Dear O.C. Taylor Families,

Regardless of family income or background, students whose parents are involved in their child's schooling are more likely to have higher grades and test scores, attend school regularly, have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school. We love having you involved and need your help!

One of the best ways to be involved is to talk with your child about their progress and have them set goals on how to improve in the areas needed. Progress reports will be available in Skyward beginning next week. Please log in to view your student’s progress report by following the instructions below:

1. 1. Visit www.GCISD.net and click the Skyward icon at the top of the page (or login here)

   2. Click “Progress Reports/Report Cards” on the menu to the left

   3. Select the report you would like to view

1. • For tutorials and more information on Skyward, please visit the website. If you are having trouble accessing Skyward, please submit a Help Desk ticket.

If you are wondering how you can get involved more and would like to meet some amazing families, our OCT PTA is inviting everyone to Black Walnut Cafe on Tues., Feb. 22 from 8:00-9:30 a.m. I hope to see you there!

To the BEST of days,

Principal Pedevilla

REPEAT REMINDERS/UPDATES

1. VIRTUAL MEETING FOR ELEMENTARY PARENTS: One Surprising Reason Covid is Hard for Parents and Kids (and 3 things you can do about it!) - GCISD Counseling is hosting a virtual meeting. Join on Zoom for specific ways you can support your child through the changes from the pandemic. The link will be live on February 22 at 6 p.m. here. If calling in, you can find the details below:

   1. Meeting ID: 872 4989 4346

   2. Passcode: 450113

   3. One tap mobile

   4. +13462487799,,87249894346#,,,,*450113# US (Houston)

   5. +12532158782,,87249894346#,,,,*450113# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location

1. 6. +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

   7. +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

   8. Meeting ID: 872 4989 4346

2. Passcode: 450113

3. GCISD COUNCIL OF PTAS EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN COMMITTEE will be hosting a Parent Coffee Chat onFebruary 25th 8:30am-10:00am at the PDEC Panther Den. Coffee and bottled water will be served, and we'll have additional space available for anyone who may need to bring their littles with them.

There is an Event link at www.facebook.com/GCISDecc where parents can RSVP, giving the ECC a general headcount of who is planning to attend and interested.

This will be an incredible opportunity for parents to ask questions, learn more about the ECC and how this PTA resource can better support them and their students.

Thank you. #EveryStudentMatters

Valerie Kunert

ecc@gcisdcouncilofptas.org

Exceptional Children Committee Chair

Grapevine Colleyville ISD Council of PTAs

Cell: 214-762-7683

www.gcisdcouncilofptas.org

4. STAAR ONLINE: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is transitioning all state assessments to be administered online by the 2022–2023 school year. To support this change, GCISD will be administering all state assessments online this Spring and is encouraging students to visit the practice tests site released by the TEA to prepare for online testing. For upcoming testing, students will be using district-issued personal devices. The online practice tests familiarize students with the general tools, designated supports, and accessibility features that may appear in online tests. In the practice site, there are features that may be turned on and off for students with identified accommodations such as text-to-speech and spelling assistance. Organized by grade level and subject, all 2018, 2019, and 2021 STAAR released tests are also available on the online practice site. Please visit this link for instructions on how to access the practice site. To view upcoming online STAAR testing windows and dates, please visit our website. More specific information about student testing days will be coming soon. Please submit a help desk ticket if you are having trouble launching a test.

5. NUTRITION SERVICES DEPARTMENT: Great opportunities are available in our Nutrition Services Department! Apply now to work with the BEST! www.gcisd.net/careers

6. REPORTING COVID-19 CASES: To report a student or staff COVID-19 case to GCISD, please complete this form. A District or campus nurse will then contact you with the next steps. Please complete the form rather than reporting cases directly to any GCISD staff.

7. INCOMING 6th GRADER NIGHT INFORMATION FOR ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLS: Please click here to read the information regarding middle school.

8. ATTENDANCE: As a reminder, all students in grades K-5 must be in attendance at least 90% of the time (18 days or fewer) to receive credit for classes. Students who have 9 or more absences to date are in jeopardy of being retained in that grade level. While we understand that illnesses and unexpected circumstances arise, please help us ensure that your student(s) are present each day and ready to learn.

9. The GCISD EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER IS HIRING! The ECDC is a childcare center available to employees of GCISD for children ages 6 weeks to 3 years. We have part-time and full-time positions available with flexible schedules. The District is offering quarterly retention payments of $500 to full-time employees, childcare benefits, and competitive compensation. Full-time applicants can apply here. Part-time applicants can apply here.

10. GCISD SUBSTITUTES NEEDED: Parents, please help us and make a positive educational impact on the students in our community! This is a great opportunity to earn money and have a flexible schedule. * Must be 21 or older, *Hold a high school diploma or higher, *Attend a one-day Substitute Orientation! Easy! We pay $90 per day for Substitute Aides, $100 per day for Substitute teaching if you have 60+ college credit hours, $110 per day for Substitute teaching if you are Certified. For more information, please contact Robyn Cheek at robyn.cheek@gcisd.net.

11. MISSING SCHOOL: If you have a child who is out ill or not in attendance, please call the office and let us know. Thank you!

12. CHECKING OUT A STUDENT EARLY: We kindly ask if you need to pick up a child before our 2:55 p.m. dismissal, please do so before 2:30 p.m.

13. CHANGE IN DISMISSAL OR PICK UP: Please call the front office by at least 2:00 p.m. A phone call is required. Sometimes we have only one person in the front office, so we want to provide ample time to be able to meet your needs.

14. VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECK: Please go to the district website, read the Volunteer Handbook then apply to volunteer.

Testing Information: As the spring testing season approaches, you will find detailed information, testing updates, and reminders here. All state testing will be administered online for all students using their district-issued Chromebook. In preparation for STAAR testing, students in grades 3-5 will participate in Interim Assessments during the first two weeks in March (specific dates TBA). These Interim Assessments will provide students with the opportunity to practice STAAR questions in the areas of Math, Reading, and Science (5th grade only), as well as utilize the available tools through the online testing platform. Specific dates for Interim Assessments will be communicated soon. Parents can access the online practice at home by going to texasassessment.gov - Students and Families - Practice Test Log In tile - guest user ON - sign in - select the grade level assessment.

I'm here to support all of our students and families! Please reach out to me anytime with any questions or concerns regarding behavior, testing, or your student's needs. You may call me at (817) 305-4870 or email allison.bailey@gcisd.net.

Kindly,

Assistant Principal Bailey

Read Across America week is Monday Feb 28-Friday March 4: When we take the time to read with children, they get the message that reading is important. We celebrate Read Across America to share with our students the importance, value, and fun of reading. Click here and join us for a week of fun reading-inspired dress up days!

Enter Our Book Character Drawing Contest: Join the fun as we celebrate Read Across America week! Students can draw a book character in the story's setting to win a $20 Book Fair Shopping Trip! Drawings are due to Mrs. Irwin in the library by Tuesday, March 8th. All entries will be displayed in the library. Click here for details!

Book Fair is coming...Monday, March 7-Friday, March 11!
Read the links below to sign up to volunteer, set up your child's eWallet, and see book fair hours!

GCISD READS 3rd 9 Weeks Due March 11th: The GCISD Reads initiative is designed to build a love of reading in students--encouraging them to read a large quantity and a wide variety of books. The second challenge starts now and forms are due to the student's teacher or librarian by March 11, 2022.

• Students "Learning to Read" read 25 books near their reading level and complete the

25 book form

• Students "Reading to Learn" read 6 books near their reading level and complete the

6 book for

Visit the GCISD Reads website at https://bit.ly/GCISDReads2022 for more information and PDF copies of all forms. Students who complete the challenge will receive recognition and a backpack charm for each nine weeks completed!

STUDENT CHECK OUT: Grades K-2nd visit the learning commons (which houses the library) weekly and Pre-K & grades 3th-5th visit every other week. Students may exchange books between class visits as many times as needed and renew books over multiple weeks.
Click Here for Library Circulation Policies

• Parents of 4th grade girls: The 4th grade girls puberty video titled Just Around the Corner is scheduled for Friday March 11th. Every parent is now asked to fill out a participation consent form indicating their preference of participation for their child. These can be sent back to me electronically or printed off/signed and turned in to me. I will keep track of who can/cannot participate. If a form is not received on your student, then the student will not be able to view/participate.

• Reporting Covid-19 Cases: GCISD is now collecting reports of COVID-19 cases in a new way. To report a student or staff COVID-19 case to GCISD, please complete this form. A District or campus nurse will then contact you with next steps. Please complete the form rather than reporting cases directly to any GCISD staff.

• Project ADAM: Did you know that OCT is a designated Heart Safe School with Project ADAM? We have our own AED team who have are CPR/AED certified Project ADAM is a national, non-profit organization committed to saving lives through advocacy, education, preparedness and collaboration to prevent sudden cardiac death. The organization is named after Adam Lemel, a 17 year old Wisconsin high school student who collapsed and died while playing basketball. To learn more about Project Adam, you can watch this short video.

The Adam in Project ADAM ***approx 2.5 minutes***

February Specials Curriculum Update

Buy your Yearbook! Yearbooks are on sale! You can order a yearbook and create an Ad online here. The order number for O. C. Taylor is 17833.

The last day to order a Yearbook is April 16th. The last day to purchase and create an Ad is March 11th!

Keep on Creating!

Mrs. Morgan

cristie.morgan@gcisd.net

Mrs. Morgan's Web Page

• If your 5th grade student will attend CTMS next year, click this link for more information on their BAND program.

• Due to a cold and rainy forecast, the Kindergarten Rodeo will take place in the OCT cafeteria next Friday, February 25 at 2 p.m. Please complete this FASTPASS for quick and easy check-in. All parents MUST check in before attending this event. *Cafeteria seating will be provided for guests.

First Grade Music In Our Schools Celebration

2nd Grade Festival of Friends

February Specials Curriculum Update

See you in the Music room!

Mrs. Vencill

bethany.vencill@gcisd.net

Mrs. Vencill's GCISD web page

4th/5th Grade Taylor Tiger Choir

Grade Level Performance Dates

February Specials Curriculum Update

See you in the gym!

Coach Mester

jason.mester@gcisd.net

My name is Stacy Whisman, and I am the counselor at OC Taylor. I have a section in the Parent Tiger Den each week, Student Assistance, that is updated with our monthly guidance theme, important dates of upcoming events, and links to get in touch with me for any student needs and concerns.

FUTURE EXPLORATIONS - Career Pathways:

Have you heard from your Tiger all they are learning about the Career Pathways? At O.C. Taylor, we focus on one Career Pathway a month as a campus to learn about the different careers in each cluster and what kind of education and training is needed. In September our focus was on GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC SAFETY and in October we will be learning about RESOURCES, MANUFACTURING, and DISTRIBUTING. If you would like more information about our Future Explorations, please click on this link. We will be hosting our annual Career Day. The original date was May 16, but, due to STAAR testing on May 17, we will be looking for a new date. As soon as one is scheduled, I will reach out to those who have already signed up. SIGN-UP GOOGLE FORM

IMPORTANT DATES FOR 5TH GRADE FAMILIES:

Spring is the time when our 5th grade families begin preparing to make many choices in regard to ALL THINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL. In the 5th Grade level newsletter, there will also be the link to the updated information and dates from each of the GCISD middle schools. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions throughout this process if you can't find the information you need from the link.

Testing for GT Services and/or the ASPIRE Academy

Kindergarten through 5th Grade currently enrolled students may be referred and tested for GT services and/or the ASPIRE Academy during the window below:

Referral Window: January 10 - January 28

Testing Window: February 1 - February 28

GT Decisions mailed on: March 28

ASPIRE Decisions mailed: April 27

GCISD Gifted and Talented

Parent Inventory/Permission to Test (Scroll down to bottom of page. Link will only be LIVE during the referral window.)

_________________________________________________________

CLICK HERE for the GT LEAD Page & Newsletter

STAY CONNECTED in GCISD...

Join SAGE, (Supporting and Advocating for Gifted Education), which is a gifted parent advocacy group that provides a wealth of information regarding social/emotional well-being of gifted children, information on camps for gifted learners, and information on what GT is like in our district and how to navigate it through high school and beyond. Please follow this link to join: https://gc-sage.org

Articles to Meet the Affective Needs of our Gifted Learners:

• Asynchronous Development

• Imposter Syndrome

• Perfectionism

• Heightened Emotional Sensitivity

• Introversion

Please feel free to contact me at any time via email at kathy.griffin@gcisd.net

Twitter: @OCTGriffin

________________________________________________________________________________

MATH TELESCOPING TEST

Students in grades K - 5th have an opportunity to take an End of Course math assessment in order to skip a grade of math. The testing will be in the summer, and the results will apply to the 2022-23 school year. A parent can register his or her child for testing through the second link below or by calling the number below. There are two deadlines for two testing events. If you have questions about this process, I am happy to answer those.

• MATH TELESCOPING DATES &. MATH TELESCOPING WEBSITE

In order for your child to telescope in math, a student must take a grade level end of course exam and score 90% or higher. For example, a first grader would take an end of course 2nd grade exam. If that child scored 90% or higher on it, then the next year as a 2nd Grader, that student would take 3rd Grade math. If you are wondering if this could be a good fit for your child, reach out to your child's math teacher to discuss this opportunity. If you choose to move forward with testing, then you can register online using the link above once the window opens, or you can contact the Assessment Department at GCISD Administration Office (817-251-5524) to schedule and pay for testing.

WELCOME TO O.C. TAYLOR PTA!

NEW THIS WEEK:

• PTA LEADERSHIP TEAM

The O.C. Taylor PTA Nominating Committee is gathering the names of persons willing to be involved and serve as officers or committee chairpersons during the 2022-2023 school year. If you are interested in serving in a leadership role next school year please take a moment to fill out the leadership interest form here.

Please complete this form no later than March 1, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact our Nominating Committee Chair Julie Odietus at julieodietus@gmail.com. We would love for you to be a part of our OCT PTA team next year!

We also invite you to attend our Meet the PTA Breakfast at the Black Walnut on Tuesday, February 22nd. Please feel free to come and go between 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. so you can grab coffee, meet our current PTA Executive Board, and learn more about getting involved! Light breakfast and beverages will be served. Hope to see you there! Please RSVP here!

• KINDER RODEO

Due to a cold and rainy forecast, the Kindergarten Rodeo will take place in the OCT cafeteria next Friday, February 25 at 2 p.m. Please complete this FASTPASS for quick and easy check-in. All parents MUST check in before attending this event. *Cafeteria seating will be provided for guests.

• DADS' CLUB UPDATE

Our next big event is our Annual Golf Tournament and we are scheduled for April 1st at Bear Creek Golf Course. As we move forward to this event and all of the end of the year events, we have a lot of work to do on Sponsorships and Sign-Ups. That said, we will have our next Dads' Club Meeting on Wednesday, February 23rd at the Londoner. 7:00pm Social Time with the meeting starting at 7:30pm. Please RSVP for a headcount here!

• BOOK FAIR - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Our spring book fair is March 7-11, 2022. Sign up to volunteer for the Book Fair here!

• 5th GRADE CONTINUATION

5th Grade Parents, please mark your calendars for our 5th Grade Continuation on Thursday, May 26th 9am at O.C. Taylor Elementary and our 5th Grade End of Year Party on Friday, May 27th 7-9pm at the Grapevine Rec Center. Since the party is optional and not a PTA sponsored event, we are asking for donations of at least $25 per student. You can Venmo donations to @Robin-Thomas-Weier (last 4 of phone number is 8655).

Also, we need your help in making the 5th Grade slideshow a success! A Shutterfly share site has been created to allow you to upload your photos and check the spelling of your student’s name. The instructions are detailed on the site. Please make note of the 3/11 deadline for this.

Go to https://octclassof22.shutterfly.com

Password: tigers

• FUSS FREE FUNDRAISING - CHECK THE PROGRESS HERE!

What exactly is Fuss Free Fundraising? Fuss Free Fundraising is our easiest form of fundraising at OCT! Instead of your child going door to door-to-door selling cookies, wrapping paper, candles, etc., we ask for a donation.
Why should I contribute? 100% of the funds raised stay at our school!! Your donations support our teachers and staff, make improvements to our facilities, cover school programming and leadership opportunities, and provide equipment that enhances learning for your kids!
What's our Goal? Our Fuss Free Fundraising goal this year is $15,000 and we are about $5,000 short. Once we reach the goal, all families who have donated this year to date will be put in a drawing. We will also reward the class with the most donations! Winners will get to throw the ball to try to dunk Mrs. Bailey and try to dunk me in a dunk tank. How fun! Thank you for supporting our school. Please donate here!

REMINDERS:

• WEBSITE - https://octaylorpta.membershiptoolkit.com

Fuss Free Fundraising, Volunteer, Happy Birthday* and Membership forms are open anytime.

*We do request two weeks advance notice for birthday orders to help our volunteers plan for your student's special day!

• TEACHER/STAFF FAVORITES
  

• VOLUNTEER NEEDS

Please see Mrs. Pedevilla's section for more information on volunteer opportunites. We can't wait to see you get involved at our school. We love our volunteers!! Please reach out to Stephanie Wilkerson, VP of Programs at octptavolunteers@gmail.com to find a volunteer position for you!

• GRACE DONATIONS

Every year, we team up with Grace Grapevine to help stock their food pantry.
February Items: Rice, Pasta, Paper Towels

The Grade with the most donations each month will get an extra recess.
Thank you for supporting Grace and our community!

**CONGRATULATIONS 4th GRADE!! 4th Grade won an extra recess for the most donated items in January!**

• 5th GRADE PARENTS!!

New facebook pages have been created for incoming 6th grade families going to Colleyville Middle School and Cross Timbers Middle School. To keep up with the latest and connect with other families, join here!

CMS: Future Colts Incoming 6th Grade Parent Group 2022-2023

CTMS: CTMS Incoming 6th graders

SAVE THE DATE!

• Tuesday, February 22nd - Spring Pictures

• Tuesday, February 22nd - Meet the PTA breakfast at Black Walnut 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

• Wednesday, February 23rd - Dads' Club Meeting, The Londoner 7:00 p.m.

• Friday, February 25th - Kinder Rodeo 2:00 p.m.

• Friday, February 25th - Run Club

• Monday, February 28th - Friday, March 4th - Read Across America

• Tuesday, March 1st - PTA Interest Forms Due

• Friday, March 4th - Rule the School + Party with the Principals

• Friday, March 4th - Run Club

• Friday, March 11th - Sock Hop Day - during school hours (more info coming!)

• Friday, March 25th - Monaghan's Kick-a-Thon (more info coming!)

• Friday, March 25th - Run Club

• Thursday, March 31st - General PTA Meeting + Pizza/Keno Night (more info coming!)

• Friday, April 1st - Dads' Club Annual Golf Tournament at Bear Creek Golf Course

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Tamaron Hunt

President / O.C. Taylor PTA

octaylorptapresident@gmail.com

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