The Mustang Minute
Week of January 29th - February 2nd, 2024
Principal's Message
Mustang Family,
We want to remind all of our students to make sure you are bringing the following items with you, to class, each day:
A) District-issued laptop
B) The charger cord that was issued with the district laptop or a working and compatible replacement charging cord.
It is crucial to have these items with you for your daily success, as we prepare for testing season when our laptops need to operate at their highest levels. In the near future, we'll be conducting charger checks to see which students may need a replacement charger. If you need a new charger, you can visit this link or stop by room 311 to speak with our campus technologists. Please keep in mind that the appropriate charger for student devices are the 3310 chargers, which require 65w charging capabilities.
Let's all work together to make sure our laptops are fully charged and ready to go each day. Thanks!
Also, don't forget that tutorials are taking place both before and after school, so please check our tutorial schedule for times and locations that meet your student's needs. Let us know how we can help your student be their best!
Finally, We are thrilled to announce that our GHS Cheer team won the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) National Championship in two different categories! They were recognized at our GCISD Board meeting this past Monday and we're extremely proud of this accomplishment. Special shout out to coaches, Morgan Laney and Kim Lackey for their hard work and preparation eading these young ladies throughout their season!
Rah, Rah, Rah...Mustangs Fight!
Alex
GCISD Employee Parent Graduation Presenters - Please respond by February 16th
If you are a current GCISD employee with a Grapevine High School senior and would like to present your child with his/her diploma at graduation, please complete this form no later than February 16, 2024.
GHS Fillies & Belles Showoffs - February 5th @ 7PM (Gym 1)
Cheer Tryout Meeting - February 5th @ 6:30 PM (Lecture Hall)
Course Requests and Preferred Scheduling Timeline
Course Selection for the 2024-2025 school year will be open January 16 - February 2.
During this window, students will have access to enter their course requests in Skyward through Student Access. GHS counselors met with all social studies classes during the week of January 16th and provided scheduling resources to assist students with the course request process.
*Students are expected to share and discuss their course requests with parents/guardians prior to February 2nd.
In April, current 9th-11th grade students will select their preferred time slot for classes using online arena scheduling through Skyward (Student Access) during their grade level's designated window. Click here for more information on online arena (preferred) scheduling including a detailed timeline.
The online arena scheduling windows are:
Current Juniors - April 1 - 3
Current Sophomores - April 17 - 19
Current Freshmen - April 29 - May 1
All online arena scheduling windows open at 7:30 am on the first day and close at midnight on the last day. Counselors will be available to assist students in the lecture hall before school and during all lunches on the first day of each window. For the remainder of each window, students may request to see their counselor for help by scanning their counselor’s QR code or by sending them an e-mail.
Attention Students: No Personal Laptops
GCISD has a policy that prohibits students from bringing their personal laptops to campus. This is in place to ensure a secure and standardized computing environment for all students. Each student is provided with an assigned school laptop to use during their time on campus and homework. This policy helps us maintain a consistent and controlled digital infrastructure, facilitating efficient technical support and ensuring that all students have access to the same resources. This restriction on personal laptops aligns with our commitment to enhancing cybersecurity measures on campus. Over the coming weeks, we will be implementing security protocols that will prevent personal devices from connecting to the school network.
This proactive approach is aimed at safeguarding our digital infrastructure and protecting sensitive information. By using only the assigned school laptops, we can ensure that all devices adhere to the necessary security standards, minimizing potential vulnerabilities and creating a secure educational environment for everyone. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in contributing to the overall safety and integrity of our school's digital ecosystem.
STAAR EOC Retests Result Available
Results for December STAAR EOC testing became available on January 24, 2024 in the Student Data Portal, www.texasassessment.gov, which houses information from any state assessment your child has taken including STAAR and TELPAS. Directions are below.
Cambium Assessment
How to view your student's STAAR Scores
In Skyward Family Access, parents and guardians can change their phone number or email, as well as update communication notifications anytime throughout the school year.
1. Login to your Family Access account through www.gcisd.net. Click on the Skyward icon located at the top of the GCISD website.
GCISD Student Transfers
The general and STEM student transfer application window for the 2024-2025 school year will open on Monday, February 5, 2024, at 8 am. Online applications will be accepted through Friday, February 16, 2024, at 4 pm.
Transfer Window Dates
Window 1: February 5 - February 16 - STEM/General Transfers
Window 2: March 4 - March 22 - STEM/General Transfers
Window 3: June 3 - June 14 - STEM/General Transfers
All students (including employee students) must apply for a transfer if they desire to attend a campus other than their zoned campus and/or when they are moving from the following grades/campuses:
Pre-K to Kindergarten
Elementary school to middle school
Middle school to high school
Students who are already approved on a transfer and are not moving to the next transition level do NOT need to submit a transfer request. For more information and to complete an online application on or after Monday, February 5, click here.
IMPORTANT: Please know that incomplete applications (e.g. missing residency documents) will NOT be processed during this round of student transfers. It is very important that families have all the needed documents when submitting transfer applications
Science Instructional Materials - Community Review and Feedback ( 1/29 & 1/30)
Stop the Bleed Course - February 19th (5:30 - 7:00 PM @ PDEC)
In accordance with HB 496, GCISD will be offering instruction on the use of a bleeding control station to students enrolled in seventh grade or higher from 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m., February 19, 2024 at at the PDEC in the Mustang Corral Room. This training is intended for parents and students to learn together.
Student Parking Fees - $50 for the remainder of the school year!
Parking for the spring semester is $50. Parking fee can be paid online through Skyward for a $5 fee or paid with cash, check or credit card in person at the school for no additional fee. You student will be required to fill out a form that is available in the front office. Be sure they know their license plate number.
AP Deadlines
AP Parents and Students,
There are several deadlines regarding AP testing this semester:
- Feb 23, 2024- Students in second semester only courses need to be signed into the College Board and select “Yes” to indicate their decision to test, and for an exam to be ordered.
- Mar 6, 2024- Final deadline for all students, full year or second semester only, to order a test with the mandatory College Board $40 late fee incurred. The fee is only incurred for exams for full year classes that missed the November deadline.
- Apr 19, 2024- Final payment deadline for all AP exams.
**Remember, to have exams ordered, you MUST be registered in the College Board, AND in Total Registration. If your student was not registered in BOTH places by the end of day on November 10th, an exam HAS NOT been ordered for them.
Any questions or verifications of this process can be directed to laura.foutch@gcisd.net. Additionally, there is information and resource videos to help with this process on the school website under AP Exam Information. Please reach out to Laura Foutch @ laura.foutch@gcisd.net with any questions.
TELPAS Testing Information
Students identified as emergent bilinguals and served through our English as a Second Language program will complete the two sections of TELPAS testing; Reading and Writing, and Listening and Speaking on the following dates in February. February 20th and 27th for freshmen and seniors and February 21st and 28th for sophomores and juniors. All students will receive a pass the day before testing to let them know which test they will be taking and where to report. Please reach out to Laura Foutch with any questions @ laura.foutch@gcisd.net
SAT Test for Juniors
GCISD will be offering the opportunity for all juniors to take the SAT, at no cost to the students, on Wednesday, March 6th, during the school day. Students who are juniors are automatically registered and do not need to sign up. Please reach out to Laura Foutch with any questions @ laura.foutch@gcisd.net.
2023 Federal School Report Cards
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requires each state education agency to prepare and publish an annual report card. The Federal Report Card (FRC) for Texas Public Schools is a web-based system that generates the required federal report cards at the state, district, and campus levels for easy dissemination by school districts. Every district that receives Title I, Part A funding is responsible for distributing the FRCs to each of its campuses, the parents of all enrolled students, and the general public.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released the 2023 Federal Report Cards at the State, District, and Campus level with information as required by federal law. The Federal Report Cards do not contain 2023 State Accountability Rating information.
To view our district and campus federal report cards, please visit our Accountability webpage for a link to search on TEA's site or click on the red "Archived State and Federal SRCs" button the bottom of our district's Accountability page.
Robotics Roundup
GHS Cheer are NCA National Champions!
National Champions (X2)! Mustang Cheer brought home two NCA National Championships! We are so proud of the hard work, dedication, and perseverance that they showed to accomplish this monumental feat!
Rise Science Experiments
Our RISE Science class have been busy building rockets ships to withstand the heat in Mercury and Venus. This week we were able to test our prototypes in our testing center to see which rocket ship was insulated enough to carry butter inside without melting!
Grapevine Basketball hosts Middle School Night and features the Fillies at halftime.
Mustang Basketball hosted students from GMS, CMS and CTMS Friday night for middle school night. Student were able to hear from the Varsity Basketball coaches, visit the lockers rooms, eat pizza and watch the Varsity teams beat Birdville!
We were honored to host the Fabulous Fillies for the game and got to see a wonderful performance at halftime. Thank you ladies for your support and energy at the game! Thank you to Sign Gypsies-West, Marco’s Pizza, Lenny’s Subs and Wise Guys Pizza for their support!
The second half of District play begins this week. Come out and support Mustang Basketball!
Stangs of the Game vs Birdville
Stangs in action on the court
Mustang Robotics
First Tech Challenge B & T League Tournament
Help us congratulate@GHSFTC for their success at the FIRST Tech Challenge B & T League Tournament. The team placed first in the CONNECT Award and third place in the DESIGN Award, and they were named Alliance Choice Semi-Finalists.
Mustang Soccer
Lady Stangs - CHHS Game Highlights
Mustang Cup Tournament Highlights
Our Lady Mustangs have been busy kicking off the season. They had a strong
performance at the Mustang Cup Tournament last weekend. And although they came
up short in the CHHS rivalry game last week, they are forging ahead taking on Birdville
and Ryan high schools next. A big congrats to the JV Girls on their win against CHHS!
Lady Mustang Golf
Something Rotten! present by GHS Theatre
Swim and Dive District 7 – 5A Championship Meet Results:
GHS Swim & Dive came in 2nd overall, out of 6 teams, in the District Championship
Meet held in Denton on 1/19/24. Swimmers that finished in the Top 6 will move on
to compete at the Regional Championships February 8-10th !
Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay:
2nd place: Relay team – Alyssa Ackermann, Lily Spencer, Anisha Menezes and Ella
Hallen
Girls 200 Yard Freestyle
3rd place: Alyssa Ackermann; 4th place: Sarah Drori
Boys 200 Yard Freestyle
2nd place: Ryan Bradburry; 3rd place: Victor Bravo
Girls 200 Yard IM (Individual Medley)
3rd Place: Ella Hallen
Girls 50 Yard Freestyle
2nd place: Anisa Menezes; 3rd place: Elizabeth Pauli; 4th place: Adia Stull
Boys 50 Yard Freestyle
1st place: Hayden Carey; 5th place: Victor Bravo
Girls 100 Yard Butterfly
6th place: Lily Spencer
Girls 100 Yard Freestyle
2nd place: Elizabeth Pauli; 4th place: Anisha Menezes
Boys 100 Yard Freestyle
1st place: Ryan Bradburry; 2nd place: Hayden Carey; 5th place: Jonathan Newman
Girls 500 Yard Freestyle
3rd place: Alyssa Ackermann; 4 th place: Sarah Drori
Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
2nd place: Relay team – Alyssa Ackermann, Anisha Menezes, Ella Hallen and Elizabeth
Pauli
Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
1st place: Relay team – Ryan Bradburry, Hayden Carey, Jonathan Newman, Victor
Bravo
Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke
2nd place: Lily Spencer; 3rd place: Ella Hallen
Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke
4th place: Jaxon Turner
Girls 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
3rd place: Relay team – Elizabeth Pauli, Adia Stull, Sarah Drori, Lily Spencer
Boys 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
1st place: Relay team – Ryan Bradburry, Hayden Carey, Jonathan Newman, Victor
Bravo
Diving Championship Results:
Girls 1 mtr Diving
1st place: Margaux Wheat
4th place: Viviana Flores
6th place: Emily Orler
7th place: Abby Greenlaw
Congratulations and Good Luck to all GHS Swimmers & Divers
competing at the upcoming Regional Championships!
The Grapevine-Colleyville Mustang Athletic Booster Club is proud to announce that we will be awarding college scholarships to deserving senior student-athletes of Grapevine High School. Scholarship applications are available below. In order to apply for a 2023-2024 GCMABC scholarship, such applicant must:
1. Be a 2023-2024 Grapevine High School graduating senior.
2. Have competed athletically for GHS during the 2023-2024 school year in one of our member sport groups offering scholarships.
3. Have a membership for the 2023-2024 GCMABC within the sport group applying for scholarship (either athlete or family member) by March 3, 2024.
The Scholarship applications will be due to your Sport Representative by 5:00 pm on Friday, March 29, 2024 to be considered for the scholarship. For more information please go to www.GCMABC.com.
Here is the link for the application
National Honor Society - Applications Due February 16th ( Attention Juniors)
The Spring application for the National Honor Society is now open! Visit the NHS page on the GHS website to view the application. The 4 main requirements are a 4.2 weighted gpa, 15 community service hours, involvement in extracurricular activities, and demonstration of leadership. Applications are due February 16th at 4pm to Mr. Bristow or Ms. Armstrong. Any student that did not attend the application information meeting on January 9th please see Mr. Bristow in room 704S.
Feel free to email Mr. Bristow at sterling.bristow@gcisd.net if you have any questions.
Singing Valentines
Save the Date for Fillies & Belles Auditions April 1- 4, 2024
Save the Date for Sports Physicals - Friday, April 5th 4 - 6PM GHS MAC
GHS Juniors - DARN College Fair - Wednesday, February 21st
We have an AMAZING opportunity for current GHS juniors to experience a mini-college fair put on during the school day by the Dallas Area Regional Network (DARN) at GHS. There will be approximately 30-40 colleges represented at this event. This event is planned for Wednesday, February 21st, from 10:30 am-11:00 am in the GHS SAC. *This event is open to current juniors only. Juniors do not need to register to attend. 3rd-period teachers who teach juniors have been asked to release their juniors at 10:30 am to attend the mini-college fair. Juniors will return to 3rd period at 11:00 am.
Senior Graduation Requirement - FAFSA/TASFA/Opt-Out Form
Seniors will be able to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) beginning in December 2023. An exact date is yet to be announced.
Completing the FAFSA (or TASFA) or an Opt-Out form is now a requirement for graduation. See below for details:
Beginning with the Class of 2022 and beyond, all Seniors must complete one of the following steps in order to comply with Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0256 in order to graduate:
Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); or
Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA); or
Submit a signed opt-out form.
As approved by the GCISD Board of Trustees, the District will accept the following as proof of completion:
Acknowledgment of receipt from an Institution of Higher Ed (IHE);
Copy of Signature page;
Screenshot of TASFA submission acknowledgment page (from those institutions that offer an electronic form);
Screenshot of FAFSA submission acknowledgment page; -OR-
Copy of a financial aid award letter
*Please do not send financial records to the school as proof.
After you have submitted your FAFSA/TASFA paperwork, please send one method of proof or your opt-out form to your high school counseling office no later than May 1, 2023.
The Texas OnCourse financial aid toolkit and StudentAid.gov provide additional information about applying for financial aid.
If you do not wish for your student to complete a FAFSA or TASFA, an opt-out form may be completed by a parent or guardian, a student age 18 years or older, or a school counselor who authorizes the student to decline to complete and submit the application for good cause.
If you wish to opt-out, please use one of the forms below and return it to your school counselor:
TEA Financial Aid Opt Out Form - English
Counselors- Students are assigned to by their last name.
The GHS counseling team consists of:
Marnie Pape (A-D) - marnie.pape@gcisd.net
Abbey King (E-Le) - abbey.king@gcisd.net
Moises Flores (Li-Ri) - moises.flores@gcisd.net
Katherine Partridge (Ro-Z) - katherine.partridge@gcisd.net
Mary Parsley (Lead Counselor) - mary.parsley@gcisd.net
Jennifer Lemke (Student Advocate) - jennifer.lemke@gcisd.net
Seniors who qualify for free/reduced lunch
Seniors who qualify for free/reduced lunch may contact our Student Advocate, Jennifer Lemke, to request to borrow a graduation cap and gown (based on availability). Mrs. Lemke can be reached at Jennifer.lemke@gcisd.net.
Counseling January Newsletter
- Course Requests and Preferred Scheduling Timeline
- Seniors - FAFSA is now open!
- Mustang Nation - January 17th (6-7:30pm)
- Dual Credit Mandatory Meeting - January 17th @ GHS (6:45 pm)
February 28th
The ASVAB will be offered on Wednesday, February 28th at 8:40 am in the GHS library to current 10th-12th grade students. A sign-up will be sent out 2 weeks prior to the test date. Space is limited. Students should plan on approximately three hours of testing.
See the GHS ASVAB webpage for more information about this free career aptitude assessment.
The OUTPOST has your Mustang swag ready for you.
GHS AMBASSADORS
FINAL DEADLINES for 2023-2024 school year as follows: (NO EXCEPTIONS!!!))
Class of 2024: March 1, 2024 - (No forms accepted from Senior class after March collection date).
Class of 2025, 2026, 2027: Last day of school- May 23, 2024 by noon (RED BOX will be removed at that time and no more forms accepted after that time).
Save the Date AABC Banquet
Grapevine High School PTSA needs you!
Membership dues are only $10 each school year! Students, remember that if you will be applying for any PTA/PTSA scholarships, you need to be a member of PTSA. Click here to join!
Project Graduation - Online Auction
Donate a door prize for Project Graduation 2024!
Volunteer Background Check
We sincerely appreciate the investment of your time as a volunteer. Whether it is just volunteering with PTSA, a school field trip, or in any capacity in connection with our partnership with Big Brothers-Big Sisters, you must complete a background check.
All volunteers are required to reapply each year. Due to a large number of applicants, we will not notify you of your volunteer status. To get your status, please check with the school office for this information before you volunteer.
Click below to apply:
https://www.gcisd.net/o/gcisd/page/volunteer-background-check