Family Resources

Family Guide

While the Governor's School strives to be welcoming and supportive, this will still be a huge change for your student. Your role is to help them succeed by giving them your attention and support, but by also giving them space to process. Learn more about how this works, when to step in, and how you can get involved.

Family Guide (PDF)

Student Handbook

We're excited to have your student join us for the 2025-2026 academic year! Take a few moments to review their handbook so you can familiarize yourself with our expectations of them, and you can learn how to better support them.

Student Handbook (PDF)

College Counseling with SCOIR

Early in their GSSM career, juniors are invited to SCOIR, an online platform bringing together students, parents, counselors, and colleges to help families on find the right fit through a unified college search and planning network. Once students have selected the colleges they want to apply to, SCOIR becomes a powerful portal for organizing and submitting applications materials.

Families will receive an email from College Counseling with instructions to log in and follow their students through the application process.

Log in to SCOIR

Keep in Touch

GSSM sends official announcements using School Messenger in PowerSchool. In addition to the President’s Weekly Update, our new quarterly newsletter will give you a broader view of the exciting things happening on campus and beyond. From student projects and research to special events, competitions, and innovative classroom experiences, this is your chance to stay connected and see what makes GSSM such a unique and inspiring place. 

Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and our YouTube channel!

Subscribe to Newsletter

Permission Forms for School Events and Trips

There are many activities available to students that fall outside the scope of day-to-day operations. The permission form to participate in these activities is signed at the beginning of the school year during registration. Families who would like to update their student's permission form should contact the Vice President of Student Development at 843.383.3905.

Student Image Use

GSSM uses student images for marketing and promotional materials, including social media, web content, printed materials, and more. You can read a full breakdown of our usage policies, but please note that any student who does not have photo permissions cannot be considered for leadership roles at the school. The roles are inherently public-facing and we cannot guarantee that Ambassadors and other student leaders wouldn't have their images shared.

Image Use Consent Form for Events (PDF)

Approved Weekend Leave

Parents or legal guardians must approve Weekend Leave requests before students may leave campus for the weekend or other overnight visits away. It is a three-step process:

1. Students create a request for Weekend Leave campus through the Reach Boarding system.
    
2. The guardian registered in our system will receive an email with instructions to approve the request. Parents or guardians do not need an account in Reach to approve Weekend Leave requests.
    
3. After GSSM staff verify the request and parent/guardian approval, the leave will be approved and all parties will receive a confirmation by email.

All requests must receive parent/guardian approval by 5 p.m. the Thursday before the weekend the student intends to leave campus.

Please refer your questions about the Weekend/Overnight Leave process to the RLC on Duty at 843.383.3901, ext.3931 or the RLC Duty Phone at 843.858.1603.

Instructional Materials Uniform Complaint Form

Regulation 43-170 allows a parent or legal guardian to file this complaint form with their District board if they believe a specific instructional material used in their District violates the requirements of the Regulation.

Complaint Form (PDF)

Instructional Materials Uniform Notice of Appeal Form

Regulation 43-170 allows a parent or legal guardian to file this appeal form with the State Board of Education if they believe a specific instructional material in their District that was retained in part or in whole by a final decision of their District Board violates the requirements of the Regulation.

Notice of Appeal Form (PDF)

What is the PAC?

GSSM parents established the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) to support the school and its students’ lives and education. It also serves as a supportive community for parents, connecting us with one another and our shared experiences.

Every parent and guardian is automatically a member of this organization. PAC’s operating budget comes from a $100 contribution requested from each family at the beginning of the school year. The money is used to provide resources for extracurricular activities and events, all of which make our students' school year more memorable.

Get Involved

Family Facebook Page

GSSM families experience a common bond that comes from enrolling their student in a challenging school away from home. Who better to share questions, ideas, and concerns with than a parent who has done it before, or who is doing it now? 

GSSM's PAC operates a Facebook page exclusively for GSSM parents. It is not affiliated with the school, and is completely managed by family volunteers. Please note that the Family Facebook Page allows parents of rising juniors to join the group in early summer.

Note: GSSM does not maintain the Family Facebook page and does not endorse, or accept responsibility for, any information or opinions shared on that page unless they are posted directly by an authorized GSSM staff member. All concerns about activity on this page should be submitted to the page Admin for consideration.

Join the Family Facebook Page