February Highlights Grapevine – Colleyville ISD

District Highlights Those interested in having their names on the ballot for the May 12 GCISD Board of Trustees election have through March 5 to file the elections paperwork. GCISD voters will have an opportunity to vote for Board members to serve in Places 1 and 2 during early voting April 30 – May 8 and on Election Day, May 12. Four GCISD patrons have filed – Becky St. John, incumbent, and Gary Harrison-Ducros have filed for Place 2; Kimberley Barber David and Julia Guzman-Henderson have filed for Place 1. For more information, please call March 5 last day to file for May Board election

District Highlights In response to parent feedback and the desire to ensure that all families are well informed about this initiative, district leaders have adjusted the implementation schedules for the new middle school course structure. The move to College Readiness courses will go into effect for the school year and will begin in sixth and seventh grades, with phase-in to eighth grade in the following year. Timeline adjusted for implementation of middle school College Readiness courses

District Highlights In 1962 the Grapevine and Colleyville school districts consolidated to form Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District. A 50 th anniversary celebration is set for April 12 to celebrate this event and all past and present students, employees, superintendents, board members and community members are invited to attend. The program will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the GCISD Administration building. At 5:30, the celebration will move inside for a reception sponsored by the Grapevine-Colleyville Education Foundation. GCISD planning 50 th anniversary celebration

District Highlights Four GCISD schools were recognized for being named to the National Center for Educational Achievement’s 2011 List of Higher Performing Schools. NCEA recognizes schools that consistently have more success in preparing students for college and careers as compared to schools nationwide that serve similar students populations. GCISD schools included in the list are: O. C. Taylor Elementary, writing; Timberline Elementary, math and reading; Colleyville Middle, social studies; and, Colleyville Heritage High, science Four schools selected as “Higher Performing”

District Highlights All 13 GCISD National Merit Semifinalists have advanced to finalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. Of the 13 finalists, ten attend Colleyville Heritage High School and three attend Grapevine High School. The National Merit Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. All National Merit semifinalists advance to finalist standing

District Highlights Marissa Casamassima, a junior at Colleyville Heritage High School, has been selected to represent Texas as a National Youth Delegate to the 2012 Washington Youth Summit on the Environment at George Mason University. She is one of only 250 students from all over the country honored with the opportunity for an intensive study of leadership in environmental science and conservation. CHHS student selected for summer leadership program

District Highlights New nutrition guidelines focus on healthy food choices for students The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has released new guidelines for school nutrition standards that provide for healthier food options. The guidelines focus on increasing fruits and vegetables, whole grain-rich foods and fat-free or low- fat milk varieties; limiting calories; and reducing saturated fat, trans fats and sodium. School districts are encouraged to implement the new guidelines as soon as possible, something that will be less of a challenge for GCISD since many of the standards are already part of the menu.