at owner’s expense
  • When students arrive at school and park their cars, they are to leave the parking lot immediately. There should be no loitering in cars.  
  • Alcohol, drugs, or weapons are prohibited in all vehicles on school property.
  • From 7:30 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. parking lot is enter only.  Cars will not be allowed to leave during this time.
  • The administration of Swainsboro High School reserves the right to search vehicles at any time.

Options for improper use of motor vehicles include the following:

  1. Loss of campus parking privileges
  2. In-school suspension or out-of-school suspension
  3. Tow-away at owner's expense
  4. Notification of legal authorities

Loitering and/or visiting will not be tolerated after school hours.  Students who drive or ride with a student driver should move promptly to their vehicles and exit the campus in a safe, orderly fashion.  

STUDENT ILLNESS Students who become ill during the school day are to report to the School Nurse.  Contact with a parent or guardian must be made before a student leaves school.

ADDRESS CHANGES (see ECS 2025-2026 Student Handbook)

TELEPHONE USE The office telephone is for business use only and is not to be used by the students except in cases of emergency.  All calls concerning sickness and checking out should be handled through the School Nurse.

VENDING MACHINES Swainsboro High School is not responsible for money lost in vending machines.  Vending machines should only be used before or after school or designated times set by administration.

WEATHER WATCH The first condition for making a decision to close schools is safety.  When severe weather occurs, parents should monitor radio news reports or contact the local school to learn about closings or changes.  Announcements will be made prior to 6:30 A.M. when possible.