Grapevine Elementary

Monday Message

GES families,

As we prepare to welcome some students for in-person instruction on September 8, there is some important information we need to share regarding some changes you will notice in our classrooms.

Since August 17, our students have been supported by a team of teachers, rather than a traditional structure of one individual teacher per class. As we began creating the master schedules for September 8, taking into account the instructional methods chosen by our families and the teaching preferences of our staff, we realized supporting two instructional methods requires some logistical and structural changes. We want to be transparent with you in sharing that based on the grade-level, some classes may be all remote, others may be all in-person but many will be a combination of in-person and online learners. This will understandably be an adjustment for both our students and our staff, and we ask for your patience and understanding the first few weeks as we adjust to this new element of normal.

There is also a great deal of information related to the return to in-person instruction for our families preparing to send students back on September 8th from both GCISD and GES. Please carefully read through the information in this newsletter so you and your child can be as prepared as possible.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff. We look forward to creating magic in new ways as we learn together this year!

All my best,

Mrs. Hale

COVID Reopening Guidelines (2).pdf

Arrival and Dismissal

GES Arrival and Dismissal

One important update for the 2020-2021 school year to our arrival and dismissal procedures is that we will no longer allow parents in the building during morning drop-off nor afternoon dismissal. This will be a change moving forward as it follows general safety and security practices and is not specifically related to COVID-19. Parents will be asked to use the car lines and walker stations on either side of the building for drop-off and pick-up. If a parent needs to access the front office at any time during the day, including arrival or dismissal, they should enter through the secure vestibule (Hughes parking lot side) and follow our visitor procedures to check-in. We appreciate your support as we keep all of our star students and staff safe.

Morning Arrival

Students are expected to be dropped off at the school no earlier than 7:20 a.m. This is a time change for the 20-21 school year!
Parents may use the front OR the back driveway to drop students off in the morning. Parking is available in the main parking lot off Hughes Road before and after school. Please do not park in the circle drive off Hall Johnson Road to walk your child into school. This slows down the traffic in the car line.
Student drop off is not permitted in the parking lot at any time.
Once in the school, students will walk directly to their classrooms and sit outside the classroom doors from 7:20 - 7:30 a.m. Students will be spaced apart for social distancing purposes as much as we're able.
GES staff will supervise students in the instructional hallways until 7:30 a.m. when classrooms open.
Students must be in their seats in their classrooms at 7:40 a.m. or they will be counted as tardy.

Afternoon Dismissal

All students will be escorted to their dismissal locations by a staff member. Please do not arrange to meet your child inside the school building.
Students have designated pick up areas depending on their mode of transportation home:
- Daycare bus riders will be escorted to the cafeteria.
- Walkers will meet their siblings, neighbors and/or walking parents and quickly proceed to the crosswalk nearest their homes. Walker Station areas should be cleared out within minutes of dismissal.
  - PreK-1st grade students and their older siblings walking home will be dismissed from the area outside the foyer doors near the cafeteria on the circle drive side of the building.
  - 2nd - 5th grade walkers will be dismissed to the Hughes parking lot side near the bike racks.
  - Parents walking to meet their children are encouraged to social distance and not gather on campus.
- Car Riders
  - School-issued car signs should be used at all times. If you didn't get one at "See the Teacher," it will be coming home September 8th!
  - PreK - 1st grade students AND their older siblings will be escorted to the circle drive off Hall Johnson Road for the car line.
  - 2nd - 5th grade students WITHOUT younger siblings in PreK-1st will be escorted to the car line off Hughes Road where the large parking lot is located.
Dismissal Changes
- Requests for dismissal changes should be sent in advance whenever possible to your child's homeroom teacher. If there is an emergency and you need to change your child's regular dismissal plans on the day of, please call the front office at 817-251-5735.
Friendly reminders regarding dismissal:
- Parents may NOT park and walk through the building to pick-up PreK-1st graders on the Hall Johnson side of the building.
- Student pick up is not permitted in the parking lot at any time.
- Dogs are not allowed on campus grounds due to student safety and health.
- The small playground is reserved for KidzU until 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Thank you for your cooperation as we ensure the safety of all of our students!

Campus News and Announcements

GES Return to In Person Plan

Please read carefully through the following document that outlines many different aspects of our Return to In-Person plan for those students and families who have chosen In-Person instruction beginning Sept. 8th.

Parent Information Night Presentations

We hope you were able to join your child's grade level sessions on Thursday or watch their recorded presentations. If you didn't have a chance to view the campus presentation, it is linked below.

GES General Session w/ the Leadership Team presentation

GES General Session w/ the Leadership Team slides

SeeSaw Celebrations!

Thank you families for your support of remote learning! We certainly couldn't do it without you. Check out these awesome stats from just this past week at GES!

We have a little over 500 students enrolled. That means on average our students submitted 26 assignments each! There is no doubt that learning is happening and connections are being made through the significant number of comments even in the virtual setting!

Marquee Birthday Messages

Want a new way to say "Happy Birthday" to your child on their special day? You can sign up to have your child's "Happy Birthday" message placed on the GES digital marquee from 6:30am - 8:30pm on their big day! Complete this digital form AND then send $20 payment to GES by September 25th! You can send cash or check payable to GES to school with your student or mail to Grapevine Elementary c/o Gina Sharp at 1801 Hall Johnson Drive. Messages will begin as early as September 14, but payment must be received in advance for any message to be posted.

Click around on this virtual counseling bulletin board for resources and/or requests!

We want to know how our Stars are! 3rd-5th graders will have the opportunity to complete THIS CHECK-IN from their grade Seesaw account.

PREK-2ND grade parents that are willing, please complete the counseling check-in on behalf of your GES Star(s)! I would like the opportunity to consult with any of you possible depending on your needs and check-in scales.

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 will 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.

Each month, you will receive a PK-2nd and 3rd-5th newsletter in our Monday Message regarding the character trait that students and staff will spend time with that month. This newsletter, as seen here, includes discussions and topics you can use with your GES Star(s) from home to support the Circle Ups, Teacher Challenges, Playground activities, and counseling guidance lessons from GES. September is KINDNESS!

PK-2 Kindness Family Letter English

PK-2 Kindness Family Letter Spanish

3-5 Kindness Family Letter English

3-5 Kindness Family Letter Spanish

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 Meeting Announcement

Please join the Grapevine Elementary PTA for our first General Membership Meeting of the 2020-2021 school year on Sunday, September 13th at 3:00 pm. Normally, this meeting would have taken place on the first day of school over the Boo-Hoo/Yahoo Breakfast, so feel free to bring your favorite snack and drink! We have a fun family activity, some budget items that need membership approval, are excited to share with you details about our Chasing the Magic FUNd Run, and will celebrate a successful first month back at school!

Per the Texas PTA Virtual Meetings Guidelines, the GES PTA must make members aware of the meeting no less than 10 days in advance and all members must register to attend in order to receive the link for the meeting. We will begin emailing the meeting link no less than 5 days prior to the meeting. The link will turn off at 12:00 pm on September 12th.

Dads' Club

The Dads' Club is an integral part of the GES PTA and provides a world of support to our staff and students. Dads' Club helps with all of our events, hosts our annual Chili Cook-Off, holds special events like movie nights, assists with the drop-off line monthly, assembles the float for the Grapevine Carole of Lights Parade and much more!

If you’d like to join the Dads' Club click here.

For more information, email dadsclub@gespta.org

Homeroom Parents

Calling all Homeroom Parents! While this year is starting out differently than most, we would love to give our teachers some glimpse of normal with a connection to their homeroom parents. Homeroom volunteers help with class parties, coordinating gifts for the teachers, help at field day, grade/classroom level events & contests, and can even help their teacher with other classroom needs. While we can't volunteer in the classrooms just yet, we would love to have your name and contact information so we are ready to go as soon as we have the green light! To sign up please complete the following steps:

1. Return to www.gespta.org, click on YOUR NAME to update your account then click on the "click here" hyperlink to update your directory information. Click through the steps to add your child's homeroom teacher's name to your profile.

2. Fill out our volunteer form to be contacted about helping with your homeroom. Go to our volunteer page then proceed to the form and select the grade level you would like to help.

Spirit Wear Orders Due Friday

Thank you to everyone who has ordered from our new Spirit Shop! PreOrders are due this Friday on September 4th. You can find our Spirit Shop here! Once we receive all of the pre-orders, we will make arrangements to either deliver them to your classroom teacher for in-person learners or have a drive-through pick up date and time for all virtual learners to claim theirs.

Serve on the PTA Board

Have you wanted to get more involved in the GES PTA? We still have board positions available for the 2020-21 school year! Openings include: Staff Appreciation Chair, Auction Chair, Hospitality Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Scholarships & Awards, GES Star Bank Volunteer, Pre-K Coordinator, and 1st Grade Coordinator. Email President@gespta.org for more information.

Don't want to serve as a chair but want to work on a committee? Visit our Volunteers page and check out the Volunteer Interest Form today to check off which committees you would be interested in helping in. First up will be our Virtual Fun Run, "Chasing the Magic" (previously Laps for Learning) in September! Sign up for the committee and stayed tuned for more information!

Parent/Guardian Member Perk: Directory

Do you ever find yourself wishing you had a phone number or email for another GES parent? When you purchase a Parent/Guardian PTA Membership you have access to our online directory and can view contact information for other GES families (who have opted to be in the directory). Purchase your membership today at www.gespta.org!

GCISD News

COVID Reopening Guidelines

For the latest information from GCISD, please view the GCISD COVID Reopening Guidelines HERE.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Masks

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Masks (UPDATED August 28, 2020) The following draft guidance was provided by the Texas Education Agency on July 7, 2020. Also incorporated are protocols specific to GCISD:

(UPDATED August 28, 2020) Schools are required to comply with Governor Abbott’s executive order regarding the wearing of masks. The order requires Texans living in counties with more than 20 coronavirus cases to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth while in a business or other building open to the public, as well as outdoor public spaces, whenever social distancing is not possible.
In addition to the executive order, school systems may require the use of masks for adults or students for whom it is developmentally appropriate.
TEA’s definition of masks include non-medical grade disposable face masks, cloth face coverings (over the nose and mouth).
Staff and students will appropriately wear face coverings at all times. District staff and students will practice these protocols during the first days of in-person instruction.
(UPDATED August 28, 2020) Students in third through twelfth grades will wear face coverings while at school unless there is an approved medical exemption as a result of 504 or an ARD.
(UPDATED August 28, 2020) Elementary students will have a portable plexiglass desktop barrier, which may be carried to other locations in the building, should a student need to leave the classroom for additional support or instruction. This item will need to be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis.
(NEW July 28, 2020) Students in middle and high school will be provided with a ‘gaiter’ instead of a face mask to wear during the school day. This item covers the neck and may be pulled up to cover the mouth and nose. Each student will be provided one gaiter, or may choose to bring their own personal protective equipment, provided it meets the definition from TEA.
It may be impractical for students to wear masks or face shields while participating in some non-UIL athletic or other extracurricular activities. When it is impractical for students to wear masks or face shields during those activities, schools must require students, teachers, staff, and visitors to wear masks or face shields when entering and exiting facilities and practice areas Last updated August 28, 2020, GCISD Fall 2020 DRAFT Guide | 14, and when not actively engaging in those activities. Schools may, for example, allow students who are actively exercising to remove masks or face shields, as long as they maintain at least six feet of distance from other students, teachers, and staff who are not wearing masks or face shields. However, schools must require students, teachers, and staff to wear masks or face shields as they arrange themselves in positions that will allow them to maintain safe distancing.
Campus and other reception areas will be equipped with plexiglass safety barriers.
The Texas Education Agency recently announced that PPE would be purchased and provided to each district for use as needed. Students and staff will be able to wear their own mask if they so choose. Masks will be provided in the event that a student or staff member does not have their own mask. More information regarding a district provided mask will be shared at a later date.

Skyward Instructions

Don't remember which instructional method you chose? For steps on how to login to Skyward Family Access to review your choice of in-person or remote learning for September 8, please follow these instructions.

Changing Instructional Model

As a reminder, parents are able to switch from in-person to remote learning at any point during the school year. In order to make this change, please contact our campus counselor, Mrs. Horn @ angela.horn@gcisd.net.

For families that are wishing to change from remote to in-person learning, that may only be done at the end of a grading period. The process for changing to in-person learning requires parents to complete a google form that will be shared by your child’s campus prior to the end of the nine-week grading period. Below is a schedule of when the form will become available, when the form must be received by the campus, and when the change will go into effect:

To change after the first nine weeks, parents must complete the form between September 20 and October 5. Your student would begin receiving in-person instruction on October 19.
To change after the second nine weeks, parents must complete the form between November 15 and December 7. Your student would begin receiving in-person instruction on January 6.
To change after the third nine weeks, parents must complete the form between February 14 and March 1. Your student would begin receiving in-person instruction on March 22.

If you have any questions regarding the timing of when parents may change the instructional model selected, or the associated process, please contact the campus counselor.

2020 Census

Students and families in GCISD still have an opportunity to participate in the 2020 Census. An accurate representation of our student and family population is important for future federal funding implications. If you have not already done so, please complete the 2020 Census for your family.

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

All grade level newsletters will also be sent out weekly directly to families from your homeroom teachers. Grade level newsletters can be accessed using the links below.

PreK Newsletter

Kinder Newsletter

First Grade Newsletter

Second Grade Newsletter

Third Grade Newsletter

Fourth Grade Newsletter

Fifth Grade Newsletter

Specials Newsletter

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

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