GES families,

WOW! If you missed the announcements on social media over the weekend, I am excited to share that we met our goal of $30,000 right at noon on Saturday in our Chasing the Magic FUNd run! In fact, we have collected $30,155.59! Thank you for supporting this important PTA Fundraiser that will allow our PTA to continue supporting students and staff all year long! A portion of the money raised will also go directly to Coach Basil's PE fund, the playground fund, as well as the GES Campus Activity fund.

The success of this fundraiser was definitely due to all the hard work and support of our amazing PTA board members and Ways and Means Chair, Courtney Hedgpeth, plus all the teachers, students, and parents who participated! We couldn't have done it without everyone pitching in!

If you still have cash or check donations, please turn in those envelopes to the front office this week. Online donations are being accepted through October 30th on the Fund Hub site.

The following winners will be announced on campus Monday afternoon and shared in Seesaw as our final Chasing the Magic Update! Stay tuned for pictures of slime coming later this week! We have decided that all top 10 student earners will get an invitation to watch the principals get slimed, as well!

1st place Class (will get to slime Mrs. Hale) - Mrs. Helms

2nd place Class (will get to slime Mrs. Shelley) - Mrs. Dodd

1st place student (winning The Rec membership) - McKinley H.

2nd place student (winning the family night at Main Event) - Avery W.

3rd place student (winning the month's tuition at Monaghan's Taekwondo) - Avery F.

All my best,

Nancy Hale

No School - Monday and Tuesday!

Students are off on Monday, Nov. 2 and Tuesday, Nov. 3. These are teacher professional learning days. Please be sure you have made arrangements for your child.

1st Nine Weeks Report Cards

Report Cards for the 1st nine weeks are accessible to parents in Skyward Family Access. Teachers posted a Seesaw activity for both students and families to reflect on the individual progress of your star student from the 1st nine weeks. We hope you will take this opportunity to view your child's report card and talk with them about their strengths and areas for continued growth.

Lunch Drop-off

As a reminder from the GCISD Fall 2020 Guide (p.18) - Parents will not be able to drop off lunch for their students or eat with their student. During this time, please either send lunch or your students will need to get a meal from the cafeteria.

In an emergency, you may bring your child's lunchbox from home, but we are not accepting lunches from outside restaurants such as McDonald's, Chick-fil-a, Sonic, etc.

Label Jackets and Outerwear

With the cold and rainy weather this week, please remember to label your child's jacket and outerwear they might be bringing. Our lost and found piles up quickly this time of year. If items are labeled, we can ensure they get back to you.

GES Teachers are Magical

If you feel a staff member has gone above and beyond to make a difference for you or your child, please take a moment to recognize them on our GES Teachers are Magical form. We will link it each week in this Monday Message and then share out the great things our "cast members" are doing during our monthly faculty meetings and weekly staff newsletters.

Book Ideas for your Kids

Sometimes, as parents, you WISH you had a glimpse into our classrooms or library to see what other kids are reading. Here you go! Below are some Amazon lists of popular series. Just put them in your cart and order for your kids! Enjoy!

Books for K and 1st Grade Boys

Books for K and 1st Grade Girls

Books for 2nd and 3rd Grade Boys

Books for 2nd and 3rd Grade Girls

Books for 4th and 5th Grade Boys

Books for 4th and 5th Grade Girls

Duke Talent Identification Program

Last week Duke University abruptly announced that it would be dissolving the Duke Talent Identification Program, known as Duke TIP, effective immediately. One reason given for the dissolution was the university's desire "to align precollege academic programming more closely with Duke's current educational priorities and educational practices." As a result of this change, Duke TIP will not be offering programming (including the Academic Talent Search) for the remainder of 2020 through spring 2021. GCISD's Advanced Academics Department is compiling a list of organizations that offer similar opportunities. When this list has been completed, it will be shared with GCISD families.

Trinity River Authority of Texas’ 6th Annual Art Contest

It’s that time of year again! The Trinity River Authority of Texas’ 6th Annual Art Contest is in full swing.

They are calling all 1st through 8th graders to get creative and send in their artwork.

This year’s theme is “There When You Need It”. They will be accepting entries until Friday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m.

They have made a few adjustments to accommodate the effects that Covid-19 has had on so many communities. This year we will be:

• Requiring an entry form attached for each piece of artwork (click here),

• Offering a drop box for no-contact delivery in the lobby of our office (5300 S. Collins Street, Arlington, Texas 76018),

• Allowing entry submissions by email.

Attached HERE, you will find the official call for entries which includes details regarding theme, prizes and contest rules, the required entry form and resources to assist the students with the production of their artwork.

If you have any questions, please email dinhmt@trinityra.org or call (817) 467-5734.

Free Meals Extension

The USDA has extended its nationwide waiver, allowing GCISD to now offer free meals through June 2021 at all elementary and middle school campuses and meal bundles at curbside locations. Complete information can be found here.

Technology Assistance

GCISD Technology Resources is committed to serving students and staff, especially during the District's remote learning instruction. Please keep in mind these very helpful resources:

ClassLink - GCISD's single sign-on portal for students and staff. ClassLink allows users to sign in once and have access to all of their accounts at the click of a button.

Help Desk - Students and staff can submit help requests to GCISD's Help Desk at any time. If you need your student's password reset, or are having trouble accessing ClassLink, please call 817-251-5629 during our extended help desk hours. For all other issues with student devices, please fill out a help ticket at help.gcisdstudents.net.

Outdoor WiFi Access - As a reminder, wireless network access is available outside of many GCISD campuses for use by students, parents and staff. Click here for locations, maps and instructions on how to connect.

Volunteers are significantly limited at this time, but there may be opportunities later in the year. Go ahead and apply now so you're ready when the time comes.

In order to volunteer at GES, or around GCISD, all volunteers must:

1. read the Volunteer Handbook (this replaces the previous face to face volunteer trainings held on campus)

2. watch the appropriate video included in the handbook

3. electronically sign the verification Google form for each campus you plan to volunteer

4. complete the volunteer background check. A link is included in the handbook.

The following link takes you to the online Volunteer Handbook and background check: https://www.gcisd.net/cms/one.aspx?pageId=195550

When you are ready to volunteer at GES, feel free to call the front office at 817-251-5735 to verify that both of the required steps have been recorded as completed. We appreciate your support as you complete these steps and volunteer to work with our GES students.

Parents and loved ones are not able to come up for lunch at this time. We are currently limiting visitors in our building.

Lunch Times

• PreK: 10:15 - 10:45

• Kindergarten: 10:45 - 11:15

• 1st Grade: 11:15 - 11:45

• 2nd Grade: 11:45 - 12:15

• 3rd Grade: 12:15- 12:45

• 4th Grade: 12:45 - 1:15

• 5th Grade: 1:15 - 1:45