April 28, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE DIRECT ALL PHOTO REQUESTS TO 817-251-5503

What's Happening this Week
Council of PTAs to host Trustee candidates forum
The GCISD Council of PTAs will host a forum for the five candidates vying for seats on the GCISD Board of Trustees. The forum will be 6:30-9 p.m. April 29 in the Grapevine High School Library. A general PTA meeting will also be held and will include the election of the 2008-2009 Council officers. Information: Toni Oyler, 817-475-5995.

Early voting begins
Early voting gets underway today and continues through May 6 for the GCISD Board of Trustees election, as well as for the Grapevine City Council election. For GCISD's Board of Trustees Place 6, current trustee Vince Rosen is being challenged in the election by Leon Leal. Place 7 candidates are Mia Green and Jorge Rodríguez. Place 7 incumbent Freda Ward is not seeking re-election. Current trustee Jesse Rodríguez, Place 5, is unopposed for his seat on the Board. Candidates are elected to three year terms. Members of the Board of Trustees are unpaid and do not represent specific geographic areas. Read more about the Board of Trustees.

GCISD employees to be recognized at annual reception
"Honoring Education's Treasures" is the theme of this year's employee appreciation reception set for May 8, 4 p.m. at the Grapevine Convention Center. Recognition will extend to campus teachers and paraprofessionals of the year, auxiliary employees of the year, retirees and for length of service to the District. The 2008-09 GCISD Elementary Teacher of the Year, Secondary Teacher of the Year and Carolyn Frank Paraprofessional will be named during this event, as will the GCISD Nurse of the Year. View the list of campus teachers and paraprofessionals and auxiliary employees of the year.

Upcoming Events
Silver Lake celebrates Cinco de Mayo
On May 5, in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, Silver Lake students will watch a performance by a dance group from Arlington Bowie High School at 1:30 in the cafeteria.

A Taste of Timberline
Timberline Elementary School students and families are invited to attend A Taste of Timberline on Saturday, May 17, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. The event is a multicultural celebration with food, games, dancing and lots of fun.

Share a Bear, Show You Care
Students may donate a brand new Teddy Bear for Cook Children's Medical Center. Drop off locations will be availble at each GCISD elementary school May 1-9. The Teddy Bear drive is being sponsored by O.C. Taylor whose students raised 450 bears in response to a student's request. The student had two surgeries and received comfort from teddy bears that she was given when she was admitted to the hospital.

GHS Project Graduation planning underway
The next meeting of the Grapevine High School Project Graduation Committee will be May 12 at 7 p.m. at Colleyville Elementary School. Information: Kay Bradshaw: 817-656-1923.

Colleyville club to present grant to GCISD Special Olympics
The Colleyville Woman's Club will present at grant of $5,000 to GCISD Special Olympics at the Tenth Annual Colleyville Women's Club Grants and Awards Luncheon on Friday, May 16, 2008 at the Hilton Dallas/Southlake Town Square Hotel. The Colleyville Woman's Club has been a sponsor of GCISD Special Olympics for 10 years and has been instrumental in the success of the basketball program.

Athletes honored at Special Olympics banquet
Athletes who participated in Special Olympics activities throughout the year will be recognized at the 2008 Special Olympics Awards Banquet, May 7, 11;45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. at the Grapevine Convention Center. RSVP or information: Kathleen at 817/251-5533.

Swim Center to close for renovations
The GCISD Swim Center will be closed for renovation from Saturday, May 17 through early August.
Fall class information and reopening updates will be posted the Swim Center website.

Driver's Ed and Target classes set for summer
Summer classes for Driver's Education and TARGET Evening Education program begin in June. Only one session, June 12-July 3, is scheduled for Driver's Education so students are encouraged to sign up early if they are interested in taking the course during the summer. Two sessions are planned for TARGET - June 9-20 and June 23-July 3. Additional information is available on the District's website at www.gcisd-k12.org. Download Driver's Ed flyer Download TARGET flyer

Free breakfast and lunch offered to students this summer
The Summer Food Service Program at Timberline Elementary provides free meals to all children age 18 and younger. These meals provide essential nutrients for active growing kids. To participate in the free meal program, all kids have to do is show up at a serving site. Breakfast is offered from 8:15 a.m. – 9 a.m. and lunch is offered 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The entire meal must be consumed at the serving site; absolutely no “to go” breakfasts or lunches are available. Information: Nutritional Services website or GCISD Nutrition Services Department at 817-251-5618.

Awards and Announcements

Oral Interpretation Team news
Grapevine High School's Oral Interpretation team has set a school record for having the most students who qualified for the national tournament to be held in Las Vegas from June 14-21. Qualifying in Duo Interpretion are Kaitlin Hoag/Sarah Baston and Ben Hicks/Melissa Lamb. Qualifying in Humorous Interpretation are Casey Williams Scott Morgan. Jordan Hughes, Caroline Brenner, Elliot Kramer and Izzy Ingraham will also participate in the tournament.

Pantera Dance Team members named
Members of the 2008-09 Colleyville Heritage High School Pantera Dance Team were selected on April 25. View a complete list in the Athletic section of the GCISD website.

2007-08 GHS Fillies in Championship form

The Grapevine High School Fillies Varsity Dance Team received top honors in the Super Team category (50 + members), as well as outstanding overall recognition at the recent M.A. Dance National Competition. The team competed against over 100 groups from around the nation at the contest held at the Fort Worth Convention Center on March 29-30. The Fillies also received National Winner’s Circle and Top 15 Dance Technique recognition for being among the highest scoring teams at the contest. In addition, the Fillies were named national category champions for their first place finishes in the Team Modern, Team Hip Hop and Team Pom performances.

The Fillie Officers received national championship category recognition for their first place finishes in officer modern, officer hip hop as well as officer jazz. In addition, the officers received National Officer Winners’ Circle and Top 5 Dance Technique Award in overall competition. The 2008 Officers ranked 3rd out of all of the competing officer groups, representing the highest finish in history among the Fillies Officers groups in national officer competition.

Drivers round up wins at regional Bus Roadeo
GCISD bus drivers earned top honors and GCISD won the top team award at the regional Bus Roadeo in Plano on April 19. Dennis O'Gorman won 1st place in the Transit Division and Dorie Ferguson won 2nd place Conventional Division. Dennis and Dorie will represent Region XI in their respected divisions at the Texas Association For Pupil Transportation Conference In Corpus Christi on Friday, June 13.