Tiger Time News
April 22 - April 26, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Principal Schilleci
Dear OCT Families,
We are incredibly proud of your Tigers after the first round of STAAR testing. They worked so hard leading up to this first round of testing and they were so focused and ready to show off their hard work.
And our PK-2nd grade Tigers were so respectful and quiet the entire day as the rest of the school tested. It was awesome to see the whole school work together to be successful during STAAR testing.
As we enter the last week of our testing, please remember to help your tigers get plenty of rest the night before and to bring their charged device to school.
We are excited to finish the year out strong at OCT and we thank you for all of your support!
Proud To Be A Tiger,
Principal Schilleci
Schilleci's Weekly News
NEW INFORMATION:
STAAR Math Testing, April 23rd: This is just a reminder that we will be STAAR testing on Tuesday and we will have a closed campus to all visitors. Please visit Mrs. Bailey's section for even more information on STAAR testing.
Attendance Reminder: Please remember that our academic instruction starts at 7:40. It is vital that our Tigers are on time and ready to learn at that time.
Autism Awareness Month: April is Autism Awareness Month! To celebrate, we invite all staff, students, and volunteers to wear Blue this Wednesday, April 24th! Thank you for being GREAT Tigers and showing kindness and acceptance to everyone!
Early Voting Starts April 22; Learn About School and District-wide Bond Projects on the Ballot: Early voting will begin Monday, April 22, and continue 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.
REPEATED INFORMATION:
NEW FAMILIES TO OCT WELCOME TOURS: Tours are being held on May 7 at 4:00 p.m. Do you know any new families who will be attending OCT next year? If so, please invite them to a meet and greet, including a tour of the campus!
GCISD Returning Student Registration Opened Monday, April 8; New Student Registration has already been open: Returning student registration will open on Monday, April 8. 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 the campus registrar. Families who need additional assistance or have specific questions or concerns, should contact their campus directly.
For more information, visit GCISD’s 2024-2025 registration page
Invite to Write: We are starting to think about the 2024-2025 school year. We welcome your participation in all areas of your child’s education and are providing this "Invite to Write" form to request any additional information you feel will help us in the important task of class placement. (Please complete one per child.)
Do I Need to Submit a Transfer Request?: The general and STEM student transfer application window for the 2024-2025 school year will open on Monday, March 4, 2024, at 8 am. Online applications will be accepted through Friday, March 22, 2024, at 4 pm.
Transfer Window Dates
Window 3: June 3- June 14: STEM/General Transfers
Students who are already approved on a transfer and are not moving to the next transition level do NOT need to submit a transfer request. For more information and to complete an online application on or after Monday, February 5, click here.
IMPORTANT: Please know that incomplete applications (e.g. missing residency documents) will NOT be processed during this round of student transfers. It is very important that families have all the needed documents when submitting transfer applications.
OCT PTA- Do not forget to scroll all the way to the bottom of this Tiger Time News and read the OCT PTA section! Information about upcoming events will be there as well as fundraising opportunities and more!
GRADE LEVEL NEWSLETTERS
Please read your child's grade level newsletter by clicking on the grade to the right.
Important Upcoming Dates:
4/22 - 4/26 - Earth Week
4/22 - 3:00 - 3:45 Student Council
4/23 - STAAR - (Math) Grades 3-5 (Closed campus - no visitors/volunteers)
4/25 - 6:30 Festival of Friends (2nd Grade)
4/29 - 5/1 - 4th Grade Sky Ranch
5/2 - Egg Drop/Game On
5/3 - 3:15 - 4:00 Run Club
5/10 - Field Day
5/13 - Field Day Make Up Day
5/16 - 6:30 5th Grade Rocks
5/23 - 11:45 Early Dismissal (Last Day of School)
PLEASE READ
Important Updates
FIELD DAY FAST PASS: If you are planning to attend Field Day with your student, please fill out this Fast Pass by May 8th.
END-OF-YEAR ACTIVITIES ARE QUICKLY APPROACHING: If you know of anyone who will be visiting OCT on field day or other events, make sure they have completed a VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECK. In order to attend Field Day and to be present around other people's children, one must complete the District's Volunteer Background Check Application for the 2023-24 school year. Also, please read and sign the Volunteer Handbook included in the link as well. All volunteers are required to reapply each year: https://www.gcisd.net/page/volunteer-background-check
STUDENT EARLY PICK UP: If you are picking up a student during the day for appointments, etc, please email Gene Guinane (gene.guinane@gcisd.net) and Paola Cervantes (paola.cervantes@gcisd.net) ahead of time. Students will be called once you arrive in the front office.
CLOSED CAMPUS DURING STAAR: We will be testing this Tuesday and our campus will be closed to visitors and volunteers. Thank you for understanding.
AUTISM AWARENESS: Every April O.C. Taylor celebrates Autism Awareness Month, beginning with the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. This year marked the 17th annual World Autism Awareness Day. To celebrate Autism Awareness Month, we invite all students, staff, and volunteers to wear BLUE on Weds., April 24th. Let's show our support for acceptance, kindness, and understanding of people with autism.
OCT ALL STARS OF THE MONTH- Our new OCT All Stars of the Month for March and April will be announced soon!!
ATTENDANCE REMINDER- This year attendance is being very strict at the District level, if your student is going to be absent for any reason, please either fill out an Absence Request in Skyward or email paola.cervantes@gcisd.net, no need to call the office. Thank you so much!
FORGET-ME-NOT-SHELF AT OCT: As a reminder, please drop off students' belongings that are needed for instructional purposes or lunch. Please make sure to label your child's belongings and place them on the designated grade-level shelf. We are having an increase of items being dropped off. Our staff and students make every effort to check, but we appreciate your understanding if items aren't retrieved. Thank you for helping your child be prepared each day with their charged devices, lunches, and other needed items.
Assistant Principal, Allison Bailey
Bailey's Briefings
STAAR Testing Dates at OCT:
STAAR Math (3rd, 4th, and 5th) - Tuesday, April 23
We're so proud of our students and staff who worked hard on their STAAR tests last week!! We're in the homestretch for testing and have Math STAAR on Tuesday. A reminder for our 4th grade students:
For our 4th graders who will be going to Sky Ranch on April 29, they need to have their STAAR Math testing completed on either April 23 or for a make-up test through Friday, April 26. We don't want this to interfere with the Sky Ranch trip. If your child is sick during this testing window, please email Allison Bailey, and we will come up with a plan.
Our students have worked so hard to prepare for these important tests. We're so proud of all of their academic achievements and efforts to work towards mastering their learning goals! We wish our students the BEST on these days. I also want to share that per TEA guidelines, all students have all day to complete testing. Also, all students need to be sure and bring a charged device and headphones on testing days. We have a campus plan for students to still have lunch as normally scheduled and needed breaks. Our staff is prepared to support our students on these days.
Per TEA guidelines, all students in grades 3-5 participate in STAAR testing. Please refrain from scheduling an unnecessary absences, including vacations or traveling, on these dates. We understand that extenuating circumstances and illnesses can arise. If your child is absent on a testing date listed above, make-up testing opportunities will be provided according to each content testing window. If your child is absent, please email your child's homeroom teacher and Allison Bailey, so that we can work together to reschedule testing if needed. For our 4th graders who will be going to Sky Ranch on April 29, they need to have their STAAR Math testing completed on either April 23 or for a make-up test through Friday, April 26. We don't want this to interfere with the Sky Ranch trip. Thank you for encouraging your child(ren) and sending them positive vibes!
Kindly,
Assistant Principal Bailey
Testing Day TIPS:
Get a good night's sleep the night before.
Eat a healthy breakfast.
Bring a healthy, non-messy snack.
Bring a water bottle.
Bring your fully-charged device and charger.
Bring headphones on testing dates.
Do your BEST!
Spring 2024 Testing Information (grades 3-5 only):
Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will participate in STAAR assessments in April this year. Parents can log in to the Cambium website to view STAAR Practice Test Sessions. A variety of practice items from 2018-2023 will be available. STAAR Redesign and New Item Types are also available.Follow the directions below:
Go to https://www.texasassessment.gov/practice-tests.html and find the section titled “Online Practice Tests.”
Click the tile/card titled “Practice Tests Login.”
Sign in as a “Guest User” for a “Guest Session.”
Click the green “Sign In” button on the screen.
Choose the grade level and select the preferred test.
Counselor, Stacy Whisman
Whisman's Words
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.
Please don't hesitate to reach out!
Mrs. Whisman
(817) 305-4880
Click on the picture above for link.
CAREER DAY 2024
Do you have a career you think our Tigers would like to learn about? Do you have a connection to others that do as well? Please consider being one of our Career Day speakers this year! Click on the picture to pull up the Google Form to submit your information and share it with others!
Nurse, Katy Faught
Nurse Katy's News
SKY RANCH FIELD TRIP: Parents of 4th graders attending Sky Ranch!! If your student has medication that is kept in the clinic during the school day, and you need it to go with them to Sky Ranch, please let me know ASAP. (daily ADHD meds, Benadryl, Epi-pens, inhalers, etc.)
CHANGE OF CLOTHES: Please pack a seasonally-appropriate change of clothes in your student's backpack. Potty accidents, spills at lunch, messy Art projects, and wet/muddy clothes from recess are just some of the reasons that a change of clothes may be needed during the school day. Thank you for making this happen!
CLOTHES NEEDED IN CLINIC: Are you Spring cleaning at home?? I am in need of the following items if you are able to donate:
-Boys shorts, sizes 3-8
- Boys pants, sizes 3-8
- Girls shorts, sizes 3-14
- Girls pants/leggings, sizes 3-14
Repeated Items:
WHEN TO STAY HOME: Students must stay home from school if any of the following are present:
● fever of 100 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours
● vomiting and/or diarrhea in the past 24 hours
● itchy, red eyes with discharge
● unknown rash
● jaundice
● ringworm of the scalp (until treatment has begun)
GCISD has a 24-hour policy related to stomach illness or fever. Students may not return to school until free of fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea for a minimum of 24 hours without the aid of any medication. If your student is sent home from school with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, you must still abide by the 24-hour policy, and keep your child home for a minimum of 24 hours after symptoms have subsided without the aid of medication.
POP TABS DONATIONS: We are collecting pop tops! This is an easy way we can help support the families at Ronald McDonald House. Have your students bring in all kinds of pop tops and tabs! There is labeled bucket in the clinic for donations. :)
LION'S CLUB RECYCLE FOR SIGHT PROGRAM: This is another way we can be servant leaders. Donate any old eyeglasses/lenses/cases! There are collection boxes in the front vestibule and in the front office. Most of the recycled glasses are sorted and distributed to people in need in developing countries where they will have the greatest impact.
Ms. Morgan
Morgan's Art Message
O.C. Taylor Specials’ Curriculum Update-April 2024
I will be out on maternity leave starting mid-March and plan on coming back towards the end of May to wrap things up in the art room. Students will continue to create and express themselves through art with the guidance of some amazing subs! Be on the lookout for your students' Art Portfolio in the month of May.
Keep on creating,
Mrs. Morgan
cristie.morgan@gcisd.net
Ms. Vencill
Vencill's Voice
O.C. Taylor Specials’ Curriculum Update-April 2024
Music - April Update
Parents, please mark your calendars for these exciting, upcoming events. Students are expected to attend the daytime AND evening performance of their grade level program.
2nd Grade Festival of Friends Multicultural Program: Thursday, April 25 at 8:30 a.m. for OCT students and staff and 6:30 p.m. for parents and guests. Students will meet in the music room at 6:10 p.m. for the evening performance. Students are encouraged to dress to represent any country from around the world. No hats on stage, please.
5th Grade Rocks!: Thursday, May 16 at 8:30 a.m. for OCT students and staff and 6:30 p.m. for parents and guests. Students will meet in their classrooms at 6:15 p.m. for the evening performance.
GCISD Honor Choir Spring Performance: Wed, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the CHHS auditorium
All 3rd and 4th grade students are invited to audition for the GCISD Elementary Honor Choir. Please open this Audition Information Letter for more information and contact Mrs. Vencill with any questions.
See you in the music room, Tigers!
Mrs. Vencill
bethany.vencill@gcisd.net
Coach Mester
Mester's PE Press
O.C. Taylor Specials’ Curriculum Update-April 2024
PE - April Update
See you in the gym!
Coach Mester
jason.mester@gcisd.net
GT LEAD Mrs. Waters
Mrs. Waters News
Contest: If OCT gets the largest percentage of parent surveys filled out I win a prize to use in my classroom, so please fill out the survey!
Please complete the parent survey by May 1st to help us be the best we can be for your child. Thank you!
Please complete this survey if you have an interest in your child attending a GT Summer Camp. It wouldn't happen until summer 2025.
What are we learning in GT Lead:
First Grade - Worms Eye View
Second Grade - It's Extinct
Third Grade - Exploring Careers
Fourth Grade - Rube Goldberg
Fifth Grade - Exploring sports and games
Telescope testing dates and information:
June Testing Window: info here
Online: June 3-14, 2024
Paper: June 5-6, 2024
June online registration opens: March 18, 2024
June online registration closes: April 1, 2024, at noon (No exceptions)
Exam Fee(s) due: April 1, 2024, at noon (No exceptions)
July Testing Window
Online: July 15-26, 2024
Paper: July 24-25, 2024
July online registration opens: June 10, 2024
July online registration closes: June 21, 2024 at noon (No exceptions)
Exam Fee(s) due: June 21, 2024 at noon (No exceptions)
Articles to help:
Video -Meeting the Affective Needs of Gifted Children
Please feel free to contact me at any time via email at Donna.Waters@gcisd.net
X: @OCTWaters
Mrs. Quinn's Corner📚
A busy week in the Learning Commons as it was the LAST week to check out books! ALL BOOKS ARE DUE MAY 10th. I will start sending email reminders to student families with books overdue starting May 6th.
Next week, Kinder, 1st and 2nd grade friends will have a story read and plenty of Makerspace fun 😀
I will be conducting inventory for the remainder of the year, so while there will be no more library lessons starting April 29th, I have invited all teachers to bring in their students for Makerspace time while I'm working on cataloging and inventory.
I welcome all students to participate in my End of Year Reading Challenge. I have 2 different Bingo cards (one for Pre-K through 2nd, one for 3rd-5th) with different challenges for the students to complete. The BINGO sheets will be available in the Library for anyone to take home. If students wish to complete the challenge over the summer, they need only to bring in their completed cards the first few weeks of the new school year! Prizes: 1 BINGO= 1 prize from the Library Prize Box (treasure chest items); 2 or 3 BINGOs = 2 prizes from the Library Prize Box; 4 or 5 BINGOs = 2 prizes from the Library Prize Box & Star Reader keychain; FULL CARD BINGO = choice of a FREE book or Adopt a Stuffie from the Library!
Your child's device (ipads/chromebooks) have excellent reading resources on them! You can view a selection of what your child has available to them here.
If you would like to volunteer to help out at the library, you can use this sign up form. I'm grateful for all my volunteers!
If you have any questions about our library, want to volunteer or donate books and supplies (Check out the Learning Commons Amazon Wishlist), please reach out to me - I'd love to hear from you!
Johanna Quinn, Librarian
Email: johanna.quinn@gcisd.net
X: @OCTQuinn
Instagram: @octquinn
OCT Cafeteria
Nutrition News
GCISD NUTRITION SERVICES: Click here to see the school menus.
In accordance with program guidelines, the Free and Reduced application will be available online as part of skyward registration. The free and reduced application should be filled out electronically at https://www.nlappscloud.com/. For those parents that still would like to complete a paper application, they may download an application on the website or stop by the Nutrition Services office at 5800 Colleyville Blvd.
Procedure for Students with Unpaid Meal Charges - Parents/Guardians shall monitor their student’s school meal account to ensure that they always have a positive balance. In the event that a student does not have a positive balance, the student may charge up to 6 meals to their account. Only reimbursable meals may be charged. A la carte items may not be charged. Communication about a negative meal balance will be sent to parents/guardians via email. Students who have exceeded the 6 charged meal limit, will be offered an alternative meal that will be charged to the student’s account.
O.C. Taylor PTA
PTA News
EGG DROP
THURSDAY, MAY 2 at 3:30 in the bus loop
Please pick up your student and allow the car line to clear before returning for the event
DESIGN THE WINNING EGG DROP PACKAGE
TWO PRIZES FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL
1) Most Creative - the most imaginative solution
2) Lightest Survivor Egg - the lightest package with a surviving egg after the drop
GUIDELINES:
The packages should be designed and made at home by the student
Use a raw egg (only one!) and place it inside your package before bringing it to school.
The egg package should be no larger than 12"W x 12"D x 12"H (wings, flaps, parachutes, gliders, etc., should be folded to fit within these dimensions).
NO water or other liquids. No glass or ceramics.
NO food and NO balloons may be used (peanuts, peanut butter, flour, etc.) to protect our students with allergies. Packages that use food or balloons will be turned away and sent home.
Label your egg package with your name and grade.
A parent/guardian of the participant(s) must be present.
The egg package should be brought to the school lobby by 7:45 on May 2nd.
GAME ON
What is GAME ON?
Our Annual Staff vs. Students Game Night Fundraiser!
When is it?
Thursday May 2nd from 4:30-6pm (right after Egg Drop)
What is the Cost?
$20 Per Student
What games are played?
PK-2 plays Trash Your Neighbor's Yard and 3-5 plays Newcomb (Both are fun twists on Dodgeball)
How can I sign up?
Membership Toolkit
We hope to see you there!
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Order school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year now! Supplies will be delievered directly to classrooms prior to the first day of school.
LIBRARY BOOK DONATIONS
Our library needs books! Ms. Quinn has compiled an Amazon wish list of books that are already approved by the district. Click the link below if you would like to donate.
Ms. Quinn will gladly accept any books, but in particular books with Pokemon, Super Mario/other Nintendo characters, mermaids, books about learning other languages, American Sign Language books and any popular TV characters like Paw Patrol or Shimmer and Shine. She can read through those really quickly and get them on the approval list if they pass the rubric. You can drop book donations in the front office.
JOIN PTA!
💙Join our PTA today!!
🌟 Be sure to sign up your whole family at: https://octaylorpta.membershiptoolkit.com/
WELCOME TO O.C. TAYLOR PTA!
We are so excited to start a new school year! Our goal is to connect with our school community by hosting fun events such as Rock Out, Grandparents Day, Sock Hop and our inaugural Gala Fundraiser. We partner 100% with our wonderful school to make it the very best! We continue to raise funds for much-needed shade structures for our outdoor play areas.
BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS
We've got all your Back to School forms in one spot! Forms were Due Friday, September 1st but you can still pay your Homeroom Fund if you haven't done so yet! You can find all the forms and information on our website: https://octaylorpta.membershiptoolkit.com/
You will want to complete the following:
Homeroom Fund + Class Shirt
PTA Membership (no commitment to volunteer!)
PTA Annual Fuss Free Fundraising
PTA Volunteer Interest Form
Grade Level Parents Form
Join Dads’ Club
Happy Birthday!
CLASS SHIRTS
Class shirts have been delivered. Please contact us if you want to purchase a class shirt. We have limited stock/sizes left. Class Shirts will worn during field trips and can be worn during spirit days this year.
STAFF DRINK FRIDGE
Help us show appreciation to the OCT Staff by keeping the Staff Lounge Drink Fridge stocked with their favorites! If you would like to donate drinks, please see the Sign Up Genius!
Click Here to Sign Up to Donate
Don’t have time to shop but still want to help? You can donate on Membership Toolkit and we will do the shopping for you! Thank you for your generosity!
Click Here for Monetary Donations
GRACE DONATIONS
The April GRACE need is condiments! Please help by dropping off items in the donation baskets located in your grade level hallway beginning April 1st.
TEACHER FAVORITES
We are working to update all of our staff favorites! Take a look at these lists here: https://octaylorpta.membershiptoolkit.com/favorites Let's spoil our teachers and staff with their favorites all year long!
SAVE THE DATE!
April
4/25 Staff Appreciation Event- Lettuce Show our Appreciation
4/22 - 4/26 Earth Week
4/25 2nd Grade Festival of Friends 6:30 p.m.
May
5/2 7:40 a.m. Egg Drop Entries Due
5/2 Egg Drop- 3:30p.m.-4:30p.m.
5/2 Game On (PK-2nd 4:30-5:00p.m. & 3rd-5th 5:00p.m.-5:45p.m.)
5/6 - 5/10 Staff Appreciation Week
5/6 PTA Executive Board Brunch/Luncheon
5/10 Field Day
5/13 Field Day (Makeup Day)
5/16 8:30 am and 6:30 pm 5th Grade Rocks & PTA General Meeting
5/22 8:00 a.m. All-Stars Spirit Rally/Attendance Recognition
5/23 9:00 a.m. 5th Grade Continuation Ceremony
5/23 11:45 am PreK - 5th Early Release/Last Day of School for Students
BIRTHDAYS AT O.C. TAYLOR
We love to celebrate birthdays BIG at O.C. Taylor! We provide two options to purchase through our PTA to help celebrate:
Name In Lights - Your child's name on our marquee for the day - $25
Tiger Gram with Taylor the Tiger - Have Taylor the Tiger deliver a goody bag and balloons to your child's classroom - $40
Save $5 and purchase BOTH for $60.
Please purchase these AT LEAST two weeks in advance. We cannot promise our availability if not purchased in advance. Purchase on our website https://octaylorpta.membershiptoolkit.com/
If you have any questions or need assistance of any kind, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Looking forward to a GRRREAT year!
Julie Odietus
President / O.C. Taylor PTA
octaylorptapresident@gmail.com