Tiger Time News
News from the O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Young
Young@Heart, January 14, 2018
Dear O.C. Taylor Parents,
Please remember to scroll down and read our PTA newsletter portion and grade-level newsletters. Click here to see the Tiger Time News, student video version.
The health of all students is important to the staff at O.C. Taylor Elementary. In an effort to keep our students healthy and in the classroom, Nurse Katy and I wanted to share a few lifestyle hygiene habits. We can’t keep everyone from getting sick, but we sure can try.
- Wash your hands!! Before you eat, after you eat, when you use the restroom, after PE, after you sneeze, anytime you can. When in doubt, wash your hands.
- If you cough or sneeze, use your sleeve. (The students can demonstrate this for you, they cough into the elbow.)
- Respect personal space. Keep a little distance between you and your friends, and you and your teachers.
- Only visit the nurse for things that cannot be taken care of in the classroom. At any time during the day, there may be a sick student in the clinic, so the healthiest place to be is in the classroom. Teachers have band aids for little cuts and scrapes.
- Wear weather appropriate clothing. If there is snow on the ground, students should wear closed-toed shoes, pants and a jacket.
While we practice these healthy habits at school, we also ask that you do your part in assessing your student’s health at home. If your student has a fever of more than 100.0 degrees, or is experiencing vomiting/diarrhea, or has a suspicious rash- district policy requires them to stay home. Only when your student has been symptom-free without the use of any medication for more than 24 hours may they return to campus.
In the event that your student is staying home from school, please call the front office and let us know their signs and symptoms. If they were seen by a Physician, please let us know the diagnosis. As always, we are here to answer any healthy hygiene habits questions.
To the BEST of healthy days,
Principal Young
Email: lisa.young@gcisd.net
Website: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=16665
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.
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Upcoming Dates
Monday, January 15
No School - MLK Day
Tuesday, January 16
3rd - 5th Reading Benchmark
Play It Safe Preview (Admin Building) 10 am/6 pm
Wednesday, January 17
Yearbook - Group B - 3:00 - 3:45
Talent Show Rehearsal 3:00 - 5:00
Thursday, January 18
3rd - 5th Math Benchmark
Choir 2:55 - 4:00
Talent Show Rehearsal 3:00 - 5:00
Friday, January 19
Spelling Bee (Cafeteria) 8:30 am
PTA Walk to School
NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 15
The time is always right to do the right thing.
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?
If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
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Kendra Scott Fundraiser Rescheduled
Kendra Scott fundraiser has been rescheduled to February 5 from 5pm - 8 pm. DADS... this is a PERFECT time to get your wonderful wife a Valentine's Day gift AND support your child's school all at the same time! I hope to see you there!
OCT Updates
Updates from OCT Counselor, Mrs. Whisman
Play It Safe is a child abuse prevention and awareness program that incorporates individual grade level, age-appropriate scripts and movies to teach them to recognize potentially abusive behavior, provides the tools to respond to threatening situations, and encourages them to report abuse to a trusted adult. There will be a parent preview at the GCISD Administration building on January 16 at 10am and 6pm. O.C. Taylor will have presenters on campus to teach this program on January 22. Teachers have sent out permission slips that will need to be returned by January 19th. Any student who does not have permission from parents will go to Mrs. Whisman's room during that time. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Whisman at 817-305-4880.
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A Note from Music, Mrs. Vencill
Happy New Year, Tigers! I hope everyone enjoyed a fun winter break and is rested and ready for lots of learning in the OCT Music room.
January is the perfect month to practice what we've learned so far this year using music written to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. All grade levels will sing, play instruments, compose rhythm patterns, and listen to music connected to MLK and discuss the strong connection between music and important moments in American history.
Kinder and 1st grade students will also begin preparing for their upcoming programs. Mark your calendars for the Kindergarten Rodeo on Friday, Feb. 23 and the 1st grade Music In Our Schools program on Thursday, March 1. More information will go home in grade level newsletters soon!
The Taylor Tiger Choir meets every Thursday from 2:55-4 p.m., and we will start rehearsals our first week back to school (Jan. 11). All 4th and 5th grade students are invited so sing with us!
Wishing you much happiness in the new year!
Mrs. Vencill
Music Teacher
O.C. Taylor Elem
#OCT4U
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A Note from P.E., Coach Mester and Coach Mac
We will of course continue working on our overall fitness during warm ups, jogging, and stretching. As a friendly reminder, please wear or bring tennis shoes on your PE days. With the cold weather, I am seeing a lot of boots worn to school.
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Updates from the Learning Commons, Mrs. Bonacci
Please click on the following link for information about the Learning Commons Programs and Services: https://www.smore.com/wk447-o-c-taylor-learning-commons
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Update from our Clinic, Nurse Katy
- Cold & Flu season: Please be sure you are reviewing proper hand washing techniques with your children at home. They can sing Happy Birthday song or their ABCs twice while washing with warm, soapy water. Also, remind them to sneeze and cough into their elbows instead of their hands. If your child is home sick with flu or flu-like symptoms (temperature over 100 AND sore throat/cough), please let the front office know when calling in. I have to report all flu-like illness to the Tarrant County Health Department weekly. If your child has a cough that is not improving, they may need to be evaluated by a Physician and tested for Pertussis. This can be done with a nasal swab in their pediatrician's office.
- When to stay home: Students should remain home when fever is 100 degrees or greater, or they are experiencing vomiting and/or diarrhea. GCISD has a 24-hour policy. Students may not return to school until free of fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea for a minimum of 24 hours without the aid of any medication. If your child is sent home from school with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, you must still abide by the 24-hour policy. If you send your child back to school too soon, they will be pulled out of class and will have to wait in the clinic until they are picked up. Thank you for helping us try to keep everyone healthy!
- 5th grade parents: We will be conducting Scoliosis (spinal) screening in the month of February. Paperwork with more details will be sent home soon, so be checking your child's folder.
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Updates from Gifted and Talented, Mrs. Griffin
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Digital Citizenship Week
OCT and GCISD are celebrating Digital Citizenship Week January 9-19. In GCISD, digital citizenship is embedded in the curriculum and revisited any time a class is using technology. In addition, there are two times during the year that we have a district-wide focus on digital citizenship: Back-to-School and in January after returning from the holiday break. We teach digital literacy utilizing Common Sense Education’s K-12 digital citizenship curriculum. Visit https://www.commonsense.org/ for more information about the curriculum and to access Common Sense Media’s parent resources.
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Watch Dogs
We are so excited to have the Watch Dog program back again this year! Thank you to those who have signed up to be a Watch Dog. The process this year is a little different. Here is the form that needs to be submitted along with your background check and t-shirt purchase. Once those things are taken care, Jennifer Howard will send an email with the Signup Genius so you can choose a day to volunteer. We ask that you plan a week in advance when signing up. The calendar will be closed after Friday mornings for the following week to ensure teachers and the volunteers receive schedules. Thank you for understanding and respecting our process and procedure of this program.
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Let's Talk
Click here to start a conversation through Let's Talk! This site may be found on our campus homepage.
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Colleyville Middle School 6th Grade Informational Night, February 20, 2017
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Cross Timbers Middle School Showcase Open House
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January is School Board Recognition Month
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GCISD Parent Tech Academy
Save the date! GCISD Parent Technology Academy January 18th at Grapevine Middle School 6 p.m.
Free informational session presented by GCISD Chief Technology Officer.
Learn about Internet safety and the things you can do to protect your children at home. Discussions about the online safe use of technology in this ever-changing digital world our students are growing up in.
Get informed about some of the tools that GCISD uses on student district devices to protect and monitor usage. Also, hear about ways to monitor your child’s overall technology usage.
In addition, guest speakers from Cisco will be on hand to show you how to set up FREE home Internet filtering (OpenDNS) tools to help protect all your home devices from inappropriate and or malicious content.
Parent Technology Academy is a free monthly series by GCISD Technology developed to help educate our community about our ever-changing digital world.
Check out future sessions here and pre-register here: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/48875
Also, you can request specific topics to learn about or even schedule a presentation for your upcoming event.
Don't miss next months "Apps parents need to know about" learn about the growing list of apps students are using to connect and the dangers involved with each.
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Counseling
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Note from GCISD Nutrition Services
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GCISD is Now Hiring! Join the GCISD TEAM!
Do you know someone ready to join the GCISD Team? Please help spread the word! Great opportunities are available in our auxiliary departments:
- Nutrition Specialists –Part Time with benefits – Work while your students are in school!
- KidzU Extended Care Program Site Aides – Part Time with benefits – Great schedule for local college students!
- Night Custodians
- Bus Drivers & Monitors
- Maintenance Engineers
Apply online at: www.gcisd-k12.org
GCISD is looking for new Subs! Apply Online!
Hey parents and community members! Do you find yourself always on campus volunteering and helping out? Want to be more involved in the classroom and get a paycheck? Then subbing might just be for you!
We are hiring qualified candidates to substitute teach for GCISD. If you are looking to impact kids and help make a difference, we want you! You must have a minimum of 60 college hours to apply. Apply online: www.gcisd-k12.org
If you have any questions, contact erica.pasvar@gcisd.net.
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School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
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DEADLINE FOR ORDERING O.C. TAYLOR SPIRIT-SHIRTS EXTENDED TO JANUARY 22!
https://www.shopcoveys.com/store/c71/OC_Taylor.html
Questions? contact: vickymobley@gmail.com
O.C. TAYLOR TALENT SHOW AUDITIONS THIS WEEK!
Rehearsals for Talent Show will be Wed. January 17th and Thurs. January 18 from 3 - 5 pm. It is required to attend! Practice makes perfect, and you will be glad you used this time to rehearse!
Stephanie Wilkerson
Talent Show Coordinator
817-721-3288
stephanie@wilkerson.tx.com
REMINDER! TIGER BINGO
Just a recap of this program we launched in September:
Active, healthy living is full of fun and nutritious food that is both healthy and delicious! Your Healthy Lifestyles PTA Committee has put both together in TIGER BINGO to help YOU (Tigers and your families) to…
EAT WELL, PLAY HARD, BE KIND, AND HAVE FUN!!!
Making good choices helps grow strong Tigers in both body and character! Play along to be entered for a chance to WIN one of FOUR BRAND NEW BICYCLES!!! All OC Taylor Tigers, Kinder through 5th grade are eligible and encouraged to participate!
IT’S EASY...HERE’S HOW:
Complete the Health and Wellness activities in each of the squares on the Tiger Bingo Card. Then have a parent or caregiver initial that square to confirm participation. Completing one row of squares in any direction earns a ballot to enter your name in the bike prize draw. Fill in your name, grade and teacher’s name for each ballot you earn and return the game card to your teacher. Winners will be chosen by random drawing with a max of 10 entries per student.
ENTRY DATE DEADLINE: TBD
Bike prize drawing scheduled to coincide with Rachel’s Challenge 5K Fun Run this Spring AND Winners will be announced on the OC Taylor Morning Show!
IF YOU NEED A GAME CARD WITH A BALLOT, PLEASE CONTACT
Healthy Lifestyles Chair, Marisa Livingston, at livingstonmarisa@gmail.com
***Bike Giveaway is proudly sponsored by our OC Taylor neighbor:
MacArthur Medical Center 972/256-3700
HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
How Will You Move Into
The New Year?
We usually don’t compare starting the new year to packing and moving, but it is more similar than you think. How, might you ask? Well, do you plan what rooms you're going to box up first? Do you try to cram as many things into one box as you can, but then realize it’s too heavy? Have you ever called on friends or family to help at the last minute? Consider those same steps as you set goals to stay active this holiday season — and then keep them into the new year.
PLAN
Write workout days on a calendar, put an alarm on your phone to get up and move every hour, or take the stairs/park further out in the parking lot.
BE REALISTIC
Start slow and don’t get overwhelmed, break it up by chunking out ten minutes throughout the day, and create indoor options when the weather gets too cold.
ASK OTHERS
Coordinate times to work out with a friend, post times at the school for a parent exercise group, or ask your kids to join you.
Marisa Livingston
Healthy Lifestyle
REMINDER TO SUPPORT GRACE...JANUARY IS 2ND GRADE!
Help our Community! Participate in our GRACE cereal project.
Collection baskets will be outside 2nd Grade classrooms for the month of January.
Thank you for helping our community!
Questions? Concerns: contact Athena Wiginton at apw@thewigintons.com
APPLE TREE PROJECT
Don't forget the O.C. Taylor Apple Tree! Teachers need items from the Apple Tree. Apple Tree is an easy way to donate items teachers and staff need at the school.
Simply click he link below to see different "needs" around the school. If you choose to help, please make sure to mark as taken! Once taken, please send your item(s) to school with your child, attaching the name of the staff member for who it is intended.
Apple Tree List
Thanks so much! If you have any questions, please contact:
Jenifer Richards – Apple Tree coordinator
Jennifer Ditto - VP Volunteer
January:
1/15 Martin Luther King Holiday/No School
1/17 - 1/18 3 - 5 pm Talent Show Rehearsal
1/25 3 - 6 pm Dress Rehearsal for Talent Show
1/26 Talent Show 8:30 am
1/26 PTA Meeting & Talent Show 6:30 pm
February:
2/7 8 am - 12 noon Positive Proof
2/8 6 pm Decades Night at Skate Town
2/9 Walk to School Morning
2/13 Staff Appreciation Event
2/14 Valentine's Day parties
2/19 Professional Learning Day/Presidents' Day Holiday - No School
2/27 Spring School & Club PIctures
2/28 Boosterthon Pep Rally
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Thank you!
We think your kids are..... G-G-G-G-reat!
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. 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
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.