Gatorfest was a great success on March 30, with a fantastic turn out from our community, and lots of fun had by all. The event raised $2678.50, enough money that the PTSA is able to fund Bloomz form the 2018-2019 school year.

Our new after school enrichment program, Thriving Minds by Big Thought is doing amazing things. Since they began here at Gooch in February they have had several programs visit, including teaching the scholars magic tricks, and a fantastic African storyteller. They have been doing many fantastic enriching activities like weaving, story telling, crafts, art, and planting vegetables. This is a parent paid after school program to help our working parents. They are open for more enrollment for PK4 - 5th grade Gooch scholars.

Planting Day for the Cool Schools Program at Gooch, from the Texas Trees Foundation was a great success. Our scholars helped plant 73 trees around Gooch, that are already blooming and putting out new growth. A huge thank you to Kerry Grey-Harrison and the team at Texas Trees for making the possible and doing the huge amount of work to run such an event. The aim of the Cool Schools program is to "provide outdoor learning centers and enhanced tree canopies on Dallas ISD elementary campuses that will ultimately serve to educate our children on the benefits of trees in healthier outdoor environments, and to reduce the urban heat island effect through the cooling effects of improved tree canopies. The Texas Trees Foundation is creating greener schools by:

• Expanding tree canopy cover
• Creating outdoor learning environments
• Providing Dallas ISD approved, STEM-based curriculum
• Enhanced experiential learning"

Gooch scholars and teachers learned a lot about trees and tree planting on planting day, and we are all excited about watching our new saplings grow and create more shade here at Gooch. The large play area under construction beside the portables is also a part of this project, and we expect in to be finished by the end of April. Stay tuned.

The Gooch Academic All Stars is a celebration of our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students who are doing well academically. We congratulate all of the Gooch Academic All Stars for their hard work!!! Go Gators!!!

In March, Avance parents wrote and performed a play based on the tale of little red riding hood to promote literacy and reading. The performance was beautifully presented and very well received by all of the Gooch scholars. The surprise ending of Baby Shark was a great hit. A big thanks to Avance and their engagement with Gooch.

A big congratulations to all of our parents who completed the ESL class at the end of March. We are so proud of our parents who work hard to improve themselves, and their scholars. Well done to all of you!

A huge thank you to all the amazing volunteers and donors that made Gatorfest possible. Every year, putting on Gatorfest is a really big part of what the Gooch Gators PTSA does, and we do it with the help of lots of members of our community, as well as our fantastic board members.

A huge Thank You to all of the following:

Holy Cross Lutheran Church for sponsoring the petting zoo, which was a huge hit, and those fantastic members of the Holy Cross community who came and volunteered.

Donations for the raffle were made by:

Greg Brothman & Designs by Flora who kindly donated the gold and diamond necklace; Richard Gehrig and Look Cinemas donated the class popcorn party and the movie passes; Galite Hyams donated the yoga classes; Ivey Kapp donated the coffee gift; and Soraya Gollop donated the hummingbird feeding basket.

Our amazing volunteers who made it happen on the day:

Terri Pitts, Nicole Gunnels, Mana Juarez, Xan Orchid, Wesley Freeman, Jimmy Rodriguez, Elly O’Brien, Valerie Smith, Jerry Heggs, Kim Ashmore, Patricio Perera, Soraya Gollop, Jacquelyn Delgado, Kenlyn Nitz, Florencio Perez, Lori Powell, Diana Machiran, Meredith Moore, Norma Vazquez, Angie Nitz, Lorely Villeda, Violeta Mendoza, William Heath, Ivey Kapp, Anna Goble, Lily Montana, Paul Sue, Andrea Valdez, Bryan Williams, Kara Bigler, Edgardo Flores, Galite Hyams, James Bigler, Claudia Flores, and Vanessa Heath

Click here for the PTSA store to purchase T-Shirts or join the PTSA.