As we enter the Fall Season, I am proud to share that Guilford Park High School has grown to house one of the largest athletic programs in the entire Howard County Public School System! I am deeply grateful for the incredible community we continue to build together. One of my absolute favorite parts of serving as your Principal is watching our Panthers compete and seeing friends, families, staff, and community members come to cheer on our teams. To ensure every game remains a safe, welcoming, and memorable experience for everyone in attendance, it is imperative that we all adhere to the HCPSS rules, expectations, and safety guidelines outlined below.
Admission & Entry Rules
- Adult Supervision: All children who are in 8th grade or younger (this includes middle school, elementary, or non-high-school-aged students) must be accompanied by an adult, or they will be turned away from entry.
- Prohibited Items: Backpacks, outside food, emotional support animals, and outside beverages are strictly prohibited inside the stadium and school (only bottled water is permitted inside the gymnasium).
- No Re-entry: Spectators who leave the stadium or school building will not be re-admitted.
Behavior & Student Code of Conduct
- Code of Conduct: Athletic contests are considered extensions of the school day. Behaviors that violate the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct or Board of Education policies are subject to the same disciplinary measures as those during school hours.
- Seating & Facilities: Spectators must remain seated in the bleachers or wait in line; loitering in open areas, hallways, or corridors is strictly prohibited.
- No Recreational Playing: Ball playing by spectators in the stadium, hallways, or on school grounds is not permitted.
- Prohibited Substances: Substances such as tobacco, vaping, marijuana, and alcohol are illegal to possess on school grounds. Furthermore, no spectators are permitted to be under the influence of these substances upon entering school grounds.
Sportsmanship, Enforcement, & Safety
- Sportsmanship: All spectators are expected to display good sportsmanship and follow all HCPSS Rules, Policies and Guidelines, including respect toward athletes, coaches, officials, members of the marching band, cheerleaders, poms, dance teams, opposing fans, and all attendees.
- Consequences & Police Presence: Any students engaging in inappropriate, illegal, or dangerous behavior—including verbal and physical abuse—are subject to discipline up to the forfeiture of the game itself. Non-student spectators who violate event rules may be asked to leave and may be banned for the remainder of the season. Additionally, the Howard County Police Department maintains a presence at games to ensure all applicable laws are upheld.
Sideline & Courtside Access: To protect the integrity of the game, minimize potential distractions, and prioritize GPHS student organizations, sideline and courtside access is strictly limited to:
- GPHS students representing GPHS organizations (limited to 2 passes per contest, pre-approved and distributed by the Athletic & Activities Manager).
- Credentialed media (approved in advance by the AAM).
- College coaches, scouts, and recruiters (approved in advance by the AAM).
All other spectators and photographers are welcome to capture photos from outside the fence encircling the track inside the stadium or directly from the gymnasium bleachers.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership in keeping our focus on celebrating the accomplishments of our Panther student-athletes!
Go Panthers!