Friday, Nov. 1 Attendance

We anticipate that we may have many students absent on Friday, given the long weekend and Halloween on Thursday evening. We realize that the timing of Halloween is less than ideal for our elementary students, but would like to stress the importance of attendance on Friday. As a reminder, our schools are funded by students being present. If students are absent, the district does not get funding for the day, further impacting our deficit budget. 

If you're heading out of town for the long weekend and not leaving until the afternoon, consider sending your child for the morning hours. Even during fun weeks with lots of activities, there is a lot of learning going on and we hate for students to miss out. 

No School - Nov. 4 & 5

Friendly reminder that students do not have school on Monday and Tuesday next week. Teachers will be doing professional development on these 2 days. We hope you enjoy the long fall weekend with your students! 

Carline Reminders

Please stay in your vehicles when dropping off or picking up students in the carline. If your child needs assistance with buckling or unbuckling, please pull into an available parking space. If you are using the Hughes parking lot side, please walk your child safely to the cross walk. We appreciate your help in keeping our carlines moving systemically. 

Picture Day - Nov. 7

Save the Date! Picture Day will be on Thursday, November 7th! No money will be due on picture day. All students will be photographed for the yearbook. The first parent contact in Skyward will be sent an email with your proof image to view in about two weeks with a code allowing you to view, select your background and purchase your portrait packages online. We will also send out directions once proofs are available to with the code to login if you don't get an email directly. Packages will be shipped to your home and are 100% guaranteed. 

Dyslexia Awareness Month

As we wrap up the month of October, which is Dyslexia Awareness Month, we want to share a little more about this common reading disability to give parents some facts you might not know. We often hear myths about dyslexia and we want you to be armed with the correct information. Required by law, all of our kinder students and 1st grade students are screened yearly for early signs that might indicate dyslexia. You will be notified by your child's teacher if your child has early indicators. If you suspect that your child may have a reading disability, please contact your homeroom teacher. 

Myth #1:  Reading and writing letters backwards (such as the b and d) are the main signs of dyslexia.

Fact:  Some kids with dyslexia reverse letters...but some don’t. Letter reversal is NOT a sure sign of dyslexia. Letter reversals are actually developmentally appropriate until around 7-8 years old.

Myth #2:  Dyslexia can be outgrown.

Fact:  People with dyslexia will continue to face challenges throughout their lives. However, intervention and good multi-sensory instruction will go a long way in helping your child with reading issues.

Myth #3:  Dyslexia is a sign of below-average intelligence.

Fact:  Despite reading ability, people who have dyslexia can have a range of intellectual ability. Most have average to above average IQs and, much like the general population, some even have superior to very superior scores. (Dr. Sally Shaywitz, Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity)

Myth #4:  Kids with dyslexia just need to try harder to read.

Fact:  Research shows that dyslexia is caused by how the brain functions and effort has nothing to do with it. If anything, a child with dyslexia needs a lot of grace!

Myth #5:  Dyslexia only affects people who read English.

Fact:  Dyslexia occurs in every language; even in languages that do not use a standard alphabet.

Myth #6:  Dyslexia does not run in families. 

Fact:  Dyslexia can be inherited. 

November Lunch Sign-up

Our November lunch sign-up is now available beginning Nov. 6th. As a reminder, we kindly ask that each family reserve only 1 spot per month so that all families have the opportunity to come and eat with their child. We have 6 spots per grade level per day for families. Now that the weather is getting cooler, families may choose to enjoy sitting on the patio at our picnic tables with their child for lunch. 

Please remember to sign-up HERE and bring your valid ID to sign-in to the kiosks when you arrive. If you want to sit outside on the patio, please get a badge from the front office that will let you back into the building after lunch. 

October Character Quality - Responsibility

RESPONSIBILITY is the character trait focus for this month. Responsibility will be defined as taking action and understanding the impact of your choices. Teachers will also be nominating students based on showing the most responsibility or growing the most in responsibility for Star Student of the Month. Consider partnering with GES by reviewing the family connection newsletter HERE.

5th grade GT Testing Window

Beginning Oct. 14 - November 5, fifth grade families may refer their child for Gifted and Talented testing via Skyward. 

Referrals for students in Kinder-4th grade will open on Dec. 2nd. 

Lunch Visitors

Visitors may join us for lunch with their child if they are signed up in advance HERE. Available October dates are Tuesday, Oct 1 - Monday, Oct. 28. (Oct. 29-Nov. 1 will be on the Book Fair Lunch with a Loved One sign-up.) Please be sure to share our Sign-up link with your family members who wish to come eat with your child. Also, it is critical that anyone coming to lunch with your child, if not accompanying the guardian, is on your child's emergency contact list. 

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 their lunch with their child. We ask that you please be courteous to the rest of the community and limit lunch visits with your child to no more than one per month so that all families have the opportunity to visit. We appreciate your cooperation. 

Each family needs only 1 slot reserved. For example, Mom, Dad, and sister may all come eat lunch with Nancy. Only Mom needs to be registered as 1 visitor to reserve 1 picnic table together. When it asks for quantity of visitors, please select just 1. Lunch visitors may only eat with their child or student. You may not invite friends to sit with you when coming for lunch. 

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!  kjkhkuh

The following link takes you to the online Volunteer Handbook and background check: https://www.gcisd.net/o/gcisd/page/volunteer-background-check 

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.

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.

Follow us on Facebook

If you are on Facebook, we would love for you to follow our Grapevine Elementary Facebook page if you're not already. We post activities and campus life in addition to helpful reminders. We would love for you to follow our story!