Dolphin Tales

A Newsletter for Dove Elementary Families

January 30-February 3

A Note from the principal...

Hello, Dove families!


It's hard to believe that we will start February this week!! While February may be the shortest month of the year, we will not be short on learning or FUN at Dove Elementary! Be sure to check out the information below and save important information to your family calendar!


Proud to be your principal,


Heather Landrum

Grade Level Newsletters

Links to grade-level newsletters can also be found here:

PreK

Kindergarten

1st grade

2nd grade

3rd grade

4th grade

5th grade

School Stats: Week of January 23-27, 2023

Total Enrollment: 454


Total tardies goal: 0

Tardies this week: 148!!! Parents,we had almost 30 TARDIES/ DAY THIS WEEK!!!

THIS HAS TO IMPROVE! This new year, let's all make the resolution to get up 10 minutes earlier and arrive at school ON TIME!!

***Take a look at the graphic below to see the impact on learning time when a student is even 5 minutes late to school.


Total Attendance Goal: 96.5%

Total Attendance Rate for last week: 92.33%

PK: 88.73%

Kinder: 93.51%

1st: 91.34%

2nd: 92.17%

3rd: 92.08%

4th: 90.88%

5th: 95.82%

Attendance Matters! Thank you for having your child at school on time every day!
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Can I eat lunch with my child?

YES! We welcome families to come eat lunch with their child!!


Due to limited visitor seating, we ask that families use the sign up below to ensure they have a space to sit when they come to lunch! Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. We ask that you only choose one slot per week to allow for other families to also enjoy lunch with their students.

You are welcome to share this sign up with a family member that may not have received the newsletter.

Don't forget your ID when signing in to visit during lunch!

Please call the front office if you have any questions! Thank you!

January Lunch Sign Up

February Lunch Sign Up

New Information!

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Grade level Valentine's Parties will be held during Specials times in the gym on Tuesday, February 14. An RSVP Fast Pass form and Sign Up Genius to help with parties can be found below:


Sign Up Genius to volunteer at parties:


RSVP Fast Pass to skip the line at the kiosks when signing in to volunteer (must also sign up on the Sign Up Genius for a time to volunteer):


Party times are:

Kinder: 8:30-9:10
1st: 9:20-10:00
2nd: 10:40-11:20
3rd: 11:30-12:10
PK: 12:30-1:10
4th: 1:20-2:00
5th: 2:10-2:50


Grade levels will decide if/when students will exchange valentines in the classroom. Communication to families regarding Valentine's Day boxes, bags, etc will be send via the grade level newsletters. Parties are during Specials and if parents would like to volunteer and help at the party, they will sign up on the Sign Up Genius in the newsletter. Parents will not be going back to classrooms.

Literati Book Fair Returns to Dove!

Mark your calendars! We will be having one more book fair this year February 13-17th. There will be a family event on February 16th from 5:30-7:00. This is a great opportunity to come and shop with your kids and then stay to read for 20 minutes. This time will count towards the 1,500 minute challenge sponsored by our wonderful PTA. The online companion fair is already live! Click here to see what Literati has to offer!


February 16 RSVP for PTA Meeting or to shop the Book Fair:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScU3qEsIM33UReGMu5iPtAOsMlpp6dzZwfgp5nwtRgUXbSm3Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

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ATTENTION 5TH GRADE FAMILIES!!!

MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSITION INFORMATION

Click this button to view a Google Doc with information about Middle School Transition Information! Check back as more dates/ info will be added!

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Dove Elementary Helps Students Find Their Love of Reading

Check out the article GCISD put out to share more about our 1,500 Minute Reading Challenge!! How's the challenge going for your student!?!? We LOVE that our students are motivated to read, read, read!!


Link to the article HERE: https://www.gcisd.net/news/what_s_new/d_e_s_helps_students_find_their_love_of_reading

GCISD LOVES Books!

Dolphins, Want some fun ways to switch up your 20 mins/ a night for the 1,500 Minute Reading Challenge?? Check these out!!

For the month of February, our librarians are asking students to show how they read at home and created this fun photo challenge for families to complete together. Take pictures of your student completing each challenge and fill in the card to show your love for reading!

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Repeated Information (But worth reading again!)

GCISD offers the "Play It Safe" program for all students in grades PK-5

We must have your permission in order for your child to participate in this program.

  • Please indicate OPT IN if you would like your child to participate. We need parents to provide an OPT IN or OPT OUT for their child.
  • To fill out the form please log into your Family Access and find the Online Form 22-23 Play it Safe Opt In/Out. Here is a link to an instruction guide.
  • Your child's school will be showing Play It Safe to students on: February 3, 2023


GCISD is hosting a parent preview on January 17 at 10:00 AM via Zoom. This presentation will be recorded and posted on the GCISD website for parents to watch at their convenience.

Videos and scripts will be available for parents to preview from 1/10/2023 to 1/31/2023. https://vimeo.com/showcase/7889498 Password: GC23


If you are unable to view the videos or the parent preview, but wish to view the material, please contact The Women's Center of Tarrant County, Inc. at 817-927-4040 and ask for the Play It Safe department.


For questions, please contact Jennifer Hill, Dove counselor at jennifer.hil@gcisd.net

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GCISD 2023-2024 Instructional Calendar Approved

GCISD will begin the 2023-2024 school year on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. The calendar for the upcoming school year was approved by GCISD’s Board of Trustees at their December 19 meeting.


A few additional holidays and important dates on the calendar include:
-District holidays are on September 4, October 9, January 15, March 29, May 27 and June 19
- Six professional development days (no school for students), which are scheduled for September 18, November 6 and 7 (Election Day), January 2-3 and February 19
- Thanksgiving Break runs November 20-24
- Winter Break for students runs December 18-January 3
- Spring Break runs March 11-15
- The calendar includes flexible minutes which will be used before the two bad weather days scheduled for on February 16 and April 15
- The last day of school is on Thursday, May 23

Click here to view or download the final 2023-2024 calendar. Please note the start date in August and save this calendar and use it when planning upcoming trips and vacations next year!

The Dove Yearbook is proud to celebrate Dove Elementary's 50th anniversary!

There are so many amazing teachers, students, clubs and events at Dove, and we can't wait to showcase them all in this 2022 - 2023 yearbook.

If you haven't already, be sure to create an account with TreeRing.com, our online yearbook service. Signing up is free, and you'll have full access to view the yearbook. Use the link and school code below to create an account:

TreeRing Link: https://legacy.treering.com/validate2/

School Code: 101285613713880

Watch your inbox for future Yearbook updates!

GMS Band (5th grade parents only)

5th Grade Parents! Is your student interested in learning how to play an instrument next year in middle school? The Grapevine MS & Cross Timbers MS Band will be holding their “Meet the Instruments” Event on Saturday, January 28th from 9-1:30pm at Grapevine MS and Saturday, February 25th from 9-1:30pm at Cross Timbers MS. Sign up for one of the days regardless of what school you will be attending next year. All students interested in joining the band program need to attend with at least one parent.


Click here to go to the GMS Band Website to sign up for a time and get all the information you need.

Click HERE for information regarding Meet the Instruments in English.

Click HERE for information in Spanish.

1,500 Minute Reading Challenge

We are so excited to partner with our PTA and the community to present the Dove Dolphin 1,500 Minute Reading Challenge to our students! We'll be sending the challenge worksheet home this week! Students should have their parents initial in a box for every 20 minutes that they read or are read to at home.


DID YOU KNOW?: It would take 75 days of reading 20 minutes per day to conquer reading 1,500 minutes, and there are 99 weekdays left of the school year!?


As students earn prizes on the worksheet, they should present their worksheet that's been initialed by their parents to their homeroom teacher in order to collect their prizes. We are so excited to do this as a school and can't wait to see our students reach those prize milestones!!!

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Grade Level Calendars

If you've been looking for a way to more easily stay on top of all of the events, activities, and deadlines for school, these calendars should really help you!

Pre-K: https://bit.ly/dove-prek
Kindergarten: https://bit.ly/dovekinder
1st Grade: https://bit.ly/dove1st
2nd Grade: https://bit.ly/dove2nd
3rd Grade: https://bit.ly/dove3rdgrade
4th Grade: https://bit.ly/dove4th
5th Grade: https://bit.ly/dove5th

If you have any questions or issues with the calendars or integration, feel free to reach out to communications@dovepta.org for more assistance.
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New STAAR Item Types

3rd-5th grade families, take a look at this!!

The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) has undergone a redesign starting with the 2022 - 2023 school year. Students will experience new item response types, as well as, additional opportunities for free response and writing.

Families and students can preview and practice with the new item types by visiting the Texas Education Agency (TEA) resource at this link.

You do not need a login or password to access the site. Leave both options set to Guest and click the green login button at the bottom of the page. After selecting a STAAR-tested grade level, you will have a variety of options including information about the new item types and practice tests.


3rd-5th grade students will take Interim Assessments (STAAR Benchmark Assessments) on December 14 and 15!! Please make sure you log in at home and talk with your student about these new question types!

Celebrating Birthdays at Dove!

Celebrate your Dolphin’s birthday in a BIG way by having their name and birthday flash on our marquee (Pro Tip- this is a great photo opp)!! Fill out the form below and drop your money by the front office!

Happy Birthday to all our Dolphins!

Please Bring Your ID!

ALL visitors must present a photo ID upon entering Dove EACH TIME THEY VISIT. Any visitor without a photo ID will not be allowed to sign in to our school. Thank you for understanding and for keeping the safety of our students and staff a priority!

Attendance Matters!!!

Please click HERE to view the 22-23 GCISD Instructional Calendar. This is a helpful resource to consult when planning family vacations and trips! Thank you for planning trips and vacations around the Instructional Calendar to ensure your student is in attendance every day that we have school!


Of course, we know that there will be a day when your child has a fever or is vomiting. We ask that in these cases, you keep them home and email or call the school to let us know.


Thank you for making sure your student is at school learning every day!!

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From Dove PTA

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Dove Apple Tree

The Dove Apple Tree has been updated! We invite you to take a look at the list to see what items teachers are needing! This list will continue to be updated, so check back to see what needs we can fill for our amazing teachers! Email appletree@dovepta.org with any questions!

Volunteers Needed!

At Dove, we believe in the partnership between the classroom teacher, student, and parents, and we want you to be a part of our Dove community! Volunteers are needed for a variety of reasons throughout the year. Whether you will be working with a small group of students, reshelving books in the library, helping at Field Day, or chaperoning a field trip, all volunteers must view the GCISD Volunteer handbook and complete a background check every year. More information can be found on the Volunteer page on the GCISD Website. We look forward to seeing you around Dove soon!

District Information

February Parent Tech Academy

Are you a parent looking to stay informed about your child's technology use at school and at home? Look no further than the GCISD Parent Tech Academy! Our next session is at the PDEC on February 22nd, at 6:30pm. At the Parent Tech Academy, we will go over how to access parent weekly emails, your children’s internet history, and even how-to pause the internet on school issued devices after school hours. We will also have a Q&A about raising kids in a digital world.

Join us for the Parent Tech Academy and learn how to be better informed on your child's technology use.

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Curriculum Site

The community may access an overview to curriculum for core courses at the following website: https://sites.google.com/gcisd.net/gcisd-curriculum/home. The site may also be accessed from GCISD.net under the Parent pull-down menu.


Paying for Meals

GCISD will begin charging for meals this year. To see if your child qualifies for Free or Reduced Meal Pricing, please click HERE and complete the form.


To add money to your child's meal account, please send a check to school with them or drop it by the front office. **Pro Tip** Download the My School Bucks App from your App Store. You can add money directly to your child's meal account, track their spending, and receive notifications when their meal account runs low!

Lunch Menus

Click the button to be redirected to the GCISD Nutrition Services Page!

Upcoming Events

February 2:

  • 100th Day of School!
  • Groundhog's Day

February 3: Play it Safe (during Specials)

February 4: 100th Day of School!

February 13-17: Literati Book Fair!!

February 14: Valentines' Day!! Grade level parties in the gym during Specials

February 16: PTA Meeting (5:30-6:00) and D.E.A.R. Night in the Learning Commons (5:30-7:00)!

February 20: No School for Students- Staff PD Day!

February 21:

  • READING IA#2

February 23:

  • MATH IA#2

February 27: TELPAS (2nd-5th)

February 28: Class Pictures and Spring Pictures


March 1: SCIENCE IA #1

March 2:

  • TELPAS (2nd-5th)
  • CEC Meeting 3:30-4:45 in the Learning Commons

March 3:

  • Friendship Day (During Specials)
  • Open House (5:00-6:00) / PTA Movie Night (6:00-7:30)

March 13-17: Spring Break

March 20: Phase 2 Tutorials begins


April 7: Bad Weather Day

April 10: Bad Weather Day

April 19: Early Release (11:45am)

April 25: STAAR Reading (3rd-5th grade)

April 27: STAAR Science (5th grade)


May 9: STAAR Math (3rd-5th grade)

May 19: Field Day

May 25: Last Day of School! Early Release @ 11:45am

Contact Us

The mission of Dove Elementary:


In a partnership with parents, students, teachers, and community, Dove Elementary provides a safe and supportive environment in which students develop an understanding and respect for self and others. We cultivate learning through encouragement of inquiry and empower students to make a difference in our ever-changing world.


Follow our story on Twitter at #DESisBEST

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