The Cannon Connection
2025-2026 Newsletter for Cannon Elementary Families
October 26 - November 1, 2025
Good morning Cannon families,
We had another Amazing Week of Fun, Creativity, and Community! 🎉We capped it off with some fantastic events that truly brought our community together. Friday was full of laughs as the lucky auction participants enjoyed "Parachute with the Principal"—always a blast and a great example of the fun generated by our PTA Auction! Then, our 3rd–5th graders dazzled everyone at our PTA Costume Party with an incredible display of creativity and amazing costumes.
These moments of joy and connection would not be possible without the tireless effort and dedication of our outstanding PTA. A huge thank you to every volunteer, teacher, and PTA board member for making this week so memorable for our students!
We want to send a massive thank you to all the families who participated in our Fall STEM Book Challenge inspired by Iggy Peck, Architect, combining literacy, creativity, and math to design unique structures based on grade-level themes! The level of creativity, ingenuity, and teamwork displayed in the Home-to-School Artifacts is absolutely incredible. From functioning models to ingenious prototypes, the projects are a true testament to what our students can achieve when their learning is supported by a strong partnership between home and school. Thank you for taking the time to engage in this hands-on learning with your children. You’ve helped make STEM concepts come alive!
Great news, Cannon parents! The online component of our Literati Book Fair is open! This gives you a head start on getting some wonderful new books for your readers.
Our physical book fair will still be coming to Cannon next month—look out for more details on that soon! But for now, get ready to shop the great selection online starting next week. Happy reading!
Here is the link: https://literati.com/store/?school=cannon-elementary-school-grapevine-tx
The Parent Referral Window for GT/ASPIRE Testing 5th-11th Grade is open!
Step-by-step directions for completing a referral in Skyward are available on the GCISD Advanced Academics website.
It's National Red Ribbon Week! This week, we join schools nationwide to celebrate Red Ribbon Week. We want this week to be fun and educational, but most importantly, we want our students to know - We love our healthy bodies! Choose to be happy, choose to be healthy, and choose to be drug-free! Each day, we ask our Cubs and staff to join us by dressing up and pledging to be Drug-Free. Say YES to Fun, Friends, and Healthy Bodies! Please remember that on Super Hero Day on Monday, October 27th and October 30th, for Storybook Character Dress Up Day, NO masks, props, or toy weapons are allowed.
As a reminder, Monday, November 3 is a Staff Professional Development Day - No School for Students!
Proud to be your principal,
Dr. Tina Garrett
#BeCannonProud ☮️💗🐻
Pre-Kindergarten
Code-or-Treat: Engineering the Perfect Halloween Route Design Challenge
Students are learning all about their community. To apply their learning, students will be structural engineers as they design their community neighborhood houses for their robot to go and trick or treat. They will be material engineers as they design a costume for their robot to wear. Lastly, students will be computer engineers as they program their robot to go to each house to trick or treat.
Structural and Computer Engineering
Kindergarten-1st Grade
Happily Ever After Design Challenge
Students are learning about fairy tales and fables during this time. To apply their learning, students will be programmers that code Little Red Robot to drive to her grandmother's house to avoid the wolf. They will be structural engineers when they help solve a problem that their character is having in their story. Students will become coders to create solutions to complete a mission. Lastly, students will be artists and see their creations come to life through augmented reality.
Computer and Structural Engineering
2nd Grade
The Cannon Community Quest Design Challenge
Students are learning all about community, energy and the genre of fairy tales, fables and fantasy during this time. To demonstrate their learning, students will be mechanical engineers as they design a toy that has sound with a push and pull force. They will be material engineers as they design a Cannon community quilt. Lastly, students will be structural engineers as they design scenes for their story out of Legos and code a robot to travel through their scenes.
Mechanical, Material, Structural and Computer Engineering
3rd Grade
Citizens and Heroes Design Challenge
Students will be learning about community and how to be a good citizen during this time. To further apply their learning, students will be programmers that code their robot to move house components to construct houses for a village. They will be mechanical engineers when they design a 3D printed artifact that represents our community. Students will be software engineers as they create a video to inform Cannon students on how they can be a good citizen. Lastly, they will be sound engineers as they create sound effects or songs for our Hall of Fame assemblies.
Computer, Mechanical, Software and Sound Engineering
4th Grade
The Exploration Blueprint: Deep Ocean Design Challenge
Students are learning about exploration in history during this time. To apply their learning, students will be programmers that design a path for a robot to complete missions to explore the ocean. They will be mechanical engineers as they create a 3D printed artifact that would belong in the deep ocean. Students will be software engineers as they create an informational presentation about an animal that is found in the deep ocean. Lastly, students will be sound engineers as they design sound effects of different noises one might experience if they are exploring the ocean.
Computer, Mechanical, Software and Sound Engineering
5th Grade
Coasting to Mastery: The Ultimate Amusement Park Design Challenge
Students will be learning about force and motion, informational text and fractions during this time. To demonstrate their mastery of learning, students will be software engineers as they design a roller coaster with certain criteria and constraints so all riders are safe. They will also be marketing engineers when they create a news report informing their audience of the features of a new roller coaster that is being built. Students will be manufacturing engineers as they create new "tiny" treats that will be sold at the amusement park. Lastly, they will be sound engineers as they design a soothing soundtrack for riders to listen to on a roller coaster.
Software, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Sound Engineering
Art: Pre-Kindergarten-5th Grade
Stop Motion Animation Design Challenge
Students will bring small objects to life by setting up a background and moving them just a little bit between each photo. They'll learn the magic of animation by snapping hundreds of pictures that, when played back quickly, become their very own imaginative film! It's a fun, hands-on way to learn storytelling and filmmaking basics.
Material and Mechanical Engineering
PE: Pre-Kindergarten-5th Grade
Speed Stacking Design Challenge
Students will be structural engineers, designing step-by-step cup stacking routines. They will use technology to record and time their performances. Then, they will analyze their results to improve and beat their previous scores.
Structural Engineering
Music: Pre-Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Quaver Song Brush Design Challenge
Students will access Quaver through their Classlink and go to Song Brush. Students will be able to draw appropriate art and choose which instrument sound they want to hear. The app will put music to that picture and create a song.
Audio/ Sound Engineering
Music: 3rd-5th Grade
Quaver Grooves- Design Challenge
Students will be able to experiment with Quaver grooves to create a song. Students will be able to select from rhythm instruments (drums, synth, piano, and Bass guitar only). Grooves can be organized and rearranged by music genre or key.
Audio Engineering
Applied STEM: Pre-Kindergarten-5th Grade
Pre-Kindergarten - Students will learn how to program "Dash". They will learn how to make the robot move, make sound, and light up.
Kindergarten and 1st Grade - Students will learn how to program "Robot Mouse". They will learn how to use icon arrows to code Robot Mouse through the maze to find his cheese.
2nd Grade - Students will build a Lego Spike Essential kit design following the building instructions. They will then code their motor to make their design move.
3rd and 4th Grade - Students will explore Tinkercad. They will understand the different design aspects to create a 3D printed object.
5th Grade - Students will design their first roller coaster in Qweebi. Students will understand how a rollercoaster moves without an engine. Students will create a design and simulate the experience for the rider to see top speed and safety of their design.
Computer and Software Programming
October 27-31 - National Red Ribbon Week
Friday, October 31 - Cannon's 5th Annual STEMapalooza! We are extremely excited to launch our fifth annual STEMapalooza on Friday, October 31st. The goal of this school-embedded STEM fall instructional festival is to support all four of our STEM pillars: Curriculum, Culture, Community, and Career Pathways. All of our scholars will use STEM design challenges aligned to engineering pathways, with a focus on instructional technology, to grow our culture and community as STEM thinkers! It will be an amazing, STEMtastic day for your Cubs! Volunteers are not needed during this school day festival. All Cubs will receive a popsicle on this day; however if you would like for your child to purchase a cup of Dippin' Dots from our fabulous PTA, they may bring $5 cash to purchase on that day!
Monday, November 3 - Staff Professional Development - No School for Students
Monday, November 3 - Father of Texas Day; Today is the birth date of Stephen F. Austin. We celebrate and remember him today - a great pioneer patriot and the Father of Texas.
Friday, November 7 - 🕵🏼♀️ Hats Off to Learning! $1 wear a hat - All proceeds go toward reducing field trip costs. 🐾Cannon Spirit Gear Friday - Wear your Cub Gear!
Friday, November 7 - STEM Hall of Fame (4th & 5th) -Thoughtful Planning
Friday, November 7 -📽️🍿PTA General Meeting & Movie Night 6:30-8:30 at Cannon
Monday, November 10 - PTA Mario Kart Penny Wars Begin! More information coming soon...
Tuesday, November 11 - Veterans Day; Cannon will honor our Veterans with a reception at 1:00 and a 2nd grade performance from 2:00-2:30.
Veterans Day, November 11, originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. It became a national holiday 1938. Veterans Day pays tribute to all American military veterans (living or dead). Today, let us all give thanks to veterans who served or serve our country during war or peacetime.
Wednesday, November 12 - Friday, November 14 - 🏕️ 5th Grade Sky Ranch Camp Field Trip!
Friday, November 14 - STEM Hall of Fame (2nd & 3rd) -Thoughtful Planning
Monday, November 17 - Cannon Campus Excellence Committee Meeting - Engineering Lab 3:30-4:30
November 17-21 -📔Cannon Book Fair; Starting November 20 - 🖼️ Cannon Art Show
Friday, November 21 - Cannon's Annual Grand Friend's Day 8:30-10:30! Grand Friends, get ready for some STEMtastic fun!
Friday, November 21 - STEM Hall of Fame (PreK, Kinder, & 1st) -Thoughtful Planning
Monday, November 24-Friday, November 28 - Thanksgiving Break!
Cannon Garden Workday (Sat, Nov 8th)
When: Saturday, Nov 8th - 9AM-2PM (Pick a shift or let us know if you can drop-in)
Where: Meet at Garden behind building
What: We need help from parents, neighbors, and friends to get the Cannon School Garden Winter Ready. Kids are welcome. No experience necessary. We'll clean out weeds, trash, and ready beds for winter crops like spinach and greens. And we'll consolidate some sections for native plant habitat for student interaction. See the link below also to help with snacks, drinks, and supplies.
Sign-Up Genius for Garden Workday
For more information please contact the new Garden Coordinator and 1st Grade Parent, Andrew Fiser at 501-690-5421 or andrewfiser@gmail.com. We are developing a wider network of volunteers, so if this day does not work - let Andrew know you are interested in helping.
Exciting news! Do you or someone you know own a local business and want to partner with the Cannon PTA? We have sponsorship opportunities! If you sign up to be a sponsor between now and September 30, depending on the sponsorship level, your business’ logo will be included on our STEM-A-Palooza t-shirt! Join us here!
Review the 2025-2026 Student Code of Conduct, Parent Handbook
GCISD is having a successful start to the school year! Please help us keep that momentum going by taking a moment to review with your students the 2025-2026 Student Code of Conduct and 2025-2026 Student Parent-Handbook, which includes dress code and updates from the 89th Legislative Session.
Cannon Elementary: A GCISD STEM School
Email: tina.garrett@gcisd.net
Website: https://can.gcisd.net/
Location: Cannon Elementary School, West College Street, Grapevine, TX, USA
Phone: 817-251-5680
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cannonSTEM/
Twitter: @canSTEM
Instagram: @CannonSTEM