November 29, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

What's Happening This Week

O.C. Taylor collecting toys for G.R.A.C.E.
Second-graders at O.C. Taylor Elementary are participating in a community service project to benefit the G.R.A.C.E. Christmas Cottage program. This program provides new toys to children in Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake who otherwise might not receive a gift during the holidays. The second-grade classes are collecting new, unwrapped toys through Dec. 12. Information: 817-251-5503 or gracegrapevine.org.

Dove Elementary collecting books for G.R.A.C.E.
The Dove Elementary Student Council is coordinating a book drive this week to benefit G.R.A.C.E. Students are encouraged to donate new or gently used books, which G.R.A.C.E. will distribute to children throughout the community. Information: 817-251-5700.

Upcoming Events

Elementary book fairs
Dove Elementary – Dec. 1-7. Book fair kicks off with the Dove Dads' Club's annual fund-raiser, Breakfast with Santa, on Dec. 1.

Holiday band, choir performances
Colleyville Middle - Winter Voice recital, 6 p.m. Dec. 7; Band concert, 5 p.m. Dec. 11; Choir concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 18.
Grapevine High – Jazz Ensemble concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 6; Band concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 10.

GCISD Board of Trustees meeting
The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Board of Trustees will meet for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on December 10 at the GCISD Administration Building, 3051 Ira E. Woods Ave. in Grapevine. Open session begins at 7 p.m. Information: 817-251-5503.

GHS plans meeting for ESL students, parents
The Grapevine High School ESL department will host its second meeting for students in the English for Speakers of Other Languages program and their parents and teachers. The meeting will feature involvement opportunities, the online Family Access program, student grades and upcoming testing dates. The meeting will be 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Regional Place Apartments, 3037 Mustang Drive. Holiday refreshments will be served. Information: 817-251-5497.

CHHS hosts theatre workshop for kids
The Colleyville Heritage High Theatre Department will host its fourth-annual Children's Theatre Workshop for students in grades kindergarten through fifth. Students will participate in a variety of theatre activities, and will present a special performance for parents at the end of the workshop. The program is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 15 at CHHS. Cost is $40 per child for early registration or $50 after Dec. 7. Cost includes lunch and T-shirt for each participant. Registration forms are available online at chhspanthertheater.org. Information: 817-305-4752.

Awards and Announcements

CHHS debaters advance in national tournament
Students from Colleyville Heritage High have advanced to the "Sweet 16" round in the 2007-2008 Bickel & Brewer/NYU National Public Policy Forum, a national debate tournament including more than 500 students from more than 25 states. The NPPF is the only national contest that gives high school students the opportunity to participate in written and oral debates on the issues of public policy. As one of the top 16 schools, CHHS will compete in a written debate in hopes of advancing to the finals in April at New York University. The winning team will receive a $10,000 grand prize, presented in the form of individual cash awards for scholarships.

GHS debaters earn recognition in national contest
Members of the Grapevine High debate team recently participated in the 28th-annual Glenbrook Speech and Debate tournament in Chicago. This is one of the largest high school speech and debate tournaments in the United States, with more than 200 schools from 24 states participating. Special recognition goes to senior Leslie Berntsen, who was a semi-finalist in Student Congress and received a bid to the National Tournament of Champions in May; and Will Hix, who placed 18th out of 200 competitive speakers in Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate. Debaters having winning records at the tournament were:

• Julian Melendea and Eric Frazier, Varsity Policy Debate
• Tully Moorhead and Jacob Quinn, Junior Varsity Policy Debate
• Tonia Beglari and Mike Gajewsky, Varsity Policy Debate
• Emily Allen, Will Hix and Chey Mashburn, Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate