Tiger Time News
News from the O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Young
Young@Heart, November 12, 2017
Dear O.C. Taylor Parents,
Please remember to scroll down and read your GRADE LEVEL NEWSLETTER and our PTA portion. Click here to watch the Tiger Time News student video production with your child (see photos from our Veteran's Day Program).
Thank you to all of our Veterans for your dedication and service. We appreciate you! Thank you to Mrs. Vencill for planning and directing our wonderful Veteran's Day Program this past Friday. Thank you to Mrs. Ponder and the PTA for the food, drinks and reception. Your children showed respect during our program! What an amazing group of kids.
What a wonderful Fall Festival we had! Thank you to our amazing PTA, volunteers, and Dads' Club who volunteered many hours to create a special memory for all. Thank you to 7-11 for their donations! As I frequently say, childhood is fleeting. I hope you were able to create memories that will last a lifetime!
To the BEST of days,
Principal Young
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 life-long learners and develop servant leaders through authentic, real-world experiences.
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Upcoming Dates
Monday, November 13
3rd Grade Field Trip
Tuesday, November 14
Wednesday, November 15
TTT 2:55 - 3:45
Thursday, November 16
5th Grade Field Trip
Kindergarten/PreK Thanksgiving Feast 11 - 12
Choir 2:55 - 4:00
Friday, November 17
TTT's 2nd Annual Turkey Drive @ drop off (7:20 am)
Future Explorations 2:00 - 2:50
November 20 - 24
Thanksgiving Break
Monday, November 27
Tuesday, November 28
Make Up Picture Day - order form
CEC
Wednesday, November 29
Thursday, November 30
Choir 2:55 - 4:45
Friday, December 1
Rule The School!
Taylor Tiger Choir @ Colleyville Tree Lighting 6:30 pm
OCT Updates
Make Up Picture Day, November 28th
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TTT 2nd Annual Turkey Drive
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Watch Dogs
We are so excited to have the Watch Dog program back again this year! Thank you to those who have signed up to be a Watch Dog. The process this year is a little different. Here is the form that needs to be submitted along with your background check and t-shirt purchase. Once those things are taken care, Jennifer Howard will send an email with the Signup Genius so you can choose a day to volunteer. We ask that you plan a week in advance when signing up. The calendar will be closed after Friday mornings for the following week to ensure teachers and the volunteers receive schedules. Thank you for understanding and respecting our process and procedure of this program.
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City of Colleyville Mayor for a Day Essay Contest
City of Colleyville Mayor, Richard Newton, is giving Colleyville residents in grades 2-7 the opportunity to speak their minds during the 2017 Mayor for a Day Contest. The winner will serve as honorary mayor on one of the City Council meeting dates this upcoming January. He or she will spend part of the day meeting with city leaders and touring city facilities. That evening, they will attend the City Council work session to review city business and co-preside over the City Council meeting that follows. During the Executive Session portion of the meeting, the Mayor for a Day will have a pizza party with up to 10 friends! (The Mayor for a Day winner’s schedule will be subject to approval by his or her parents and school.)
How to Participate:
- Starting November 1st, contestants must submit a one- to two- page essay about what you would do to make Colleyville the best city in North Texas. The winning essay will be posted on the city’s website. Write your essay in any form or style that is comfortable for you and that you feel best expresses your opinions.
- Essays must be at least one page in length and no more than two pages.
- Entries must have your name, grade, address, and parents’ phone numbers included at the top of the essay in order to be entered into the Mayor for a Day Contest.
- No other identifying information should be included in the essay, as all personal information will be redacted prior to review by the committee of judges.
- Essays are due by December 8, 2017. Essays received after this date will not be considered.
- Contest is only open to Colleyville residents.
- The winning essay will be announced the week of December 11th.
Essays may be dropped off at the City Manager’s Office on the third floor of Colleyville City Hall or sent by mail or email to:
Mayor for a Day Contest
Colleyville City Hall
100 Main Street,
Colleyville, TX 76034
Email: ddangli@colleyville.com
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OCT Conflict Resolution Wheel
This week we will be focusing on "Talk Together and Work It Out." Talk with your child about the importance of talking. With talking one must be a good listener. Teach your child to paraphrase back what you have said in order to show the person talking you have heard them.
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Tech Tip of the Week: Tech-Free Zones
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Technology Trust Card
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Updates from OCT Counselor, Mrs. Whisman
TTT's 2nd Annual Turkey Drive will be on Friday morning at drop off. The winning grade level will be invited to come to a Parent’s Night out in December! Turkeys will be donated to Grace. Here is a link.
- The Tiger Tree will be back this year with paws that have items that will be donated to the Grace Christmas Cottage. If you would like to have a tour of the Christmas Cottage (it is a WONDERFUL experience) see this informational flyer.
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Updates from the Learning Commons, Mrs. Bonacci
Thank you to all of the families who participated in our Storybook Pumpkin Patch this year. The creativity was off the charts! All of our students enjoyed coming to the learning commons to see their favorite storybook characters on display. I love hearing students talk about how their entire family pitched in to help. I hope all of you formed sweet memories together and that you will participate again next year..
Now that Halloween and the Storybook Parade are over, if you have a costume that you would like to donate for our tigers to use in our green screen room we would love to have them!
This year we have had more Birthday Book donations in the first 2 months of school than we typically receive for the entire year! Thank you so much for your generosity. If you would like to participate click here for more information.
Resource Highlight: Every O. C. Taylor student has access to over 7,000 audiobooks through the Tales2Go app. For more information click here.
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Update from our Clinic, Nurse Katy
- Referrals: If you have received a referral letter about your child needing further evaluation regarding vision and/or hearing, please let me know if you have followed up with this. If you have lost the paperwork I sent home, just feel free to call/email me and let me know what the Dr said/recommended. I need to have this information for an annual State report. For all the parents who have already taken care of this- THANK YOU!! :)
- Cold & Flu season: Please be sure you are reviewing proper hand washing techniques with your children at home. They can sing Happy Birthday song or their ABCs twice while washing with warm, soapy water. Also, remind them to sneeze and cough into their elbows instead of their hands. If you child is home sick with flu or flu-like symptoms (temperature over 100 AND sore throat/cough), please let the front office know when calling in. I have to report all flu-like illness to the Tarrant County Health Department weekly.
- Lice: Please educate your child about the avoidance of head-to-head contact (selfies) and check his/her scalp routinely for evidence of lice. If you find live lice on your child's head, they must stay home until effectively treated. Please call me or the front office to let us know. I have to send out a grade level notification email per Texas Education Code, Section 38.031. Your student's name will never be mentioned to maintain confidentiality. If I know of a case, I can closely monitor the class and grade level for signs and symptoms of head lice.
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Updates from Gifted and Talented, Mrs. Griffin
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Box Tops - Fall Version Collection Sheets.
Click here to Harvest All Your Box Tops and send them to school!
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Let's Talk
Click here to start a conversation through Let's Talk! This site may be found on our campus homepage.
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GCISD DISTRICT FLYERS & INFORMATION
Grapevine: A Visual Journey Through A Beloved Texas Town
Grapevine: A Visual Journey Through A Beloved Texas Town is a 152-page book that highlights Grapevine’s intriguing history, public art, working artists, attractions, and seasonal events. The author will donate 50% of book proceeds to O.C. Taylor Elementary until January 1, 2018, if the books are purchased at www.GrapevineTexasJourney.com. (The buyer will then be given the option to select O.C. Taylor Elementary as the recipient of the donation.)
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GCISD Parent Technology Academy
More classes are rolling out! Click on the following link to see more or to register: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=48875
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Note from GCISD Nutrition Services
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GCISD is Now Hiring! Join the GCISD TEAM!
Do you know someone ready to join the GCISD Team? Please help spread the word! Great opportunities are available in our auxiliary departments:
- Nutrition Specialists –Part Time with benefits – Work while your students are in school!
- KidzU Extended Care Program Site Aides – Part Time with benefits – Great schedule for local college students!
- Night Custodians
- Bus Drivers & Monitors
- Maintenance Engineers
Apply online at: www.gcisd-k12.org
GCISD is looking for new Subs! Apply Online!
Hey parents and community members! Do you find yourself always on campus volunteering and helping out? Want to be more involved in the classroom and get a paycheck? Then subbing might just be for you!
We are hiring qualified candidates to substitute teach for GCISD. If you are looking to impact kids and help make a difference, we want you! You must have a minimum of 60 college hours to apply. Apply online: www.gcisd-k12.org
If you have any questions, contact erica.pasvar@gcisd.net.
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School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
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THANK YOU!
Thank you to all of our volunteers, we couldn't have done it without you! Also a HUGE thank you to 7-11 (and Brad Haga) for donating the food!
Elissa Rinon
PTA President
Kristin McElroy
PTA President Elect
SILENT AUCTION ITEM PICK UP
- 7:45 - 8:15am
- 2:45 - 3:15pm
If you are unable to pick up items this week, please contact Courtney Click to schedule a pick up time.
Thank you!
Courtney Click
EARN CASH FOR O.C. TAYLOR!
Clipping Box Tops is an easy way to help earn money for our school. Last year we collected 8,378 Box Tops, which raised $837.80 for O.C. Taylor! Help us raise money this year by purchasing items with the Box Tops logo (click here for a list of the hundreds of products with the logo).
All you have to do is clip them and store them in the storage bag that will be going home in Take Home folders this week. When your child’s bag is full, just send it back to school and a new storage bag will be sent home for you to start filling up again!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m here to help make our school’s Box Tops for Education™ program a huge success this year.
Thanks for your help!
Amy Haga
Box Tops Coordinator
Phone Number: 817-657-0126
E-mail: amy.haga@yahoo.com
LAST CHANCE! MESH WREATH-MAKING CLASS
Mesh Wreath-Making Class - Thursday, November 16 from 7 - 9 pm
Home-made and full of heart--a gift of a wreath would be a lovely start...TO YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON!
Please join us Thursday, November 16th from 7 - 9 pm at the Merlot Room in Grapevine. Amy Kaspar will be teaching a class on how to make holiday mesh wreaths. The cost of the class is $20 per person (supplies not included). All money raised will go to support 5th Grade Continuation. Please click on the Sign Up Genius link below to sign up! Please see the attached Wreath Making Supply List as supplies are not provided.
We hope to see you there!
SIGN UP GENIUS FOR MESH WREATH-MAKING CLASS HERE
Questions? contact Stephanie Williams
DAD'S CLUB MEETING - NOVEMBER 15th
OC Taylor Tiger Dads! Please join us for our next O.C. Taylor Dads Club meeting on Wednesday, November 15th from 7pm - 9pm (or 10pm) at The Londoner.
For our November meeting we will be discussing and planning for the Grapevine Parade of Lights Dads Club Float Entry, December Pancake Breakfast and the January Bowling Night. There are still volunteer opportunities to get involved! Bring your ideas, your checkbook, and a friend. it’s more fun than you think.
We do request (not require) a $25 donation with membership and you’ll get a great shirt just for joining.
All Dads – Dads Only – are invited to our meeting. Get involved with Dads Club because it’s for the kids.
Please RSVP http://evite.me/WsKFTMwpjv
Organizers:
Ben Stevens – ben@benLstevens.com 972.839.5599
Matt Smith – vernomas@yahoo.com 817.228.1822
OC Taylor Dads Club Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/OCTaylorDadsClub
ELVES ON THE RUN 5k, Sat. Dec. 2, HOLIDAY FUN RUN, FOOD, BEVERAGES--JOIN US!
The Women’s Division Elves’ on the Run, 5K is a fun run located in heart of Grapevine- the Christmas Capitol of Texas! This race is kicking off the fun-filled, full holiday experience in the family-friendly community of Grapevine, Texas.
You will be able to meet Santa at the finish line, enjoy food trucks and beverages available for both runners as well as spectators.
Fun run begins at 8:30 am 5k begins at 9:00 am (Dogs on leashes welcome.)
Show off your holiday spirit by winning: Prizes for the best elf costume and best registered group in costume.
Come for the run, stay to enjoy all the activities Grapevine has to offer including ICE! At the Gaylord, North Pole Express train ride and the not-to-be-missed sparkle of Main Street with millions of lights, enormous decorations, animated characters and a whole lot more!
The Women’s Division of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce operates under the umbrella of the Grapevine Chamber Foundation. The Foundation is a tax exempt, public charity under section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Women’s Division began in 1965 and provides assistance to those in need in our community. We are a 100% volunteer group and currently our largest projects are providing school supply packs for over 1200 GCISD students in need of extra assistance and brightening the lives of about 100 of the less fortunate local senior citizens by providing gifts and essential items during the holiday season.
T-shirts will be available to first 500 participants.
Awards:
Medals for all children in fun/run
5K 1st/2nd/3rd Male & Female: 8 under, 9-11, 12-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
For every student and family member that registers, $2 will be donated directly back to our PTA. Please enter “OC Taylor Elementary School" in the participant question. https://ElvesOnTheRun5k.com
questions: Contact Marissa Livingston
REFLECTIONS ADVANCING ENTRIES & PARTICIPANTS!
Madine Gifford, Photography entry, entitled, "On the Table"
Emily Ann Rodriguez, Visual Arts entry, entitled, "Stars in My Dreams Are Within Reach"
Mason Partain, Photography entry, entitled, "Star Wars Animation"
Anika Jalandhara, Literature entry, entitled, "It's a Poem With 23 Words"
And many thanks to ALL our artists who participated in this years' PTA REFLECTIONS PROGRAM: Georgia Smith, Liesl Ackermann, Piper Smith, Lydon Smith, and Alyssa Difabio.
WAY TO GO, TIGERS!!!!! We had 1 entry last year. This year, thanks to you all, we had 9.
Next year, let's double that! This is a great program that is not too time intensive and a great opportunity for our kids! If you are interested in helping next year, please contact O.C. Taylor parent & PTA member, Laurie Ackermann
HEALTHY LIFESTYLES: PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA BITES--NO BREAD REQUIRED!
Another delicious recipe brought to you by our Healthy Lifestyles Committee:
A healthy twist on your classic PB&J - no bread required
Prep time: 7 minutes
Total time: 12 minutes
Ingredients:
- ½ cup diced strawberries or blueberries
- 1 cup quick oats
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 large egg
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Place tablespoon-sized scoops of mixture on a parchment-lined baking pan. Bake for 7 minutes.
Questions? Concerns? Contact our PTA Healthy Lifestyles Chair, Marisa Livingston
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 Volunteer
GRACE FOR NOVEMBER IS 3rd GRADE!
- November is 3rd grade's month to collect cereal for GRACE! Collection baskets are outside the 3rd grade classrooms for the duration of the month.
- O.C. Taylor PTA is also continuing to help our adopted Katy ISD School, Creech Elementary by donating gift cards to Target, Walmart, Half-Priced Books, Teacher Heaven, Ikea and Amazon. Please send any items to school with your child and label 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
November:
11/16 Camp Thurman (5th Grade)
11/17 Staff Appreciation Event
11/20 - 24 Thanksgiving Holiday
11/28 Make Up Picture Day
11/28 Game On!
December:
12/1 Rule the School
12/8 Walk To School Morning
12/14 6:30 pm PTA Meeting & Choir Concert
12/15 Party with the Principals 3;00 - 5:30 pm
12/20 Polar Express Day
12/21 School Sing-Along
12/21 Class Holiday Parties
12/21 Early Dismissal at 11:45 LAST DAY OF FALL SEMESTER
12/21 Talent Show Applications Due
January:
1/8 Teacher Work Day
1/9 Back to School!
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Thank you!
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
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.