Leopard Pride News
Every Leopard, Every Day!
Cooke County Spelling Bee Champion
Gainesville ISD hosted the 2026 Cooke County Spelling Bee on Friday, February 6, at the GISD Administration Building. Daanya Yusuf, Chalmers Elementary 4th grade student, was named the Cooke County Bee champion. Daanya will represent Cooke County at the Regional Spelling Bee in Dallas in March.
The top speller from each participating Cooke County school was invited to compete in the Bee. To be eligible, the student must be in 4th-8th grade. Also qualifying and participating in the Cooke County Bee were Cayden Lanham (7th - runner up) and Asanette Manuel (8th) from Gainesville Junior High, Maryam Yusuf (6th) and Patrick Cooper (5th) from Gainesville Intermediate, and Gavin Prude (6th) and Luke Hacker (6th-alternate)from Muenster ISD.
Chalmers
Kelly Beyer, Tori Jekel, Lynsey Hartman, and Mary Newman (not pictured)
GHS
Jennifer Medlin, Jill Brown, Nicole Rich, Lynsey Hartman, and Clark Bawcom (not pictured)
Congratulations to Lisbeth Zendejas for placing 1st in the Gainesville Intermediate Spanish Spelling Bee!
Download the SMART Tag Parent App for Bus Riders!
We are excited to introduce the SMART Tag system for our bus riders! The system began rollout in the spring and is now used for all bus riders at all campuses.
Beginning Saturday, December 13, you can download the SMART Tag parent app. The app is available for ios and android. https://www.qbit.codes/q/smart-tag-parent-app.
App registration begins with the Primary Parent – the parent associated with the student in the school district’s system. The primary parent must complete their app registration and confirm their student before any co-parent can register for them. Co-parents who wish to register for a student must submit a request to the primary parent within the app. In cases where there’s no response from the primary parent, the school district can review and approve.
Please visit our transportation website for additional details on the SMART Tag system as well as the Parent App. https://www.gainesvilleisd.org/departments/transportation/smart-tag
Nominate at GISD staff member for a High Five Award!
The Leopard High Five program is a way to salute any Gainesville ISD employee who goes above and beyond for our students, staff, and community. Whether you are a parent impressed with a specific interaction with your child, or you are a coworker who thinks the campus secretary doesn't hear often enough about the great job she is doing - you can send a Leopard High Five! Nominations can be made by any staff member, parent, or community member, and any GISD employee is eligible to be nominated for a High Five.
All nominations should include a specific example of how this staff member has gone above and beyond for a student, a peer, or the community and must align with one or more of our GISD core beliefs: Equity, Excellence, Diversity, Innovation, Partnership, Safe and Comfortable Environment.
Stayalert
As a vital partner within our district, we want to take this opportunity to inform you about our district’s participation in the StayALERT School Safety Program. StayALERT is a safe and secure place to confidentially or anonymously report unsafe behaviors, suspicious activities, bullying, acts of violence, harassment, and any other school safety concern. Download the app to quickly make a report. Users may report concerns 24/7/365 via any of the five reporting modes:
1) Call or Text 1-206-406-6485
2) Report Online: www.stayalert.info
3) Send an E-mail: report@stayalert.info
4) Download the app: www.stayalert.info/stayalertapp
In a time when concerns for school and student safety are paramount, we would ask that you be aware of this tool for both your own use and to help bring awareness to the students within our district.
Note: StayALERT is NOT a substitute for reporting an emergency. Please call 911 or your local police, fire or EMS if there is an urgent situation.