The Leadership Lens Issue #35
Making Memories and Leaving Legacies
Dear Marshall Families,
With STAAR testing now behind us, we want to take a moment to celebrate the hard work and determination our students have shown. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and the perseverance they demonstrated throughout the testing season.
While STAAR may be over, our commitment to teaching and learning remains strong. Our teachers will continue to provide meaningful instruction to give every student a strong head start for the upcoming school year.
As we move into the final stretch of the school year, we are excited to share that we have many fun-filled events and celebrations ahead. Please take a few moments to carefully review our full newsletter. There are important registration events currently taking place and deadlines are approaching quickly. Especially our "Secure Your Seats" campaign. We want to ensure every family has the opportunity to secure their child’s seat for next year.
This past weekend was especially memorable for our Marshall community. We proudly participated in local Cinco de Mayo festivities and are thrilled to share that we earned 1st place in the parade! This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible support of our families. Thank you to the parents who helped with decorations, provided trailers, drove, and even contributed a custom motorcycle to make our entry truly stand out. We also deeply appreciate the families who allowed their children to participate and represent our school with pride.
Last, we invite all of our families and community members to join us for our own Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5th at the South GP Auditorium beginning at 6:00 PM. We look forward to celebrating together!
Thank you for your continued support of Marshall Leadership Academy. It truly makes a difference.
Sincerely,
—Mr. Amaton
Dear Marshall Families,
We are excited to share that we have officially wrapped up our final STAAR test and are heading into the last month of the school year. May is always a special time at Marshall, filled with field day, class picnics, and awards as we celebrate a year of hard work and growth for our students.
We would like to give a big shoutout to our 5th grade students who earned the Seal of Biliteracy this week. This award recognizes students who can speak, read, and write in two or more languages at an academic level. We are incredibly proud of their dedication and achievement.
We also want to recognize National School Principals Day and extend our appreciation to Mr. Amaton for his leadership, vision, and commitment to our students, staff, and families. In addition, we celebrate our School Lunch Heroes who work hard every day to ensure our Marshall leaders are fed and ready to learn.
Thank you to our teachers and families who came out to support the Cinco de Mayo parade this past Saturday. It was a wonderful celebration of culture and community. As we look ahead, we are excited to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week and honor our incredible staff for their dedication and impact on our students each day.
As we wrap up the year, we want to highlight Habit 3: Put First Things First. These final weeks are important, and we encourage our students to stay focused, manage their time wisely, and prioritize their learning. Finishing assignments, staying organized, and giving their best effort each day will help set them up for success as we close out the school year.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Let’s finish strong, together.
Pony Up,
taelor.harris@gpisd.org
Finishing the Year Strong
7 Habits Connection: Habit 3 – Put First Things First
Welcome to May! As we enter the final stretch of the school year, our focus is on staying motivated, organized, and finishing strong. This connects to Habit 3: Put First Things First, which encourages students to prioritize their responsibilities, stay focused on their goals, and give their best effort each day.
After a busy testing season, it’s important for students to continue showing strong habits—completing assignments, following routines, and making positive choices both in and out of the classroom.
🍎 Teacher Appreciation Week
This week, we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week! Our teachers work hard every day to support, guide, and inspire our students. It’s a wonderful time to encourage your child to show appreciation through kind words, thank-you notes, or small gestures of gratitude.
A simple “thank you” can go a long way in making our teachers feel valued and appreciated!
End-of-Year Focus
We are encouraging students to:
- Stay focused on classwork and expectations
- Continue showing kindness and respect
- Take pride in finishing the school year strong
- Celebrate their growth and accomplishments
At-Home Support Tip:
Help your child stay on track by maintaining consistent routines and asking:
- “What’s something you’re proud of from this year?”
- “What’s one goal you want to finish before school ends?”
Counselor Support
As we approach the end of the school year, I am here to support students with encouragement, or any social-emotional needs that may arise during this busy time.
Thank you for your continued partnership in making this a successful school year. Let’s finish strong together!
— Ms. Anderson, School Counselor
Dear Families,
We are excited to invite our families to several fun and memorable upcoming events, including Field Day, grade level picnics, and grade level awards ceremonies! These special moments are a great way to celebrate our students’ hard work and enjoy time together as a school community. Be sure to complete all required sign-ups so you don’t miss out on the festivities!
We’d also like to give a big congratulations to our Quarter 4 winning house, Heshima! 💛 Their teamwork and leadership have paid off, and they’ve earned a well-deserved field trip to PlayGrand Adventures—what an exciting reward!
-Ms. Sutton
Ansvar and our high point earners for Q3 will be going on the field trip to...
📍The Dallas Zoo
📆 Friday, May 8th
⏰ 9:00am-2:00pm
Please be sure to:
Wear comfy shoes
Bring a sack lunch labeled with your name (ALL DISPOSABLE containers please!)
Wear your Ansvar shirt (high point earners may wear their house shirt)
🚨This sign up will close on Monday, May 4th at 4:00pm.🚨
Marshall Leadership Academy invites you to join our field day events on Thursday, May 7th!
Please note that although field day is all in one day, there are different times for different grade levels. Each child may have 2 adult visitors. Please register all adults intending to watch field day.
- Field Day for 3rd-5th Grades is Thursday, May 7th from 8:30-11:10am.
- Field Day for K-2nd Grades is Thursday, May 7th from 12:30-3:10pm.
***School-aged children are not permitted to attend their sibling's field day.***
🚨This signup will close on Thursday, May 7th at 4:00pm.🚨
Please join us for our annual grade level picnics! Please RSVP for this event! This signup will close on Thursday, May 7th at 4:00pm.
Please review the following guidelines:
*Students may have up to 2 adult visitors per student.
*School aged children may NOT attend their sibling's picnic.
*Please note that there are different days for different grade levels. If you have children in multiple grade levels, please check all of the boxes for the picnics you plan on attending.
Monday, May 11th
Kindergarten 1:00-3:00pm (Playground)
Tuesday, May 12th
2nd Grade 9:00-11:00 (Garden)
1st Grade 1:00-3:00 (Garden)
Wednesday, May 13th
4th Grade 9:00-11:00am (Playground)
5th Grade 1:00-3:00pm (Playground)
Thursday, May 14th
Pre-K 8:30-10:30am (Playground)
Friday, May 15th
3rd Grade 9:00-11:00 (Playground)
***CARE, please get with your child's teacher about a day and time.
🚨This signup will close on Thursday, May 14th at 4:00pm.🚨
Please join us for our grade level awards ceremonies. No more than 2 adults per student as space is limited. This signup will close on Thursday, May 14th at 4:00pm.
*Please note that there are different days for different grade levels. If you have children in multiple grade levels, please check all of the boxes for the awards you plan on attending.
Monday, May 18th
2nd Grade 9:00-10:00am
Pre-K 1:30-2:30
Tuesday, May 19th
1st Grade 9:00-10:00am
Kindergarten 1:30-2:30pm
Wednesday, May 20th
3rd Grade 9:00-10:00am
4th Grade 1:30-2:30pm
Thursday, May 21st
5th Grade 9:00-10:00am
***CARE, please get with your child's teacher about a day and time.
🚨RSVP by Thursday, May 14th!🚨
Marshall Leadership Academy would like to invite all of our 5th grade parents and former Mustang graduating seniors to participate in a 5th Grade and Senior Clap Out!
📅 Date
Thursday, May 21st
⏰ Time
2:30pm Senior Reception and Poster Signing (Seniors Only)
3:00pm 5th Grade & Senior Clap Out (Visitors May Attend)
What to wear:
🎓Seniors: Wear your cap and gown over your future college campus t-shirt.
👗5th Grade: Dress to impress!
🚨RSVP by Thursday, May 14th!🚨
RSVP by filling out the form below. Please send a “then” picture of your child in kindergarten and a “now” picture to Whitney.Sutton@gpisd.org for the slideshow and poster signing by May 14th.
👇🏼RSVP HERE:
English
Spanish
Please join us in help completing a background check for volunteering on campus, visiting, and joining us for campus events including field trips. This would need to be completed annually.
Students have received one lanyard and one badge sleeve for free. Afterward, parents need to use the link or QR code to purchase replacements through MySchoolBucks.
You will have the option to choose:
- Badge sleeve $1
- Lanyard-red $2 ❤️
- Lanyard-orange $2 🧡
- Lanyard-yellow $2 💛
- Lanyard-green $2 💚
- Lanyard-blue $2 💙
- Lanyard-purple $2 💜
- Lanyard-black $2 🖤
- Lanyard-white $2 🤍
**Please choose the lanyard color for your child's house.**
