Leopard Pride News
Every Leopard, Every Day!
Download the SMART Tag Parent App for Bus Riders!
We are excited to introduce the SMART Tag system for our bus riders! The system began rollout in the spring and is now used for all bus riders at all campuses.
Beginning Saturday, December 13, you can download the SMART Tag parent app. The app is available for ios and android. https://www.qbit.codes/q/smart-tag-parent-app.
App registration begins with the Primary Parent – the parent associated with the student in the school district’s system. The primary parent must complete their app registration and confirm their student before any co-parent can register for them. Co-parents who wish to register for a student must submit a request to the primary parent within the app. In cases where there’s no response from the primary parent, the school district can review and approve.
Please visit our transportation website for additional details on the SMART Tag system as well as the Parent App. https://www.gainesvilleisd.org/departments/transportation/smart-tag
GISD parents and families,
As a district, we value the feedback from our families as we continue to strive to do what is in the best interest of our students. As you know, GISD transitioned to a four-day instructional week beginning the 2023-2024 school year. This decision was not taken lightly and was made in an effort to improve student learning outcomes, improve attendance, improve staff recruitment and retention, and to give teachers planning time, among various other benefits.
At that time, it was stated that it would take three years to appropriately gather the necessary data to better understand if this change provided these benefits or not. As we are now in year three, it is time to evaluate the effectiveness of the four-day instructional week as we begin the planning process for the 2026-2027 district calendar.
Last Friday, a survey was emailed to all parents and a text with the same survey was sent on Tuesday afternoon. If you have not yet completed the survey, please take some time to do so. Within the survey, there are optional questions that are open-ended and will give you the ability to share your experience with more detail.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your responses. The information gathered will be valuable in our planning for the future.
GHS Students Revitalize Leonard Park!
Students from the GHS National Honor Society (NHS) and National Art Honor Society (NAHS) joined forces to give one of the community’s most beloved spaces a fresh new look! Nearly 130 GISD students volunteered their time to clean, repaint, and re-stain the children’s playground at Leonard Park, many returning to a place they fondly remember from their own childhood.
While NHS students led the cleaning and staining efforts with advisor Mike Hill, NAHS members took the lead on the more intricate painting and detail work. Under the guidance of Art teacher and NAHS advisor Mrs. Perkins, student artists also refreshed and enhanced the playground’s murals.
Chalmers
Intermediate
Officer Stanley
Chief Peacock
Redcoat All-Region Band Competition
On Saturday, Redcoat Band members auditioned for Region, hosted right here at GHS! More than 500 students from region participated!
Ten Redcoats earned All-Region honors: William Drew (flute), Ruby Kemp (flute), Autumn Farr-Overstreet (clarinet), Rithika Chitoor (clarinet), Jarek Marin (trumpet), Andres Costilla (horn), Jazmin Huerta (trombone), Phoenix Kemp (euphonium), Davis (tuba), and Flores (tuba).
In addition, Costilla, Huerta, Phoenix Kemp, and Davis earned Area honors and will be competing for a spot in the TMEA All - State band!
Nominate at GISD staff member for a High Five Award!
The Leopard High Five program is a way to salute any Gainesville ISD employee who goes above and beyond for our students, staff, and community. Whether you are a parent impressed with a specific interaction with your child, or you are a coworker who thinks the campus secretary doesn't hear often enough about the great job she is doing - you can send a Leopard High Five! Nominations can be made by any staff member, parent, or community member, and any GISD employee is eligible to be nominated for a High Five.
All nominations should include a specific example of how this staff member has gone above and beyond for a student, a peer, or the community and must align with one or more of our GISD core beliefs: Equity, Excellence, Diversity, Innovation, Partnership, Safe and Comfortable Environment.
