Dramatic Literature

Scholars have been learning about the elements of dramatic literature, and they practiced their fluency and acting skills by reading a play about William Goyens, a free black Texas pioneer who worked as a blacksmith and American Indian interpreter in 1837. 

City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Be sure to ask your scholar about our newest read aloud book, The City of Ember. This is the first book of a four book series and it has exceptional connections to the Engineering Design Process and upcoming science concepts.

"The four Books of Ember tell the story of a city where it’s always dark. There’s no sun, no moon, no light at all unless the electricity is on. And the electricity is beginning to fail." 

Check out this website for more information about the book.

City of Ember Design Challange: Pipeworks

Our scholars have been reading a book called City of Ember in their humanities class. Over the past two weeks, scholars have used what they know about pipe systems, the water cycle and measurement to make a model of a "pipeworks" system. Check out what they were up to.

Watts Going on in Fourth

Just a reminder to all parents that we will have an Early Release day this week on Thursday, February 9th @ 11:45 am. We will be scheduling conferences with some parents during the afternoon on this date.

In the past, early release dates have been used for student-led conferences, so that your scholar can share their progress towards goals, digital portfolios, and other learning experiences with parents. However, due to the limited amount of time available in the afternoon of an early release date, and conflicts this presented to some parent work schedules, making it difficult to bring their child back to school for this purpose, we have decided

to make make a shift in this process.

This year, on the evening of March 9th, our annual event, traditionally known as "Open House", will have a new look & focus! This event has been renamed as our Student-Led Showcase, and parents will be invited to school from 5:30-7:00 pm to participate! Your child will take the lead on this evening to share their learning portfolios, progress towards goals, projects/products and much more! We will also be hosting our spring Book Fair during this event. Stay tuned for more information coming soon about our Student-Led Showcase event in March!

Guest Speaker

This past Friday, our scholars had an amazing opportunity to talk to 2 civil engineers from the city of Grapevine. Our scholars began reading City of Ember and have been making all sorts of connections while reading this book. One of the main characters of the book, Doon, has a job working in their pipeworks under the city. Having the mindset of an engineer, Doon is fascinated by how the pipeworks function. Last week scholars were given a challange to create their own "pipworks" system. Our guest speakers gave us first hand insight to what goes into planning, installing and maintaining the pipe systems here in the city of Grapevine! We are very thankful for all the information they gave us! 

Headphones/Earbuds

Attention parents! Some of our scholars continue to come to school without or with broken headphones. These headphones are used almost daily. If a scholar does not have a pair of headphones, they will not be as successful in completing their assignments. They are used for tasks such as spelling, istation and many others. Please ask your scholar today if they have a pair of working headphones at school. 

ATTENTION PARENTS - TRAFFIC STUDY INFORMATION

Please note that personnel from the City of Grapevine will be on our campus during arrival and dismissal, several times over the next few weeks. They are conducting a traffic study as part of the design/development plans for our new campus. As part of this study, you may see workers taking photos, videos or notes about traffic patterns at Cannon. There will not be any photos taken of students as part of this study. This study is very important to ensure that careful planning is done as our new construction begins! I just wanted to make sure all parents are aware of this, so that there will be no concerns of suspicious activity at Cannon, while these city workers conduct this study.

Act Fast! Win $1,000 for Your Teacher

Attention parents!! Your 1st-5th grade student can help their teacher win a $1,000 grant! Your child's drawing or writing MUST be delivered to their teacher by 8:00 am on Tuesday, February 7th! See below for details!

Dr. Jesse Schroeder of Schroeder Orthodontics, one of the GCISD Education Foundation’s official corporate sponsors and supporter of many schools, is proud to announce a Teacher’s Grant Contest. For the fourth year, he will be sponsoring five $1,000 grants as part of his five year $100,000 commitment to the Education Foundation and our school district. The grant will be given to a teacher in each grade, first-fifth. These are the key points to enter:

• Have your students write or draw a one-page idea of what he/she thinks the teacher could do for the students with the $1,000 grant.
• Students must turn these in to their teacher by 8:00 am on Tuesday, February 7th and they will be sent to GCISD Education Foundation later on that same day.
• The Education Foundation will deliver the submissions to Schroeder Orthodontics for selection of the five winners.

The winners will be announced with check presentations to the teachers at the annual GCISD Council of PTAs Founder’s Day luncheon and program, Thursday, February 23. The winners will be the guests of the Education Foundation.

There are no rules as to how the one-page drawing or writing should be done so be creative! Please make sure that your students have their name, grade, teacher’s name and school’s name on the submission.

Watts Up in Fourth Grade

Headphones/Earbuds

Attention parents! Some of our scholars continue to come to school without or with broken headphones. These headphones are used almost daily. If a scholar does not have a pair of headphones, they will not be as successful in completing their assignments. They are used for tasks such as spelling, istation and many others. Please ask your scholar today if they have a pair of working headphones at school. 

Let's Talk

At Cannon, we would love to hear from you and hope that you will use this communication system as a way to start a dialogue with campus staff. Let's Talk! can be found on the website homepage for each campus. Click here to visit Cannon's Let's Talk! link.

Jump Rope for Hear

It's time for Jump Rope For Heart, an American Heart Association program that teaches students valuable lessons that will last a lifetime!

A representative of Jump Rope For Heart spoke to all of our Cannon Cubs at last week's Friday Assembly. She shared how our Cubs will have an opportunity to raise money to be donated to the American Heart Association through this campaign. Information about this year's Jump Rope For Heart was sent home with all students last Friday, so be sure to check your child's take-home folder for all of the details!

Art Department Needs Your Help

Mrs. Mattox is in need of a few supplies for her art classes. If you are able to donate any of the following, please drop the items off in the front office and let us know they are for the art teacher. Thank you so much for your help!!

• Clean fast food wrappers/containers, such as french fry containers, hamburger or taco wrappers, small pizza boxes, or ice cream sundae dishes.
• Markers
• Pipe Cleaners
• Goggly Eyes
• Various types of wire
• Cleaning Wipes
• Paper Plates or Bowls
• Plastic Cups
• Needle Nose Pliers
• Small Hobby Motors
• Volunteers to help hang up or take down artwork

GCISD Special Programs Expo

From engineering challenges to advanced academics to language immersion and early childhood education, GCISD offers a world of opportunities for students. Families are invited to learn more about these opportunities at the Special Programs Expo on Monday, February 13 from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. at Cross Timbers Middle School. The expo will feature stations showcasing our STEM programs, ASPIRE Academy and Dual Language programs. Also, at the Expo, families may also learn about the tuition-based Pre-Kindergarten program, iUniversity Prep and Collegiate Academy. In addition to program stations, presentations focusing on the instructional components and benefits of these programs will also be delivered.

To learn more about the programs that will be showcased at the Expo, click here.

Math Telescoping Test Information

Haga clic aquí para leer esta información en Español

Testing opportunities for telescoping in math for the 2017-2018 school year are available in the spring and summer for GCISD students who are completing grades K through 7. 

The Math Telescoping Information Packet will be available on the district website under the For Parents and Students Directory by selecting the link for Acceleration Exams, Math Telescoping, Grades K-7. Click here to navigate to this information.

Parents will find information about the requirements to qualify for Math Telescoping and instructions about the TWO STEP Online Registration Process. There will be links to print the Information Packet, begin the TWO STEP Online Registration Process to register for the spring exams, view the TEKS on the TEA website, and download Study Guides for the exams purchased from UT-Austin. The online registration form will go live on February 27th for the April 29th test administration.

The exam dates and registration deadlines for each exam date are listed below:

Spring Exam Date: Saturday, April 29, 2017 9:00 AM GHS - TECC

Online Registration Opens – Spring Exam Date: February 27, 2017

Online Registration Deadline – Spring Exam Date: March 10, 2017

The online registration form will become unavailable on: March 11, 2017

Exam Fee Payment Deadline – Spring Exam Date: March 30, 2017

Summer Exam Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 9:00 AM GHS - TECC

Online Registration Opens – Summer Exam Date: May 11, 2017

Online Registration Closes – Summer Exam Date: May 25, 2017

The online registration form will become unavailable on: May 26, 2017

Exam Fee Payment Deadline – Summer Exam Date: May 31, 2017

Notes From Nurse Kendra

If your child comes home in clothes/shoes from the nurse's clinic, PLEASE wash and send these clothes back as soon as possible. All of our clothes are donated to the clinic and we are currently very low on clothing. These clothes are kept as a courtesy to parents, so they do not have to supply extra clothes for students during the school day.

We could use your help to donate any elastic-waisted pants that are in good condition. If you find some of these while cleaning out closets, we would LOVE your donation!

Cleaning Out? We Want Your Electronics

We are in the process of expanding our MakerSpaces in the library to include another station for our Cannon Cubs to visit as part of this month's Book of the Month Design Challenge and we would LOVE any donations that you are willing to provide!!

For this station of "Discovery through Disassembly", our Cubs will explore by taking apart old electronics. If you can donate any of the following for this station, please drop the items off in the front office this week. Please note that these items will NOT be returned! Thank you so much for your help!!

• Old computers 
• Old cell phones
• Cameras
• Hair dryers
• Toasters
• Please note - no large screen TV's can be accepted

 

Unit 4- Humanities Cornerstone - Critical Thinker: The Influence of Events

As we learned about the key events in the Texas Revolution, scholars researched notable Texans, summarized their most important contributions to Texas related to the Texas Revolution, and shared their findings. We then reflected as a class on the question: "If _____________ did not exist, how would history have been different?"

Watts Up in Fourth Grade

I hope everyone had a great week and is ready for the busy week ahead. A few reminders about this week: 

• STAAR Writing Benchmark- Tuesday 1/24
• Science Space Science TEKS Check- Wednesday 1/25
• Talent Show rehearsal- Tuesday 1/24
• GCISD PTA Council Roundtable Discussion- Thursday 1/26

Headphones/Earbuds

At the beginning of the year, we asked our scholars to bring in a pair of headphones or earbuds to use in class. Over time, a lot of our scholar's headphones have either broken, been lost or taken home and never returned. We use our ipads almost daily and often need headphones to be successful. Please check with your scholar to make sure they have a working pair of headphones/earbuds at school. 

Thank you!

School Board Recognition Month

It's School Board Recognition Month and our scholars were able to take part in thanking them with hand made Thank You cards. GCISD says 'Thank You!' to our All-Star Board Members! Click here to read all about the wonderful school board members who serve GCISD!

Notes From Nurse Kendra

If your child comes home in clothes/shoes from the nurse's clinic, PLEASE wash and send these clothes back as soon as possible. All of our clothes are donated to the clinic and we are currently very low on clothing. These clothes are kept as a courtesy to parents, so they do not have to supply extra clothes for students during the school day.

We could use your help to donate any elastic-waisted pants that are in good condition. If you find some of these while cleaning out closets, we would LOVE your donation!

Also, a scoliosis screening for all 5th graders will be done at school on Thursday 1/26.Please remind female students to wear an undergarment (sport bra or swimsuit top) under their shirt that day.

Donations Needed For Discovery Station - Can You Help?

We are in the process of expanding our MakerSpaces in the library to include another station for our Cannon Cubs to visit as part of this month's Book of the Month Design Challenge and we would LOVE any donations that you are willing to provide!!

For this station of "Discovery through Disassembly", our Cubs will explore by taking apart old electronics. If you can donate any of the following for this station, please drop the items off in the front office this week. Please note that these items will NOT be returned! Thank you so much for your help!!

• Old computers 
• Old cell phones
• Cameras
• Hair dryers
• Toasters
• Please note - no large screen TV's can be accepted

You are invited to attend a Legislative Roundtable Discussion!

WE WANT AND NEED YOUR VOICE! Please join your fellow GCISD PTA members on January 26th for a Legislative Advocacy Roundtable Discussion hosted by the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Council of PTAs.

MEET and TALK with YOUR area legislators and staff and pick up advocacy tips to use throughout the current 85th Texas Legislative Session.

· Thursday, January 26, 2017 from 6:30-8:00pm (childcare not provided)
· Light refreshments provided
· PDEC (Professional Development and Education Center): 5800 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville, TX 76034

We will give a brief overview of our district PTA's top 5 issues for our legislators to address: 1) Reduce STAAR emphasis, 2) Oppose vouchers and ESA programs, 3) Adequate school funding, 4) Pursue a new accountability system that is valid, reliable and balanced and 5) Clarify the role of school districts on cyber-bullying. (Handouts with more information on each issue will be available at the event.)

Pre-registration is not required, but is highly recommended so we can get a headcount and plan appropriately. To register, scroll down to find your school and RSVP at the following site:http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d45a9a72ca46-legislative.

For questions, please contact your local PTA Legislative Advocacy Chair or President or Doug Noell, GCISD Council of PTAs Legislative Chair

GCISD SPECIAL PROGRAMS EXPO - February 13th

From engineering challenges to advanced academics to language immersion and early childhood education, GCISD offers a world of opportunities for students. Families are invited to learn more about these opportunities at the Special Programs Expo on Monday, February 13 from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. at Cross Timbers Middle School. The expo will feature stations showcasing our STEM programs, ASPIRE Academy and Dual Language programs. Also, at the Expo, families may also learn about the tuition-based Pre-Kindergarten program, iUniversity Prep and Collegiate Academy. In addition to program stations, presentations focusing on the instructional components and benefits of these programs will also be delivered.

To learn more about the programs that will be showcased at the Expo, click here.