The Cannon Connection
2025-2026 Newsletter for Cannon Elementary Families
August 24-30, 2025
Good morning Cannon families,
Thank you all for an outstanding first full week of school, including a well-attended Curriculum Night! We have an amazing Cannon community ready and willing to partner to EMPOWER our scholars! A huge shout out to our Grapevine Cheerleaders for coming out to welcome our Cubs. We also want to give a big warm welcome to our new 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Hayli Dorety! She is a former Cannon Cub, sister to a current Cannon teacher, and excited to rejoin our family to teach fourth grade!
I'd also like to give our PTA, Grimaldi's Pizzeria Grapevine, Palio's Pizza Cafe in Grapevine, and HTeaO HUGE THANKS for feeding our staff yummy pizza, salad, sweets, and tea in preparation for our Curriculum Night! Thank you, for taking care of our community☮️💗🐻 !
We will also be hosting our beginning of year student pep rally, led by some of our newly appointed STEMbassadors, and we want our favorite colleges represented!
Coming to you live, this is KCAN!
We are accepting applications for our KCAN Morning News Crew! If you have a 4th or 5th grade student interested in joining the KCAN News Crew, please fill out the application below. Our live morning broadcasts begin each morning at 7:35 am and, will begin airing on Tuesday, September 2nd! Click here to apply - KCan Application*All students participating in extracurricular activities must have a parent complete the club permission form in Skyward.
Attention 5th Grade Families!
https://cannoncubsfifthgradespiritshop.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Tuesday, August 26 - Women's Independence Day; Commemorates the 19th Amendment in 1920 guaranteeing women the right to vote
Friday, August 29 - 🕵🏼♀️ Hats Off to Learning! $1 wear a hat - All proceeds go toward reducing field trip costs. 🎓National College Colors Day - Wear your favorite College gear!
Monday, September 1 - Labor Day - District Closed - Student & Staff Holiday - NO SCHOOL!
Tuesday, September 2 - Skyward Approved Lunch Visitors Begin; No sign up required - Simply use the Kiosk in the front lobby with your Driver's License to verify your admittance into the school.
Friday, September 5 - ☕PTA Principal Coffee 8:30-9:30 am & 🐾Cannon Spirit Gear Friday - Wear your Cub Gear!
Friday, September 5 - 🏕️5th grade Sky Ranch Camp $130 (plus credit card processing fee) Deposit Due
Thursday, September 11 - Patriot Day; Texas First Responders Day, September 11 Moment of Silence - During the moment of silence we remember September 11, 2001. We also honor Texas First Responders for their bravery, courage, and determination as they assist in emergencies.
Friday, September 12 - 🐾Cannon Spirit Gear Friday - Wear your Cub Gear!
Friday, September 12 - STEM Hall of Fame (4th, 5th, STEM) -Applying Past Knowledge
Monday, September 15 - Cannon Campus Excellence Committee (CEC) Meeting - 3:30-4:30 Cannon Learning Commons; We will discuss 2024 & 2025 STAAR Accountability, Campus Improvement Goals, and Plans for the 2025-2026 school year.
Wednesday, September 17 -
- Constitution Day & Citizenship Day -To commemorate the formation and signing on September 17, 1787, of the Constitution and to recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.
- Hector P. Garcia Day - Remembering Mexican American civil rights activist, distinguished doctor, and decorated WW2 hero
Friday, September 19 - 🐾Cannon Spirit Gear Friday - Wear your Cub Gear!
Friday, September 19 - STEM Hall of Fame (2nd, 3rd, STEM) -Applying Past Knowledge
Monday, September 22 - Staff Professional Development - No School for Students
Wednesday, September 24 - 🐥🥒PTA General Meeting @ Chicken N Pickle 5:15-7:30 pm
Wednesday, September 24 - Progress Report 1 Grades Post in Skyward; Parent-Teacher Conferences Begin
Friday, September 26 - 🐾Cannon Spirit Gear Friday - Wear your Cub Gear!
- American Indian Heritage Day - Recognizing the historical, cultural, and social contributions of American Indian communities and leaders
Friday, September 26 - STEM Hall of Fame (K, 1st, STEM) -Applying Past Knowledge
Monday, September 29 - 👂👀 Vision and Hearing Screening
Tuesday, September 30 - Fall STEM Book Challenge Launch - Architecture Expo!
October - Down Syndrome Awareness & Bullying Prevention Month
PARENT ACTION NEEDED - Senate Bill 12 Requirements and Updates
Senate Bill 12, passed during the 89th Legislative session, requires school districts to obtain parent permission for student club participation as well as health services and school-based counseling and support services. It also contains requirements for sharing instructional plans and the prohibition of assisting with social transitioning. The new laws go into effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Families should review the information below and log into their student’s Skyward account to complete the pop-up permission forms.
Student Club Participation
SB 12 requires that parents give written consent before a student may participate in a student club authorized or sponsored by the school. School districts may not authorize or sponsor a student club based on sexual orientation or gender identity. All clubs authorized or sponsored by GCISD will be in accordance with all applicable laws and policies.
If a parent does not give general permission, they will be contacted about each individual club or activity for which their student expresses interest in attending. A paper permission form will be sent home and must be completed and returned to the school prior to the student being permitted to attend or participate in any club meetings.
Health Services
SB 12 requires that staff must have parent consent before providing a student with any care, unless it is a life-threatening emergency. This includes:
Assessment of minor injuries and providing basic first aid (like a scraped knee)
Assessment and management of common health issues and illnesses
Checking vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and pulse oximetry
Monitoring chronic conditions and implementing care plans as appropriate
Provide general health teaching to students on topics such as hygiene, illness prevention, and healthy habits
Proving state mandated screenings
Administration of epinephrine delivery system for anaphylactic reaction or an opioid antagonist, such as Narcan or naloxone, in accordance with TEC and GCISD Board Policy
Application of topical preparations such as Aloe Vera gel, first aid spray, Benadryl cream, etc.
Additionally, you will find a full list of detailed services provided by GCISD campus nurses within the form in Skyward.
School-Based Counseling Services and Support Services
SB 12 requires that parents give permission prior to student participation in school-based counseling and support services. This includes setting academic goals and creating academic plans, guidance lessons, developing social well-being, and access to our character education curriculum, known as Character Strong.
What Support May Include:
Setting academic goals and creating academic plans
Developing social well-being
Checking in about emotions, challenges, or concerns
Learning coping strategies and managing stress
Addressing school-related issues (e.g., attendance, test anxiety, behavior, peer conflict)
Building friendship and conflict-resolution skills
Guidance lessons utilizing the Character Strong program
Participating in short-term individual or group sessions on school-related topics*
*Parents/guardians will be notified and asked for additional consent if individual or group counseling is recommended.
School Counseling Does Not Include:
Therapy or long-term mental health counseling
Assistance with social transitioning
Sharing Instructional Plans
SB 12 requires that teachers share an instructional plan or course syllabus with parents at the start of each semester. Teachers will email parents directly using email addresses provided in Skyward.
Prohibition of Assisting with Social Transitioning
SB 12 prohibits school district employees from assisting students with social transitioning, which includes helping them change their name, pronouns, or other expressions of gender identity that differ from their biological sex at birth.
Any applicable GCISD policies will be amended to be in alignment with state law.
GCISD Parent Tech Academy
Are you a parent looking to stay informed about your child's technology use at school and at home? Look no further than the GCISD Parent Tech Academy! Our next session is at 6 p.m., Tuesday, August 26, on Webex. Here is the Webex link. At the Parent Tech Academy, we will go over how to access parent weekly emails containing your children’s internet history, how to become a Canvas observer, and other parental access tips. Join us for the Parent Tech Academy and learn how to be better informed on your child's technology use.
Important Information from Nutrition Services
Welcome back! Nutrition Services is excited about the upcoming school year. School Menus, the district charge policy, menu item pricing and more can be found on the department website here.
More information including menu item nutritional information and allergens may be viewed through the nutrition services website or by downloading the Meal Viewer app through the apple or android store.
In accordance with program guidelines, the Free and Reduced application will be available online as part of skyward registration. The free and reduced application should be filled out electronically at https://www.nlappscloud.com/. For those parents that still would like to complete a paper application, they may download an application on the website or stop by the Nutrition Services office at 5800 Colleyville Blvd.
Procedure for Students with Unpaid Meal Charges
Parents/Guardians shall monitor their student’s school meal account to ensure that they always have a positive balance. In the event that a student does not have a positive balance, the student may charge up to 5 meals to their account. Only reimbursable meals may be charged. A la carte items may not be charged. Communication about a negative meal balance will be sent to parents/guardians via email/text. Students who have exceeded the 5 charged meal limit, will be offered an alternative meal that will be charged to the student’s account.
If you have questions about the Nutrition Services program, please call ext. 5618 or email child.nutrition@gcisd.net.
Meal Prices
Pk-8 Breakfast - $1.85
High School Breakfast - $2.05
Reduced Breakfast* - $0.00
Adult/Guest Breakfast - $3.25
Elem. Lunch - $3.10
Middle Lunch - $3.30
High School Lunch - $4.00
Reduced Lunch* - $0.40, after Sept. 1, No cost
Adult/Guest Lunch - $4.75
*(Reduced priced at GHS, CHHS, Bridges is $0.30 breakfast, $0.40 lunch)
Find How-Tos and Resources for Rooms, GCISD’s Two-Way Communication Tool
The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to ensure you are receiving all updates and information from your campus, teachers, or extracurriculars. If your student’s teacher uses Rooms as a communication tool, all messages and announcements can be found right in the GCISD mobile app, alongside other district and campus news and events! You can download this app on both Apple and Android devices.
Click here for a step-by-step sign up guide. If you have not yet received a text message or an email inviting you to sign up, your student is not yet assigned to a class within Rooms. Teachers are still in the process of setting up those groups, so you could expect to get notifications over the first few weeks if Rooms will be utilized for two-way communication.
Finally, click here if you need assistance troubleshooting any issues or email info@gcisd.net.
Cannon Elementary: A GCISD STEM School
Email: tina.garrett@gcisd.net
Website: https://can.gcisd.net/
Location: Cannon Elementary School, West College Street, Grapevine, TX, USA
Phone: 817-251-5680
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cannonSTEM/
Twitter: @canSTEM
Instagram: @CannonSTEM