October 17, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

What's Happening This Week

Cowboy author to visit Bransford Elementary
Fourth-graders at Bransford Elementary will get a first-hand look into Texas history during a special presentation at 1:45 p.m. Thursday in the school cafeteria. Donald Hoffman, author of "South of the Guadalupe," will appear in full cowboy dress to discuss what life was like as a cowboy and share history about the Texas cattle kingdom. Information: 817-251-5503.

Heritage Elementary celebrates 'Community Helper Day'
First-grade students at Heritage Elementary will dress as their favority community helper on Friday as part of a study about community service. The students will parade through the school in their costumes to promote awareness of the important people who help our communities. Information: 817-305-4820.

PTA Reflections contest deadline approaching
The deadline to submit entries for the 2007-2008 Reflections Arts Program is Friday. Reflections is a national PTA-sponsored arts recognition and achievement program for students in all grade levels. All entries must be newly created by one student and must be inspired by this year's theme, "I can make a difference by..." Students may submit multiple entries; professional North Texas artists will judge submissions. Information, entry forms and participation rules are available at campuses or on the Texas PTA website at www.txpta.org.

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

Timberline Elementary family night at the Stadium
The Timberline Elementary PTA is sponsoring TES Family Night on Friday 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 Friday
Corral, a PTSA-sponsored party after home football games for Grapevine High School students, will host its second gathering of the season on Friday 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.

CHHS Band March-A-Thon set for Saturday
The Colleyville Heritage High School Band will march for donations on Saturday as part of the annual March-A-Thon fund-raiser. The band will parade through neighborhoods playing various stand-and-show tunes as well as songs requested by individuals and businesses. The band will depart the Band Hall at 9 a.m. and wrap up with a grand finale at Noon at Colleyville Town Center. Band members are accepting donations and song requests, and donations can also be made online at http://chhspantherband.org. Proceeds will fund equipment, contest fees, music and more. Information: www.chhspantherband.org or Karen Miller, 817-688-3964.

PTA meetings
Dove Elementary -- 6 p.m. Oct. 18, fourth-graders will present special performance.

PTA Carnivals and Fall Festivals
Grapevine Elementary -- 3-7 p.m. Oct. 20.
Heritage Elementary -- 3-6 p.m. Oct. 20.
O.C. Taylor Elementary -- 2-6 p.m. Oct. 20.
Heritage Middle -- Oct. 19 (6-8 p.m. for sixth grade, 8-10 for seventh and eighth grades).

Upcoming Events

GCISD celebrates school bus safety
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD students, parents and staff members will celebrate National School Bus Safety Week on Oct. 21-27. Please take a moment to thank your bus driver for their care and concern for the safety of our students. In addition, motorists are reminded to exercise courtesy and caution when near school buses. An estimated 4,000 GCISD students ride school buses each school day.

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.

Timberline Elementary kicks off fund-raiser
The Timberline PTA will launch its "Boosterthon" fund-raiser on Oct. 23 to raise money to support field trips, educational programs and classroom lessons. The fund-raiser is designed to encourage and motivate students while promoting education, fitness and character. The program will continue through Nov. 1, culminating with a fun run for all students. Information: Beth Harwell, 817-329-4575.

GHS Theatre presents 'Tom Sawyer'
Theatre students at Grapevine High School will present "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" in several performances Oct. 25-28 in the GHS Madeline Hemley Auditorium. Under the direction of GHS Theatre Director Carla R. Reasoner, the performance features the acting talents of GHS students as well as GCISD students in grades first-sixth. School matinee times are 2 p.m. Oct. 25 and 10 a.m. Oct. 26. Student tickets for the daytime school matinees are $3. Public performances are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 27 and 2 p.m. Oct. 28. Tickets are $5 per seat and may be purchased by reservation or at the door. Information: 817-251-5279.

GCISD celebrates Red Ribbon Week
Students and employees will celebrate Red Ribbon Week on Oct. 29-Nov. 2. A variety of activities are planned at GCISD campuses; check individual campuses for a schedule of events.

PTA meetings
Timberline Elementary -- 7 p.m. Oct. 25, Literacy Night.

PTA Carnivals and Fall Festivals
Dove Elementary -- 6-9 p.m. Oct. 26.
Grapevine Elementary -- 3-7 p.m. Oct. 20.
Heritage Elementary -- Oct. 20.

HMS sponsors GRACE food drive
HMS PTA is sponsoring a canned foods and dry goods drive to support GRACE. Drop-off containers are located at each door of the SAC.

Awards and Announcements

Seniors earn national achievement recognition
Angelise Hadley and Bianca Smith, both students at Colleyville Heritage High School, have been named National Achievement Scholars and are among 3,000 students nationally who are referred to colleges for their potential for academic success. The National Achievement® Scholarship Program is an academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding Black American high school students. Black students may enter both the National Achievement Program and the National Merit® Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) and meeting other published requirements for participation. Of the more than 140,000 students who currently enter the National Achievement® Program each year, approximately 4,600 are honored.

GHS Drumline captures first place award
Members of the GHS Mustang Band Drumline earned first place at the 2007 Carrollton-Farmers Branch Tournament of Champions Marching Band Contest. The competition included approximately 16 other drumlines from the region.

GHS Oral Interpretation Team scores high
Member of the GHS Oral Interpretation Team earned top honors at a recent tournament at R.L. Turner High School. Results are as follows:

• Dramatic Interpretation: 1st place - Casey Williams, Semi-finalists - Missy Lamb, Kaitlin Hoag, Lauren Bird
• Humorous Interpretation: 2nd place - Casey Williams, 6th place - Gena Charette, Semi-finalists - David Snodgrass, Sean Przano
• Duo Interpreation: 4th place - Elliott Kramer/Lauren Hughes, 5th place - Sea Przano/Landry Ayres, Semi-finalists - Gena Charette/Lauren Bird
  

CHHS debate team members compete with success
Rahim Sayani placed first at the tournament held at Newman Smith High School and Binita Patel was named top speaker in her division in the Lincoln Douglas debate competition. John Wilbur and Jonathan Wang earned 2nd place honors with Jonathan being named the second speaker in the division. Natasha Ahmed was in the quarterfinals, as was the team of Lyndon Lee and Kevin Zou.

Timberline Elementary Fit Feet Club resumes
The Timberline Elementary Fit Feet Club kicked off the new school year this week. This program is a school-sponsored, after-school fitness club for students in second-fifth grades and parents who enjoy walking, jogging or running to improve their fitness level. The program, coordinated by the TES physical education teachers, started 17 years ago at TES and promotes exercise, health and fitness in a fun social environment. Students earn certificates for distance milestones achieved throughout the year and receive special recognition at year-end ceremonies. Information: Beth Harwell, 817-329-4575.

Author visits Grapevine Middle School
Science fiction author H.J. Ralles, conducted writing workshops with sixth and seventh grade students at Grapevine Middle School. Librarian Danette Jurgens arranged Ms. Ralles visit and workshops during October as part of the students' Language Arts enhancement. In photo: Author H.J. Ralles addresses Grapevine Middle students.

Students and Rotarians partner for school
Grapevine Middle School students from Acappella Choir, Men's Choir, Honors Band, and Cheerleaders entertained members of the Grapevine Rotary at the organization's October meeting at the Grapevine Middle School. Rotarians provide support for the school in a variety of ways, including the school's student health program and the mentor program. During the meeting, seventh grade student Ariel Davis thanked the Rotarians for the computer she won as a result of the Rotary Essay Program. In photo: Grapevine Middle Acappella Choir, directed by Patti Adams, perform for the Grapevine Rotary.