• STAAR INTERIM RESULTS: Interim Assessments provide us with the probability for students to meet the passing standard on the spring STAAR tests in April. Staff and campus leadership review the results and analyze the data for areas for growth in specific skill sets. This helps our grade-level teachers plan interventions for each scholar and instruction over the next few months. As this data represents a single snapshot in time designed to guide our teaching strategies, we do not share the raw scores with parents; however, we will certainly reach out to you if the data indicates your student requires significant additional support 

• GENERAL PTA MEETING ON FEBRUARY 2ND- Due to the inclement weather last week the General PTA Meeting was moved to Feb 2nd. We look forward to seeing you on Monday at 8:15am. Coffee will be provided and we will be voting on our nominating committee. We hope to see you there!

• NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS' WEEK: Let's celebrate our awesome counselor Mrs. Holley and all of the amazing things she does for OCT this week:

**And make sure you tell Mrs. Holley Happy School Counselors'  Week!!!

• VALENTINE'S DAY PARTIES, 2/13: We will not be signing up for FAST Passes this year for Valentine's Day Parties. Please feel free to stop by anytime leading up to February 13th to get your ID badge from a Kiosk. Otherwise you may end up having to wait in line on February 13th. 

The parties will begin a 2:00 on February 13th in your student's classrooms or designated location which will be communicated by your PTA GLC or classroom teacher.

• FOR KINDER PARENTS, 2/5: The 100th Day of School is approaching! We will celebrate with our annual 100th Day of School Parade this Thursday, February 5th beginning at 7:45 AM. 

We will not be using a FAST Pass this year. And we will keep a close eye on the weather as we approach the 4th. For now, we are planning on parading outside. Please see this map to show where you can post up to see your tiger in the parade. 

• MIDDLE SCHOOL SHOWCASE NIGHT, 2/4- If you have a current 5th grader, please add the dates on this flyer to your calendar and be on the lookout for more information. 

You are strongly encouraged to attend the Middle School Showcase Night on February 4th at 6pm (more information below). If you can't make it, be on the lookout for more information about a Q&A WebEx with counselors the next week. 

• AVID Applications are Now Open (5th Grade Students): Please carefully review this flyer to see if your 5th grade student may be a good fit for AVID in 6th grade. Anyone may apply for AVID! 

There will be an AVID informational session on February 2nd at 5:30 p.m. at the GCISD Professional Development and Education Center (PDEC). 

The AVID application is only accessible from a GCISD student account. If you are having trouble accessing the application, please have your student log in from their GCISD account. 

Applications are due on February 11th. 

AVID Interviews will take place between February 16 and March 3

REPEATED INFO:

• SNOW HILL, FEBRUARY 7th- OCT Dad's Club Annual Snow Hill date is approaching on February 7th! We are excited to sled, slide, and enjoy some manufactured snow with you all! Please keep an eye on PTA's and our Dad's Club sections for more information!

• TEA FEDERAL REPORT CARDS (FRC)- Please click here to see our OCT Federal Report Card!  Federal Report Cards for the state, the district, and each of the district’s campuses are now available on the district’s website at this link and they are also available on the Texas Education Agency’s website. If you have difficulty accessing the information from the website, hard copies of the reports are available at the district or campus office.  If you have questions about the information, please contact michael.schilleci@gcisd.net .

• 5TH GRADE GIRLS SPINAL SCREENING 2/12: On Thursday 2/12, 5th grade girls will be screened for scoliosis during 5th grade Specials (2:00-3:05).  If you are a parent of a 5th grade girl, please make sure your student wears a bra/sports bra on this day.  

Repeated Information:

• POP TABS DONATIONS: We are 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. 

Happy February,

OCT PLAY IT SAFE 

Play it Safe will take place on Friday, March 27th during specials rotations. There will be a parent preview offered on January 13th at 10am. This year you will need to complete the google form (linked above) to opt in/out of the presentation. You DO NOT need to go through Skyward to complete this process. The form also contains more information on the program and dates/times. 

5th to 6th Grade Transition

5th grade parents please review the document linked above for details and information regarding the transition to middle school. 

Counseling Amazon Wishlist 

All the best,

Mrs. Holley

This week my Kinder- 2nd grade friends will learn about Februrary Celebrations around the world.

You can find out more about the OC Taylor library policies (including how many books each grade can checkout) on the school webpage. You can view District policies on library materials on their webpage. To see a list of Board Approved books, you may visit the District website.

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, would like to volunteer or donate books and supplies please feel free to contact me! Even if the volunteer schedule is full, please email me -  on any given day I might have more tasks that need to be tackled.

I do accept gently used books so if you are cleaning out your child's room and find there are stories that could live in the OCT Library, send them my way 🤩 The most requested picture book titles are video game characters, mermaids, Disney Princesses, superheroes and popular tv characters (like Paw Patrol, Bluey, Peppa Pig, etc), but I'll be happy to accept whatever you'd like to give!

Friends of the Library Club will meet February 18th (Group A) and February 19th (Group B). 

Johanna Quinn

email: johanna.quinn@gcisd.net

phone: (817) 305-4885

Instagram: @octquinn

O.C. Taylor Specials’ Curriculum Update, February 2026

Music - February Update

Beautiful music fills the air in the O.C. Taylor Music room!!!  Our talented Tigers continue to impress me every day with all they can learn, create and perform when they work together and use a growth mindset.  Our minds are definitely growing in lots of exciting ways.

Kindergarten:  Our Kinder Tigers are working together to practice their folk dances and cowboy/cowgirl songs for the Kindergarten Rodeo.  We hope to see all Kindergarten parents in the OCT cafeteria Wednesday, March 11  at 2 p.m. for a rootin', tootin' good time. 

1st Grade:  Our first graders have the important job of performing in the Music In Our Schools Celebration Thursday, March 26  at 6:30 p.m.. This program celebrates MUSIC education and all of the important things music adds to our lives.  1st graders are not only learning lots of fun songs and dances, they are also learning what it means to be a good performer. EVERY 1st grade student is expected to participate in the daytime AND evening performance. 

2nd Grade:  Our 2nd graders continue remembering what they know about note/rest value and learning how to add pitch to their rhythms.  We will connect what we're learning about rhythm and pitch to songs from around the world as we begin preparing for the 2nd Grade Festival of Friends  program on Thursday, April 23 at 8:30 a.m. (students/teachers) 6:30 p.m. (parents/guests) in the OCT cafeteria. EVERY 2nd grade student is expected to participate in the daytime AND evening performance. 

3rd Grade:  Third graders are working hard to become more comfortable and confident reading notes from the treble clef staff.  Reading music is an important skill  they will carry through 4th and 5th grade.  We will use Orff instruments to play simple melodic patterns.

4th Grade:  4th grade students continue working towards earning a new Recorder Karate belt each week by learning and playing new songs on our recorders. As we learn to play the recorder, we are strengthening our skills in reading pitch and rhythm from the treble clef staff and following basic music symbols. Ask your child to play their recorder for you!

5th Grade: As we prepare our 5th graders to meet with the middle school counselors, we will remember and review the 4 instrument families. I want any student who chooses to play in the middle school band to make a smart, confident choice when choosing an instrument. If your student wants to join band in middle school, please open the link for your middle school campus for more information. 

•  CTMS Band Program    

• CMS Band Program.  

5th graders will also begin brainstorming for the BEST show of the year, 5th Grade Rocks! Parents, please click the link to find details on this performance and mark your calendars. EVERY 5th grade student is expected to participate in the daytime AND evening performance. 

See you in the Music room!

Mrs. Vencill

bethany.vencill@gcisd.net

O.C. Taylor Specials’ Curriculum Update, February 2026

Art Update - February 2026

Kindergarten will learn how to weave using painted paper strips and construction paper. Students will learn the terms loom, weft, warp and the pattern over-under.

1st grade will finish their Henri Matisse Still Life with Goldfish and paper cuts out. Students will learn the difference between organic and geometric shapes. Then students will learn about artist Chris Uphues to create a heart inspired piece.

2nd grade will finish their paper plate radial weaving by using the pattern over/under. Students will learn the terms loom, weft, and warp.

3rd grade will learn about the process and history of printmaking. Students will review the artist Wayne Thiebaud and his paintings of food and everyday objects. Students will create three prints that are inspired by his work.

4th grade will learn about the abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. They will be learning how to create an abstract piece using a variety of lines, shapes and balance. They will then learn how to blend watercolors for their background, as well as different watercolor techniques.

5th grade will learn about different types of sculpture. Students will learn clay techniques like coil, pinch pot, slab, and scoring. Students will create a pinch pot animal of their choice.

O. C. Taylor Yearbooks are on Sale!

You can order a yearbook and create an ad/ dedication page online at yearbookordercenter.com. Our order number for O.C. Taylor is 17833.

We are offering both softcover and hardcover yearbooks this year!

Last day to order an ad/ dedication page is March 14th.

Last day to pre-order a yearbook is March 28th.

Keep on Creating!

Mrs. Morgan

cristie.morgan@gcisd.net

O.C. Taylor Specials’ Curriculum Update, February 2026

PE Update:

Don't forget to bring your “Fitness Around The World” photos to Coach Mester or Coach Reyna so we can display them on the bulletin board outside the gym.

Please wear tennis shoes that allow you to perform your best and bring your GREAT Tiger attitude each day!  We are looking forward to moving and learning in the gym and outside.

See you in the gym!

Coach Mester

jason.mester@gcisd.net

Congratulations to Greyson for winning the 25-26 OCT Spelling Bee! Greyson, we are so proud of YOU!

No GT classes in January due to testing. 🥲

What is my child learning in GT LEAD?

1st grade - Authentic Research

2nd grade - Simple Machines

3rd grade - Spy School

4th grade - Detective School

5th grade - Independent Research

Important Dates:

• K- 4th GT testing: January 8th - 30th

• 5th Grade GT & Aspire decisions available by:  January 23, 2026

•  K-4GT decision available by:   March 1, 2026

• K-4 ASPIRE decision available online in Skyward by: March 6, 2026 

WE RISE BY LIFTING OTHERS! 

by Robert Ingersoll

WELCOME TO O.C. TAYLOR PTA!

Extra Class Shirts Available on the Spirit Shop! 

Our goal is to connect with our school community by hosting fun events such as Tiger Fest, Grandparents' Day, Neon Night and so much more. We provide classroom needs and support our teachers in any way we can. We partner 100% with our wonderful school to make it the very best! We continue to raise funds for much-needed upgrades to our outdoor play area. 

We hope you'll join us in our efforts to make O.C. Taylor the best it can be!

For 2025-2026 our Back to School PTA forms will continue to be all digital! Forms will go live on August 11th, once Homeroom Teachers are announced!  Visit https://octaylorpta.membershiptoolkit.com/  for all your PTA needs & purchases! CLASS SHIRTS CLOSE ON SEPTEMBER 1ST (these are mandatory and worn for several different events). If you plan on volunteering this year, make sure to complete your volunteer background. It must be done yearly. Volunteer Background Check 

STAFF FAVORITES

Staff Favorites Found Here!

GENERAL PTA MEETING DATE CHANGE - FEBRUARY 2ND AT 8.15 AM!

Thank you for being so flexible with all the date changes. Thank goodness we have warmed up and can have our meeting this Monday! Please join us for our General PTA Meeting on February 2nd at 8:15 am in the cafeteria. We will have coffee and light refreshments. We will be voting on our nominating committee as well as getting updates from Mr. Schilleci. Hope to see you then!

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD?

We are currently working on a date to meet up so you can ask all the questions about our PTA board and the different roles we offer. Interest forms will go out in February. 

DAD'S CLUB PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT- FEBRUARY 1ST AT 1PM - 4PM

A big thank you to everyone who came out and participated in our first ever Tiger Open! We appreciate you supporting the Dad's Club and the PTA!

SNOW HILL - FEBRUARY 7TH AT 5PM - 8PM

Dad's Club Snow Hill is back and its going to be a great time! Please note the time change! They have some exciting things planned for this family fun event! $20 if ordering on MTK, $25 at the door! Order Here! 

RUN CLUB IS BACK IN FEBRUARY

Run Club is back on February 6th and February 20th. Can't wait to see all our Tigers out there!

HAT OR STUFFED ANIMAL DAY - FEBRUARY 6TH

Support 5th Grade Continuation and bring a $1 for hat or stuffed animal day this Friday, February 6th!

GRACE FEBRUARY DONATIONS

GRACE had such an amazing turn out of donations that this month they are needing help with some home essential items instead of food. Grace is in need of the following items: laundry detergent, dish soap, hand soap, cleaning products, cleaning wipes, lysol, sponges, and other home cleaning essentials. Remember multipack items count as one item. Items can be dropped in the grade level baskets. The grade that donates the most items wins a PJ day!

SAVE THE DATE!

February

2/1 Dad's Club Pickleball Tournament from 1pm - 4pm at Chicken N Pickle

2/2 8:15 a.m. General PTA Meeting followed by the PTA Executive Board Meeting

2/6 Hat or Stuffed Animal Day - Bring $1 to wear a hat or bring a stuffed animal for the day (all proceeds go to helping with 5th Grade Continuation)

2/6 3:15 - 4:00 Run Club

2/7 Dad's Club Snow Hill 5:00pm - 8:00pm

2/13 2:00 - 3:00 Class Valentine’s Day Parties

2/16 GCISD Professional Development Day/No Students 

2/16 - 3/27 TELPAS Window

2/16 - 3/27 STAAR ALT Window

2/20 3:15 - 4:00 Run Club

BIRTHDAYS AT O.C. TAYLOR

We love to celebrate birthdays BIG at O.C. Taylor! We provide two options to purchase through our PTA to help celebrate:

Name In Lights - Your child's name on our marquee for the day - $25

Tiger Gram with Taylor the Tiger - Have Taylor the Tiger deliver a goody bag and balloons to your child's classroom - $40

Save $5 and purchase BOTH for $60. 

Please purchase these AT LEAST two weeks in advance. We cannot promise our availability if not purchased in advance. Purchase on our website https://octaylorpta.membershiptoolkit.com/

If you have any questions or need assistance of any kind, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Looking forward to a GRRREAT year!

Veronica Walker

President / O.C. Taylor PTA

octaylorptapresident@gmail.com 

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