OCT Tiger Time News
News from the O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Pedevilla
November 17, 2019
(BE SURE AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS NEWSLETTER AND READ THE OCT PTA SECTION!)
Dear OCT Families,
NEW VESTIBULE SIGN-IN PROCEDURES: Again, thank you for your patience as construction teams worked to complete the renovation of our building for the controlled vestibule. We are excited to be able to begin using the new check-in system. We are implementing a soft rollout. If you would like, you can start using the new kiosks now. If you would like to wait, you can wait. We will move fully to the new sign-in system on Monday, December 2nd. In an effort to help parents know more about the new visitor process and how to operate the new check-in kiosks, the Director of Emergency Management and School Security has made a video with instructions. Please contact myself, or Allen Smith (allen.smith@gcisd.net), if you have any questions.
ANTI-BULLYING & PRO-KINDNESS PROGRAM: Thank you to the OCT PTA for hosting "Hey Dude, Nice Shoes" Anti-Bullying and Pro-Kindness Program this past Thursday evening and Friday during school. More than half of bullying situations (57%) stop when a peer intervenes on behalf of the student being bullied.[6] I encourage you to join with us and empower your children to stand up for a friend when someone is mean or rude. I hear many parents say they just want their kids to be happy. Read more about the research of this: executive summary from the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Making Caring Common Project,
STAFF SHOUT OUTS: Thank you to those who have filled out our Staff Shout Out Survey listed below each week in this newsletter. This past week in our faculty meeting, I read aloud the nice comments. Kind words are always encouraging to our teachers and staff. Thank you for taking the time to write the nice things you have experienced at O.C. Taylor.
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, November 18
2nd Grade Field Trip to the Perot Museum
Tuesday, November 19
Turkey Drive (During Morning drop-off)
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Makeup Picture Day (Individual, Clubs, etc)
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. CEC
Wednesday, November 20
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Yearbook
2:55 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. NEHS
3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. TTT - Dancing River
Thursday, November 21
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. PreK Thanksgiving Feast
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast
2:55 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Choir
Friday, November 22
Inflatables during Specials (makeup from Fun Day)
November 25 - 29
Thanksgiving Break
Monday, December 2
Chinese New Year Day (Wear red.)
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. PTA Executive Board Holiday Luncheon
Tuesday, December 3
Candy Cane Day (Wear red and white.)
9:00 a.m. CMS Band/Choir
Wednesday, December 4
Diwali Day (Wear bright-colored clothing.)
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Yearbook
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. TTT
Thursday, December 5
Kwanza Kraft Day (Wear black, red, and green.)
2:55 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Choir
Grapevine Parade of Lights
Friday, December 6
O Christmas Tree Day (Wear green.)
2:55 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Running Club
6:30 p.m. Colleyville Tree Lighting
Monday, December 9
Reindeer Day (Wear reindeer ears, any ears, or a hat.)
Book Fair
5th Grade Field Trip Camp Thurman
Tuesday, December 10
Happy Hanukkah (Wear blue and white.)
Book Fair
Wednesday, December 11
Snowman Day (Wear a scarf, something white, or snowman attire.)
Book Fair
No Yearbook Meeting
2:55 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, December 12
Feliz Navidad (Wear red, white, yellow, and/or green.)
Book Fair
8:30 a.m. Holiday Choir Concert
2:55 - 4:00 p.m. Choir
6:30 p.m. PTA Meeting and Holiday Choir Concert
Friday, December 13
7:00 a.m. Grand Slam with Grandparents or Senior Friends (Wear any holiday shirt.)
9:00 a.m. Spelling Bee
1:30 p.m. CTMS Band/Choir
Spirit Shop during lunches and after school
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Grade Level Newsletters
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Important Links
OCT and GCISD Updates
Assistant Principal Points from Mrs. Bailey
DISMISSAL REMINDERS
We have many students and families who utilize our crosswalks each afternoon. We care about the safety and well-being of those who leave the campus each day. The crosswalks are situated in various locations in our parking lots, front car loop, and on Pool Road. As a reminder, pedestrians have the right-of-way, so please be mindful and patient of those who use these crosswalks. If you are parking to pick up your child, you need to park in the front parking lot or in the north parking lot. Parking in the fire lane is prohibited by law. Please do not park in the fire lane or leave your vehicle unattended. Thank you for helping us in protecting the safety of our students, staff, and families during dismissal.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns. I am here to listen and my door is always open.
Allison Bailey
(817) 305-4870
@OCTBailey
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Dismissal Procedures
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Holiday Hullabaloo
We also desire to create a fun and exciting learning environment where kids desire to be as this increases the likelihood of academic achievement. If you have any questions, please email your teacher. Bring on the fun!
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Updates from Counseling and Guidance, Mrs. Whisman
Classroom Guidance: November's guidance lessons will focus on gratitude and having a positive attitude.
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Updates from Learning Commons, Mrs. Bonacci
We have two exciting events taking place in the Learning Commons in December! Volunteers are always welcome.
- The Traveling Coding Playground will visit on December 4th. Our students will have an opportunity to try out all kinds of cool technology toy/tools. (You might even want to stop by to get gift ideas).
- Our Scholastic Book Fair will be held December 9-13. The Scholastic Book Fair e-Wallet is a CASH-FREE option for students.
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Updates from Art, Mrs. Morgan
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Red Ribbon - Drug and Alcohol Awareness Poster/PSA Contest - O.C. Taylor Winner
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Menu Advisory Committee Meeting
Parents - Want to learn more about the federally funded school lunch program? Ever wonder how the menus are planned? The Parent Menu Advisory meeting includes parents and staff who review the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) to provide greater knowledge of the regulations. During the meeting, parents will learn how the menus are planned and student promotions are developed. In addition, we will sample recipes and discuss the techniques used to encourage students to take a complete meal.
The meeting will be held on December 4th, 2019 from 5-6 pm.
Meeting location: GCISD Professional Developement Education Center: Panther Den | 5800 Colleyville Blvd #A108 Colleyville, Texas 76034
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O.C. Taylor Staff Shout-Outs
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Updates from our Nurse Katy
- 5th grade Growth and Development: The growth and development program will be presented to the 5th graders at OCT on Friday November 22nd. Notification letters were sent home with all 5th grade students. These only need to be signed/returned if you DO NOT want your student to participate. If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me.
- Flu Season: If you have not yet received your flu shot, BE WISE- IMMUNIZE! If your student tests positive for the flu, please let us know when calling in their absence. I have to report all flu-like illness/flu diagnosis to Tarrant County Health Department weekly.
- 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
OCT PPCD and Pre-K team
Heather Potter, Pre-K teacher
Bri Conte, Pre-K paraprofesional
Sara Stricherz, PPCD teacher
Rhonda Schafer, PPCD teacher
Gabriela Haynes, Pre-K teacher
Front row:
Amy Richardson, PPCD paraprofessional
Allora Khan, Pre-K paraprofessional
Lorrine Evans, PPCD paraprofessional
Mrs. Khan, Pre-K Paraprofessional
A unique hobby of Mrs. Khan is to spend time volunteering and spending time with kids at a small orphanage in Bangladesh that her family runs. She has a loving husband and two wonderful daughters. White is Mrs. Khan's favorite color because it represents peace.
Her advice to parents is to love your children and spend as much time as you can with them because they grow so fast! (I second that!) If she could be any superhero, she would be Superman because he can fly and go anywhere.
Mrs. Khan's greatest strength is how kind and patience she is when dealing with all students. We are so blessed to have Mrs. Khan assist our youngest little Tigers!
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Technology Tip: Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube
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Follow OCT on Twitter
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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!
Hey Dude, Nice Shoes!
O.C. Taylor brought GCISD Alumna Carolyn Jennings Brown back to town with a Kindness Block Party, where over 200 people from OCT and Bransford participated in acts of kindness, including cards of affirmation and encouragement to local children who have cancer and are spending their holiday season in a hospital. Thank you to so many who showed up to celebrate this event - the Grapevine High School drum line, the Colleyville Heritage HS Cheerleaders, PALS and the Colleyville Fire Department! And a HUGE special thank you to Ali Williams who chaired and organized the event!
On Friday morning, all OCT Tigers heard Mrs. Brown's presentation on pro-kindness and anti-bullying!
Save the Date - December 13th - Grand Slam with Grand Friends!
Save the Date - December 13th!
Grand Slam with Grand Friends!
OCT Tigers and their grandparents or any special senior friends are invited to have a grand slam breakfast together (beginning at 7:00 a.m.) at O.C. Taylor on the morning of Friday, December 13th! Grand Friends will also be allowed to shop with kiddos in the LRC at the Scholastic Book Fair!
Details will be in next week's newsletter, so stay tuned!
World Wear Donation Bin
FUN DAY PART 2 November 22nd
FUN DAY Part 2 is scheduled for Friday, November 22nd. Fingers crossed for nice weather so that our Tigers can enjoy a day of fun inflatables in the OCT Field! Please sign up for a time to help out and join in the FUN!
HALLOWEEN CANDY
Do you STILL have lots of leftover Halloween Candy? Looking for a healthy & helpful way to get rid of it? Then look no further and donate it all to GRACE.
GRACE would greatly appreciated any leftover Halloween Candy to use at their Christmas Cottage.
Please look for the Decorated Pumpkin Bag in the lobby area and leave your donations there.
Donations will be accepted throughout the month of November through Dec 13th! Thank you for supporting your community.
SUPPORT GRACE and…. EARN EXTRA RECESS!
CALLING ALL THIRD GRADERS… DO YOU WANT EXTRA RECESS?
NOVEMBER is your month, THIRD GRADE!
ITEMS IN NEED: CANNED FRUIT (16 oz or smaller cans preferred)
GRACE is in need of canned fruit. As soon as this stuff hits the shelves, it is gone. Collection baskets will be outside the 3rd Grade Classrooms throughout the month of November and will stay there until December 6th. The next time you are in the grocery store, please consider supporting your community by picking up a can of their favorite fruit, Peaches & Fruit Cocktail! Thank you in advance for your support.
LOST AND FOUND
Many nice items need to be reunited with their owners. If your child missing their jacket and/or hoodie, please have them stop by the Lost and Found to claim their item that is patiently waiting to be worn again.
ALL UNCLAIMED ITEMS WILL BE DONATED TO GRACE ON NOVEMBER 22nd.
Birthday TigerGrams
Does your child have a birthday in November or December? Would you like to see their "Name in Lights" on the school marquee or surprise them with a TigerGram? Typically, these fun items are only available for purchase during our Silent Auction. However, because our Silent Auction is not until December 1st through December 9th this year, we are pre-selling these items ONLY for those students with birthdays in November and December. All other students will be able to purchase these items (along with TONS of other fun items) during the Silent Auciton for the 2020 calendar year. If you are interested in purchasing a "Name in Lights" or "TigerGram" for your child this November or December, please contact Stephanie Williams at octsilentauction@gmail.com.
Box Tops
Wow! We counted, bundled, and mailed off $564.30 of Box Tops! Combined with our earnings via the Box Top App, we have raised $630.60 in Box Tops this year. Currently, 4th grade is in the lead in our Racing to Recess Challenge. The winning class will receive an extra recess. Continue to send in those Box Tops still found on participating products. If you haven't already, be sure to download the Box Tops App so that you can scan your receipts and earn money for our school instantly!
AMAZON SMILE
Be sure to shop smileamazon.com so that .5% of all your purchases will go to the OC 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.
Tom Thumb Good Neighbor Program
You can now earn money for our school, simply by shopping for groceries at Tom Thumb! Designate O.C. Taylor PTA as your organization by completing a Reward Application at any courtesy booth. Fill in the top portion and the "Good Neighbor Program" section, indicating account number 8332 to link your grocery purchases to O.C. Taylor. If you already have a Rewards Card, simply stop by a courtesy desk to link our school to your existing account. Pharmacy, fuel, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products do not count toward the purchase amount credited to the Good Neighbor Program accounts. 1% of all eligible purchases made at Tom Thumb will be given back to our school!
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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.