PRESEASON

Preseason is from August 20-26.

Any student – new or returning – who wishes to play on a varsity team in the fall should plan to attend preseason, and should have contacted the appropriate coach by August 1. Coaches will email athletes with a detailed schedule for the week.

PLEASE NOTE: Students will NOT be able to participate in preseason, sports, or activities without their submitted health forms. Forms must be submitted on the Parent Portal. 

Boarding students who attend preseason will be allowed to move into their dorm on August 20. The check-in and move-in process for boarding students runs from 3:00-5:00  p.m. on August 20. Boarding students should check-in at Marshall Center before heading to their dorm.

Boarding students should pack: Sheets/blanket, pillow and pillowcase, fan, towels, and money (for clothes washing and incidental expenses).

All preseason athletes should pack:

• Workout clothing appropriate to your sport
• Lots of socks (blister socks can be helpful—they are a double-knit synthetic material)
• Towels for the dorm and the gym
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle/sports drinks
• Rain gear (sometimes we practice in the rain)
• Bathing suit
• Sweat clothes or tracksuit (sometimes it gets chilly)
• Shirts/shorts (several since you may need to change several times a day)
• Flip-flops or sandals (good for airing the feet)

If you have further questions, feel free to contact Director of Athletics and Recreation Kurt Ruch by email at kruch@georgeschool.org.

ACADEMICS

Advisors for new students: New students and their parents/guardians will receive an email of introduction from their faculty advisor in the afternoon of Monday 8/21. This email will include the time and place for a meeting on Tuesday 8/22.

During the school year, advisors meet regularly with their advisees and serve as a primary adult connection for all sorts of things, academic and non-academic alike. Advisors are also the first point of contact for parents/guardians. The twice-weekly advisory meetings at George School are known as Collection.

Course schedules: By the end of the day on Friday 8/18, students will be able to view the terms in which their classes meet by going to the My Courses for September page on the portal. Class schedules may undergo minor changes prior to the start of school.

Beginning on the first day of school, students will be able to use the My Schedule page on the portal to look up class meeting locations. Advisors will help students with this during the first Collection at the start of the first day of school.

Questions about course enrollments can be directed to the School Office, and then your student’s advisor beginning on Tuesday 8/22.

Drop deadlines: Details about deadlines for dropping whole courses or individual mods can be found on page 7 of the Community Handbook located on the GS Portal.

Purchase your textbooks and school supplies: Please use this Custom Textbook link to view and purchase course materials before school starts. 

Questions about physical education and Athletics should be directed to Director of Athletics and Recreation Kurt Ruch by email at kruch@georgeschool.org.

Want to review the 2023-2024 academic calendar? Find it here!

STUDENT LIFE

*Boarding Students: Here’s what to pack! You will be receiving a dorm letter from your Dorm Head to share with your parents/guardians before school begins.

Concussion Testing. All George School students are required to complete a SWAY assessment. In the event a concussion is suspected, this initial baseline assessment will help to establish the best treatment. Testing will be completed during the first week on campus. There is no charge for the baseline or follow-up testing. No student will be able to participate in competition until their baseline testing is complete!

AUGUST 2023 SCHEDULE FOR NEW & RETURNING STUDENTS

August 17 | Boarding Prefects move in (12:00–2:00 p.m.); training begins for Day and Boarding Prefects

August 19 | International Student Mentors move in (before 12:00 p.m.)

August 20 | Boarding Preseason Athletes move in; preseason day students check in (3:00-5:00 p.m.)

August 21 | New international boarding students move in (3:00-5:00 p.m.)

August 22 | New boarding students move in; Orientation leaders move in; New Student Orientation (NSO) begins.

August 27 | Returning boarding students move in; All-Community programming

• 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.: Returning boarding students move-in (check in at dorm)
• 4:00 p.m.: Whole Community Convocation (all students, families,  faculty, and staff encouraged to attend)
• 5:00 p.m.: Community BBQ (all students, families, faculty, and staff encouraged to attend).

💚 August 28 | Term 1 Begins – FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Returning day students, who have not picked up their cards during preseason or NSO, should pick up their student IDs/Prox Cards at Red Square on the first day of school between 7:45-8:15 a.m.

TRANSPORTATION

Several local school districts provide bus transportation for George School day students. Review transportation information here. Families are required to contact their local school districts to arrange bus transportation and will be asked to provide proof of residence.

Families who need information about bussing (bus #, pick-up/drop-off locations) please contact Kim Bryant or call  215.579.6622 between 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Vehicle Registration: Students who plan to park their cars on campus during the school day must complete the Vehicle Registration Form(which must be signed by both student and parent/guardian) and send it to parking@georges​chool.org. Both the student and their parent/guardian must sign the form. Contact Joyce Falsetti with any questions.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Day Student Attendance Policy:

If your child is ill, has a doctor’s appointment (doctor’s note required), or will be late to or miss class, parents/guardians must notify Attendance Supervisor Laurie Moyer (215.579.6593) 24 hours in advance or by 9:00 a.m. the morning of the absence.

Students must check-in and out with Laurie in the Deans’ Office if they arrive late or leave early for the academic day.

Boarding Student Doctor Appointment Policy:

Parents/guardians who schedule medical appointments for their children should notify the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC) 24 hours in advance of the appointment. Students are required to sign out and back in through the SHWC.

If GS transportation is required, parents/guardians must notify the SHWC 48 hours in advance of the appointment. Contact SHWC Administrator Indira Rodrigo with questions.