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GES Families,
This week our top section is a special message from our PTA President, Junell DuBois, with an update on our playground fundraising that I wanted to be sure everyone had an opportunity to see. Don't forget to read through our whole newsletter each week for important updates from the campus, GCISD, and our amazing PTA.
All my best,
Nancy Hale
Dear GES!
I know everyone is very eager to hear an update on our playground project. It has been nearly a year since we hosted the Reach for the Stars event, officially kicking off our playground fundraising and unveiling our design plans to our members. As you all know, the current pandemic has slowed our progress towards our goal significantly. However, this may have been a blessing in disguise! Throughout December and January, I was able to meet with district personnel and several members of the school board and found out that GCISD is now to a point where they are ready to apply portions of the 2016 Bond money towards playground projects!
The GCISD School Board and Administration will be meeting at the end of this month to make important decisions about how much money each school will be granted towards the playgrounds. I've been assured this will be allocated on a priority basis, with those campuses who need it most receiving larger amounts of the funds, and that GES is towards the top of the list. The GES PTA Executive Board has therefore decided to wait and see what happens with this bond money before we use your money from the Chasing the Magic fundraiser, or pursue any further fundraising efforts, for the playground.
Please know, while we may seem quiet about it for the moment, this is still one of our highest priorities. We are very excited to partner with the district to bring our Stars their new playground, and as soon as I have more information, I'll be passing it along to you!
Sincerely,
Junell DuBois
GES PTA President
Campus News and Announcements
Campus News and Announcements
Hat Day - Tuesday, Feb. 9
Hat Day - Tuesday, Feb. 9
Tuesday is our first GES Hat Day of the school year benefittng CHHS Project Graduation. Wear your favorite hat for a $1 or more donation. Donations will only be accepted virtually this year. Parents may Venmo @CHHS-ProjectGraduation or click HERE to give via PayPal. There is no need for your child to bring anything in with them. We are working on the honor system. Thank you for your support to raise funds for the all night lock-in to keep our seniors and community safe on graduation night.
No School - Feb. 15
No School - Feb. 15
Monday, Feb. 15th is a professional learning day for teachers. Students have the day off! We look forward to seeing them on Tuesday, Feb. 16th.
GES Teachers are Magical
GES Teachers are Magical
Has a GES staff member gone above and beyond for your child? Please take a moment to thank a teacher who has made an impact 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.
Valentine's Flipgrid
Valentine's Flipgrid
As we continue to promote literacy across our campus, one thing we really enjoy doing is reading aloud for our students. We have put together a collection of stories related to Valentine's day for your children to listen to. This will also be shared directly with students via Seesaw. Here is our Valentine's Day Flipgrid!
Valentine's Day Parties
Valentine's Day Parties
Our PTA has been hard at work coordinating party bags for all students that will be available for pick-up at school from Tuesday, Feb. 9 through Friday, Feb. 12 between 8:00-2:45pm. Grades K-4 will pick-up outside the main entrance. 5th grade bags will be available in the secure vestibule.
PLEASE NOTE - Due to COVID-19, students will NOT be exchanging physical valentines this year. Please do not send cards, candy, treats, or Valentine boxes of any kind in with your child. Please understand this is a district-based decision in light of health and safety and not unique to GES.
Snacks Needed
Snacks Needed
For some of our families, providing a nutritious snack each day to assist their GES star’s performance throughout the day does not happen consistently because of food insecurities. If you are able, please donate individually packaged Goldfish or pretzels in order to help us provide that snack for students who arrive at school without it because of the insecurities. If you would like to order on Amazon, and send donations directly to campus, you can find a link HERE. This would not pertain to students that simply forgot a snack that day. If your Star forgets his/her snack often, sending multiple days worth of snacks might help. For questions, please feel free to contact Angela Horn at angela.horn@gcisd.net or 817-251-5740. Thank you for your continued generosity and thoughtfulness.
Chromebooks
Chromebooks
The Spring Interim Assessment Window is nearing. The window is February 16- March 31. During the window, February 16- March 31, all district-issued student CHROMEBOOKS (grades 4-8) will be placed in KIOSK mode for test security purposes. To exit KIOSK mode, students will need to hold down the CTRL-ALT-S key combination. This information must be communicated to students and parents in teacher and campus newsletters beginning next week. Remote students are able to take the Interim Assessment from home if the STAAR testing app is installed on their device.
Play it Safe (Parent Preview and Student Presentation)
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.
A parent preview was hosted on January 12 at 10:00 AM via Zoom. This presentation was recorded and posted on the Elementary Counseling site for parents to watch at their convenience afterward.
Please contact The Women's Center of Tarrant County, Inc. at 817-927-4040 and ask for the Play It Safe department for specific questions.
Click around on this virtual counseling bulletin board for resources and/or requests!
February Character Quality
February Character Quality
This month's character quality in classroom guidance lessons, Circle Up topics, and throughout GES is COURAGE! Browse our Courage Newsletters below for ideas of how to partner with us from home.
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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.
Campus Activities and Events
Campus Activities and Events
This is a live Google Calendar that we will keep updated throughout the year with campus activities. Click the calendar to open it up so you can switch to week or month view and look at future dates. Please check back frequently for new additions.
PTA Announcements
PTA Announcements
Parking Spot Drawing!
Parking Spot Drawing!
Exciting News! We are having a drawing for TWO front row parking spaces in the GES parking lot to be used from 2/15/21 - 9/1/21. Everyone that is a GES PTA member by 11:59 PM on Saturday, February 13th will be entered in the drawing. Not yet a PTA member? Learn more about PTA, membership perks, and join here. Remember anyone can be a member of PTA - parents, teachers, students, staff, grandparents, extended family, siblings, and community members.
Rocket Fizz Spirit Day This Wednesday
Rocket Fizz Spirit Day This Wednesday
Please stop by Rocket Fizz on Main Street this Wednesday, February 10th between 11 am and 9 pm. A fun opportunity to support GES PTA as you shop. Stop by and check out their selection of soda, candy, toys, taffy and more! Great place to pick up some Valentine's Day treats for your loved ones.
Meet the PTA Event
Meet the PTA Event
Have you been wondering how to plug into the GES PTA or what leadership positions are available? We know the current pandemic has made many things difficult, including knowing how to help your child's school or where you can even get involved! We have partnered with the Londoner for a socially-safe, outdoor evening on February 23rd for parents to come see us and find the answers to your questions! Appetizers included!
Leadership will be on-hand from 5:30 to 7:30 pm to help you better understand who we are, what we do, and what opportunities there are for you to help both this year and into the 2021-22 school year. Let us know if you can come, or if you cannot make it but would love to be included in a virtual Q&A meeting, please fill out this form! Registration is required to attend!
Love Letters to Austin Due Wednesday
Love Letters to Austin Due Wednesday
GES PTA has a goal to collect 100 postcards to send to our legislators noting our public education legislative priorities. You can print a postcard, have your student help you decorate it, and return it to the collection box in the secure vestibule by this Wednesday, February 10th. You can also submit an e-postcard if that is easier for you. All the details can be found here. Please help us reach our goal of 100 postcards!
Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year
Happy Lunar New Year from GES PTA Culture Club! Read more about Lunar New Year and print off some activities for your Stars here.
Volunteers for Nominating Committee Needed
Volunteers for Nominating Committee Needed
The Nominating Committee selection is underway! We are looking for 5 committee members and 5 alternates to make up our 2021 Nominating Committee. The committee will be tasked with selecting next year's officers including President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President of Communications, Vice President of Membership, Vice President of Ways & Means, Vice President of Programs, and Vice President of Star Support. The committee will be voted on by our membership and then will have 30 days to meet virtually to select the officer slate. The selections will then be presented at the final membership meeting of the year for elections. Please note, members cannot serve in two consecutive terms of the nominating committee. If you would like to serve in this short, yet highly impactful committee, please sign up here.
GCISD News
GCISD News
STEM and Dual Language Lottery
STEM and Dual Language Lottery
The personalized programs application window for the 2021-2022 school year will open on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Online applications will be accepted through Friday, February 12, 2021. The lottery will be conducted on Monday, February 22, 2021.
Students who are already in STEM or Dual Language do NOT need to apply, even at transition years.
For more information and to complete an online application on or after Tuesday, January 19, click here.
Rabies Awareness & Prevention Poster Contest for K-12
Rabies Awareness & Prevention Poster Contest for K-12
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Zoonosis Control Branch will be conducting its annual statewide “Rabies Awareness & Prevention Poster Contest” for Kindergarten through 12th grade. Students who participate in the contest will learn about rabies, the importance of rabies vaccinations for their pets, respecting wildlife from a distance, and the need to notify adults if they think they may have been exposed to an animal with rabies. The Zach Jones Memorial Fund provides generous prizes for winners in each age group (Kinder, and grades 1-2, 3-5, 6-8 & 9-12). The poster contest can be utilized as an excellent informational or procedural text assignment or as an extra credit project for art and science classes. The deadline for poster submission is April 9, 2021. Information about the contest can be downloaded from the DSHS Contest website.
Texas Tuition Promise Fund® and Texas Match the Promise Foundation Webinars
Texas Tuition Promise Fund® and Texas Match the Promise Foundation Webinars
Learn more about the Texas Tuition Promise Fund®, the state's tax-advantaged prepaid college tuition plan, and the Texas Match the Promise FoundationSM, a 501(c)(3) public charity offering scholarship opportunities to eligible participants in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund.
Upcoming webinars will provide an overview of the Texas Tuition Promise Fund and information on the different types of tuition units, tuition redemption values and payment options. In addition, the webinars will present information about matching scholarship opportunities available through the Texas Match the Promise Foundation.
Sign up for one of our upcoming webinars.
If you have any questions regarding the webinars, please contact us at TuitionPromise@cpa.texas.gov.
GCISD Language Assessment Center Online Courses for Adults
GCISD Language Assessment Center Online Courses for Adults
In partnership with the Grapevine Community Outreach Center, the GCISD Language Assessment Center will begin offering online courses for adults. These free courses will be self-paced and will provide skills in English as a Second Language and Adult Basic Literacy, as well as GED support. The flyers can be viewed and shared here in English and Spanish.
Technology Assistance
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.
Grade Level Newsletters
Grade Level Newsletters
All grade level newsletters will also be sent out weekly directly to families from your homeroom teachers. Grade level newsletters can also be accessed using the links below.
Volunteer Requirements
Volunteer Requirements
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:
read the Volunteer Handbook (this replaces the previous face to face volunteer trainings held on campus)
watch the appropriate video included in the handbook
electronically sign the verification Google form for each campus you plan to volunteer
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.
Lunch Reminders
Lunch Reminders
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
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
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