Tiger Time News
News from the O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Young
Young@Heart, September 10, 2017
Dear O.C. Taylor Parents,
Click here to watch the live version of Tiger Time News with your child.
September 11 Remembrance
On September 11, 2001, I am sure you remember where you were and what you were doing. I was an assistant principal at an elementary school spending the day answering teacher and parent questions. We grieved. It was a sad day for America. We all knew our world would be changed forever. Tomorrow, we will spend a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives and lost loved ones.
We started our Future Explorations on this past Friday! Ask your child about the class they attended. What is Future Explorations?
About Future Explorations
Future Explorations is a plan to see the newly formed O.C. Taylor Elementary School vision and mission to fruition. Our vision is to empower our children today to create a better tomorrow. Our children are future leaders; we want them to make this world a better place in their future. Our mission is to create lifelong learners and servant leaders through authentic and real-world experiences. Future Explorations is a dedicated time built into the school day to allow our learners to explore and experience life and possible career paths. We frame careers in a kid-friendly, elementary way. They have opportunities to experience what people do to make a living and how to make this world a better place. Logistically, students choose a topic or path they want to explore. They spend 5-6 weeks on Fridays from 2:00-2:50 p.m. experiencing these.
Future Explorations is also tightly aligned to GCISD's LEAD 2021. Providing student the ability to personalize & choose, explore careers, use resources & technology, develop citizenship and develop ownership are foundational to the work we do. The key components of the LEAD 2021 plan include the following:
- Personalized Learning Plans for students
- The transition from a teaching platform to an instructional learning platform
- Relevant and resourceful technology to expand student resources
- College and career readiness for all students
- Enhanced responsibility of citizenship in our local, state and global societies
I have heard from some of you how much your children enjoyed the time. Yay! If you would be willing to assist in a classroom on Fridays during Future Explorations, please email me at lisa.young@gcisd.net. It can be a one-time assistance or on a regular basis. Having parents involved helps everyone.
O.C. Taylor Adopts Creech Elementary in Katy, Texas
We invite you to join our PTA, our TTT (student council) and staff to support the children, families, and staff of Creech Elementary, a school in Katy, Texas flooded by Harvey. They have requested gift cards to the following:
- Walmart
- Target
- Half-Priced Books
- Teacher Heaven
- IKEA
- Amazon
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.
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Upcoming Dates
Monday, September 11
8:15 PTA Executive Board Meeting
3:00pm - 5:00pm Mascot Tryouts (5th Grade)
Tuesday, September 12
9:00 am Volunteer Orientation (Cafeteria)
6:30 pm Volunteer Orientation (Learning Commons)
Wednesday, September 13
2:55pm - 3:45 TTT
Thursday, September 14
2:55pm - 4:00pm Choir
6:30pm PTA Rock Out/Spirit Shop
Friday, September 15
DOT DAY! Wear dots to school to celebrate creativity!
2:00pm - 2:50pm Future Explorations
Monday, September 18
Tuesday, September 19
3:10 CEC Meeting
Wednesday, September 20
5:00 - 8:00 Pot Belly Fundraiser
Thursday, September 21
9:00am Homeroom Parent Meeting (Cafeteria)
2:55pm - 4:00pm Choir
Friday, September 20
2:00pm - 2:50pm Future Explorations
OCT Updates
Pick Up Procedures
We want OCT to have safe, efficient, and effective procedures. It will help if we minimize the adults who are parking and getting out of their cars to personally pick up their children. Also, we kindly ask you to please read and follow these procedures; your child's life depends upon it.
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Conflict Resolution Wheel
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Tech Tip of the Week
2. 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. It takes a village!
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Volunteer Background Check
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Updates from the Learning Commons, Mrs. Bonacci
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Updates from the Clinic, Nurse Katy
- 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.
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Dot Day
We will be celebrating Dot Day on Friday, September 15. Wear dots to school!
International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration. The Dot is the story of a caring teacher who dares a doubting student to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to “make her mark”. What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing, which has gone on to inspire countless children and adults around the globe.
And each year on International Dot Day the inspiration continues. What started as a story in the pages of a book is transforming teaching and learning around the world as people of all ages re-discover the power and potential of creativity in all they do.
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Updates from Gifted and Talented, Mrs. Griffin
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Updates from Mrs. Whisman
HURRICANE HARVEY ASSISTANCE: The OCT PTA and the O.C. Taylor's TTT (Student Council/Kindness Compassion Club) has our first project! We will be getting information from Ms. Epperson (5th grade teacher) about how we can best help students and their families from the school she taught at last year in Houston. For immediate needs, we know they could use some gift cards: Gift Cards: Walmart, Target, Half-Priced Books, Teacher Heaven, Ikea, and Amazon. As soon as they let us know actual items, we will let you know. PTA and TTT will begin a collection for them. TTT is comprised of 4th and 5th grade students who have filled out an application and have been accepted into this Service Project oriented club. Stay tuned for more information!
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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
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!
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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.
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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.
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"Water Worth Saving" Art Contest
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Note from GCISD Nutrition Services
Farm Fresh Fridays
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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
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School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
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BE A HOME ROOM PARENT! CREATE MEMORIES! SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS!
We need Homeroom Parent volunteers for every class, including Pre-K! The role is responsible for coordinating class/grade level activities for Fall Festival, then working with the Grade Level Coordinator to lead the Holiday Party and Valentine’s Day Party. Additionally, the Homeroom Parent works with the teacher throughout the year to coordinate and help find volunteers for grade level activities and other needs the teacher may have.
Just fill out the form below and return it to your child’s teacher by Monday, September 11th. A random drawing will be conducted on Tuesday, September 12th to determine each classroom’s Homeroom Parent. Your form must be received by September 11th to be included in the drawing. Our Homeroom Parent Orientation will be on Thursday, September 21st @ 9:00 am at OCT. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Elyse Kruzel at elysekruzel@Ymail.com or817-253-8168
PLAY TIGER BINGO!
Active, healthy living is full of fun and nutritious food that is both healthy and delicious! Your Healthy Lifestyles PTA Committee has mixed fun and nutritious together in TIGER BINGO to help YOU, Tigers and Your Families to…
EAT WELL, PLAY HARD, BE KIND, AND HAVE FUN!!!
Play along to be entered for a chance to win one of 4 new bicycles!
All O.C.. Taylor Tigers, Pre-K through 5th grade are
eligible and encouraged to participate!
IT’S EASY...HERE’S HOW:
Check your child's folder for your Tiger Bingo Card. Complete the health and wellness activities on the Tiger Bingo Card.Completing one row of squares in any direction earns an entry to participate in the bike prize draw! More complete instructions and rules will be on the card.
Winners will be chosen by random drawing with a max of 10 entries per student.
Bike prize drawing scheduled to coincide with Rachel’s Challenge 5K Fun Run this spring AND Winners will be announced on the O.C, Taylor Morning Show!
Bike Giveaway is proudly sponsored by our O.C. Taylor neighbor
MacArthur Medical Center
972-256-3700
Questions? Concerns? Contact Marisa Livingston,
Healthy LIfestyles PTA Committee Chair
Why Join the PTA?
O.C. Taylor's PTA is an active group of volunteer parents who are passionate about the students, faculty and staff and parents of our school. 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 online today! http://www.joinpta.org/
O.C. Taylor PTA - VP Memberships
DON'T MISS O.C. TAYLOR ROCK OUT!
This week, Thursday, September 14th at 6:30 don't miss The O.C. Taylor Rock Out, a fun night of music, games and spending time with friends. There will be a DJ and the popular hula hoop contest! You may bring a picnic dinner or order a boxed dinner from McAllister's Deli, proceeds will support 5th Grade Continuation.
NO FOOD IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THIS EVENT--YOU MUST PRE-ORDER BY CLICKING ON THE FORM BELOW AND SUBMITTING IT WITH PAYMENT BY MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH. DOING SO HELPS FUND OUR 5TH GRADE CONTINUATION, SO EAT SOME MCALLISTERS!
Checks should be made payable to Stephanie Williams (O.C. Taylor PTA parent & 5th Grade Continuation Committee Chair).
Don't forget lawn chairs & blankets to sit on.
Questions? Contact Lissa Critz, VP of Programs at lissa@mymagicjourneys.com
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"
Look for a flyer in your student's with information on how he or she may participate. Check out the link below to be inspired at The Reflections Art Gallery. WOW! All done completely by students!
The official rule form and student entry form for this year's REFLECTIONS program, "WITHIN REACH" are below. Simply click on the links, print and complete the form and submit with the student's art work.
OFFICIAL STUDENT ENTRY FORM HERE
TO SEE THE REFLECTIONS GALLERY, CLICK HERE
DEADLINE FOR O.C. TAYLOR SUBMISSIONS
Fri. Oct. 27th 3:30 pm
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. See Mrs. Whisman and the TTT for the list of items you can donate. 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
Thank you!
September
9/11 Homeroom Parent Forms Due
9/11 Tiger Mascot Auditions (5th grade only)
9/12 Volunteer Orientation in the Cafeteria (9:00 am and 6:30 pm)
9/14 PTA General Meeting & Rock Out! (6:30)
9/21 Homeroom Parent Meeting in the Cafeteria (9:00 am)
October:
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