March 4, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE DIRECT ALL PHOTO REQUESTS TO 817-251-5503

What's Happening This Week

TAKS testing continues
Students throughout GCISD will participate in the state-required Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills this week. Some testing was conducted Monday, and will continue Wednesday through Friday. Tests will not be administered Tuesday as it is primary election day in Texas and several schools are used as polling sites.

Dove hosts parent Internet program
Dove Elementary parents are invited to an Internet safety program hosted by the Dove PTA. Grapevine Police Officer Matt Petrie will present information about online safety and provide tips for parents to help keep their children safe while using the Internet. The program will be presented at 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday in the DES cafeteria. Information: 817-251-5700.

GHS Jazz Choir present annual concert
The community is invited to Grapevine High School Jazz Choir's performance of "On the Road with Jazz" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the GHS Auditorium. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for students. Information: 817-251-5251.

O.C. Taylor students to get a taste of the West
Students at O.C. Taylor Elementary will participate in a western day on Friday to culminate their recent study of Texas. Students are encouraged to wear their favorite western shirts, cowboy boots and hats. Kindergarten students will kick off the day with a parade through the building the participate in western dancing and rodeo events in the afternoon. First-graders will sample western fare during a Chuck Wagon lunch of hot dogs and macaroni and cheese, and will create western-look picture frames to hold a class picture. Information: 817-305-4870.

Heritage Elementary gears up for student Fun Run
The first HES Fun Run for students begins at 8 p.m. Saturday. The event is an opportunity for the more than 100 students in the HES Running Club to meet their goal of running one mile, which these students have been training for since the beginning of the school year. The event features a 5K and one-mile fun run. It is open to all students and HES families, and all students who participate will receive a medal. The run begins on the fields behind HES and ends at the Heritage Middle track. Information: Tina Bostick, 817-305-4820.


Upcoming Events

GCISD celebrates Texas Public Schools Week
GCISD students and educators will celebrate Texas Public Schools Week during March 10-14 with a variety of activities. This year's theme is "Lift Off to Learning." Parents and community members are invited to participate in open house events and activities as part of this celebration of Texas public schools. A list of campus-specific activities is available from each school or on school web pages. Information: 817-251-5503.

GHS Project Graduation planning underway
The next meeting of the Grapevine High School Project Graduation Committee will be 7 p.m. March 10. Additional meeting dates are April 14 and May 12. Several fund-raising activities are also underway for Project Graduation. Tickets are on sale through Friday for a raffle of a 2008 Chevy Cobalt, courtesy of Classic Chevrolet. Cost is $10 and tickets may be purchased at GHS or by calling 817-991-2607. The drawing will be March 10 during the GHS Open House. Other fund-raisers include a Golf Tournament on March 31 and donations of used cell phones, ink jet cartridges, digital cameras and MP3 players. Information: Kay Bradshaw, 817-656-1923.

Special Olympians prepare for GCISD meet
The GCISD Special Olympics Track Meet is scheduled for March 12 at Mustang-Panther Stadium. Students from area school districts will participate in a variety of Olympic events throughout the day. GCISD high school students will serve as "buddies" to help athletes locate their events and cheer them on during competition. Information: Leslie Low, 817-251-2923.

Bear Creek Elementary spotlights cultural diversity activities
BCES students will celebrate Cultural Diversity Week during March 10-14 with a variety of activities, and parents are invited to visit on March 13 to see what students are learning about different countries. Each grade level is studying a different country and participating in projects and lessons specific to that country. All grade levels will learn history, dress, food, climate, animals, language and geographical facts about each country. Information: 817-305-4860.

GHS debaters to host Japanese team in public debate
Grapevine High School debate, in cooperation with the National Communication Association, will host a public debate with representatives of the Japanese National Debate team. The event will be 7 p.m. March 12 at the Palace Theatre in Grapevine. This is the second time GHS has welcomed members of the Japanese team; in 2006, GHS was the only high school in the nation to host the Japanese debaters in a public debate. GHS students participating in the upcoming debate will be seniors William Hix and Leslie Berntsen. Cost is $5 in advance or $7 at the door. Following the debate, the GHS Debate Booster Club will host a reception in the Lancaster Theatre. Tickets and information: 817-251-5248 or jane.boyd@gcisd.net.

Bear Creek Elementary stepping out for diabetes research
BCES students are preparing for the annual Walk-A-Thon to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The walk begins at 8:15 a.m. March 13 outside the school. The goal of each grade level is to raise $1,200, with a school-wide goal of $8,000. Each grade level that meets its goal will celebrate by watching a teacher get a pie in the face. If the school-wide goal is met, teachers will dress in costume during a campus celebration. Information: 817-305-4860.

O.C. Taylor Elementary celebrates Dr. Seuss
Second-grade students are encouraged to dress up like Dr. Seuss or a Dr. Seuss character on March 14 as part of a study about the life and works of the beloved children's author. Students may also bring a favorite Dr. Seuss book to share with their classes. Information: 817-305-4870.

PTA/PTSA meetings and activities
Grapevine High – 6:30 p.m. March 10, Officer elections.

Spring concerts and performances
Colleyville Middle – CMS choirs, 7 p.m. March 10 at First Baptist Church, Colleyville

Spring book fairs
Colleyville Middle – March 10-13 in the CMS Library. Fair is open 7:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, with extended hours from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday during Open House.


Awards and Announcements

Grapevine High student nominated as presidential scholar
Anjali Datta, a senior at GHS, has been named a candidate in the 2008 Presidential Scholars Program. She is one of 2,600 candidates nationwide selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character, and involvement in community and school activities. One young man and one young woman from each state will be selected in May. Anjali is the daughter of Deepak and Shraboni Datta of Grapevine.

High school wrestlers named state champions
Two GCISD students, Joe Andrews of Grapevine High and Jeremy Sandoval of Colleyville Heritage High, won state titles in their divisions at the state wrestling meet. Andrews, a sophomore, is the 103-pound champion and Sandoval, a junior, is the 130-pound champion.

Colleyville Middle students welcome home troops
CMS students in the PALs program greeted an estimated 100 troops last week with big smiles and packs of chewing gum as part of the "Chews for the Troops" initiative. CMS students collected more than 500 packs of chewing gum during the week-long drive, and PALs students passed out the packs as soldiers arrived. The PALs sponsore at CMS is Christine Roberts.

GCISD diver earns silver medal at state, teams qualify for All-American status
GHS senior Jordan Morcom placed second overall in diving at the state swim and dive meet, and both the boys and girls relay teams earned All-American status with their best times of the year. All-American status is designated to the top 130 times nationwide in each event. The girls 200 Freestyle Relay team includes Lisa Lamb, Jenny Maxwell, Katie Miles and Heather Moon. The boys 200 Medley Relay team includes Nick Han, Ben Mann, Alex Oswell and Brandon Wilkinson. Individual recognitions from the state meet include Tito Ebersole, sixth in diving; and Katie Miles, 12th in 100 Freestyle.

Grapevine Middle students win award at SMU competition
Twenty-nine GMS students competed for the first time recently at the Southern Methodist Univeristy Visioneering competition, and one team of nine students received the "Building the Future" award. An estimated 1,000 students representing schools throughout North Texas competed in the event. For the competition, students were presented with a problem and tasked with creating the most effective and efficient solution. Members of the winning team from GMS are: Raquel Sauer, Lauren Maynard, Morgan Howard, Kylie Moreland, Shawn Gardner, Rhain Kaman, Paris Kaman, Alexander Rummell and Rahul Jain. Team sponsors are Luonna Adkins, Tammy Bruce, Carla Crow and parent volunteer Michael Yarrish.

Grapevine High Band reunion planned
A reunion is being planned for former GHS Band members, and a committee is trying to locate people who were members of the Mustang Band at any time from 1980 through 1989. To find out more and register your interest, visit www.ghsbandreunion.com.

Scholarship opportunities available to graduating seniors

• Bransford Elementary PTA - Applications due by noon March 21, availabe in the counseling offices at GHS and CHHS or from the BES front office.
• Colleyville Elementary PTA - Applications due by March 28, available in the counseling offices at GHS and CHHS or from the CES front office.
• GCISD Council of PTAs - Applications due to the GHS or CHHS counseling office by Noon on March 31, www.gcisdcouncilofptas.org.
• O.C. Taylor Elementary PTA - Applications postmarked by March 31, www.OCTaylorpta.org.