The Leadership Lens Issue #18

Dear Mustang Families,

As we close out the first semester, I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve taken together and to thank the people who make our school community so special. This semester has been filled with growth, learning, challenges, and celebrations—and none of it would be possible without the strong partnership between our students, staff, families, and community.

To our families, thank you for trusting us with your children each day, for encouraging learning at home, and for supporting our school in countless ways. Your involvement and communication make a meaningful difference. To our community partners, thank you for standing beside us, investing your time and resources, and helping us provide opportunities that enrich the lives of our students. Your support truly strengthens our campus.

This semester, we have continued to build a leadership culture grounded in Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits, which guide our students and staff both academically and socially:

• Be Proactive – Taking responsibility for our choices and actions.

• Begin with the End in Mind – Setting goals and working with purpose.

• Put First Things First – Prioritizing what matters most, including learning and relationships.

• Think Win-Win – Seeking solutions that benefit everyone.

• Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood – Listening with empathy and respect.

• Synergize – Working together to achieve more than we can alone.

• Sharpen the Saw – Taking care of ourselves physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally.

As we head into the final week of the semester, I encourage our students to finish strong, reflect on their growth, and celebrate their accomplishments. This is also a time to show gratitude, kindness, and respect for one another—values that truly bring the 7 Habits to life. As a friendly reminder, please be sure to RSVP for our Polar Express Parade, Christmas parties, and join us virtually for our Title 1 workshop!

On behalf of our entire staff, thank you again to our families and community for your continued support and partnership. We wish you a restful and joyful break and look forward to welcoming everyone back for an exciting and successful second semester.

Together, we are growing leaders—one habit at a time.

Warm regards,

Mr. Amaton

Dear Mustang Families,

This week has truly been another festive one at Marshall as we continue enjoying holiday dress-up days and prepare for classroom Christmas parties on Thursday. Please be on the lookout for voting information for our door decorating contest and help us celebrate the creativity across campus.

A huge shoutout goes to Mr. Carter, our Specials team, and our 2nd and 3rd grade teachers and students for an outstanding performance on Thursday. It was a full house, and we are so thankful to our families for showing up to support our students.

Thank you as well to our amazing PTA for hosting a wonderful Winter Wonderland on Saturday. We had Santa, hot cocoa and pancakes, snowball fun, painting and building, and plenty of smiles and laughter throughout the event. I am always in awe of the talent, commitment, and heart our PTA brings to our campus.

As we head into the holiday season, we wish all of our families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hope you enjoy a restful and joyful break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on January 6, refreshed and ready to focus on the second half of the school year.

As we close out the year, I also want to recognize our first-half Staff Members of the Month: Sutton, Ismail, Merriweather, and Nurse Tasha and express my deep appreciation for our leadership team, Ms. Anderson, Mrs. Kelley and Ms. Sutton, who consistently supports not only our students, but our staff, families, and administration as well.

We have truly been rocking and rolling this year, and it is because of this incredible Marshall community.

Pony up,

taelor.harris@gpisd.org

As we wrap up the final week of the semester, our focus is on rest, renewal, and finishing strong. This aligns with Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw, which reminds students to take care of their hearts, minds, and bodies so they can continue growing as leaders.

Students are encouraged to:

• Reflect on their accomplishments this semester

• Set gentle goals for the new year

• Practice kindness and gratitude as we head into the holidays

• Take time to rest and recharge over the break

At home, you can support this habit by talking about healthy routines, spending family time together, and encouraging moments of relaxation.

🎄 Holiday Break Reminder

Winter Break begins Friday, December 19, and students return Tuesday, January 6. I hope this time brings your family peace, joy, and connection.

💙 Thank You for a Wonderful Semester

Thank you to all our families for your support, communication, and partnership throughout this school year. Your involvement makes a tremendous difference in your child’s success and well-being.

Wishing every family a safe, restful, and joy-filled holiday season. See you in the new year!

— Ms. Anderson, School Counselor

Dear Mustang Families,

Winter break is a great time for families to slow down while still supporting learning in simple, meaningful ways. Children benefit from a light routine, such as consistent sleep schedules and a short daily learning moment. Reading together each day—whether books, comics, recipes, or audiobooks—builds literacy and connection, especially when families talk about what they read. Everyday activities like cooking, shopping, or traveling also offer natural opportunities to practice math, problem-solving, and vocabulary without feeling like schoolwork.

Encouraging curiosity is more important than perfection. Fun writing activities like thank-you notes or journaling, along with board games and card games, help strengthen thinking skills in low-pressure ways. Technology can support learning when used intentionally, especially when children explain or create something based on what they watch. Most importantly, winter break should include time for play, rest, and creativity, so students return to school refreshed, confident, and ready to learn.

Cassandra Kelley

Instructional Coach

Hello Mustang Families!

Habit 3: Put First Things First reminds us to focus on what matters most. As families, this means prioritizing the people and moments that bring us joy, connection, and balance. With the busyness of daily routines, it’s important to pause, make time for loved ones, and choose activities that strengthen our relationships and well-being. By putting first things first at home, we model healthy habits for our children and create a foundation of calm, purpose, and togetherness.

- Ms. Sutton

DECEMBER

• 16: 5th Grade Field Trip to Nature Center, 9am-2pm
• 16: Title 1 Parent Meeting, 5:00pm (VIRTUAL - link below)
• 16: 5th Grade Field Trip to GPISD Nature Center
• 16: Class Pictures with Santa & the Grinch
• 18: Last day of Q2
• 18: Polar Express Parade, 9:30am (RSVP below) 🚂
• 18: Holidays Parties (RSVP below) ☃️

Please see the calendar below for our 12 Days of Holiday Fun dress-up days for the last 12 days of school before winter break! Each day your child participates earns them 50 house points!!!

Monday, December 15th - Thursday, December 18th

Day 9 - Sparkle City: Wear something shiny, sparkly, or bright 🪩

Day 10 - Tacky Tuesday: Wear your tackiest or most festive holiday sweater 🎉

Day 11 - Holiday Hair, Don't Care: Wear holiday hats & hair accessories 👒

Day 12 - 'Twas the Night Before Winter Break: Wear your favorite pajamas! (No slippers, please!)

Each month, we'll be highlighting one student from each grade level who exemplifies one of our 7 habits of happy kids! We're a little behind, so first we're going to recognize these students who model Habit 1: Be Proactive!

These kids have shown their teachers that they are responsible, take initiative, have a can-do attitude, and try their best at everything they do! Congratulations! 🎉

Kindergarten: Joseph Gomez in Mrs. Moreno's Class

1st Grade: Kairo Bappoo in Ms. Jones's Class

2nd Grade: Gracie Gomez in Ms. Ochoa's Class

3rd Grade: Camila Vigil in Ms. Molinar's Class

4th Grade: Melanie Elias Ledesma in Mrs. Crew's Class

5th Grade: Lizbeth Bonilla in Mrs. Anguiano's Class

Each month, we'll be highlighting one student from each grade level who exemplifies one of our 7 habits of happy kids! For November, we're going to recognize these students who model Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind!

These kids have shown their teachers that they plan ahead and set goals for themselves, they think about their future, and they think about the positive and negative consequences of their actions before they act! Congratulations! 🎉

Kindergarten: Quinn Philippi in Mrs. Smith's Class

1st Grade: Genesis Alvarez in Mrs. Tucker's Class

2nd Grade: Isaac Sanchez in Ms. Ochoa's Class

3rd Grade: Christian Leija in Mrs. King's Class

4th Grade: Barbara Martinez in Mrs. Martinez's Class

5th Grade: Makinly Garza in Mrs. Mata's Class

The votes are officially in, and families had an absolute blast joining in on the spirited conversations and friendly competition! Thank you to everyone who participated and showed such great enthusiasm—it truly made this event a fun one for our community.

Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for… drum roll please! 🥁

🥇 1st Place: Ms. Gonzalez
🥈 2nd Place: Ms. Ochoa
🥉 3rd Place: Ms. Ismail

👏 Congratulations to our amazing winners! Your energy, creativity, and connection with our families truly stood out.

A huge congratulations to our amazing 2nd and 3rd grade students who participated in our “It’s Snow Time” musical! These students truly brought the house down, delivering an outstanding performance in front of a packed audience. Their confidence, teamwork, and joy on stage were a true reflection of the leadership and talent we are growing at Marshall.

A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Carter and our incredible Specials team, along with our dedicated 2nd and 3rd grade teachers, for the time, energy, and passion poured into preparing our students for this special event. And a big thank you to Marshall’s PTA for your continued support in making experiences like this possible for our students.

This performance was more than a musical—it was an unforgettable experience that built confidence, showcased creativity, and created lasting memories for our students and families. Bravo to everyone involved! 🌟👏

A huge thank you to Marshall Leadership’s PTA for hosting our first-ever Winter Wonderland—and what a spectacular success it was! With hundreds of families joining us, the campus was filled with laughter, joy, and nonstop holiday cheer. It was truly a day to remember!

Special shout out to our amazing kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Moreno and Mrs. Smith, whose creativity and talent helped PTA transform our space into a festive winter dream with their beautiful décor. 🎨❄️

Families enjoyed every moment—decorating sweet treats, building toys in Santa’s Workshop, sharing pancakes for breakfast, and capturing magical memories with Santa and Mrs. Claus 📸🎅🤶. Smiles were everywhere!

To make the day even more special, we were honored by a surprise visit from our Superintendent, Dr. Gabriel Trujillo—thank you for celebrating with our Marshall community!

This event was a perfect example of what happens when our school, families, and community come together. Thank you to everyone who helped bring the magic—Marshall Leadership truly shined this winter! 🌟🎄

You can bring your donation of any new or gently used coat, scarf, or any other winter apparel to one of our NEHS student representatives in front of the art room daily during breakfast.

💫 Coats = 500 house points each
💫 Scarves, gloves, caps/beanies = 100 house points each

Our Student Council has begun their hygiene drive! They're asking for donations of various hygiene items to donate to homeless shelters and families in need. Each item donated is worth 50 house points!

Turn in items to Stuco students outside the art room daily during breakfast from December 3rd-December 18th!

They need:

• bars of soap 🧼
• body wash 🛁
• toothpaste
• toothbrushes 🪥
• dental floss 🦷
• shampoo
• conditioner
• deodorant
• baby wipes
• lotion 🧴

*Please make sure items are unopened and unused.

💚 Holiday Grinch Grams are here! 💚

Send a little festive mischief for just $1 each!
🎄Purchase yours with our STUCO students in front of the Art room every morning from 7:40–8:10 AM.
🎄On sale NOW through December 17th.
🎄All Grinch Grams will be delivered on December 18th!

Our PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade students will be invited to create and decorate a boxcar to participate in our annual Polar Express Parade.

Each child may have 2 adult visitors attend the parade. Please RSVP using the link or QR code by Tuesday, December 16th at 4:00pm to help our parent check-in process run more efficiently.

Please join us for class holiday parties on Thursday, December 18th. Due to the space constraints in the classroom, there will be only 2 visitors allowed per student (including adults and children). This signup will close at 4:00pm on Tuesday, December 16th.

Please note the party times for each grade level. We have staggered some party times to help people with multiple children be able to attend both.

• Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade: 1:15-2:00pm
• 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade: 2:15-3:00pm

*You are welcome to sign-out your child with their teacher (they will have a sign-out sheet) after the party is over. However, once a child is signed out, they must leave campus and cannot attend a sibling's party.

Join us to learn how Title I resources are used to improve instruction, support student learning, and how the school and families can work together to help every student succeed.

Purchase your child's yearbooks NOW! Purchases include 2 free customizable pages with your child's own memories from the year!

Purchase yearbooks HERE: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1016310326852888

*Yearbooks will be delivered the last week of school!

💙 Thank You, Marshall Families!

We truly appreciate every parent, student, teacher, and volunteer who continues to participate and stay engaged. Together, we are building a stronger and more connected Marshall community!

What a truly magical weekend at Marshall! This past Saturday, we proudly hosted our very first PTA Winter Wonderland, and it was a wonderful success. Thanks to the incredible planning, decorating, and teamwork of our amazing school community, the event came to life beautifully. A heartfelt thank-you to our dedicated teachers, volunteers, and PTA Board for their time, commitment, and heart Thank you to our fantastic families who continue to show up with support and smiles.

Our Marshall families enjoyed cozy cups of hot cocoa, delicious mini pancakes, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus, cheerful holiday crafts, and pictures with Santa. The campus was filled with laughter, joy, and festive spirit, creating sweet memories that will last long after the season ends.

We kicked off the week with smiles and holiday cheer as our staff enjoyed fluffy pancakes topped with sweet and festive favorites. A heartfelt thank-you to Celia Juarez and Juana Martinez for generously providing the Pancake Bar and making the morning extra special.

The Grinch made a surprise visit to Marshall, spreading laughter and holiday fun across campus! Students were thrilled, and the excitement was contagious. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Amaton, our wonderful teachers and staff received cozy socks to keep them warm this season. It was a festive moment that brought big smiles to both kids and adults alike.

Our teachers were treated to freshly made crepes, lovingly prepared and generously provided by the Alagenchev family. Thank you for sharing your time, talent, and festive spirit with our staff.

Have a Cup of Cheer – Elf-Approved Hot Chocolate & Pan Dulce
Warm cups of hot chocolate and delicious pan dulce were enjoyed as a small but heartfelt thank-you for all that our teachers do.

Moments like these remind us just how special the Marshall community truly is.

We’re spreading joy all week with exciting activities for both staff and students:

• PTA Spa Day – Relaxing massages for our amazing staff

• Holiday Lunch – Delicious birria tacos

• Class Pictures with Santa

• PTA Student Stocking Delivery

Thank you for helping us make this season joyful, memorable, and meaningful for our entire Marshall family!

Did you know GPISD offers a dinner program to students everyday? Students can receive a full packaged meal after the bell rings.

-Free to ALL students!
-Offered Monday-Friday!
-Offers an additional healthy and nutritious meal after the bell rings!

🌟Please sign up below for each child!

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¿Sabías que GPISD ofrece un programa de cena para estudiantes todos los días? Los estudiantes pueden recibir una comida completa después de que suene la campana.

-¡Gratis para TODOS los estudiantes!
-¡Disponible de lunes a viernes!
-¡Ofrece una comida adicional, sana y nutritiva después de que suene la campana!

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.**

To ensure a smooth and safe dismissal process, we kindly ask that there be no student check-outs on Fridays after 2:15 PM. This helps us maintain an orderly end-of-day routine and ensures all students are accounted for our Leadership trainigs. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!