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October 11, 2024
GCISD Schools and District Receive Top Honors in Niche 2025 Rankings
GCISD Schools and District Receive Top Honors in Niche 2025 Rankings
GCISD and several campuses received top honors in the Niche 2025 Best Schools and District rankings released this week.
The district was named #2 in the Best School Districts in the DFW Area, and #4 in Texas. GCISD was also #14 in Best Places to Teach in Texas and was one of only two DFW school districts in the top 15. The district also garnered the 19th spot in the Districts with Best Teachers in Texas.
Schools also received top spots at the national, state and local levels.
iUniversity Prep was named #1 in Texas and #2 in America on Niche’s 2025 Best Public Online High Schools ranking. iUP has been at the top of the Texas list since it first qualified for the ranking in 2019.*
In Tarrant County, Glenhope Elementary was #4 in the Best Public Elementary Schools rankings, while in the Best Public High Schools ranking, Colleyville Heritage High School was #3 and Grapevine High School was #4.
Niche is an online platform that provides profiles on every school in America to connect students and families with colleges and schools. While traditional rankings rely almost exclusively on metrics like test scores and academic performance, Niche’s rankings combine user input — ratings from current students, alumni and parents — with quantitative data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities, extracurricular activity opportunities and more.
The Book Fair is Coming!
October 21-25, 2024
We need lots of volunteers to make this year's Book Fair a success. If you would like to help out, please sign up at this link:
https://bit.ly/Fall2024BookFairVolunteer
The Book Fair will be open during these dates and times:
Monday, October 21: 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 22: 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 23: 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 24: 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Friday, October 25: 8:00 a.m. - noon
If you prefer to shop online or purchase a digital gift card for your student to use, you may do so at our Online Book Fair.
Items purchased through the Online Book Fair will ship to Glenhope in November.
Thanks for supporting your Glenhope Library!
Please get doctor's notes to Mrs. Hill as soon as possible. The note excuses them so that the student's absence is coded properly. If your student was at a doctor's appointment, the note will ensure the appointment doesn't count toward total absences and you won't get an attendance letter!
National School Lunch Week October 15-18
Each year, GCISD celebrates National School Lunch Week (NSLW) in October at our elementary and middle school campuses. During NSLW, we pull out all the stops with student favorites, Texas local items, and even some special Texas State Fair-themed treats!
This year’s menu is off-the-charts with goodies like the wacky burger, Texas-made lone star luau fruit slush, footlong corn dog, cinnamon sugar churros, and back by popular demand—our legendary pizza on a stick!
The students and staff have a blast with these special menu items, and Nutrition Services is thrilled to continue this fun tradition. Make sure to join us for lunch from October 15-18 and be part of the excitement!
This institution is an equal opportunity provider
Update from the Glenhope Roundtable meeting.
Our second Glenhope Roundtable Meeting was held on Tuesday afternoon. The roundtable format was created to provide an opportunity for dialogue between parents and with school staff members around the topic of creating a more cohesive environment for all students and parents. The first meeting was primarily an introduction meeting and included small group breakouts to have discussions around issues participants were aware of. At the end of the first meeting, parents asked for information about the vision for Glenhope and ASPIRE in the future.
During the second meeting, Dr. Griffin provided background information about when and why ASPIRE and other GCISD programs were started. Other programs created around the same time include iUniversity Prep, the STEM program at Cannon Elementary, and GCISD Collegiate Academy at TCC Northeast. The question was raised if there are plans for Glenhope to become an ASPIRE-only campus, and the answer was a definitive no. Currently, there are 220 ASPIRE students of the total enrollment of 570 at Glenhope. There are 121 students who have been approved to transfer, which includes sibling transfers.
Our roundtable group will continue to discuss ways for all students in a grade level to spend time together in less structured settings to foster authentic relationships and opportunities for collaboration.
Our next roundtable meeting will be 12/10, and will include information about the way all teachers work to meet the individual needs of students at Glenhope. Any interested parents are welcome to attend!
Don't Forget to Order This Year's School Pictures
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EXPIRES: July 31, 2025
We are planning to have two Spelling Bees this year for our school. One will be open to all students in grades 3-5 not in ASPIRE and one for all 3-5 students in ASPIRE. We are going to do a pretest to determine the top spellers based on the brief pretest. Those students will be invited to take the qualifying pretest, and then the top 20 from that qualifying pretest will be in one of the Spelling Bees. The Spelling Bees will be held on November 20th.
Our fifth graders will be tested for GT/ASPIRE earlier than in previous years. Testing will occur from November 11 to December 13. The reason for this change is middle school course selection.
We learned recently that the program we are using for diagnostic and instructional purposes (iReady) recommends students spend between 30-45 minutes each week on each subject. We are working to incorporate that into our instructional time. They don't recommend doing more time than that because their research doesn't indicate that doing more time yields any further benefit and they don't want students to become bored with the program through overuse.
Please don't worry about having your child do extra iReady minutes at home. If you want to help them with their learning here are some things you can do: be sure they read for 20 minutes every day; read to them and discuss what you've read; have the practice math facts; pose a question at dinner "would you rather....."
Fall Festival!
Fall Festival!
If you're coming to LWALO, please fill out thiss Fast Pass for 10/18. We can only accept responses through Monday because printing the badges is done manually!
ALL THE VATRE INFO IN ONE PLACE!
VATRE Community Presentation Scheduled for October 17
A community presentation to inform the public about GCISD’s voter-approved tax ratification election (VATRE) has been scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, October 17, at the district’s Professional Development and Education Center (PDEC), 5800 Colleyville Blvd. in Colleyville, TX 76034.
Come learn facts about the VATRE, why the election was called, its impact on the tax rate and more.
We hope to see you at the October 17 community presentation, but if you are not able to attend watch the district’s September 18 Facebook Live presentation or visit www.GCISD.net/VATRE to read more about the VATRE that will be on the November 5, 2024 ballot for GCISD voters to consider.
Don’t forget that the deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 7. Early voting begins Monday, October 21, and continues through November 1.
View VATRE Facebook Live Presentation
In case you missed it, GCISD’s Facebook Live Presentation held Wednesday, September 18, about the upcoming voter-approved tax ratification election (VATRE) is available on GCISD’s YouTube Channel and the district’s Facebook page. Hear from Superintendent Dr. Brad Schnautz and Chief Financial Officer Derick Sibley share details about the VATRE, why the election has been called and its impact on the tax rate.
Register by October 7 to Vote in the November Election
Monday, October 7, is the deadline to register to vote in the November 5, 2024, general election. Please visit VoteTexas.gov for information on how to register. Additional important dates are:
Early voting: Monday, October 21 through Friday, November 1
Deadline to apply for ballot by mail: Friday, October 25
Election Day: Tuesday, November 5
Stay informed about GCISD’s voter–approved tax ratification election by visiting www.GCISD.net/VATRE.
Before You Head to the Polls: Learn About GCISD’s Tax Rate History
The Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) on the November 5 ballot will ask Grapevine-Colleyville ISD voters to consider ratifying the overall tax rate of $0.9233, generating nearly $6 million in funding for school district operations.
Did you know that GCISD’s overall tax rate is 47.3 cents less than it was in 2018, which equates to $90 million of taxpayer relief? This is the lowest overall tax rate in GCISD in more than 25 years.
Since 2018, the GCISD Board of Trustees has lowered the Interest & Sinking tax rate from $0.3567 to $0.1864. The Maintenance & Operations tax rate has also decreased due to statewide compression from $1.04 to $0.7369. With the passage of the VATRE, the new overall tax rate would be $0.9233, resulting in a $0.0014 lower overall tax rate from 2023.
Learn more about why a VATRE is on the ballot, how it would impact GCISD’s tax rate and what it will fund at www.GCISD.net/VATRE.
GCISD Receives High Marks in Efficiency Audit Required for VATRE
The audit analyzed GCISD's academic, financial and operational performance in comparison to similar districts. Auditors highlighted that GCISD received an "A" in the state’s accountability ratings, an "A" in the state’s financial ratings, and demonstrated an average daily attendance higher than both peer districts and the state average.
According to the auditors, “When all of the data was pulled together for the report, we concluded that, with respect to all of the eight peer districts, GCISD efficiently uses its resources and would be good stewards of increased tax revenue as a result of this M&O tax rate increase, but that would be for voters to decide in November.”
Read the full story here and learn more about the VATRE at www.GCISD.net/VATRE.
Three Facts About the VATRE
Three Facts About the VATRE
GCISD registered voters will be asked to consider adding three cents to the Maintenance & Operations tax rate through a voter-approved tax ratification election on the November 5 ballot. Here are three quick facts:
Even with the VATRE, GCISD’s total tax rate will be lower - Even with the three additional pennies from the passage of the VATRE, the GCISD total overall tax rate (M&O plus I&S) will be lowered by $0.0014.
Funds are not subject to recapture - Tax funds collected through these additional three pennies would stay within GCISD and not be subject to recapture, meaning that 100 percent of these funds would remain in the district.
The three-cent increase to the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate would generate approximately $6 million - These funds would be for school district operations, which includes instruction, staff, transportation, maintenance, extracurricular activities and other daily operating expenses, excluding projects included in the recent bond. Bonds are paid for by a separate Interest & Sinking (I&S) fund, which is debt service.
Learn more at www.GCISD.net/VATRE.
Counseling CanaFACTS
Counseling CanaFACTS
October is Bullying Prevention Month
In October, all Glenhope students will focus on the character trait Responsibility during their class visit with the counselor. We'll discuss how one big responsibility of ALL students is to prevent and report bullying. We'll discuss the definition of bullying, go over examples of bullying vs. mean behavior, and discuss how to report bullying on our campus. Students wore Blue and Boots on October 7th to "Stomp Out Bullying." On October 16th, all GCISD students and staff are asked to wear ORANGE for Unity Day, to show that we are united in the effort to stop bullying.
Parents play a huge role in helping to prevent bullying. Please check out the CharacterStrong Bullying Prevention webpage, which has a GREAT video explaining what bullying truly is and why we take it so seriously. The webpage also has guidance on what to do if your child may be experiencing bullying, how to handle cyberbullying, and a list of proactive strategies for promoting well-being and resilience. You are encouraged to check out this resource and talk to your kids about bullying to reinforce the messages they are hearing at school.
RED RIBBON WEEK
October 28 - November 1 is Red Ribbon Week, a week celebrated annually at schools across the United States as a way to promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. At the elementary level, we do this by encouraging students to make good choices, surround themselves with supportive friends, and love themselves for who they are. This year, the National Red Ribbon Week theme is "Life is a Movie: Film Drug Free." Each day, students and staff will be invited to dress in a theme that goes with a positive quote from a children's movie. Please see the Red Ribbon Week poster on this newsletter and add the following dress-up dates to your calendar!
Monday (10/28): Wear jerseys or team colors to show that we're a team
Tuesday (10/29): Wear pajamas to show the power of our dreams
Wednesday (10/30): Wear bright colors as a reminder that our futures are bright
Thursday (10/31): Dress like your favorite storybook character as a reminder that we are the authors of our own stories (Note: no props, masks, or face paint allowed)
Friday (11/1): Wear Glenhope spirit wear to show that we are a part of a strong community!
That week, I will partner with our amazing Student Council to deliver a positive message related to each day's theme for our morning announcements. During Circle Up time, teachers will have the class focus on a topic related to the day's theme. Each homeroom will also be invited to participate in a poster contest. The posters will display a positive message about living a healthy lifestyle and will hang on classroom doors throughout the school. If you have any questions about Red Ribbon Week, please reach out to lauren.canafax@gcisd.net.
If you would like to learn more about the role of a school counselor, please visit our GCISD Counseling website. Reach out to Lauren Canafax (lauren.canafax@gcisd.net) if your student needs a check-in or if you have any questions/concerns.
Repeated information
Procedure for Students with Unpaid Meal Charges
Procedure for Students with Unpaid Meal Charges
Parents/Guardians shall monitor their student’s school meal account to ensure that they always have a positive balance. In the event that a student does not have a positive balance, the student may charge up to five meals to their account. Only reimbursable meals may be charged. A la carte items may not be charged. Communication about a negative meal balance will be sent to parents/guardians via email/text. Students who have exceeded the 5 charged meal limit, will be offed an alternative meal that will be charged to the student’s account.
If you have questions about the Nutrition Services program, please call ext. 5615 or email julie.telesca@gcisd.net.
Pre-k-8 Breakfast - $1.65; Reduced Breakfast - $0.00 (this school year only)
Elem. Lunch - $2.90
Reduced Lunch - $0.40
Adult/Guest Lunch - $4.50
Glenhope Dad’s Club: 24 - 25
We are excited to have many of our Dads returning and we look forward to meeting the new Dads that are interested in joining the club. Each year we have a number of events that you can participate in.
Main Events
Car Morning Drop off (daily)
Watchdogs (weekly – contact Coach Maupin – sponsor)
October Tailgator (replacing Sock Hop)
Fall Golf Fundraiser (this will be a pre planning to the Spring Tournament)
December Parade of Lights / Float – this will be multiple meetings to get our float ready
April Spring Golf Tournament
Volunteer and participate with PTA when needed
We look forward to an incredible year. Follow the link to join our Group Me chat. https://groupme.com/join_group/88594405/Suo7s0ih
Help out Glenhope PTA when you shop at Tom Thumb!
2024-2025 Back-to-School Attendance Updates
2024-2025 Back-to-School Attendance Updates
Important attendance information: Attendance matters! Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s learning and educational experiences. Parents and students are encouraged to avoid unnecessary absences. Two important state laws govern attendance. In efforts to promote student attendance and learning, please note the following reminders and updates to GCISD attendance requirements.
Laws Governing School Attendance:
Compulsory Attendance (AKA Truancy)
Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten
Students enrolled in prekindergarten or kindergarten are required to attend school and are subject to the compulsory attendance requirements as long as they remain enrolled at a campus.
Ages 6–18
State law requires that a student who is at least six years of age, or who is younger than six years of age and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not yet reached their 19th birthday, shall attend school, as well as any applicable accelerated instruction program, extended-year program, or tutorial session, unless the student is otherwise excused from attendance or legally exempt. Students/families who do not meet compulsory attendance will be referred to the GCISD Attendance Review Board and/or referred to Tarrant County Court for truancy. If a student fails to attend school without excuse on three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period but does not fail to attend school for the time described below, the district shall initiate truancy prevention measures on the student.
Attendance for Credit or Final Grade (AKA 90% Rule)
To receive credit or a final grade in a class, a student in kindergarten–grade 12 must attend at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered. With the exception of absences due to serious or life-threatening illness or related treatment, all absences, whether excused or unexcused, must be considered in determining whether a student has attended the required percentage of days. Students who are in danger of losing credit or promotion will be contacted by the campuses with plans for opportunities to regain lost instructional time.
Official Attendance-Taking Time
Official attendance is taken every day at 10:00 a.m. Attendance is taken at 8:55 a.m. at Collegiate Academy and 12 p.m. for Bridges.
Documentation after an Absence
Up to eight days per year (four per semester) may be excused by a parent note for missed attendance beyond medical, approved excused, and statutorily exemptions. Vacations taken during the school year will be coded as unexcused absences. All absences whether excused or unexcused count toward the 90% rule.
A parent must provide an explanation for any absence upon the student’s arrival or return to school. The student must submit a note signed by the parent. The campus may accept a phone call from the parent, but reserves the right to require a written note. A note signed by the student will not be accepted unless the student is age 18 or older or is an emancipated minor under state law. The campus will document in its attendance records whether the absence is excused or unexcused.
Please email Nurse Liz (elizabeth.giblin@gcisd.net) and Tanya Hill (tanya.hill@gcisd.net) whenever your child will be out sick.
School Menus Online
School Menus Online
Welcome back! Nutrition Services is excited about the upcoming school year. School Menus, the district charge policy, menu item pricing and more can be found on the department's school menus web page.
More information, including menu item nutritional information and allergens, may be viewed through the Nutrition Services web page or by downloading the MealViewer app available for download through the Apple Store or Google Play.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider
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