Both GCCS campuses strive to provide a safe learning environment so that our students can thrive physically, socially, emotionally, and academically. Our efforts ensure that children are safe from harm, form healthy relationships, develop positive self-confidence, and are free to learn and grow. We have established many policies and procedures to protect our students and help them interact with others in friendly and collaborative ways.

District Safety Plans

• The GCCS – RMSC Campus District Safety Plan was created by the District Safety Team and adopted on July 24, 2024.  Even though GCCS – RMSC campus is housed in one building, this plan was created with the entire RMSC campus in mind and in collaboration with the RMSC staff.
• The GCCS – Flour City Campus District Safety Plan was created by the District Safety Team and adopted on July 24, 2024.  Even though GCCS – Flour City Campus is housed in one building, this plan was created in collaboration with others who occupy and own the Colgate Campus.

For questions or concerns regarding District Safety and the corresponding plans, please contact:

• Kemouy Bhalai, School Director at GCCS – RMSC Campus

Email:kbhalai@gccschool.org

• Christine Farrell, School Director at GCCS – Flour City Campus

Email: cfarrell@gccschool.org

Building & Campus Safety

We take great care to keep both of our campuses safe. Both GCCS school buildings are locked at all times and equipped with doorway video monitors. Visitors to the school must be buzzed in by dedicated GCCS staff members in order to gain access to either building. RMSC Campus Security patrols regularly and is on call to respond to emergencies.

Our Building-Level Emergency Response Plan (summary linked here) identifies potential hazards, outlines steps to reduce risk, and sets forth actions to be taken in the event of an emergency situation. The full plan is confidential and is not shared on the website. Both GCCS campuses regularly perform drills to practice for emergency situations and has several safety committees with community representation to plan for these potential situations.

Physical Safety

GCCS maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding aggressive physical contact between children.  Although GCCS understands that children are learning coping strategies to handle anger and frustration as well as appropriate ways to play, the School takes every act of physical aggression seriously.  Hitting, scratching, pushing, kicking, and other physically harmful behaviors are strictly forbidden and are cause for immediate school leadership involvement and potentially suspension.

Every discipline situation offers opportunity for growth.  Upon an incident of physical contact or bullying, students will spend time reflecting on the “broken” relationship and consider ways to repair the situation with the guidance of the Social-Emotional Learning Team.  This includes our Social Worker and Restorative Practice Coach.

Socio-Emotional Safety

GCCS fosters caring relationships among students and the adults who work with them. We strive to ensure that our students feel cared for and encourage them to care for others. Our Conduct and Discipline Policy describes our approach to developing strong, positive classroom culture and address discipline issues. Adults and students continually work toward developing a sense of community where students feel safe by consistently being encouraged to reflect on their actions, express opinions, and work cooperatively toward solutions.

We celebrate our diverse student population and ensure that our students are learning how to navigate our global community with respect and understanding. Diverse schools have been demonstrated to prevent bias, contradict stereotypes, and reduce prejudice. GCCS nurtures students’ appreciation of their classmates’ backgrounds, helps students develop a sense of social justice, and equips students to live and work with those who are different from them.