Cannon Connection
A newsletter for Cannon Elementary families - 2017-2018
Week of February 26, 2018
Hi Cannon Parents!
Even though we measured 7+ inches of rain at Cannon last week, the weather certainly didn't put a damper on our week as we celebrated National Engineering Week in style!
Our Cubs in all grade levels had wonderful opportunities to learn from interesting experts in industry, including Lockheed Martin, Hewlett Packard, Gamestop, LR Drones Technologies, CR Smith Museum, Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, Huckabee Architects, U.S. Money Factory, Klein Tools, UTA Engineering Department, and MORE!!
The students designed and launched stomp rockets, paper airplanes, rotated through sessions to learn about different strands of engineering, tinkered with new digital tools, explored exhibits at museums, completed engineering design challenges in their classrooms, etc... It was truly an action-packed, hands-on, minds-on week of learning! Have you asked YOUR student about their learning from last week?
Click here to see some photos from eWeek 2018 @ Cannon in Kindergarten-5th grade!
Proud to be your principal,
Mrs. Blizzard
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY FROM GCISD SUPERINTENDENT, DR. RYAN
(Haga clic aquí para leer esta carta en español)
An open letter to the community:
Like you, I watched in horror last week as we witnessed the reports of another tragic school shooting. This one, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, took the lives of students and staff. Everyone associated with schools: students, parents, staff members and community members feel the pain and trauma each time this happens in our country. We search for answers to questions like: “How could this happen again?” and “How can we keep it from happening in the future?” As we grieve with the families in Florida, we also look to the security measures we have in place to protect our students and staff.
In GCISD, we practice several different types of scenarios and implement security measures accordingly. We make every effort to physically keep our students safe and we are taking additional steps thanks to our supportive community. In 2016, GCISD voters approved a bond package that included measures to secure students and staff including new security cameras, controlled entrance access for campuses and a fully integrated network security system.
Additionally, each secondary campus has a police officer that is stationed at the school every day and our counselors have resources for reporting concerns on their websites. We work closely with our local police departments and school resource officers to investigate every concern quickly and thoroughly and we communicate with staff, parents and the community when matters arise that need a wider response. We understand that when we do have to communicate, there are questions that may be left unanswered for our families based on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which prohibits the district and campuses from sharing specific information related to the incident or students. Please know that we do have policies and procedures in place for addressing these incidents, even if we are unable to provide you with those details. For more general information on the district’s disciplinary guidelines, please review the Student Code of Conduct.
The most important thing that we can all do is to build strong sense of togetherness and pride in our community’s schools and ensure our adults are building healthy relationships with students. Beginning with ‘“circle up” time in elementary schools, our students begin to build those relationships with their teachers and with each other. Those relationships are the foundations that are built upon when students get to middle and high school. This provides a safe space to have conversations with students when issues arise on campus, in our community and in our nation.
We also encourage everyone to report if they have a suspicion that something might be wrong. The adage of “see something, say something” may seem like a basic concept, but it is critical in our ability to get ahead of a potential threat.
We will continue to practice, review and refine our safety and security measures as the safety of our students and staff is our top priority of the GCISD Board of Trustees and our staff members.
Dr. Robin Ryan
GCISD Superintendent
SEEN @ CANNON LAST WEEK!
Olympic Games In PE @ Cannon!
5th Graders Adopt-A-Pilot!
GCISD's "Love Your Device" Contest Winners Announced!
Mark Your Calendars.....
2/26 Loteria (Spanish Bingo) for Dual Language families - 6:00-7:00 pm - cafeteria
2/27 Class Picture Day - wear you BEST smile!
2/27 Cannon Spirit Night @ Cici's Pizza!
3/5-3/9 Book Fair @ Cannon
3/7 YUCK! Science program, sponsored by PTA - All K-5 students will attend during the day.
3/8 Student-Led Showcase (formerly Open House) 5:30-7:00 pm - Book Fair also open!
3/12-3/16 Spring Break - NO SCHOOL!
SPRING PICTURES ARE TUESDAY! WEAR YOUR SMILE!!
The Cannon Book Fair will be during the week of March 5th-9th. Check out the Spring Book Fair 2018 preview video below! We need Book Fair Volunteers - can you help?
IT'S YEARBOOK TIME!!
Do You Know A Family Interested In STEM?
If you know anyone in the GCISD community that is interested in Cannon's STEM program, please share the information below about our meeting & tour dates.
This link can be used to sign up to attend one of these meeting/tour dates.
PEACHJAR - GCISD'S ELECTRONIC FLYER PROGRAM
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has adopted an electronic flyer distribution program called Peachjar. Beginning February 15, with the new system, flyers from community organizations will be distributed through a weekly email and accessible through the school websites. This is part of our ongoing effort to focus resources on education while reducing the environmental impact of our activities.
GCISD parents will receive a welcome email from Peachjar that includes a username and password. This is provided to give parents the opportunity to manage their account and flyer delivery preferences. To view a list of Frequently Asked Questions, click here and select the appropriate tab for PARENTS.
GCISD Tuition-Based Pre-K Program -2018-2019
To learn more about GCISD's tuition-based pre-k program, click here.
ATTENTION 5th GRADE PARENTS!
Please take a moment to review all of the following dates/deadlines. Please note that on 2/22, Cannon will be hosting some parent meetings with our counselor to discuss all of the possible options and provide additional information about middle school!
February 9-March 9 - Personalized Programs Lottery Window
Cannon 5th grade students wanting to continue in STEM at GMS MUST complete a lottery application, BUT are guaranteed a space as long as application is submitted by March 9th. On March 29th, all remaining spaces will be determined via a lottery.
February 26th- Course Selection Sheets due from 5th graders
All 6th grade course selection sheets must be returned to Cannon by this date! Course selection sheets must be reviewed for accuracy prior to online course selection process on 3/6.
March 6th -Students will complete online course selections at school
Mrs. Coburn will work with all 5th graders on this date to complete the online course selection
process for 6th grade.
ADDITIONAL DATES FOR AVID
March 6th - AVID Parent Information Meeting - 6:30 pm
Professional Development & Education Center - 5800 Colleyville Blvd.
March 23rd - AVID applications due
April 12th-25th - Student Interviews & Selections for AVID
If you have any questions about any of these important date/deadlines, please contact Mandy Coburn @ 817-251-5684 OR email her @ amanda.coburn@gcisd.net
It's Time For The Olympics & We Want To Celebrate YOUR Child!
This week, you will be receiving a gold medal template that we would like for you to write on to tell us something special about your child. We would like for these to be returned to school by February 21st. Mrs. Coburn, our counselor, will be creating a HUGE school display with all of the comments about our GOLD MEDAL CUBS!
Click here to see a copy of this Gold Medal Template in English
Haga clic aquí para ver una plantilla de la Medalla de Oro en español
Next FREE Parent Technology Academy Session -March 20th!
GCISD's Technology Department has planned some wonderful parent information sessions for the spring semester! Parent Technology Academy is a free monthly series by GCISD Technology developed to help educate our community about our ever-changing digital world. Check out the dates & topics below! Each session is approximately 45 minutes with 15 minutes Q&A.
Here's what parents are saying about previous sessions they have attended:
"Eye-opening event" Danielle D parent of sixth-grade student
"The evening was filled with actionable information for parents raising kids in a digital technology-driven era." Lisa D parent of ninth-grade student
The next Parent Technology Academy Session is:
Social Media for Parents - Come and learn about the various social media sites that your child is using. Learn tips and tricks of what to look for and how they are using the sites. 3/20/2018 @ 6:00 Grapevine High Library 3223 Mustang Dr. Grapevine, Tx 76051
Use this link to sign up to attend this session
Check out future technology session planned for this year by clicking the link below:
2/22 -Registration Begins For Math Telescoping Exams
See more details in image below!
PTA QUICK PICKS!
This week's "quick picks" of reminders & information from PTA:
Loteria (Spanish Bingo) Game Night - Monday, February 26 starting at 6 pm in the Cannon Cafeteria. ALL families are welcome. Win prizes for the games you win.
Cannon Talent Show DVD orders forms coming home this week If you want a DVD of the 2018 talent show, please return with $10
- Book Fair Volunteers Needed Can you help Mrs. Wagner during the Spring Book Fair? Please click here to sign up for a shift!
Teacher Appreciation Week - Karen Huff needs help planning and organizing for teacher appreciation week. Can you help? Email her at hospitality@cannonpta.com.
Stay connected by following Cannon PTA on social media. Click here to "like" the PTA Facebook page. Follow them on Twitter @CannonPTA.
Amazon Smile
Shopping on Amazon? Purchase on Amazon Smile and they'll give 0.5% to Cannon PTA. Bookmark this link and support us every time you shop! http://smile.amazon.com/ch/75-2454480
School Calendar for 2018-2019
On Monday, November 13, GCISD Trustees approved the Student and Staff Instructional Calendars for the 2018-2019 school year.
A few highlights from the 2018-2019 student instructional calendar:
- Students will begin classes on Monday, August 20.
- Students will have a four-day weekend in October for Columbus Day weekend; staff will have a three-day weekend.
- Students and staff will have a four-day weekend in April (dependent on the need to makeup one or both inclement weather days).
- Students are finished on May 30 with graduation following that afternoon and evening.
To view the 2018-2019 student instructional calendar, click here.
To view the 2018-2019 staff instructional calendar, click here.
To view the 2018-2019 iUniversity Prep instructional calendar, click here.
To learn more about how the district develops the instructional calendars, please watch the video below:
I want to make you aware of where you can see information and resources, specifically about the Cannon construction project. Also, check out the awesome exterior renderings of our new school below!!
Please reach out to me to let me know of any questions you may have about this project. This is a VERY exciting time for our Cannon school community and I want to make sure all of our Cannon families stay informed!
Click here to see project updates on all GCISD Bond programs
Click here to sign up for construction updates by email about the Cannon project!
STEM IN GCISD BLOG
This blog will have the most updated information about upcoming events specific to Cannon, GMS STEM, and the future STEM program at GHS.
Cannon Elementary: A GCISD STEM School
Email: tona.blizzard@gcisd.net
Website: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/1428
Location: 1300 W College St, Grapevine, TX, United States
Phone: 817-251-5680
Facebook: facebook.com/CannonSTEM
Twitter: @canSTEM