Tiger Time News
News from O.C. Taylor Principal, Lisa Young Pedevilla
October 21, 2018
Dear O.C. Taylor Parents,
Thank you for your many notes of well-wishes! Mike and I had a wonderful wedding ceremony and fun celebration. Thank you to the PTA for the luncheon and the staff for the faculty meeting fun! I love this place and am blessed to get to serve as your principal. You can still reach me at lisa.young@gcisd.net as my email address does not change until all of the official paperwork is changed, which will be next summer/school year. I have told the children they can call me by my new name Mrs. Pedevilla, pronounced /pe-duh-vill-uh/ similar to armadillo.
Thank you, Mrs. Bonacci, for arranging for author Frank Cole to come and speak this past Wednesday to our kids! He was hilarious and engaging. I believe he may have sparked an interest in some of our students to think about being an author. We are looking forward to author Tammi Sauer coming this Weds., Oct. 24.
Well, it looks like we went straight from summer to winter this past week.... Texas weather! A special shout out to the dads volunteering to greet each morning and help your children out of the car in the rain! Thank you to our faithful Coach Mac who has crosswalk duty every single day, rain or shine. A big thank you to all of the dads and to Mrs. Putman for watching children so our moms could have a Moms Night Out! I think the dads had just as much fun!
Hope everyone can swing by Menchie's on Tues., Oct. 23 for our OCT fundraiser!
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, October 22
Tuesday, October 23
1:15 Visit from Perot Museum PreK-2nd (OCT Cafeteria)
2:00 Visit from Perot Museum 3rd - 5th (OCT Cafeteria)
4:00 - 6:00 Menchie's Fundraiser (Colleyville location)
Wednesday, October 24
National Unity Day (Wear orange)
9:15 - 10:00 PreK-2nd Tammi Sauer (Author Visit) - Learning Commons
10:15 - 11:15 3rd - 5th Tammi Sauer (Author Visit) - Gym
Thursday, October 25
9:00 Read for the Record (PreK)
2:00 -4:00 Future Explorations
2:55 - 4:00 Choir
Friday, October 26
8:30 - 4:30 5th Grade Field Trip
PTA Reflections Due
Monday, October 29
Red Ribbon Week
Tuesday, October 30
5:00 - 9:00 Spring Creek BBQ (Grapevine)
Wednesday, October 31
7:50 a.m. Book Character Parade (Parents invited!)
Thursday, November 1
2:55 - 4:00 Choir
Friday, November 2
Walk to School
Tip Your Hat to our Veterans Day
2:00 - 2:50 Future Explorations
3:00 - 4:00 Running Club
Menchie's Fundraiser - October 23
_________________________________________
Unity Day, Weds., Oct. 24
________________________________________
Red Ribbon Week - October 29 - November 2
_______________________________________
Spring Creek BBQ - Oct. 30
_____________________________________________
OCT Book Character Parade, Oct. 31
- Students are encouraged not to spend money on costumes, but rather to be “imaginative” in their creativity. Use what is available at home.
- Please send your child to school with a copy of the book to carry in the parade.
- No weapons, props, or provocative attire allowed.
- We ask that makeup not be used as it might irritate your child since they will be wearing it all day.
- No blood, or idea of “gore.” The emphasis is on “books” and s"tory characters.”
- Students must comply with the guidelines or they will not be allowed to participate in the parade. Teacher discretion is advised.
- Students are encouraged to wear school clothes under their costumes or bring a costume that can easily be put on over clothes.
_____________________________________________
Accessing Progress Reports and Report Cards in Skyward
- Once you log in, click on your student's name in the upper left hand corner (if you have more than one child, you will need to click on the arrow next to "All Students" and select the child you are wanting for grade access).
- On the left side of the screen, click on "Progress/Report Card & Letters".
- All progress reports and report cards will be listed. Click on the most recent report to access it.
- It will ask for an "e-Signature" before opening the report.
If you have any trouble logging in, please reach out to Betty Jones at 817-305-4870 or Betty.Jones@GCISD.net. Note: if you have changed your password, she will not be able to help you recover your password.
OCT and GCISD Updates
Conflict Resolution Wheel
____________________________________________
Tech Tip of the Week
TECH TIP OF THE WEEK: Model how to use technology for communication.
FaceTime or Skype with Grandma and Grandpa. Read a bedtime story together if you are gone on a business trip. Email family and friends, so children can know and communicate with extended family. Communication is a key skill our children need to develop in order to be successful in the world.
_____________________________________________
Updates from the Learning Commons, Mrs. Bonacci
Pumpkin Patch:
There is still time to add your Pumpkin to the O. C. Taylor Pumpkin Patch! Students will “parade” through the Learning Commons on October 31st and admire all of the participant’s handiwork. The district communications team might even interview a few of our tigers!
Author Visits:
Frank Cole will be here on the 17th and Tammi Sauer will be here on the 24th. If you missed the deadline to purchase a book for your child you are welcome to purchase one and send it to school to have it autographed. I purchased mine from Barnes and Noble.
For more information visit the Learning Commons Homepage
_________________________________________
Updates from Music, Mrs. Vencill
Veterans Day is a special celebration at O.C. Taylor, and I am encouraging our students to celebrate veterans in the upcoming weeks before our Veterans Day program. Please click this link to learn more about our Veterans Day celebration. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Beth Vencill
Music Teacher
________________________________________
Updates from Counseling and Guidance, Mrs. Whisman
___________________________________________
Updates from Gifted and Talented, Mrs. Griffin
________________________________________
Updates from Literacy Specialists/Dyslexia Teachers, Mrs. Griffith & Mrs. Honeycutt
October is Dyslexic Awareness Month and many of you may have a child, family member or know a friend who is dyslexic. Below you will find some helpful hints for parents doing homework with that child and some encouraging words as well.
Strategies to help end the homework struggle:
· Practice empathy. Put yourself in their shoes. Homework, when coupled with overcoming dyslexia, is no small task for either child or parent. Play anthropologist for an hour and pretend you’re simply at the homework table to observe and witness a marvel of human invention, homework.
· Welcome mistakes as teachable moments. Trying something and failing gives us valuable information. Mistakes are often how we learn. It helps develop resilience, something successful dyslexics have mastered.
· Customize techniques for your child. Listening and asking questions about your child’s experience will provide valuable insight into their behaviors and interests which can help you develop appropriate incentives based on knowing your child’s motivations.
· Do your homework, too. Prepare for the homework session by checking in ahead of time on the subject matter. This especially helpful for math assignments. YouTube is a wonderful resource for a three minute refresher or intro to the latest curriculum.
· Develop multi-sensory strategies. Help boost your child’s homework stamina by bringing in other sensory outlets. For example, offering your child a piece of gum to chew, the option to sit on a yoga ball, or to stand rather than sitting in a chair. Invite your child to pace around the room while brainstorming aloud for a writing assignment, or provide a rubber band they can fidget with to facilitate an outlet for their need to move. Do some silly stretches, think calisthenics, with an emphasis on crossing midline to help bilateral integration, which means using both sides of the body at the same time. For children distracted by noise, offer a quiet place, or allow them to put on some noise canceling headphones.
Above all, avoid power struggles. It takes two for tug-o-war, so beware of picking up your end of the rope. If your child is showing signs of overstimulation such as: decreased focus, yawning, or you notice their gaze drifting off, ask them what they need to do to get back on track. Offer a snack, or bathroom break. Sometimes they’ll tell you they need a break. Set a timer for five to ten minutes and provide a “brain break.” Keep your cool, and don’t mimic negative behavior.
“It’s not just a learning difference,” says Entine. “Our brains are wired differently. It’s a mistake to blanket lack of effort as the cause of a dyslexic child’s struggle with reading and writing.”
As parents, we naturally observe certain qualities in our children that evoke feelings of closeness, or inspire a warm nostalgia about our own childhood. Seeing these qualities is rewarding. We feel close and connected, understood. What about the opposite? What happens when our children, through no fault of their own, struggle with something that triggers feelings of anxiety, shame, or helplessness – all three as relevant to our present as they maybe from our past? Entine’s advice, “Put on your own oxygen mask before you try to help someone else.”
Strategies for parents:
· Give yourself permission to ask for help. Whether from another parent, a teacher, a tutor, a friend, or even an online dyslexia support group, sometimes you need help as well.
· Stay flexible, and observe your child’s responses rather than reacting. Use I statements, “I’m noticing you’re yawning,” and follow up with engaging questions such as “what do you need to do right now to move forward?”
· Do something nice for yourself. You're doing a great job with your child, you also need to stay motivated.
· Start the homework sessions with a hug. Reassure your child that they’re loved and valuable as a person.
Utilizing some of these strategies with your child can help foster better communication and family relationships, not just during homework but throughout the day.
________________________________________
Updates from the Clinic, Nurse Katy
- If your child passed the hearing, vision, and AN screening- you will not receive any paperwork from me. No news is good news! :)
- If your child did NOT pass the hearing, vision, or AN screening, you will receive a copy of the results along with a referral letter. Your child will need further evaluation, as the state of Texas requires me to follow up on all failed screenings.
- 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.
_____________________________________________
SAVE YOURSELF SOME MONEY by labeling
Each school year we have over 100 items, mostly jackets, sweaters, and coats, left in our lost and found. We have dedicated parent volunteers who inspect the clothes searching for a name or label to return them to the owner. Many go unclaimed.
Please prevent loss and ensure your child will stay warm in a coat this season with a labeled coat, jacket, sweater. This will save you from having to buy additional outerwear! The following are labeling options:
- You can use a permanent marker on masking tape if you choose to not write on the actual clothing.
- Or, like me, just take that Sharpie straight to the clothing.
_____________________________________________
David's Law Presentation
GCISD is proud to invite parents to the "Cyberbullying and David's Law" presentation given by David's Legacy Foundation. Maurine Molak, David's Mother, will be presenting. This event will be held on Tuesday, October 23 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Colleyville Heritage High School Auditorium.
Parents will learn facts of David's Law (SB179) and what it means for them and their children. Parents will also learn what to do if their children experience cyberbullying and how to empower their children to take a stand.
_____________________________________________
GCISD Safety First
__________________________________________
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.
In accordance with program guidelines, the Free and Reduced application will be available online as part of skyward registration. The free and reduced application should be filled out electronically atwww.schoollunchapp.com. For those parents that still would like to complete a paper application, they may download an application on the website www.gcisd.net or stop by the Nutrition Services office at 5800 Colleyville Blvd. Paper copies will not be distributed to the campuses this year, please allow families to apply online on a computer on campus or have them come to the Nutrition Services department for assistance.
If you have questions about the Nutrition Services program, please call ext. 5615 or email julie.telesca@gcisd.net.
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-k12.org
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!
FOURTH GRADE - Support the GRACE Food Drive
October is Fourth Grade’s Month to Support the GRACE Food Drive.
Items in Need: Chef Boy-ar-dee
This is THE LAST WEEK for all Fourth Graders to help support the GRACE Food Drive. So far we have collected 55 items. Just 18 more cans needed to reach our class goal of 100%.
Let’s “Start the Par-dee!” with some Chef Boy-ar-dee!”
Remember: The class that averages the most will receive a special treat at the end of the year.
Collection Baskets are located right outside the FOURTH GRADE Classrooms and will be there until the October 26th. Thank you for your help and support in serving our community!
Questions? Concerns?
Please contact: Dawn Hall
Unity Day – Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Together against bullying. UNITED for kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
Make it ORANGE and make it end! What are your true colors when it comes to showing that you believe that all youth should be safe from bullying? Come together in one giant ORANGE message of hope and support, WEAR AND SHARE ORANGE to color our nation, and even the world, visibly showing that our society believes that no child should ever experience bullying.
Fall Festival November 3rd 2p - 6p
Fall Festival is November 3rd from 2-6pm. There will be tons of friends, food, and fun including new inflatables like Human Whack-A-Mole, and our First Annual Chili Cook Off. You don't want to miss the fun! Wristband order forms will be sent home in your student's folder this week! Be sure to send them back no later than Wednesday, October 31st to ensure that you receive your wristbands and tickets by Friday, November 2nd.
We need your help to make Fall Festival a success! A Signup Genius for activity volunteers will be sent out by your home room parents this week! Please be sure to sign up for a spot. High school and middle school volunteers are more than welcome! We ask that all middle school volunteers please be accompanied by an adult. Please remember to bring their volunteer paperwork so that we can sign off and give them credit for their time volunteering.
We need to borrow a few items for Fall Festival. Please see the attached sign up to see if you have anything we need! Please be sure to label your item and deliver them to the PTA workroom between Monday, October 29th and Wednesday, October 31st.
Here's a tentative Fall Festival Schedule to help you plan your afternoon:
2:30 - Chili Cook Off Judging with Celebrity Judge Colleyville Police Chief Michael Miller
3:30 - Game 1 of Heads or Tails - 2 NRH2O 2019 Daily Admission Tickets
4:00 - Principal/Vice Principal KISS THE PIG event (keep sending in those checks so that we can reach our goal of $15,000 by November 2nd)
4:30 - Game 2 of Heads or Tails - Certificate for Pine Cove Winterfest ($199 value)
5:30 - Game 3 of Heads or Tails - 2 Hawaiian Falls 2019 Water Park Daily Admission Tickets
The OC Taylor Online Auction will "Go Live" on Wednesday, October 31st at 9am. Be on the look out for a 32auctions.com link in next week's newsletter. You won't want to miss out on Rule The School, Game On, Teacher Packages, Front Row Seats, Priority Parking, and much more!! This year, the auction won't close until Sunday, November 4th at 5pm to ensure you have plenty of time to browse all the auction has to offer and still spend time with your kids at Fall Festival.
Don't miss out on the fun!
There is still time to become a “Paws”itively “Tiger”ific Sponsor! See the attached packet to learn more. All sponsorships must be submitted no later than Friday, October 26th to ensure that your company's logo is included on the banner that will be displayed in front of our school for the week leading up to Fall Festival! Please contact Stephanie Williams with any questions!
Fall Festival Chili Cookoff
Do you have the best chili in OC Taylor? Well, here's your chance to prove it! It's our first annual OC Taylor Chili Cook Off. Sign up to bring a crock pot of your amazing chili to Fall Festival on Saturday, November 3rd! We'll have all the fixins! OC Taylor teachers and staff will be judging the competition, along with community members! Click here to sign up. First and Second Place winners will receive front row seats (4 seats total) to the OC Taylor school event of their choice!
___________________________________________
Calling all Tiger artists!
YOU could have your Art be on our Paw Prints Student Directory! We are looking for creative, school-spirited art to go on the front and back covers of our directory. If you are interested, please submit a drawing (NO COLOR please!) to the OCT front office for Mrs. Stricherz by Wednesday, October 31st. We will inform the winners in the first full week of November.
___________________________________________
OCT Veteran's Day Help
Fuss Free Fundraiser
Our Fuss Free Fundraising is well under way! So far, we have raised $5,680. You should have received a packet in your child's folder. If not, please click here! Thanks to the families who have already sent in a check to ensure that 100% of funds raised stay at OCT this year. Don't forget to encourage your family and friends to help out! Checks can be made out to OCT PTA or they can log in to PayPal and send money to octptatreasurer@gmail.com. If we reach our goal of $15,000 by Friday, November 2nd, our principals will KISS A PIG during Fall Festival. You won't want to miss it!
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 9 laps, 2nd Grade is in the Lead with 553, 3rd grade is in 2nd place (506), and 4th Grade is in 3rd place (337).
The next submission date for Box Tops is November 1st, 2018. Please have all Box Tops with an expiration date of November 1st, 2018 submitted no later than Friday, October 26th to ensure that they are counted in the next submission!
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 scottlizpayne@yahoo.com
Thank you!
______________________________________________________________________________________