Giesinger Gazette
August 16, 2020
Eagles Soar to Excellence
Our Campus Mission:
The mission of Giesinger Elementary is to ensure high levels of learning to facilitate continuous growth of the whole child.
Our Vision:
We envision a school in which staff provide a safe, caring, and positive learning community for all children; create a collaborative culture among children, families and staff; establish high levels of learning by frequently monitoring student progress; and demonstrate a personal commitment to the academic success and general well-being of each child .
2014 National Blue Ribbon School
An Update from Mrs. Ralston
Hello Giesinger Families,
We had a great first week! I appreciate all of the hard work from our Eagles, parents and teachers. Our halls and classrooms are quiet for now but our entire staff is working diligently to ensure students have technology and students/parents know how to access the learning platforms (Seesaw for PK - 2nd grades and Canvas for 3rd & 4th grades). Please remember that engagement is the #1 key to success. If you need help logging into the learning platform then please let your child's teacher know. We can help you. The District Technology Help Desk is also available. Please read the recent FAQs from the Help Desk below.
Attendance will be taken daily. There are 3 ways to take attendance while learning virtually. A student may submit an assignment through their learning platform: Seesaw or Canvas; or attend a "live" lesson or zoom with his/her teacher(s); or email or call your child's teacher. Engagement is daily. If a student does not submit a lesson for a particular day or attend a "live" lesson or Zoom then an email or call must be made between you and your child's teacher.
Teachers will check attendance every day for the day before. So, your student has to log on and participate at some point during every school day (12:00am-11:59pm) to be counted present. If your student did not log on or communicate with their teacher at any time during that day, they will be counted absent for that school day. It is mandatory that CISD follow the attendance guidelines set by the State of Texas.
Students will be able to complete their assignments at their own pace throughout the day; however, each assignment will have a clearly stated due date.
Zoom accounts have been updated by the District so please look for an email from your child's teacher with updated Zoom ID numbers to log in. As always, email your child's teacher if you need additional support. They are available and ready to help you.
Canvas - We know many of you are receiving a large amount of emails from Canvas! Please know many of them are automatic messages being sent from Canvas based on your notification settings. Below you will find information on how to change your settings.
Ramp Up - We will begin our Ramp Up process this week with a small groups of students. Our staff has been in communication with the families of students who are scheduled to begin. Our largest group during the Ramp Up process will begin the week of August 31st. Please be sure to see our Ramp Up Plan for additional information.
Please continue to check the District's Roadmap to Reopening web page for updated information..
We appreciate your patience and support! Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns: contactgiesinger@conroeisd.net We are here to help and support our Giesinger Eagle Families any way we can!
Stay safe,
Melissa Ralston, Principal
Technology Help Desk FAQs
- What is my student’s chromebook login? It is usually part of the last name with part of the first name. You will need to get this information from your child’s teacher. You do not need to add the @conroeisd.net in the username field. The password is stu+6 digit student ID. You must put stu in front of the number in the password.
- What if I need a hotspot in order to have Internet access at home? Contact your child’s campus.
- What if I need a chromebook or iPad for remote instruction? Contact your child’s campus
- What if the hotspot I checked out from my campus is asking for a password? There should be instructions inside the box. For some models, there is a button on the top of the hotspot that when pressed will reveal the password. For the other models, the password is on a sticker on the bottom of the hotspot.
- What if I don’t know my Student’s student ID number in order to sign up for Parent Access? Contact your child’s campus. We are not able to give out student ID numbers at the district office.
- How does my student access Canvas or Seesaw? Your student will login to the Conroe ISD SSO and click the appropriate tile. sso.conroeisd.net For Seesaw, your child’s teacher will send a Home Code invitation with instructions to login to the Seesaw Class. If you have not received this invitation, contact your child’s teacher.
- Why is my chromebook saying it is locked? Chromebooks that were not turned in after the spring semester were locked until returned to campus. Contact your child’s campus to get this chromebook unlocked.
- How do I get a Parent Canvas account? First create a Parent access account. You will use the same login for Canvas.
- Parent Canvas Account Video
- Parent Access Account Video
- Why are there no courses in my child’s Canvas account? Students in grades 3-12 will receive their courses at 6am on August 12. If your child is missing a course on August 12, contact the teacher of the missing course.
- What is the best device to use for online instruction? Most PK-2nd grade students work best on an iPad. Most 3rd-12th grade students work best on a chromebook. Google Chrome is the best web browser for Canvas.
- Do I need to download Zoom on the Chromebook checked out by my campus? No- All district chromebooks have the Zoom extension installed automatically.
- The Chromebook I got from the school just has a spinning circle? The chromebook by default tries to connect to CISD. Click the wireless icon in the lower right and connect to your home wireless or your hotspot.
Conroe ISD Technology Help Desk
Weekdays beginning Monday, August 10th
7:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.
You can call 936-709-7658 or email help@conroeisd.net
*Canvas users can also click the "Help" button prior to logging in.
Canvas - The Learning Platform for 3rd-12th Graders
Everything that your student will need to access their schoolwork will be done through Canvas. Below are directions on how to log on to Canvas. If your child needs their log-in information have them send an email your child's teacher. Also, parents if you would like to turn the notifications off there are directions below. If you need assistance, please send email us as well.
Parent Access Account and Canvas Support
Parent Access and Canvas Account
Parking Lot Access Point WiFi Coverage Map for Conroe High School
New Dismissal Procedures: Information Needed
In an effort to streamline our dismissal process and consolidate car rider tags to one card per family, we need some information from you.
Please complete this form letting us know the students that will consistently be loaded in the same car in the event that students are ever car riders. Each family will receive a car rider tag with student barcodes (regardless of mode of regular transportation). An example has been provided below.
Information regarding distributing the car rider tags before in-person instruction begins will be shared at a later time. Our students safety is our #1 priority so thank you for being patient with this process.
Please complete the Car Rider Tag Form Below - Even if your child will rarely be a car rider.
Nurse's News
Any medications that could be used to treat symptoms consistent with Covid-19, such as cough, shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, and body aches will not be administered or accepted without a current written order by a healthcare provider. This would include cough and cold medication, cough drops, metered dose inhalers, nebulizer medications, and anti fever medications ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Parents/guardians are encouraged to consult their healthcare providers to obtain metered dose inhalers instead of nebulizer medications. Minor complaints from students will most likely by handled in their classrooms. Nurse Corbit will be making classroom visits this year to help students who do not specifically need to come down to the clinic. This will help promote wellness throughout the campus and reserve the clinic for those who are truly ill or injured. Thank you for understanding these changes. Please give us a call with any questions or concerns. Any medications that do need to be signed in to the clinic will be done on an appointment basis.
Please call us to schedule one. 936-709-2609 -Dana Corbit, RN and Patty Terreo/Clinic Aide.
Counselor's Update
Hello Giesinger Families,
I am so excited to start this school year with you. It will definitely be different than any other year before, but Giesinger Eagles are RESILIENT and COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE. Below are two links I would like to introduce you to. The first one is to my new Counselor Bitmoji Office. This is a virtual office that looks a lot like my in person office and also has a lot of the same resources. On each page there are items linked to difference community resources, CISD resources, games, mindfulness activities, music and much more. I will update this frequently so please come back and look around whenever you would like.
The second link is a Google Form for assistance you and your family might need. This includes school clothes, weekly food distribution, etc. If you think your family is in need of any of these resources click the link below and complete the Form. This form will only be seen by me and is confidential. This is also on my Counselor Bitmoji Office on the second page. Click the HELP button.
https://forms.gle/zqvumPLQNBFynGNi6
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Lastly, I will be holding virtual Zoom counselor lessons starting the week of August 24th. These will be approximately 20 minute lessons similar to the lessons that a student would participate in on campus. These are not times for individual counseling. If you do have concerns about your individual student or needs for your family, please feel free to contact me at any time. The days and times of these lessons will be announced soon on my Canvas page and in Mrs. Ralston's updates.
Thank you,
Amanda Barton, Counselor
Wearing Masks
At this time, third and fourth grade students in Conroe ISD will be required to wear masks at school. Please know that masks and face shields are not comparable protective equipment. We highly encourage students in kindergarten through second grade to wear face masks at school as well. Students and staff who are wearing masks are less likely to be required to leave school or quarantine. Wearing a mask protects our ability to work and to attend school.
Giesinger Masks Available
Giesinger Elementary PTO has added Giesinger masks to our spirit wear! Order your Giesinger merchandise at the link below. Store closes August 17th!
Would You Like to Join the Giesinger PTO?
Our PTO believes in the students, staff, and families at Giesinger. By contributing to our fundraisers, you are making all kinds of quality programs and events available to ALL of our students!
Membership Donation Levels:
$10 Bronze Individual Membership
$25 Silver Individual Membership
$50 Gold Individual Membership
https://giesinger.conroeisd.net/committee/get-involved/pto/
The purpose of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is to:
(a) promote the welfare of children at Giesinger
(b) to foster cooperation between parents and teachers in the education of children at Giesinger
(c) to unite school and community efforts in securing for all children the best education
(d) to engage in fundraising activities for the educational and recreational benefit of Giesinger, its children, teachers, and staff as determined by the PTO and in accordance with the PTO by-laws.
Water Bottles
New Student Registration
If you have pre-kindergarten or kindergarten age children or a new student who will be attending Giesinger next year, please register them. The link to register is below.
To enter in Pre-Kindergarten in Conroe ISD, a child must be four years old on or before September 1 of the current school year and meet eligible requirements. Please go to the Conroe ISD website for more information.
To enter the Kindergarten program in Conroe ISD, a child must be five years old on or before September 1 of the current school year.
Below is a list of documents that can be provided to establish identity and age for registration:
- birth certificate,
- passport
- school ID card
- military ID
- hospital birth record
- adoption record
- or other legal document that establishes identity
Should you have any questions please contact our Registrar, Mrs. Rickwalt, at rrickwalt@conroeisd.net or call Giesinger at 936-709-2600.
Meal Distribution
- Beginning Thursday, August 13, breakfast and lunch meals will be available curbside at every campus for students to purchase or free to students who qualify.
- Curbside Meals will no longer be free for all students.
- Meals will be available on the bus ramp (or designated location) at each school Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 AM-12 PM.
- Multiple meals will be distributed on pick up days. Tuesday: 2 breakfast meals/ 2 lunch meals Thursday: 3 breakfast meals/ 3 lunch meals
- A student meal card located in Parent Access must be presented to scan and identify the student when meals are picked up.
- This can be printed on paper or presented electronically on a phone.
- No change will be made for cash transactions- any change will be applied to student's meal account. Pre-payments can be made at www.myschoolbucks.com .
- Meal prices and the free and reduced meal application are available on the child nutrition website. https://www.conroeisd.net/department/child-nutrition/ .
- At Giesinger, curbside distribution will take place on the bus ramp. Please think of this as an additional food service line. Student lunch accounts can be used to purchase meals, and students who receive free or reduced meals will purchase at the same price as they would inside the school.
- The drop date for students to use Free and Reduced benefits from last year is September 24. After this, students will be a "paid status" until a new application is completed.
- Parents can go online to complete a Free and Reduced application for the 20-21 school year. www.myschoolapps.com
- Pre K students are not automatically free this year. An application is required.
- Child Nutrition will deliver Student ID cards to each K-12 campus by August 14 for students to use for meals during in-person instruction.
- Cards will have notches to be attached to lanyards if needed.
Giesinger Elementary Protocols
General Information
- All parents and students are asked to self-screen for COVID-19 prior to leaving home each morning.
- Utilize good hygiene throughout the day.
- Practice social distancing as much as possible.
- At this time, third and fourth grade students in Conroe ISD will be required to wear masks at school. We highly encourage students in pre-kindergarten through second grade to wear face masks at school as well.
Arrival Protocols
- Separate entrances are provided for bus/daycare riders, walkers/bikers, and car riders.
- Hand sanitizer stations are provided at each campus entrance and in each classroom and students/staff will use this upon entering the campus and classrooms.
- Entry doors will be propped open for no touch entry. Staff will supervise to ensure unauthorized persons do not enter opened entry doors.
- Staff will supervise arriving students to ensure hallway safety protocols are followed.
- Students will not congregate together in large enclosed areas waiting to report to staff.
- Parents will not be allowed to accompany students into the school at any time, including the first day of school.
- Students who buy breakfast will eat in their classroom to avoid congregating in the cafeteria during arrival.
Dismissal Protocols
- Students will be dismissed in staggered departure times by walker/daycare, car riders and bus riders from their classrooms to decrease the risk of congregating. The CISD Car Rider and Bus Hub app will be utilized to communicate with teachers regarding dismissal of students.
- All available (non-classroom) staff will be utilized to supervise departing students.
- Hand sanitizer stations are provided at each campus exit and in each classroom and students/staff will use this when exiting the campus and classrooms.
- Exterior doors will be propped open and supervised to minimize contact.
- Parents must remain in designated area (walkers) or in their vehicle (car riders) as they wait for their student(s).
- In the event that a parent has to pick a student up before dismissal, they will use the Giesinger curbside protocol (see below).
- All students will be dismissed from their classroom to avoid congregating in their classroom. Students will be dismissed as their family arrives or bus/daycare arrives.
- Campus will follow new dismissal protocols for walkers, car riders, bus, and daycare.
- Walkers will be dismissed from the playground gated area along White Oak by grade level. Parents/guardians should social distance when waiting for students to exit. Students will be released by grade level according to the following times:
3:20 PK/K
3:30 1st/2nd grades
- Car riders will be dismissed as “flights” and students will be at cones to wait for their families.
- Bus/Daycare will be dismissed from the back of the campus.
Transition Protocols
- Students and staff will stay to the far right side of the hallways and throughout the campus to reduce the possibility of contact. Campus wide visuals and language will be used to remind students of this procedure “Walk Right, Stay Right”.
- Classroom doors will be propped open to reduce high touch areas when possible.
- Classrooms will stagger releases from each class (when traveling to common areas-lunch, recess, specials) to limit the number of students in the hallway during transitions, when possible.
- Students will use visual cues (arrows and dots) on the floor to assist in social distancing and relay hallway expectations of “Walk Right, Stay Right”.
- All available (non-classroom) staff will be utilized to supervise transitions and maintain social distancing.
- Teachers, along with support staff, will supervise restrooms to ensure social distancing and safety protocols are followed.
Students will use visuals (social distance dots on the floor) to know where to stand when waiting for the restroom. The amount of stalls in the restroom will determine the capacity of the restroom. (For example, if a restroom has two stalls, only two students will be allowed in that area at a time. Other students will have to wait on the dots outside until one becomes available.
When possible, grade levels will use a designated restroom to minimize contact.
- Students will use hand sanitizer during each transition upon entering and exiting the classroom and/or common area.
Lunch Protocols
- Cafeteria capacity will be based upon current guidelines.
- Physical distance will be provided around each available seat.
- Seats will be marked by visual (dot) so students are clear on where to sit that maintains social distancing. Students will be provided a bar code identification card that will be used to purchase breakfast/lunches and avoid using a keypad to purchase their breakfast/ lunch. Break-away lanyards will be provided by the school to attach to student identification cards and will be stored in the classroom each day to minimize contact.
- Seating charts will be used to log all students at all times in the cafeteria.
- Students will use visual cues (arrows and dots) on the floor to reinforce physical distance and traffic patterns in the cafeteria.
- In the event that students are not able to lunch in the cafeteria, classrooms as well as other designated areas will be used to create social distancing.
- Lunch times are subject to change in order to reduce the number of students in the cafeteria at one time.
- Hand sanitizer will be provided at cafeteria entrances and exits.
- All available staff will be utilized to supervise cafeteria procedures and maintain social distancing.
- No visitors will be allowed in the building for lunch.
- Parents are encouraged to make prepayments on students’ accounts using MySchool Bucks, cash, or checks to avoid cash transactions during meal service.
- Cafeteria meals will be pre-packaged in boats/bags for easy transport to classrooms, if necessary, and to prevent food from being exposed to others.
- Food will be pre-packaged for quick selection to decrease the amount of time spent in line.
- A la carte items will be limited to limit time spent in line.
Recess Protocols
- All grade level teachers will be on duty monitoring students at recess.
- Recess schedules are subject to change in order to limit the number of students on the playground at a given time.
- Staff will supervise students on the playground to supervise procedures and maintain social distancing.
Classroom Protocols
- Students will use hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting classrooms at all times. Students may wash their hands in lieu of hand sanitizers when the classroom setup allows for hand washing.
- Hand sanitizer will be provided by CISD and available to classrooms at all times.
- Teachers and staff will make every effort to distance students away from one another as much as instructionally possible.
- Students will use their own supplies. Sharing of supplies will be limited and in the event that it is necessary, will be cleaned and wiped down with disinfectant between student use.
- Students will use backpacks to hold school supplies. Backpacks may be used to transport materials to departmentalized teachers as well as art classes.
- Teachers will develop and implement classroom procedures that limit student movement such as turning in assignments and passing out materials.
- Students will be taught procedures to sanitize their personal work space with hand sanitizer or cleaning wipes.
- Teachers will have students engage in supervised handwashing following proper handwashing guidelines (at least 20 seconds at least two times each day) in addition to washing hands after using the restroom and before eating
- Visual cues and school wide common language will be used to help students with social distancing and proper handwashing.
- Commonly-touched surfaces in classrooms will be cleaned and disinfected between student groups.
- Ongoing instruction will be provided to students on appropriate hygiene practices as well as campus protocols.
Visitor Protocol
- Only visitors essential to school operations will be permitted to enter Giesinger Elementary.
- Virtual meetings will be used to reduce the number of campus visitors.
- All individuals entering the building must wear a face mask covering their mouth and nose at all times.
- Visitors will be required to complete a COVID 19 screening form in the reception area prior to entering the building.
- Parents needing to drop items off for a student will contact the school to arrange a curbside pick-up.
- Visitors and staff will maintain appropriate social distancing for student meetings, including ARD’s and 504 meetings.
- Deliveries to students including lunches will be limited and on an emergency basis only. Students who forget their lunch will be allowed to charge a meal to the cafeteria.
- PTO meetings will be held virtually to minimize outside contact.
Clinic Protocols
- There will be a separate area designated for “sick” and “well” visits to the clinic.
- Mrs. Corbit will make classroom visits to students in order to minimize movement in the hallway.
School Supplies
If your family is in need of school supplies for the 2020-2021 school year, please contact Mrs. Barton at abarton@conroeisd.net or 936-709-2608. Please do so by August 7th.
If you pre-ordered school supplies then our PTO will be sending information for curb side pick-up on August 10-11 at Giesinger.
2019-2020 Yearbooks
2020-2021 CISD Calendar
Get Connected!
Stay in touch with CISD by downloading our new mobile app!
Download the app on your mobile device today and select ‘yes’ to receive push notifications with the latest news and updates from the District.
Key Features:
- Push Notifications - Select ‘yes’ when you download the app to receive the latest push notifications from the District.
- Calendar Events - Add events to the calendar on your personal mobile device directly from the calendar section on the app.
- News - Check out the latest District-wide and school news all in one place!
School Messenger
All SMS messages received from the Conroe ISD District Office and your child's campus will begin with "Conroe ISD:" and come from the subscribe code 67587. If you have not yet opted-in to receive SMS messages, you can do so at any time throughout the school year by texting "Y" to 67587.
Parent Access Login
To access your child’s information online you must register for an account.
Please go to the following link and follow the directions below:
Click the “Student/Parent” tab
Click on “Parent Access Center”
Click “Register”
Amazon Smile~ You shop. Amazon gives.
Select Giesinger Elementary School as your charity!
What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organizationHow do I shop at AmazonSmile?
To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.How do I select a charitable organization to support when shopping on AmazonSmile?
On your first visit to AmazonSmile smile.amazon.com, you need to select a charitable organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. We will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.School Information
- Our doors open at 7:30 for all students.
- Students are counted "tardy" after 8:00. Instruction begins promptly at 8:00 and we want our students present and ready to learn!
- Please do not drop off students before 7:30 as there is no adult supervision on the front porch.
- Breakfast is served from 7:30-7:55.
- Transportation changes need to be made by 2:00. Emergency transportation changes can me made no later than 2:30.
- Students will not be checked out after 2:30.
- Dismissal begins at 3:10.
- Please display your car or walker sign when picking your students up each day. This is for the safety for all students and to help our staff and substitutes on duty.
- Thank you for your continued support. Eagles Soar to Excellence in All We Do!
Connect With Us!
"Eagles Soar to Excellence In All We Do!"
Email: giesinger@conroeisd.net
Website: http://giesinger.conroeisd.net
Phone: 936-709-2600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GiesingerCISD/
Twitter: @GiesingerElementary
The Conroe Independent School District (District) as an equal opportunity educational provider and employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as Board policy not to discriminate in such a manner.
For information about Title IX rights or Section 504/ADA rights, contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504/ADA coordinator at 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, TX 77304; (936) 709-7752.