Head U Gator News
Feb. 12, 2021
Professional learning day
Teachers at Glenhope will be participating in virtual training from their homes, and also working with their teams to plan lessons for the next few weeks.
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Students with symptoms
If you have to give your child medicine to feel well enough to come, please don't send your child to school! The medicine usually wears off after a couple of hours, and students start feeling bad and have to go to the nurse which often results in them being sent home.
I know it's tough to deal with an unexpected fever or sore throat. I remember the young child days when I was ready for work and had to scramble because of a sudden illness. However, this year we take all symptoms very seriously and students are sent home more quickly than in the past because we can't take a chance that they might be positive for COVID.
Also, if one child is showing symptoms, everyone needs to stay home unless you already have an alternate diagnosis. If we don't know it's not COVID, we want everyone to be separated until we can be sure that we're not dealing with the virus.
As frustrating as these rules can be, I believe it is why we've had very few cases of student to student transmission (2 all year.) Your cooperation is what is enabling all of us to be here in person!
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STEM and Dual Language Lottery
The personalized programs application window for the 2021-2022 school year is open through Friday, February 12, 2021. The lottery will be conducted on Monday, February 22, 2021.
Students who are already in STEM or Dual Language do NOT need to apply, even at transition years.
For more information and to complete an online application on or after Tuesday, January 19, click here.
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ABSENCES
Please send an email to lauren.dickinson@gcisd.net; holly.ihrig@gcisd.net AND elizabeth.giblin@gcisd.net so that everyone who needs to know does.
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Important Spring 2021 Dates for 5th grade students!
Please mark your calendars as we charge ahead this semester!
6th Grade Course Selection Dates
Week of February 16th
Glenhope 5th graders view a virtual presentation from CTMS
Thursday, February 18th @ 10:00 AM and/or 6:00 PM
District 5th Grade Parent/Family Q&A Webex (attendee link)
Course selection details available starting February 16th via Google Form
February 19th - March 5th
Course selections due via Google Form
Selections will be verified IN MAY
Middle School Webex Showcases
All Middle Schools
Tuesday, February 23rd
Webex links coming soon...
AVID Dates
Applications are available 2/8 - 3/26
Is AVID for your student? Find out HERE
Link to Application: Click HERE
STEM Academy and Dual Language Dates
January 19th - February 12th
Personalized Programs Lottery application window
February 22nd
Lottery Date!
If you have any questions, please contact Emily Young
817-251-5725
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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.
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.
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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Pre-AP Label Change
Next school year, the College Board will be requiring school districts to pay a fee if they use the Pre-AP label for any of their courses. This fee is an annual fee that is per course, per campus. GCISD along with many neighboring districts, have decided not to purchase the use of the Pre-AP label in an effort to remain fiscally responsible.
Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, GCISD will be implementing the title change to “Advanced” for all courses formerly known as Pre-AP. This change will be reflected in the 2021-22 Course Selection Guide set to release in January of 2021. As an example, Pre-AP World History will now be labeled as World History Advanced.
GCISD will use AP's guidelines to ensure the rigor of both middle school and high school courses. Classes now labeled “Advanced” will remain the same weight as the PreAP courses they are replacing. GCISD will continue to work with the College Board through our AP offerings.
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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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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).
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GCISD Language Assessment Center Online Courses for Adults
In partnership with the Grapevine Community Outreach Center, the GCISD Language Assessment Center will begin offering online courses for adults. These free courses will be self-paced and will provide skills in English as a Second Language and Adult Basic Literacy, as well as GED support. The flyers can be viewed and shared here in English and Spanish.
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Colleyville Police Department needs School Crossing Guards!
School Crossing Guards provide children safe access at high traffic areas near schools, while allowing officers to be available to respond to emergencies. Work outdoors and in an environment where maintaining social distancing is not an issue. Typical work schedule includes approximately 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon, every school day. Hours and locations vary. Must be 18 and starting salary is $11/hour. Apply at colleyville.com. Contact Sergeant Dara Nelson at 817-503-1238 or dnelson@colleyville.com with any further questions.
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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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PTA meeting 2/22
Glenhope PTA General Membership Meeting February 22nd, 6pm. Registration is Required.
Register here: https://forms.gle/GuQcsbETKaHHWXBB6
We want YOU! Interested in getting involved at Glenhope and PTA? Click the link for more information. https://forms.gle/9PiSAkL5zQyZWs399
Also, I wanted to be sure you saw the GCISD Council of PTAs Founder's Day invitation. Is there anyone else you'd like to invite on behalf of Glenhope and PTA?
Here is the registration link for Founders Day if needed: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGUkUrBH_znmcIlMhq5npSOS4lTORSbwW-Jgv_MxR_hcPNQQ/viewform?gxids=7628