• OCT TEACHER AND PARA OF THE YEAR: Keep an eye out this week for our new Teacher and Para of the Year. Voting has concluded and we will be announcing our winners this week on Thursday. Congratulations to the finalists:

  • Teacher of the Year Finalists: Mrs. Dagger, Mrs. Steele & Mrs. Riski

  • Paraprofessional of the Year Finalists: Mrs. Medrano, Mrs. Salter, and Mrs. Richardson

• CLASSROOM BEHAVIORS: Spring has definitely sprung, and we are beginning to see a seasonal spike in classroom behaviors. This is such a critical time for learning as we move toward the end of the year, and while we understand the excitement that comes with warmer weather and summer around the corner, we need your help reinforcing at home the importance of staying focused and listening to classroom and specials teachers. Let’s work together to keep our Tigers strong and engaged through the finish line! 

• DISMISSAL PROCEDURES: Parents, unless you have special circumstances or have arrangements, please do not walk up to the areas close to the building in the tiger loop or bus loop to pick up your students. If they are walkers, please wait across the street or on the edge of the property to pick them up. This helps us ensure that all of our students are safe and helps us avoid any confusion during dismissal. Thank you for helping us have a smooth and safe dismissal!

• OCT Open House, 3/5: Please mark off this date in your calendars! From 6:00-7:00 we will have open house at OCT. Come and see the awesome work your tigers are doing! Then as soon as your are finished with open house we will begin Spring Movie Night on the primary court area from 7:00-8:30. Come join us and watch Zootopia 2! Hotdogs, popcorn, and drinks will be available for purchase!

• Colleyville Receipt Race: The Colleyville Receipt Race is on! From Tuesday, February 17 through February 28, the grade level that collects the most receipts from Colleyville businesses will win a popsicle party at school. It’s easy to participate — simply shop at any Colleyville business and drop your receipt in your child’s grade-level box at the front of the school. Each receipt counts for one child. Have an electronic receipt? No problem! Email it to octaylorptapresident@gmail.com and be sure to include your child’s grade level. Every receipt helps our school in the Receipt Race with the City of Colleyville and GCISD — let’s shop local, support our school, and earn some sweet treats!

• OCT PTA & DAD'S CLUB- Do not forget to scroll all the way to the bottom of this Tiger Time News and read the OCT PTA and Dad's Club sections! Information about upcoming events will be there as well as fundraising opportunities and more!

To support our Tiger families transitioning to Heritage Elementary (HES) for the 2026-2027 school year, we will be dedicating this section to important news and updates. Please check back here throughout the remainder of the semester for information regarding next year! 

• Interest HES PTA form: If you are interested in joining HES PTA please fill out this  HES PTA Form 

• MONTHLY NURSE'S MEETING TUESDAY 3/10: I will be off campus for my monthly nurse's meeting on Tuesday morning.  I should be back on campus by 1100.  Please follow The 7 Bs chart before sending students to the clinic.

• UPCOMING PUBERTY VIDEOS: 4th and 5th grade teachers... if you are getting signed consent forms back, please get them to me so I can have a current list.  Hopefully most parents are filling out the online consent form through Skyward.  Presentation times are listed below. 

*Tuesday March 10th- 4th grade girls at 2:30

                                                5th grade girls 1:20

*Wednesday March 11th- 5th grade boys  at 1:30

Repeated Information:

• 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. 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. 

Counseling Amazon Wishlist 

All the best,

Mrs. Holley

This week is a busy one! Kinder friends will have fun learning to sort by various characteristics through our Stuffie Zoo. 1st grade tigers will learn how jobs and people are connected through a Community Web string activity. 2nd graders will create their own aquariums to practice identifying animal characteristics. 3rd and 4th grade friends will try out my virtual library chatbot to discover a new genre to try. 5th grade will get a non-sequitor story read to them and lots of Makerspace time.

Read Across America Week is March 2-6! Each day OC Taylor will celebrate with fun theme days and a story read aloud by students on the morning announcements.

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!

Johanna Quinn

email: johanna.quinn@gcisd.net

phone: (817) 305-4885

Instagram: @octquinn

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

Music - February Update

We have lots of grade level performances this semester. Parents, please mark your calendar with these important dates and times.

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 Music In Our Schools Celebration, Thursday, March 26  at 8:30 a.m. (students/teachers) and 6:30 p.m.(parents/guests). EVERY 1st grade student is expected to participate in the daytime AND evening performance. 

2nd Grade Festival of Friends , Thursday, April 23 at 8:30 a.m. (students/teachers) 6:30 p.m. (parents/guests). EVERY 2nd grade student is expected to participate in the daytime AND evening performance. 

5th Grade: 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.   

HMS Band Program 

GMS 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

This is a great local opportunity for our Grade GT LEADERS!

Super Saturdays for Grades 1-12

Looking for something exciting and educational to do on a Saturday during the school year?  Join us on campus for one of our amazing Super Saturdays! Students in grades 1-12 can make new friends while growing their skills and knowledge in Saturday classes hosted by Baylor TIP! All students are welcome to enroll. 

Students who enroll in both the AM and PM courses will be supervised for lunch on campus. Additional details will be sent via email prior to the date of the event. Need-based financial aid is available as are discounts for families registering for more than one course.  

Here is the registration link

March 7: Baylor TIP at University of Dallas in Irving

Registration closes March 1.

Grades 4-5

• Architects in Action: Exterior Design Studio (AM), Instructor: Bryan Hendrickson

• Rube Goldberg Lab (AM), Instructor: Tiffani Griffard

• Secrets Beneath the Sand: Ancient Egyptian Explorations (PM), Instructor: Bryan Hendrickson

• Code Across the Cosmos (PM), Instructor: Tiffani Griffard

Grades 6-7

• Comparative Mythology: From Origins to Apocalypse (AM), Instructor: Clint Von Gundy

• The Molecular Detective Agency: Unlocking Life's Secrets (AM), Instructor: Dr. Inimary Toby

• Voices, Choices, and the Constitution: Understanding the First Amendment (PM), Instructor: Clint Von Gundy

• Mission to Mars: Math in Space (PM), Instructor: Anna Murray

Grades 8-12

• Fermat's Tricky Problem and Its Cousins (AM), Instructor: Dr. Paul Phillips

• Molecular Diagnostics Lab: From DNA to AI (PM), Instructor: Dr. Inimary Toby
  April 25: Baylor TIP at University of Dallas in Irving
  Registration closes April 19.
  Grades 4-5

  • Welcome to My Dream Home! (AM), Instructor: Bryan Hendrickson

  • Legends in the Lab: Engineering Adventures with Egyptian Mythology (AM), Instructor: Tiffani Griffard

  • Unearthing Native Histories: An Archaeological Adventure (PM), Instructor: Bryan Hendrickson

  • Deep Sea Coders (PM), Instructor: Tiffani Griffard

• Grades 6-7

  • Science (Flash) Fiction (AM), Instructor: Clint Von Gundy

  • Power Plays and Politics (PM), Instructor: Clint Von Gundy

  • Inside Your Head: A User’s Guide (PM), Instructor: Dr. Janette Boazman

• Grades 8-12

  • The Staircase of Mount Meru (AM), Instructor: Dr. Paul Phillips

  • Poetry as Creative Problem Solving (PM), Instructors: Dr. Todd Kettler & Tim Spitsberg

What is my child learning in GT LEAD?

1st grade - Game Maker

2nd grade - Brain Research

3rd grade - Building a Business

4th grade - Enigmas

5th grade - Geometric Wonders

Important Dates:

•  K-4GT decision available March 1, 2026

• K-4 ASPIRE decision available online in Skyward on 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!

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD?

Make sure to fill out the interest form by February 22nd!  PTA Interest Form For 2026-2027 

COLLEYVILLE RECEIPT RACE GRADE LEVEL CHALLENGE

THE COLLEYVILLE RECEIPT RACE is ON!

Starting Tuesday, February 17 through Feb 28, the grade level that brings in the most receipts from Colleyville businesses wins a popsicle party at school!

How to help:

Shop at ANY Colleyville Business!

Drop your receipts in your child’s grade-level box at the front of the school

Each receipt counts for ONE child

Electronic receipts? No problem! Email: octaylorptapresident@gmail.com (include grade level!)

Every receipt helps our school in the Receipt Race with the City of Colleyville + Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District —Let’s shop local, support our school, and win some sweet treats!

RUN CLUB IS BACK

Thank you to all who joined us on February 20th. Our next Run Club is March 6th! Can't wait to see you all out there!

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!

DAD'S CLUB MOVIE NIGHT - MARCH 5TH

Join us after Open house for the Dad's Club Movie Night on Thursday, March 7th at 7pm.

Featuring 'Zootopia 2'

Stop by after Open House on March 7th. We are out on the blacktop at the back of the school.

Pre-order dinner for a family of 4 is $25. It includes 4 hot dogs, 4 drinks, and 4 popcorn.

Pre-order dinner for 1 is $7. It includes a hot dog, drink and popcorn.

Fill out this form only once per family, only if purchasing dinner.

Bring chairs or blankets for the movie

Individual items available for purchase the night of (while supplies last)

CALLING ALL 4TH AND 5TH GRADE SUPERSTARS! IN PERSON TALENT SHOW IS BACK!

Does your child love to sing, dance, act, perform magic, or show off a special talent? Now’s their chance to shine at the Talent Show! 

Sign up today using the link below:

 https://forms.gle/BtRuXEC8JBYUe9jb7

Talent show will be in person once again! It will take place May 1st at 6pm in the OC Taylor Cafeteria.

SAVE THE DATE!

February

2/16 - 3/27 TELPAS Window

2/16 - 3/27 STAAR ALT Window

2/17 - 2/28 Colleyville Receipt Race Grade Level Challenge

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

March

3/2 8:15 a.m. PTA Executive Board Meeting

3/5 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Open House

7:00 - 9:00 p.m  Dad’s Club Movie Night 

3/6 Rule the School AND Spirit Rally/Attendance Recognition 8:30 (PreK-2nd) and  9:00 (3rd-5th)

3/6 3:15 - 4:00 Run Club 

3/10 Spring Picture Day - Glamourcraft (individual/class group)

3/11 7:45 a.m. Kinder Rodeo Parade, 2:00 p.m. Kindergarten Rodeo

3/12 5th Grade Camp Thurman

3/13 Instructional Planning/No School

3/16 - 3/20 Spring Break

3/25   PTA Party with the Principals

3/26 1st Grade Music in our Schools Music program

3/27 General PTA meeting at 8:15 a.m.

3/27 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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