Embedded Files
GES families,
As I reflect on our first week of blended learning, I am so proud of our GES staff, students, and families and how we have all come together on a very difficult task to serve both remote and in-person learners. It hasn't been easy and we appreciate everyone's patience as we worked through kinks this week. This is something that has never been done before. We're working through it day by day and perfecting our craft to meet the needs of all our students.
As we continue through the month of September, we ask that families remain in close communication with their teachers. We will continue to send regular newsletters, emails, and Remind texts to keep everyone up-to-date. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Teachers will also begin scheduling beginning of the year parent/teacher conferences with all families. We are thankful for your support and partnership in your child's education.
All my best,
Nancy Hale
Campus News and Announcements
Campus News and Announcements
Dot Day - TOMORROW, Sept. 15
Dot Day - TOMORROW, Sept. 15
GES will be celebrating International Dot Day by wearing polka dots on Tuesday, September 15th! We love author Peter H. Reynolds and his unique ability to bring communities together through story. The Dot is a picture book that encourages kids to celebrate courage, creativity, and collaboration. Students around the world will celebrate Dot Day on September 15th-ish.
Here are a few ways to celebrate with your family:
Make some dots! You can make dots out of coffee filters, paper plates, or plain old paper. The more unique, the better!
Place your dots in your windows, on your garage doors, or on your front doors. Then take your family on a walk around the neighborhood to see how many dots you can find!
Listen to Emily Arrow's The Dot Song: https://youtu.be/r_I43cxDQ-o
Wear polka dots on Tuesday, 9/15
Friday Dress-up Days
Friday Dress-up Days
Each Friday at GES, we invite students to participate in specific dress-up themes. The first 3 Fridays of each month will follow the same pattern and our 4th Friday will be a "Fun Friday" with rotating themes. Stay tuned to this Monday Message, our school activities calendar, and social media for reminders each week.
FIRST Friday - College Colors
SECOND Friday - GES Spirit Wear (a campus shirt)
THIRD Friday - Making Magic Together (Disney theme shirt)
FOURTH Friday - Fun Friday (it will change each month-silly socks, crazy hair, etc.)
No School - Monday, September 21
No School - Monday, September 21
Next Monday, September 21st is a Professional Learning Day for staff and a student holiday. Please be sure you have made arrangements for your students to be off school.
Snack Donations
Snack Donations
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.
Supply Cabinet
Supply Cabinet
Is your star student in need of supplies? We have set up a supply closet in the secure vestibule that is available to both in person and remote learners. If you need something, feel free to stop by!
Specials Classes for Remote Learners
Specials Classes for Remote Learners
As GES begins working with face-to-face and remote learners, your specials team (PE, music, art) is working to align all learners in their learning objectives. Please be aware of the following schedule for remote learners:
PE operates on an every other day, weekly rotation
Music and art operates on an every other day, every other week rotation
Face-to-face learners will follow a different schedule which is provided to the teachers, alternating days and weeks between PE, music, and art.
GES Teachers are Magical
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.
Marquee Birthday Messages
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 to the front office with your child, drop it by the front office, or mail to Grapevine Elementary c/o Gina Sharp at 1801 Hall Johnson Drive. Messages will begin as early September 14, but payment must be received in advance.
Self-screen Daily
Self-screen Daily
Please remember the importance to pre-screen your student for signs and symptoms associated with COVID-19 before bringing your student to school. The signs and symptoms to screen for are:
Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
Loss of taste or smell
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Headache
Chills
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Shaking or exaggerated shivering
Significant muscle pain or ache
Diarrhea
Nausea or vomiting
If your child demonstrates any of the above signs or symptoms, they must stay home, and you need to report to the campus nurse the signs or symptoms your child is exhibiting. In the event that your child has a fever, they must be kept home from school until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. Please do not give fever reducing medication and send your child to school. Additionally, please do not send your child to school if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or are test-confirmed with COVID-19.
COVID Reopening Guidelines (2).pdf
GES Return to In Person Plan
Click around on this virtual counseling bulletin board for resources and/or requests!
CHARACTER TRAIT NEWSLETTER(S)
CHARACTER TRAIT NEWSLETTER(S)
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 EnglishPK-2 Kindness Family Letter Spanish3-5 Kindness Family Letter English3-5 Kindness Family Letter Spanish
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.
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
Spirit Shop Thank You
Spirit Shop Thank You
Thank you so much to those who have ordered spirit wear! We are all so excited to see our Stars in their new shirts. Spirit Wear orders were due on 9/4 and send to our vendors on 9/5. We expect everything to arrive in the coming weeks. If you missed the deadline, don't worry! Our Spirit Shop will reopen later this fall with the most popular shirts from this order and a few new items!
We will let everyone know just as soon as we have received the orders from our vendors. If your Star is learning in-person, we will deliver them to your teachers. If yours is remote, we will arrange a day for you to pick them up.
August Volunteer of the Month
August Volunteer of the Month
Each month GES PTA recognizes a Volunteer of the Month. The Volunteer of the Month is the person who turned in the most volunteer hours for that month.
We are so excited to announce that our August Volunteer of the Month is Sarah Powell. Sarah logged many hours working on the PTA budget and financials as PTA treasurer. She also designed our FUNd Run logo and made a magical tote and earrings for a staff membership giveaway. These are just a few of the many ways she volunteered last month. Thank you, Sarah for all you do for GES PTA. Enjoy your VIP parking and a special surprise!
The next volunteer of the month could be you! Don't forget to log your volunteer hours on the PTA website.
Help with Destination Imagination
Help with Destination Imagination
GES PTA is searching for a 2020 - 2021 Destination Imagination Chair! The mission of Destination Imagination is to engage participants in project-based challenges that are designed to build confidence and develop extraordinary creativity, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills.
As the DI Chair, you would help coordinate GES DI teams, find parent volunteers to serve as team managers, help teams get registered and help communicate information about DI. If you are interested, please email president@gespta.org!
Shop and Support at Tom Thumb or Albertsons
Shop and Support at Tom Thumb or Albertsons
Making lots of grocery trips these days for snacks for your remote learners? Maybe lunch box items now that your student is back in person at GES? Did you know that each time you grocery shop, you could be supporting GES PTA?
We are so grateful for the Tom Thumb Good Neighbor Program and the Albertsons Community Partner Program! Our last check from them to the GES PTA was over $500.
Link your Tom Thumb/Albertsons card at Guest Services the next time you go shopping using Organization Number 7665. Every time you use your rewards number, a portion of the proceeds will be donated back to the GES PTA!
GES Face Masks
GES Face Masks
GES Face Masks are here!!! Show your school spirit with a red or blue mask available now on our website. Masks are being offered in both adult and youth sizes. Youth masks are available in heathered blue or heathered red and adult masks are available in primary blue or red. Please note, the masks are washable and reusable cloth masks that meet district guidelines but are not a substitute for medical-grade masks. See the order form for more details.
Dads' Club
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
GCISD Eats
GCISD Eats
GCISD Council of PTAs is happy to host the GCISD Eats calendar- a community calendar that compiles the Spirit Nights at local restaurants that support our GCISD schools.
PTAs, Booster Clubs, Student Groups, and any organization that hosts a restaurant fundraiser benefiting GCISD may submit their event info to the calendar. Start here to submit an event or subscribe.
And look for the What's Cookin' in GCISD social media posts each week. Let's support our school while eating out!
GCISD News
GCISD News
Changing Instructional Model - UPDATED!
Changing Instructional Model - UPDATED!
Families have chosen in-person or remote learning for the 2020-2021 school year, and they do have the option to change their student's instructional model.
Switching from In-Person to Remote Learning
Families 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.
Switching from Remote to In-Person Learning
Families that are wishing to change from remote to in-person learning may only do so at the end of a grading period. For families that wish to change at the end of the current grading period, beginning on September 20 you may log in to Skyward Family Access and complete the changing instructional models form. The campus must receive the completed form before the end of day on October 2.
Instructions on where to find the form and how to complete it can be found here. A schedule of when this change can be made can be made for other grading periods can found here.
If you have any questions regarding the timing of when parents may change the instructional model selected, or the associated process, please contact Mrs. Horn, angela.horn@gcisd.net.
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 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
Follow us on Social Media
Follow us on Social Media
Page updated
Report abuse