ILTexas Garland K-8
Parent Newsletter 2.26 - Read Across America Week
ILTexas Mission
The mission of ILTexas is to prepare students for exceptional leadership roles in the international community by emphasizing servant leadership, mastering the English, Spanish, and Chinese languages, and strengthening the mind, body and character.
ILTexas Pledge
Hello ILTexas Family,
We feel fortunate to not have any significant damage to our campus after the winter storm that came through last week. This fact has allowed us to continue with instruction for the 485 students present during in-person learning and immediate internet connection to the remaining student body via zoom.
I am also very thankful that we also had the opportunity for our faculty, staff, and students to put on a great Lunar New Year Celebration on Wednesday, February 24, and to continue with the celebration of Black History Month. Students continue show resilience during these challenging times with amazing exuberance.
Middle School Parents (present and future)
Mr. Parra, campus counselor, will begin meeting with students next week to discuss course selections. Your student will hear about the various elective classes and advanced courses available for the 2021-2022 school year. Once students have made their course selections then they will be guided by the counselor to submit their request in Skyward.
-Principal J.T. Esquivel
African-American History Month
See some of the work our students are doing to celebrate African-American History Month.
A Message from our Counselors
Families we hope you are doing well following the recent storms last week. Please see the following list of resources and do not hesitate to reach out to our staff if you have a need
Winter Storm Resource Guide English/Spanish
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nthPrLV6QowAQBGC7It4m2_ZSUa30V_6/view?usp=sharing
Stress-reducing tips
MINDFUL BREATH: 4-7-8 BREATHING
1. Exhale the breath entirely.
2. Inhale to a count of 4.
3. Hold for a count of 7.
4. Exhale for a count of 8.
By making the exhale twice as long as the inhale, you allow your body to down-regulate and relax. Try noticing experiences within your body at each part of the breath. Repeat until you feel more relaxed.
MINDFUL MOVEMENT: SHOULDER SHRUGS
1. Bring the shoulders up to the ears.
2. Draw the top of the shoulder blades together on the back and pull down.
3. Bring the shoulders up to the ears.
4. Draw the middle of the shoulder blades together on the back and pull down (it helps to pull the arm bones toward each other).
5. Bring the shoulders up to the ears.
6. Draw the bottom of the shoulder blades together on the back and pull down (it helps to hold the arms out as if you were holding trays in your hands).
Self-Care Tips to Reduce Anxiety
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d1mx_rfb10
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This week the Counselors of GEMS want to thank our PTO and parents for the wonderful way you show your appreciation to our teachers and staff. Thank you for helping us through this time of pandemic teaching. We are truly grateful that you trust us with your children both online and in person. Thank you for your support of the safety protocols that keep our teachers safe as well as keeping the teaching spirits high this year. Best parents ever!
PTO Corner
A big THANK YOU for your support of our monthly teacher and staff appreciation events!!! We delivered a special Valentine’s treat to the teachers and staff today Fri, Feb 26 (delayed due to the weather). We welcome continued donations on our PTO website for future appreciation events (www.iltexasgespto.org) so that we can show our love for our teachers and staff.
- We are postponing Read-a-thon until March and will send additional information soon.
- Yearbook Cover Contest: submissions due TODAY, Fri. Feb 19th. For requirements and additional information, please see the flyer posted on school messenger and our FaceBook pages.
- Please remember to submit photographs for the yearbook!! For instructions on how to upload photos in TreeRing, please click on the TreeRing link located on our PTO website (www.iltexasgespto.org) under the Yearbook tab. Please send questions to yearbook@iltexasgespto.org.
- Extra spirit shirts (quantities limited) are available for purchase online and will be shipped after purchase. Please send questions to spiritwear@iltexasgespto.org.
- Please also support PTO through Amazon Smiles, Box Tops, Kroger community rewards, and Oliver’s Labels. More information and links under the Fundraisers tab on our website www.iltexasgespto.org.
Look who exemplified the Character Trait Bearing for the week!
Elementary School: Macee Mckethan - 1st Grade
Middle School: Santiago Wilson - 6th Grade
NASA/MARS Talk
Leadership Trait of the Week
Bearing
● You hold yourself to the highest standards of personal conduct.
● Bearing is how you conduct and carry yourself.
Expression of the Week
English: Are you thirsty?
Spanish: ¿Tienes sed?
Chinese: 你口渴吗?
Nǐ kǒu kě ma?
Important Information
- Elementary School hours 7:45 am to 3:30 pm.
- Middle School hours 8:15 am to 4:00 pm.
- If you are picking your student up, please be sure to be on time.
- Please avoid, if at all possible, picking your student up early.
- If you need to pick up your student early, please do so before 3:00 pm. Our front office prepares for Driveline dismissal duties at 3:00 pm and will not be available to assist in calling your student to the front.
- Unfortunately, we will not be providing bus services to remote locations this year.
Upcoming Events
Feb 27 - Girls Soccer Game vs. Founders Classical Frisco
Feb 27 - Boys Soccer Game vs. Leadership Prep
Feb 27 - Lunar New Year Celebration
March 1 - If I Ran the Zoo - bring your stuffed animal
March 1 - 2nd Grade Option 3 Students TELPAS
March 2 - Cat in the Hat - Dress as your favorite Dr. Seuss character
March 2 - Middle School Option 3 Students TELPAS
March 3 - Wacky Wednesday - Wear clothes backwards & wacky socks
March 3 - Grades K-2 GT Testing
March 3 - Middle School & 5th Grade Option 1 & 2 Students TELPAS
March 4 - Green Eggs & Ham - Wear a green shirt
March 5 - Oh, the Places You'll Go - wear a college t-shirt or your school spirit shirt
March 5 - Virtual Coffee w/ the Principal
March 9 - 3-5 Grade Option 3 Students TELPAS
March 10 - 3-4 Grade Option 1 & 2 Students TELPAS
International Leadership of Texas Garland K-8
Email: arubio@iltexas.org
Website: https://www.iltexasges.com/
Location: 3301 North Shiloh Road, Garland, TX, USA
Phone: 972-414-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ILTexasGarlandK8/