Head U Gator News
Jan. 8, 2021
Welcome back!
We have noticed an increase in the number of students and families who are testing positive for COVID since our return. We will continue enforcing mask protocols, as much social distancing as is possible, and reminders for students to wash hands and use hand sanitizer. Even with these protocols, it is likely that we will have to contact some of you to say your student has been in contact with someone who was positive so they will have to quarantine. The silver lining is that the time has been reduced to 10 days instead of 14! The other positive is that students are able to continue learning at home, so instruction can continue without interruption.
We greatly appreciate those of you who err on the conservative side of dealing with this virus and keep students home to be "on the safe side." When you have questions or concerns, please feel free to email our nurse, Liz Giblin, to talk through any situations you're facing. mailto:elizabeth.giblin@gcisd.net
I feel optimistic now that the vaccine has begun to be administered...there's light at the end of the tunnel!
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Glenhope Yearbook- order now!
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COVID status in GCISD
Here's the link to a report on current GCISD COVID cases:
The district has improved the information display so it is easier to see how the virus is impacting our district and the chart also shows the cases over time in the district.
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Tuition Based Pre-K Lottery/Lotería de Prekíndergarten Basado en Pago de Cuotas Escolares
The Pre-K Tuition Based lottery application is now open and will close at 10:00 p.m. on January 15, 2021. Families interested in tuition based pre-k need to complete the application. Students meeting Texas state eligibility criteria will be able to apply and qualify in April 2021. For more information on tuition and pre-k qualifications visit WWW.GCISD.NET/PREK or contact gcisd.pk@gcisd.net
La solicitud para la lotería del programa de Pre-K basado en pago de cuotas escolares se abrirá el 5 de enero a las 8:30 am y cerrará a las 10:00 pm el 15 de enero. Las familias interesadas en el programa de Pre-K a base de pago deben completar esta solicitud. Los estudiantes que cumplan con los criterios de elegibilidad del estado de Texas podrán solicitar y calificar en abril de 2021. Para obtener más información sobre la matrícula y los requisitos de prekínder, visite WWW.GCISD.NET/PREK o comuníquese con gcisd.pk@gcisd.net.
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Spring Creek
In December, many of you kindly ordered online from Spring Creek or came to the restaurant to eat. We're pleased to be able to share the results of that evening's work with you here:
https://youtu.be/V-_1E1EYi0sThe video shows the amount we will receive as well as the work Spring Creek and the sister restaurants do in their communities. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with them to benefit Glenhope!
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Nominations for GT testing
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REMOTE LEARNERS
If your child is a remote learner, he/she can still take advantage of checking out books from our Glenhope library. Follow one of the steps below, wait for an email saying your child's book is ready and stop by Glenhope and pick up the book from the vestibule. It is that easy!
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Free Meals Extension
The USDA has extended its nationwide waiver, allowing GCISD to now offer free meals through June 2021 at all elementary and middle school campuses and meal bundles at curbside locations. Complete information can be found here.
USDA has issued a nationwide waiver, allowing Grapevine-Colleyville ISD to offer meals FREE at no charge through December 2020 at all elementary and middle school campuses and meal bundles at curbside locations.
Beginning on September 22, 2020 Grapevine-Colleyville ISD will begin providing free meals to students as part of the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program. Sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), this program will allow any student in elementary or middle school to receive a free breakfast and lunch meal in the school cafeteria, with the option to purchase a-la-carte items. Additionally, the District will offer meal bundles at no cost available for curbside pick-up that will contain meals for the entire week, including the weekend.
Curbside meals may be picked up on Wednesdays at Grapevine Elementary, Cross Timbers Middle or Grapevine Middle from 4-6 p.m. The meal bundles will include seven breakfast, seven lunches and a choice of chocolate or white ½ pint milk (14 milks will be provided). Heating instructions will be included so that families can prepare the meals at their convenience.
GCISD’s high schools do not participate in the federally funded program and therefore meals will be charged as normal in those cafeterias; however, high school students are able to pick up a meal bundle from one of the curbside locations.
For more information on how the federal program operates please visit www.squaremeals.org or www.fns.usda.gov.
Parents are encouraged to continue filling out the free and reduced application online at www.schoollunchapp.com. The benefits from being approved for free or reduced-price meals, may include discounts for transportation, standardized tests, college application fees and technology fees to name a few. If you have any questions, please email child.nutrition@gcisd.net or call 817-251-5617.
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If you are a returning student or new to GCISD, you may not be familiar with GCISD Reads. GCISD Reads is a district initiative to get students excited about reading by providing different challenges for them to complete throughout the year. Students are provided choice by being able to choose from several different challenges. Students have several ways to record their reading. You can print off a form from the link below or they can record their books digitally on Biblionasium. You can visit the Biblionasium link below for directions on how to record minute read. Once they complete a challenge, they can return the form to Mrs. Freyou in the library or to their teacher. If you have any questions, please feel free to email terri.freyou@gcisd.net
Attached you will find a copy of the State of Texas 2019–20 School Report Card for [name of school]. This report is required by the Texas Legislature and prepared by the Texas Education Agency. It is to be sent to the parent or guardian of every child enrolled in a Texas public school. The report provides information concerning student performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®), as well as information on student enrollment, class size averages, and financial expenditures. Due to COVID-19, STAAR® assessments were canceled for the 2019–20 school year. Therefore, several data points have not been updated, including STAAR® and academic growth data.
The School Report Cards can be found online at https://tea.texas.gov/Student_Testing_and_Accountability/Accountability/State_Accountability/Performance_Reporting/School_Report_Cards. A more complete report about Glenhope, the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR), is available by contacting my office or can be accessed online at https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport/tapr/index.html.
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Winter Break Curbside Meals
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has already been providing free meals to students as part of the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program. Sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), this program allows any student 18 and younger to receive free meals during holiday breaks.
Nutrition Services is pleased to provide curbside meal bundles during the winter break for all students in the district. Curbside meals are free to all children in the community 18 years and younger. Curbside Meals may be picked up on Wednesday, December 23 and 30 at Grapevine Elementary, Cross Timbers Middle or Grapevine Middle from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The meal bundles will include seven breakfasts, seven lunches and 1 gallon of milk per child. Heating instructions will be included so that families can prepare the meals at their convenience.
In addition, parents are encouraged to continue filling out the free and reduced application online at www.schoollunchapp.com. The benefits from being approved for free or reduced-price meals, may include discounts for transportation, standardized tests, college application fees and technology fees to name a few. If you have any questions, please email child.nutrition@gcisd.net or call 817-251-5617.
(Spanish Below)
El distrito de Grapevine-Colleyville ha estado ofreciendo comidas escolares gratuitas como parte del programa de opción de verano sin interrupción (SSO, por sus siglas en inglés: Seamless Summer Option). Este programa, patrocinado por el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos ( USDA) y el Departamento de Agricultura de Tejas (TDA), permitirá que cualquier estudiante con menor de 18 años de edad reciba comida gratis durante las vacaciones escolares.
El Departamento de Nutrición de GCISD también proporcionará paquetes de comida para recoger y llevar a casa para todos los estudiantes del distrito durante las vacaciones de invierno. Los paquetes de comida estarán disponibles para todos los niños en la comunidad menores de 18 años de edad. Los paquetes de comida se pueden recoger el miércoles 23 de diciembre y el miércoles 30 de diciembre de 4 p.m. a 5:30 p.m en las siguientes escuelas: Grapevine Elementary, Cross Timbers o Grapevine Middle. Cada paquete incluye 7 desayunos, 7 almuerzos y un galón de leche por niño. Cada paquete tendrá instrucciones para cómo calentar la comida para que las familias la puedan preparar cuando sea conveniente.
También les recomendamos que por favor vayan a www.schoollunchapp.com para llenar la solicitud para comida gratis o a coste reducido. Llenar la solicitud para comida gratis o a coste reducido les dará derecho a poder recibir otros beneficios incluyendo varios descuentos como para transporte, pruebas estandarizadas, costo de aplicación para universidades y costo de tecnología entre otros. Si tiene alguna pregunta,por favor envíe un correo electrónico a child.nutrition@gcisd.net o llame al 817-251-5617.
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State and Federal reports
Federal Report Cards for the state, the district and each of the district’s campuses are now available on the district’s website at this link: https://www.gcisd.net/departments/accountability/school_report_cards or are also available on the Texas Education Agency’s website at: https://tea.texas.gov/Finance_and_Grants/Grants/Federal_Report_Card/.
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is sharing this information about the district and your child’s campus with you as part of its obligations under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA).