Dear GES Families,

Each year Grapevine Elementary hosts College & Career Day in May! Over the past few years we have tried to make this a memorable learning experience for our stars by filling their day with presentations of all kinds! We would love to invite you to present to our students about your profession and/or college experience. We want to introduce our students, who range from pre-K to 5th grade, to as many different professions/careers/trade schools/colleges as possible that exist! 

You may not think your career path would excite elementary students, but they are always eager to learn and explore! Some parents create visual slideshow presentations, while others bring hands-on learning experiences. If you are considering sharing, we are happy to brainstorm with you to make your presentation engaging for an elementary audience! In the past we welcomed nurses, pilots, architechs, bakers, Youtube stars, lawyers, archeologists, engineers, and more! 

Our College & Career Day will take place on Friday, May 3rd. If your schedule allows and you are willing to participate for any grade or class, please complete the Google interest form HERE. 

As the date gets closer, you will receive the schedule. Please feel free to also share our Google interest form with other colleagues that may be interested in presenting at our College & Career Day. If you have not done so this school year yet, please take time to complete THIS background check as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please reach out to angela.horn@gcisd.net. Thank you in advance for considering how you could help engage our star students in your career! 

All my best,

Nancy Hale

Thank You 

We very much appreciate your cooperation and understanding last Tuesday when we had to unexpectedly have a secure dismissal because of police activity in the area. While the police searched for someone needing their assistance, we were able to safely dismiss every GES student directly to an adult, including our bus riders and walkers on very short notice. We are thankful that our families responded quickly to ensure student safety. It was yet another example of the amazing community we have at GES! 

Opening Day - March 28

Join us by wearing Rangers gear or your favorite baseball team attire on Thursday, March 28th for Opening Day! 

No School - Friday, March 29

Just a friendly reminder that we do not have school on Friday, March 29th. We hope you enjoy the long holiday weekend! 

Please Use Crosswalks

During arrival and dismissal each day, please use the marked crosswalks. We have had an increasing number of families parking on the street across from school and walking through the street without using the 4-way stop. This creates a very dangerous situation for our students and the vehicles passing through our school zone. We appreciate you cooperating with the laws and keeping our school zone a safe place for students and families. 

Solar Eclipse Opt-Out Reminder

On April 8, 2024, there will be a rare and exciting astronomical event, a total solar eclipse of the sun in the North Texas area. 

Our teachers and staff will provide all students with approved eyewear and the opportunity to go outside and observe the eclipse in the afternoon. Teachers will train the students on how to use the eyewear as well as other precautions associated with this event. The eyewear provided is approved by the American Astronomical Society, supported by NASA. We understand there may be individual parent concerns, and if so, you may opt-out if you do not want your child to participate. There will be an opportunity for students who have opted out to view a live stream of the eclipse. This way each student will have the ability to take part in viewing this event.

Here is a link to a doc that will guide you through the opt-out process.  Please contact a campus administrator should you have any further questions. Thank you for your partnership in this experience.

While we are providing protective eyewear, we also ask that you have a conversation with your student before this event. No student should attempt to view the eclipse using anything other than the provided protection glasses. Regular sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection for viewing an eclipse. Please advise your student that looking at the sun without these protections can cause serious, permanent eye injury. If you would like additional information to share with your student, NASA has provided resources regarding the eclipse that may be found by clicking on the link below:

How to Safely View the April 8, 2024, TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Have you registered to vote?

The last day to register is Thursday, April 4, 2024, to be able to vote in the May Election. Please visit VoteTexas.gov for information on how to register and have your voice heard. 

Mathematics Monday is March 25

Nutrition Services is excited to announce Mathematics Monday on March 25 during lunch. 

This fun and engaging event will take place at all elementary and middle school campuses. Age appropriate math problems have been incorporated onto a special treat given to all students that select a plate lunch this day. This event is aimed at connecting the cafeteria to the classroom in a fun and engaging way. Students can collaborate together to solve the math riddle while enjoying their lunch. We hope to see you in the cafeteria! 

Ask your student about their math problem today if they purchased a school lunch! 

Spring Photos

Angela Wengrenovich Photography will be on campus April 8-10, 2024 to provide Modern School Photos for our Spring Photos. More information can be found in the letter HERE. Students will have their photos taken based on grade level as follows.

Monday, April 8 - Pre K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade

Tuesday, April 9 - 2nd and 3rd Grade

Wednesday, April 10 - 4th and 5th Grade

Angela will be photographing GES Siblings together if you register your sibling group by April 1. You can register siblings, request an individual gallery password, or allow for a model release here - https://forms.gle/PPAoSRse9ZG62W4f7

Any questions you may have will be answered by Angela directly at awengrenphoto@gmail.com.

Report Cards Posted - Wednesday

Report cards for the 3rd nine weeks posted to student Skyward accounts on Wednesday, March 20. Thank you for taking time to check on your child's progress. 

Video and Community Presentations Provide Information about GCISD Bond 

Watch this video which provides information about the three propositions that will be on the May 4, 2024, ballot for the GCISD bond. Additionally, GCISD will host community presentations, which are open to anyone who lives or works in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD and will be held at:

• 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Cross Timbers Middle School (library)

• 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Heritage Middle School (cafeteria)

• 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, Grapevine Middle School (cafeteria)

Learn more about the GCISD Bond at www.GCISD.net/Bond.

Recognize a Teacher

We believe that teachers are the secret ingredient to success. To bring recognition to great teachers in the Crumbl community, we’re doing a Teacher Appreciation giveaway! Enter your favorite teacher for a chance to win a Crumbl party for their class and special recognition! Click HERE to nominate. 

Nominations are open now until March 31, 2024. No purchase is necessary. Winners will be announced in May for Teacher Appreciation Month! 

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 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. 

You can sign-up for lunch from March 1-29 HERE. 

You can sign-up for lunch from April 1-30 HERE. 

Volunteering

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!  

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.