Mission: At Grand Prairie, we dedicate ourselves to creating a caring and safe learning environment for our students while partnering with our families to teach the whole child.

As we step into November, we’re excited to connect with you during parent-teacher conferences this month. Conferences are a wonderful time to discuss your child’s growth, celebrate their successes, and work together to support their continued progress. Following conferences, we look forward to a restful fall break in celebration of Thanksgiving. We’re grateful for the strong partnership we have with each of you and wish you a season filled with warmth, gratitude, and family moments.

Racism, in any form, is harmful and divisive, impacting individuals, families, and entire communities. It denies people the respect and opportunities they deserve based on who they are, their culture, or their appearance. In our school community, we have the unique opportunity—and responsibility—to guide children in understanding the value of kindness, empathy, and inclusivity. Teaching children to respect differences and be kind to others is essential in creating a welcoming environment for everyone. As parents, teachers, and community members, we can model acceptance, talk openly about respect and kindness, and work together to make sure all children know the importance of treating each other with fairness and understanding. By doing this, we help our students grow into compassionate individuals who will contribute positively to a diverse world.

Addressing racism, including harmful stereotypes like the "black monkey" stereotype, is critical for fostering a respectful and inclusive school community. This kind of racist language perpetuates prejudice, ignorance, and hurt, often targeting Black individuals with dehumanizing associations. As a school community, it’s essential for families, students, and educators to come together to confront and educate against such biases. We can do this by openly discussing the impacts of racism, teaching empathy and respect, and embracing diverse cultures and experiences within our school. By supporting one another, promoting positive representations, and standing against harmful language and actions, we can create a more inclusive environment where all students feel valued and respected.

Please know Grand Prairie Administration will take all racism matters seriously and consequences such as loss of privilege's or even school suspension will occur as a result.

Here is all you need to do to participate:

1. Go to https://www.schoolstore.net/sid.t?0000176687 to sign up.

2. Send form emails inviting family, friends and co-workers to support your child.

3. Shopping online using this link, benefits our school. https://www.schoolstore.com/cgi/SSCHomePage?orderid=SS381268320241031

Dear Families,

Grand Prairie Elementary will be starting our next fundraiser! This fundraiser is not through our PTO. This is a fundraiser directly through the school! Our goal with the funds raised is to add more school pride to our building. We are looking at some murals, hallway signs, and such!! We are proud to be Wildcats. We appreciate your support with our fundraisers. Please note this is not required. No student has to participate. Please fill out the permission slip below and return if you wish to sell World’s Finest Chocolate. We have a minimal number of boxes available as this is our first try at this! Please fill out the bottom portion and return to school. There will be an envelope inside the box to collect the funds. This envelope must be signed for your student to check out another box. This fundraiser will run from November 1st to November 31st. Money is due December 4th when returning from Fall break.

November's cultural calendar is packed with festivals, traditions, and observances across the world, showcasing the diversity of human experience and expression. Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, often takes place in early November, filling homes and streets with colorful lights, rangoli patterns, and fireworks in countries like India and Nepal. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated in Mexico and beyond, honoring deceased loved ones with beautiful altars and traditional marigold decorations. In the United States, Thanksgiving unites families and friends for a holiday of gratitude and shared meals. This month also includes cultural events like Guy Fawkes Night in the UK, where bonfires and fireworks commemorate a historical event. From harvest festivals to remembrance days, November’s calendar is filled with opportunities for people around the world to connect with their roots and embrace community traditions.

Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) is a two day holiday that reunites the living and dead. Families create ofrendas (Offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their foods and join in the celebrations!

Day of the Dead is a rare holiday for celebrating death and life. It is unlike any holiday where mourning is exchanged for celebration.

We are asking for your help!! The image below is the Illinois State School Report Card. We are happy to be a commendable school but know we can do better. The state judges us on the categories below. We earn points for the gains we make in the IAR state test that our 3rd-5th graders take and absenteeism.

Please help us increase our score for absenteeism.

Regular school attendance is essential for student success, as it provides the foundation for learning, social development, and future opportunities. When students attend consistently, they can fully participate in lessons, build connections with their peers, and develop routines that support academic and personal growth. Chronic absenteeism, on the other hand, significantly disrupts this process, making it challenging for students to keep up with their studies and leading to gaps in knowledge and skills. Research has shown that students who frequently miss school are at a higher risk of falling behind academically, becoming disengaged, and facing obstacles in their education and career pathways. For these reasons, promoting regular attendance is crucial, as it not only helps students succeed in the present but also sets them up for long-term achievements and well-being.

District 202 developed a Strategic Plan in 2023 in collaboration with community members, district staff, administration, and students. One of the goals is to expand the student profile and indicators of success, more specifically, to develop a graduate profile including the identified indicators of success.

District 202 is seeking your feedback to help us identify the competencies that are important for District 202 students to learn.

Please complete the short Google Survey, Profile of a Learner. Keep in mind, what are the hopes, aspirations, and dreams that our community has for our students? What skills and habits do students need to be successful in our ever-changing world?

Our mission is to specify the outcomes that are important for student success in college, career, and beyond.

Please click on the link to complete the survey:

https://forms.gle/fZWEFXBdRuDcHUdH8