Back to School

Welcome Back, Grand Prairie Families!

What an amazing start to the school year! We loved welcoming our young learners and families back to Grand Prairie. Our classrooms are buzzing, routines are taking shape, and we are already building the foundation for a fantastic year together! We can’t wait to see all that September has in store.

We’ll kick off September with our first long weekend of the school year! Students will be dismissed at 11:25 a.m. on Friday, September 4 for a SIP Day, and there will be no school on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. We hope our families enjoy a little extra time to relax, recharge, and get ready to jump back into learning!

Picture Day took place on Monday, August 31, and we loved seeing our Tigers dressed up, smiling big, and ready for their close-ups! Picture retakes will be Monday, October 19.

Our first and second grade students will also participate in their first FastBridge assessments of the year. The testing window opens Tuesday, September 9 and closes Friday, September 18. Classroom teachers will share specific Reading and Math testing dates soon. FastBridge family reports will be sent home Friday, October 2.

Keeping our students safe is always one of our most important responsibilities. Throughout September, students and staff will practice three fire drills and a severe weather/tornado drill. These drills help our students learn what to do in an emergency and give everyone a chance to practice our safety procedures together.

Our Grand Prairie social workers will also visit gym classes on Monday, September 21 for the first of four bullying-prevention lessons this year. Students will learn what bullying is, how to recognize it, and how they can stand up for themselves and others. It’s another important piece in helping us build a school community where every student feels safe, supported, and included.

And finally… Run Club is back! Beginning Tuesday, September 22, Mr. Vandenberg and Mrs. Borden will be leading our Run Club and inviting students and families to start their mornings with a little exercise, fresh air, and fun! Run Club will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:40–8:05 a.m. through October 22. Lace up those shoes and come join Mr. Vandenberg and Mrs. Borden for a great start to the day!

We’re off to a wonderful start, Grand Prairie! Brick by brick, we’re building bright futures—and we’re so excited for everything this year will bring!