The Mustang Minute
10-16-17
Girls Cross Country District Champs
Halftime Performance
Boys Cross Country District Champs
Principal's Message
I hope that everyone is enjoying the beauitful weather change this weekend. It is hard to beleive that Friday, October 20th is the end of our first nine weeks. Please take a few minutes this week to review your student's grades.
Senior Information:
Please remind your seniors, particularly those with a senior release, that we will have our annual graduation discussion on Tuesday, October 17th at 8:45 am in the auditorium. The Senior Panoramic photo will be taken immediately following at 9:15 am.
Student Voice Initiative:
As part of the "Student Voice" initiative in GCISD, students across the district will periodically complete questionnaires and surveys to provide feedback on their learning experiences. Sometimes these surveys are informal (such as feedback on a recent unit, etc...), and sometimes they are more comprehensive (such as a Gallup survey, etc...). Most surveys will be anonymous, and all surveys will be used for the purpose of providing the best learning environment possible for students. If you have any questions about the Student Voice initiative, feel free to ask your student's teacher or the campus administration for more information.
GCISD Holiday Card:
Elementary, Middle and High school students are invited to submit original artwork for the cover of GCISD's official holiday greeting card. More information is available at the link below.
UIL Grade Checks
The next window for UIL eligibility grade checks will take place Friday, October 20th. Please work with your student and their teachers to monitor grades and their learning progress.
UIL Eligibility Waiver
Students are allowed one waiver per academic year. Students, please discuss this with your sponsors/coaches. The following are the deadlines to apply for an academic waiver for the 2017-18 school year.
October 26, 2017
January 12, 2018
March 23, 2018
Mustang Celebrations
Cross Country:
Congratulations to our Boys and Girls Varsity and JV Cross Country Teams for earning the District Championship. Results: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/Results/Meet.aspx?Meet=131110
GHS fishing team of Jackson Badgett and Kamon Martin tied for 10th place at Ray Roberts on September 30th out of 244 teams with 11.27 lbs. We are in the North Division of THSBA. We had 11 teams in the tournament and got 5th overall with 7 teams bringing in fish!
Arlington Speech and Debate Results:
3rd Place Team Sweeps
Debate Awards: Arlington
1st place PFD – Avery Button and Sanika Bhave
1st place Varsity CX – Ian Miller and Eric Wouters
2nd place Novice CX - Edward Watts and Rebecca Vionito
2nd place speaker PFD – Jay McClure
8th place Congress – Drew Dehaven
Finals Congress – Hayley Smyth
Quarter finals – PFD – Sam Goodman and Jay McClure
Quarter Finals LD – Riya Mohan and Dylan Shah
Poetry
Maddie Campion - 3rd
KJ Marino - 6th
HI
Kaylee Frazier - 4th
Duet
KJ Marino & Natalie Shaia - 1st
Duo
Matt Gutowski and Natalie Shaia - 4th
Prose
Matt Gutowski- 4th
GHS Swim and Dive:
The varsity and junior varsity swim team competed at the AISD Invitational in Mansfield, TX. The girls placed 10th and boys place 9th overall against many top ranked 5A teams and 6A teams.
Swimmers who placed in the top 8:
Girls 200 Medley Relay - 8th Megan Arendse, Anna Hetisimer, Arianne Romero, Catherine Rodgers
Boys 200 Medley Relay - 7th Eric He, Grant Ghormley, Gavin Carey, Vivek Tanna
Girls 200 Free - 8th Anna Hetisimer
Boys 200 IM - 4th Eric He
Boys 500 Free - 5th Eric He
Boys 200 Free Relay - 6th Gavin Carey, Jared Fletcher, Eric He, Vivek Tanna
Girls 100 Back - 5th Megan Arendse
Boys 100 Breast - 8th Grant Ghormley
The divers hosted the Dick Wilson Dive Invitational on Saturday. Teams throughout the state competed at the meet.
Divers who placed in the top 8:
Keelie Shuck - 7th
The swimmers and divers will compete against Frisco Heritage and Timbercreek High School on 10/24 at the swim center 6pm start.
Counselors' Corner
GCISD College & Career Night
Save the Date: Do you have questions about colleges, career pathways, and/or financial aid? Come get your answers all in ONE EVENING! GCISD College & Career Night is combining with our Annual Financial Aid Night on Tuesday, October 24th from 6-8 p.m. at CHHS. All high school students and parents are invited to attend and connect with representatives from over 125 colleges (4-year, 2-year, technical), as well as military personnel. There will also be financial aid presentations to help families navigate how to pay for college.
Important Message for Seniors: Please make sure that you are requesting your transcripts for universities, scholarships, and CommonApp through Parchment. Your CommonApp process will stall if you have not requested your transcript through Parchment. Also, remember those using AppyTexas will need to request a transcript to each individual college you listed on your ApplyTexas application. If you are having difficulty requesting transcripts, come by and see your counselor ASAP. Early application deadlines are typically November 1st and December 1st, check on the college website to ensure you are aware of the date!
Seniors Requesting Counselor Recommendations: If students have submitted requests for counselor recommendations to accompany their college application, counselors will have those uploaded into systems such as CommonApp and SendEdu by the admission deadline window indicated. If you are requesting a recommendation letter (required as part of the application) to be mailed to an institution, please provide your counselor with an addressed envelope with postage. Also, please come to the counseling office to pick up a green “About Me” form to help your counselor assist you with these letters.
Attention Class of 2018: Your GHS counselors would like to recognize you for being accepted into a college or university. Please give a copy of your acceptance letter(s) throughout the school year to your counselor to help ensure that you are recognized as well!
ASVAB: The Armed Services Vocational Assessment Battery (ASVAB) will be offered at GHS on November 7 at 8:40 am in the Library (Lecture Hall) Open to 10th grade - 12th grade. GHS, CHHS, and Bridges students welcome. The ASVAB is a validated assessment that assesses aptitudes and predicts success in a wide variety of occupations. Seniors and Juniors are encouraged to participate. No charge and No Military obligation. For more information go to http://asvabprogram.com
Signing up for this test must be done through http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/46199
Parents of Dual students: Progress report grades for Dual can be viewed through your student’s TCC blackboard account. Be sure to ask your student to share their progress in Dual with you!
Did you Know?: The counseling office provides weekend food on Friday afternoons for students who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program. Send your student to the counseling office to pick up a bag.
Follow us on Twitter @gvinecounseling
An invitation from GHS STEM Academy:
Senior Panoramic Photo on Tuesday, October 17th!
SENIORS AND ALL UNDERCLASSMEN LAST CHANCE TO GET YOUR PHOTOS TAKEN!
OCTOBER 18TH will be the LAST DAY to retake student, staff, and senior pictures. LifeTouch will be on campus with all the props needed to take care of our students and staff. You may also have your picture retaken if you would like to. Please prepare accordingly, we want everyone to be represented in the YEARBOOK!
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our Yearbook Adviser Erin Quassa at erin.quassa@gcisd.net
It is time for SENIOR YEARBOOK TRIBUTES!
If you have or know a senior who is graduating in either December or May, please consider honoring them in their senior yearbook by submitting a senior tribute from family and friends!
Facts you need to know:
1. DEADLINE: Friday, Dec. 1st, 2017
2. Prices: Vary by size
3. Reasons Why Senior Tributes are a brilliant idea:
a. Allows you to acknowledge your senior’s accomplishments.
b. Something your senior will be able to reflect on for years to come.
c. You are supporting GCISD and GHS.
d. There are limited spots available. DON’T GET LEFT OUT!
Now that you are excited and ready to get all the details and place your order, please email erin.quassa@gcisd.net for a design and pricing information.
Please follow the link and instructions below to order YOUR 2018 GHS YEARBOOK!
2. On the right-hand side of the page you should see “No Customer Number?” Please fill in the information requested for city and state.
3. Once you click “Locate your school” it will take you to another page which asks you to select your school. Please select the option for Grapevine High School.
4. Once you click on GHS you will be taken to the order and selection page. On the left-hand side of the page you will an “Individual Items” section. The yearbook its self is at the top, the rest are customizations you can add as you like. If you are not sure what something is, click on the item to bring up a description.
5. On the right-hand side of the same page you will see “Start your order”. Please fill in the information requested and click next.
6. You will add your yearbook 1st, then click the next button to add any additional items that you would like.
7. The final page will allow you to review your order to ensure that it is correct and it will prompt you to fill in your paymehttps://www.smart-pay.com/nt information.
**You will be receiving notice via regular mail, to purchase your yearbook online, if you have already submitted an order please disregard the mailer. If you are unsure if you order one or not, please don’t hesitate to reach out and the yearbook staff can double check for you!
Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for this great GHS tradition, this will be our 102nd publication of the yearbook and it would not be possible without you!
An Update for GCISD Bus Riders
In June 2017, Governor Abbott signed Senate Bill 693, which requires all buses model year 2018 or newer, to be equipped with three-point seat belts for each passenger. The buses will have 76 seat belts in instances where students can ride three to a row, but can be adapted to seat two per row. While the Bill was signed into law, and the district must comply, there was no additional state funding allocated for this requirement.
In the 2016 Bond, voters approved the purchase of seven new buses. Although seat belts were not included in the original proposal, the buses purchased with bond funds will be equipped with three-point seat belts. These purchases will be spread over a four-year period. The first two buses with seat belts were recently received into the GCISD fleet and will begin service immediately.
Since GCISD is a Robin Hood district and estimates the payment to the State this year will be $44 million, there is no funding to purchase additional buses beyond the seven approved in the 2016 Bond.
Student safety is the number one priority in GCISD and the transportation department practices bus safety on a daily basis with riders. These practices will continue on all buses, regardless of the inclusion of seat belts.
Reflections Contest
Participate in the 2017-2018 Reflections Program at Grapevine High School!
Here’s how:
Download entry forms and guidelines at http://www.txpta.org/reflections-participation or pick up a copy from the front office. Create as many pieces from as many categories as you wish. Submit entries to front office by Thursday November 2nd. Plan to attend the awards ceremony in January to be recognized for your work/s of art
Contact kirtirathie@yahoo.com with questions.
Swim/Dive
CALENDAR
Monday, October 16 (B Day)
Extended Day 7:15am Library
GCISD Combined Choirs 6:30pm White's Chapel United Methodist Church
Tuesday, October 17 (A Day)
AP Teacher/Parent Breakfast 7:30am Library
GSA meeting 8:00am in Room 110
National Art Honor Society 8:00am Lecture Hall
Graduation Discussion by Balfour--all Seniors 8:40am Auditorium
Senior Panoramic Photo 9:15am
Go Center: Princeton University presentation 10:30-11:15am in Community Room; US Army; Tarrant County College
Extended Day 4:15pm Library
Tennis Varsity Bi-District
Volleyball 9th Red @ CHHS 5:30pm
Volleyball JV @ CHHS 5:30pm
Volleyball Varsity @ CHHS 6:30pm
Band UIL Region 31 Marching Contest at Pennington Field
Choir Jersey Mike's Spirit Night 4-8:00pm
Clay Target team meeting 7:00pm Library
Wednesday, October 18 (B Day)
Senior, Underclass, Staff final picture day
Young Feminists Club meeting 8:00am Room 114
Library Council meeting 8:00am Library
Redefining Beautiful meeting 8:00am Room 111
Go Center: University of Missouri; University of Mississippi; University of South Carolina at Columbia
Senior Panoramic Photos for sale during lunches
Extended Day 4:15pm Library
Ecology Club 4:00pm Room 705
Softball JV v TimberCreek 6:00pm
Softball Varsity v TimberCreek 7:30pm
Thursday, October 19 (A Day)
Young Progressives 8:00am Room 106
Community Champions 8:00am Library
Extended Day 4:15pm Library
Student Forum 4:00pm Room 707
Football 9th Blue v Richland 5:30pm
Football JV @ Richland 6:00pm
Football 9th Red v Richland 7:00pm
National Art Honor Society Induction 5:30pm Library
Friday, October 120 (B Day)
Pep Rally "Galaxy"
Students Standing Strong 7:30am Library
Debate @ Plano West (through Sat.)
Golf Varsity Boys @ Robson Ranch Denton (through Sat.)
Golf Varsity Girls B @ Champions Circle Ft. Worth (through Sat.)
Volleyball 9th Red v Richland 5:30pm
Volleyball JV v Richland 5:30pm
Volleyball 9th Blue v Richland 6:30pm
Volleyball Varsity v Richland 6:30pm--Senior Night
Football Varsity v Richland 7:30pm
Saturday, October 21
Oral Interp @ Plano West HS
Fillies Jr. Dance Clinic
Tennis Varsity Area
Choir Region Auditions at CHHS 9:00am-2:00pm
Project Graduation
The GHS Project Graduation Board is in full swing planning and fundraising for the Grapevine Graduation Celebration that aims to save lives. If you would like general information or to learn how to help by volunteering, donating, helping to raise funds or becoming a sponsor, please visit the webpage at https://www.tinyurl.com/MustangModel like us on social media (Facebook) facebook.com/GHSProjectGrad or (twitter) @GHS_ProjGrad
You can help by:
- Signing up to be a Flocker by clicking here
- Sign up to help Graduation Night at Main Event by clicking here
- You can sponsor a flock for $150.00 by emailing grapevinehsprojectgraduation@gmail.com
- Donate using GoFundMe - if every household represented at GHS donated $10 we would be able to pay for all graduating seniors to attend for free
- Let us know your intentions to be a Project Graduation sponsor by emailing grapevinehsprojectgraduation@gmail.com
- Volunteer to help at the Home Varsity Football games by clicking here.
- GHS Project Graduation is a 501(c)3 so your donations are tax deductible.
AND we have a new opportunity for students to get involved by taking over the @GHSProject_Grad Twitter Page. Be an Exclusive Project Graduation Mustang Model by applying here.
It will take all hands on deck to make this a successful year! The Students and Community need your help with GHS Project Graduation!