Play it Safe (Parent Preview and Student Presentation)

GCISD offers the "Play It Safe" program for all students in grades K-5. The GCISD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC is a volunteer council comprised of parents and community members that reflect the values of the district and community) has previewed and recommended these programs for all GCISD elementary schools. The curriculum and presentations are aligned with district philosophy. This program is a personal safety program and does not address human sexuality. 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, and sexual assault. 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.

The Women's Center of Tarrant County, Inc., uses trained employees to present a fact-based personal safety program for students. The presentations are classroom-based so that children are in a familiar environment, and feel comfortable to interact with the trainer. A video is shown, followed by a question and answer time.

GES will be virtually showing Play It Safe to in-person students on FEBRUARY 10TH. Parents have the option to request that their student not participate in the above program(s). The form for non-participation is located HERE.

We are hosting a parent preview on January 12 at 10:00 AM via Zoom. This presentation will be recorded and posted on the GCISD website for parents to watch at their convenience afterward.

Videos and scripts will be available for parents to preview from 1/11/2020 to 1/19/2020. https://vimeo.com/showcase/7889498 Password: GCISD2021

If you are unable to view the videos or the parent preview, but wish to view the material, please contact The Women's Center of Tarrant County, Inc. at 817-927-4040 and ask for the Play It Safe department.

GES Teachers are Magical

During our month of gratitude, please take a moment to thank a teacher who has gone above and beyond for your family. You can 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.

Yearbook Photos

If your child took a yearbook photo this year, you should have received an email from Glamourcraft School Photography with directions on how to view and order your child's photo. Retake photo emails were sent out Monday, Dec. 14th. The Glamourcraft database only allows for one parent email, so it is only the first parent listed in Skyward. If you did NOT receive that email, click HERE for directions on how to access your child's photo. You will simply need the school code from the directions and your child's student ID number to access their pictures.

Art Club

Grapevine Elementary would like to invite you to join the 2021 virtual art club! It is a wonderful after-school (online) program where students learn the joy of artistic self-expression, visual arts development, materials management, and visual language skills.

Art club will be in the form of a seesaw classroom that you will receive an invitation to after registration (see link below). I have included a large choice board loaded with activities and videos that students can complete whenever they would like to do more artwork! I will also be attempting to include an online asynchronous watercolor and printmaking 'workshop'*.

ARTIST RESPONSIBILITIES:

I choose to complete activities of the art club at home and I understand that given the independent nature of the art club, I will be expected to follow club sponsor and parent directions. Material safety and proper usage will be my responsibility.

I choose to be committed to the art club.

I choose to give my very best artistic effort during the art club meetings.

I choose to maintain a classroom conduct grade no lower than S in order to remain in the art club.

*A materials list will be included so that you can order any supplies that you do not have.

Please complete this FORM if your child would like to participate in our virtual art club so they can receive an invitation in Seesaw from Mrs. North.

December Star Students of the Month

Last month, teachers nominated homeroom students based on the demonstration of or growth in HONESTY. Watch and hear each classroom's Star Student of the Month on the Honesty Flipgrid!

January Character Trait - PERSEVERANCE

The focus this month during Guidance lessons, some Circle Up, and more will be PERSEVERANCE. Perseverance can be defined as the ability to work through situations even when there are obstacles or challenges. Browse the corresponding family newsletter below for ways you can partner with GES on this focus!

I am here and ready to help! At any time this year, whether learning remotely or in-person, please click the I want to talk with Mrs. Horn form to request a visit. This form is also be included in grade level newsletters and Seesaws, and stays housed in my email signature, on the GES Counseling district website, and as many locations as possible.

Tuition Based Pre-K Lottery

The Pre-K Tuition Based lottery application will open at 8:30 a.m. on January 5, 2021 and close at 10:00 p.m. on January 15, 2021. Families interested in tuition based pre-k need to complete this application. Students meeting Texas state eligibility criteria will be able to apply and qualify in April 2021. For more information on tuition and pre-k qualifications visit WWW.GCISD.NET/PREK or contact gcisd.pk@gcisd.net

Lotería de Prekíndergarten Basado en Pago de Cuotas Escolares

La solicitud para la lotería del programa de Pre-K basado en pago de cuotas escolares se abrirá el 5 de enero a las 8:30 am y cerrará a las 10:00 pm el 15 de enero. Las familias interesadas en el programa de Pre-K a base de pago deben completar esta solicitud. Los estudiantes que cumplan con los criterios de elegibilidad del estado de Texas podrán solicitar y calificar en abril de 2021. Para obtener más información sobre la matrícula y los requisitos de prekínder, visite WWW.GCISD.NET/PREK o comuníquese con gcisd.pk@gcisd.net.

Pre-AP Label Change

Next school year, the College Board will be requiring school districts to pay a fee if they use the Pre-AP label for any of their courses. This fee is an annual fee that is per course, per campus. GCISD along with many neighboring districts, have decided not to purchase the use of the Pre-AP label in an effort to remain fiscally responsible.

Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, GCISD will be implementing the title change to “Advanced” for all courses formerly known as Pre-AP. This change will be reflected in the 2021-22 Course Selection Guide set to release in January of 2021. As an example, Pre-AP World History will now be labeled as World History Advanced.

GCISD will use AP's guidelines to ensure the rigor of both middle school and high school courses. Classes now labeled “Advanced” will remain the same weight as the PreAP courses they are replacing. GCISD will continue to work with the College Board through our AP offerings.

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