Gator Connect

Oct 5-12

Principal Message & News

Happy Sunday, Gator Families!

I hope everyone had a fantastic week. It was a great week of learning for our students, and we had a special bonus for our kindergarten through second-grade students: a "Lunch with a Loved One" event. Seeing the joy on our students' faces as they shared a meal with their special guests was heartwarming. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend; it meant the world to our young learners. Your involvement is incredibly important, and we appreciate your continued partnership in your child's education.

We also celebrated School Custodian Appreciation Day. Our custodians are the unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our building is a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for all students and staff. Please take a moment to thank them for their continuous hard work, from maintaining spotless classrooms to keeping our campus beautiful.

World Teachers' Day is celebrated globally on October 5th. This is an opportunity to recognize and thank our wonderful teachers for the profound impact they have on our children's lives. They dedicate themselves to inspiring, challenging, and nurturing every student.

Please note this important scheduling reminder for the upcoming week:

Monday- Wear your blue and boots for bullying prevention day!

Thursday- 3rd/4th/5th Lunch with a Loved One

There will be NO SCHOOL for students this Friday, October 10th. This day is reserved for Staff Instructional Planning and is an important time for our educators to collaborate, analyze data, and plan enriching lessons for your students.

No School for Staff & Students on Monday, October 13 ( District Closed ). Please mark your calendars accordingly!

Let's show some appreciation for our staff! If you are feeling grateful for anyone on our staff and would like to pass that message along, please share it here. We will share it in our weekly staff newsletter!

Do you have a question I can help answer, or feedback to make Glenhope even better! Please complete the form!

-Alishia Ilic

GHES Principal

Gator Way Winners of the Week

Kinder: Kathryn demonstrates responsibility by consistently following the rules and routine. She does a great job leading by example.

1st: Joseph shows the Gator Way every day by being a great example to others. He’s kind to his classmates and teachers, and always treats everyone with respect and compassion. I know I can count on Joseph to be a good friend and to look out for the people around him. We’re lucky to have him in our class!

2nd: Charlotte is a wonderful example and leader for all of her classmates. She consistently shows respect to teachers, classmates, and our school with a positive attitude!

3rd: Evan goes out of his way multiple times during the day to straighten up our classroom reading corner and bookshelves without having to be asked. He quietly shows leadership.

4th: Braden got ahead of all his classwork he would miss when he was gone with a good attitude.

5th: I am nominating Ariana for the Gator Way Winner award for being incredibly responsible. Ariana consistently demonstrates a high level of accountability and dedication to her work and her classmates. She always comes to class prepared and ready to learn, and she takes ownership of her assignments, making sure they are completed thoroughly and on time.

Edugator of the Month

Mrs. Cohen was our teacher nominated for the Stars of GCISD and it does not surprise us one bit!

"It is with great pride and admiration that I nominate Mrs. Cohen for this honor. She is truly one of those rare educators who leaves an unforgettable impact on every student, family, and colleague she encounters.

In her second-grade classroom, every child feels loved, cared for, and valued. She has a gift for creating a learning environment where students not only grow academically, but also feel safe, important, and supported. Her lessons are engaging and filled with creativity, making learning fun and exciting for her students. She knows how to spark curiosity and joy in a way that makes children eager to come to school each day.

Beyond academics, Mrs. Cohen makes the social and emotional well-being of her students a priority. She takes time to check in on their mental health, ensuring each child feels seen and supported. Her compassion extends to families as well—she makes time for those who may be struggling and offers encouragement, guidance, and a listening ear.

She is not only a beloved teacher but also a respected leader on campus. Her dedication, professionalism, and heart for her students make her stand out to parents, colleagues, and administrators alike.

The truth is, Mrs. Cohen deserves much more than just this nomination. She is a shining example of what it means to be an extraordinary educator, and her positive impact will be felt for years to come."

News from our Gator Reporters...

Our first Pep-Rally

Hello Glenhope Gators, last week ("Friday, September 26th"), we had our very first pep rally of this year! It was a perfect opportunity to show off our school spirit. The pep rally was a 30-minute break from our school day, filled with fun cheers, fascinating information, cool awards, and everything in between. There were cheerleaders from Cross Timbers who came and taught us some cool cheers. There was also a cash box, and the people who had won the Gator Way award got to be put on a wheel. Then, our principal, Ms. Ilic, spun the wheel to select them. If the wheel landed on their names, they got to go in this really cool box filled with gator bucks, and there was a big fan that made them go everywhere in the cash box, and they got to pick up as many gator bucks as they could, and when their time was done, they walked out rich with gator bucks. In the pep rally, there was also another award called the great gator award, and whoever showed our personality trait of the month, which this month was sympathy, got the great gator award. That was just a taste of what our wonderful pep rally was like!

From the desk of Beckett J., Gator Reporter

Gatorville Clubs

Dear Gator Parents,

There have been a lot of new happenings at Glenhope this year like Gatorville Clubs! These clubs were presented to us by our teachers and we got to pick our top three choices. Every pep rally Friday, we have Gatorville clubs to make the day even more fun. The club that I picked was Media, which was taught by Miss Carter. Did you know she used to be a meteorologist? She even brought in some people from CBS - News 11 crew to talk to us. Some other clubs my classmates chose are Disc Golf, walking club, fitness, and 3D printing. When my friends came inside from Disc Golf they said they had so much fun!

Thank you for reading! Jack D., Gator Reporter

Who are our Gator REPORTERs?

Gator Reporters are 5th grade students who have signed up to bring our Parent Newsletters the news and happenings in our school. Each week we will feature a different Gator Reporter writing about various events or things in our school. This is all student led but they have the opportunity to work with Mrs. Arnold to gather ideas and edit their article.

Important Information

Grade Level Newsletters

Classroom Highlights

Important Dates

October 4th, Fire Department Open House ( The Colleyville Fire Department invites the community to its home (Central Station, 5209 Colleyville Blvd.) for an Open House on Saturday, October 4 from 10 am to 1 pm. Families can learn all about the fire department straight from Colleyville firefighters, tour the fire station, and participate in activities for the whole family. Food and beverages will be available through the Colleyville Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association. Come join us for this free event!)
October 6th, Stomp Out Bullying Day - Wear Blue and/or Boots!
October 7th, National Night Out Event! Mark your calendar for Colleyville’s Annual National Night Out Event. The event will be held on the Plaza at City Hall on October 7 at 5:30 PM. This is a FREE event for people of all ages to come out and meet the men and women who help keep Colleyville safe! https://www.facebook.com/share/1B1vYnW2DE/
October 8th, World Dyslexia Awareness Day- Wear RED!
October 9th, Lunch with a Loved One (3rd, 4th, 5th)
October 10th, No school for students (Teacher Instructional Planning Day)
October 13th, No school for students or teachers
October 14th, Chicken N Pickle Spirit Night (6-8pm)
October 15-17, Sky Ranch for 5th Graders
October 18th, Fall Fest (2pm-6pm)
October 20th, Cliburn in the Classroom for 2nd-4th Grade
October 22nd, Unity Day - Wear Orange
October 27th-31st, Red Ribbon Week
October 31st, Pep Rally and Club Day

Lunch with a Loved one ♥️

We had a wonderful time with families for our K-2nd graders! Thank you to all who attended!

Next up:

Thursday 10/9/25 (3rd, 4th, 5th): Get your fast pass here!

Lost & Found

Click here to view and claim from the Lost & Found at Glenhope!

Beige and Red Illustrative Dyslexia Poster.pdf

GCISD News

Volunteer Background Check

Apply Online

GCISD utilizes Raptor Technologies for volunteer applications and signing up for volunteer opportunities.

Review the 2025-2026 Student Code of Conduct, Parent Handbook

GCISD is having a successful start to the school year! Please help us keep that momentum going by taking a moment to review with your students the 2025-2026 Student Code of Conduct and 2025-2026 Student Parent-Handbook, which includes dress code and updates from the 89th Legislative Session.

Counseling CanaFACTS with Mrs. Canafax

Bullying Prevention and Awareness

October is Bullying Prevention Month, so we focus on bullying prevention and how/when to report bullying during September/October guidance time. Parents and teachers play a huge role in helping to prevent bullying. Please check out the CharacterStrong Bullying Prevention webpage, which has a helpful video explaining what bullying truly is and why it is taken so seriously. The webpage also has guidance on what to do if your child or student may be experiencing bullying, how to handle cyberbullying, and a list of proactive strategies for promoting well-being and resilience.

Stomp Out Bullying! Glenhope students are encouraged to wear blue and/or boots on Monday, October 6th to show that they stand up against bullying.

Unity Day! Glenhope students are encouraged to wear orange on Wednesday, October 22nd for a visible message that we are united as a commUNITY that stands against bullying.

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week is coming up - October 27-31st! Red Ribbon Week is a nation-wide drug prevention campaign. You can learn more here. This year's National Red Ribbon Week Theme is "Life is a Puzzle: Solve it Drug Free." Every choice we make fits into a bigger picture, like a puzzle coming together. We want our Gators to make healthy choices to build a stronger, brighter future!

During Red Ribbon Week, students will be invited to participate in themed dress-up days. Be on the lookout for those themes in next week's newsletter. We will include a short message in the morning announcements about how each theme is connected to living a healthy lifestyle. At the elementary level, our messaging will be focused on choices such as being a good friend and taking care of yourself. Although we focus more on healthy lifestyles at school, you are encouraged to talk to your child about drugs and the dangers of substance abuse at home - and not just during Red Ribbon Week! This website has some tips for how to have those conversations with your kids!

Guidance Lessons

September/October Guidance lessons continued last week, and I had so much fun working with students in the following homeroom classes: Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Quiroz, and Mrs. Day. If your student is in one of those classes, ask them to talk to you about the following:

Who is the school counselor, and when/how can you see her?
What is Empathy? (Understanding and connecting to other people's feelings)
What is Responsibility? (Taking action and understanding the impact of our choices)
What is Bullying? (When someone hurts your body and/or heart on purpose and it happens repeatedly. Grades 3-5 also discussed how true bullying involves an imbalance of power).

Because we resumed Guidance classes in mid-September, our lessons for September and October are combined. I will see students again in November for their next monthly guidance lesson, where we will focus on Gratitude!

Lunch Bunch

My Lunch Bunches for October/November are full. I look forward to starting a new group in December! If you think your child could benefit from joining a Lunch Bunch later this school year, please complete this form.

Check-Ins

If your child is ever in need of a check-in or if you have any concerns to discuss, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at lauren.canafax@gcisd.net

If you would like to learn more about the role of a GCISD school counselor, click here. You are always welcome to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Library Lowdown with Mrs. Arnold

📈 September Library Stats 📉

Books Read in September: 3,338

Books Read in 2025 - 2026: 5,260

This year's goal is for our Gators to read 10,000 books this year!

September's Top Grade Level:

3rd Grade with over 760 check outs

September Top Book to be Checked Out:

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late and Smile

September Top Library Reader: Kiyan Surani

Congratulations to Kiyan for being our Top Library Reader this month. He had a total of 31 check outs. That's a lot of reading. Kiyan says his favorite types of books to read are humor books and his absolute favorite book is My Weird School. Way to go Kiyan!

📚 Book Fair 📚

Thank you all for your support of our library and our school. Together, we purchased $13,000 in books and able to use a portion of that to purchase new books for the library. I have already conducted an interest survey to find out what books our students want to have more of in the library!

It was such a fun week filled with excitement, bargaining, scouring for money, and math.

A HUGE shout out to all the volunteers. It was a fast, crazy time in the library and I could not have pulled it off without you.

🍴📖 2nd Grade Lunch Bunch Book Club 📖 🍴

This week we will begin our Lunch Bunch Book Club with 2nd grade. We will be reading Dragon Masters: The Rise of the Earth together during lunch once a week in October. They will also be reading some at home and coming to lunch to have discussions and activities based on the book. We are excited to begin our Lunch Bunch Book Clubs.

Be on the lookout for when it's your grades turn to join in on our Library Fun!

Board Game Donations

I'd love to have an area in the library where students can play some board games. If your Gators have outgrown a board game that has all the pieces to it, the library would love to have them.

Thank you to the families who have brought some in already.

GLenhope Pta

Join PTA

Volunteer

Sponsor

Fall Fest Volunteers - We are so excited for our Fall Festival and cannot wait to enjoy this time with our Gator Families! In order to make this day a success, we need your help. Please consider donating a bit of you or your teens time! Student volunteers must be in 5th grade or above. Any questions, please reach out to fallfestvolunteers@glenhopepta.org Thank You!. Sign up here: Fall Fest Volunteer Signups

Make Your Gator’s Birthday Extra Special!

Start a sweet tradition your family will cherish forever — order a digital birthday sign on the Glenhope marquee for just $15! Imagine looking back one day at those proud birthday pictures in front of the school… It’s a memory you’ll want when your Gator grows up.

We are now accepting birthdays starting August 1 through the school year

Order at least 2 weeks in advance

Order here: https://glenhopeelempta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/311414569

Volunteers Needed

We love our volunteers and appreciate any amount of time you are able to give.

Workbox Wednesday - Every Wednesday, we have a group of volunteers who meet after drop off to help the teachers get little projects done. Join our 2025-26 GroupMe and all the details will be posted each week - https://groupme.com/join_group/108841952/PT8iBVog
Chicken Tenders - A PTA-sponsored initiative to provide student enrichment to learn, take care of and love on our Gator chickens! There are opportunities throughout the year where your family can sign up to take care of them. Sign up here: Fall Schedule - 2025

Check out our Campus Calendar for important events!

Click here to see Glenhope Peachjar flyers!

Cafeteria Visitors

Welcoming Lunch Visitors

We're so excited to welcome cafeteria visitors! Please see some friendly reminders below to ensure we can continue our routine.

To make your visit enjoyable, we've set aside special visitor tables near the back where you can sit with your own children.

Friends will need to remain with their class at their designated table.
Follow the same rules as we do at the school, such as staying seated at the table, no electronics, and no back and forth between the class table and parent table.
During the last five minutes of each lunch period, we go to level 0 and cleanup. This helps signal that it's time to start cleaning up and helps create a calm environment as students finish their meals.
Discuss special treats and snacks with your child in regards to when they can buy these from the cafeteria. We have had to remind numerous students to not get ice cream every day before eating their food or they ask if they can get ice cream every day. We encourage them to ask at home what day is best for them to get an ice cream or special snack!

We can't wait to see you!

Congratulations to your student on completing the i-Ready Diagnostic!

i-Ready letters were sent with your child's results. Please see this letter to access reports digitally.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding i-Ready My Path

Now that we have finished our beginning of the year i-Ready Diagnostic testing, our students are starting their personalized instruction in their My Path. We have put together additional information in the form of a My Path FAQ to support families as we partner with you to help all of our students reach their growth goals this year.

Friendly Reminder of School Hours:

7:20 am: Doors Open

7:30 am: Warning Bell Rings

7:35 am: School Day Begins

3:05 pm: Dismissal

Please walk in your child if you arrive at 7:36 or after. They will be counted tardy if they arrive after the bell., I suggest adjusting your drop-off time by about 10 minutes. Our data shows that the arrival line is significantly shorter between 7:15 and 7:25 a.m., which could help you avoid the rush of people getting in line last.

If you need more pick up passes, please email rebecca.garrett@gcisd.net with your request and current number and child's name!

Senate Bill 12 Requirements and Updates

ACTION REQUIRED: Families should review the information below and log into their student’s Skyward account to complete the pop-up permission forms.

Senate Bill 12, passed during the 89th Legislative session, requires school districts to obtain parent permission for student club participation as well as health services and school-based counseling and support services. It also contains requirements for sharing instructional plans and the prohibition of assisting with social transitioning. The new laws go into effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Families should review the information below and log into their student’s Skyward account to complete the pop-up permission forms.

Student Club Participation

SB 12 requires that parents give written consent before a student may participate in a student club authorized or sponsored by the school. School districts may not authorize or sponsor a student club based on sexual orientation or gender identity. All clubs authorized or sponsored by GCISD will be in accordance with all applicable laws and policies.

If a parent does not give general permission, they will be contacted about each individual club or activity for which their student expresses interest in attending. A paper permission form will be sent home and must be completed and returned to the school prior to the student being permitted to attend or participate in any club meetings.

Health Services

SB 12 requires that staff must have parent consent before providing a student with any care, unless it is a life-threatening emergency. This includes:

Assessment of minor injuries and providing basic first aid (like a scraped knee)
Assessment and management of common health issues and illnesses
Checking vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and pulse oximetry
Monitoring chronic conditions and implementing care plans as appropriate
Provide general health teaching to students on topics such as hygiene, illness prevention, and healthy habits
Proving state mandated screenings
Administration of epinephrine delivery system for anaphylactic reaction or an opioid antagonist, such as Narcan or naloxone, in accordance with TEC and GCISD Board Policy
Application of topical preparations such as Aloe Vera gel, first aid spray, Benadryl cream, etc.

Additionally, you will find a full list of detailed services provided by GCISD campus nurses within the form in Skyward.

School-Based Counseling Services and Support Services

SB 12 requires that parents give permission prior to student participation in school-based counseling and support services. This includes setting academic goals and creating academic plans, guidance lessons, developing social well-being, and access to our character education curriculum, known as Character Strong.

What Support May Include:

Setting academic goals and creating academic plans
Developing social well-being
Checking in about emotions, challenges, or concerns
Learning coping strategies and managing stress
Addressing school-related issues (e.g., attendance, test anxiety, behavior, peer conflict)
Building friendship and conflict-resolution skills
Guidance lessons utilizing the Character Strong program
Participating in short-term individual or group sessions on school-related topics*

*Parents/guardians will be notified and asked for additional consent if individual or group counseling is recommended.

School Counseling Does Not Include:

Therapy or long-term mental health counseling
Assistance with social transitioning

Sharing Instructional Plans

SB 12 requires that teachers share an instructional plan or course syllabus with parents at the start of each semester. Teachers will email parents directly using email addresses provided in Skyward.

Prohibition of Assisting with Social Transitioning

SB 12 prohibits school district employees from assisting students with social transitioning, which includes helping them change their name, pronouns, or other expressions of gender identity that differ from their biological sex at birth.

Any applicable GCISD policies will be amended to be in alignment with state law.

iReady Beginning of Year Testing

The i-Ready diagnostic is a powerful tool that helps us understand each student's specific academic needs in math and reading. These assessments are not a test to study for; they simply give us a starting point for the year. This information is crucial for our teachers as they plan differentiated instruction to help every child succeed.

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will be taking these assessments on their devices, and we have approximately three to complete them. Please make sure your child brings their fully charged device (iPad or Chromebook) and a pair of headphones to school every day starting Monday, August 18. Having a charged device and headphones is essential for a smooth testing process.

Please read this letter, which explains more about i-Ready and its purpose.

School Supply List

FINAL 25-26 Elementary School Supply List.pdf

2025-2026 District Calendar

25-26_Instructional_Calendar (1).pdf

GCISD Committees

GCISD has a variety of committees that provide District leaders with valuable feedback while offering opportunities for employees, parents, and community members to become more involved and make a positive impact on the education of GCISD students.

To Apply, click here!

Important Information from Nutrition Services

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 website here.

More information including menu item nutritional information and allergens may be viewed through the nutrition services website or by downloading the Meal Viewer app through the apple or android store.

In accordance with program guidelines, the Free and Reduced application will be available online as part of skyward registration. The free and reduced application should be filled out electronically at https://www.nlappscloud.com/. For those parents that still would like to complete a paper application, they may download an application on the website or stop by the Nutrition Services office at 5800 Colleyville Blvd.

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 5 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 offered an alternative meal that will be charged to the student’s account.

If you have questions about the Nutrition Services program, please call ext. 5618 or email child.nutrition@gcisd.net.

Meal Prices

Pk-8 Breakfast - $1.85
High School Breakfast - $2.05
Reduced Breakfast* - $0.00
Adult/Guest Breakfast - $3.25
Elem. Lunch - $3.10
Middle Lunch - $3.30
High School Lunch - $4.00
Reduced Lunch* - $0.40, after Sept. 1, No cost
Adult/Guest Lunch - $4.75

*(Reduced priced at GHS, CHHS, Bridges is $0.30 breakfast, $0.40 lunch)

This institution is an equal opportunity provider

Glenhope Elementary

Email: alishia.ilic@gcisd.net
Website: https://ghes.gcisd.net/

Location: 6600 Glenhope Cir N, Colleyville, TX 76034

Phone: 817-251-5720
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlenhopeGators/

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