Bad Weather Days - April 2 and 30

We do not have school on Friday, April 2 or Friday, April 30. Although we were off for Snowpocalypse, we had enough minutes in our instructional calendar with students to not have to use these 2 days.

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.

Are you Returning to GES?

*Repeated from last week.

We are beginning to prepare for next year and we need your help. If your child is in PreK-4th grade and you're planning to return to GES for the 21-22 school year, please complete this FORM to help us plan and prepare for next year. This helps us ensure we have proper staffing for the number of students expected at each grade level. This is NOT the formal registration process. Skyward registration will open this year in May, and we will be sure to advertise that when the time comes.

Last Day of School - May 27

UPDATE! We recently learned that TEA provided three non-waiver days to all Texas schools following the winter storm we had in February. You might recall Dr. Ryan's email to the community on Feb. 19th that previously said we would adjust the early dismissal day for elementary's last day of school. That has since changed since we don't have to provide any additional instructional minutes and we're back to a HALF-DAY! We recognize that your child's behavior calendar still says 2:55pm, as that was the information we had at the time they were printed. Please feel free to update your child's copy or cross this out. Dismissal will be 11:45am on May 27!

Is Math Telescoping Right for My Child?

In order to telescope in math, a student must take a grade level end of course exam and score 90% or higher. For example, a first grader would take an end of course 2nd grade exam. If that child scored 90% or higher on it, then the next year as a 2nd Grader, that student would take 3rd Grade math. If you are wondering if this could be a good fit for your child, reach out to your child's math teacher to discuss this opportunity. If you choose to move forward with testing, then contact the Assessment Department at the GCISD Administration Office (817-251-5524) to schedule and pay for testing.

For more information check out the district MATH TELESCOPING WEBSITE & MATH TELESCOPING DATES

JUNE Testing: Online June 7-17 & Paper June 7-10.

Registration Opens: March 22

Registration Closes; April 1st

JULY Testing: Online July 19-29 & Paper July 19-22

Registration Opens: June 14

Registration Closes: June 22

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.

You Art What You Eat Student Art Contest

TDA’s You Art What You Eat statewide student art contest is going on now! Students must submit their artwork by April 2, 2021! The theme of the 2021 art contest is Feed Your Creativity with a Healthy School Meal. Students will use their creativity to illustrate what healthy school meals look like to them while incorporating TDA’s imagination-inspired theme.

For more information about the contest, how to submit, or to download materials visit www.SquareMeals.org/artcontest.

Join the GCISD Team!

Great opportunities are available in our auxiliary departments:

• Head Irrigation Technician - maintain district irrigation systems

• Warehouse Driver

• Cafeteria Food Service (Nutrition Specialists) -PT w/ benefits – work while your students are in school!

• KidzU Site Aides – PT w/ benefits – great schedule for local college students!

• Night Custodians

• Bus Drivers/Bus Driver Trainee – paid training program to earn your CDL and drive our children.

Apply now to work with the BEST! www.gcisd.net/careers

Elementary Art Showcase (Updated Information)

We are excited to announce the launch of the Elementary Art Showcase and Forum! This is a wonderful opportunity for young students to learn about the 3 branches of government and showcase how they interpret the government through their theme-based artwork. Please see the attached documents for more information and the student participation and release form. The deadline to register to participate is Friday, April 16, 2021.

• To participate, please complete the following steps:

• Complete the Student Participation and Release Form

• Provide a completed copy to our office via mail or email

• Send a photo or digital copy of your artwork (jpeg or tiff) to Rachel Garcia at Rachel.Garcia@mail.house.gov

• Bring your artwork in a standing frame with or without glass to our in-person event.

• Event will take place in late April/early May; more details to come.

Additional information can be found on our website at https://vanduyne.house.gov/services/elementary-art-showcase-and-forum.

GCISD Student Transfers

The general student transfer application window for the 2021-2022 school year opened on Monday, March 22, 2021, at 8 a.m. Online applications will be accepted through Friday, April 2, 2021, at 4 p.m.

All students (including employee students) must apply for a transfer if they desire to attend a campus other than their zoned campus and/or when a current transfer student is moving from the following grades/campuses:

• Pre-K to Kindergarten

• Elementary school to middle school

• Middle school to high school

Students who are already approved on a transfer and are not moving to the next transition level do NOT need to submit a transfer request. For more information and to complete an online application on or after Monday, March 22, click here.

Chromebooks - KIOSK Mode

The Spring Interim Assessment window is approaching. During the window, February 16- March 31, all district-issued student CHROMEBOOKS (grades 5-8) will be placed in KIOSK mode for test security purposes for the remainder of the school year beginning February 16, 2021. To exit KIOSK mode, students will need to hold down the CTRL-ALT-S key combination.

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