Tiger Family Newsletter
Week of February 26 to March 2
Hello Tiger Families!
Tiger Family,
As parents and as your children's school family, the last week has been one of great heartache and concern. I know, at times, some of the changes we've made this year have been a bit of a challenge. But we've worked together as a family and made things safer for our children. Because you've helped us by not walking up to the entrance of the school at dismissal, we're able to quickly identify a "walk up" and verify they are legitimate visitors. Sometimes the new entrance can feel unwelcoming, going through all the doors. But then I think, all of those doors protect our children. Thank you for understanding and supporting us when we make a change to how things work at school; it is always with the very best interest of your kiddos, our Tigers, at heart.
I'd like to share with you words from our superintendent, Dr. Robin Ryan.
An open letter to the community:
Like you, I watched in horror last week as we witnessed the reports of another tragic school shooting. This one, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, took the lives of students and staff. Everyone associated with schools: students, parents, staff members and community members feel the pain and trauma each time this happens in our country. We search for answers to questions like: “How could this happen again?” and “How can we keep it from happening in the future?” As we grieve with the families in Florida, we also look to the security measures we have in place to protect our students and staff.
In GCISD, we practice several different types of scenarios and implement security measures accordingly. We make every effort to physically keep our students safe and we are taking additional steps thanks to our supportive community. In 2016, GCISD voters approved a bond package that included measures to secure students and staff including new security cameras, controlled entrance access for campuses and a fully integrated network security system.
Additionally, each secondary campus has a police officer that is stationed at the school every day and our counselors have resources for reporting concerns on their websites. We work closely with our local police departments and school resource officers to investigate every concern quickly and thoroughly and we communicate with staff, parents and the community when matters arise that need a wider response. We understand that when we do have to communicate, there are questions that may be left unanswered for our families based on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which prohibits the district and campuses from sharing specific information related to the incident or students. Please know that we do have policies and procedures in place for addressing these incidents, even if we are unable to provide you with those details. For more general information on the district’s disciplinary guidelines, please review the Student Code of Conduct.
The most important thing that we can all do is to build strong sense of togetherness and pride in our community’s schools and ensure our adults are building healthy relationships with students. Beginning with ‘“circle up” time in elementary schools, our students begin to build those relationships with their teachers and with each other. Those relationships are the foundations that are built upon when students get to middle and high school. This provides a safe space to have conversations with students when issues arise on campus, in our community and in our nation.
We also encourage everyone to report if they have a suspicion that something might be wrong. The adage of “see something, say something” may seem like a basic concept, but it is critical in our ability to get ahead of a potential threat.
We will continue to practice, review and refine our safety and security measures as the safety of our students and staff is our top priority of the GCISD Board of Trustees and our staff members.
Dr. Robin Ryan
GCISD Superintendent
Highlights from the Week!
Students connect with pen pals!
Teachers and students work together.
Our awesome staff training on Monday!
Important Dates and Information
This Week!
2/26 Box Tops Due!
2/27 Project Bridge: Connecting Families to School 5-6 @ TES
3/2 Class Pictures!! Be sure to dress in your best :)
Coming Up!
3/8 Leadership Night 5:30-7 pm
3/12-16 Spring Break!
3/21 District Art Showcase @ Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau 6-7
Box Tops Due!
PreK Enrollment!
Important PreK and Kindergarten Registration
The applications for Kindergarten dual language, STEM programs and tuition-based pre-kindergarten will be open online beginning Friday, February 9, 2018. The application window will remain open until March 9, 2018. If more applications are received than there are available seats, a lottery will be held on March 29, 2018, at 10:00 am.
Click here to fill out a lottery application
Even if you live in the Timberline attendance zone, you must still complete the application for Kindergarten Dual Language. Please reach out to our Parent Center Coordinator, Marie-France Arancibia, at 817-251-3972 to get assistance with registration!
Pre-K Programs at GCISD
We will be providing tours of our Pre-K rooms on the following dates and times:
March 1 9-10am
Tell your friends!
Peachjar- Communicating with YOU!
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has adopted an electronic flyer distribution program called Peachjar. Beginning February 15, with the new system, flyers from community organizations will be distributed through a weekly email and accessible through the school websites. This is part of our ongoing effort to focus resources on education while reducing the environmental impact of our activities.
GCISD parents will receive a welcome email from Peachjar that includes a username and password. This is provided to give parents the opportunity to manage their account and flyer delivery preferences. To view a list of Frequently Asked Questions, click here and select the appropriate tab for PARENTS.
Upcoming Math Telescoping Exams
Is your child ready to "telescope" to an above grade level math classroom?
Students have the opportunity to take a math course in the grade level that they test to, while still continue instruction in all other areas in their current grade level!
Car Line Reminders
Some friendly reminders for pick up:
- Our fantastic greeters will collect your child's name to let the campus know you are in line.
- Stay in your lane, we time the cars so we know when you are reaching the front.
- Your child will meet you when you reach the cone.
Drop off and pickup is the ultimate form of synergy!
Volunteers Wanted!
We have many opportunities for you to join in on the fun at Timberline. Whether you would like to assist on campus, or pick up and return materials, we have something for you!
Please contact our amazing front office staff at 817-251-5770 for more information.
Also, we are also looking for volunteers to assist with our talented Ballet Folklorico Club!
Can you sew? Do you know this style of dance? Please give us a call.
Ride Change, Doctor's Appointments and Emergency Care for Late Pickups
The school will follow the direction you provided about how your child gets home each day. If there is a change to this, you must notify the office in one of the following ways:
Send a written note with your child with details for how he or she will get home that day.
Email maria.reyes@gcisd.net and kimberly.becerra@gcisd.net with details for how you child will be picked up prior to 2:00 p.m.
Call the office 817-251-5770 prior to 2:00 p.m.
Changes cannot be made by text messages or calls to teachers. Teachers are working with your children during the school day and we can’t ensure that information will get to the office.
If your child has a doctor's appointment that requires leaving school early:
- Please notify the office the day before the appointment so the office has time to prepare necessary checkout for you.
- Pick up your child prior to 2:30 for early release. Because of the size of our school, we are not able to process early pickups after this time. This is a shared policy across GCISD elementary campuses.
- Send a doctor's note in with your child the following day so that we are able to excuse the partial absence.
If you have an emergency and are not able to pick up your child(ren) by 3:20:
- Your child(ren) will be taken to KidzU for supervision at which time an emergency care fee is charged.
- KidzU is located at the Timberline Annex, across from the LAC.
- Unless there are unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather, our car rider dismissal line is cleared by 3:20.
- If possible, please call the office to alert us of the emergency.
Ways and Where the Tigers Tell Our Timberline Story
Email: firstname.lastname@gcisd.net
Website: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/2032
Location: 3220 Timberline Drive, Grapevine, TX, United States
Phone: 817-251-5770
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TESleads/
Twitter: @TimberlineNews