GALATAS GAZETTE
November 5, 2021
Contact Information
Denae Wilker, Principal
Candace Mathis, Assistant Principal
Lyndsey Christopher, Counselor
Through the collaborative efforts of all who pass through our door, we provide a safe learning community that develops lifelong learners and responsible citizens.
Website: http://galatas.conroeisd.net/
Location: 9001 Cochrans Crossing Drive, The Woodlands, TX, USA
Phone: 936-709-5000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GalatasCISD/
Twitter: @GalatasCISD
Picture Retake Information
Picture retakes will be held on Thursday, November 11.
If your child was absent on Picture Day, or new to Galatas since September 16, their picture will be taken on November 11. A picture order form will be sent home with your student before then, and if you would like to order a picture package, that form must be returned to school on Retake Day.
If you wish to have your student's picture retaken for another reason, please return the previously ordered picture package to your child's teacher, and indicate that you want the picture retaken. Please return the picture package marked with "retake" to your child's teacher by Monday, November 8. You will receive the same picture package you previously ordered with your child's retaken picture.
Students in the Virtual School can drive through the car line area from 11 AM-12 PM to get their picture taken for inclusion in the Yearbook. Ordering information will be available from the photographer.
Galatas Bubble Run Fundraiser!
Donations can be made starting NOW on the PTO website, www.galataspto.com
PRIZES for donation levels:
$500 & up - ALL below + lunch with Mrs. Wilker (Chick Fil A lunch provided by PTO, Date TBD)
$400 & up - ALL below + Bubble Machine
$300 & up - ALL below + Bubble Blaster
$200 & up - ALL below + Jumbo Bubbles
$100 & up - Homework Pass + below
$50 & up - Extra Recess
*Trophy for Top Fundraising Student
*Bubble Wands for Top Classroom Participation
*Pajama Day for Top Grade Level Change Jug
Service Project Details:
*Kids will decorate brown lunch bags to be donated to Kids Meals Inc.
*Non-perishable goods donated to Montgomery County Food Bank.
*All donated items can be brought to school in your child’s backpack.
*Boxes will be located to drop off items at the beginning of each hallway.
*Food donation deadline is Wednesday, November 17th .
*Signup genius will be emailed out.
Thank you in advance for your commitment to supporting the Galatas Greyhounds! All proceeds raised during the Galatas Bubble Run stay with the PTO and will go towards new playground equipment! Our goal is to raise $40,000!
Let’s go Greyhounds!
Movie Night Family Sign-up
Movie Night Volunteers Needed
There are several ways to help out with this fun event including crafting decorations after school next week, setting up on the afternoon of the event, working the snack table during the movie, and helping tear down afterwards. You can even help with crafting on your own time at home! This is a great way to get involved and help our families make a special memory!
Sign up below to volunteer.
November Now Available: Galatas Lunch Visitors Sign-up
Please sign up by clicking the button below, using the following guidelines:
1. Please be sure to sign up under the correct grade level and date.
2. When signing up, use only one slot per family. Please add your child's name first, then add the visitor names in the comment section. We ask that you limit the number of visitors to three, please!
3. Please sign up no more than once per month for each student, so that all parents have an opportunity to visit for lunch.
4. Please understand that if you arrive more than 5 minutes after you student's scheduled lunchtime, there is a possibility you will not be able to eat with your child, due to the limited amount of time alloted for lunch.
5. Please remember that family members may only eat with their child.
The health and safety of our students and staff remains our top priority, so as we begin to reopen to lunch visitors we will have a limited number of guests per grade level, per day. This will allow us to maintain our current spacing for students and provide a pleasant experience for our guests. We will only allow parents who have made a reservation through SignUp Genius to enter the building, so please do not show up for lunch without completing this step.
Once you have secured a lunch reservation, you will enjoy a picnic lunch outside on our fourth grade hard top area, located adjacent to our cafeteria. Unfortunately, this means that on rainy days, we will not be able to host lunch guests. If this happens, you may sign up for a different date. If all of the slots are full for the month, please contact the front office and we will help you reschedule.
Lunchtime is limited to 25 minutes. Please allow time (about 5 minutes) to complete the required check-in at the front office prior to your child's lunchtime (a driver's license is required for adults each time they visit Galatas). You will meet your child at the cafeteria, and then proceed to the 4th grade hard top for lunch.
Once the lunch time has ended, you will drop your child at the cafeteria doors to return with their class to the next activity. Then you will head back to the front office where you will return your visitor sticker.
Please be mindful that the next grade level parents are also excited to visit their children for lunch. We require parents to exit promptly at the designated time, to allow the next group to have lunch together.
Here are the lunch times for each grade:
Kindergarten 11:30-11:55 AM
1st Grade 11:05-11:30 AM
2nd Grade 12:20-12:45 PM
3rd Grade 12:30-12:55 PM
4th Grade 11:55 AM-12:20 PM
CALLING ALL CREATIVE WRITERS!
The Greyhound Gab is our school’s quarterly literary publication. This year to accommodate both traditional and remote learners, students can submit an original creative writing piece to the issue associated with the first letter of your last name. If your last name begins with A, B, C or D and you would like to contribute to the November issue of the Greyhound Gab, please submit your piece to Christina Benavides at galatasnewsletter@gmail.com no later than Friday, November 12, 2021. Submissions should be labeled with student’s first name, last name initial, and section number. Publication date will be Friday, November 19, 2021. (See table below for future issue dates and when you can contribute.)
Examples of creative writing types/topics (no puzzles please):
-- Book review
--Teacher/staff interview
--Original poetry
-- School event report (ex. First Day of School, Reading Week, Book Fair, etc.)
While submissions should be student work, there may be a need for parent edits. The pieces do not need to be long; the purpose of the Gab is for our Greyhounds to be creative and see their work published!
Yearbooks on Sale Now...Early Bird Discount!
Yearbooks are on sale, and
early bird pricing ends November 20!
Purchase your yearbook now at www.balfour.com.
Top Dog Yearbook Shout Outs!
•Applaud your 4th grader’s achievements with a tribute in the Yearbook! You can purchase an ad for only $20 when you order your yearbook or separately.
• To purchase: go to the link above, click on Yearbook, then TOP DOG ADS
For any questions, please e-mail galatasyearbook@gmail.com.
Join the PTO and Support our Greyhounds
Please support our school by joining our amazing PTO. The link below will take you to the Galatas PTO website, where you can join the PTO and explore ways to get involved at Galatas.
It is a great way to get connected with our Galatas community and other parents.
PTO Directory Update
Did you know Galatas has a digital directory? Current PTO members have access to the Galatas digital directory by using the DirectorySpot app or visiting https://www.directoryspot.net.
If you were a PTO member last year, you can access the directory with the same username and password. New members will use the email they signed up for the PTO with as their username. Directory access is only available by being a current PTO member. You can join the Galatas PTO at the link above!
November & December Now Available! Volunteer Opportunity
We are able to have a few volunteers assist in the Office Copy Room. This volunteer opportunity will be in the Copy Room off the front office only; it will not involve any interaction with students.
All volunteers must have completed the CISD Volunteer by visiting https://apps.conroeisd.net/volunteer/
Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up.
- Copy Room volunteers will make copies and laminate materials for staff members. Prior Copy Room experience is preferred; we cannot provide training on how to use the copier. If you have volunteered in another school making copies, this copier is the same as other schools.
- Volunteers must adhere to all current District and Campus guidelines relating to health and safety. When checking in at the front desk, staff will ensure that guidelines are understood and followed.
- Only the volunteer that signs up may enter the building. We cannot accommodate children or other visitors at this time.
Please call 936-709-5000 with any questions. Thank you!
Counselor's Corner
Generation Texas Week
Generation Texas Week will be November 15th-November 19th. During the week students will learn about the wonderful possibilities of their futures and the importance of a good education. They will explore post-secondary school/training and career options. Please see the flyer below for special theme/dress up days for the week!
Holiday Assistance
Throughout the year, different organizations offer students and families at Galatas Elementary assistance with school supplies, clothing, food, and other various needs. As the holidays approach us, I will have organizations reaching out to me to refer families who may benefit from receiving assistance with holiday needs. If you would like to be considered when I have the opportunity to help out a family in need, please click the link below and fill out the Google Form.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that makes student educational records confidential, prohibits me from releasing student information to these agencies without your permission. By filling out the Google Form, you will give me permission to refer your family to these programs and share essential information. In turn, these groups agree to use your information only for the purpose of their assistance program(s). Assistance programs vary from year to year, filling out the form does not automatically mean you will receive assistance.
I would love to help any of our Galatas families in need. If you need assistance but feel more comfortable contacting me directly, please do not hesitate to do so. You may email me at lynchristopher@conroeisd.net or call at 936-709-5008.
Mental Health Resource
TCHATT (Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine) is a program that offers free in home tele-mental health services for children who have expressed emotional needs that fall outside of the boundaries that the school counselor is able to provide. Please see the flyer from TCHATT to learn more about this resource available to all families.
Salute to our Veterans
Gifted and Talented Nomination Window Now Open
The window is now open for parent nominations for the Spring, 2022 Gifted and Talented screening. Nominating packets are available by contacting our Assistant Principal, Candace Mathis, at cdmathis@conroeisd.net.
Parents of 3rd and 4th grade students may nominate their student by completing the District GT Nomination packet. It is strongly encouraged that parents consult with their child’s teacher(s) prior to nominating their child. If your child has already qualified for Gifted and Talented services in some content areas but not all, you must nominate them again if you would like for them to try to qualify in additional areas. Students must take the full battery of tests as specific subject areas cannot be isolated for testing purposes.
Parents of 2nd grade students: Please do not nominate your 2nd grade child at this time! All second grade students will participate in the CogAT assessment in late October which will serve as a GT screener for second grade students. More information to come at a later date.
Parents or Kindergarten and 1st grade students may nominate their student, but it is highly advised that parents consult with their child’s teacher prior to nominating their child as tests can be frustrating for younger students due to the amount of time involved in testing.
Spring GT testing will take place at Galatas Elementary during the school day, on dates yet to be determined in late January/early February, 2022.
All completed nomination packets must be returned to Candace Mathis on or before December 10.
Drop-off Procedures for Forgotten Items
Please help your student be fully prepared for their day by ensuring that they have all needed materials (backpack, lunch, water bottle, etc...) before leaving for school in the morning.
To minimize interruptions to classrooms, please limit drop-offs to the following items:
- Water bottles and lunches may be placed on the Drop-off table before 10:00 a.m. at the front office. These items should be labeled with your child’s name and section number to ensure proper delivery. Items are taken at 10:00 a.m. to a drop-off table at the end of each hallway, so please email the teacher to let them know that you have dropped off the water bottle or lunch.
- If you need eye glasses delivered to your child, please do not put them on the drop-off table. Bring them to the office staff for immediate delivery to your child.
- Any class work or homework that is dropped off will be placed in the teacher’s mailbox to be picked up during the day.
Delivery of flowers, balloons, etc. to students at school are not permitted.
Transportation Changes
Transportation change notepads will be sent home with each student on the first day of school. Please use these forms any time a student needs to go home in a different way from the permanent designated mode of transportation.
All transportation changes must be received in writing by 2:00 p.m. We are unable to accept a phone call. You may send a written note to your child’s teacher (place it in your student's PAWS folder), or fill out a form in the front office. Please include the date, your child’s full name, section number, bus number (if applicable), and your signature. If an emergency arises, you may send an email to galatastransportation@conroeisd.net . The e-mail must include all of the above information, including a parent signature, and must be received before 2:00 p.m. If you submit a transportation change by email, it must go to the email address referenced above; transportation changes should not be emailed directly to the teacher.
Please send a new note for each day the change occurs; we cannot accept notes for multiple days or with multiple changes. District policy states that a student may only ride the bus they are registered to ride; students may not have a transportation change to ride a different bus.
Parent Information Sheet
Please download and print this handy Parent Information sheet for quick reference of some of our school's most frequently accessed information.
Teacher & Staff Excellence
- Log in to Parent Access.
- Click on communication.
- Choose Teacher/Staff Excellence from the drop down menu.
- Select the employee to receive recognition from the drop down menu.
- Click create TAE.
- Click any of the pre-populated choices that apply.
- Type any additional comments in the Additional Comment box.
- Click the box labeled Create Teachers Achieving Excellence button.
21-22 Student Handbook Addendum
Roadmap to Remaining Open
The content on the Roadmap to Remaining Open webpages are designed to provide information relevant for the 2021-2022 school year. The details on this page are subject to change as we receive guidance from the Texas Education Agency, Governor’s Office, and State and local officials. Please check back often for the most up-to-date information.
Currently, the District Safety Alert Level is Level 4. To see the full Safety Alert Levels chart, please click on the Roadmap to Remaining Open button below.
A Message from the School Nurse
Please keep your child home if they are showing any signs of illness or reporting that they do not feel well.
For example, if your child comes to you in the morning and reports any of the following symptoms: cough, sore throat, stomachache, or headache, or tells you they had diarrhea or vomiting, DO NOT send them to school. Please keep your student home and monitor the symptom or symptoms until they resolve.
Keep students home if they are waiting for results of a COVID test (even if the student is asymptomatic). You may refer to the CISD Roadmap to Remaining Open at the link above for specific health information.
NEW Update - When a student has a positive COVID result, parents will now self-report through their student's SSO at sso.conroeisd.net
- Log-in to the student's SSO portal (same as scheduling a test) and click on the Self Report button.
- Parent acknowledges they are the parent/guardian of this student and enters their name.
- Parent completes the required information and clicks submit.
- Parent receives a popup with information about isolation, severe symptoms, attendance, and a return to school date.
- Parent receives an email with the information contained in the popup.
Free COVID-19 testing is available to all CISD employees and students Monday-Friday at the CISD Police Department located at 2900 N. Loop 336 E. Conroe, TX 77301. You must schedule a test through the CISD SSO in the COVID Central app prior to arrival.
Medication at school: If your child needs medication while at school, please email Mrs. Riggs, Galatas School Nurse at kriggs@conroeisd.net to set up an appointment to drop off the medication.
Upcoming Events
November
9 PTO Meeting- 10:00 AM
9 3rd Grade Program, Sections 31, 33, 35, 37 6:30 PM
11 Individual Picture Retakes
11 3rd Grade Program, Sections 32, 36, 38 6:30 PM
12 Movie Night 6:30 PM
15-19 Generation Texas Week
18 Thanksgiving Festivities, Kinder and 1st Grade
19 Galatas Fun Run
22-26 No School: Thanksgiving Break
29 Classes Resume
December
6-10 Hour of Code
13 Holiday Party: Kinder (1:30 PM)
14 PTO Board Meeting-9:00 a.m.
14 Holiday Parties- 2nd (10:30 a.m.) & 1st (2:00 p.m.)
16 Holiday Round Robin–3rd (10:00 a.m.)
16 Holiday Party/Service Project- 4th (8:15 a.m.) & Special Programs (1:45 p.m.)
17 Polar Express Day (Students wear p.j.’s)
17 Early Release Day, End of Nine Weeks– 12:10 p.m.
December 20-January 4 Winter Break
January
5 Classes Resume