• NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS,  1/5-6-  Our staff returns tomorrow to begin planning for the return of your tigers and attending professional development. All students will return and begin the Spring semester on Wednesday, January 7th!

• MOY iReady Testing Family Reports: We will be sending home iReady Family Reports for the MOY Diagnostic on January 7th. Teachers will spend time this Monday and Tuesday running those reports and preparing them to be sent home with your tigers on Wednesday!

• NO SCHOOL ON  JANUARY 19TH-  Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on January 19th and students and staff will be off on that day. Enjoy the three day weekend!

• GENERAL PTA MEETING ON JANUARY 12TH- Please join us tomorrow at 8:15 for a General PTA Meeting. Coffee will be provided and we hope to see you there!

• COLD/FLU SEASON:  Cases of strep throat, flu, and other flu-like illnesses have been increasing the past 2 weeks in the community.  Please take the time to practice proper hand washing and not touching your faces at home.  

-If your student wakes up in the morning not feeling well, please make sure you are checking temperatures before sending them to school.   If a temp is 100 degrees or higher, they should stay home for at least 24 hours. 

-If your student has fever/vomiting/diarrhea/constant coughing at home, please make sure they are free from these symptoms for AT LEAST 24 hours before sending them back to school.  Also make sure they are able to eat/drink normally before returning. 

• MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL:  All medications must be kept in the clinic during the school day.  Please do not send any medications in your student's backpack or lunchbox without your student's teacher/nurse knowing.  A GCISD Medication form has to be signed by the parent (and sometimes a Physician, as well) in order to be administered at school.  (Yes- even over-the-counter medications such as cough drops, Zyrtec, Ibuprofen, etc.)  Thank you for helping us keep all staff and students safe and healthy!  

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. 

• FAILED VISION & HEARING SCREENINGS: I am still  sorting through screening results and re-screening any students who failed vision and/or hearing.  If they fail twice, I will email parents to make sure are on the lookout for a referral letter.  

I hope you had a restful break filled with lots of amazing stories! There will be no classes this week, as I will be off campus for most of the week, but the regular library schedule will resume January 12th.

The Friends of the Library Reading Challenge is nearly done! The poster may be finished, but logs can still be redeemed on Friday January 9th and Friday January 16th. To celebrate how successful the challenge went, I am honoring ALL logs turned in with a chance to spin the Lucky Library Wheel for prizes. The more books on your log, the more spins you can get on the wheel. 7 books = 1 spin, 14 books = 2 spins and 20 books (a full log) get 3 spins. All those who only had 1 spin for prior logs are to see me for their additional spins. Any logs turned in with less than 7 books will get a choice of a piece of candy or a scented bookmark.

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 January 14th (Group A) and January 15th (Group B). We will be discussing our book club books!

Johanna Quinn

email: johanna.quinn@gcisd.net

phone: (817) 305-4885

Instagram: @octquinn

O.C. Taylor Specials Update, January 2026

Music Update - January 2026

Happy New Year, Tigers! I hope you enjoyed a relaxing and FUN winter break. I can’t wait to get back to work creating beautiful music with you in the OCT music room. Parents, please mark your calendars for several upcoming grade level performances.

Kindergarten:  Students will begin working on songs and dances for their Kindergarten Rodeo, Wednesday, March 11 at 2 p.m. in the OCT cafeteria. Parents, mark your calendar for this rootin’, tootin’ good time! Students will also continue composing/reading/playing simple rhythm patterns using walk (quarter note), run run (barred eighth notes) and rest (quarter rest).

1st/2nd Grade:  Students will continue working on composing/reading/performing rhythm patterns and playing basic melodies on classroom percussion instruments. They will also begin learning music for their grade level program: 1st Grade Music In Our Schools Month Celebration, Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. and 2nd Grade Festival of Friends, Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m.

3rd Grade: Students will use what they know about rhythm and add it to the treble clef staff to give it pitch. Students will identify line/space notes from the treble clef staff and play simple melodies on Orff instruments.

4th Grade: During the second semester of 4th grade, students will focus on reading rhythms and melodies from the treble clef staff while playing the recorder. We will follow the Recorder Karate method with students earning recorder belts as they learn and play each song in their method book. Parents, encourage your child to play for you as they learn their songs. Students are expected to bring their recorder and method book to music EVERY day!

5th Grade: We will review the 4 instrument families and how sound is produced in each family. Students will work to identify instruments by sight and sound as they prepare for recruiting visits from the middle school band programs. My hope is that my  5th graders feel confident and fully prepared if they decide to choose band or choir as their middle school elective. 

Many thanks to our generous OCT families and PTA for showering us with gifts during the month of December. I cannot thank you enough for your love and support. I wish you lots of love, happiness and good health in the new year!

Mrs. Vencill

bethany.vencill@gcisd.net

O.C. Taylor Specials Update, January 2026

Art Update - January 2026

Happy 2026! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and are ready to get back to creating art! For the month of January students will be learning and understanding weaving, organic/ geometric shapes, color theory and sculpture.

Kindergarten will finish their primary color abstract art piece inspired by Piet Mondrian. Students will then use their knowledge of the primary colors to mix to create the secondary colors.

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.

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 finish their Frida Kahlo inspired self-portrait by designing their own background and adding color.

4th grade will finish their Claes Oldenburg plaster sculpture by painting their details. 

5th grade will finish their Color Wheel Motif by reviewing how to mix colors. 

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, December 2025

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!

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-4 referral window: Dec. 1st - 15th

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

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 - JANUARY 12TH AT 8.15 AM!

Please join us for our General PTA Meeting on January 12th 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!

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

Our next big PTA event will be the Dad's Club Snow Hill. Please note the time change! They have some exciting things planned for this family fun event!

NO RUN CLUB THE MONTH OF JANUARY

Quick reminder that there is no Run Club in January. Run Club will pick up again on February 6th.

COOKIE BAR SPIRIT NIGHT - JANUARY 20TH

Keep an eye out for more information about our upcoming Cookie Bar Spirit Night!!

SAVE THE DATE!

January

1/1 - 1/2 Winter Break for Students

1/5 - 1/6 Professional Development for Staff/No School for students

1/7 First Day of Second Semester

1/12 8:15 a.m. Coffee with Schilleci/General PTA Meeting followed by PTA Executive Board Meeting

1/19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day/No School 

1/20 Cookie Bar Fundraiser

February

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

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

2/7 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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