NEWS FROM THE CORRAL
February 19, 2017
Dual Language at EXPO
Pony Pride earns Super Sweepstakes
STEM at EXPO
Good Evening Pony Families,
The flu and virus season has hit GMS hard this past week. Both staff and students have been struggling with illnesses. Our nurse suggests that all students remember to wash their hands often during the day, do not drink after friends at lunch, and use hand sanitizer every time they see some! The strand we've been facing is taking some adults and students as many as five days to recover. Stay well!
Monday evening many GMS students and staff were involved in the GCISD EXPO. The event provided exposure to all the incredible programs within our district. Please visit the GCISD website for more information on lottery application and dates.
Our Fine Arts groups are hard at work preparing for their spring contests. One Act Play, Band, and Choir all have UIL contests approaching. Thank you parents for keeping your child involved in extra-curricular activities.
Our Pony Pride Dance Team competed this Saturday and received Super Sweepstakes. We are so proud of this dedicated group of dancers, parents, and Mrs. Mercer for representing GMS. More information about their awards is below.
Monday while students are home our staff will be gathered learning strategies to develop Language Rich Classrooms. Our focus this year continues to be on vocabulary and comprehension for all students. We know students who read, understand, and have an increased vocabulary perform better in all other core areas. We look forward to applying what we learn into our classroom.
As always when we have a four day week we seem to work hard to squeeze five days into four. We hope our students enjoy their day tomorrow and come ready to work on Tuesday. We thank you for supporting our Ponies and look forward to seeing you at next week's activities.
Linda Young, Principal
ATHLETICS NEWS
BASKETBALL SUCCESS
We are proud of the success and hard work of all our basketball teams. Our coaches were amazing in working with Pony athletes and growing them into game winning teams. Basketball is a very long season and is hard on both coaches and athletes. We begin tournaments in November and do not end the season until mid-February. With late practices and games weekly keeping up with assignments and teacher planning makes a long day for everyone. GMS is blessed to have dedicated coaches, students, and parents. It's what truly makes us the BEST!
TRACK SEASON AND TENNIS SEASON ARE HERE
We are transitioning from basketball to track and tennis - well actually they all just blend together! Tennis tournaments have already started and track meets will kick off this Thursday. We have incredible athletes in both these areas and we look forward to following their success.
ATHLETIC BOOSTER
Website for general information on athletics: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/31898
PONY PRIDE EARNS SUPER SWEEPSTAKES
The Pony Pride Dance Team danced fiercely and placeD with high marks in multiple categories. The dancers competed against other middle schools teams within the GCISD district and the region.
The team placed superior in all four routines of kick, pom, hip hop, and jazz. They also received exceptional marks in choreography for the kick, jazz, and hip hop routines, and the high point award for their kick routine.
The officers placed Superior in the officer lyrical division with high marks in choreography. Julianna Ramirez Gonzalez placed superior in her junior solo and high marks for technique and choreography. Abby Vick and Dylann Hudson placed superior in the lyrical junior duet division. Overall our Pony Pride placed second in the region at competition and improved from last years scores overall. All this hard work and success was worth it, especially when the team was awarded Super Sweepstakes with high points. These young ladies worked extremely hard and are immensely talented. Great job girls!!!
GMS WEBSITES AND NEWSLETTERS
GMS YEARBOOK
Orders can be placed online at www.yearbookforever.com.
AVID HIGHLIGHTS
STUDENT LED CAREER FAIR 3/3!
2nd Year AVID students (and Mrs. Shepherd's 8th graders) will be hosting a student lead Career Fair on Friday March 3rd from 2:00-2:30 and would love for all AVID parents to visit! They are researching careers and will be presenting Career-Fair style. Please remember to sign in at the front office. Location will be TBA.
CHEERLEADER Webpage
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/1051
PONY PRIDE DANCE TEAM Webpage
DUAL LANGUAGE
GMS is proud to host the 2nd Annual Dual Language Parent Fair on April 20, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. Save the Date and come learn with our Dual Language Parents. More information to follow.
DUAL LANGUAGE
https://www.facebook.com/mswiseduallanguageclassroom?fref=ts
NEWS FROM OUR COUNSELORS
ACCELERATED MATH
Want to learn more about options for students to accelerate in math in GCISD? Watch this informative video! https://youtu.be/tV6IcBs_OlM
GT REFERRAL
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is accepting referrals February 22 - March 8 for current secondary students who may be eligible for Gifted / Talented Services for the upcoming school year. This program is designed for students who exhibit intellectual giftedness at an extraordinary level. Anyone wishing to refer a student attending GCISD 6th - 11th grade this school year may secure a referral from our counseling department. A copy of this form is also located on the District's Advanced Academics webpage:
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/343
MATH AND SCIENCE TRAJECTORY
Please take a moment to review the math and science trajectory information located on the district webpage http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/42468. This information has been discussed with parents and students at various meeting; however, it is critical to your student's success in these curricula. If you have any questions please contact me or Director of Mathematics, Jennifer Hylemon at jennifer.hylemon@gcisd.net
DUKE TIP
The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving academically gifted and talented youth. Duke TIP's talent searches serve as the entry point to academic benefits and programs for gifted and talented students in grades 4-12. For more information, click here: http://tip.duke.edu/node/244
Parents may directly enroll their child online at http://tip.duke.edu/node/1275 or via paper applications at any time during the enrollment period, October 1-March 31. Fees are paid only once, and need-based financial aid is available. Students must have attained a qualifying test score at or above the 95th percentile on at least one accepted subtest area of a grade-level standardized achievement test (Stanford or Iowa Test of Basic Skills), or achieved a score of a 125 or above on an aptitude test (OLSAT, CoGAT, NNAT) or mental ability test (IQ test such as WISC), or met the Duke approved score on a state criterion-referenced test (STAAR). A school code will be provided on the Duke Tip website during the enrollment process.
8TH GRADE COURSE SELECTION PROCESS
Colleyville Heritage High School’s Parent University, Feb. 27th at 6:00 p.m.
*Master Schedule constructed based on student course requests: 2/21 - 3/21
*Online Arena Scheduling:
8th Grade: Window opens at 7:00 a.m. on 5/4; closes at midnight 5/7 *dates recently updated
*Online Arena Scheduling:
Arena Scheduling is a registration system through Skyward that allows students to create their own schedules similar to the scheduling systems used in college. Arena allows students greater control to build their schedules, and students will know their unofficial schedules by the end of the current school year so they can start their classes on the first day of school in the fall. Below is the timeline for the process.
STEM NEWS
STEM NEWSLETTER
Engineering week is here! We have an exciting week planned for our students. Field trips will be taken and guest speakers will visit campus to expose our STEM students to the incredible opportunities for engineers in the world of STEM.
District STEM Blog to push out news and highlights of things happening at campuses.
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/46067
STEM BOOSTER WEBSITE
PTA NEWS
BOX TOPS COLLECTION TIME
It’s time to start sending in Box Tops for our spring deadline of March 10th. We earned $254.60 from our fall submission. That’s half way to reaching our goal of $500 this year. Box Tops can be dropped off in the collection box located in the front office. Thank you for supporting GMS PTA!
2/27 TEXAS PTA RALLY DAY IN AUSTIN
Thank you to Angela Gair and Francine Bradford, who will be attending Texas PTA Rally Day in Austin and representing our GMS PTA! For more information about the 85th Texas Legislative Session, Texas PTA Legislative Priorities, and GCISD Legislative Priorities please visit the following links to stay informed during this legislative session.
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/27218
http://www.txpta.org/legislative-priorities
https://gcisdcouncilofptas.org/advocacy-2017/#priorities
FEBRUARY 28 GENERAL MEETING
PTA Members please join us for a short meeting on Tuesday, February 28 at 6:45 pm in the Lecture Hall. We will elect the Nominating Committee at this meeting. The Nominating Committee shall consist of 3 members and 1 alternate. If you are interested in serving on the Nominating Committee or have any questions, please contact Candy Worthan at candy.worthan@gmail.com.
As a reminder, this month marked the first month of the 85th Legislative Session. School funding will once again be in jeopardy and our job is to send a powerful message to our elected officials. Last spring, we were told we would need to be louder than ever before.
"Recently a powerful senator told Texas PTA that we will have to be a LOT LOUDER next with oil prices down, revenue will be reduced and funding for public education, which represents 1/3 of the state’s budget, will be at risk. Not only will we not likely see increases in funding, we may see cuts to funding for public schools." - Ellen Arnold, Texas PTA Lobbyist
I would like to invite you to Texas PTA Rally Day, February 27, 2017! By attending Rally Day, your community’s voice will be heard and will influence the future of our children. Take a moment to review the Texas PTA Legislative Priorities. Share the information and ask them to add their voice, by joining your PTA. Texas students cannot afford for us to overlook! #everymembercounts when we work to make every child’s potential a reality at the Capitol.
World Wear Project
Spring is upon us and what better time to clean out your closets and donate your used clothing, shoes, purses, backpacks, hats, caps, toys, and stuffed animals. The World Wear Project collection bin is conveniently located outside the GMS Gym entrance. The GMS PTA will receive .12 cents for every pound collected. 100% of the items collected will be reused or recycled. This not only helps our landfills, but also helps others who are less fortunate than we are to have much needed clothing and shoes. Thank you for your support.
February PTA Newsletter below
PTA Website: http://grapevinemiddlepta.wixsite.com/gmspta
GMS ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE SESSIONS
UPDATES FROM NURSE JANSEN
March and April
Attention 6th grade parents. An updated shot record with proof of a tdap and Meningitis shot is needed by RN Jansen by June 1st. Your student may not receive their 7th grade schedule at the beginning of August schedule pick up if the shot record is not received by June 1st.
Proof of Shots given over the summer will need to be hand-delivered in person and processed when the nursing staff is back on campus the week prior to school starting. Your student's schedule will be released at that time. No shots will be processed over the summer.
May
Attention 6th grade parents. If you have not provided Proof of a tdap and Meningitis shot to RN Jansen, you may participate in the $15 Health Dept Shot Clinic. The Health Dept is coming at 830AM on May 27th to give the state required shots. No parents are needed on campus. However, special permission slips are required for each shot and will be sent home with those students who still owe shots for 7th grade. If your student is getting both shots, you will have to fill out 2 permission slips and attach $15 cash or a check made out for $15 to Tarrant County Public Health Dept.
Shots are due by June 1st if your student is planning on getting their schedule at the August schedule pick up date. No shots will be processed over the summer.
Feb 22 is 8th grade Scoliosis screening.
GCISD TRANSFER NEWS
GCISD ANNOUNCES CHANGE TO TRANSFER PROCESS
On Monday, January 23, Trustees approved changes to local board policies that impact the GCISD student transfer process for residents and nonresidents. In previous years, families interested in applying for a transfer were admitted based on the order in which the application was received and if they met specific board criteria for the transfer.
Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, families that reside within GCISD boundaries or live in the cities of Colleyville and Grapevine but are zoned for another school district, may apply for the transfer lottery.
"By moving to a lottery system, we are making the process more equitable for families that wish to have their student transfer to another campus," said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Rick Westfall. "Our goal with this adjustment to the transfer process is to create a system that simplifies the process for our families and removes the ambiguity from the transfer process."
From March 20 - April 21, families may submit their transfer application for the lottery. While the district will accept all transfer applications, students will only be granted transfers to campuses and grade-levels that can accept more students without going over capacity. Decisions about capacity will be made later in the semester and throughout summer depending on student registration and enrollment projections. In order to apply for the lottery, the student requesting the transfer must meet the following criteria:
· 90% rule regarding attendance
· Behavior deemed to be in good standing
· Grades in good standing
· Transfer request not for athletic purposes
During the week of April 24, GCISD will livestream the lottery on the district website. There will be a delay in an official notification, but families can check their lottery number to see if it was pulled for a more efficient notification. Once a specific date and time for the lottery has been determined, that information will be shared on the district website and in the district's e-newsletter, The LEADer. It is important to note this lottery is separate from the special programs lottery for one of the district's special programs located at a designated campus.
Another benefit to the newly revised policies is that nonresident transfers no longer have to reapply every school year. Instead, both residents and nonresidents will only need to reapply when they are changing a level (i.e. from elementary to middle school or middle school to high school).
For more information about the GCISD transfer lottery, please visit the district website.
UPDATE FROM GCISD SHAC
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is the perfect place for parents to make contributions and recommendations on health initiatives that influence your child. Find out how you can join SHAC.
JOIN THE GCISD TEAM
Many opportunities are available in our auxiliary departments:
o Nutrition Specialists -PT w/ benefits – work while your students are in school!
o Kidzu Site Aides – PT w/benefits – this schedule works well for local college students!
o Night Custodians
o Bus Drivers & Monitors
o Maintenance Engineers
Apply online at: www.gcisd-k12.org
GRAPEVINE HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADER TRYOUTS
2017-18 GHS Cheer Tryout Information
Students currently in grades 8-11 will be eligible to tryout for one of three cheer squads (outlined below) for the 2017-18 school year. There will be a mandatory parent/candidate meeting on February 27th at 6:30 in the GHS Library. The tryout dates, format, and score sheets will be discussed at the meeting. Each candidate will have multiple opportunities for tumbling certification.
Varstiy Team – Grades 11-12, must pass tumbling certification (standing back tuck, or standing back handspring back tuck, and toe touch back handspring, and running round off back handspring back), participate in tryout clinic and tryouts, and receive a minimum score of 28 at tryouts.
JV 1 Team – Grades 9-12, must pass tumbling certification (standing back handspring and running round off back tuck), participate in tryout clinic and tryouts, and receive a minimum score of 25 at tryouts.
JV 2 Team – Grades 9-12, no tumbling certification, participate in tryout clinic and tryouts, and receive a minimum score of 20 at tryouts.
Tumbling Certification for new candidates will be held on January 26th and February 23rd at CHHS at 4:30, and on March 8th at GHS at 4:30. Candidates only need to pass one certification to be eligible to tryout for Varsity or JV 1. Anyone in grades 8-11 may tryout for JV 2.
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Student Holiday
Tuesday February 21
Academic Assistance Session 7:00 - 7:45 a.m. Lecture Hall
STEM 6th to Ft. Worth Museum for Engineering Week
Exito Hispano 6:30 - 8:00 in Lecture Hall
GMS Boys and Girls Tennis @ GHS 4:30
OAP Tech Rehearsal (1st period only) Cafeteria 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday February 23
Academic Assistance Session 7:00 - 7:45 a.m. Lecture Hall
8th Grade Scoliosis Screening
Lockhead visits STEM for Engineering Week
OAP Tech Rehearsal (1st period only) Cafeteria 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
GCISD District Choir District UIL @ CHHS
Thursday February 24
Academic Assistance Session 7:00 - 7:45 a.m. Lecture Hall
STEM 7th to UTA for Engineering Week
OAP Tech Rehearsal (1st period only) Cafeteria 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Progress Reports sent home and available on Skyward
Friday February 25
Academic Assistance Session 7:00 - 7:45 a.m. Lecture Hall
GCISD One Act Play Competition (1st period Playbill Students)
8th grade STEM visits SMU for Engineering week.
Cheerleader eligibility posted in front office 3:30 p.m.
Saturday February 26
Band District Solo and Ensemble Competition 8:00 - 12:00 @ CHHS and GMS. See your
director for your location.
Math / Science Event 8:30 - 1:00 CTMS
Future Events:
February 27 GMS Boys and Girls Tennis @ Coppell HS 4:30
Choir Pe-UIL
March 2 Percussion Bash @ GHS
Spring Break March 13 - 17
Very Busy Month!