Monday Message
News from Mrs. Hilcher- Principal of Grapevine Elementary
Week of February 8-12
FIRST Committee
The Facility Innovation and Readiness Stakeholder Team (FIRST) will be presenting their recommendations to the GCISD Board of Trustees for their consideration on Monday, 2/8. I want you to know that the proposed list includes GES receiving approximately $4 million in improvements. Due to projected growth in our zoned neighborhoods, this proposal includes the addition of new classrooms, extra storage, security updates, etc...This bond proposal has improvements for every school, including new furniture, books, library/learning common updates, infrastructure improvements and more.
If you see Shea Kirkman, or Micheal Miori, please be sure to thank them for serving on FIRST and for representing the interests of GES and our students. The presentation on February 8th will be for initial consideration and an additional board meeting will be held on February 18th for a vote on whether we will have a bond election or not later this spring. More information can be found on the FIRST website: http://www.gcisdfirst.net/index.html
Valentine's Day Parties
We hope you will take advantage of our "Fast Pass" concept and avoid the crowds and long waits. We appreciate your support as we work to improve a process while ensuring the safety and security of all of our GES Stars!
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, 2/10 Fast Pass names are due to Heather Hedges by 3:30pm
Wednesday, 2/10 Running Club; KC Club & Student Council (2:45-3:30pm)
Friday, 2/12 Valentine's Day parties (1:45-2:45pm); WOW club applications due (see below)
Monday, 2/15 Student holiday; Skate Town fundraiser (2:00-4:00pm)
Tuesday, 2/16 Ensemble auditions for 4th & 5th grade (2:50-3:30pm); Special Program EXPO (5:30-8pm at CTMS)
Wednesday, 2/17 & Thursday, 2/18 11:45 dismissal; Student led conferences
Thursday, 2/18 PTA meeting & Media Madness parent program (6:30-8pm)
Monday, 2/22-Friday 2/26 Book Fair
Wednesday, 2/24 World Read Aloud Day; Running Club & NEHS meeting (2:45-3:30pm)
Friday 2/26 GES Bank; College Colors day
Friday 2/26 Lunch with a Loved One-*Come have lunch with your GES Star & shop the Book Fair
Voter Registration
If you are not currently registered to vote, you may fill out an informal online application here: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml Once you have completed the application, you will need to print the documents and send them into the Tarrant County voter registrar's office (Voter Registration Tarrant County Elections at 2700 Premier Street Fort Worth, Texas 76111-3011) Early voting begins on April 25, 2016 and early voting ends on May 3, 2016.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Let your voice be heard...vote!
GES Information & Announcements
Important Reminders
- We will have a Skate Town fundraiser on 2/15 from 2-4pm. Come skate with your GES friends on a student holiday and help us raise funds for our 5th grade end of the year activities.
- There was a typo in our school lunch calendar. Pizza Hut was inadvertently scheduled on February 17 at our school, which is an early dismissal day. Sack lunches will be served on 2/17 & 2/18. Pizza Hut has been rescheduled for Friday, February 19th. Additionally, students will receive a half page order form this week (pictured below) to pre-order their sack lunches. Please complete and return by Friday, 2/12.
Playground Use
Fall Box Top Contest Winners
Did you know that GES has received over $22,700.00 from collecting Box Tops over the year? WOW! What an easy way to earn money for our school. The top 3 classes have earned a frozen yogurt party (with peanut-free toppings) for collecting Box Tops for GES.
#1: Cox, 1,118
#2: Hammonds, 827
#3: Gillmen, 787
Way to go! Thanks for participating. Please be sure to keep collecting Box Tops and sending them in with your student(s). Thank you for supporting our school!
GES Instrumental Ensemble Begins!
Registration for 4th and 5th grade began on February 1st. See letters sent home from Ms. Lambert for more information. Audition times are on February 16th from 2:50-3:30 in the music room. Instrumental groups posted on Friday February 19th. Rehearsals begin on Monday or Thursday on the week of February 22 from 2:45-3:45. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Lambert @ gayle.lambert@gcisd.net Thank you!
News From Nurse Burwell
The Nurse's clinic is in need of boys and girls gently used pants in sizes 6-14. If your student tends to have accidents requiring clothing changes, another option is to send your child a backup set of clothing/underwear in their backpack to keep at school
Brenda Bui from TWU will be a nursing student in our school clinic shadowing Nurse Burwell every Thursday 8-3pm. This is a learning experience for Ms. Bui, and she does not give medications or do any procedures on students.
We are a food allergy aware campus. Please remember that all treats brought to school for sharing at parties or birthday celebrations need to be peanut/tree-nut free and must come with a label. It is ok if the label says it was processed in a facility that has peanuts/tree-nuts.
Information From Our Counselor-Mrs. Horn
Rachel's Challenge
GES PTA Information
Volunteers
Starbright Express Writing Opportunity
Harkins Theatres Summer Movie Fun
It is time to start thinking about summer plans. Harkins Theatre in Southlake offers 10 movies for $6 dollars. They offer a school rebate program, so the more we sell the more money we earn for GES. The movies run each week from June 6th to August 12th at 9:45 am. Feel free to ask friends to join you just add them to your ticket number. Please fill out the attached form and return it to your teacher by February 19th. Make checks payable to GES. If you have any questions you can contact Sarah Woolery at srr7272@hotmail.com Forms will be sent home in student folders and are attached to this email. We appreciate your help as we look for creative ways to raise funds for our school!
GCISD Information
GCISD Determining Community Interest in Pre-K
In an effort to continually serve the families of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, the district is investigating the feasibility of a tuition-based Pre-K program, beginning in the Fall of 2016. Those families who have a child who will be four-years old, on or before September 1, 2016, may participate in the program, depending on community interest.
As with any of the district’s special programs, families must enter into a lottery to be selected. If there is enough interest in the tuition-based program, then the lottery will be held for spots at pre-determined campuses. The proposed site locations are Bear Creek Elementary, Bransford Elementary, Colleyville Elementary and O.C. Taylor Elementary. These campuses were selected based on current and projected student enrollment and building capacity.
Families who are interested in learning more about the tuition-based Pre-K program are invited to attend the GCISD Special Programs Expo on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at Cross Timbers Middle School at 6 p.m. At the Expo, district representatives will be available to answer questions about the proposed program.
More information can be found at: http://bit.ly/1nWmpit
Special Programs EXPO
From engineering challenges to advanced academics to language immersion and early childhood education, GCISD offers a world of opportunities for students. Families are invited to learn more about these opportunities at the Special Programs Expo on Tuesday, February 16 from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Cross Timbers Middle School. The expo will feature stations showcasing our STEM programs, ASPIRE Academy and Dual Language programs. New to the Expo this year, families may also learn about the proposed tuition-based Pre-Kindergarten program, iUniversity Prep and Collegiate Academy. In addition to program stations, presentations focusing on the instructional components and benefits of these programs will be delivered in the lecture hall and Student Activity Center (SAC).
The applications for dual language, STEM academies and tuition-based pre-kindergarten will be available online beginning Friday, Feb. 17 and are due by Friday, March 25. If more applications are submitted than the maximum number of students each campus may accept, then a lottery will be conducted on Friday, April 1, and streamed live on the district’s website. More information will be available on the website after the Expo.
Special Olympics Fun
Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District and its Special Olympics parent group will be hosting the Third Annual Triple Threat Shootout. The Shootout will include GCISD Special Olympics and Friends of Mustang-Panthers, a Special Olympics alumni group, competing against the Grapevine and Colleyville police officers. Admission will be $2 and there will also be a raffle and silent auction featuring, a 2-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge, Dallas Stars tickets, sports memorabilia, golf course passes, over 30 various local restaurant gift certificates (Del Frisco’s, Dave and Busters, Outback), PS4, bicycle, gas grill and much, much more. The Dove Dynamic Drummers will be the halftime show, as well as the Grapevine and Colleyville drum lines. The concession stand will be fully stocked and there will be event t-shirts and spirit t-shirts on sale to show your support.
So come out and join the fun on February 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Grapevine High School. GCISD serves hundreds of special needs kids ranging from ages 5 through 22. If you cannot attend the event, but would like to donate, please go to their fundraising page at https://www.razoo.com/us/story/Parents-Supporting-Gcisd-Special-Olympians
GCISD Podcasts
Important Links
- GCISD's online volunteer background check: http://bit.ly/1j1zDHT
- GES Yearbooks: http://www.TreeRing.com/validate (Our passcode: 1013813367251830)
- 2015-2016 Parent-Student Handbook and Student Code of Conduct: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/226
- The ABC's of Grapevine Elementary: http://bit.ly/21HuqHf
Follow Our Story
Follow the excitement on Twitter and Facebook:
- On Twitter follow:
Principal Mrs. Hilcher: @GESHilcher
Assistant Principal Ms. Ray: @GESKRay
Grapevine Elementary: @GESStars
Your favorite teacher: @GES[lastname]
All GES classrooms by checking our #GESshineon
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrapevineElementary