The Gator Gab 21st Edition🐊

Happy Friday Gators,

Happy Black History Month!

Please read the fencing installation update below.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Doyal Martin, Principal

Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary School

I wanted to give you an update on the fencing installation. Installation begins on Monday near Student Care and the TK/K classrooms. There will be temporary fencing set up in front of Room 4 and the kinder play yard area. Parents will be directed to start waiting behind the temporary because that will be the new location for permanent fencing. The expected completion date for just that portion is February 9th. The fencing that will begin near the bus stop and around the front of the school will begin over the February break. When we return, they may be finished but that completion date has not been communicated to me.

It will more than likely be hectic, and many people will have frustrations. Please be patient as we mange through this major change to the campus. The end result will be a more secure and safe campus for our staff and students.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Attending school is important! Missing 18 days in a school year or 10% is considered chronically absent. It does not sound like a lot but they absences add up quickly.

Tuesday will be the 100th day of school. There are 25 students to date that have at least 10 absences. There is an abundance of research that speaks to the harmful effects of missing school and being chronically absent. We want you r child at school. Trust me it makes it more lively:)!

Also, friendly reminder to clear your absences with the front office.

In our constant push to promote and encourage safety around campus, please do your part by following a couple expectations in the parking lot.

1. Parking spots marked "STAFF ONLY" are for staff only. Please do not park in these limited number of parking spots. We have a large staff who utilizes each of those spots.

2. There are clearly marked crosswalks. Do not block them when you are picking up or dropping off students. Students and families should be able to safely use the crosswalks without having to walk around cars. Students should not be dropped off in the middle of the crosswalk as you turn into the Hug and Go Lane. Wait for the cars to clear out then pull all the way forward before unloading your kids.

To support a safe and orderly campus, we kindly ask that families follow our sign-in procedures when visiting. If you need to drop off a lunch, instrument, or any other item for your child, please let the office staff know. We will gladly call the classroom or ensure the item is delivered to your student.

Please do not sign in as a volunteer for the purpose of going directly to a classroom to drop something off. Doing so bypasses our safety practices, creates unmonitored movement on campus, and is a disruption to instruction. Thank you for helping us maintain a secure environment for all students and staff.

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. If you have any information regarding bullying, crime, or misconduct at your school, report it to WeTip. Call or Text. You can remain ANONYMOUS!

Call or Text 844-916-2062.

For more information visit: https://www.fcusd.org/family-community/bullying-prevention-character-building/report-bullying-crime-or-misconduct

• Gallardo’s Neighbors: Please be mindful of our neighbor’s property. We are not allowed to block driveways or wait on their property during morning drop-off or afterschool pick-up.

• Stewart Street: Gallardo’s parents are asked to park in a designated space when dropping off or picking up a student. Stewart Street is an active lane of traffic and not an area to double park.

• Early Release on Thursdays: Students in grades K-5 are dismissed at 1:15 pm.

• Please check and update your access to ParentSquare. Make sure you are getting all the latest information. If you want to receive texts, mark that. We rarely use the “urgent” messages, so if that is all you receive you will not get weekly updates.

2/2 ELPAC Summative testing begins

2/13 - Super Minimum Day

2/13 - Trimester 2 ends

2/16-20 February Break - NO SCHOOL

2/23 Trimester 3 Begins

2/27 Minimum day

• Multicultural Night

We would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who helped make Multicultural Night such a special event. Whether you hosted a country booth, shared a performance, or assisted with setup and cleanup, your contributions were an integral part of the evening’s success.

The beauty of seeing so many cultures come together in one night is what makes Sandra Gallardo an incredible community to be part of. Events like this remind us how much we can learn from one another and how strong we are when we celebrate diversity together. Thank you to everyone who gave their time, energy, and creativity. We truly appreciate you!

• School Spelling Bee

We would like to start by thanking those people who helped at the Spelling Bee. We couldn't have run the event without the judges and pronouncer who were there. They took time out of their day to assist us with 45 rounds and 2 hours of spelling competition!

A special thank you to the 15 students who came out as winners in their Classroom Spelling Bees, and then gave it their all in the school Spelling Bee. Their skills were amazing and they shocked us all with how far they got. It took a lot of courage for them to be center stage in front of their classmates.

If you have a 5th grader this year it’s time to start looking through old photos and find the perfect Gallardo Gator Babies picture for the yearbook! There will be a flyer with instructions going home soon. You can also check it out here! Photos are due no later than Friday, February 27th.

Join us on Wednesday, February 25th for “Conversations with Mr. Martin” at 6:30pm followed by our February PTA Meeting at 7pm, both in the Multi. We will be doing jammies and hot cocoa and agenda items include: volunteer opportunities, nominating committee elections, budget updates and a preview of upcoming events.

THIS YEAR: Help Keep Our School Clubs Going! We’re looking for someone interested in stepping into the Director of Clubs role for the remainder of this school year. If you’re interested in supporting student clubs, send us an email at GallardoPTA@gmail.com with the subject "Director of Clubs Position".

NEXT YEAR: We are starting our search for enthusiastic and positive members to help us in our mission to "positively impact the lives of all Gallardo children and families" by serving on our PTA Board for next school year! If you are interested in getting more involved next year, you can read more about each role on our PTA Website and complete THIS SURVEY!

• Monday, Feb 9th: “Kick Off” Kindness

Wear sports or athletic wear!

• Tuesday, Feb 10th: Round Up Your Kindness

Wear your favorite western wear!

• Wednesday, Feb 11th: Dream of Kindness
  Wear your favorite pajamas or comfy clothes!

• Thursday, Feb 12th: Multiply the Kindness
  “Twin” with a friend(s)

• Friday, Feb 13th: Color Our World with Kindness
  Wear tie-dye, rainbow colors, hearts, pink, or red!

Gallardo Students, Staff & Families are invited to this fun-filled evening! Dance the night away to DJ DeGaugh’s great music, receive a light-up accessory ✨, and snap some memories at the photo booth 📸!

🚨 This is not a drop-off event. All children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.

🍿 Student Council will host a Snack Stand: $2 for chips and $1 for Ring Pops 🍭 (cash only).

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️ We are looking for volunteers to help out during the dance—your help makes the night extra special! 💕Volunteer Here

Let’s get this, Gator Families! Support when you shop!

📌This Month’s Spectacular Bonus Offer!!

Until 2/7/26: Earn $4 for Gallardo, at TARGET when you buy any 4 participating products in a single transaction. Product exclusions apply. Join Box Tops by downloading the app and use Referral Code: F7XJOLEJ

Chipotle on Iron Point (this location only)
Tuesday, January, 27, 2026 4pm-8pm

Mention Gallardo fundraiser
Online promo code: WFXRC2Z

PTA earns 25% of sales

• Paint Event Banners

• Mileage Club (Must be Category 2 Cleared Volunteer)

• Cupid Shuffle Family Dance

• STEM Nights

Start your charitable giving for 2026 early! Become a Giving Gator and donate in your own way: 501(c)(3) Organization Tax ID: 81-0614228 Donate Here
Thank you for your generosity! 🎁✨

We use the company Treering to publish our school yearbook. Yearbook sales are done through them. After you order, you can start working on your custom pages added to your book(s) only. This year’s deadline for custom pages is April 6, 2026. For more information on the yearbook, visit the Yearbook page on our PTA Website. Gallardo’s passcode is 1015682215844355.

Upload your photos to Treering for Cookies & Cocoa and Multicultural Night

See all the banners on the fence at school? Those are our amazing donors who support the Gallardo PTA, directly benefitting our students! Check out local businesses who support our school here.

It’s not too late! If you’re a business owner and want to become a donor, click here.

Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our students!

In February, plan to 🕹️meet up with your friends! Gators are going to rock the house at Dave & Buster’s @The Palladio on:

THURSDAY, Feb 12, 2026 | 4PM-6PM!

Show your flyer and 20% of all food, non-alcoholic beverages and game play will go to Gallardo PTA!

PTA Members Print & provide this QR code at D&B to receive 100 FREE CHIPS with the purchase of 100 chips! *QR Code is not intended for user to scan. It is usable only by D&B systems.

Not a PTA MEMBER YET? Click here to join!

Feb 6 Cupid Shuffle Family Dance 6-8 pm (Sign up to volunteer!)

Feb 9-13 Kindness Week

Feb 12 Dave & Buster’s Spirit Night

Feb 13 Super Minimum Day

Feb 16-20 February Break- No School

Feb 25 Conversations with Principal Martin- 6:30pm, General PTA Meeting- 7pm

Feb 27 Minimum Day

March 5 & 6 STEM Nights (Sign up to volunteer!)

Mar 25 & 26 Spring Musical Performances

Mar 27 Spring Musical Assembly

April 6 Custom Yearbook Pages Due

Lots of opportunities to be involved in the education of your child and their friends.