Tiger Time News
December 4 - December 8, 2023
OCT All-Stars... Hustle, Grit, and Never Quit!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mr. Schilleci
Dear OCT Families,
We’re excited to invite you to our Literati Book Fair. This event is an opportunity for students of all ages to build their home libraries and further their love of reading. As always, all purchases benefit our school. Having books in the home is proven to positively benefit children in countless ways. A two-decade-long study found that the mere presence of a home library increases children's academic success, vocabulary development, attention, and job attainment. We are looking forward to seeing many of you on December 8th after our Grandparent Lunch!!
Another big thank you to Ms. Vencill and the OCT Choir for their stellar performance at the Colleyville Tree Lighting Ceremony! This is such a fun time of the year and I am so excited to celebrate it with you all and serve you!!
Best,
Principal Schilleci
Schilleci's Weekly News
LUNCH WITH GRAND FRIENDS, DECEMBER 8TH- We had to make a slight change to our plan but we are so excited about our upcoming Grandparents’ Day Lunch and Book Fair on Friday, December 8th! This will be a special day for grandparents to make memories with their grandchildren while encouraging a love of reading!
We will have tables and chairs set up outside, but feel free to bring your own chairs and/or blankets to enjoy lunch outside with your grandchildren! Right now the weather is predicted to be sunny and 70, but we all know how the weather in Texas can change, so be sure to dress for the weather that day! If it rains, we will set up tables inside in the hallway by the front vestibule and on the stage.
Grandparents are welcome to pick up a special lunch from their favorite restaurant that day or pack one at home. The cafeteria line will be open for students only.
In an effort to help us safely and efficiently prepare for Grandparents' Day, please complete this Google form by midnight on Tuesday, December 5th. Be sure to bring your driver's license with you to check in at the check-in table and receive your security badge inside the vestibule.
If visitors do not fill out the Google form, they will have to check in with their driver's license at the kiosk in the front lobby of the school and receive a security sticker. Please send this form to any family members to fill out so they can check in quickly!
Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled lunch time to ensure you have time to sign in and connect with your grandchild.
2. SANTA VISIT: In an effort to safely and efficiently prepare for SANTA coming on Monday, December 11th 2023 at 1:30, please complete this Google form by Wednesday, December 6th at midnight. Be sure and bring your driver's license with you to check in at the check-in table (located at the Kinder Blacktop entrance/north playground entrance). Please see the map! If visitors do not fill this out, they will have to check in with their driver's license at the kiosk in the front lobby of the school to receive a security sticker. Please send this form to any family members to fill out so you can check in quickly! If you have not signed in to the kiosk Raptor system this school year, you must sign in as it is a requirement before using this FASTPASS.
Parents are welcome to attend with their students outside. Students will be with their homeroom classes outside on the Kinder blacktop. As he walks by, Santa will be greeting everyone as they walk by. Bring your cameras for pictures! This is an OUTDOOR event so please dress accordingly. PTA will also be providing Santa hats to the students + staff!
3. HOLIDAY CLASS PARTIES: In an effort to safely and efficiently prepare for classroom holiday parties on Friday, December 15, 2023 at 10:45 a.m., please complete this Google form by Tues., Dec. 12th at midnight. Be sure and bring your driver's license with you to check in at the FASTPASS check-in table. If visitors do not fill this FASTPASS out, they will have to check in with their driver's license at the kiosk in the front lobby of the school to receive a security sticker. Please send this form to any family members to fill out, so all can check in quickly. If you have not signed in to the kiosk Raptor system this school year, you must sign in as it is a requirement before using this FASTPASS.
REPEAT UPDATES:
1. 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!
HOLIDAY HULLABALOO CALENDAR- Please reference our Holiday Hullabaloo Calendar to see all of our fun themed days throughout the next three weeks. We will begin participating on Monday!
3. 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!
4. 2023-2024 PARENT STUDENT HANDBOOK- The 2023-2024 Parent Student Handbook is now available! Here is the link.
5. NEW GCISD MOBILE APP- Did you know that GCISD has a new mobile app to help our community know what is happening on campus? The app lets you read the latest announcements, review upcoming events and find important documents. If you haven't already, download the app and subscribe to your student’s campus!
GRADE LEVEL NEWSLETTERS
Please read your child's grade level newsletter by clicking on the grade to the right.
Important Upcoming Dates:
12/4 - 12/8 - Literati Book Fair
12/5- CMS Band Performance
12/6 -3:00 - 3:45 Yearbook
12/7 - 3:00 -5:00 Choir
12/7 - Grapevine Parade of Lights
12/8- Grandparents' Day Lunch
12/8- CTMS Band Performance
12/8 - 3:15 - 4:00 Run Club
12/11- Helicopter Santa Visit (TBD)
12/11 - 3:00 - 3:45 Student Council'
12/14- Polar Express Day
12/14 - 6:30pm Holiday Choir Performance
12/15-11:45 Early Release
PLEASE READ
Important Updates
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.cerventes@gcisd.net) ahead of time. Students will be called once you arrive in the front office.
OCT ALL STARS OF THE MONTH- Congratulations to Holly Martin, Kimberly McNamara and Victoria Reyna our OCT All Star Teachers and Paraprofessional of the Month for October! Thank you for everything that you do each day for our Tigers!! We will be announcing the winners of November 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.
GIFTED AND TALENTED REFERRALS-
REPEATED INFORMATION:
1. CAFETERIA MENUS: Menus can be viewed here. child.nutrition@gcisd.net.
2. VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECK: Our school runs on our amazing volunteers. In order to volunteer at the school, 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. As a reminder, all volunteers are required to reapply each year.
3. LUNCH WITH YOUR CHILD: If you plan to have lunch with your child at OCT, we kindly request that you let your teacher know 24 hours in advance. If not, you may have to wait a while while we try to retrieve your child from the building.
4. CONVEY TO YOUR CHILD THE DAILY PICK UP PLAN: Now is a good time to establish the morning routine of telling your child how he/she will be going home at the end of the school day: bus rider, daycare rider, car rider, or independent walker/bike rider. Please do not instruct your child to call you after school. Our teachers and front office staff are responsible for many children and are required to be on after-school duty. They are unable to assist your child with phone calls.
5. CHECKING OUT A STUDENT EARLY: If you decide to come to school to check out your child before the 3:00 p.m. GCISD elementary dismissal time, please allow us plenty of time to locate your child. It takes a while to locate students in a building as they are not always in their classroom. If you send a note requesting an early dismissal with your student in the morning, you will help eliminate the time spent waiting for us to locate your student. Also, we kindly ask if you need to pick up a child before our 3:00 p.m. dismissal, please do so before 2:30 p.m.
6. CHANGE IN DISMISSAL OR PICK UP: If you find your child must go home a different way than planned, please notify the office by a phone call by at least 2:00 p.m. Teachers and our front office staff do not always have access to email or are busy teaching or helping others. 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.
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
Nurse, Katy Faught
Nurse Katy's News
HaPPy ThAnKsGiVinG: I wish all of our Tiger families a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving break. Friends, Family, Food, Faith and Fellowship are SO important! I am incredibly thankful for all of YOU!!! :)
VISION and HEARING REFERRAL LETTERS: If you have already received a vision and/or hearing referral letter,use the extra time over Thanksgiving break to call and schedule your student an appointment. There may be a wait time to get them in and want them to be evaluated ASAP!
POP TABS DONATIONS: We are collecting pop tops again! 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.
FEVER FACTS: Fever can be concerning to parents of school-aged children, but most healthcare professionals believe fever is a good sign that the body is responding to an infection. It means the body's immune system is turned on!
- The body's temperature changes throughout the day and is naturally higher in the afternoon and evening.
- Fevers do not cause brain damage or have long-term side effects.
- Fevers rarely cause seizures (only in 4% of children).
- Fevers only need to be treated if the child is uncomfortable. There is no harm in not "treating" a fever with Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
- How your child looks and acts is what is important, not the actual temperature reading.
- The height of a fever and how long it lasts does not tell us whether it is caused by a virus or bacteria.
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.
Ms. Morgan
Morgan's Art Message
O.C. Taylor Specials’ Curriculum Update, December 2023
Art - December Update
For the month of December, students will be learning and understanding patterns of weaving, form, color theory and perspective.
Kindergarten will learn about the artist Grandma Moses to create a winter collage landscape. Students will review the terms horizon line, foreground and background. They will also learn how to cut out a variety of shapes to add to their piece.
1st grade will create a winter landscape based on the artist Ted Harrison. Students will learn the term horizon line and use shapes, lines, and warm/cool colors to create their landscape.
2nd grade will learn about radial symmetry. Students will then create a paper plate radial weaving using yarn. Students will learn the terms loom, weft, warp and the pattern over/under.
3rd grade will learn about Frida Kahlo and her self-portraits. Students will learn how to draw facial features for their self-portraits and design a background of their choice.
4th grade will learn how to create sculptures of their choice by using recycled materials as an armature and learn about the artist Claes Oldenburg. Students will learn how to apply plaster strips to make it stable.
5th grade will learn about different shading techniques to add value to their choice of still life.
O. C. Taylor Yearbooks on Sale!
You can order a yearbook and create an Ad/ dedication page online at yearbookordercenter.com. The order number for O. C. Taylor is 17833.
Last day to purchase and create an Ad/ dedication page is March 8th.
Last day to pre-order a Yearbook is April 13th.
Keep on creating,
Mrs. Morgan
cristie.morgan@gcisd.net
Ms. Vencill
Vencill's Voice
O.C. Taylor Specials’ Curriculum Update, December 2023
Music - December Update
It’s the MOST wonderful time of the year, Tigers, and we are busy making beautiful music in the OCT music room. December is a great time for us to use everything we know about rhythm, pitch, music symbols and music vocabulary words to explore cultures, customs and music celebrating different December holidays. We will use classroom percussion instruments, Orff instruments, Boomwhackers and handbells to reinforce rhythm and pitch reading skills. Please let me know if your family celebrates a specific December holiday you would like us to connect with in the music room.
Congratulations to the Taylor Tiger Choir on a GREAT performance at the Colleyville Tree Lighting Event Friday night! What a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. Open this link for more information on the Taylor Tiger Choir performance of the holiday musical, North Pole Exposure. We would love for you to join us for the December General PTA meeting and choir performance on Thursday, December 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Hooray!!! Recorders are here! Please open this link for more information on 4th grade recorders.
Wishing you all a very happy holiday season filled with love and laughter!
Mrs. Vencill
bethany.vencill@gcisd.net
Coach Mester
Mester's PE Press
O.C. Taylor Specials’ Curriculum Update, December 2023
PE - December Update
December will have us finishing up basketball and playing winter games. Please remember to wear shoes that allow you to perform your best. Also, please check the lost and found as jackets and sweatshirts are being left behind in the gym daily.
See you in the Gym!
Coach Mester
jason.mester@gcisd.net
GT LEAD Mrs. Waters
Mrs. Waters News
Congratulations to Krystal Nguyen for winning the OC Taylor Spelling Bee! We are so proud of you! She will be competing in the area spelling bee in February.
The testing referral window is open! Here is the Flyer with directions for you to refer your child to be tested.
What are our GT Leaders learning?
1st - Authentic Research
2nd - Simple Machines
3rd - 3D Discoveries
4th - Detective School
5th - Geometric Wonders
Testing Dates:
November 27 - December 15 GT Referrals Accepted
January GT Data Collection and Testing
GT LEAD Results available in March
Aspire Results available in April
December 4th: 5th Grade Field trip to The Dallas Museum of Illusions!
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
Book Fair Week is here!!!!
Your child got a preview of the Book Fair on Friday and brought home a wishlist to you! A paper catalog will be sent home on Monday.
Shop Online: You can shop over 500 different books with your child on our ONLINE BOOK FAIR. Online is also where you can purchase a gift card for your child to use at the in-person Book Fair here at the school.
I will only be accepting cash and Literati Book Fair Gift Cards from students. If you wish to accompany your child to the fair during school hours, I will accept credit cards and cash app payments from adults.
The book fair will be in the Learning Commons Monday December 4- Friday December 8th. 30% of the total sales from both online and in-school book fair will go directly to the OC Taylor Library! Literati also has book club options. If your family subscribes to a Literati Book Club, 10% of every dollar spent on the club goes back directly to OC Taylor. Books make great gifts!
If you would like to volunteer to help out at the Book Fair, 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 (Twitter): @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
LUNCH WITH GRAND FRIENDS
Lunch with GrandFriends will be held on Friday, December 8th during students' lunch times. Grandparents or any GrandFriends are invited to bring lunch to school to eat outdoors with their grandchild. PTA will provide cookies and cocoa and all are welcome to shop the book fair with the kiddos. See the lunch schedule below and don't forget to click the link below to sign up for a fast pass to expedite check in!
OCT Lunch Schedule
Pre-K: 10:25-11:00
Kinder: 10:40-11:10
1st: 12:25-12:55
2nd: 11:10-11:40
3rd: 12:35-1:05
4th: 11:40-12:10
5th: 12:00-12:30
SANTA VISIT
Santa will visit O.C. Taylor on Monday, December 11th at 1:30 p.m. He will arrive via helicopter and parents are welcome to join us in the back fields to welcome him to OCT!
BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Our fall book fair is THIS WEEK! We need many volunteers to make this happen! Please click the sign up genius link and sign up if you are able to help.
THANK YOU
Our Boots & Bling Gala and Silent Auction raised over $65,000 for our school. Your generosity will directly impact the O.C. Taylor Community! We will be able to fund all of our fun programs and events that are planned and we will begin the process to bring a new shade structure and staff lounge remodel to O.C. Taylor!
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
Drop off a new, unwrapped toy under the Christmas tree in the front lobby to benefit the GRACE Christmas Cottage.
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!
Fri 12/1 Run Club 3:15-4:00 p.m.
Fri 12/8 Run Club 3:15-4:00 p.m.
Mon 12/4-Fri 12/8 Literati Book Fair Week
Thur 12/7 Grapevine Parade of Lights
Fri 12/8 Grandparent's Lunch
Mon 12/11 Santa Visit 1:30p.m.
Thu 12/14 Polar Express Day
Thu 12/14 Choir Performance & PTA General Meeting 6:30 p.m.
Fri 12/15 Class Holiday Parties 10:45 a.m.
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