Tiger Time News
News from the O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Young
Young@Heart, September 24, 2017
Dear O.C. Taylor Parents,
Click here to watch the live version of Tiger Time News with your child.
Astronomically, the season "fall" lasts from the end of the September until December, between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. As F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." We are privileged at O.C. Taylor to "start all over again" with your child! Happy fall, ya'll!
Remember, we want you to read with your child each night, not to complete a reading log, but for the pure enjoyment of reading. Plus, research supports the many benefits. :) Snuggle up and grab a book; you will miss this one day!
To the BEST of days,
Principal Young
Stay Connected at O. C. Taylor Elementary School
We have a number of ways to keep in touch with our school. Be sure to read, subscribe to and join these resources to get all the latest news.
Facebook: If you’re a Facebook member be sure to join the O.C. Taylor Elementary Facebook Group to get updates in your feed. This group is meant to provide another way to get news and updates.
Website: The school’s website has the latest news, updates, and calendars, as well as general information about the school, resources for parents, volunteer opportunity information, event information and ways to donate.
Twitter: We regularly post events and upcoming news on Twitter. Follow me on Twitter: @OCTYoung and follow our hashtag #OCT4U.
Email: lisa.young@gcisd.net
Website: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=16665
Location: 5300 Pool Road, Colleyville, TX, United States
Phone: (817) 305-4870
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OC-Taylor-Elementary-School-361871583888299/
Twitter: @OCTYoung
OCT Vision: To empower our children today to create a better tomorrow.
OCT Mission: To create lifelong learners and develop servant leaders through authentic, real-world experiences.
________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Upcoming Dates
Monday, September 25
Tuesday, September 26
8:00 - 8:45 Principal's Coffee (Learning Commons)
Wednesday, September 27
Thursday, September 28
2:55-4:00 Choir
Friday, September 29
2:00pm - 2:50pm Future Explorations
3:00 - 3:45 Running Club
Monday, October 2
Tuesday, October 3
Wednesday, October 4
International Walk To School
Thursday, October 5
2:55 - 4:00 Choir
Friday, October 6
No School
REMEMBER TO SCROLL DOWN FOR IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE PTA NEWS!
and please, JOIN OUR PTA!
OCT Updates
Drop Off and Pick Up Reminder
REMINDER OF THE WEEK: Please do not stop and leave a large gap between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Pull up to the furthest available cone, so staff can safely load multiple vehicles at a time. If you pick your child up on the Hall Johnson/ Bus Loop, please be sure you yield to the GCISD buses and cars exiting the loop at all times. Thank you!
Also, we kindly ask you to please read and follow these procedures.
_________________________________________________
Conflict Resolution Wheel: Walk Away and Ignore
This week we will be focusing on "Walk Away and Ignore." Talk with your child about using this strategy when faced with a conflict. When both people are so upset, it is hard to think clearly. It takes more courage to leave or walk away than to stay and fight.
________________________________________________
Tech Tip of the Week
Keeping our children safe is our top priority, and this includes online! We will be starting our digital safety and NetSmartz "Webville Outlaws" instruction the week of Sept. 18 with your child. We invite you to reinforce these concepts in your home as well. We will be focusing on one Webvile Outlaw for two weeks at a time.
Webville Internet Outlaw for This Week: Wanta-Know Wally
What does Wanta-Know Wally do on the Internet? He wants to know everything
about you and your family. Why is it wrong for Wanta-Know Wally to know
everything about you and your family? Some people may use information they
receive on the web to hurt you or your family. What should you do if you run into
people like Wanta-Know Wally on the Internet? Do not give out your personal
information on the Internet, like your name, where you live, where you go to
school, your telephone number, or the names of your mom or dad or guardian,
and always tell a trusted adult.
______________________________________________
Volunteer Background Check
____________________________________________
Watch D.O.G.S.
_____________________________________________
Updates from the Learning Commons, Mrs. Bonacci
________________________________________________
Updates from the Clinic, Nurse Katy
- Flu Season: With flu season approaching, when calling the front office to report an absence, please let us know if your student has a fever, cough and/or sore throat. I have to report all Influenza-like illnesses to Tarrant County, even if it is not diagnosed as the flu. Remember to get your flu shot!
- When to stay home: Students should remain home when fever is 100 degrees or greater, or they are experiencing vomiting and/or diarrhea. GCISD has a 24-hour policy. 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. Other reasons your student should remain home/may be sent home are listed on my webpage.
- Registered Nurses: The Health Services Department is looking for parents that are registered nurses to help cover campus clinics. If you are an RN and are interested in covering your child's school clinic on a PRN basis, please contact Amy Howard at amy.howard@gcisd.net.
________________________________________________
Updates from Gifted and Talented, Mrs. Griffin
_______________________________________________
Updates from Mrs. Whisman
______________________________________________
Let's Talk
Click here to start a conversation through Let's Talk! This site may be found on our campus homepage.
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
GCISD DISTRICT FLYERS & INFORMATION
The Parent Technology Academy
The Parent Technology Academy will be conducting presentations and classes on various topics including: family access classes, social media and apps to be aware of on your child's devices, ways to encourage proper usage of technology at home, understanding txt lingo and the apps students use to communicate as well as ways older students can promote themselves online to increase visibility for scholarships and more.
Please click here to give the district feedback on what kind of classes you would like.
____________________________________________
The Parenting Center
_________________________________________________
New GCISD app! Download today!
Click here to access the flyer. Then, click on the flyer directly to access the iOS or Android app link. This is going to be beneficial, especially to those who have students at multiple campuses. Thank you, GCISD Communications Department!
________________________________________________
District String Orchestra
Another exciting year of orchestra in GCISD is just around the corner! If you are interested in enrolling your student for Beginning Strings this year, there are a few things you will need to know and there are a few costs to consider.
* Tuition fee $120 for the year
* Rental fee with Music and Arts if necessary (Check rental rates on the right)
* T Shirt - purchased for performances (Approx. $15)
* Admission Fee to NRH2O – competition in May ($28)
Beginning Strings this year is available to all students across the district 4th grade and above on a first come first served basis. (Younger if they already take lessons, on a case by case basis) If you would like to sign up for orchestra, you may begin the process below. Tuition and fees must be received as well as verification of an instrument before the process is complete. These will be collected when we begin rehearsals in September.
To begin the process, please click on a link below and fill out the form that pops up. Then click submit. If you are a beginning student, when you have finished, please remember the date for the parent meeting and fitting for instruments and make plans to attend. Tuition and fees will begin to be received at the parent meeting. If the classes fill, the links below will be used to determine who registered first.
Please understand that this is a year long commitment. Any student who wishes to be a part of a string group must have excellent citizenship and must be recommended by his/her music teacher. If you are interested, please ask your music teacher to send an email recommendation to Mr. Sampson and continue the registration process below.
________________________________________________
GCISD Student Device Costs
As Grapevine-Colleyville ISD expands its 1:1 program to include all students in kindergarten through twelfth-grade, technology services has made a change to the fee structure. Beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, families will be provided with a device at zero cost.
“We are always looking for ways to provide our students with the necessary technology to support their learning without placing a financial burden on our families,” said GCISD Chief Technology Officer Kyle Berger. “We are so excited for the changes to the student device cost agreement and look forward to the ways this will help streamline our integration of technology into the classroom.”
While the initial device is provided at no cost, there are fees assessed based on incident repairs. The first incident will be repaired for free for all students. For students that paid a $50 student fee in the 2016-2017 school year, their second incident will also be repaired at no cost. Students that did not pay the fee last year will be charged $15 for the repair after the second incident. For all students, after the third incident, the fee will be the full cost of the device repair. In the instance that the damage to the device is intentional, the cost of the repair will be based on the damage regardless of how many incidents have occurred.
Technology Services has been working to integrate the fee device management with Skyward Family Access to generate any fee-related communication to parents. If you have any questions about changes to the student device fees, please use Let’s Talk to submit your question to Technology.
_________________________________________________
"Water Worth Saving" Art Contest
_______________________________________________
Note from GCISD Nutrition Services
Farm Fresh Fridays
_______________________________________________
GCISD is Now Hiring! Join the GCISD TEAM!
Many opportunities are available in our auxiliary departments:
- Nutrition Specialists -PT w/ benefits – work while your students are in school!
- Kidzu Site Aide – PT w/benefits – this schedule works well for local college students!
- Night Custodians
- Bus Drivers & Monitors
- Maintenance Engineers
Apply online at: www.gcisd-k12.org
_________________________________________________
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
_________________________________________________
RUNNING CLUB FORMING AT O.C.TAYLOR
Don't forget...Running Club starts this Friday, Sept. 29th!
For more information and the form to sign-up, click here.
PAW PRINTS STUDENT DIRECTORY
If this is your first year at O.C. T., the directory is a great way to get to know your student's classmates and families. it is a helpful resource for play dates and parties.
The directory also contains teacher emails, conference times, and other helpful information that you won't want to miss!
For your information to appear in the phone directory, we need your help! Click the link in blue below and enter in the information that you would like to display in the directory.
PAW PRINTS STUDENT DIRECTORY INFORMATION ENTRY FORM
Only those families that have a paid PTA membership will receive a copy of the directory.
Questions? Concerns? Email the Paw Prints Directory Coordinator Laurie H. Ackermann
WE NEED YOU TO JOIN THE PTA!
Come on, folks! We only need 15 more members to beat our membership for last year. Doing so qualifies us for the prestigious Early Bird PTA Award, given to PTAs that submit membership rosters and dues for 100% or more of the previous year's total membership by September 30th.
PTA Membership is only $7.50 and each membership receives:
- a copy of the Paw Prints Student Directory filled with important information that you will use all year long.
- a chance to win a Fall Festival Premier Paw Pass (value $35)! A winner will be selected from each grade level (PreK-5th)
JOIN THE O.C. TAYLOR PTA *CLICK HERE * ONLINE!
If you already joined the PTA at Meet the Teacher night, you do not need to join again online
O.C. Taylor PTA - VP Memberships
INTERPRET THE THEME, "WITHIN REACH" IN YOUR ART, REFLECTIONS 2017 - 2018 at O.C. Taylor
WHAT IS REFLECTIONS?
REFLECTIONS is a NATIONAL art program sponsored by the National PTA inviting students to interpret the year's theme in the selected art mediums: Visual Arts,
Music Composition, Literature, Photography, Film Production, and Dance Choreography.
WHAT IS THIS YEAR'S THEME?
"WITHIN REACH"
OFFICIAL STUDENT ENTRY FORM HERE
CLICK HERE TO READ @ REFLECTIONS
SEE ART FROM PAST YEARS' DONE BY STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY:
PRIMARY FILM PRODUCTION (preK - 2nd grade)
PRIMARY VISUAL ARTS (preK - 2nd grade)
PRIMARY LITERATURE (preK - 2nd grade)
INTERMEDIATE DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY (3rd - 5th grade)
INTERMEDIATE MUSIC COMPOSITION (3rd - 5th grade)
INTERMEDIATE PHOTOGRAPHY (3rd - 5th grade)
(for more examples, view the entire gallery by clicking HERE;
DEADLINE FOR O.C. TAYLOR SUBMISSIONS
Fri. Oct. 27th 3:30 pm
TO PARTICIPATE, STUDENT OR AT LEAST 1 PERSON IN PRIMARY HOUSEHOLD MUST BE A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE O.C. TAYLOR PTA!
SAVE THE DATE! NOV. 11 FALL FESTIVAL!
We hope you are as excited as we are for one of the year's favorite events...Fall Festival! Fall Festival is November 11, from 1:00-5:00.
To make this one of the best Fall Festivals yet, we need your help!
We need your suggestions!
We are deciding on booths for this year and are always looking for new ideas! If you have a suggestion for a new or different activity that your kids would love please reach out to Amy Godwin at octfallfestival@gmail.com!
We need donations!
- If you own a business, or have connections with a local business, please consider making a donation. A unique way for your business to donate is f to purchase an item for us to promote as a "Sponsored Item". Examples of past sponsored items include a WII or PlayStation.
- We also love personal donations! If you have an item you never use and want to donate it, let us know! For those with vacation homes, season tickets, etc. we would be so grateful if you considered donating those types of items as well.
- Another fun way that a parent, friend, or neighbor can donate is a "behind the scenes" look or VIP tour if they work in an industry that kids often would not get to see. Please reach out to you connections and see if they would be willing to help.
Other ideas or questions? Please reach out to Courtney Click at octsilentauction@gmail.com
Support Our Community
Remember!
- September is 5th grades month to collect cereal for GRACE! Collection baskets are outside the 5th grade classrooms for the duration of the month.
- O.C. Taylor PTA also reminds you to help our adopted Katy ISD School, Creech Elementary. Please consider donating gift cards to Target, Walmart, Half-Priced Books, Teacher Heaven, Ikea and Amazon. Please send any items to school with your child and able as a "Hurricane Harvey Donation". Let's help get our Houston neighbors back on their feet!
Thank you for your help and support in serving our community!
Questions? Concerns: contact Athena Wiginton at apw@thewigintons.com
APPLE TREE PROJECT
School has been in a few weeks and the teachers need items from the Apple Tree. Apple Tree is an easy way to donate items teachers and staff need at the school
Simply click he link below to see different "needs" around the school. If you choose to help, please make sure to mark as taken! Once taken, please send your item(s) to school with your child, attaching the name of the staff member for who it is intended.
Apple Tree List
Thanks so much! If you have any questions, please contact:
Jenifer Richards – Apple Tree coordinator
Jennifer Ditto - VP Volunteers
Thank you!
September
9/29 Running Club After School
October:
October:
10/4 International Walk to School Day
10/6 NO SCHOOL
10/9 Columbus Day Holiday-NO SCHOOL
10/17 Yearbook Picture Day
10/20 Staff Appreciation Event
10/27 Red Ribbon Week
10/27 PTA Reflections Submissions due
November:
11/11 Fall Festival!!!! 1 - 5 pm
We think your kids are..... G-G-G-G-reat!
GCISD - Building Excellent Schools Together
GCISD LEAD 2021- BUILDING EXCELLENT SCHOOLS TOGETHER!
The mission of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is to be THE BEST and through the district’s strategic plan, called LEAD 2021, we continue building on the foundation started in 2011-2012. LEAD stands for Leading Excellence – Action Driven. For more information about LEAD 2021, please visit the district website. There are some exciting educational experiences going on in GCISD!
GCISD’s WHY?
Redefining Education because your future matters today!
GCISD’s Portrait of a Graduate
Skilled Problem Solvers
Communicators
Global Citizens
Self-regulated Learners
Collaborators