Gilmer Elementary
November 2026 Family Newsletter
November 3rd-17th GES Annual Food Drive
November 11th Veteran's Day Parade & Performance
November 12th Progress Reports
November 19th 2nd Grade Field Trip
Nov. 23rd-27th Thanksgiving Holiday
December 7th TPRI Window (First Grade)
December 10th GES Show Choir Bank Performances
December 14th Storybook Reader Day
December 16th Holiday Parties (2-4)
December 17th Holiday Parties (K-1)
December 18th Early Release Day
Instructional Hours
Our instructional day is 7:45 AM to 3:25 PM. Students arriving at 8:00am or after must be signed in at the front office by a parent or guardian.
Please ensure your child is in class by 8:00 AM prepared to learn. Consistent punctuality is crucial for academic success.
Late Arrivals
We need your help ensuring all students are in class on time, ready to learn by 8:00 AM every day. Please have your child at school no later than 7:45 AM if you wish for them to eat breakfast. We stop serving at 7:55 AM.
Lunch Visitors
Parents are allowed to come eat lunch with their students at their designated lunch time. You may bring food from McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, etc. However, you may not have food delivered to your student through a delivery service such as Door Dash.
LUNCH TIMES
11:00 - 11:30 Third Grade
11:10 - 11:40 Fourth Grade
11:45 - 12:15 Second Grade
11:55 - 12: 25 First Grade
12:20 - 12:50 Kinder
We are unable to accommodate LUNCH VISITORS on the first week of school, party days, academic celebration days, state testing days and Early Release days. Lunch times may vary on these days.
All students receive FREE breakfast and lunch.
How do I make a transportation change for my student?
Changes are limited to emergencies only. All transportation changes must be received by the school office in writing no later than 1:30 PM on the day of the change. We cannot accept changes over the phone.
You may send a written note with your child or email gestransportationchange@gilmerisd.org.
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Car rider notes must include: student’s name, grade, teacher, car tag number, and whether the change is one-time only or every day.
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Bus rider notes must include: student’s name, grade, teacher, bus number, the address where the child will be going, and whether the change is one-time only or every day.
⚠️ Please do not send notes in advance—only send them on the day of the change.
Communication
In addition to communication through ParentSquare, the monthly GES Smore newsletter will be emailed to all parents with details about what is going on at our campus. We will also send Buckeye folders home with our students EVERY THURSDAY. These folders will have graded papers from class, flyers and other important information. Communication from the GES office, lunch menus, book fair brochures, picture days packets — it will all be in the folder! Please be sure to return your student’s folder each Friday.
My child has a doctor’s appointment. How late can I pick them up ?
If you are picking up your child early, please come to the school office to do so by 2:45 PM. ALSO — if your student has a doctor’s appointment and misses any part of the school day, please send a doctor’s note with them when they return to school so that the time they were absent may be marked “excused”. Notes may be submitted up to 3 days after an absence or early pick-up.
Academic Celebrations and Party Days at GES
At GES, we prioritize maximizing instructional time while also valuing the chance for parents to celebrate important milestones with their children. Parents and/or guardians are invited to attend academic celebrations for the 1st and 4th quarters, as well as their child’s Christmas and End-of-Year parties.
To help us protect valuable learning time, we strongly encourage families to allow students to remain at school and finish the instructional day after events.
Where do I park when I come to the school for a party or awards ceremony?
When you attend an event, always park in the gravel parking lot or the other areas that are indicated through signage. DO NOT park in the front circle or the lanes of the main entrance; these areas must remain clear for emergency vehicles should the need arise. The circle may only be used for short office visits (drop off for tardy students, picking up your child for an appointment, etc.)
