GES Families,

We can't begin to tell you what an exciting first week and start of a new school year it has been at GES so far. We've heard it repeatedly from students, parents, community members, and staff members what an awesome place it is here. Our students have been running in with excitement each morning to get to class with huge smiles on their faces. Our "Wild About Engagement" theme is already in full swing! Our teachers have been intentional about planning lots of community building activities where students learn to work together and get to know one another. Building a positive classroom culture is essential to the success of our students and staff and is our top priority during the first few weeks. You might ask your child about some of the fun activities they have done in class or check out our new Facebook groups for each grade level! 

School climate and culture isn't about what one person or one group of people do. It takes all of us working together to create a positive school environment for our students. We cherish our partnerships with our families, PTA, and community partners. Thank you for your commitment to making 23-24 a WILDLY amazing year for your child and all our stars at GES! 

All my best,

Mrs. Hale

Emergency Management Drills

Below is information regarding Standard Response Protocols. GCISD partners with the I Love U Guys Foundation and uses the Standard Response Protocols (SRP) to respond to any situation or emergency that takes place at school or in the district. 

• Each campus will conduct drills throughout the school year. These drills are based on the Standard Response Protocols of Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter, and Hold. GCISD developed one additional protocol known as Clear the Classroom.

• Completion of the drills is mandatory for each campus during the first two weeks of school, so that students and staff are prepared. Drills help us learn and know how to respond in the case of a real emergency at school. Our drills also help us to check certain equipment and responses. Our emergency management leaders on each campus will work with students and staff to complete our drills and document the results.

Your child's classroom has the SRP Poster displayed. We will be discussing these and practicing these drills the next week of school. More information about Safety and Security in GCISD can be found at https://www.gcisd.net/page/security-emergency-mgmt. If you have any questions, GCISD Director of Emergency Management and School Security, Allen Smith, is very receptive to speaking with parents about our safety practices and may be reached at allen.smith@gcisd.net.

GES Guidelines for Success

We wanted to share our Guidelines for Success with you so that you can have conversations with your students about the expectations that we have at GES. We have specific guidelines that we use in our hallways, in the cafeteria, on the playground and in each classroom. Students can earn compliments and rewards for following our guidelines for success in the building. Your child may also receive a "glow or grow" note from their specials teachers, Mrs. Wahpekeche, or Mrs. Ganus for their behavior in classrooms outside of their homeroom. 

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 August 28-September 29 HERE. 

Outside Recess

We wanted to let our families know that due to the extreme heat, we will not likely have outdoor recess for the next several days/weeks. Some grade levels are adjusting their schedules and trying to get a little recess in early in the morning before the heat sets in. District regulations prevent us from taking students out for recess when the heat index reaches 100 degrees or higher. 

Luckily, we have plenty to keep the students occupied and the teachers will continue to give lots of opportunities for movement throughout the day in class. Thank you for your understanding. 

Texas House Bill 114 

Effective 9/1/2023, Texas House Bill 114 requires a student to be placed in the DAEP if the student possesses, uses, or is under the influence of, or sells, gives, or delivers marijuana, THC, or an e-cigarette to another person within 300 feet of school property or at a school-related event. The District encourages all families to talk with their students regarding the dangers associated with vaping or drug usage and to discuss the implications of this new law with your children, emphasizing the importance of adhering to school policies and laws for their own welfare and for the betterment of the school community as a whole.

2023-2024 School Lunch Updates 

Welcome back! Nutrition Services is excited about the upcoming school year. School menus, the district charge policy, menu item pricing and more can be found on the department website here.

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Nutrition Services offers a simplified lunch menu during the beginning of each school year. This allows students time to adjust to the school cafeteria environment. It also allows distributors that partner with the district to adjust to the supply and demand challenges faced at the beginning of each school year. The four week cycle menu for plate lunch will begin on September 11, 2023. 

More information including menu item nutritional information and allergens may be viewed through the nutrition services website or by downloading the Meal Viewer app through the apple or android store. 

Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, Texas legislation has approved a 2024-25 biennium budget, which includes $3.3 million per year to cover the cost of school breakfasts for students eligible for reduced price meals. Students that are approved for reduced-price meals may eat breakfast at no cost this school year. Lunch price for students that qualify for reduced price meals will remain $0.40. 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 

Visitors

When any visitor comes to campus, you will need to park in the Hughes parking lot and use our main entrance near the bike racks. Please ring the doorbell and state your name and reason for coming to campus. All visitors will need to bring and present their driver's license to be scanned in our system in order to be admitted onto the campus. This includes checking out your child, joining us for lunch, or volunteering. Our doors to the building and office will always be locked, and Mrs. Sharp and Mrs. Patton will be conducting a visual check before unlocking the doors. 

We also ask that you never hold the door open for another visitor. This is for safety reasons. All visitors should state their reasons for being in the building and office staff should be the only ones permitting entrance. Thank you for helping to keep all our staff and students safe! 

School Email Communication

This year we are using a new program to send out the weekly Monday Message. For many families, this meant it went to your spam folder. If you or one of your child's guardians isn't receiving the Monday Message email, please contact the front office. At this time, the district has updated settings to include 4 guardians per student. We will continue to also send the Monday Message via Remind for the first few weeks. 

IF your email is marked as confidential in Skyward, you will not receive these emails because they go through a third party program. Please update your settings in your parent portal or contact the front office for assistance. 

What to Bring to School

Your child will need the following items on a regular basis. Please label everything!! Some grade levels may also ask for students to keep a change of clothes in their backpacks. We kindly ask that toys and other electronics stay at home. 

• Backpack

• Water bottle

• Snack (no peanut products for the classroom please)

• Lunch box (if not purchasing from the cafeteria)

• District issued Chromebook or iPad (new devices will be issued soon!)

• School Supplies (contact counselor Angela.Horn@gcisd.net if you need assistance with supplies) 

• Tennis shoes (PreK-2 go to PE daily; 3rd-5th go 3 times per week)

Welcome Officer Cartwright

We would like to introduce Officer Cartwright to our GES Community. He will be our new School Resource Officer at GES. He was in the Marine Corp for 8 years prior to beginning his career with GPD. He is excited to be with us and eager to serve the community.

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application 

Starting July 17, 2023, applications opened for the 2023-2024 school year. To apply, please visit www.schoollunchapp.com. You can also download a paper copy from www.gcisd.net or request one from any campus or the Nutrition Services office. 

Completing the application will determine your child's eligibility for free and reduced-price meals, as well as potential eligibility for other benefits. Only one application is required per household. You will be notified by email from the nutrition services department regarding your child's eligibility. 

Our dedicated Nutrition Services staff is excited to provide healthy and balanced meals to students in the upcoming school year. For any inquiries, please call 817-251-5617 or email child.nutrition@gcisd.net. 

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! 

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 August 28-September 29 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.