Hello, Gator Families, 

Looking at the list of Teacher of the Year nominees below truly highlights the incredible caliber of educators we have here at Glenhope. While we will officially announce our winner later this week, please know that in my eyes, every single one of our teachers is "Teacher of the Year." I feel incredibly lucky to work alongside such a dedicated team every day. 

It is officially time for our Gator FUN Run! Registration is now open, and you can earn $5 Gator Bucks just for signing up online. Please share your student’s fundraising page with friends and family to help earn prizes for your child’s class while supporting our wonderful PTA.

Register HERE for $5 Gator Bucks: 99Pledges Gator Fun Run

Finally, don’t forget to join us this Friday, February 27th, from 6–8 PM for the Gators Got Talent Show! From singing and dancing to comedy and music, our Gators are ready to take the stage and shine. We can’t wait to see you there!

This week's upcoming dates & reminders: 

• Friday, Feb 27th: 

  1. • Pep Rally at 7:40am 

     • Gatorville Clubs in the afternoon

     • Gators Got Talent Show 

     • Hats off to Learning- Bring $1 to wear a hat (Funds go to 5th-grade end-of-year dance) 

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 

Team Glenhope competed in a scholastic chess tournament hosted by LD Bell High School and earned trophies in every possible section. 

Rated U900 (a very strong section full of experienced players): 2nd Place Team Trophy, with Elliot Gutierrez,  Alexander Wollin-Ramirez,  Quinn Meyer Carroll, Namish Gupta, and Manasvini Mamidibattula all playing well and contributing to the team's success. This team finished just 0.5 points behind a more mature and experienced Trinity High School team. 

Rated U500: 1st Place Team Trophy, with Bivaan Shrestha, Anna Shevchuk, and Noah Nguyen all contributing to the team's success. 

Unrated K-3: 1st Place Team Trophy, with Archie Lowe, Clayton McMullen, and Lowell Dunham winning a lot of games and contributing to the team's success. Additionally, Archie earned a 3rd Place Individual Trophy. If Clayton had won his last game, he would have gotten 1st place - that's how close it was!

Some interesting statistics:

• This tournament had 6 sections with a total of 160 students representing 37 schools 

• Team Glenhope was represented by 11 kids in 3 of those 6 sections.

• Four of our kids (Noah, Lowell, Bivaan, and Clayton) played in their first ever real scholastic chess tournament

• For the first time ever, every Glenhope grade was represented:

  • Kinder - Noah

  • 1st - Clayton

  • 2nd - Lowell

  • 3rd - Archie, Namish, Alex

  • 4th - Bivaan

  • 5th: Elliot, Quinn, Manasvini, Anna

Congratulations to all the kids! 

Extended Learning Expansion Opportunities

GCISD is exploring expanding the Extended Learning program to offer more services and opportunities for students. Your feedback through our Extended Learning Survey will help us design offerings that truly meet the needs and interests of GCISD families through meaningful enrichment opportunities and flexible learning experiences.

Additionally, GCISD is exploring the development of an enrichment program designed to serve homeschool families in the DFW metroplex. Please help us get the word out by sharing this Community Feedback Form with any families you know whose children do not currently attend a GCISD school.

AVID Interviews MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd! 

If your 5th grader applied for AVID, their interview will take place on MONDAY. Students received a letter with more information from the AVID Coordinator on Friday. Here are some sample interview questions that you can practice with your child! 

Play it Safe 

GCISD offers the “Play it Safe” program for all students in grades PK-5. The GCISD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) has previewed and recommended these programs for all GCISD elementary schools. SHAC is a volunteer council comprised of parents and community members that reflect the values of the district and the community. The curriculum and presentations are aligned with district philosophy.

Play it Safe is a child abuse prevention and awareness program that incorporates individual grade level, age-appropriate scripts and movies to teach children how to reduce the risk of sexual and physical abuse. This program is a personal safety program and does not address human sexuality. It teaches them to recognize potentially abusive behavior, provides the tools to respond to threatening situations, and encourages them to report abuse to a trusted adult. 

Glenhope will show Play it Safe presentations during Specials time on Friday, April 10th.  All families must OPT IN or OPT OUT of participating in Play It Safe presentations. Please complete this Opt In/Opt Out form by Friday, April 3rd.  Thank you to those of you who have already complete

Click here to learn more about Play it Safe. 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.

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 encourage self-advocacy, you can also encourage your child to request to speak with me! They can go to ClassLink and search "Counselor." This will bring up a form that they can complete to request a meeting with me. 

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. 

Student and Family Support

As the school counselor, my role is to help ensure all students have what they need to thrive at school. If your child is ever in need of food, clothing, or other basic necessities, please reach out to me. Support is available, and all conversations will remain confidential. 

Looking for Library Volunteers 

I am happy to open up the library for more volunteers! If you'd like to come help in the library, or even from home, please check out the interest form, here: 

GHES Library Volunteer Interest Form

These are the following volunteers we are looking for: 

• Library Assistants: Parents who come in and assist children during check out times, find books for students or help with makerspace needs

• Shelfers: Parents who come in and reshelf books as books come in at all times in the library

• Readers: Reading donated books to see if they are good fit for our approved list (done at the comfort of your home)

• Special Projects: Help the library with some special projects like wrapping books for "mystery books", decorating the library for seasons or special events, help with special projects happening in the school

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 $40. 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