WELCOME BACK!!!

Hope you enjoyed a much needed break with your loved ones. We spent the month of November talking about gratitude ("fancy word for being thankful"). All of your students had so many wonderful things to share. Practicing gratitude is not only a great practice, but something that can improve your health and mood. This is not something that comes naturally for most, so it is a daily effort to practice and pause. I found myself working to incorporate during both the bad times and the good because of the incredible conversations had with your kiddos. Remind them and model gratitude in action!

In December we will be working on COOPERATION and doing a refresher on all the breathing/mindfulness practices we have learned this semester. Toward the end of the month I will share for you to be able to use at home. 

Have a blessed week,

Mackenzie Holley

mackenzie.holley@gcisd.net

Repeated information:

• PRACTICING HEALTHY HABITS: Please review healthy habits with your children (and all family members).  Proper handwashing, coughing/sneezing into the bend of the arm, and avoidance of touching the face (especially the T-zone) are all important lessons to teach at home.  Practicing these habits will help diminish our level of illnesses during the school year.

•  POP TABS DONATIONS: We are STILL collecting pop tops! This is an easy way we can help support the families at Ronald McDonald House.  Bring in all kinds of pop tops and tabs!  There is be a labeled bucket in clinic for donations. :)

• LION'S CLUB RECYCLE FOR SIGHT PROGRAM:   This is another way we can be servant leaders.  Donate any old eyeglasses/lenses/cases!   There are collection boxes in the front vestibule and in the front office.  Most of the recycled glasses are sorted and distributed to people in need in developing countries where they will have the greatest impact.  

• FAILED VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS: I am continuing to sort through screening results and re-screening any students who failed their vision and/or hearing.  If they fail twice, I will send home referral letters.  

• WHEN TO STAY HOME: Students must stay home from school if any of the following are present:

●      fever of 100 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours

●      vomiting and/or diarrhea in the past 24 hours

●      itchy, red eyes with discharge

●      unknown rash

●      jaundice

●      ringworm of the scalp (until treatment has begun)

GCISD has a 24-hour policy related to stomach illness or fever.  Students may not return to school until free of fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea for a minimum of 24 hours without the aid of any medication.  If your student is sent home from school with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, you must still abide by the 24-hour policy, and keep your child home for a minimum of 24 hours after symptoms have subsided without the aid of medication.

Important Dates:

• 5th Grade testing begins: Nov. 11 - Dec. 13th

• K-4 referral window: Dec. 2nd - 20th

• K- 4th GT testing: January 8th - 31st    No classes in January

Progress reports will be sent home next week. Please keep the report but sign the envelope and return it. Thank you!

Supplies Needed: toilet paper rolls, popsicle sticks, and pencils

Glue a shoe - 5th-grade shoe puns (pictures on the left-hand side)

What are we learning in GT LEAD 2nd nine weeks?

1st Grade -   Authentic Research

2nd Grade - Simple Machines

3rd Grade -  3D Discoveries

4th Grade -  Detective School 

5th Grade -  Independent Research

SAGE: Please consider joining this wonderful organization of GCISD parents and teachers, supporting gifted scholars K-12.  They work with local and state programs to ensure the needs of this population are fully met.  Strong membership also supports my job, which I love very much! SAGE will share articles and learning strategies to assist you in your classroom. I would appreciate your membership. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

Supporting & Advocating for Gifted Education

Resources:

Byrdseed Articles

• A video of me talking about why gifted kids are different than just “smart kids”

• Related: how being repeatedly called “smart” can become a burden.

• Does your child seem anxious? This is common.

• Why your gifted kid shouldn’t be tutoring other students in class.

• Gifted kids can be squirmy, fidgety, have high energy… and that’s ok!

• Be thoughtful about how you praise kids.

Books

• Living With Intensity

• Turn Your Worrier Into A Warrior

• Why Smart Kids Worry

• When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All The Answers

GCISD NUTRITION SERVICES:  Click here to see the school menus.

FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATIONS: Starting on July 10, 2024, free and reduced-price meal applications were made available to fill out for the 2024-2025 school year. Families are encouraged to complete the Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals available online at www.schoollunchapp.com. A paper copy may be downloaded from the website or requested at any campus or Nutrition Services office.

 The application will determine a child’s eligibility for free and reduced-price meals and may assist in the determination of eligibility for other state or federal benefits. Only one application needs to be completed per household. Schools will notify the household of the child’s eligibility. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers school nutrition programs in Texas and offers an eligibility calculator at www.SquareMeals.org/ProgramEligibility.  

Decisions regarding payment for school meals are made at the national-government level, not by the school nutrition team or TDA. The dedicated staff in Nutrition Services is looking forward to serving healthy, balanced meals to students in the new school year.  If you have any questions, please call 817-251-5617 or email child.nutrition@gcisd.net. 

Texas legislation has approved a 2024-25 biennium budget, which includes $3.3 million per year to cover the cost of school breakfasts for students eligible for reduced price meals. Students that are approved for reduced-priced meals may eat breakfast at no cost this school year. Lunch price is $0.40.

PROCEDURE FOR FAMILIES 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 6 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. Students who have exceeded the 6 charged meal limit, will be offered an alternative meal that will be charged to the student’s account.