RAPTOR Badges

I wanted to thank you for a wonderful first day of school. I especially appreciate your patience and flexibility as our normal Raptor security check-in system was experiencing an outage that impacted schools across the state. While we did make this change due to the first day of school visits, I want to emphasize that this will not be a normal practice and that all visitors will continue to check in through Raptor on future visits.

iReady Beginning of Year Testing

The i-Ready diagnostic is a powerful tool that helps us understand each student's specific academic needs in math and reading. These assessments are not a test to study for; they simply give us a starting point for the year. This information is crucial for our teachers as they plan differentiated instruction to help every child succeed.

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will be taking these assessments on their devices, and we have approximately three to complete them. Please make sure your child brings their fully charged device (iPad or Chromebook) and a pair of headphones to school every day starting Monday, August 18. Having a charged device and headphones is essential for a smooth testing process.

Please read this letter, which explains more about i-Ready and its purpose.

Save the Date - Parent Information Night

Parent Information Night will be on August 28 from 6:00-7:00pm. This is a time each year for teachers to share more information with families about how to help our students be successful in their current grade level. Topics typically include classroom expectations, grading policy, what do when your child is absence, etc. 

• PK, Kinder, 3rd, and 5th grade will record a grade-level presentation and send it to families in advance. These grade levels will have a Q&A from 6:00-7:00 pm

• 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade are doing 2 live identical presentations for families from 6:00-6:30 and 6:30-7:00 pm, since we have many families with students in multiple grades. 

• Specials, Dyslexia, Special Education, and our leadership team will be available to answer questions during the evening from 6:00-7:00pm.

Please check your child's grade level newsletters or email from homeroom teachers for more details.

We hope you will join us! 

Marquee Birthday Messages

Want an extra fun 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 - 8:00pm on their big day!

Complete this digital form AND then send $20 payment to GES by the following deadlines:

• Fall Birthdays - by October 30th

• Spring Birthdays - by January 31st

You can pay using cash (exact change ONLY) or check, payable to GES the following ways:

• Send to school with your student

• Mail check to Grapevine Elementary c/o Zainab Ellis at 1801 Hall Johnson Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051, OR

• Drop off exact cash or check to the front office during business hours, Monday-Friday, 7:30am-3:30pm.

Payment must be received at least one day in advance for any message to be posted.

Additional Car/Walker Signs

This year we have a google form for parents to use for additional car sign requests. This is the link: https://forms.gle/crdtbo9BAa6B4cZ29.

Mrs. Ellis and Mrs. McCann have access to the form responses. When we receive new requests, we will work to get car signs printed within 1 week (though likely sooner). This form can be used for additional copies or also to get new signs if something needs to be corrected.

First Week of School Drills

Just a quick heads-up about our school safety drills! As part of our district policy, we'll be conducting all five of our required safety drills within the first two weeks of school.

Your child may come home and tell you about these drills, and we want you to know this is a normal part of getting the school year started. We will make sure to prepare students ahead of time by talking through the procedures with them and reminding them that it is just a drill.

The safety of our students is our top priority, and practicing these drills helps ensure we're all prepared. We appreciate your support! 

Upcoming Events

• 8/18- Every Monday is College or Military shirt day. Encourage students to sport their favorite school (or school colors) shirt or a branch of the military shirt! 

• 8/22- Every Friday is Spirit Day. Encourage students to wear their favorite GES shirt or red or blue! 

• 8/28- Parent Information Night

• 9/5- PTA Back to School Bash

TEA Ratings

Beginning August 15, 2025, you will be able to view the State Accountability A-F rating for our school along with all Texas public schools and districts by visiting TXschools.gov. 

As shared by the Texas Education Agency, the purpose of the Texas A–F accountability system reflects three system objectives: grade-level rigor for students, fairness for districts and campuses, and transparency for parents and the public to ensure our state continues to work towards becoming a national leader in preparing students for success after graduation. 

For additional information about the State Accountability System and accessing ratings, please refer to the attached flyer and FAQ pages. 

• TX schools one-pager 

• TX schools one-pager - Spanish

• TX schools parent FAQ

• TX schools parent FAQ - Spanish

You can also visit the 2025 Accountability Rating System page on the TEA website.

Senate Bill 12 Requirements and Updates

Senate Bill 12, passed during the 89th Legislative session, requires school districts to obtain parent permission for student club participation as well as health services and school-based counseling and support services. It also contains requirements for sharing instructional plans and the prohibition of assisting with social transitioning. The new laws go into effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Families should review the information below and log into their student’s Skyward account to complete the pop-up permission forms.

Student Club Participation

SB 12 requires that parents give written consent before a student may participate in a student club authorized or sponsored by the school. School districts may not authorize or sponsor a student club based on sexual orientation or gender identity. All clubs authorized or sponsored by GCISD will be in accordance with all applicable laws and policies. 

If a parent does not give general permission, they will be contacted about each individual club or activity for which their student expresses interest in attending. A paper permission form will be sent home and must be completed and returned to the school prior to the student being permitted to attend or participate in any club meetings. 

Health Services

SB 12 requires that staff must have parent consent before providing a student with any care, unless it is a life-threatening emergency. This includes: 

• Assessment of minor injuries and providing basic first aid (like a scraped knee)

• Assessment and management of common health issues and illnesses

• Checking vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and pulse oximetry 

• Monitoring chronic conditions and implementing care plans as appropriate

• Provide general health teaching to students on topics such as hygiene, illness prevention, and healthy habits

• Proving state mandated screenings 

• Administration of epinephrine delivery system for anaphylactic reaction or an opioid antagonist, such as Narcan or naloxone, in accordance with TEC and GCISD Board Policy

• Application of topical preparations such as Aloe Vera gel, first aid spray, Benadryl cream, etc. 

Additionally, you will find a full list of detailed services provided by GCISD campus nurses within the form in Skyward. 

School-Based Counseling Services and Support Services

SB 12 requires that parents give permission prior to student participation in school-based counseling and support services. This includes setting academic goals and creating academic plans, guidance lessons, developing social well-being, and access to our character education curriculum, known as Character Strong. 

What Support May Include:

• Setting academic goals and creating academic plans

• Developing social well-being

• Checking in about emotions, challenges, or concerns

• Learning coping strategies and managing stress

• Addressing school-related issues (e.g., attendance, test anxiety, behavior, peer conflict)

• Building friendship and conflict-resolution skills

• Guidance lessons utilizing the Character Strong program 

• Participating in short-term individual or group sessions on school-related topics* 

*Parents/guardians will be notified and asked for additional consent if individual or group counseling is recommended.

School Counseling Does Not Include: 

• Therapy or long-term mental health counseling

• Assistance with social transitioning

Sharing Instructional Plans

SB 12 requires that teachers share an instructional plan or course syllabus with parents at the start of each semester. Teachers will email parents directly using email addresses provided in Skyward. 

Prohibition of Assisting with Social Transitioning

SB 12 prohibits school district employees from assisting students with social transitioning, which includes helping them change their name, pronouns, or other expressions of gender identity that differ from their biological sex at birth.

GCISD Parent Tech Academy

Are you a parent looking to stay informed about your child's technology use at school and at home? Look no further than the GCISD Parent Tech Academy! Our next session is at 6 p.m., Tuesday, August 26, on Webex. Here is the Webex link.  At the Parent Tech Academy, we will go over how to access parent weekly emails containing your children’s internet history, how to become a Canvas observer, and other parental access tips. Join us for the Parent Tech Academy and learn how to be better informed on your child's technology use.  

Student Absence Form

This year, to streamline communication, families will fill out this GES Student Absence Google Form, which goes directly to Mrs. McCann, our data clerk/registrar. Any time that your student is absent, please fill out this Google Form, and she will code it correctly in Skyward. If you have any questions, please email Allison.Mccann@gcisd.net or call 817-251-5733.

Arrival and Dismissal

For safety and security purposes, all parents are asked to use the car lines and walker stations on either side of the building for drop-off and pick-up. Families are not allowed inside the building during arrival and dismissal. 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 with their Driver’s License. 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. 

• 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. Parking is not available in the circle drive off Hall Johnson Road as that is reserved for the staff. 

• Student drop off is not permitted in the parking lot at any time.

• Once in the school, students in Pre-K will walk directly to their classrooms and sit outside the classroom doors from 7:20 - 7:30 a.m. Students in K-5 will walk directly to the cafeteria where they will sit in there from 7:20 - 7:30 a.m. 

• At 7:30, students will walk to their classrooms in the instructional hallways. 

• Students must be in their seats in their classrooms at 7:35 a.m. or they will be counted as tardy.

• Students who wish to eat breakfast may purchase in the cafeteria from 7:20-7:30am. 

Afternoon Dismissal:

• This year's dismissal will look the same whether it's sunny or rainy outside. 

• 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:

  • EDP students 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.

  • Bus riders and daycare students will be waiting inside on the Hall Johnson side as they wait for the bus. They will be monitored by a staff member. 

• K-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. 

• Car Riders

  • PreK - 1st grade students AND their older siblings will be waiting indoors and will exit the building off Hall Johnson Road when their parent arrives in the circle drive. 

  • 2nd - 5th grade students WITHOUT younger siblings in PreK-1st will be waiting indoors in the gym and will exit the building on the Hughes Road side (where the large parking lot is located) when their parent arrives. 

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. 

  • The small playground is closed after school due to it being reserved for EDP until 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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

Car/Walker Signs

Car Riders: Please have your car/walker signs visible and hanging from your Rearview Mirror when you come through either car line at dismissal. This will expedite our pick-up process and ensure your child makes it safely to your car. 

Walkers: We are making a change this year regarding the walker pick-up process. Please carry your car/walker signs every day throughout the entire year when picking up your child. This is to ensure the safety of all students, especially as we have new administration, front office staff, and teachers. 

Anyone who doesn't have a car/walker sign to pick up a child will be asked to come to the front office and show their ID for verification. 

Lunch Visitors

Lunch guests will sign in through our secure vestibule with a valid ID, stop by the front office to check in and receive a visitor badge, and then meet their GES star at the entrance to the cafeteria. Families will have the option to sit outside in the picnic table area for lunch or in our cafeteria at an empty table near the windows. Parents are welcome to bring in outside food when having lunch with their child. Lunch visitors may only eat with their child or student. You may not invite friends to sit with you when coming for lunch. 

Due to spacing, we ask that you please be mindful of our amazing GES community, who wants to have lunch with their children, and limit lunch visits with your child to no more than once a week. This will allow all families to have the opportunity to visit. We appreciate your cooperation!

The Google Form for lunches will begin the week of September 2nd. A link will be available soon here in the Sunday Star News.

Volunteer Background Check

We LOVE our volunteers at GES! This year, we are encouraging all families who plan to come to campus and interact with students to go ahead and complete the background check. Volunteers must complete this EACH YEAR beginning in August! It can take 1-2 weeks for your background check to clear. If you plan to be a guest reader, volunteer at a class party, chaperone a field trip, volunteer with PTA, open car doors with our Dad's Club, etc., you will need a completed Background Check!  

This year, GCISD has moved to a different program to complete background checks. Please follow the steps below:

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is pleased to announce that we will begin using the Raptor Volunteer Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our volunteer program of campus safety for students and faculty.  This system is similar to what we have used in the past, AppGarden. 

Please use the following link to apply to become a volunteer in GCISD. 

GCISD Volunteer Page

Thank you!

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.