Calling all parents, employees, students and patrons!

Your input for the selection of the 2008-2009 GCISD student/teacher calendar is requested. A state law requires public schools to begin classes no earlier than the fourth Monday in August. Two calendar options for the 2008-09 school year have been developed with an August 25, 2008, start date. The online survey will be available Sept. 28-Oct. 12.

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has partnered with the Tarrant County Hospital District/JPS Health Network to open a JPS school-based health center next to Timberline Elementary School in Grapevine. This is JPS' eighth school-based clinic, and the first in northern Tarrant County.

The clinic will be housed in the district's former Instructional Support Center, 3050 Timberline Drive, and will be open five days a week except for school holidays and the week of July 4. The center is scheduled to open in January 2008, and will serve children enrolled in GCISD and their siblings under age 18.

PHOTO: GHS football players read to students (see story below)

What's Happening This Week

Early release for kindergarten this week
Kindergarten students will be released at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Friday in order for teachers to conduct individual reading assessments.

GHS Homecoming activities planned
Grapevine High School will celebrate Homecoming week with a variety of activities, culminating in the Homecoming game against Keller High at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mustang-Panther Stadium. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students and can be purchased the week of the game in the GHS office or the GCISD Swim Center. Ticket sales end at noon on Friday. The Homecoming parade will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday and will be followed by a community pep rally. Information: 817-251-5210.

Auditions for CHHS spring musical
The Colleyville Heritage High School Theatre Program is conducting auditions this week for the spring musical, "Bye Bye Birdie." Auditions will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium; dance auditions will be Tuesday and vocal auditions will be Wednesday. Callbacks will be Thursday and Friday. More information is available on the campus website: http://www.gcisd-chhs.org/.

HES third-graders, parents invited to 'Read In'
Heritage Elementary is hosting the "Third Grade Read In" from 7-8 p.m. Thursday in the school library. Third-graders will enjoy storytelling, snacks and have the opportunity to read their favorite book with their parents. Information: 817-305-4820.

Donuts for Dads at SLES
Silver Lake Elementary Dads are invited to enjoy donuts and refreshments beginning at 7:30 a.m. Friday in the school cafeteria. Information: 817-251- 5750.

GES Walk to School Day
Grapevine Elementary students, parents and staff members are encouraged to walk to school on Friday to promote good health and environmental awareness. Information: 817-251- 5735.

PTA Carnivals and Fall Festivals
Bear Creek Elementary -- 6 p.m. Friday.
Bransford Elementary -- 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Glenhope Elementary -- 9 a.m. Saturday.

Upcoming Events

GMS choir to perform
The Grapevine Middle School Choir will present a fall concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at Grapevine High. Information: 817-251-5660.

Evening education classes to begin
Registration for session 2 of GCISD's TARGET evening classes for high school credit begins Oct. 15. Basic courses are offered to allow students to catch up on credits, advance in order to graduate early or open a section of their normal schedule to take another course of their choice. The session begins Oct. 29 and classes are held at Bridges Accelerated Learning Center, 736 E. Northwest Highway in Grapevine. Information: 817-251-5525.

Weather tracker to visit BCES
Students at Bear Creek Elementary will learn about weather and science during a special assembly at 1:45 p.m. Oct. 19. Guest speaker will be Dan Henry Jr., a weather tracker for Fox 4. Information: 817-305-4860.

TES family night
The Timberline Elementary PTA is sponsoring TES Family Night on Oct. 19 at the Grapevine High football game. All TES families are invited to watch the Mustangs take on Keller Central at 7:30 p.m. at Mustang-Panther Stadium in Grapevine. A special section will be designated for TES families. Information: 817-251-5770.

GHS Corral set for Oct. 19
Corral, a PTSA-sponsored party after home football games for Grapevine High School students, will host its second gathering of the season on Oct. 19 in the Student Activity Center and Gym 1 at GHS. The event starts immediately after the GHS football game and ends at 12:30 a.m. All GHS students are encouraged to attend. A valid GCISD high school ID is required to enter; guests from outside the District will not be admitted. Admission is $5 per person and includes all food and beverages. The final Corral night this year is scheduled for Nov. 9. For information, visit the GHS website under the link to the PTSA. If you would like to volunteer, contact Cindy Warner at cfseiko@aol.com.

PTA Council, SLES hosting Healthy Habits program
GCISD parents and community members are invited to a special program "Healthy Habits: Live Them, Teach Them" on Oct. 23 in the Grapevine High Lecture Hall. Guest speaker will be Todd Whitthorne, health expert with the Cooper Aerobics Institute, who will discuss the connection between fitness and academic success. The program is hosted by the GCISD Council of PTAs and Silver Lake Elementary PTA and will begin immediately following a brief PTA meeting at 6:30 p.m. Information: John Rath, 817-488- 3489.

PTA Carnivals and Fall Festivals
Dove Elementary -- 6 p.m. Oct. 19.
Grapevine Elementary -- 3-7 p.m. Oct. 20.
Heritage Elementary -- Oct. 20.

Awards and Announcements

O.C. Taylor students go 'around the world'
Students at O.C. Taylor Elementary learned about geographic and environmental issues recently when they explored a 22-foot by 19-foot inflatable globe. John Johnson from Mobile Ed Productions presented programs tailored for each class level, with kindergarten students learning about continents and older students researching latitude, longitude, geology and plate tectonics. Information: Debbie Zubillaga, 817-571-8884.

GHS football players read to students (see photo above)
Members of the Grapevine High School varsity football team read to students at Bransford Elementary and autographed trading cards recently as part of the Read to Succeed program. Information: 817-251- 5503.

Seniors earn national Hispanic recognition
Eight seniors -- five at Colleyville Heritage High three at Grapevine High -- have been named National Hispanic Scholars by the College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program. This program recognizes the exceptional academic achievements of Hispanic high school seniors as determined by performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Hispanic Scholars from Colleyville Heritage are Valerie Clark, Carolyn Estrada, Alexandra Garcia, Cynthia Oaxaca and Patricia Santiago. Hispanic Scholars from Grapevine High are Amanda Bauer, Leslie Berntsen and Anneliese Roberto. Information: 817-251-5503.

GHS student attending national leadership council
Sarah Wade, a sophomore at Grapevine High, has been selected to attend the National Young Leaders Conference later this month in Washington, D.C. She was selected based on academic excellence and strong leadership potential, and will represent Texas as a National Scholar. She was nominated by GHS science teacher Deanna Showalter. Information: 817-251- 5503.

Eleven Grapevine-Colleyville ISD high school students have been named semifinalists in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program.

"We are very proud of these students and their academic accomplishment as National Merit semifinalists," said Kay Waggoner, superintendent. "These successful seniors have

For the safety of everyone attending football games at Mustang-Panther Stadium, GCISD students should remain in the stands during the games. Please let your student know that he/she will not be allowed to congregate on the steps, on the grassy areas or near concession stands or restrooms. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and enjoyable environment at our stadium.

email: publicinformation@gcisd.net

phone: 817/251-5505

web: http://www.gcisd-k12.org