The Leadership Lens Issue #31
Making Memories and Leaving Legacies
Hello Marshall Families,
As we begin a new week, we want to stay focused on what matters most—student learning, growth, and finishing the school year strong. This is an important time of year, and every day counts when it comes to building success in the classroom.
With Easter having just passed, it serves as a reminder of renewal and fresh starts. This is a great opportunity for both students and families to reset routines, refocus on goals, and recommit to giving their best effort each day.
We encourage our students to practice habits that lead to success:
- Be Proactive: Come to school ready to learn with a positive attitude.
- Begin with the End in Mind: Set goals and stay focused on doing your best.
- Put First Things First: Complete assignments, stay organized, and make learning a priority.
- Work Together (Synergize): Support classmates and build each other up.
- Sharpen the Saw: Get plenty of rest, stay healthy, and take care of yourself.
Parents, your support makes a tremendous difference. Encouraging strong attendance, checking in on homework, and having conversations about learning each day helps keep students on track.
Together, we can make this a successful and strong finish to the school year. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Let’s have a great week, Marshall!
-Mr. Amaton
Dear Marshall Families,
This past three-day weekend for Good Friday and Easter provided a wonderful opportunity for our Mustangs to practice Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw, taking time to rest, recharge, and care for our minds, bodies, and hearts. Whether students spent time reading, spending time with family, or simply relaxing, it was a great way to refresh and return to school ready to finish the year strong.
This past week, we had the pleasure of welcoming parents with pastries sponsored by our PTA and celebrating our wonderful paraprofessionals who support students across every grade level, classroom and PE. Their dedication makes a real difference in our students’ learning and daily experiences.
As we enter April, it also marks the start of STAAR season. Here are some important upcoming dates to keep in mind:
April 14 – Reading
April 21 – Science (5th grade only)
April 28 – Math
Last week Mr. Amaton shared our theme: “Crush the STAAR, Aim for the Stars!” We have planned many ways to celebrate and motivate our students as they prepare to show what they know. We are encouraging our students to care for themselves, practice good routines, and stay focused this month as we approach these assessments with confidence and energy. Testing is a critical way for us to understand how students are progressing, and we appreciate your support in helping students arrive well-rested, prepared, and ready to do their best. Your encouragement at home helps reinforce these habits and ensures students are ready to succeed every day.
Pony Up,
Taelor Harris
💙 Individual & Family Counselor Support
GPISD has a wealth of resources available to students and their families. If your family is in need of assistance or counseling support, please reach out to me so that I can support you.
Phone: (972) 522-7220
Email: lakedra.anderson@gpisd.org
Thank you for your continued partnership in helping keep our school a safe, respectful, and caring community for all students.
— Ms. Anderson, School Counselor
Dear Families,
Preparing for STAAR testing is a great opportunity for students to practice strong habits that lead to success in school and beyond. By focusing on Habit 1, Be Proactive, students take responsibility for their learning by staying positive, asking for help when needed, and making good choices each day. Habit 1 also means students focus on what they can control:
- trying their best
- completing homework
- going to bed on time
- getting up in time to eat a healthy breakfast
Parents can help by:
- making sure students are at school every day
- providing a calm, reassuring environment leading up to testing
- supporting with homework when needed
Habit 3, Put First Things First, helps students prioritize their time by completing homework, studying important material, and staying organized before doing less important activities. When students use these habits together, they build confidence, reduce stress, and set themselves up to do their very best on the STAAR test.
-Ms. Sutton
🏁Join us for our annual MLA Fun Run 🌈🏃🏻♀️
📆 Thursday, April 9th
⏰ 5:30-7:00pm
What to expect:
✦Run through a fun color course 🌈
✦Dive into the foam pit 🫧
✦Get MESSY!
✦Enjoy snacks from the PTA concession stand 🥤
✦Earn house points for each lap you complete 👟🏁
We can’t wait to see you there! Don't forget a towel!!! 😊
Everything is Buy One, Get One FREE!
📣Marshall PTA invites you to the Book Fair! 🛍️
🗓 Monday, April 6th – Friday, April 10th
📍 Location: Marshall PTA Room
*See below for how to set up your child's eWallet!
Set Up Your Child's eWallet for Cash-Free Shopping!
💳 No cash? No problem!
Set up a Scholastic eWallet for easy, cash-free payments.
Family and friends can contribute too! Visit link below to get started.
👉🏼 https://account.scholastic.com/my-scholastic/profile/create-ewallet.html?fairID=6112692&sUCN=600204252
All purchases support our school. Thank you!
💳 No tiene efectivo? ¡No hay problema!
Cree una eWallet de Scholastic para pagos fáciles y sin efectivo.
¡Familiares y amigos también pueden contribuir! Visite el enlace para comenzar.
👉🏼 https://account.scholastic.com/my-scholastic/profile/create-ewallet.html?fairID=6112692&sUCN=600204252
¡Todas las compras apoyan a nuestra escuela! Gracias.
Hello Marshall Parents & Families!
I'm excited to announce that our Kindergarten & First Grade student musicians will perform their spring musical performance titled "I'm Walking on Sunshine" on Thursday, April 16, 2026 @ 6:30 pm. In order for students to perform on stage, I need them to be registered for the performance so that I can properly arrange and place our young performers on stage during rehearsals.
ALL student musicians & performers will learn & practice songs during their specials block during the school day. There will not be any after-school rehearsals for this show.
🚨The registration for the show closed on April 3, 2026.
Blessings!
T.Carter
*Please email any questions to Mr. Carter at terris.carter@gpisd.org.
Parents, please join us in cheering on our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students as they prepare for their STAAR tests!
On Monday, April 13th, we invite parents and guardians up to chalk the walk and write positive and encouraging messages for our students to see as they arrive for their STAAR Reading test the following day!
We'll have chalk set up in the back drive for parents to write messages on the sidewalk leading up to the cafeteria between 8:30am-3:00pm or 4:00-5:00pm! (Please try to avoid coming during morning drop off or afternoon dismissal times).
Thank you so much for making this an uplifting morning for our big kids! ⭐️
🚨Sign ups will close on Friday, May 1st, 2026 at 4pm🚨
📆 Thursday, May 14, 2026
⏰ 2:00pm for Marshall students and staff
⏰ 6:30pm for Marshall families
📍 Marshall Cafeteria
Hello again, Marshall parents & families!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Show us What You've Got!!
Our Marshall Variety Show of Talent 2026 will be performed on Thursday, May 14th, 2026 in the Marshall Cafetorium! We will have two shows, one at 2pm for the campus (students and Marshall staff) and our evening show for Parents & Families at 6:30pm. This show will feature our 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th grade students who would like to perform a talent on stage!
This production is completely optional and does require student performers to successfully audition (by VIDEO AUDITION ---> email or GOOGLE CLASSROOM submission) and be accepted into the show. Students may only perform with kid friendly music, kid friendly dances, and kid friendly content. Students MUST PRACTICE their act on their own time and be ready to perform their act from memory once the show is cast.
If your 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th grade student is interested in performing in the Variety Show, you must register your student for this event by CLICKING THE LINK BELOW. Sign ups will close on Friday, May 1st, 2026 at 4pm. Due to the popularity of this event, slots fill up fast for this event. MLA staff are also welcome to perform in the show!! Please reach out to me if you have and questions! All information regarding signing up and sending video auditions can be found in the sign-up link below.
Thank you MLA Families!
-Mr. Carter
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SIGN UP FOR THE 2026 VarietySHOW
Register Students HERE 👉🏼 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VARIETY2026
*Please reach out to Mr. Carter at terris.carter@gpisd.org for any questions.
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)
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.**
