OCT Tiger Time News
News from the O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Pedevilla
September 22, 2019
(BE SURE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS NEWSLETTER AND READ THE OCT PTA SECTION!)
Dear OCT Families,
Last week I talked about the importance of making sure your child likes to read because we do things we like. One way to do that is to make sure we have a safe, snug, and consistent reading spot. Another way is to actually read TO your child. You may be asking, "I see how reading to young children is beneficial, but I thought my 1st grader was supposed to come home and read to me? How can he get better at reading if I am doing the reading?" Because...
Listening comprehension comes first, before reading comprehension. One must hear a word before he/she can say it or read and write it. The child's brain is like a word reservoir and the parents' job is to pour as many words into it, so the words then overflow into their child's speech and then into their reading and writing.
Another important reason to read TO your child is research reveals that listening comprehension becomes the dominating influence on reading comprehension starting in the upper elementary years, as text complexity increases.
So, snuggle up in your designated, comfy reading spot and read to your child. While our O.C. Taylor teachers are by far the best, no one tops the parents. A child spends about 900 hours a year in school and 7,800 hours at home.
And a big thank you to the parents who attended our Volunteer Orientation, Dads' Club Meeting or our Donuts with Dads! We thank you for being involved in your child's school. The National Center for Research Statistics reports that students perform better in school if their fathers, as well as their mothers, are involved, regardless of whether the father lives with the student or not. (Read more here.) We love having you involved and more importantly, your child loves having you involved.
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, September 23
Professional Learning/No school for students
Tuesday, September 24
Wednesday, September 25
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. TTT Student Council Meeting
Thursday, September 26
9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. TEPSA Leaders R Us Workshop
2:55 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Choir
Friday, September 27
2:55 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Spirit Shop Pop-Up (in foyer)
Monday, September 30
Tuesday, October 1
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Spring Creek BBQ Spirit Night, Grapevine Location
Wednesday, October 2
Thursday, October 3
2:55 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Choir
Friday, October 4
International Walk to School
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Grade Level Newsletters
OCT and GCISD Updates
THANK YOU!
These are the BEST days! Hold on and cherish them!
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City of Colleyville Traffic Update on Twitter
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NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - 9/23/19
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GCISD Friendship Week
We will celebrate GCISD Friendship Week September 23 through September 27. This week will be about meeting new people and will focus on kindness and inclusion throughout the campus.
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Spring Creek BBQ - 10/1/19
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Parent Technology Tip
RESEARCH ON SCREEN TIME:
Something near and dear to my heart as a principal is the statistics on Young people's screen time. Data from more than 40,000 kids ages two to 17 and was collected as part of the Census Bureau’s 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health found young people who spend seven hours or more a day on screens are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety than those who use screens for an hour a day (not including schoolwork). Along with the associations between screen time and diagnoses of depression and anxiety, the study found that young people who spent seven hours or more a day on screens (not including schoolwork) were more easily distracted, less emotionally stable and had more problems finishing tasks and making friends compared to those who spent just an hour a day on screens (not including schoolwork).
Have those OCT Tigers put down those devices after an hour and spend time together as a family, exercising, and READING! Yay! Oh, and learning those math facts in a fun way.
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OCT Parking/Pick-Up/Drop-Off Survey
I would like to gather data to try and fully understand our drop-off and pick-up. Therefore, I invite you to help us by completing this form.
Thank you!
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O.C. Taylor Staff Shout-Outs
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Last Call: Community Champions
Time is running out to sign up for Community Champions! Want to learn more about Grapevine-Colleyville ISD? GCISD Community Champions is recruiting its class for the 2019-2020 school year. Learn more about this opportunity by visiting our website: http://ow.ly/ACqe50w2VQe
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Attendance Awareness from Mrs. Bailey, Assistant Principal
We love all of our students here at O.C. Taylor, and we want them to be at school and on time daily. We do understand that students become ill and may miss consecutive days of school. If your family plans to travel during the school year we appreciate you providing both your child's teacher(s) and our data clerk, Ms. Betty, with written notice. This helps the teacher(s) to plan ahead and be prepared to provide the missed academic content when your child returns to school.
Please send a note or email in advance of your child's absence(s) or when your child returns to school if they have been sick. All absences are marked as unexcused unless your child has a signed note from a doctor. Per our attendance policy in GCISD letters will automatically generate and post to Skyward. This year an email will be sent to parents that the letter is in Skyward Family Access. These letters will generate at 3, 5, 8, and 10 unexcused days or parts of days. Ultimately, we want all students to miss as few days as possible. However, if a student misses more than 10% of the total school days then we legally must hold a grade placement committee meeting for the student to be promoted to the next grade level.
Please review the information below as to why we value your child(ren) being in attendance each day at O.C. Taylor.
Updates from Learning Commons, Mrs. Bonacci
Thank you for the AMAZING response to the Birthday Book program! I’ve never received so many books in such a short period of time. Some of you were concerned that your child’s birthday is during summer break or on a weekend etc. No worries! You can add a Birthday Book at any time in the year.
Coming up soon- October 1st-31st we will have our annual Storybook Pumpkin Patch. I hope this is a fun activity for your family. By popular demand we will have a “contest” in each grade level. Students do not have to enter the contest if they just want to display their Pumpkins they are welcome to do that. For more information check out this Smore.
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Updates from Counseling and Guidance, Mrs. Whisman
Classroom Guidance
Lessons are taught to each homeroom class 2 times each month. Guidance lessons are created using themes/ideas from various Character Education programs, Life Skills, and Portrait of a Graduate. Although themes will be consistent among grade levels, actual lessons will be age-appropriate.
- September's guidance lessons will focus on Kindness, Courage, and Communication.
- Did you know you can access the recorded Morning Show on Safari Montage? The link to Mrs. Bonacci's SMORE that explains how to do this is here. This is the link to the playlist OCT TV - Morning Show. You must have your student's log in information to access these recorded shows.
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Updates from our Nurse Katy
- PPCD, PK, and Kinder parents: Please keep a change of weather-appropriate clothes and underwear in your student's backpack, in case of accidents or spills.
- 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
Mrs. Burt
Her greatest strength as an educator is building positive relationships with her students. Mrs. Burt's husband works in the IT industry, so she credits him for keeping her up-to-date with anything technology related! They have a 2-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son that constantly keep her busy. She also has four fur babies: her cats (Duncan, Spunky, Nuggets, and Lion).
If Mrs. Burt was a cookie, she would be a fortune cookie, because she is always trying to think ahead. If she were a superhero, she would like the superpower of being able to understand EVERY language. One of her favorite school memories as a child was being a part of the student cross-walk team when she was in 5th grade. (Let's get her involved in our Safety Patrol!)
Welcome to OCT, Mrs. Burt! Glad you made it to Texas and like armadillos!
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Student Accident Insurance
This is an affordable, full excess, accident-only policy for students that will help offset the rising medical costs and deductibles required by insurance carriers under your current health plans. To view more, click here.
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District Communication Contact Information
There may be instances where we need to send emergency communication via email, phone call and/or text message. Please make sure that your contact information is updated in Skyward. If your information is updated in Skyward, but you are not receiving campus communication, please send your name, students name, contact information and campus to info@gcisd.net.
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Bus Rules
While traveling in GCISD buses, we want to ensure a safe ride for all passengers and meet your travel needs. All luggage, equipment or carry on items must be stored underneath a seat and may not block the aisle or emergency exit. If possible, encourage students and staff not to take items that won't fit under a seat. Storing things in a seat, whether attended or not, can become projectiles if the bus has to stop quickly. If you have items that cannot fit under a seat or more items than space available on the bus, please contact Cynthia Patterson at 5593, or at cynthia.patterson@gcisd.net to help with arrangements. Additionally, to keep our buses in good condition please make students aware that they may not wear cleats or other shoes or footwear that can damage the bus floor.
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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!
She conquered two events in ONE WEEK!!
I could not be more blessed with the group of volunteers we have serving on the PTA Executive Board! There are 35 amazing individuals who answer countless emails and texts, make phone calls for donations, plan events, pick up donuts at 5:30 a.m., meet a vendor at 8:00 p.m. to make sure all of the inflatables are ready for Rock Out, sign up to be a copy room volunteer once a week, take home laminating to finish over the weekend...the list is ENDLESS!!!!!!!
During the spring, the PTA Officers decided we were ready to add a few new programs....and our VP of Programs didn't blink at our crazy suggestions. During the past two weeks, one of the new programs (Donuts with Dad) came ONE WEEK after Rock Out! And she made those the most amazing events any of us could have imagined!
I have to say THANK YOU for the work everyone is doing, and for those new volunteers who showed up at 6:00 a.m. to volunteer with Donuts for Dad, I can't tell you how grateful I am to welcome you into the group! Your willingness to serve makes our PTA the unrivaled organization we are! :)
So thank you to all, and thank you over and over and over for being our fearless and exceptional VP of Programs, Tamaron Hunt!!!
~ Berri
Donuts for Dad
1300 hundred donuts served!!!!! 1300!!!!
Thank you for your grace and patience as we navigated our first Donuts with Dad event. We will have more donuts next year! ;)
All the coffee was donated by Scooter's in Colleyville!
Donuts provided by Shipley's Donuts in Bedford, Sara Donuts, Johnson Donuts, Peace, Love and Little Donuts in Southlake!
Thank you to over 350 Dads, Grandpas, Uncles, Brothers and all the special family members who came to spend precious time their children.
Thank you to all our volunteers who made this event possible!
Spirit Shop
The O.C. Taylor Spirit Shop is available to you in two ways!
*Online! Please see below for the link/QR code!
* Pop-Up Spirit Shop Days will be held:
Friday, September 27th (after school in the foyer)
Friday, October 18th
Friday, November 8th
Friday, Dec 13th
Moms' Night Out - October 17th - Save the Date!
Join us for Moms’ Night Out on Thursday, October 17th from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Sloan and Williams Winery in Grapevine. Sloan and Williams will donate 30% of all food and wine purchased back to the OCT PTA.
It's a great opportunity to visit with old friends and meet some new ones! We'll have a Gift Card Grab and Games of Heads or Tails. And the best part?!?! Childcare is taken care of for the night! The OCT Dads' Club will be watching the kids at school from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. while the moms enjoy a night out. There will be pizza, games, movies, and more! Reservations are not required, but are very much appreciated as they will give us an estimate of how much food we'll need.
Forms will be going home next week! (Or fill out the online form)
So mark your calendars, and we'll look forward to seeing many of you there!
Reflections
SUPPORT GRACE and…. EARN EXTRA RECESS!
CALLING ALL FIFTH GRADERS…
DO YOU WANT EXTRA RECESS?
SEPTEMBER is your month, FIFTH GRADERS
ITEMS IN NEED: CEREAL BOXES (16 oz or smaller boxes preferred)
Collection baskets are outside the 5th Grade Classrooms for the duration of the month of September! The next time you are in the grocery store, please consider supporting your community by picking up a small box of your child’s favorite cereal for GRACE. Thank you in advance for your support.
OCT Dads' Club
Dads, don't forget to join the O.C. Taylor Dads' Club for an eventful, exciting and memorable year!
The Dads' Club is a part of our O.C. Taylor PTA, a volunteer organization with no minimum commitment required. Dads are encouraged to attend meetings and volunteer for events as they are able. Meetings and events tend to be a good time to meet other dads and families in our community, while at the same time benefit the school and staff. The meetings will take place every month or two and will be a chance to review upcoming activities during the school year. Sign up is free, and you can do it here.
The Dads' Club hosts or helps out with several events throughout the year. Including:
· Morning Dropoff Assistance
· Dad of the Day Program
· Rock Out
· O.C. Taylor Dads' Club Parade of Lights Float Entry
· Pancake Breakfast and Snow Hill
· Spring Fling
· Dads' Club Golf Tournament
There is no fee to sign up for Dads' Club. Dads' Club T-shirts will be available through the O.C. Taylor Spirit Shop.
Like Our Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter @OCTDadsClub
Thank You,
Wes Critz, OCT Dads' Club President
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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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Box Tops and Amazon Smile
Don't forget to keep sending in those Box Tops! Make sure to send in all Box Tops that expire 11/1/2019 ASAP so that we can get them included in the next shipment we will mail!
As a reminder in case you've missed this...we will continue to donate to the O.C. Taylor PTA through Box Tops for Education and Amazon Smile! It's a simple way to donate to our school. Last year, we earned over $800 through Box Tops and Amazon Smile. Here's how you can help!
#1. Box Tops is going Paperless! In an effort to join our ever increasing world of technology, Box Tops for Education has notified us that they will be fazing out the paper Box Tops on products over the next year. Download the Box Tops for Education's APP on your smartphone. Receipts must be scanned within 14 days of purchase and Box Tops will automatically be credited to our O.C. Taylor Box Tops account. In the meantime, you can also still continue to clip any physical Box Tops that are still on products you purchase. The grade level that collects the most Box Tops will earn an extra recess in December. If you encounter any problems scanning your receipts with the new app, please contact Stephanie Williams at octsilentauction@gmail.com.
#2. Be sure to shop smileamazon.com so that .5% of all your purchases will go to the O.C. 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.
Thank you!
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.