Dear GES Families,

This is the time of year that families start to receive various emails and phone calls regarding attendance because flu season is upon us and days start to add up throughout the year. We wanted to share some important information with you regarding attendance. 

First and foremost, attendance matters! Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s learning and educational experiences. Parents and students are encouraged to avoid unnecessary absences, because we know there will be days that must be missed for illness. Two important state laws govern attendance. In efforts to promote student attendance and learning, please note the following reminders and updates to GCISD attendance requirements.

Laws Governing School Attendance:

Compulsory Attendance (AKA Truancy)

Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten

Students enrolled in prekindergarten or kindergarten are required to attend school and are subject to the compulsory attendance requirements as long as they remain enrolled at a campus.

Ages 6–18 

State law requires that a student who is at least six years of age, or who is younger than six years of age and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not yet reached their 19th birthday, shall attend school, as well as any applicable accelerated instruction program, extended-year program, or tutorial session, unless the student is otherwise excused from attendance or legally exempt. Students/families who do not meet compulsory attendance will be referred to the GCISD Attendance Review Board and/or referred to Tarrant County Court for truancy. If a student fails to attend school without excuse on three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period but does not fail to attend school for the time described below, the district shall initiate truancy prevention measures on the student.

Attendance for Credit or Final Grade (AKA 90% Rule)

To receive credit or a final grade in a class, a student in kindergarten–grade 12 must attend at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered. With the exception of absences due to serious or life-threatening illness or related treatment, all absences, whether excused or unexcused, must be considered in determining whether a student has attended the required percentage of days. Students who are in danger of losing credit or promotion will be contacted by the campuses with plans for opportunities to regain lost instructional time.

Official Attendance-Taking Time

Official attendance is taken every day at 10:00 a.m. Attendance is taken at 8:55 a.m. at Collegiate Academy and 12 p.m. for Bridges.

Documentation after an Absence

Up to 8 days per year (4 per semester) may be excused by a parent note for missed attendance beyond medical, approved excused, and statutorily exemptions. Vacations taken during the school year will be coded as unexcused absences. All absences whether excused or unexcused count toward the 90% rule. 

A parent must provide an explanation for any absence upon the student’s arrival or return to school. For all GES students, please email our Student Data Secretary, Candice Patton, at candice.patton@gcisd.net. You may choose to include your teachers, as well, as they like to be in the know about student absences. We will document emails in your child's attendance records whether the absence is excused or unexcused. 

We appreciate you working together with us to support your child's attendance! 

All my best,

Nancy Hale

Update Chrome OS for Grades 3-5

Please help us prepare for student password reset that is coming up next week. All 3rd-5th graders need to update their Chomebooks prior to Monday, Feb. 26th. While teachers will be reminding students to complete these steps this week, you can save us valuable instructional time by completing the 4 simple steps below. 

GCISD Bond Update: How the Bond was Developed

On May 4, 2024, GCISD voters will be asked to consider a $150 million bond to address security, aging schools and infrastructure. The process began more than a year ago with physical assessments completed on all facilities in the district. Campus and department leaders were also asked to identify and submit facility-related items that they felt were needed and/or would enhance security or student experiences. This resulted in more than 2,000 potential projects. In the spring and summer of 2023, the Long-Range Planning Committee was tasked with prioritizing all 2,000-plus projects for a long-range plan. This committee was made up of a combination of GCISD employees and residents. Then in the fall of 2023, the Bond Advisory Committee of residents was brought together to identify projects that could be included in our next bond package. Representatives from the Bond Advisory Committee presented their recommendation to the Board of Trustees in December 2023. In January 2024, the Board voted to call for a $150,000,000 bond election to include the priority projects identified by the Bond Advisory Committee. Learn more about what these community groups prioritized for GCISD’s 2024 bond at www.gcisd.net/bond. 

Student Password Reset

Updating and managing passwords is a critical step in helping to ensure GCISD is protected against cyber threats and our students’ information is safe. On Feb. 26, GES 3rd-5th grade students will complete a digital citizenship lesson. During this cybersecurity lesson, students will change their Classlink password to a strong password. They will also set up recovery questions and answers in case they forget their password in the future.   

Your child's homeroom teacher will have access to help reset their password if they forget it. We highly recommend you help your child generate a strong password they can use on Monday. 

Dos and Don'ts of Passwords: 

• DO share your password with your parents

• DO create passwords with at least 12 characters.

• DO use combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols. 

• DO change your password regularly - at least every 6 months. 

• DON'T give a password to anyone else - not even your friends. 

• DON'T use password that are easy for people you know to guess, like your nickname or your pet's name. 

• DON'T use any private information in your password. 

• DON'T use a word in the dictionary as a password. 

Math Telescoping

Testing opportunities for telescoping in Math for the 2024-2025 school year are available in the summer for GCISD students who are completing Grades K-7.

The Parent Information Packet will be available on the District website under the Parents tab by selecting the link for Acceleration Exams, Grades K-7.

The packet will contain the registration form. Payment is made online following the submission of the form.

Parents will also be able to view the TEKS on the TEA website and download Study Guides for the exams purchased from the University of Texas at Austin, UT High School.

Registration for the June exam administration is March 18 - April 1, 2024.

GCISD Calls May Bond Election 

At its January 22 school board meeting, the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Board of Trustees voted to call a bond election that will be on the May 4 ballot. Registered voters residing within the GCISD boundaries will be asked to consider a $150 million bond referendum that would generate funding to address aging conditions, such as replacements for roofs, electrical, plumbing, lift stations, and heating and air conditioning equipment. The propositions also address safety and security updates, technology infrastructure, device replacement for the district’s 1:1 program, buses, equipment updates for several student programs, and equipment improvements at the GCISD Swim Center. The GCISD total tax rate is the lowest it’s been in 25 years, and the tax rate is not expected to increase as a result of the 2024 bond.

GCISD officials will schedule informational meetings to share details and answer questions.  As soon as those meetings are finalized, information will be shared through the district’s regular communication channels. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to visit www.GCISD.net/bond for more information.

Growth and Development for Fourth Grade Girls and Fifth Grade 

In order to be proactive in our delivery of education concerning human sexuality, our district uses several resources and programs for the elementary school health curriculum. Starting February 4, 2024 through February 17, 2024 parents may preview these videos from a non-district device by following the directions below:

Parent Portal - Access The 4th and 5th Grade Puberty Videos Playlist

Puberty programs used in the elementary school

Just around the Corner (4th grade girls)

This upbeat and catchy video is shown to 4th grade girls to introduce them to the changes the body will experience during preadolescence.  It will be shown to 4th grade girls only.

Growing Up! For Boys (5th grade boys) and Growing Up! For Girls (5th grade girls)

These videos present basic information about male and female reproductive anatomy and functioning - and the physical and psychological changes that are a normal part of growing up. Growing Up! For Boys (shown to 5th grade boys only) provides advice on health, hygiene and good grooming.  It points to sources of reliable information and fosters the self-esteem that comes with accepting new responsibilities. Growing Up! For Girls (shown to 5th grade girls only) takes a realistic look at the responsibilities of adulthood and promotes dialogue with trusted adults, promoting self-confidence as girls face the challenges of change and growth.                          

Starting February 4, 2024 through February 17, 2024 4th grade girls and 5th grade parents may preview these videos from a non-district device by following the directions stated in the Parent Preview Message sent via Skyward Messenger on Thursday Feb 1, 2024. 

If you have concerns, or need more information, please contact Amy Taldo, RN, BSN at 817-251-5564 or by email amy.taldo@gcisd.net.

Every Parent will be asked to fill out a form indicating their preference of participation for their child. If a form is not received from the parent, then your child will not be able to participate. 

The form to indicate your choice of Participation is located in Skyward Family Access. You can find directions on where to locate the form here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19lLBhxP3HjEgyJIVHwhKowLYKbR3BPx_JIrv0dTI-V0/edit 

CHHS Baseball Night at Texas Rangers Globe Life Field

Date: Monday February 26

Time: 7-9pm

Admission: Free!

Come watch CHHS baseball practice/intersquad all 3 teams where we have Globe Life Field all to ourselves from 7-9pm! Free admission and they will have a concession stand open as well. Will be a fun night! Bring family and friends and lets pack it out!