OCT Tiger Time News
News from the O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Pedevilla
October 27, 2019
(BE SURE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS NEWSLETTER AND READ THE OCT PTA SECTION!)
Dear OCT Families,
This week is Red Ribbon Week! Statistics show that children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don't, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations. Start the conversation now. It creeps up before you know it. In my experience, I am seeing younger and younger students exposed to various drugs, from prescription to vaping.
We have specific dress-up days our PTA has organized for us. Tomorrow is P.J. Day. We are also recognizing Diwali tomorrow. Diwali Is the Hindu festival of lights, which is celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere). One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance." HAPPY DIWALI to our families who celebrate this special holiday!
To the BEST of days,
Principal 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.
Email: lisa.pedevilla@gcisd.net
Website: https://oct.gcisd.net/
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.
Upcoming Events
Monday, October 28
Red Ribbon Week: Wear your favorite PJs in honor of Red Ribbon Week and/or wear brightly colored clothing for Diwali.
Tuesday, October 29
Red Ribbon Week: Wear blue or yellow like your favorite minion.
Wednesday, October 30
Red Ribbon Week: Write a personal pledge to live drug-free.
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Yearbook
Thursday, October 31
Red Ribbon Week: Dress like your favorite book character (nothing too scary or having the appearance of blood, no weapons)
Book Character Parade - starts right after the morning show. Parents are invited.
2:55 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Choir
Friday, November 1
PTA Fun Day (Fuss-Free Fundraising Celebration Day)
Red Ribbon Week: Wear mismatched clothes and crazy socks.
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Running Club
Monday, November 4
Professional Learning Day/Student Holiday
Tuesday, November 5
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Chipotle Spirit Night - Colleyville
Wednesday, November 6
8:15 a.m. PTA Executive Board Meeting
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Yearbook
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. NEHS
Thursday, November 7
Read for the Record
Math STAAR Interim Assessment - 4th grade
2:55 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Choir
Friday, November 8
Spirit Day - Wear your OCT gear! Go Tigers!
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Running Club
Monday, November 11
8:30 a.m. Veterans Day Program
Tuesday, November 12
7:00 pm United in Song (Choir Performing) at White's Chapel
Wednesday, November 13
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Yearbook
3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. TTT
Thursday, November 14
2:55 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Choir
Friday, November 15
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 Big Kahuna Product Deliver p.m.
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Grade Level Newsletters
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Important Links
OCT and GCISD Updates
Dismissal Update - Please Attend Round Table
Thank you to all who provided feedback on our dismissal survey. There are many moving parts to safely dismissing 500 students. We would like to invite you to attend one of our round tables to discuss what is working well and where, if any, improvements could be made. Our purpose in discussing our current dismissal processes is to ensure our practices are safe and efficient. We will be holding meetings to gain further insight on the following dates:
Thurs., Oct. 31 right after the Book Character Parade around 8:30 -9:15 a.m., OR
Thurs., Nov. 7, 6:00-6:45 p.m.
We are hoping you will attend. We would like to hear from parents of students who walk to school, are dropped off and picked up in the car line, and those who park or walk up to the school to pick up and drop off their child in person at the front of the school.
Several of our parents/guardians have communicated concerns. The following safety concerns expressed by families thus far will be discussed at the round table:
How can we ensure my car rider child gets in the correct vehicle?
How can you know the person in a vehicle is the correct person to pick up my child (authenticating car pick up/carpool/custody, child pick up)?
How can we secure others are in fact allowed to pick up my child (secure delegation)?
How can we keep my child out of the rain or bad weather when it occurs?
How can we prevent my child from being around strangers at dismissal? Is anyone allowed on the grounds?
If you would like to attend one of the two upcoming sessions, please RSVP in this google form.
Thank you!
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Assistant Principal Points from Mrs. Bailey
Campus Behavior Coordinator
One of my many roles at O. C. Taylor is overseeing student behavior and discipline. We all care deeply about all of our Tigers. When we observe specific patterns of behavior or difficulties/conflicts in the classroom, I collaborate with our staff members and the students who are involved to collect all of the details that impact the situation.
Our staff is highly trained in using Restorative Practices to build teacher-to-student and peer-to-peer relationships. The focus behind Restorative Practices is prevention and having conversations with students to get to the “why” behind the behaviors. Our goal is to remain in the relational zone where we build and sustain relationships and utilize classroom techniques to promote positive interactions and establish trust. As conflicts arise we move into the responsive zone as we respond relationally to misbehaviors, provide acknowledgment to those who are involved, and respond with differentiated strategies targeted to change negative behaviors.
Our GREAT Tiger Committee collaborated to create our O. C. Taylor Student Care Plan. We strive to embrace the GCISD LEAD 2.0 goal to promote social and emotional well-being for all students. We focus on the growth and development of the whole child. We get curious about the behavior, listen to students, and ask students, “What do you need to be successful today? How can I help you?”
Please reach out with any questions or concerns. I am here to listen and my door is always open.
Allison Bailey
(817) 305-4870
@OCTBailey
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No School for students on Nov. 4
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Chipotle Fundraiser - November 5th
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OCT T-Shirt
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GCISD Gold Card Program
https://www.gcisd.net/our_district/gcisd_glossary
GCISD's new Gold Card program has been incredibly well received and due to high demand, we are offering more sessions in which residents 65 years and older can receive their card.
There is absolutely no cost to join the Gold Card Program, and members receive free general admission to all athletic (excluding playoffs), theatrical productions and musical events hosted by GCISD. To receive a gold card, residents 65 and older are invited to attend an informational session about the District and learn more about the great things happening in our community.
Upcoming Gold Card Sessions
Most locations and times are TBA, so please click the "More Information" button below as locations will be posted there when available.
Monday, October 28
Friday, November 1
Tuesday, November 5 - 5:30 p.m. - GCISD Administration Building (Board Room)
Friday, November 8
Wednesday, November 13
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Updates from Counseling and Guidance, Mrs. Whisman
Classroom Guidance: October's guidance lessons will focus on Recognizing Positive Influences and Bullying Prevention.
Red Ribbon Week is celebrated every year during the last week of October. Red Ribbon Week is a nationally recognized substance abuse prevention campaign dedicated to the memory of Kiki Camerena, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent, killed in the line of duty.
Poster Contest
GCISD will be sponsoring a drug prevention poster contest.
- Posters must be on 11 x 17 paper or ½ of a posterboard.
- OCT will choose 1st, 2nd and 3rd place posters for each grade level. All 1st place posters will be sent to the administration building for the district-wide competition.
- Please include the student’s name, grade and school on the back of the poster.
- District winners will be announced on Wednesday, October 30.
Public Service Announcement Competition
GCISD is also sponsoring a Public Service Announcement competition. All video entries must be submitted by Tuesday, October 29 to info@gcisd.net. Please title the email “RRW PSA 2019”. Entries must be no longer than 30 seconds. Winners will be announced on Thursday, October 31.
All first-place district level winners will be recognized at the November school board meeting.
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Updates from Learning Commons, Mrs. Bonacci
Reading with your child for just 20 minutes a day can make a huge difference in their cognitive and emotional development! According to the Children’s Reading Foundation, “Neuroscience provides compelling evidence that 85 - 90 percent of brain growth occurs in the first five years of life. This affects not only cognitive skills but also emotional development.
Fostering your child’s cognitive development is just as important as nurturing his or her emotional and physical development. Cognitive development includes language skills, information processing, reasoning, intelligence, and memory.
The best way an adult can help a child’s cognitive development is to read with them every day, beginning at birth. When children are young, they learn language from the speech they hear. By reading with a child, you introduce many more words than those used in day-to-day communication.” (https://www.southsoundreading.org/resources/reading-research/)
So snuggle up and read, or listen to audiobooks together! O. C. Taylor Tigers can listen to audiobooks on Overdrive (AKA Sora), and while at school they have access to Epic Books. (Home access to Epic Books requires a subscription).
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Thank you to all of the families who participated in our Storybook Pumpkin Patch! Winners will be announced on the Morning Show next week.
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Updates from Art, Mrs. Morgan
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Updates from Literacy Specialists/Dyslexia, Ms. Griffith and Ms. Honeycutt
As Dyslexia Awareness month comes to a close, we hope that you have learned fun facts, had your interest sparked about learning, and realized that online books engage your brain! So we leave you with this…Be the change that you want to see in the world.
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O.C. Taylor Staff Shout-Outs
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Updates from our Nurse Katy
- Field Trips: Did you know?!? If your child has medication that is kept at school (inhalers, Epi-pens, Diastat, etc.) it will be sent with their teacher before leaving campus for field trips. All teachers are informed of their student's health conditions and are trained on medication administration.
- Screening Day at OCT: Screening Day is Tuesday October 22nd!!! The GCISD Screen Team will be doing vision and hearing screenings on students in PPCD, PK, Kinder, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades. They will also screen any students in 2nd and 4th grade who are new to the District this year. If your child wears glasses, PLEASE make sure that they have their glasses on this day! We will call you to bring them up to school if they forget them.
- PK and Kinder potty expectations: While we expect all students to be potty trained, we do understand that accidents may happen. Please place a seasonally-appropriate change of clothes in your child's backpack. If a situation arises in which a change of clothes is not sufficient, we will contact parents/guardians directly to come up and provide additional support.
- Flu Season: Did you know that everyone 6 months and older can receive a yearly flu vaccination? Adults aged 65 and older, pregnant women, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions are highly encouraged to get one. There have been positive flu tests out in the community already, so BE WISE- IMMUNIZE!
- If your child is sick: Please keep students at home until they are fever and/or symptom-free for at least 24 hours without any medication. In GCISD, a temperature of 100 degrees is considered to be a fever. Encourage healthy habits at home to help prevent the spread of illnesses. Washing hands with soap and water (sing Happy Birthday song or ABCs twice!) Coughing and sneezing into elbows or a Kleenex instead of hands. Not touching the face- especially the T-zone. Getting plenty of rest. Staying hydrated.
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GET TO KNOW THE O.C. TAYLOR STAFF
OCT PPCD and Pre-K team
Heather Potter, Pre-K teacher
Bri Conte, Pre-K paraprofesional
Sara Stricherz, PPCD teacher
Rhonda Schafer, PPCD teacher
Gabriela Haynes, Pre-K teacher
Front row:
Amy Richardson, PPCD paraprofessional
Allora Khan, Pre-K paraprofessional
Lorrine Evans, PPCD paraprofessional
Amy Richardson is a PPCD paraprofessional. She attended Midwestern University and has a Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies. Her certified teaching credentials include Special Education (All Level) and General Education (EC-4). Amy give people encouraging words when they are having a bad day. She has a constant smile on her face and does any job with a willing heart. Her advice to parents is... "Don't compare your child to other children their age so much because every child is different." While we think Ms. Amy is a superhero, if she really was one, she said she would be "Superwoman, of course!"
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GCISD Red Ribbon Week Poster and PSA Contest Oct. 28th - Nov. 2nd
Red Ribbon Week is celebrated every year during the last week of October. Red Ribbon Week is a nationally recognized substance abuse prevention campaign dedicated to the memory of Kiki Camerena, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent, killed in the line of duty.
GCISD Poster Contest
GCISD will be sponsoring a drug prevention poster contest.
- Posters must be on 11 x 17 paper or ½ of a poster board.
- Select your own campus committee to choose 1st, 2nd and 3rd place posters for each grade level.
- Send all 1st place posters to the front desk of the administration building for the district-wide competition by Tuesday, October 29th.
- Please include the student’s name, grade and school on the back of the poster.
- District winners will be announced on Wednesday, October 30th.
Public Service Announcement Competition
GCISD is also sponsoring a Public Service Announcement competition. All video entries must be submitted by Tuesday, October 29th to info@gcisd.net. Please title the email “RRW PSA 2019”. Entries must be no longer than 30 seconds. Winners will be announced on Thursday, October 31st.
All first-place district level winners will be recognized at the November school board meeting. Your campus principal and counselor will be notified.
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Vaping Informative Meeting, Oct. 30
Join us for an educational and informative meeting about substance abuse. Topics will include what to look for, what is popular among youth, and how to help. We will also have a panel of experts to address common questions.
Wednesday October 30, 2019 at 6 p.m. at the Professional Development Education Center (PDEC)
PRESENTED BY: John Haenes, LMSW, ICPS and Challenge of Tarrant County
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Joins Us for a Special Screening of Angst
Angst is an IndieFlix Original, documentary designed to raise awareness around anxiety. The film includes interviews with kids, teens, educators, experts, parents and a very special interview with Michael Phelps.
November 5 at GHS Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.
November 13 at CHHS Auditorium at 6:30 p.m.
Appropriate for ages 10+ | Video length: 55 minutes
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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.net
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
We think your kids are..... G-G-G-G-reat!
OCT Fun Day is this Friday, November 1st!
Thanks to your amazing support of the 2019-2020 Fuss-Free Fundraising Campaign, FUN DAY is back! Friday, November 1st is going to be a day full of fun, including an inflatable obstacle course, a Taekwondo demonstration by Mr. Monaghan, and much more. Click here to view the schedule of events and sign up to join in the fun! This year, the OCT PTA will be providing lunch for all students! The kids will enjoy a slice of pizza, vegetable option, milk or juice, and an ice cream treat served in the cafeteria while they watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown". If for any reason you do not want your student to receive lunch and/or ice cream, please complete the attached form and return it to your child's teacher by Thursday, October 31st.
Students should wear ther school shirt and comfortable tennis shoes. In the event of rain, the outdoor portion of Fun Day will be rescheduled to Friday, November 22nd.
5th Graders - Please bring and old white T-shirt to wear during the Color Run! Parents, this is a great opportunity for fun pictures. We hope to see you there!
Red Ribbon Week
O.C. Taylor Tigers Salute our Veterans!
If your student has a picture of a veteran they wish to hang on the Wall of Honor, please label the picture with their name, the veteran’s name and the branch of the military they served in. Have them turn in pictures to your teacher or Mrs. Vencill by Wednesday, Friday, Nov. 6th. Your pictures will be returned to you after Veterans Day.
We thank you all for helping us honor our veterans, and can't wait to see you there!
Birthday TigerGrams
Does your child have a birthday in November or December? Would you like to see their "Name in Lights" on the school marquee or surprise them with a TigerGram? Typically, these fun items are only available for purchase during our Silent Auction. However, because our Silent Auction is not until December 1st through December 9th this year, we are pre-selling these items ONLY for those students with birthdays in November and December. All other students will be able to purchase these items (along with TONS of other fun items) during the Silent Auciton for the 2020 calendar year. If you are interested in purchasing a "Name in Lights" or "TigerGram" for your child this November or December, please contact Stephanie Williams at octsilentauction@gmail.com.
Box Tops
Wow! Over $500 in Box Tops have been counted, bundled, and submitted for the November 1st deadline! Continue to send in those Box Tops still found on participating products. If you haven't already, be sure to download the Box Tops App so that you can scan your receipts and earn money for our school instantly!
AMAZON SMILE
Be sure to shop smileamazon.com so that .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 amazingly easy way to earn money for our school!! Remember, you must log on to smileamazon.com every time you shop Amazon to ensure that your purchases earn money for our school.
Tom Thumb Good Neighbor Program
You can now earn money for our school, simply by shopping for groceries at Tom Thumb! Designate O.C. Taylor PTA as your organization by completing a Reward Application at any courtesy booth. Fill in the top portion and the "Good Neighbor Program" section, indicating account number 8332 to link your grocery purchases to O.C. Taylor. If you already have a Rewards Card, simply stop by a courtesy desk to link our school to your existing account. Pharmacy, fuel, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products do not count toward the purchase amount credited to the Good Neighbor Program accounts. 1% of all eligible purchases made at Tom Thumb will be given back to our school!
Lost and Found
Many nice items need to be reunited with their owners!
If your child is missing their favorite light-weight jacket, please have them stop by the Lost and Found to claim their item that is patiently waiting to be worn again! :)
ALL UNCLAIMED ITEMS WILL BE DONATED TO GRACE IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER.
SUPPORT GRACE and…. EARN EXTRA RECESS!
CALLING ALL FOURTH GRADERS…
DO YOU WANT EXTRA RECESS?
OCTOBER is your month FOURTH GRADERS
ITEMS IN NEED: CANNED FRUIT (16 oz or smaller cans preferred)
Collection baskets are outside of the 4th Grade Classrooms beginning
for the duration of the month. The next time you are in the grocery store,
please consider supporting your community by picking up
a Can of Peaches or Fruit Cocktail for GRACE.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Apple Tree and GCISD Volunteer Background Check
The Apple Tree is up and running! Our amazing teachers need items throughout the year, so please check the Apple Tree Signup for things they need. Sign up to purchase the item and send to school with your child with the teacher’s name on it. Check periodically for updates and items needed. Thank you so much for helping our teachers!!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C48ACAA2CA5F85-oc1
If you are new to O.C. Taylor, we are so glad to have you! Our school runs on our amazing volunteers. In order to volunteer at the school, please complete the District's Volunteer Background Check Application for the 2019-2020 school year. Also, please read and sign the Volunteer Handbook included in the link as well. As a reminder, all volunteers are required to reapply each year. https://www.gcisd.net/cms/one.aspx?pageId=195550
Sincerely,
Jill Tate
4th VP – Volunteer Coordinator
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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.