Gator Connect

March 1st-7th

Principal Message & News

Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Griffard

Paraprofessional of the Year, Mrs. Hill

Our amazing teachers who joined the Talent Show!

Hello, Gator Families,

It is such a joy to celebrate our newly named Teacher of the Year and Paraprofessional of the Year, two individuals who embody the heart and soul of our school. Their dedication goes far beyond the curriculum; they build the confidence and community that make our classrooms feel like home.

As a reminder, Friday, March 13 is an instructional Planning Day for Teachers, and no school for students. The following week March 16-20 is our🌞Spring Break, and the campus will be closed!

The 2026–2027 PTA Position Interest Form is NOW OPEN!

Ready to make a difference for our Gators? Whether you have lots of time or just a little, there’s a place for you in the Glenhope PTA!

Submit your interest form today and take the first step toward getting involved! https://forms.gle/1c6aTMHB7U3sQ4xv9

We can’t do it without our incredible volunteers — thank you for helping our Gators thrive!

Questions: president@glenhopepta.org

This week's upcoming dates & reminders:

Friday, March 6th
1. - Fun Run

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

Fun Run

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.

*Volunteer Opportunity*

Help make our Fun Run FUN! You can come to cheer and volunteer all at the same time!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4CADA82FA4F85-62544436-funrun#/

Little Gators

Who: Incoming PreK and Kinder Students

Little Gators is a program at Glenhope Elementary where we are welcoming incoming 2026-2027 Kindergarteners and Pre-K kids to meet each other, learn about Glenhope, participate in a craft and check out a book. A parent must be present with your incoming Little Gator. We look forward to welcoming our Little Gators at Glenhope!

Testing this week at the Swamp

Week of March 2

2nd: ELA: i-Ready Literacy Task Reading Fluency Passage (PM form 10 - "Make a Fruit Salad")

3rd: - MATH: Unit 6 TEKS Check (8794)

- SCI: Units 5-6 TEKS Check

A Peek into the Swamp

Grade Level Newsletters

February Great Gators

Gator Way Winners of the Week

Kinder

Teiara shows kindness by helping others when they need it or when they’re feeling sad. She is a good friend who cares about everyone around her.

First

Hudson follows classroom expectations, uses polite words when talking to others and treats classmates and teachers kindly. He is a leader in our classroom and school.

Second

Remington shows respect every single day! She is always following expectations and leading the way for others. She respects not only her teachers and classmates, but working hard and listening shows that she respects herself as well!

Third

Sienna is always showing kindness and respect in my math class. She will be partners with anyone who seems to feel left out. She is respectful to all her classmates, group members and her teachers!

Fourth

Witten is a student who is always showing kindness throughout the school. In the library he is always inviting other students to help with challenges they're working on. Not only does he includes students who are in his grade level, but also always willing to talk and play with younger grades. Witten is someone who will always be there for a friend.

Fifth

Landon is responsible when it comes to completing his class work. He advocates for himself to ensure he gets his work done.

Important Dates

March 6 -Fun Run
March 11- 4th/5th Girls Puberty Talk
March 12th- OPEN HOUSE, 5th Boys Puberty Talk
March 13th- End of Planning Period/Instructional Planning
March 13-21 No School
March 25-3rd Field Trip
March 26- Kinder Field Trip
March 27-Pep Rally/Gatorville
April 1- Coffee with Principal/Classroom Walks
April 7 - In and Out Night
April 8- RLA STAAR (CLOSED CAMPUS)
April 10 - Play it Safe Presentations
April 14- Science STAAR 5th (CLOSED CAMPUS)
April 23- Math STAAR (CLOSED CAMPUS)
April 24 - PTA Meeting and Volunteer Breakfast
April 24 - Pep Rally/Gatorville

-Dad's Club Golf Tournament

April 30 - May 1 - Planetarium Program
May 4- 8 - SAW
May 18 - Gator Games
May 20 - Kinder and 5th Grads

GCISD DECATS for 3 weeks this coming Summer, 2026. Available for Identified GCISD GT Scholars ONLY - Please click on link for more information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xxwCev9X10I7XMcFZSTzR4IrMbc0_Sl_/view?usp=sharing

Bring your Colleyville Receipts to help Glenhope win the grand prize!

Each Grade Level winner will get a reward. Receipts can be from grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, pet stores, doctors and dentists - anything!

We will use the funds for Mrs. Towery's Art Sink and 5th Grade wants to raise money for a special activity.

We will collect them at drop off, pick up or send them in with your student.

Dates to know:

February 18 – Registration opens and fundraising begins.

March 6 – Gator Fun Run! Times for each grade level's run are listed below. Parents are welcome to come cheer on their students!

4th and 5th: 9-9:35am

K and 1st: 9:40-10:15am

2nd and 3rd: 10:25-11am

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.

National School Breakfast Week

Nutrition Services is calling all heroes to National School Breakfast Week: March 2nd – 6th! Your quest? Fuel up with magical breakfasts!

Here’s what’s on the menu each morning this week:

🥓 Monday (March 2): Begin your journey with a Hero’s Breakfast Sausage Biscuit!

🦄 Tuesday (March 3): Try something magical — our Unicorn Parfait!

🥣 Wednesday (March 4): Conquer the day with Sweet Cinnamon Quest Bites!

🧇 Thursday (March 5): Claim the mighty fluffy Golden Waffles!

🧁 Friday (March 6): Complete your quest with the Explorer’s Chocolate Chip Muffin!

Bonus Quest: Any hero who eats breakfast with us this week will earn a chance to win a FREE snack at lunch – your very own treasure!

Sharpen your forks, ready your appetite, and let’s make this National School Breakfast Week an epic adventure!

Mathematics Telescope Testing

Elementary and Middle School Parents: Please see the Mathematics Telescoping flyer for information regarding telescoping testing for the Spring 2026. Additional information is also available on the mathematics telescoping website.

Counseling CanaFACTS with Mrs. Canafax

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.

Library Lowdown with Mrs. Arnold

February Digital Citizenship Lesson

This month our Digital Citizenship Lesson focused on Age Appropriateness and why certain TV Shows, Movies, and Games have ratings or age suggestions. We discussed what parent guidance meant, how parents will make the decisions for their households and those decisions are to keep them: happy, healthy and safe. We also discussed how most Social Media Platforms have an age restriction for 13 and up.

You can always look up books, shows, movies, games to see why it is rated for certain age group on www.commonsensemedia.org. It will discuss why the item got the rating and what is in it.

This is not sponsored by the school district, just a tool to help students understand why restrictions are in place and what they mean.

February Reading Logs

Students are working hard on turning in their February Reading Logs. So far, we have had 100 students reading different types of books throughout the month. Be sure to turn them in by March 6th to claim your prize!

Way to go Peyton, First Grade, for earning her Gold!

K-2 February Reading Log

3-5 February Reading Log

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:

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

Place your order and pay online

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

**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

Board Game Donations

Thank you for the board game donations. Kids have loved playing games after they check out books. It's so great seeing the kids actively playing and talking without using technology.

Glenhope PTA

Join PTA

Volunteer

Sponsor

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!

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.

Click here to see Glenhope Peachjar flyers!

Lost & Found

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

Info from Nurse Liz

In order to be proactive in our delivery of education concerning human sexuality, our district uses several resources and programs for the elementary school health curriculum.

Puberty programs used in the elementary school:

Just around the Corner (4th grade girls)

This upbeat and catchy video is shown to 4th grade girls to introduce them to the changes the body will experience during preadolescence. It will be shown to 4th grade girls only.

Growing Up! For Boys (5th grade boys) and Growing Up! For Girls (5th grade girls)

These videos present basic information about male and female reproductive anatomy and functioning - and the physical and psychological changes that are a normal part of growing up. Growing Up! For Boys (shown

to 5th grade boys only) provides advice on health, hygiene and good grooming. It points to sources of reliable information and fosters the self-esteem that comes with accepting new responsibilities. Growing Up! For Girls (shown to 5th grade girls only) takes a realistic look at the responsibilities of adulthood and promotes dialogue with trusted adults, promoting self-confidence as girls face the challenges of change and growth.

Starting February 9, 2026 through February 20, 2026 4th grade girls and 5th grade parents may preview these videos from a non-district device by following the directions Linked here.

Consent Deadline: March 6, 2026.
Presentation Dates:
- Elementary school: Girls (4th/5th) 3/11, Boys (5th) 3/12

If you have concerns, or need more information, please contact Nurse Liz.

Every Parent will be asked to fill out a form indicating their preference of participation for their child. If a form is not received from the parent, then your child will not be able to participate.

The form to indicate your choice of Participation is attached to this message. Here is the link to the form. English/Spanish

Gators Got Talent Show

Gators Got Talent Show!

Join us for the Gators Got Talent Show on
Friday, February 27th
6–8 PM

We can’t wait to see our amazing Gators take the stage and show off their talents—singing, dancing, comedy, music, and more!

Questions? Email us at talentshow@glenhopepta.org

It’s going to be a fun night for the whole family—don’t miss it!

2026-2027 Instructional Calendar Approved

The GCISD Instructional Calendar for the 2026-2027 school year was approved by the Board of Trustees at its December 15 Regular Meeting. GCISD’s first day of school will be Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The calendar meets the minimum 75,600 instructional minutes required for students, includes the contract length required for staff and meets other parameters set by the Texas Education Agency, including state assessment dates. The presented calendar was developed following review and input sessions with the District Leadership Team, campus leadership, campus team leads, and the District Excellence Committee.

Now that the GCISD Instructional Calendar has been approved, iUniversity Prep and Collegiate Academy will develop calendars specialized to the specifications of their programs, and those will be shared with their students and families.

CTMS Band Instrument Screenings for 5th Graders

We had our AMAZING CTMS band join us this week! If your 5th grader is interested in band for 6th grade, please see below!

Our CTMS instrument screening will be held on February 21st, and is by appointment. There are links included in the document to guide you.

Meet the Instruments (English)

Meet the Instruments (Spanish)

Reminder for 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!

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.

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!

School Supply List

FINAL 25-26 Elementary School Supply List.pdf

2025-2026 District Calendar

25-26_Instructional_Calendar (1).pdf

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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