Tiger Time News
News from O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Young Pedevilla
February 24, 2019
Dear O.C. Taylor Parents,
How is the nightly reading going? As a reminder, K-4th grade does not give homework; however, we do have the requirement that every child reads each night. Please make time to read WITH your child. Here are a few suggestions:
- Read any chance you get with your child. It does not have to be only after dinner and before bedtime. Bring books in the car to have ready at any time. You could read to your child while at their sibling's sports practice.
- Take turns choosing books. Hearing old favorites, again and again, is effective for developing readers. Use your turn for new titles and variety. I always chose poetry books when it was my turn.
- Take turns reading pages. Ask your child to turn the pages while you read. Have her finish sentences that rhyme or fill in words she knows. Go slowly so your child can look at the illustrations and understand the story.
- Be playful! You can use different voices for different characters (a high, squeaky voice for a mouse, or a deep, booming voice for a horse). I sometimes would substitute my sons' names for the main character names. That always produced a giggle or at least a smile.
The purpose of nightly reading is to develop a love and passion for reading as well as developing the reading skills. Make sure you have a positive feeling tone around reading. Yelling at your child to make sure they have done their job of nightly reading can have a negative impact. :)
Starting in kindergarten, if a student reads 20 minutes a day at home, they will hear 1.8 million words per year. They will have read for 851 hours by 6th grade and on standardized tests, they will likely score better than 90% of their peers. Work now to help your child have success later in life. I am cheering you on! If you need good book ideas, ask Mrs. Bonacci or your classroom teacher.
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.
Book Suggestion by Principal Pedevilla
POSSUM COME A-KNOCKIN'
By Van Laan, Nancy ( Author) 1992
Principal Pedevilla
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O.C. Taylor Elementary Events
February 25
February 26
Spring Picture Day
February 27
3:00- 3:45 p.m. - Yearbook
February 28
2:55 - 4:00 p.m. - Choir
March 1
Read Across America
7:50 a.m. - Kindergarten Parade
2:00 p.m. - Kindergarten Rodeo
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Running Club
March 4
7:30 a.m. OCT Newcomer's Coffee Chat (See details below in PTA section!)
8:15 a.m. - PTA Executive Board Meeting
March 5
10:45 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Chili's Give Back Event (Please mention you are with O. C. Taylor.)
March 6
3:00 - 3:45 p.m. - Yearbook
March 7
2:55 - 4:00 p.m. - Choir
5:00 p.m. - 4th Grade Sky Ranch Meeting (Learning Commons)
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Portrait of a Graduate (Open House!)
March 8
O.C. Taylor Fun Run!
OCT and GCISD Updates
Spring Picture Day - February 26
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Read Across America Day, Friday, March 1
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1st Annual OCT Fun Day, March 8
It’s our first OCT FUN DAY on Friday, March 8th! Our OCT Tigers will participate in a Camp Gladiator style obstacle course, including a 70 foot inflatable obstacle, and enjoy an extended outdoor lunch and recess! Students can bring their own picnic style lunch or purchase a sack lunch from the cafeteria (no “hot” lunch options will be available).
Grades PreK through 4th, remember to wear your class t-shirt! 5th graders, wear a white shirt you don’t mind getting dirty during the finale of FUN DAY - a COLOR RUN obstacle course! All students must complete the Camp Gladiator waiver that is sent home in order to participate. Please complete the waiver and send it back to school with your child! Camp Gladiator is not only sponsoring our Fun Day, but also offering all parents a discounted four week trial for $65! Be sure to check it out!
Below is the schedule of events for Fun Day:
8:00-8:25: PPCD (morning classes) Obstacle Course
8:30-9:20: PreK & Kinder Obstacle Course
9:30-10:20: 1st grade Obstacle Course
10:30-11:20: 2nd Grade Obstacle Course (PreK, Kinder, & 1st grade lunch/recess outdoors)
11:30-12:20: 3rd Grade Obstacle Course (2nd & 4th grade lunch/recess outdoors)
12:30-1:20: 4th Grade Obstacle Course (3rd grade lunch/recess outdoors)
1:00-1:55: 5th Grade lunch/recess outdoors
1:30-1:55: PPCD (afternoon classes) Obstacle Course
2:00-2:55: 5th Grade Color Obstacle Course (dismissed from outside since "colorful"
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2019 Rachel's Challenge Shirt
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Chili's Give Back Event - March 5
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Kindergarten Round Up!
We will have a Parent Meeting on April 30th from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.. and your future Kindergartener will have the opportunity to visit a classroom and meet the kindergarten teachers. We can't wait to meet you!"
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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
- 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 Literacy Specialists/Dyslexia, Mrs. Griffith & Mrs. Honeycutt
An age old discussion regarding our children and their pencils are how they grip them. Many students request a pencil grip now and still are unable to hold it correctly. Holding the pencil correctly is very important due to the fact it takes stress off the fingers, wrist and hands. Please view the three links to learn a few amazing ways to teach correct pencil grip for your struggling child or perhaps yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhtdJ4D0OtQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4nDMFAw4II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4nDMFAw4II
Or you may search it up under the Sun Video on the correct pencil grip.
Happy Writing!
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Updates from the Clinic, Nurse Katy
- Handwashing Incentive: With cold/flu season upon us, we have started the High Five hand washing incentive again. I will be handing out "High Fives" to students who I see performing proper hand washing while at the bathrooms or in the clinic. - Use warm, soapy water whenever possible. - Sing ABCs or the Happy Birthday song twice. - Scrub in between fingers and underneath the fingernails.
- Flu-like illnesses: If your child is home sick with fever/cough/sore throat, or if they were diagnosed with the flu, please let us know when calling the front office. I have to report all flu-like illnesses to Tarrant County weekly.
- Eyeglasses: Please consider donating any old or broken eyeglasses for a good cause, as these can be reused and recycled for the less fortunate who may need glasses. You can drop them off in the front office or clinic. At the end of the year, Lions, Leos and other volunteers will collect the eyeglasses and deliver them to regional Eyeglass Recycling Centers. Thank you in advance! :)
- If your child is absent during the school day due to illness: They should not be at school for any extra-curricular activities (choir practice, yearbook, talent show rehearsals, etc.) They should not be at school to eat lunch with a sibling or friend. They should not be at school for parent-teacher conferences, ARDs, or 504s. Thank you for helping our Tiger staff and students stay healthy!!!
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Bus Rider Information
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 form must be completed 48 hours in advance. To ensure the safety of our bus riders, we do not accept notes from parents or administrators in place of the form.
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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.
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 Parent's 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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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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GCISD IS HIRING!
Do you love working with students and have a desire to impact the GCISD family?
GCISD is looking for dedicated community members to work in our schools as substitute teachers.
For more information and to apply, visit www.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!
Are you NEW to OCT?!?
Are you NEW to OCT?!? Or do you still just FEEL NEW?!?
Do you wish you just knew a few people to help you get connected? Let’s get together for coffee! I’d love to get to know you, hear your story, and answer any questions you may have about OCT (or just life!!), and help you get connected. Sometimes it’s nice to just know a friendly face in the crowd!
OCT Newcomer’s Coffee Chat!
Monday, March 4th at 7:30 a.m.
Shoot me a message to let me know to look for you! And if you can’t make it this time, but still want to meet up, let me know- I’m sure we can make that happen!! Or just email me if you have questions about anything! I look forward to getting to know you!
OCT FUN DAY March 8th
It’s our first OCT FUN DAY on Friday, March 8th! Our OCT Tigers will participate in a Camp Gladiator style obstacle course, including a 70 foot inflatable obstacle, and enjoy an extended outdoor lunch and recess! Students can bring their own picnic style lunch or purchase a sack lunch from the cafeteria (no “hot” lunch options will be available). Grades PreK through 4th, remember to wear your class t-shirt! 5th graders, wear a white shirt you don’t mind getting dirty during the finale of FUN DAY - a COLOR RUN obstacle course! All students must complete the attached Camp Gladiator waiver in order to participate. Please complete the waiver and send it back to school with your child! Camp Gladiator is not only sponsoring our Fun Day, but also offering all parents a discounted four week trial for $65! Be sure to check it out!
Below is the schedule of events for Fun Day:
8:00-8:25 AM: PPCD (morning classes) Obstacle Course
8:30-9:20 AM: PreK & Kinder Obstacle Course
9:30-10:20 AM: 1st grade Obstacle Course
10:30-11:20 AM: 2nd Grade Obstacle Course (PreK, Kinder, & 1st grade lunch/recess outdoors)
11:30 AM-12:20 PM: 3rd Grade Obstacle Course (2nd & 4th grade lunch/recess outdoors)
12:30-1:20 PM: 4th Grade Obstacle Course (3rd grade lunch/recess outdoors)
1:00-1:55 PM: 5th Grade lunch/recess outdoors
1:30-1:55 PM: PPCD (afternoon classes) Obstacle Course
2:00-2:55 PM: 5th Grade Color Obstacle Course (dismissed from outside since "colorful"
If you would like to join in the fun, please sign up for a spot to help out! Parents are welcome to attend and cheer on their child as they race through the obstacle course!
This year we said bye-bye to Boosterthon and hello to Fuss-Free Fundraising. We raised over $20,000 in three short weeks and 100% of that money stayed at OCT! Thanks for helping us purchase new robotics for our new Makers’ Space! Milo and Robin have arrived and are being introduced to all our tigers! We cannot thank you enough for supporting our school!
Random Acts of Kindness Month
Lets Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Month! During the February 25th school week the 5th Grade Continuation Committee will be selling Kindness Grams. Your child can purchase these sweet notes for a teacher, staff member or class friend for just $1. Proceeds will go towards the 5th grade end of year continuation ceremony and party. Thank you for helping us create a meaningful event for our 5th graders! Kindness Grams will be sold before and after school Monday, February 25th through Thursday, February 28th.
Paw Prints Directory
The Paw Prints student directory is printed and is being distributed this week by homeroom teachers. If your child does not receive a copy and you would like a directory, join the PTA! It's easy at http://www.joinPTA.org .
Parent's Night Out April 29th
SAVE THE DATE for our 2nd Annual Parents’ Night Out event on Monday, April 29th from 5-9pm at Sloan and Williams Winery in Grapevine. We’ll have a great Gift Card Grab, fun games of Heads or Tails, and fun Silent Auction packages. While you take a break, drop off your kids at Altitude in Grapevine. For $20, your tiger can jump from 5-9pm and enjoy pizza and cookies with Mrs. Putman and some of our fabulous OC Taylor teachers! Stay tuned for more details!
Colleyville Receipt Race
The Colleyville Receipt Race is BACK! The City of Colleyville and GCISD have partnered to help businesses affected by SH26 construction. Shop anywhere in Colleyville March 1st through April 30th and turn in your receipts! Send them in to your child's teacher in an envelope marked "Colleyville Receipt Race" or drop them in the box in the front office! Help us support local Colleyville businesses and earn money for our PTA all at the same time!
Rachel's Challenge 2019 - Supply Drive
Please help us gather school supplies for our GCISD students. We will have a friendly competition between campuses. The campus with the most donation items received will receive a banner to display. Donations will be accepted on all campuses and at the GCISD. O.C. Taylor is collecting Ziploc gallon size bags and earbuds. The collection box is in the school front lobby. Contact Rebecca George
O.C. Taylor’s GRACE Food Drive
Calling ALL FIRST GRADERS to support the O.C Taylor’s GRACE Food Drive
February - FIRST GRADE’S MONTH
Items in Need: Canned Fruit
Let’s continue to bring in some healthy fruit for GRACE this month. From canned peaches, diced pears, mandarin oranges, to chopped pineapple, let’s give them a fruit cocktail they can’t resist.
Collection Baskets are right outside the First Grade Classrooms and will be there until March 8th. So remember, the next time you are at the grocery store think fruit, fruit, and more fruit. Please bring in canned fruit only, as we are not able to accept perishables items. If you have already donated, thank you for your support.
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! We just received another check for $68.37! That’s $112.88 in just one semester. Keep up the good work!
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 7 weeks, 3rd grade is in the lead with 156 box tops; 4th grade is in 2nd place with 151, and 2nd is in 3rd place with 136. Be sure to send in all your box tops that expire on 3/1/2019 no later than THIS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH!
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 it's 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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