What's Happening at Griffis
2025-2026
December Newsletter
Dear Families,
As we step into December, I hope your Thanksgiving break was filled with meaningful time together, rest, and a much-needed reset. This time of year always reminds us how important our school-home partnership is, and how grateful we are for the joy your children bring to our campus each day.
December is a magical month in elementary school, and we have so many fun and memorable moments planned for our students—theme days, classroom celebrations, special events, and all the excitement that comes with closing out a semester. Our goal is to embrace every bit of this season while continuing to finish strong academically. Attendance, engagement, and consistency matter now more than ever, and we appreciate your support in helping students stay focused during these last few weeks.
Thank you for sharing your children with us. Their laughter, energy, and curiosity brighten our halls, and we are honored to be part of their growth. Throughout the busy days ahead, we hope your family finds joy, peace, and moments of wonder.
We can’t wait to make these final weeks of 2025 unforgettable for our students—together, we’ll finish the semester strong!
With appreciation,
Michelle Colwell
Student and Staff Member of the Month
Capturing Kids' Hearts Family Survey
We value your input on our Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) Family Survey. At our school, teachers and students actively use CKH strategies each day to foster strong relationships. Social contracts, greetings, launches, and affirmations are integral parts of our daily routine. Our monthly celebrations are designed to honor student achievements beyond academics, highlighting the importance of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). This survey aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how CKH is being implemented and its impact on our school community.
Griffis December to Remember 2025
Holiday Store
Our Holiday Store begins today. Students will visit the store during their Special's time. It is a joyful time as the students have the opportunity to purchase gifts for their loved ones.....and maybe for themselves also!
Early Release
Christmas Parties @ Griffis
Hot Chocolate Run
Join us for our annual Hot Chocolate Run! It is a great time, you don't want to miss out!
Mark Your Calendars
December:
December 3: Superintendent Leadership Council Meeting
December 6 Christmas Vendor Fair
December 10 First Grade Musical @ 7:00 PM
December 12 UIL hosted at Griffis
December 12 Early Release
December 12 PK & Kinder Christmas Caroling
December 17 Pre K Stem Night
December 17 Christmas Parties
December 18 Early Release
December 19-January 5- NO school
January
January 6- School starts back
January 6 4th Grade Robotics Competition
January 7 - 23 MOY CLI PK Monitoring
January 12-30 K- 2 Amplify Window (1st Grade Screener)
January 16-2nd-4th Oz-Some Awards-Parent invite only
January 30- Pre K-1st Oz-Some Awards-Parent invite only
February:
February 4 Superintendent Leadership Meeting
February 6- Lunch on the Lawn at Griffis
February 13-2nd-4th Oz-Some Awards-Parent invite only
February 21- Pre K-1st Oz-Some Awards-Parent invite only
February 26- Spring and Class Pictures
March:
March 4 TELPAS (Listening and Speaking) grades 2-4
March 5-TELPAS (Reading and Writing) grades 2-4
March 13- 2nd-4th Oz-Some Awards-Parent invite only
March 25- Kinder Cap and Gown Pictures
March 27- Pre K-1st Oz-Some Awards-Parent invite only
April:
April 8-3rd grade RLA STAAR
April 9-4th grade RLA STAAR
April 10-2nd-4th Oz-Some Awards-Parent invite only
April 10-Lunch on the Lawn at Griffis
April 22-3rd grade Math STAAR
April 23-4th grade Math STAAR
April 24- Pre K-1st Oz-Some Awards-Parent invite only
Library Corner
Holiday Break Reading Challenge
Return to Mrs. Givens in January for a prize!
1st Grade's Christmas Music Program
Griffis UIL
More information to come..........
Let's finish STRONG! Keep practicing.
District Events
December Breakfast and Lunch Menu
College T-Shirt Day
Griffis Yearbooks on Sale Now!
Lunch on the Lawn @ Griffis
Elementary and Intermediate will be hosting 1 Lunch on the Lawn for parents each 9 weeks. Good NEWS: We are staggering the dates for each of these campuses! Hopefully this will help out with picking up food for you students!
RSVP link will be sent prior to the event date:
- Parking will be available in both the front and back of the school. Check-in tables will be set up at both locations.
- Please have your QR code ready at check-in to help speed up the process.
- After checking in, you will receive a visitor badge. A visitor badge is required to attend Lunch on the Lawn.
- These are regular instructional days at Griffis; the school schedule has not been adjusted.
- Early sign-outs will be considered unexcused and will follow the district’s unexcused early sign-out policy.
- If you choose to sign your child out early for an unexcused early sign-out, this must occur after their scheduled lunch time.
- After lunch, students are required to line up with their teacher and return to the classroom. Parents/guardians who wish to sign them out must do so through the front office. At that time, staff will call the student from class.
This procedure is in place to ensure the safety of all students and to keep teachers informed of who has been checked out.
Thanks for your help with ensuring our students are safe and accounted for at all times!
OZ-SOME Griffis Celebration
We are excited to continue our monthly student recognitions with our OZ-SOME Griffis Celebrations! Students that are receiving an award for that month will be invited by their child's teacher. These will be quick celebrations right after announcements. We are excited to start this at Griffis this year.
Bell Schedule
7:45 Tardy Bell/ Class Starts
3:20 Dismissal Bell
Students not in the building by the 7:45 A.M. bell are considered tardy. Please refer to our campus handbook regarding our tardy policy. If your child is tardy, please do not drop your child off. For their safety, your child should be signed in. Please come to the front to sign them in.
Box Tops at Griffis
Make a difference at Griffis Elementary! Help us earn money with products you already buy! Box Tops are back and an easy way for you to help us earn money for our amazing school!
Transportation
Parents - you can access bus route information 3 ways:
1. Download the Stopfinder App
2. Go to the district website to the transportation home page
3. Check Skyward under the transportation tab
Any questions about bus service to please contact the transportation office at 903-527-6133.
Caddo Mills ISD CHILD Nutrition
Now Accepting Free & Reduced Meal Applications for 2025–2026!
Caddo Mills ISD is now accepting Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications for the upcoming school year. ALL families are encouraged to apply—just one application per household is needed.
Apply online for the fastest processing: schoolcafe.com/caddomillsisd
Paper applications are also available at the front office of each campus.
Already qualified through Direct Certification? No need to apply—we’ve got you covered!
New this year! Thanks to recent legislation passed in Texas, students who qualify for reduced-price meals will now receive both breakfast and lunch at no cost.
Learn more on our Child Nutrition webpage: www.caddomillsisd.org/page/food-services
If you have any questions, contact your campus or the Child Nutrition Department. Let’s work together to ensure every student starts the day with a nutritious meal!
Meal Prices
AlphaBEST After-School Program
Watch D.O.G.S
Watch D.O.G.S Program
We are excited to continue this program with Griffis Elementary PTO this coming this year!
The Watch D.O.G.S. Program brings male role models such as dads, stepdads, grandpas, uncles, etc. into the school for the betterment of the school, the students, and the community!!
Are you interested or know someone who may be?
We ask for a commitment of a partial or full school day just ONCE per year! Of course, you can volunteer more often!
More information on how to volunteer and our Kick Off meeting will be posted at a later time.
For more information visit the website at: https://dadsofgreatstudents.com/
Thanks for your support, we look forward to seeing you on campus this year!
