Hello, Gator Families! 

Happy New Year to all of our wonderful families! We hope your winter break was filled with rest, laughter, and quality time together. As we open our doors for the second half of the school year, we are energized and excited to see our students' smiling faces again. As a reminder, students return on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. 

We want to ensure every student starts their day ready to learn! Please remember the official school start time and drop-off schedule:

• School doors open for students at 7:20 AM. We start opening car doors at 7:15! 

• Instruction begins promptly at 7:35 AM - EVERY INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTE COUNTS!

• Students are marked tardy starting at 7:36 AM.

Punctuality is important for your child's success, as missing even a few minutes of instructional time can be disruptive. Thank you for helping us get the school day off to a great start! The best time to drop off your child is between 7:15-7:28 for the least amount of wait! 

Please remember to send your Gator in comfortable clothes and sneakers for their busy school days! Water bottles and nut-free snacks are also a must to make each day successful! Please pay your outstanding Technology & Lunch Fees as soon as possible; Outstanding fee emails are sent to parents weekly. Paying your fee in a timely manner ensures that your student's device access and digital learning experience remain uninterrupted. Please complete the payment via Skyward at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your cooperation!

It truly takes a village, and our swamp is one of a kind! 

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 

i-Ready Middle of the Year Testing

Middle of the year i-Ready assessments have been completed. Printed reports will be sent home the week of January 7th, but in the meantime here is a document that explains how to access your child's diagnostic scores and tools to support at thome! 

i-Ready diagnostic letter to families

Our January Guidance focus will be the character trait Perseverance. More information to come!

Play it Safe 

GCISD will host the parent/guardian preview for our annual Play It Safe, PK-5th, on Tuesday, January 13th at 10:00 a.m. video the Zoom link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87031072106

Or Dial: +1 346 248 7799

Meeting ID: 870 3107 2106

A recording of the preview will also be posted afterward for your convenience. Locations/links will be shared once the recording has rendered.

You can also view grade level videos and presenter scripts from 12/16/25 – 1/14/26 at the link below:

Scripts/Videos

Password: GC26

All families must OPT IN or OPT OUT of participating in Play It Safe presentations. In order to help more parents/guardians make this designation, please complete this Opt In/Out Form as soon as possible. No Skyward form needed. All designations are due by Friday, April 3, one week before Glenhope's presentation date of April 10th. 

If you have further questions regarding Play It Safe at this time, you can contact Lauren Canafax at lauren.canafax@gcisd.net or 817-251-5720.

Lunch Bunches

A new round of Lunch Bunches will begin in January. If you requested for your child to participate and I have found the right fit for them, you should have received an email from me on December 17th or 18th.  A new round of Lunch Bunches will begin in March.

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. 

❄️ Holiday Mystery Books ❄️

Teachers have been participating in a Holiday Mystery Book Exchange the last 7 days. Each day, they get a mystery book delivered to them to read with their students. Some books are about winter, seasons changing, hibernation, traditions, Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa and more. Students have been excited to see what book they will get and moving it on to the next class to surprise them!

❄️📚 December Reading Logs 📚 ❄️

Students have a Reading BINGO for December's reading log. They can get one BINGO for a small prize. They can continue to work on a Blackout over the break and get to spin the wheel for a bigger prize. Way to go Gator Readers! 

Remember, the reading logs count for silent reading time, reading in the car, library books, books in your reading bag from your teacher or any book (audio and e-books count, too!).

A child who reads 20 minutes a day will be exposed to 1.8 million words per year! 

Students reading with gloves on to complete a BINGO challenge!

 Library Helpers 

Starting in January, there will be a sign up for more opportunities to help in the library. If you like to shelf books, be in the library during your students check out time, help students find books, decorate, want to read and preview donated books, or help with special projects, we'd love to have you! Be on the lookout for more opportunities this spring!

Glenhope Yearbook

Yearbook Sales are LIVE! I will put a handout in your box today to go home today or Monday. If you want to put a blurb in your newsletter, you can copy and paste below: 

Get your Glenhope yearbook TODAY! Yearbooks are on sale for $35 until January 1st. If you are interested in buying a yearbook, please view the information below:

Steps to Order:

1. Go to:  https://www.balfour.com/texas/colleyville/glenhope-elementary-school

2. Place your order and pay online

3. Books will be delivered and passed out at school in mid-May. 

4. **Please note: no cash or checks will be accepted at school for yearbooks. You must order your book online.**

Parent Collection of Pictures: 

Glenhope would love to collect pictures from parents for the Yearbook. We know that we don't always capture ALL the moments, so would love some help. 

If you'd like to send a picture in for the yearbook, please do so here. If you want to send more than 3 at a time - please email them to megan.arnold@gcisd.net.

We're excited to see your photos! Please share pictures of Glenhope students and staff in action - not family photos - so we can highlight our school community in the yearbook. 

Thank you for your help in capturing this school year!

https://forms.gle/KntysCwKBC3vZPPg8

Free and Reduced-Priced Meal Applications Are Still Accepted 

Every dollar counts and if you qualify for free and reduced meals for your child, there is still time to complete an application. Applications are available at www.schoollunchapp.com  and can be completed at any time during the school year. The sooner the application is completed and if you qualify, the sooner your child can begin to receive meals at the free or reduced price. 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 

Volunteer Background Check

Apply Online

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

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! 

Important Information from Nutrition Services

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