Tiger Time News
News from the O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Pedevilla
September 28 - October 2, 2020
Dear O.C. Taylor Families,
Fall is finally upon us. On the fall equinox (which means "equal night" in Latin), the amount of daylight is nearly equal to the hours of darkness. The equinox happened this year at 9:31 a.m. EDT on Sept. 22, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). We are now moving into the days of less light. When I think of fall, I think of the poem by Robert Frost, Nothing Gold Can Stay:
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
As warm summer days turn into crisp fall nights, we are reminded by Frost how seasons in life are here one day then gone quickly, "but only so an hour." This reminds me of the sweet and very short span of childhood. I encourage you to savor each moment you can capture with your child. You will take a breath and like the fresh green leaf turning orange falls from the tree, your child will change before your eyes and will leave elementary school. No longer a child. So, celebrate the days of childhood (as crazy and hectic as they can be). We are here to help make these days as bright and warm as possible.
Important Webex Change for Security:
As a District, we are always looking for additional ways to secure and reinforce our technology resources for the safety of our students and staff. Beginning Friday, September 25 at 4 p.m. Webex personal meeting rooms will have an additional level of security so they can only be accessed by GCISD students and staff.
Students that are in Pre-kindergarten through third-grade will no longer be meeting in the teacher's personal meeting room but will instead access the Webex through a new link that will be posted in SeeSaw.
Students in fourth through twelfth-grade will still use their normal link to access their teacher's Webex room; however, there will be an additional step requiring that students login using their GCISD username and password. For instructions on how to enter your username and password to access the Webex, please click here.
If your student has any issues accessing a Webex next week with these new security measures, please contact the help desk at 817-251-5629 or submit a help ticket through Classlink.
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: http://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 PTA
Please be sure to visit the O.C. Taylor PTA website where you'll be able to fill out some important forms as well as pay your Homeroom Fund Fee (just $10), which helps pay for things during the year like Winter and Valentine's parties and an end of the year gift for the teachers. Our partnership with the PTA is critical for maintaining the exceptional culture we have here at O.C. Taylor!
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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.
Important Dates
Sunday, September 20 - Thursday, October 2
Make changes to instructional Model (See Whisman below)
Tuesday, September 29
Wise Guys Fundraiser - click here how to order online
Monday, October 5
Stomp Out Bullying
Monday, October 12
Student/Teacher Holiday
Thursday, October 15
Early dismissal 11:45 am
Monday, October 26 - Friday, October 30
Red Ribbon Week
Tuesday, October 27
Spring Creek BBQ Spirit Night Fundraiser
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Assistant Principal Points from Mrs. Bailey
Bus Loop - Arrival and Dismissal Reminders
In efforts to keep all staff members and students healthy during this time, staff members are not allowed to open or close vehicle doors. Although our nature as educators is to help and assist our Tiny Tigers, we must follow the guidelines that were set forth by GCISD in the In-Person Plan. Please review below:
- Practice with your child on how to unbuckle and buckle themselves, as our staff will not be entering cars to assist students.
- Parents must stay in their vehicle unless you have a student with special physical needs who cannot unbuckle themselves.
- If you need to park and assist your child in or out of your vehicle, please pull all the way in front of cone #1 to the "Seatbelt Assistance" Sign. This will help other families to safely drive through the bus loop to pick up their child.
Thank you for partnering with us in keeping all of our students and staff healthy and safe!
Proud to serve our Tiger Community,
Assistant Principal Bailey
Nutrition Services Program
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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Attendance
Please be aware that as we move through this unique school year with in-person and remote learners, the way in which our teachers take attendance in Skyward has become much more complex. Therefore, to make better use of instructional time, teachers now have the flexibility to formally enter attendance into Skyward up to a full day after the attendance period.
With that said, it is important for parents to know that if you access Skyward to view your student’s attendance, it is possible the system may show them as being absent for the current day, even if they were present in class or online. Additionally, it is possible that remote learning students may still display as absent up until the following day.
As always, we appreciate your patience and understanding.
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Health Screening for Students
All of our in-person learners' parents must pre-screen their student for signs and symptoms associated with COVID-19 before bringing your student to school. The signs and symptoms are to screen for are:
Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
Loss of taste or smell
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Headache
Chills
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Shaking or exaggerated shivering
Significant muscle pain or ache
Diarrhea
Nausea or vomiting
If your child demonstrates any of the above signs or symptoms, they must stay home, and you need to report to the campus nurse the signs or symptoms your child is exhibiting. In the event that your child has a fever, they must be kept home from school until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Please do not give fever-reducing medication and send your child to school. Additionally, please do not send your child to school if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or are test-confirmed with COVID-19.
Face Masks/Face Shields
Thank you to all of you for following our mask protocols. Masks are a required face covering: proper covering of nose and mouth. A gaiter (2-ply) fits this description
Shields are only allowed with approval as an alternative if the student has a mask exemption.
Lanyards
Thank you so much for your patience!
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Daily Ride Changes
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Standards for Student Conduct
Please click here and read the GCISD Student Code of Conduct for 2020-21. Each student is expected to:
● Demonstrate courtesy, even when others do not.
● Behave in a responsible manner, always exercising self-discipline.
● Attend all classes, regularly and on time.
● Prepare for each class; take appropriate materials and assignments to class.
● Meet district and campus standards of grooming and dress.
● Obey all campus and classroom rules.
● Respect the rights and privileges of students, teachers, and other district staff and volunteers.
● Respect the property of others, including district property and facilities.
● Cooperate with and assist the school staff in maintaining safety, order, and discipline.
● Adhere to the requirements of the Student Code of Conduct.
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Wise Guys Pizzeria Fundraiser
Please click here to watch the video to order online. You can also order ahead and pick up your order on Tuesday.
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Biblionasium's FIRST Contest
It's Always a Good Time to Read!
The 2020-2021 GCISD Reads Challenge officially started on June 1st. Information about the challenge can be found HERE.
This year Mrs. Pedevilla, Mrs. Bailey, and your teachers are going to participate in the challenge too!
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Updates from the Clinic, Nurse Katy
- Medications at School: All medications must be kept in the clinic and have a signed Medication Permission Form on file. This includes cough drops, vitamins, ointments, etc. When I receive any student medications, I will notify their teachers that they are in the clinic if needed. Please let me know if you have any questions about this.
- Expectations for In-Person Learners: Every student needs to keep a clean change of clothes and a clean back-up mask/gaiter in their backpack. These items can be placed in a large Ziploc bag, clearly labeled with their name. If your student does not have needed items, you will be called to come and drop them off at the school. Face shields can only be worn as an alternative to a mask/gaiter if the student has an approved mask exemption.
- GCISD Health Services Reopening Guidelines: Please take the time to review these important slides. There are frequently asked questions/answers and other detailed information that you and your child need to know.
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Updates from the Counselor, Mrs. Whisman
Counseling Corner, Mrs. Whisman
Hi TIGER families! My name is Stacy Whisman and I am the counselor here at OC Taylor Elementary. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if there is something I can help you or your family with.
Please click here for my newsletter that has all the ways you and your children can get into contact with me.
Changing Instructional Model
As a reminder, parents are able to switch from in-person to remote learning at any point during the school year. In order to make this change, please contact the campus counselor.
For families that are wishing to change from remote to in-person learning, that may only be done at the end of a grading period. The process for changing to in-person learning requires parents to log in to Skyward Family Access and complete the changing instructional models form prior to the end of the nine-week grading period. Instructions on where to find the form and how to complete it can be found here.
We are finding that many of our families who are currently remote are planning to return on October 19. With this being the case, please note that those who are remote and choose to stay remote may not be assigned to the same teacher of record for the next 9-week grading period.
Below is a schedule of when the form will become available, when the form must be received by the campus, and when the change will go into effect:
To change after the first nine weeks, parents must complete the form between September 20 and October 2. Your student would begin receiving in-person instruction on October 19.
To change after the second nine weeks, parents must complete the form between November 15 and December 4. Your student would begin receiving in-person instruction on January 6.
To change after the third nine weeks, parents must complete the form between February 14 and February 26. Your student would begin receiving in-person instruction on March 22.
If you have any questions regarding the timing of when parents may change the instructional model selected, or the associated process, please contact me at stacy.whisman@gcisd.net.
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Updates from Art, Music and P.E., Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Vencill and Coach Mester
Dear O.C. Taylor Tigers and families,
It was GRRRRREAT seeing some of our Tigers face to face last! We are settling into our new normal and enjoying every moment of our Specials time together. Please read the following information about the Specials schedule and how our remote learners can connect with the Specials teachers.
Music and Art lessons will go out to ALL students through Seesaw Monday morning, but students will have TWO weeks to complete these lessons. Students on campus follow a 2 week Specials rotation (Music for 2 weeks, Art for 2 weeks), and we hope to teach the same lessons for face to face and remote learners.
PE lessons/activities will go out daily through Seesaw.
Remote learners may connect with Specials teachers one day a week through LIVE Webex meetings for the first 15 minutes of their Specials time.
Tuesdays - Mrs. Morgan (Art)
Wednesdays-Coach Mester(PE)
Thursdays-Mrs. Vencill(Music)
Feel free email your Specials teachers anytime with questions or concerns.
Mrs. Morgan - Art - cristie.morgan@gcisd.net
Mrs. Vencill - Music - bethany.vencill@gcisd.net
Coach Mester - PE - jason.mester@gcisd.net
Have a GRRRRREAT week, Tigers!
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Parent Preview for Aim for Success
GCISD has partnered with Aim for Success to provide sexuality instruction to your children. According to the Texas Education Code, all parents are required to be notified of the upcoming instruction and given the opportunity to preview all of the content the students will be receiving. We invite you to join us at the Parent Preview Presentations held on the following dates via Webex. Webex links will be provided closer to the dates:
MORNING Parent Programs on Thursday - 10/08/2020
6th Grade - 10:00 - 11:00 AM
8th Grade - 11:15 - 12:15 PM
EVENING Parent Programs on Thursday - 10/08/2020
6th Grade - 6:00 - 7:00 PM
8th Grade - 7:15 - 8:15 PM
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Play it Safe Parent Preview
The Play it Safe! Middle School Parent Preview will be held virtually through Zoom on October 1 at 10 a.m. and will be recorded for parents to watch at their convenience. To view more details, please see the attached flyer.