Tiger Time News
News from O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Young Pedevilla
January 13, 2019
Dear O.C. Taylor Parents,
We have had a great first week back!
We have started something new this year: No Tardy Parties! Being late to school has a negative impact on a child, research finds, and an especially negative impact on the other students who were punctual.
A study by Hammill Institute on Disabilities (Caldarella, Christensen, Young & Densley, 2011) suggests it is generally not helpful for teachers to punish late students once they get to class because it could potentially aggravate the situation. "There appears to be a lack of empirical evidence that punishment for tardiness yields any positive results," the study says. Instead, the authors suggest using praise as a specific positive reinforcement strategy, as it has proven to be effective for addressing problem behavior. "Praise has been recognized as perhaps the easiest modification teachers can make to address students’ problem behaviors," the study notes.
Based on the findings, we have chosen to award one class a week with the least amount of tardies with a No Tardy Party of 15 minutes of extra recess.
The action taken above is but one way for us to help reduce the increased tardiness we are experiencing at O.C. Taylor. As the stewards of your child's timely arrival to school, we are enlisting your assistance in the more important portion of this initiative. Please do what you can to ensure a smooth start to your child's school day by arriving prior to 7:39 a.m., so your child can be in their classroom and seat when the bell rings at 7:40 a.m.
To the BEST of days,
Principal Young Pedevilla
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.
To the BEST of days,
Principal Young Pedevilla
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.
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.
OC Taylor Elementary Events
January 14
8:15 a.m. PTA Executive Board Meeting
January 15
January 16
2:55 - 4:00 TTT - Learning Commons
3:00 - 3:45 Yearbook
3:00 - 5:00 Talent Show Rehearsal
January 17
2:55 - 4:00 Choir
3:00 - 5:00 Talent Show Rehearsal
January 18
2:00 - 2:50 Future Explorations
January 21
NO SCHOOL - Martin L. King Day
January 22
3:10 - 4:30 Campus Excellence Committee Meeting
January 23
3:00 - 3:45 Yearbook
January 24
2:55 - 4:00 Choir
3:00 - 6:00 Talent Show -Dress Rehearsal
January 25
8:30 - 9:15 Talent Show
2:00 - 2:50 Future Explorations
6:30 - 8:00 PTA Meeting and Talent Show
January 26
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pancake Breakfast and Snowy Hill by Dads' Club
OCT and GCISD Updates
NEW DISMISSAL PROCEDURE: Daily ride changes, Appointments, and Emergencies
Beginning January 8th, we will be changing our dismissal procedures for students that have a ride change or appointment. In an effort to protect classroom instruction time, please call or email the office BEFORE 2:30 pm. Please do not email the classroom teacher as they are busy teaching the children and have limited ability to check their email at that time.
If there is a change to your child’s daily ride, please notify the office before 2:30 pm in one of the following ways:
· Send a written note with your child with details for how he or she will get home that day.
· Email Gene Guinane at gene.guinane@gcisd.net and Betty Jones at betty.jones@gcisd.net (as one may be absent) with details on how your child will be getting home that day.
· Call the office at 817-305-4870 prior to 2:30 pm.
· Changes cannot be made by email or text message to your child’s classroom teacher. Teachers are working with your children at that time, and we cannot ensure the information will get to them in a timely manner.
If your child has a doctor's appointment that requires leaving school early:
· Please notify the office on the day of the appointment, so the office has time to prepare the necessary checkout for you.
· Pick up your child prior to 2:30 for early release.
· Send a doctor's note in with your child the following day so that we are able to excuse the partial absence.
If you have an emergency and will not be able to pick your child up at dismissal, please call the office at 817-305-4870 so that we know you need our assistance with your child.
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Webville Outlaws
Wanta-Know Wally wants to know about you. He may ask you questions like, “How old are you?” or “Where do you go to school?”.
Never give out personal information about yourself to someone online. Even if they say they are your age or live in your community, do not give them your information. Immediately go tell your parent, a trusted adult, or teacher.
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Updates from the Learning Commons, Mrs. Bonacci
LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
If you are interested in helping out in the Learning Commons (Formerly known as the Library) please email me at dawn.bonacci@gcisd.net
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Updates from Counseling and Guidance, Mrs. Whisman
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Updates from Gifted and Talented, Mrs. Griffin
- Parent Informational Meeting for Grades 1-4 GT Testing: Jan. 24th, 6-7pm @ the PDEC, Panther Den, 5800 Colleyville Boulevard, Colleyville, TX 76034-6097
- Grades 1-4 Referral for testing window: Jan. 28th-Feb. 8th
- Grades 1-4 Testing Window: February 19-March 8th
ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR MATH TELESCOPING TESTING:
- Online Registration Procedures and Form For Math Telescoping Testing: The Online Registration Process will open February 21, 2019 for the Spring test date. It will close March 6, 2019.
- Link to GCISD site for Math Telescoping
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Updates from the Clinic, Nurse Katy
GCISD health guidelines- when to keep your child home:
- Fever of 100 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours. Students are allowed readmission to school when they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea in the past 24 hours
- Itchy, red eyes with discharge
- Unknown rash
- Ringworm of the scalp (until treatment has started)
- Head lice (until treatment has started)
- Jaundice
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Rachel's Challenge Shirt Contest
Students, you could be the artist behind our new Rachel's Challenge shirt for 2019, and everyone could be wearing your artwork.
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Spring Parent Technology Academy Sessions
GCISD Technology is excited to announce our Spring Session line up with several new sessions. Stay tuned as more will be added to our list as we keep receiving the request from the community.
January 23rd - Social media impact and building your student profile in Linkedin ( co-presented with Microsoft ) -SIGN UP HERE
Hear real-life examples of students that have lost scholarships or college acceptance due to social media disasters. Then hear from Microsoft as they outline ways to build a Linkin Profile to attached recruiters and more!
February 12th - Hour of Code - Parent Edition -SIGN UP HERE
Come dive in and experience what students across GCISD do each day with hands-on activities around coding
February 26th - Understanding Minecraft ( Presented by Microsoft) -SIGN UP HERE
Come and learn about the power of Minecraft in education, get tips directly for Microsoft on parental settings for use at home.
March 21st - Internet Addiction " Gaming"--SIGN UP HERE
More than 5 million kids may be addicted to video games. 31% of males and 12 % of females report that have felt addicted to gaming. Come to hear from Dr Kay Trotter, PhD, LPC-s, RPT-S from local Kaleidoscope Behavioral Health as she discusses the signs and symptoms of this growing addiction. Learn some tips and be a part of the discussion around online gaming and internet addiction.
April 16th - Apps Parents Need to Know -SIGN UP HERE
Take part in this interactive discussion around the growing world of apps that students are using. Go being the scenes to hear the truth behind the apps and what dangers there are to those who use them
Virtual Session Coming Soon - Fortnite ( a Parents Guide ) - SIGN UP HERE
Many have asked some come and experience Fortnite for parents. Hear about details of the game and dive into parental settings for the various gaming systems students use to play online.
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Here Comes the Bus app
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is happy to announce the adoption of an innovative mobile device app and website entitled, Here Comes the Bus®.
What is Here Comes the Bus:
Here Comes the Bus allows you to view the real-time location of your child’s school bus on your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Here Comes the Bus is free and enables you to:
- See the real-time location of your child’s bus both before and after school
- Confirm that your child’s bus has arrived at the bus stop, at school or both
- Receive a push notification* or email message when the bus is near your stop, has been substituted, or when we have important information to relay
Getting started:
Available in three languages (English, Spanish and French), the Here Comes the Bus app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
- Download the Here Comes the Bus app* or visit herecomesthebus.com
- Click the Sign Up button
- Enter school code 79915 and click “Next” followed by “Confirm”
- Complete the User Profile information
- Click “Students” and enter your child’s last name and student ID number when prompted
- Once you confirm your information, you’re ready to begin using Here Comes the Bus!
To sign up on the website, or to learn more about this service, visit the Here Comes the Bus website.
Your child needs to be a registered bus rider in order to ride a GCISD bus. If you are wanting to register your child to ride the bus, please do so in Skyward. If you are needing to temporarily change your child's bus transportation (i.e. riding home with a friend for a day, etc.), please complete this form. This app tracks only GCISD buses, not individual students.
Questions:
Should you have any questions, please contact Misael Ruiz at misael.ruiz@gcisd.net or (817) 251-5595. If you need additional assistance, contact Here Comes the Bus customer support. You will be asked to provide the following information:
- Your name
- School District Name or 5-digit School Code
- Email address used for your Here Comes the Bus account
- Your child’s first and last name, and student ID #
- Description of the question
GCISD Safety First
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Cafeteria and Menu Updates
Attached is a copy of the calendar menu, it may also be viewed on the district's website. Nutrition information may be viewed through the nutrition services website or by downloading the new Meal Viewer app through the apple or android store.
If you have questions about the Nutrition Services program, please call ext. 5615 or email julie.telesca@gcisd.net.
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Join the GCISD TEAM!
Great opportunities are available in our auxiliary departments:
- Nutrition Specialists -PT w/ benefits – work while your students are in school!
- KidzU Site Aides – PT w/benefits – great schedule for local college students!
- Night Custodians
- Bus Drivers
- Maintenance Engineers
Apply now to work with the BEST! www.gcisd.net
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
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. We are excited about the new LEAD 2.0 and hearing from all parents! 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
We think your kids are..... G-G-G-G-reat!
Dad's Club Pancake Breakfast January 26th
Bring the entire family to enjoy a morning of breakfast + Sledding on the Snowy Hill. This year’s snow hill will be our biggest snow hill yet, with two lanes open for racing and more participation. Breakfast made by the Dads Club and fun riding a sled, what else could you ask for? Get your sleds and boogey boards ready!
Space is limited and the demand is high so hurry and get your reservations in early!
OC Taylor Talent Shows
The O.C. Taylor Talent Show is Friday, January 25 at 8:30am and 6:30pm! Our tigers are working hard on their acts! Rehearsals are January 16 and 17 from 3-5pm. Dress Rehearsal is January 24 from 3-5pm. Please come and support our talented 3rd, 4th and 5th graders as they perform! We hope to see you there. Any questions, contact Joy Arita at 817-308-1701
O.C. Taylor’s GRACE Food Drive
SECOND GRADE - IT’S YOUR TURN TO:
Support the GRACE Food Drive.
January is Second Grade’s turn to support the GRACE Food Drive
ITEMS IN NEED: Canned Soup (any kind please)
Collection Baskets are right outside the SECOND GRADE Classrooms.
So remember, the next time you are at the grocery store please consider buying a can of Campbell’s Chunky… “soup that eats like a meal” Thank you for your help and support in serving our community!
Questions? Concerns? Please contact: Dawn Hall
Amazon Smile
Be sure to shop smileamazon.com. 0.5% of all your purchases will go to the OC Taylor PTA. Log on to smileamazon.com and select PTA Texas Congress 1610 O C Taylor Elementary as your preferred charity. It's an amazoningly easy way to earn money for our school!! Remember, you must log on to smileamazon.com every time you shop to ensure your purchases earn money for our school! In just 3 months short months, we made $44.51. Our next check should arrive soon!
Box Tops Fundraiser
It's a new semester and time for a new Box Top Racing to Recess Challenge! The winning grade level will earn an extra 30 minute recess! Clip out Box Tops for Education and place them on the Box Top Collection Sheet or in the Ziploc Bag that was sent home last semester. If you've already sent in that bag, just write your child's grade level on a new ziploc bag. Send your Box Tops in to your child's teacher or place them in the blue bin in the front lobby.
After the first lap, 3rd Grade is in the lead with 103, 2nd Grade is in 2nd place with 32, and Kinder is in 3rd place with 23.
Fuss Free Fundraising Tax Receipts
If you donated to our Fuss Free Fundraiser this fall, you should have received a tax receipt within the last two weeks. Receipts were sent from octsilentauction@gmail.com (be sure to check your junk mail). If we did not have a good email address for you, a paper copy was sent home this week with your child. If you did not receive a tax receipt and would like one, please email Stephanie Williams at octsilentauction@gmail.com. Thanks for supporting our school!
APPLE TREE PROJECT
The O.C. Taylor Apple Tree has grown new branches! 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 this link 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.
Jill Tate - VP of Volunteers jhbu99@aol.com
Join the PTA!
Thank you to all our parents and staff that joined the PTA already! We truly appreciate your support!
If you did not join the PTA at Meet the Teacher, we encourage you to do so. The annual dues are only $7.50 per membership. That's the lowest price in town for PTA memberships and its the BEST, in my opinion! Membership in the PTA allows you to improve the education and opportunities for our students. When you join the PTA, you become a member of the Texas PTA and you will receive a copy of our 2018-2019 Paw Prints student directory! This valuable directory contains classroom lists, phone numbers, addresses and other vital information you will use all year! To join the PTA it's so simple, visit http://www.joinPTA.org.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Liz Payne- VP Memberships
Thank you!
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