The Leadership Lens Issue #25

Dear Marshall Families,

We hope everyone enjoyed the long three-day weekend as we celebrated Valentine’s Day on Saturday and Presidents Day on Monday. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with loved ones and reflect before returning for another strong week of learning at Marshall.

We are incredibly proud of our Battle of the Books representatives who represented Marshall Leadership Academy on Tuesday: Adriel Martinez – 4th grade, Kendra Gonzalez – 4th grade, Barbara Martinez – 4th grade, Briegette Cano Rosas – 4th grade, and Favour Umoeka – 5th grade. Your preparation, confidence, and leadership made us proud.

A big shoutout also goes to our amazing staff and PTA for hosting such a fun and high-energy Valentine’s Day Dance on Thursday. The music was great, the smiles were everywhere, and our Mustangs had an unforgettable time dancing and celebrating together. Our World’s Finest Chocolate fundraiser is officially underway, and we appreciate your support as we work toward campus goals that benefit our students.

We also want to bring awareness to our Emergent Bilingual students who will be participating in TELPAS beginning Tuesday. TELPAS provides an opportunity for our EB students to demonstrate their growth in English language proficiency, and we are proud of the hard work they put in every day.

As we continue recognizing Black History Month, I want to highlight the legacy of Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel into space. Her determination and pursuit of excellence connect strongly to Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind. Dr. Jemison set bold goals for herself and worked diligently to achieve them, reminding our students that when they dream big and stay focused, there is no limit to what they can accomplish.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to another strong week of learning and leadership at Marshall.

Pony up,

taelor.harris@gpisd.org

💙 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

As we continue learning through Black History Month and Presidents Day, this season offers a meaningful opportunity to celebrate diversity, leadership, and growth 🌱. From an instructional coach’s perspective, families can support learning by talking with children about the many voices and experiences that have shaped our country. Read books, watch short videos, or have conversations that highlight leaders from different backgrounds, and encourage your child to ask questions and share their thinking. Emphasize that learning is strongest when we honor diverse perspectives, stand up for fairness, and reflect on how we can all lead with respect—at school, at home, and in our community.

Dear Families,

February is a special month as we celebrate Black History Month, honoring the achievements, contributions, and rich history of African Americans who have shaped our nation and continue to inspire us every day. We also want to wish all of our families a very Happy Valentine’s Day and a restful, enjoyable 3-day weekend filled with love and quality time together. Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Valentine’s Day dance—it was so much fun seeing our families laugh, dance, and make wonderful memories! 💕💗

We invite you to continue celebrating with us by attending our ❤️💛💚Black History Month Living Wax Museum💚💛❤️ on February 26th, where our 4th and 5th grade students will bring history to life in a powerful and meaningful way. Don’t forget to participate in the ❤️Kids Heart Challenge❤️, happening now through March 6th, as we work together to support heart health and make a difference. We also have 🍫World's Finest Chocolate🍫 sales taking place now through March 4th—thank you for supporting our school through this sweet fundraiser! We appreciate your partnership and all you do to make our school community so special.

-Ms. Sutton

• All Month: Black History Month
• 15: School SRO Appreciation Day
• 16: Presidents' Day (No school)
• 17: Lunar New Year 🐎
• 17: TELPAS Testing (Reading and Writing)
• 17: School Board Meeting, 5:30-8:30pm
• 19: NEHS Meeting, 3:45-4:15pm
• 23: TELPAS Testing (Listening and Speaking)
• 24: Leaders 5
• 26: Q2 House Field Trip 💛
• 26: 4th/5th BHM Living Wax Museum, 5:30-7:00pm ❤️💛💚
• 27: Academy 4
• 27: House Rally/Family Time

• All Month: Women's History Month

• 2-6: Educational Diagnostician Week

• 3: Student Council Meeting: Mrs. Martinez's Room, 3:35-4:15pm

• 4: World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser Ends

• 6: Spring Picture Day (Class and Individual) 📸

• 7: GPISD Experience, 9:00am-12:00pm

• 8: International Women's Day

• 9: 3rd Grade Field Trip to Planetarium

• 9: GPHS, SGPHS, Dubiski Open House, 6:00-7:30pm

• 10: Leaders 5: Cafeteria, 1:15-2:45pm

• 10: Middle School, GPFAA, SHG, GPCI Open House, 6:00-7:30pm

• 12: Elementary Open House, 6:00-7:30pm 🏫

• 12: School Board Meeting, 5:30-8:30pm

• 16-20: Spring Break 🏝️

• 25: Crossing Guard Appreciation Day

• 26: NEHS Meeting, 3:45-4:15pm

• 27: Academy 4

• 27: House Rally & Family Time-H5

• 27-April 2: Scholastic BOGO Book Fair 📚

Due to district and state testing the next few weeks, we will not be receiving lunch visitors.

*Please also limit food drop-offs during this time as lunch times vary from regular times on testing days!

Our Reader Leaders team came out with a tie for 4th place in the district's Battle of the Bluebonnets competition last week! These kiddos read their way through the 2025 Bluebonnet book list and competed against other GPISD elementary schools in their knowledge of the book list!

We're so proud of you!!!

🚀 Ready to make a difference Marshall Families?

When you sign up for Kids Heart Challenge, you’re helping students build healthy habits, learn lifesaving skills, and create stronger, safer communities. 💙

✨ PLUS: the cutest way to remember healthy behaviors starts here, collect them all! → https://www2.heart.org/site/TR?fr_id=12402&pg=company&company_id=542844

🚀 ¿Listas y listos para marcar la diferencia, Familias de Marshall?

Al inscribirse en el Reto de Kids Heart Challenge, ayudan a los estudiantes a desarrollar hábitos saludables, aprender habilidades que salvan vidas y crear comunidades más fuertes y seguras. 💙

✨ ADEMÁS: la forma más divertida de recordar comportamientos saludables empieza aquí, ¡colecciónalos todos! → https://www2.heart.org/site/TR?fr_id=12402&pg=company&company_id=542844

We are proud to announce Mrs. Maria Martinez as MLA's Teacher of the Year! 🎉

Mrs. Martinez has so much to offer both our students and our staff. She is truly a wealth of knowledge when it comes to school systems, curriculum, leadership, and building strong relationships. Every single day, she goes above and beyond to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, valued, and excited to learn.

She brings passion, creativity, and patience into every lesson, using a variety of strategies to ensure all students can succeed. Through her dedication, compassion, and unwavering belief in her students, she inspires not only academic growth, but also confidence, kindness, and a lifelong love of learning.

Congratulations, Mrs. Martinez! We are grateful for the impact you make on our campus each and every day. 💙

February 15th was SRO Appreciation Day, and we proudly recognize the incredible impact our School Resource Officer, Officer Martin Valdez, has on our campus each and every day.

Our SRO does so much more than ensure safety — he builds relationships, mentors students, supports staff, and serves as positive role model throughout our school community. His presence brings reassurance, guidance, and care to our hallways and classrooms.

We are grateful for his commitment, partnership, and the heart he brings to our campus. Thank you for all that you do, Officer Valdez, to keep our school safe and supported! 💙

Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the new year based on the lunar (moon) calendar. It is widely celebrated in many Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and others.

🌙 What It Celebrates

• The start of a new lunar calendar year

• Family reunions and fresh beginnings

• Good fortune, health, and prosperity

🧧 Common Traditions

• Family reunion dinners

• Giving red envelopes with money (symbolizing luck)

• Fireworks and lion or dragon dances

• Cleaning homes to sweep away bad luck

• Wearing red for good fortune

Each year is associated with one of 12 zodiac animals. 2026 is the Year of the Horse, which symbolizes energy, independence, and determination.

💛Heshima🦁 & High Point Earners

On February 26th, Heshima and our top two high point earners from the other houses will attend a field trip to the Perot Museum!

Come join us for our first ever Black History Month Living Wax Museum presented by our very own 4th and 5th grade students on Thursday, February 26th from 5:30-7:00pm! More information will be coming home soon from our 4th and 5th grade teachers.

We'd like to invite ALL of our families to attend and celebrate Black History Month with us, even if you don't have a 4th or 5th grader! Our students are working hard to research and bring history to life!

Our spring picture day is scheduled for Friday, March 6th! We'll be taking class and individual pictures this day, so come dressed to impress!

You can pre-order your child's pictures at https://myschoolpicture.com/

Please join us on Thursday, March 12th from 6:00-7:30pm for Open House! Come check out what your child has been working on in the classroom!

Hello, Marshall 4th and 5th grade parents!

You are invited to attend GPISD's Family Life Education informational meeting at the Grand Family Service Center. The focus of this meeting is to discuss the curriculum and topics your fourth and fifth grade students will be taught regarding human growth and development and puberty. There will be a session for fifth grade parents on February 18 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. and a session for fourth grade parents on February 25 from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Grand Prairie ISD school nurses teach the family life education curriculum annually during the spring semester. A signed permission slip is required for each student to participate. During this meeting, parents will be provided an overview of the curriculum, have an opportunity to ask questions, and sign consent forms for their students.

5th Grade Parent Meeting:
📆 Wednesday, February 18, 2026
⏰ 5:00-6:30 p.m.
📍Grand Family Service Center
1301 E. Coral Way, Grand Prairie, TX 75051

4th Grade Parent Meeting:
📆 Wednesday, February 25, 2026
⏰ 5:00-6:30 p.m.
📍Grand Family Service Center
1301 E. Coral Way, Grand Prairie, TX 75051

Please kindly note that childcare services are not available. As such, we kindly ask that you refrain from bringing your child/children. This program is intended to provide parents with the chance to review the curriculum and make a well-informed decision regarding their child's attendance in the classes.

We encourage all 4th and 5th grade parents and guardians to attend.

We hope to see you there!

Join us for the 15th annual GPISD Experience on March 7 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Dubiski Career High School. At this event, you can chat with campus principals and staff from our campuses who would 💚 to tell you about the many unique opportunities available to students. GPISD is an open-enrollment district that is All in for All Kids, and we would love to visit with your family about the great things students are achieving here. To learn more, visit www.gpisd.org/experience.

Secure your child’s seat for the 2026-2027 school year by completing the online application at the Experience. You can apply from home or right from your device at the Experience.

📆 Saturday, March 7, 2026

⏰ 9:00 a.m.- noon

📍Dubiski Career High School

#GPISDAllInForAllKids #GPISDOpenEnrollmentDistrict #GPISDExperience #GPISDKaleidoscopeOfPossibilities #GPISDUniqueCampusOpportunities #GPISDStudentAchievement #WeAreGPISD

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!

Marshall is excited to offer your student School-Based Telehealth and Telehealth at Home by Children's Health℠ Virtual Care. With your permission, your child can video chat with a provider, get diagnosed and have prescriptions sent to your pharmacy – all from school or home.

Telehealth services at MLA take place in the clinic and will be billed to your insurance provider or to Medicaid. No insurance? No problem. After your visit, Children’s Health will bill you directly. Most families qualify for a discount, and no student will be turned away for a visit.

For urgent care visits at home, children and adults can access health care resources through Virtual Visit by Children’s Health Virtual Care.

Visit childrens.com/telehealth or call 844-483-5363 to enroll and download our Virtual Visit app.

FAQs: https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/virtual-care/school-based-programs/school-based-telehealth/school-based-telehealth-faq

Communication resources: https://www.childrens.com/landing/sbt-school-resources

*A consent through Children’s Health is required each school year before a student can be seen. It is advised that every student has a consent signed for when the time may arise the service may be needed. Reach out to Nurse Tasha if you have more questions.

A huge THANK YOU to all of our volunteers who helped during the Book Fair last week. We truly couldn’t have done it without your time and support. We appreciate you! 💙

Our WFC Fundraiser began last Wednesday!

🍫 Chocolate sales will run through March 4, 2026

🎉 Student Incentives & Prizes

• 1 Box Sold = 🟢 Slime Show (Every student who sells will receive a prize)

• 3 Boxes Sold = 🚴 BMX Show

• 5 Boxes Sold = 💦 Dunk-Amaton

• 8 Boxes Sold = 🎟️ Entry into a drawing to win 1 of 3 prizes:

• $100 Gift Card

• Nintendo Switch 2

• Andretti Family Pass

(3 winners total)

• Top 20 Sellers = 🏟️ Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tour

• Grand Prize – Top Seller = 💳 $500 Gift Card

• Winning Class = 🍕 Pizza Party & Ice Cream Sundaes 🍨

Let’s make this fundraiser a huge success. Thank you for supporting our school and students!

We are now accepting nominations for the 2026–2027 PTA Board.

Open Officer Positions:

• President

• Vice President

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• Parliamentarian

Chair Positions Available:

• Volunteer Chair

• Teacher/Student Chair

• Membership Chair

• Fundraiser Chair

• Social Media Chair

📅 Voting will take place during the next member meeting on April 13.

📧 To submit nominations, please email:

MarshallLeadership.pta@gmail.com

Submission deadline is April 10th.

We encourage all members to consider nominating themselves or others who are passionate about supporting our school and students.

We are so close to reaching our goal of 250 PTA members this year!👏 We currently have 228 members, up from 173 last year an incredible reflection of the strength and heart of our Marshall community.

Join the fun and help us finish strong! Becoming a PTA member is a great way to stay connected, support our school, and help create meaningful experiences for our students and school.

We’re excited about upcoming fundraisers, events, and spirit nights in the new year, and we would love for you to be part of it! We welcome new ideas, fresh energy, and new faces. If you have suggestions, questions, fun ideas, or are interested in joining the PTA, we’d love to hear from you and meet you.

marshallleadership.pta@gmail.com

Thank you for your continued support! We truly couldn’t do this without you!

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.**