The Weekly Update #4

*November 11-15 Anti-Bullying Week - See dress up days below if you want to participate.

*November 11-15 iReady Math GISD Contest - Keeley is working towards the most lessons passed at 70%.

*Deadline extended: PTA Reflections entries due November 21

- Deadline extended! Reflections submissions are due Nov. 21. We're looking forward to seeing Keeley's interpretations of this year's theme, "Accepting Imperfection"! We'll announce Keeley's winners soon!

- It's almost time for the holidays, and we need your help to give the students a month of fun and memories! If you've been on the fence about volunteering, we promise we can find something to fit your schedule and comfort level. If you work full time and are only available in the evening, we have something for you. If you're a busy parent and can only swing a couple of hours every now and then, we have something for you. Email our Vice President of Volunteers, Heidi Hendrix, at hjblaylock@gmail.com to learn more.

Every year, the PTA holds Reflections, a national contest for students to express themselves through visual arts, literature, photography, music composition, dance choreography and film production.

Winners are initially selected at the school level, which are then entered into the district contest, with those winners going to state and national. We want to have every Keeley family with a PTA member participate in this contest.

This year's theme is "Accepting Imperfection." Students are invited to create and enter poetry, art, short stories, photos - however they'd like to express the theme. Students will be judged by grade level, so Pre-K-2nd and 3rd-5th for Keeley.

Please submit entries to the front office by November 21.

Here's information from the Texas PTA website:

Overview: https://www.txpta.org/reflections-participation

Rules packet and entry form: https://www.txpta.org/uploads/filemanager/Reflections%202024-2025/24-25%20Reflections%20Rules%20Packet_English.pdf

Here are a few reminders to help keep lunchtime organized and enjoyable for everyone:

1. Sign-Ups: If you’re signed up for lunch but can no longer make it, please either remove your name from the sign-up list or contact the office so we can adjust it for you. Additionally, if you’ve reserved spots on both Wednesday and Friday, please choose one day to attend and remove the other from the list, or let the office know so we can take care of it. This helps us manage schedules more efficiently and gives families a fair opportunity to enjoy lunch with their child. We added Wednesdays to give more families the opportunities to attend. Thank you for your cooperation.

2. Food & Seating: For the safety of all students, parents may only bring food for their own child, and other students are not able to join you and your child. We appreciate your understanding in helping us follow this policy.

Thank you for helping make lunchtime a smooth and positive experience for everyone! 🍎SignUpGenius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4BADAF2CA0FA7-51211456-keeley#/

Week of November 4

Pre-K: 99% Great work!

KN: 95.26%

1st: 97.73% Nice job!

2nd: 94.25%

3rd: 95.22%

4th: 95.71%

5th: 93.28%

Total for the week: 95.27%

*November 18-19: Second Grade Water Safety

*November 19: Pre-K Parent University at Cisneros Pre-K 5:00 p.m.

*Holiday Door Decorating November 18-22

*November 22: 1st Grade Field Trip

*November 25-November 29: Thanksgiving Break

*December 3: All 5th Grade Parent Camp Meeting 6:00 p.m.

The Family and Community Engagement Department has created a monthly newsletter to connect our community to GISD events and services posted on our website.

GISD Family and Community Connection November 2024 newsletter

Parent lunches will be Wednesdays OR Fridays.

• We will use SignUpGenius as our scheduling tool. We are able to accommodate a limited number of guests each day.

• Only parents who have signed up will be able to visit for lunch.

• Parents/Guardians will be able to sit with their child only and cannot bring food for other students.

• Please allow all parents an opportunity to come have lunch with their child by limiting your visits.

• Parents will still need to check in and out of the office with a valid picture ID on the days they are scheduled to eat with their child.

SignUpGenius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4BADAF2CA0FA7-51211456-keeley#/

• Please do not block the parking spaces outside the front office from 2:00-3:00 as parents may need to come into the office or clinic during this time.
• We've noticed that some parents are still parking in the staff parking lot, which is where our buses come in and out. We've had a close call between a parent and a daycare vehicle. For everyone’s safety, if you need to park at arrival and dismissal, please make sure to park off campus.

Running late? Picking up early? Need to pick up your child from the nurse? There's a form for that! Students who are dropped off or picked up late for school or who are being picked from office will need to be checked in/out using the QR code on the front door. An ID or a dismissal card will also need to be used to verify the person picking up the student.

To ensure the safety and well-being of all our students, we kindly remind you that outside food deliveries, including fast food, are not permitted during school hours. If your child forgets their lunch and cannot eat in the cafeteria, you are welcome to bring a sack lunch for them before 10:00 a.m. in order for it to be received in time. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

This year we will be using Class Dojo school-wide for communication and student incentives. Make sure you have joined!

Sign-up here if you haven't yet.

We are also using Parent Square for District and campus communication. Families can access ParentSquare via the online portal or on the app. Families received an email with login instructions for the new communication system, ParentSquare starting Aug. 9. Learn more about the tool and how to register on the ParentSquare Help page.

GISD hours for elementary campuses are from 8:10-3:30.

We will open our doors each day at 7:30am. We ask that parents stay with their children in their vehicles until 7:30 since we have no staff on duty to supervise until that time.

For the safety and security of all students and staff, Garland ISD uses the "I Love U Guys" Standard Response Protocol and Standard Reunification Method as the foundation of all responses to weather events, fires, accidents, intruders and other threats to personal safety.

GISD wants all students, parents and staff to understand these responses, expectations and actions.

For more information, visit the "I Love U Guys" website at https://iloveuguys.org/

• Download SRP-SRM_English_Parent-Handout.pdf

• SRP-SRM_Spanish_Parent-Handout.pdf

• Download SRP-SRM_Vietnamese_Parent-Handout.pdf

Here is where you can view your child's lunch account and add funds. You can also see the menu here: https://www.schoolcafe.com/GARLANDISD

Parents may bring food of their choice to school to celebrate their child’s birthday. GISD has determined that this food must be prepackaged, individually portioned, store-bought items with the ingredients clearly labeled. These birthday treats must be distributed after all lunch periods have ended and at the end of the day prior to dismissal. Parents will not be able to attend but can drop off the items in the front office.

All students are encouraged to develop and maintain good dress habits at school and school-sponsored activities. Extremes in modes of dress are not acceptable; e.g. exposed midriffs, see-through clothing, tank tops, or garments advertising products that are in poor taste. Shorts of a modest length and fit (approximately knee-length, loose fitting and hemmed) may be worn by students in all grade levels. The final decision for determining appropriate dress and appearance will rest with the teacher and principal.

Several spirit dress up days will be offered throughout the year if students would like to participate.

Please feel free to reach out to us at A144@garlandisd.net if you need anything.

If you haven't joined our Twitter and Facebook accounts please stay connected with us!

Garland ISD Twitter: @gisdnews

Keeley Website: https://www.garlandisdschools.net/keeley

Keeley PTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieKeeleyPTA

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