The Leadership Lens Issue #15

NOVEMBER - Native American Heritage Month

• 17: 5th Grade Spelling Bee

• 18: Chuck E. Cheese Spirit Night, 3:00-9:00pm 🍕

• 19: Educational Support Professional's Day

• 20: Big Kahuna Party Bus 🎉

• 20: NEHS Meeting, 3:45-4:15pm

• 20: Garden Cleanup, 4:00-5:00pm

• 20: 5th Grade GPISD Young People's Concert

• 21: Academy 4/Accountability Partner Time

• 21: Substitute Educator's Day

• 24-28: Fall/Thanksgiving Break 🦃

DECEMBER

• 1: PTA Meeting: MLA Library, 6:30pm 📝

• 2: Leaders 5: Cafeteria, 1:00-2:30pm

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

• 5: Accountability Partner Time

• 8: 5th Grade GT Field Trip

• 9: Picture Retakes 📸

• 11: 2nd & 3rd Grade Music Performance: MLA Cafeteria, 6:30pm

• 12: Academy 4

• 13: Winter Wonderland ❄️

• 16: 5th Grade Field Trip to Nature Center, 9am-2pm

• 18: Last day of Q2

• 18: Polar Express Parade, 9:30am (more details to come) 🚂

• 18: Holidays parties (more details to come) ☃️

Hello Mustang Families,

As we move into this season of Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to reflect on how much we have to be grateful for at Marshall Leadership Academy. Each day, I see students growing as leaders, staff going above and beyond, and families partnering with us to build a culture that truly empowers every child. This time of year naturally invites us to pause, appreciate, and reconnect with what matters most—and the 7 Habits align beautifully with that spirit of gratitude.

Habit 1: Be Proactive reminds us that gratitude is a choice. When we intentionally look for the good, we shape our mindset and influence those around us in positive ways.

Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind encourages us to focus on the kind of community we want to build. A thankful school is a strong, united school—one where kindness, respect, and purpose guide our actions.

Habit 3: Put First Things First helps us remember that relationships matter. Thanksgiving is a perfect time to slow down and prioritize family, friendship, and connection.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win challenges us to approach each other with generosity and empathy. Gratitude naturally grows when we look for mutual success and celebrate the victories of others.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood reminds us that listening is a powerful act of appreciation. When we make others feel heard, we show them they matter.

Habit 6: Synergize teaches us that we are better together. I am thankful every day for the teamwork between our teachers, students, and families that makes Marshall Leadership Academy a place where leaders are developed.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw encourages us to take care of ourselves—mind, body, and spirit. Thanksgiving break is the perfect opportunity to rest, recharge, and return ready to finish the semester strong.

As we gather with loved ones this holiday, I want to express my gratitude for you—our students, staff, and families—who make Marshall Leadership Academy such a special community. Thank you for your commitment, your support, and the belief you pour into our shared mission. Together, we are building leaders who will change the world.

Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with joy, rest, and meaningful moments.

Marshall families, we loved seeing everyone come together for our Thanksgiving Luncheon this past Thursday! If you captured any special moments, we’d love to feature them in next week’s Smore newsletter.

Please send your photos to Mr. Amaton through ClassDojo, and we’ll include them in our campus highlights.

Thank you for helping us celebrate community, gratitude, and togetherness! 🧡🍂

Marshall families, we want to celebrate the amazing staff members who make our campus special every day! If you’d like to recognize a teacher, support staff member, or anyone on our team, please send your Staff Shout Out to Mr. Amaton.

You can share your message through ClassDojo or email it to ernie.amaton@gpisd.org with the subject line: Staff Shout Out.

Your kind words go a long way and help us highlight the incredible work happening at Marshall Leadership Academy! 🙌✨

Dear Mustang Families,

It’s hard to believe we’re just one week away from Thanksgiving Break and already more than halfway through the fall semester! Time is flying, but our students continue to grow, lead, and show up every day with purpose.

As we reflect during this season of gratitude, I want to share one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving: the opportunity to slow down, spend time with loved ones, and remember that even the smallest moments are something to be thankful for. Gratitude is a leadership habit we carry all year long and it makes a big difference in how we show up for others.

While not our current schoolwide habit, Habit 1: Be Proactive is one we’re leaning into this season especially when helping students make smart behavior choices. Sometimes students ask, “But what if someone hits me first?” It’s a powerful moment to pause and teach an important lesson: being a leader means controlling your own actions, not reacting in anger. At Marshall, we’ve talked with students about what it means to choose your response, even when someone else makes a poor choice. While our instincts might say “hit back,” we teach our Mustangs that true leadership means pausing, breathing, and getting help from an adult. We don’t match negative behavior with more negativity, we rise above and lead with calm, respectful choices. Please continue having these important conversations at home. It takes all of us, staff, students, and families to build a safe, respectful school culture where leadership truly starts with you.

Congratulations to Ms. Moreno’s Kindergarten class for winning the Cane’s Fundraiser Participation Challenge! They enjoyed a special lunch this week as a reward for their support. Thank you to everyone who participated we appreciate your partnership in helping support our school community!

Riddle of the Week: What smells the best at Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Your nose!

Thank you for continuing to lead with gratitude, grace, and Mustang pride. Let’s finish the week strong and head into break with full hearts.

Pony Up,

taelor.harris@gpisd.org

📧 Email: lakedra.anderson@gpisd.org
📞 Phone: 972-522-7210

Let’s make it a great year! 💙

We are grateful for our Family Engagement Liaison, Ms. Lakedra Anderson, whose dedication and warmth play a vital role in connecting families to our school community. Through building strong relationships and ensuring every parent feels welcomed and supported, she helps create a partnership that truly enriches our students’ success.

Theme: Gratitude and Giving Thanks

As we head into Thanksgiving break, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on all the things we’re thankful for—big and small! This week in guidance, we’re talking about gratitude and how showing appreciation can strengthen friendships, build positivity, and spread kindness throughout our school.

Families can join in by asking at home:

• “What’s something that made you smile today?”

• “Who are you thankful for at school?”

• “What’s one way we can show gratitude as a family this week?”

We’re also continuing our 🎅🏼Santa’s Helpers Toy Drive🧸. Students who bring a new, unwrapped toy will receive 500 house points! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far—your generosity helps bring warmth and joy to GPISD families this holiday season.

Individual & Family Support

GPISD offers a variety of resources to support students and their families. If your family is in need of assistance, please reach out to me—I’m here to help connect you with the support you need.

As we prepare for the break, I want to wish all our families a safe, restful, and joy-filled Thanksgiving. I’m so grateful for our students, staff, and families who make our school such a special community.

We are proud to recognize our outstanding 2nd grade Student of Character, Amiyah Warren, who was recently recognized at the Grand Prairie ISD School Board meeting on Dec. 13th. Amiyah consistently leads by example each and every day. She shows kindness in her words, responsibility in her actions, and a positive attitude that inspires others. Whether helping a classmate, showing respect to adults, or giving her best effort in the classroom, she truly embodies what it means to be a leader at Marshall Leadership Academy.

Congratulations on earning this well-deserved honor, Amiyah!

Dear Parents,

As you head into Thanksgiving break, this is a wonderful time to slow down, reconnect as a family, and sneak in a little joyful learning along the way. As your instructional coach, I encourage you to take advantage of everyday moments—have your child help measure ingredients while cooking to build math skills, invite them to read recipes or holiday stories aloud to strengthen fluency, and ask open-ended questions at the dinner table to boost critical thinking. Even simple activities like writing a thank-you note, comparing family traditions, or sorting groceries can reinforce essential skills in fun, low-stress ways. Most importantly, enjoy the time together; when children feel safe, engaged, and curious, learning happens naturally. Happy Thanksgiving!

—Your iCoach

Hello Mustangs! As we focus on Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind, we're working on one of our school-wide goals of attendance. We looked at our attendance data and decided on where we want to be by the end of this year. Our school-wide WIG (Wildly Important Goal) is to grow our attendance rate from 94.3% to 96% by May 2026!

Your children are discussing ways THEY can help make this happen:

• Set out their clothes for the next day before bed
• Help make their lunch ahead of time
• Fill their water bottle the night before
• Make sure to go to bed on time
• Have their backpack ready to go by the door

We want our leaders to take ownership in the things they do to help them grow! Parents can help us by encouraging these habits at home.

We had our first house field trip of the year, and Savbedoria had a blast at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History! Click on the link to see pictures of your kiddos having fun!

View pictures HERE.

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!

Get ready to vote on some holiday cheer! We’re excited to announce a Winter Door Decorating Contest for all our staff members and we will need the help of our community to determine their favorite.

Voting will open then Dec. 10th and close on Dec. 13th @ 11:59pm on the the Marshall Leadership Facebook Page.

Exciting Updates from Your Marshall Leadership Academy PTA!

🏆 Contest Results Are In!

The contest was a close call! Thank you to everyone who participated and showed their support. After reviewing all the votes, we are thrilled to announce our winner:

Winner: Josephine Saenz-Diaz

Congratulations, Josephine! And thank you to everyone who joined in the fun and showed their school spirit!

This Thanksgiving season, we invite families to fill out a thankful teacher gram and let our amazing educators know just how appreciated they are!

To participate, click the link below or scan the QR code to access the form. Select your child's teacher and share a brief message about why you are thankful for them. Your message will be printed and posted on the teacher's door for them to see.

🎉 Marshall Spirit Night!

We’re so excited to invite all our Marshall families to our upcoming Spirit Night! Come enjoy a fun evening with friends and family while supporting our school.

📅 When: Tuesday, November 18 | ⏰ Time: 3:00–9:00 PM

📍 Where: Chuck E. Cheese, 2760 I-20, Grand Prairie, TX 75052

Let’s celebrate our Marshall pride together we can’t wait to see you there!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the PTA wants to show our gratitude to our wonderful members. We're hosting a special Thanksgiving Dinner drawing as a small token of appreciation!

Drawing Date: November 21

There's still time to join the PTA and be included in this exciting giveaway. We are so thankful for our amazing members, teachers, staff, parents, and students!

We are officially one week away from the deadline for our Friendly Classroom Competition, and the excitement is building across campus! Thank you to everyone who has joined your support is making a BIG difference!

Top 5 Classes So Far:

1. González – 11
2. Moreno – 10
3. Smith – 9
4. Escarzaga – 9
5. Martinez – 7

🏆 The Top 3 classes that reach 100% membership or have the highest participation rate by November 21st will win a special prize!

🥇1st Place - Pizza Party 🍕

🥈 2nd Place - Ice Cream Sundae Party 🍦

🥉 3rd Place - Donut Party 🍩

💌 Payment made easy!

Join online using the QR code.

We have PTA membership envelopes available simply fill one out and drop in your membership money if you prefer that method of payment. ($7 per membership plus fees)

📝 Don’t forget to let your teacher know if you’re already a PTA member or when you join, so your class gets credit!

Let’s show our school spirit, teamwork, and pride together we make a difference!

Mark your calendars! Our next PTA meeting will be held on Monday, December 1 at 6:30pm.

We’d love for you to join us and share your ideas and suggestions. Every voice matters, and your input helps make our school community even stronger.

Don’t miss it let’s make a difference together!

We are excited to announce our first ever Winter Wonderland event:

Saturday, Dec. 13th

Mark your calendars and get ready for this magical morning filled with holiday fun, family activities, and festive cheer. Enjoy breakfast, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and workshops with our very own Marshall elves. Stay tuned for more details!

Let’s keep the spirit going! Have your child show off their house pride and parents, you can join in too! Get your orders in before November 18. Every purchase supports our school and your PTA so let’s make this one count!

Students can wear them on House Days and special school events.

It’s an easy and fun way to build school pride.

Every purchase helps fund activities and resources for our students and teachers.

👉https://sockconceptsocks.com/products/thurgood-marshall-house-socks

Let’s see which House shows the most spirit—grab your socks today and encourage your kids to do the same!

For ALL 2nd & 3rd Grade Parents!

Our 2nd & 3rd student musicians will perform "On With The Snow" (A holiday/winter musical for young voices) on Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 6:30pm in the Marshall Cafetorium. More info to come! Thanks Parents!

The registration for your child to participate in this event is now closed. For questions, please reach out to Mr. Carter at terris.carter@gpisd.org.

Marshall Leadership invites parents and students to participate in two projects — sanding/refinishing school benches and sprucing up the school garden. The event offers a fun way to give back, meet other families, and support the school community. Volunteer sessions are scheduled for November 20 from 4:00–5:00 p.m. in the school garden. Plus, everyone who helps will earn 500 house points for their participation!

*No need to sign up! Just show up! See you there!

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 HERE for each child: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9ggNZDDil_26WQK4MBweMn8Jlx25aKdj84MzHpJyqFV7EjQ/viewform?usp=dialog

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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 sign up HERE for each child: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9ggNZDDil_26WQK4MBweMn8Jlx25aKdj84MzHpJyqFV7EjQ/viewform?usp=dialog

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!