Tiger Time News
News from the O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Pedevilla
Learning@Home, May 26-28
Dear OCT Families,
As the school year draws to a close, we begin to prepare for next year. We welcome your participation in all areas of your child’s education and are providing a form for any additional information you feel will help us in the important task of class placement. Matching the needs of each student with the strengths and teaching styles of our teachers, while also trying to obtain a balance of abilities, special needs, and the boy to girl ratio in each classroom is of utmost importance in creating an effective learning environment for your child. One of the best sources of information comes from your child’s classroom teacher, as they have been working with their students for many months. If you would like to give input about your child to help with classroom placement, please complete the Invite to Write form. Please do not request a specific teacher on your form. All forms are due no later than June 20, 2020. Click here to make a copy of the form.
We look forward to waving goodbye this week during our Pick Up Days (see below)!
BEST,
Principal Pedevilla
Image of Tiger and cub by skeeze from Pixabay
Email: lisa.pedevilla@gcisd.net
Website: https://oct.gcisd.net/
Phone: 817-305-4870
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OC-Taylor-Elementary-School-361871583888299/
Twitter: @OCTYoung
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Important LInks
Learning@Home Hub
Grade Level Weekly Learning Plans
Assistant Principal Points from Mrs. Bailey
What a year this has been for our OCT Tigers, staff, and families! I would like to say THANK YOU to our amazing teachers, staff, and leadership team. We all came together during a difficult time and collaborated to provide the best instruction for our students while learning at home. THANK YOU to our parents for your support and for taking on the role of the teacher these last few months. Finally, a HUGE THANK YOU to our students! You have persevered, learned many new concepts and skills, and adjusted to learning at home. Our Tigers are amazing!!
We all look forward to seeing your smiles and waving to you during student supply pick-up this coming week!
Assistant Principal Bailey
@OCTBailey @OCTaylorTigers
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End-of-the-Year Pick-Up Belongings Procedures
Please CLICK HERE to read the details. We want to make this as efficient and pleasant as possible for you! :)
PLEASE PLACE AT LEAST AN 8 ½” x 11” PAPER WITH THE STUDENT’S FIRST NAME AND LAST NAME AND CLASS TEACHER ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OF YOUR CAR (see example below).
During the dates and times below (specific grade level’s assigned date/time), students will be able to pick up the following items:
Student supplies
Student belongings
Spring class pictures (if previously ordered)
Yearbooks (if previously ordered)
Medications
During the dates and times below, students will be able to drop off items:
Library books
Teacher’s classroom books
Teacher’s items
We will have boxes/carts labeled in order to collect them for the summer. No one will be permitted inside the building. No parking and no exiting the cars will be permitted. Teachers will have collected student supplies from the classrooms already. We will have a drive-thru system similar to what we implemented for device pick-up in March. All individuals come through the car loop with the Tiger and remain in their cars until a staff member helps you.
If you are not able to make it at the time/date provided, please email your teacher and explain what accommodations may be needed. These are the only three days that we will be distributing and collecting, so if you are not able to make it during the three days provided, your student may pick up/drop off these items when the building is reopened in the fall.
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Extra Yearbooks for Sale!
1st Come, 1st Served
We only have 12 extra 2019-2020 yearbooks. If you are wanting to purchase one, please email Mrs. Morgan at cristie.morgan@gcisd.net. It is first-come, first-served.
You will purchase and pick up your yearbook at the Art Station on your child’s designated pick up time and day (see above).
Please have a check written out to O. C. Taylor Elementary for $28.15.
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Updates from our librarian, Mrs. Bonacci
Hi O. C. Taylor Families!
The 2020-2021 GCISD Reads Challenge begins on June 1st. Watch our Twitter and Facebook pages for updates about this exciting challenge throughout the summer months. For more information visit our 2020-2021 GCISD Reads Challenge Smore!
Your child has free access to Epic until June 30th and free access to Overdrive all year. You can also connect to your public library using the Overdrive app. Please let me know if I can support you in accessing reading materials for your tiger.
I will be at school on May 26th-28th to collect library books as you come to school to collect your child’s belongings. If you are not planning to pick items up on one of those days you can return the books when we return in the fall.
Love,
Mrs. Bonacci
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Parent Resources During Closure
Parents, even in the best of times, parenting can be hard. During stressful times, it can be really hard. Know that there is support out there. These agencies, hotlines and websites are available to support you as parents, always and especially in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty of COVID-19:
- GCISD Technology Help Desk
- Housing/Food/Financial Assistance
- Parenting Resources
- Talking about Coronavirus with your child
- Teen Crisis Hotlines/Chatline/Textlines
- WiFi Resources
- GCISD Launching Curbside Technology Support
- Counseling Resources
- Coronavirus Page
- Student Meal Service
- AP Exams Information (located on the FAQs Page under Academics)
- WiFi Access Coming to Outdoor Areas Across GCISD
Another resource that can be distributed to those in need. Here is a list of community resources in Tarrant County.
If you are having difficulty with issues or concerns, other than those listed above, please click on the link below and complete the form, so we might be able to direct you to the appropriate resource. Parent Needs Questionnaire
Parents of 5th Graders
Parents of 5th Graders: Please click on Whisman's Newsletter to keep updated on all things
MIDDLE SCHOOL.
- DATES (added as I get them from middle schools)
- AVID
- COURSE REQUESTS
- HOW TO video about combination locks
- ETC.
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5th Grade CMS Families....
We Invite You to Join CMS 20-21 StuCo
Student Council at CMS is all about building leaders who positively impact our school, community, state, and nation. We would love for you to join us! If that sounds like something you are interested in becoming a part of, learn more and submit an application here. Thanks!_________________________________________
UPDATE FROM OUR NURSE KATY
- Medication Pick Up: If you have not yet picked up your student's medication, please come to the school on your grade-level designated day and do so. Medication cannot remain at school throughout the Summer, and I do not want to have to throw away perfectly good meds! I will see you on May 26th, 27th, and 28th!
- Immunization Records: If your child has had any vaccinations during this past school year, or if they receive some over the Summer, I need a copy for their permanent file. Feel free to email the updated shot record to me, as I want all students to be up to date on their immunizations and able to start school as soon as we can be back together again. :)
- Fifth Grade Parents: I am going to miss seeing this awesome group of 5th graders at OCT next year, but I know they will do wonderful things in middle school! :) Please download and read below for Tips for a Successful Transition to Middle School .
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Update from Specials
Congratulations, Tigers!!! We are so proud of you for working hard to finish this school year strong. We wish our 5th graders lots of love as they move on to middle school. We hope you will come back to visit every once in a while. Remember...once a Tiger, always a Tiger! We have attached a fun Specials Bingo game so that you can keep Art, Music and PE in your life throughout summer break. We love you, we miss you, and we can't wait to see again soon. Stay safe and enjoy your summer break!
#GCISDAtHome with Fine Arts
GCISD Fine Arts wants to hear from all our talented musicians, dancers, thespians, and artists! During this closure, students can use this Flipgrid to upload videos of themselves playing their favorite instrument, singing their favorite choral song, showcasing a piece of art, performing a scene from their favorite play, doing a dance routine, etc.
Approved videos will be seen on the GCISD Fine Arts Flipgrid, and the very best may even be featured on GCISD's other social media platforms.
Submitted by: David Zahrndt
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2020-21 School Year
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KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION for 2020-2021
Children must be 5 years old by September 1 of a school year to qualify for kindergarten that year. If children are 4 years old by September 1 of a school year, they are eligible for Pre-Kindergarten. To see which campus you are zoned to attend, visit our attendance area map.
Enrolling a student in GCISD for the first time?
Click here to start your kindergarten registration process.
Already have a student enrolled in GCISD?
If you need to register a sibling for the first time, you may do so from your current Skyward account. Simply log in to Skyward Family Access and add a new student by selecting “New Student Online Enrollment” tab.
Do current GCISD Pre-K students register for Kindergarten?
No, current GCISD Pre-K students are considered existing students and will register with all other returning students. Registration for the 2020-2021 school year for returning students opens in the summer (date TBD). Please see the Returning Student Registration Page.
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Texas Art Contest
Stay Connected On Social Media
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.
Twitter: We regularly post events and upcoming news on Twitter. Follow me on Twitter: @OCTYoung and follow our hashtag #OCT4U.
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O.C. Taylor PTA
Order School Supply Packs for 2020-2021
Order School Supply Packs Now!
O.C. Taylor PTA is providing online ordering for school supply packs for 2020-2021. Packs will be delivered directly to your child's classroom at Meet the Teacher night in August, and will allow you and your child/children to focus on meeting their teacher. Here's how to order:
- Order school supply packs online between April 1st and June 14th through the Educational Products at https://www.educationalproducts.com/ShopPacks/, and enter our school code TAY009.
- Make sure to choose your child's grade for next year, not their current grade level.
- Your child's school supply pack will be waiting in your child's classroom on Meet the Teacher night.
Questions? Contact Melissa Adkins, School Supplies Chair at octschoolsupplies@gmail.com