Tiger Time News
News from O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Young Pedevilla
November 25, 2018
Dear O.C. Taylor Parents,
- THANKSGIVING BREAK - We hope you all enjoyed a very pleasant and relaxing Thanksgiving Break!
- A special thank you to all who donated frozen turkeys for families in need. We collected 192 turkeys this year! That is over 60 more than last year! Wow! A lot of families had a nice Thanksgiving dinner because of your generosity. Thank you to our O. C. Taylor Dads' Club for coordinating this event. Be sure and read the OCT PTA section below and see a photo of all of the dads who volunteered.
- HOLIDAY HULLABALLOO - We have some fun things planned at O.C. Taylor during the month of December. The holidays are a magical time for children, so we want to make sure they feel the marvel. Your children are invited to participate in some fun dress up days this month. If your family celebrates a holiday or festival during December other than Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, please let us know. We would like to know any other holidays or celebrations you and your family celebrate and acknowledge. Please email me.
To the BEST of days,
Principal Young 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.
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.
OC Taylor Elementary Events
Monday, November 26
Tuesday, November 27
8:00 - 12:00 - Makeup School Pictures, Clubs, etc. (Glamourcraft), Code OCTE18
3:10 - 4:30 CEC
Wednesday, November 28
10:20 - 11:10 Scoliosis Screening (5th Grade)
Thursday, November 29
2:55 - 4:00 Choir
Friday, November 30
8:30 - Spelling Bee
5:00 - 8:00 Colleyville Tree Lighting (Choir performs at 7:00)
Monday, December 3
Santa Hat Day - Students are invited to wear a Santa hat or any hat
9:00 - 2:00 3rd Grade Field Trip - Rescheduled from November 12th
11:00 - 1:00 PTA Executive Board Luncheon
Tuesday, December 4
Hawaiian Holiday - All are invited to wear tropical clothing or bright clothing
9:00 am CMS Band/Choir
Wednesday, December 5
Candy Cane Day - Wear red and white
2:55 - 4:00 TTT
Thursday, December 6
Kwanzaa and Crafts Day - Wear black, red, and/or green
2:55 - 4:45 Extended Choir Rehearsal
Grapevine Parade of Lights
Friday, December 7
Flannel or Fleece Friday - Don those sweatshirts and flannel shirts
PTA Walk to School
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Help Needed with Future Explorations starting in January
Parents, we still need assistance and your career expertise. Please consider volunteering a little time! Future Explorations allows our learners to explore and experience life and possible career paths. We frame careers in a kid-friendly, elementary way.
We just finished our first session. We will start our second session after the holidays on January 11 and will end February 15. We will spend 5-6 weeks on Fridays from 2:00-2:50 p.m. experiencing these different pathways in a hands-on, authentic, and engaging manner. Please consider volunteering time OR resources.
Please take a minute to complete the form below on how you can assist and support our Future Explorations this year! Big or small, we would love for you to join us as we navigate toward our future!
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OCT and GCISD Updates
Hour of Code, Dec. 3-7
The 'Hour of Code’ is a nationwide initiative to introduce millions of students to one hour of computer science and computer programming. It was launched in December of 2013 to demystify and promote Computer Science. Hour of Code has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science.
Why in GCISD?
Supports the GCISD Portrait of a Graduate by teaching computational thinking in order to develop skilled problem solvers.
Encourages students to be creators rather than consumers of technology.
Intentionally promotes opportunities for all learners to engage in computational thinking.
Is based on K-8 technology applications standards and vertically aligned with high school computer science standards.
GCISD’s Hour of Code is the week of December 3-7, 2018.
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McAlister's Deli Night, Dec. 11, 5-10 pm
Come Support
O.C. Taylor Elementary
McAlister’s Deli
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
5:00pm – 10:00pm
5615 Colleyville Blvd, Suite 200
Colleyville, Texas
Donating back: 20%
When you purchase your meal mention
O.C. Taylor – click this link to RSVP
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Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night, Dec. 17, 5-8 pm
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Conflict Resolution Wheel -
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City of Colleyville, Mayor for A Day Contest
Colleyville Mayor, Richard Newton, is encouraging students in grades 2-7 to submit an essay for their Mayor for a Day Contest. This is the city's 34th year offering this program and it is so much fun for the student, Mayor, and City employees. Essays are due by Dec. 7. Essays received after this date will not be considered.
Click here to see the flyer or go to the website to read more:
https://www.colleyville.com/Home/Components/News/News/197/18
On the big day, they pick the Mayor for a Day (MFD) up from school in a police or fire vehicle, take them on a special behind-the-scenes tour of the City, have a pizza party for the MFD and 10 friends, and have the MFD and his or her school recognized during the City Council meeting.
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Updates from the Learning Commons, Mrs. Bonacci
BOOK FAIR
Our 2018 Fall Scholastic Book Fair will be held from December 10-14 and we need volunteers to help with setup after school on December 7th. If you are interested in helping out please email me at dawn.bonacci@gcisd.net. We will also need assistance with sales during the week, and packing everything up on December 10th. Book Fair is always a lot of fun so I hope to see you there!
COSTUMES ANYONE?
Please consider donating your Halloween costumes to our green screen room! Our students are very creative and love to make videos to reflect their learning.
Updates from Music, Mrs. Vencill
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Updates from Art, Mrs. Morgan
Students are invited to participate in the GCISD 2018 Holiday Greeting Card Contest. The theme this year is "Holiday Magic". Please submit the artwork with the completed entry form to Mrs. Morgan by Monday, November 26th at 8 a.m.
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Updates from Counseling and Guidance, Mrs. Whisman
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Updates from Gifted and Talented, Mrs. Griffin
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Updates from the Clinic, Nurse Katy
- Avoidance of touching their face (T-zone)
- Using tissues or the bend of their arm for coughing/sneezing
- Proper hand washing! We teach them to sing their ABCs twice or the Happy Birthday song twice. Be sure they wash the front and back of their hands, in between all of their fingers, and underneath their fingernails.
Happy Thanksgiving: I am extremely THANKFUL to be able to work alongside such wonderful parents and families at OCT! Thank you for all that you do! I hope you enjoyed this break with your little Tigers and loved ones...
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GCISD Safety First
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Cafeteria and Menu Updates
Attached is a copy of the calendar menu, it may also be viewed on the district's website. Nutrition information may be viewed through the nutrition services website or by downloading the new Meal Viewer app through the apple or android store.
If you have questions about the Nutrition Services program, please call ext. 5615 or email julie.telesca@gcisd.net.
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Join the GCISD TEAM!
Great opportunities are available in our auxiliary departments:
- Nutrition Specialists -PT w/ benefits – work while your students are in school!
- KidzU Site Aides – PT w/benefits – great schedule for local college students!
- Night Custodians
- Bus Drivers
- Maintenance Engineers
Apply now to work with the BEST! www.gcisd.net
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
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. We are excited about the new LEAD 2.0 and hearing from all parents! 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
We think your kids are..... G-G-G-G-reat!
Turkey Drive Thank you from Dads Club and GRACE
Silent Auction Second Chance THANK YOU
Thanks to everything who participated in our Silent Auction and Second Chance Auction! Just a friendly reminder, if you have not already sent in your payment, please do so ASAP. Checks should be made out to OCT PTA. If you prefer to pay by credit card, please email octsilentauction@gmail.com and we will be happy to send you a PayPal invoice. Please turn in your permission slips as soon as possible for Rule the School, Party with the Principal, and Teacher Packages. If you are participating in Rule the School, please email your child's picture to octsilentauction@gmail.com so that we can have their "teacher" ID ready for them!
O.C. TAYLOR’S TIGER TREE - GIFTS FOR GRACE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE
The Tiger Tree will be back again this year and will be decorated with paws. Paws will include items in need which we will donate to the Grace Christmas Cottage.
Our Tiger Tree will be up after the Thanksgiving Break. We hope that you can stop by the lobby and pick-up your paw; however, If you can't make it into the lobby area this year, you can also sign-up for a specific item below:
1. Sign-up for an item & purchase the gift.
2. Bring the unwrapped gift to school no later than Friday, Dec. 14th
As always, thank you for your acts of kindness by helping those in need!
We hope that many of you are still able to visit the Tiger Tree and take a paw as this is only a small list of items in need.
Thank you.
Dawn Hall, GRACE Liaison
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APPLE TREE PROJECT
The O.C. Taylor Apple Tree has grown new branches! 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 this link 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.
Jill Tate - VP of Volunteers jhbu99@aol.com
Box Tops and Amazon Smile
This year, we will be increasing donations to the OC Taylor PTA thru Box Tops for Education and Amazon Smile! It's a simple way to donate to our school! Here's how you can help:
#1 Clip out Box Tops for Education and place them on the Box Top collection sheet or in a Ziploc bag. Be sure to place your child's grade level on the bag or collection sheet! We will be counting box tops for our Racing to Recess Challenge. The grade level with the highest level of Box Tops each semester will earn an extra recess and Popsicle party!
After 13 laps, 2nd Grade is in 1st place (987), 34d Grade in 2nd place (972) and 1st Grade is in 3rd place (889).
We received our first Amazon Smile check for $44.51!
Join the PTA!
Thank you to all our parents and staff that joined the PTA already! We truly appreciate your support!
If you did not join the PTA at Meet the Teacher, we encourage you to do so. The annual dues are only $7.50 per membership. That's the lowest price in town for PTA memberships and its the BEST, in my opinion! Membership in the PTA allows you to improve the education and opportunities for our students. When you join the PTA, you become a member of the Texas PTA and you will receive a copy of our 2018-2019 Paw Prints student directory! This valuable directory contains classroom lists, phone numbers, addresses and other vital information you will use all year! To join the PTA it's so simple, visit http://www.joinPTA.org.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Liz Payne- VP Memberships
Thank you!
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