Dear GES Families,

Back by popular demand, we will be hosting Lunch on the Lawn April 29th and 30th! This is a time for families and grade levels to eat lunch outside on the large playground with their child. This is optional but we have had a fantastic turn-out in the past. Families are encouraged to bring blankets or tailgate chairs to sit and eat lunch outside. Students who don't have family members present will still have the opportunity to eat outside with the teachers on lunch duty that day. Families may pack a lunch for their child, have their child purchase a lunch from the cafeteria (Ms. Lisa plans to have disposable trays available), or bring in outside food or drinks for the special occasion for their child only. 

Please use the sign-up links below to let us know if you plan to attend! If you are signed up in advance, you will be able to skip the secure vestibule and head directly to the large playground. We will have office staff at both parking lot entrances to the large playground checking IDs with our sign-up lists. 

April 29 - PreK, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade

April 30 - Kinder, 2nd Grade, 5th Grade 

We look forward to seeing everyone next week and hope the weather forecast clears up. In the event of rain, we will reschedule for a new date. 

All my best,

Nancy Hale

STAAR Testing - April 23

Testing continues this week for STAAR Math in grades 3-5. This means we will have a closed campus to all visitors on Tuesday. We cannot have outside guests on these days as anyone inside the building during testing hours must be security trained. 

Our testing schedule does impact our PreK-2nd grade students as they may be going to their specials classes at a different time of day tomorrow. This allows our 3rd-5th graders the opportunity to have a longer instructional block first thing in the morning to complete their testing. Lunches for all grade levels will remain at the same time. Recess times for 4th and 5th grades have been adjusted around specials and lunch. 

College & Career Event - LAST CALL! 

We need your help to make Career Day a memorable and educational day for our students!!! This is LAST CALL for presenters so we can create our schedule for next Friday! 

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

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.

No Cell Phone Use in School Zone

Did you know it's against the law to be on your cell phone while driving in a school zone? Not only can you incur a $200 fine, but it puts the safety of our students and staff at risk. We kindly ask that you remain hands free while in our school zone and our car lines. Please help us spread the word to anyone that may drop-off or pick-up your child, as well. We know we have many grandparents, babysitters, families and friends that pick up students and we want to be sure that everyone is working together for student safety. Thank you! 

Save the Date - Choir and Ensemble Performance

Our Choir and Ensemble Performance will take place on Wednesday, May 1st at 6:30pm in the GES Cafeteria. We invite all our families with students in the choir and ensemble to attend. They have been working hard all year and they sound beautiful!

Our students and staff will have the opportunity to see the show on May 1 at 7:50am. 

Weekend & After Hours Vandalism

We are asking for extra eyes and ears on the weekends and after hours to help us protect our campus. We have had several instances in the past two weeks of previous students or GCISD students who are using our property for mischief. Thank you to the neighbors who called police when there were students on the roof over the long weekend. We were able to identify all the individuals through campus camera footage and police footage.

 Unfortunately, early last week we had individuals draw with permanent marker all over our small playground equipment. And most recently, we had a group of students Saturday afternoon cut across our property and took a scooter from the bike racks, turned it on, and threw it on the sidewalk. 

These events are frustrating and can be costly for the school district. We ask for your help and support in calling police when you see activity on campus after hours. 

Early Voting Has Started; Learn About School and District-wide Bond Projects on the Ballot

Early voting started Monday, April 22, and continues through Tuesday, April 30. Tarrant County registered voters can vote at any Vote Center location during Early Voting and on Election Day. 

Early Voting Hours

• April 22-26, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

• April 27, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

• April 28, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• April 29-30, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

Election Day Voting Hours

• May 4, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

Click here to look up your voter registration, polling location and sample ballot. 

To see the itemized list per GCISD facility for the proposed 2024 GCISD bond, visit www.gcisd.net/bond-projects. The bond website also has informational videos, frequently asked questions and answers, tax rate information and election resources.

Check out the video starring our very own GES staff and students! 

Registration for 2024-2025

Returning student registration is open! While parents are able to register up until the first day of school, parents are encouraged to register by Friday, May 17 to help the district gather enrollment numbers as early as possible for planning purposes. 

To register a returning student click here. Prior to completing online registration, students enrolling in pre-kindergarten must have completed a separate online application, which may be found here. 

Families who are awaiting a transfer request should register for the campus they are currently zoned for. Transfer requests will be processed at a later date. To view attendance zones, visit our School Maps Online. 

New student registration is also open and can be completed here. Students new to the district (including those entering kindergarten) must provide proof of residency, birth certificate, social security number, immunization record, emergency contact numbers and a report card from the previous school unless enrolling in kindergarten.

Families needing assistance with registration for the 2024-2025 school year should contact our campus registrar, Candice Patton, candice.patton@gcisd.net. Families who need additional assistance or have specific questions or concerns may also call the front office at 817-251-5735. 

For more information, visit GCISD’s 2024-2025 registration page.

Spring Photos

GES Families, your photos are ready!

https://www.angelawengrenovichphotography.com/ges

You will then click on the blue button that says "View Photos Here." To view the photos, you will need to enter your email address and the Password which is 04Stars24 Details on previously requested individual album passwords are in the link above.

Please note that galleries will expire at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, April 30. All orders must be placed before that time.

Please let me know at awengrenphoto@gmail.com if you have any questions or problems ordering!

If your student was absent or you have other children that you'd like to photograph in this style, I'll be hosting a pop up mini session on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 for back to school. You can sign up here.

Thanks!

Angela

Angela Wengrenovich Photography

awengrenphoto@gmail.com

Students Input Form

In the coming weeks, we will begin to develop our class lists for next school year. In creating these lists we take into account district guidelines and keep in mind the need to create a balanced classroom for our GES Stars. This process involves multiple variables. Below you will find some of the variables we will consider as we develop class lists for the 2024-2025 school year:

• Gender balance

• Academic mix

• Personality and learning styles

• Peer relationships

• Class size

• Special needs

The objective is to place all students with a teacher in a balanced class that will support individual learning and growth.  At GES, we are very fortunate to have an exceptional group of teachers and staff to work with our students and families.

Families have the optional opportunity to fill out this student class information form. This form will not be used for requesting a teacher, but will give you a chance to share valuable information about your child.  There will also be a spot for your child to share. We will NOT be honoring specific teacher requests. The form will be available online to families April 16-26. Please complete the sections of the form online with your student.

Final class placement will not be determined until August.

GES Summer Withdrawal Form

We are asking any families who know they are NOT returning to GES for the 2024-2025 school year to please complete the following GES Summer Withdrawal FORM. This does not include students moving on to middle school. 

Walk a Mile with GCISD

After a successful inaugural Walk a Mile event in 2023, GCISD is bringing it back for a second year! Mark your calendars for 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 7, at Mustang Panther Stadium. Once again, this will be an evening where GCISD comes together to walk the track, meet new people and spend time with friends. Join us for this event!

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 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.