October 22, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

What's Happening This Week

GCISD celebrates school bus safety
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD students, parents and staff members are celebrating National School Bus Safety Week this week. 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 Tuesday 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 launchrf its "Boosterthon" fund-raiser today 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 the TES 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 Thursday-Sunday 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. Public performances are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $3 for students and senior adults, $5 for adults and may be purchased by reservation or at the door. Information: 817-251-5279. Pictured are GHS students and cast members Ryan Raincsuk, Matt Keil, Ben Hicks, Adam Edwards, Stone Meyer and Lauren Bird. (Photo courtesy of Feragne Studios)

CHHS Theatre presents 'The Crucible'
Colleyville Heritage High Theatre students will present an Arthur Miller classic, "The Crucible," in several performances Oct. 25-Nov. 3 in the Panther Auditorium. Public performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Nov. 2, and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and Nov. 3. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults and may be purchased by reservation or at the door. Information: 817-305-4752 or www.chhspanthertheater.org.

Bear Creek PTA hosting 'Trunk or Treat'
Students at Bear Creek Elementary are invited to this year's Trunk or Treat event beginning at 7 p.m. Friday in the school parking lot. The event, hosted by the Bear Creek PTA, will provide a safe and controlled environment where students can wear their Halloween costumes and fill their treat bags. Information: 817-305-4860.

GMS costume dance
Grapevine Middle School PTA is hosting a "Fall Fling" costume dance for students from 7-10 p.m. Friday in the school cafeteria. Information: 817-251-5660.

PTA meetings and activities
Timberline Elementary -- General meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, Literacy Night.
Heritage Middle -- PTA Social on Friday: 6-8 p.m. sixth grade, 8-10 p.m. seventh and eighth grades.

PTA Carnivals and Fall Festivals
Colleyville Elementary -- 3-7 p.m. Saturday.
Dove Elementary -- 6-9 p.m. Friday.

Band and choir fall performances
Heritage Middle -- Band Fall concert, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the school gym.

Upcoming Events

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.

Education Foundation, Trustees honor National Merit Scholars
The Grapevine-Colleyville Education Foundation will host a reception honoring the district’s 11 National Merit Semifinalists, nine National Hispanic Scholars and two National Achievement Scholars from 6-7 p.m. Oct. 29 in the lobby of the GCISD Administration Building. Following the reception, these students will also be recognized by the Board of Trustees during the October meeting. Information: 817-251-5480.

GCISD Board of Trustees meeting
The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Board of Trustees will meet for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Oct. 29 at the GCISD Administration Building, 3051 Ira E. Woods Ave. in Grapevine. Open session begins at 7 p.m. Information: 817-251-5503.

TES Dad’s Club hosts Halloween skate party
The Timberline Elementary Dad’s Club will host its annual Halloween skate party from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at Skatetown in Grapevine. All TES students and their families are invited to attend and are encouraged to wear costumes. Admission is free to TES students. Information: Beth Harwell, 817-329-4575 or bbharwell@msn.com.

GHS vs. Carroll to be televised, games rescheduled
The Varsity football game between Grapevine High and Carroll High has been moved to Nov. 1 to accommodate a televised broadcast of the game by Fox Sports Network. As a result, the JV and Freshmen football games that week have been moved to Oct. 31. The JV teams will take on Carroll at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Dragon Stadium; the Freshmen teams will play at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Mustang-Panther Stadium. The Varsity game on Thursday will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Mustang-Panther Stadium. Information: GCISD Athletics, 817-251-5641.

O.C. Taylor participating in diabetes walk
Families, faculty and friends of O.C. Taylor Elementary are invited to participate in a School Walk for Diabetes on Nov. 1 at Colleyville City Park. Registration begins at 5:15 p.m., with the 1-mile walk beginning at 6 p.m. Cost is $10 and all fees and proceeds will benefit the American Diabetic Association School Walk for Diabetes. Money raised will be used to support programs aimed at curing and preventing diabetes, and improving the lives of those affected by diabetes. Last year, the O.C. Taylor community raised more than $6,500 and the school was awarded the Fall Walk Championship for their efforts. The campus goal this year is $10,000. Information: 817-305-4870.

GCISD College Night
GCISD will host College Night for students and parents of Colleyville Heritage and Grapevine high schools from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov 6 at CHHS. More than 100 representatives from colleges around the nation are expected to be on hand to discuss their campuses and answer questions. Financial aid workshops also will be conducted during the evening. For more information, see your high school counselor.

Final GHS Corral planned
Corral, a PTSA-sponsored party after home football games for Grapevine High School students, will host its final gathering of the season on Nov. 9 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. 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 meetings and activities
Heritage Middle -- General meeting 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13, Student Activity Center.

Awards and Announcements

PTA Reflections contest deadline extended
The deadline to submit entries for the 2007-2008 Reflections Arts Program has been extended to 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. 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.

HMS sponsoring 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.

O.C. Taylor collecting holiday gifts for U.S. Marines
O.C. Taylor Elementary has launched its "Operation Santa" drive to collect items for holiday care packages that will be sent to Marines serving our country away from home. The care packages will be shared by 190 Marines and should include items such as board games, popular music CDs and DVDs, packaged (non-perishable) food items such as cookies and nuts, magazines, hand and/or foot warmers, and hand-written cards and notes. Donation boxes are located in the front lobby of the schoo and items are being collected through Nov. 9. Tax-deductible donations are also being accepted in the front office. Checks should be made payable to the Marine Corps Family Foundation. Information: 817-305-4870.

GMS students adopt soldiers
Students in Grapevine Middle's Teen Leadership classes have adopted two platoons of soldiers who are currently deployed in Iraq. Students are collecting items such as toothpaste, shampoo, canned food and DVDs to send, and are encouraged to write notes or cards to include in the care packages. Donations are being accepted in the GMS front office. The school is also accepting donations of used cell phones or ink jet cartridges, which will be recycled and the money used to defray costs of shipping the care packages. For a list of suggested care package items, visit http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/new/pdf/care.pdf.

In addition, the GMS Student Council is making quilts that will be sent to military hospitals for wounded soldiers. All GMS students will participate in this endeavor by creating a quilt square, and donations of cotton or muslin fabric, thread and quilt batting are appreciated. Information: 817-251-5660. Pictured are GMS teacher Luonna Adkins, Victoria Burnett and Carley Merckling preparing care packages for U.S. troops. The students are members of the GMS Teen Leadership class.
Pictured are GMS teacher Luonna Adkins, Victoria Burnett and Carley Merckling preparing care packages for U.S. troops. The students are members of the GMS Teen Leadership class.

GHS Band ends season on 'high note'
The Grapevine High Mustang Band earned "First Division" and Superior ratings this past weekend during the regional UIL Marching Band contest at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton. The band performed this year's show entitled "Aspen," an adaptation of Ron Nelson's "Aspen Jubilee" that was arranged by Aaron Guidry for the GHS band.