DISTRICT UPDATES

G-PISD Parents/Guardians,

Good afternoon and thank you for your continued support of our school district. Please review the following information:

Online Registration NOW OPEN for Returning G-PISD Students!

We encourage all parents/guardians of returning G-PISD students to complete registration paperwork online that is NOW AVAILABLE via Skyward Family Access! The system will allow you to make a commitment for a learning option during the first 9 weeks of school (whether Virtual (Online) Academy or Face-to-Face Instruction), in addition to verifying student information/emergency contacts, accessing the student handbook(s) and code of conduct, and completing all other necessary paperwork so that your student is ready for school this year. It is vital that our parents complete registration as soon as you can, as this information will be used to finalize campus planning in the new year and confirm that your student is enrolled in G-PISD for the new year. For more information, and to register today, please visit www.g-pisd.org/skyward.(If you would like to register a student who is NEW to G-PISD, for example a first-time Pre-K or Kindergarten student (or new as a result of moving to the area), please visit www.g-pisd.org/registration.)

Virtual Town Hall Tonight! – Tuesday, July 28th @ 6 p.m.

This evening, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Cavazos will provide more information about the new school year via a Virtual Town Hall for G-P Parents. She will address key areas of the Instructional Framework for Parents (released on Friday, July 24^th), and answer questions that have been received from parents. Some questions will also be addressed as they arise in the comment feed on Facebook Live. To view and participate in the town hall, please visit www.facebook.com/gpisdwildcats/ beginning at 6 p.m. (If you cannot view at that time, the video will be saved on our Facebook page to view at a later time.)

Food Bank Distribution for G-P Families - Wednesday, July 29th @ 5 p.m.

The Coastal Bend Food Bank will set up a drive-thru food distribution for the communities of Gregory and Portland on Wednesday, July 29th, beginning at 5 p.m. in the parking lot of Ray Akins Wildcat Stadium. The entrance location will be near the Stadium Home Gate using the right-turn lane on Wildcat Drive (coming from the direction of the Portland H-E-B toward the stadium). Food packages will be placed in the trunk or back hatch of vehicles (please note a change to procedure: no packages will be placed on vehicle seats – only the back hatch/trunks will be filled, so please be sure to come with an empty trunk or hatch). Please wear face masks while waiting in the distribution line. All are asked to remain inside their vehicles at all times. We want to thank our partners including the Coastal Bend Food Bank, the City of Portland Police Department, and volunteers from Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, all of whom are making this opportunity possible for our families. Please select a link to view the event flyer: ENGLISH | SPANISH

Thank you for your continued support of our school district!

With appreciation,

G-PISD Administration

Good evening G-PISD Parents & Guardians,

G-PISD Instructional Framework for 2020-2021 - ENGLISH | SPANISH

Invitation to a Virtual Town Hall Gathering for G-P Parents - ENGLISH | SPANISH

G-PISD Parents/Guardians,

*EXTRA-CURRICULAR CLARIFICATION*

Dear G-PISD Family,

This letter is being provided to address the county order released today, UIL guidelines for 5A districts, and the local decision-making process.

Our highest priority as educators has always been, and will always be, to serve children and give them a safe environment. At this time more than ever, safety must be paramount to all other needs.

While UIL guidelines for 5A districts like G-PISD have adjusted the start date for practice to September 8, 2020, those guidelines and the San Patricio County Health Order do allow for training prior to that start date. Our district coaches have conducted strength and conditioning for seven weeks this summer with strict safety protocols to this point, which is allowable per UIL guidelines.

We want to ensure our students, and the families they go home to, are free from illness and out of the hospital. At the same time, we want to ensure our students have the opportunity to maintain their physical strength leading into the athletic season. Because our coaches and students have strictly adhered to safety and sanitation guidelines and procedures this summer, voluntary participation in strength and conditioning will be allowed to continue as scheduled through September 7th. No new camps, practices, etc., or any other extra-curricular activities requiring in-person attendance, will be permitted to begin until September 8th.

When in-person participation for all extra-curricular activities resumes, G-PISD will utilize the safety processes and procedures used by our strength and conditioning staff. This includes temperature and symptom checks for students participating in activities, and abiding by other UIL requirements and guidelines as required by the county order.

Right now we have a social and moral obligation to make decisions with our students' health in mind before all else, so we will do everything we can to protect and care for them. This may mean, at times, hitting “pause” for a moment on some of the things they enjoy. We want to see them learning and performing as much as everyone, but we cannot let that desire overshadow the need to protect them. As such, please keep in mind that participation in the strength and conditioning program is voluntary.

Thank you for your continued support of G-PISD! Please stay safe, stay strong, and stay together. We are Wildcat Pride!

Respectfully,

Michelle Cavazos, PhD

Superintendent

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Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and the G-P Community,

Today, all public school districts in San Patricio County received the Communicable Disease Control Order issued by our local health authority. This order includes a restriction that districts may not conduct face-to-face, in-person instruction on school campuses until Tuesday, September 8^th. While students may not be attending school in person until the date determined by their school district (on or after September 8^th), some districts may choose to begin the school year earlier through virtual learning opportunities if possible.

Additionally, the order outlines how school districts will be able to re-open for face-to-face instruction as early as September 8^th via a phased approach to slowly bring their students on campus (with 25% of students attending in person during Phase 1, then 50% in Phase 2, 75% in Phase 3, and 100% in Phase 4). Per the order, each phase is to last for two weeks.

What does this mean for Gregory-Portland ISD?

• Per the letter released on July 17^th, G-PISD will continue as planned to begin the school year with virtual (online) instruction for all students on August 13th.
• Beginning September 8^th, G-PISD will begin the face-to-face instructional option on campuses in phases as described above. Until students whose families choose face-to-face learning are phased in, they will continue learning online. (Meanwhile, students whose families choose the virtual learning option will continue learning online.)
• We will identify which grade levels and/or student groups will be permitted during each phase of face-to-face instruction in compliance with the county order. This information will be communicated to parents after the online enrollment process is substantially complete, as we must have student enrollment data to make decisions that comply with the percentages for each phase at every campus. Online registration will begin on or before July 30^th.
• All extracurricular activities/practices requiring in-person participation will be suspended beginning Monday, August 3^rd, and will not resume until September 8^th in alignment with the date that face-to-face instruction will be offered as outlined in the order. This includes band, choir, athletics, etc.
• When in-person participation resumes, G-PISD will perform a temperature and symptom check for students participating in any extracurricular activities, and abide by UIL requirements and guidelines as required by the order.

Please keep in mind that we are experiencing a fluid, ever-changing situation not only for all school districts but also for our county authorities and other officials. We understand that as our public health circumstances may change, our schools may be affected. As we move forward, please be assured that I am working in partnership with fellow Superintendents across the county. We are collectively remaining in frequent communication with San Patricio County Judge David Krebs and Public Health Authority Dr. James Mobley to address the needs of our students, staff, parents, and families. Dr. Mobley is tracking data and providing health status updates to Superintendents. We understand from the county that this information will be assessed to determine whether changes may become necessary that would affect school instruction or activities.

As always, we will continue to keep you informed. We want to return to face-to-face instruction as soon as we are able to do so, and to the degree that it is as safe as possible for all students, staff, families, and for our greater community. Please click the link below to view a copy of the order from San Patricio County, and thank you for your continued patience, understanding, and support of our school district.

Respectfully,

Dr. Michelle Cavazos, G-PISD Superintendent

CLICK HERE to view the San Patricio County order.

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Please click the link(s) provided below to view a letter Dr. Michelle Cavazos, G-PISD Superintendent, and Dr. Paul Clore, Retiring Superintendent, regarding the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.

ENGLISH - G-PISD to begin School Year with Virtual (Online) Academy, delayed In-School Instruction

ESPAÑOL - G-PISD comenzará el año escolar con la Academia Virtual (en línea), instrucción retrasada en la escuela

Thank you,

G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Please click the link(s) provided below to view a letter from Dr. Paul Clore, Superintendent of Gregory-Portland ISD, and Dr. Michelle Cavazos, Lone Finalist for G-PISD Superintendent, regarding the learning options and planning taking place for the 2020-21 school year as well as an important parent survey to be completed for each G-PISD student before 4 p.m. on Monday, July 20th:

ENGLISH - Letter to G-PISD Parents | Learning Options, 2020-21

ESPAÑOL - Carta a los padres de G-PISD | Opciones de aprendizaje, 2020-21

Thank you,

G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Just a reminder: G-PISD families can apply for P-EBT meal program benefits through Tuesday, June 30th. Please review the information below to find out how your family can receive support from this opportunity provided by state agencies.

Application Available until June 30th for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)

Gregory-Portland ISD has been supported by the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for a few years following Hurricane Harvey (the benefit that has provided free breakfast and lunch meals for all G-PISD students). As a result of our existing status under this provision, G-PISD students and their families ALSO automatically qualify for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT). Families who are already served by the SNAP program would have received the $5.80 per child benefit for 50 days (totaling $285.00) loaded onto their existing Lone Star Card. Any G-PISD family who has NOT already received this benefit can visit the following link and complete an online application during the month of June 2020. For these families who do not have SNAP, benefits will be received by mail on a P-EBT card. This service is provided via the Texas Dept. of Agriculture (TDA) and Texas Health & Human Services (HHS), as released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Please click the appropriate link below to apply, and/or learn more about the program:

APPLY TODAY (Select one for instructions): ENGLISH | SPANISH

For more information, please visit the following website: hhs.texas.gov/PEBT

Thank you,
G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians, Staff & Community

The G-PISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved an amended District Calendar for the 2020-21 school year, with a 7-0 vote at their regular meeting on Monday, June 15th. Changes to the calendar were necessary due to requirements from the Texas Education Agency that school districts continue to meet the required number of instructional minutes for the school year (75,600), while also allowing for "make-up" days in which students could attend school to make up time missed if a temporary closure becomes necessary due to COVID-19 (or as a result of inclement weather or other unforeseen situations). TEA provided options to address these needs, including the choice for districts to move to a full-year school schedule.

G-PISD administrators recommended that the previously-established calendar days be modified as little as possible so that family plans are not affected by significant shifts, including additional instructional days/weeks, in the amended calendar. In lieu of moving to a year-round school calendar, G-PISD is meeting requirements by adding 30 minutes to the regular school day and identifying make-up days within the existing holiday and staff development schedule. These make-up days may become instructional days (with students attending school) in the event that G-PISD school(s) must temporarily close. The updated calendar has been posted, and can be viewed at www.g-pisd.org/calendar

Thank you,

G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians & Community

The Coastal Bend Food Bank will set up a drive-thru food distribution for the communities of Gregory and Portland on Tuesday, June 16th, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Ray Akins Wildcat Stadium. The entrance location will be near the Stadium Home Gate using the right-turn lane on Wildcat Drive (coming from the direction of the Portland H-E-B toward the stadium). Social distancing will be practiced, with food packages being placed in the trunk or back hatch of vehicles (and/or interior seat if requested). All are asked to remain inside their vehicles at all times. Distribution will continue until all food packages have been provided to families.

We want to thank our partners including the Coastal Bend Food Bank, the City of Portland Police Department, and volunteers from Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, all of whom are making this opportunity possible for our families. Please CLICK HERE to review a flyer with more details.

Thank you,

G-PISD Administration

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Thank you, again, for your engagement and support.

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Good evening, and thank you for your support of our school district. Please review the following, important information:

Returning Technology Items with Power Cable/Cord(s)

Thank you to our families who have already returned materials, equipment, and technology items that are property of the school district via campus return/drop-off opportunities recently held at every G-PISD school. We understand there are still several technology devices (Chromebooks and MiFi hotspots) that need to be returned, as well as some devices that were returned without the power cable/cord(s). We ask that any students who are no longer in need of these devices for instruction this school year (who are not enrolled in Summer School) please return them, and also return any power cables/cords you may still have at home. Please contact your school campus by calling the appropriate phone number below during summer work hours (Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), and set up a time to stop by and drop off this equipment before Thursday, June 11th:

• G-P High School - 777-4251
• G-P Middle School - 777-4042
• East Cliff Elementary - 777-4255
• S.F. Austin Elementary - 777-4252
• T.M. Clark Elementary - 777-4045
• W.C. Andrews Elementary - 777-4048

Application Available for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)

Gregory-Portland ISD has been supported by the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for a few years following Hurricane Harvey (the benefit that has provided free breakfast and lunch meals for all G-PISD students). As a result of our existing status under this provision, G-PISD students and their families ALSO automatically qualify for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT). Families who are already served by the SNAP program would have received the $5.80 per child benefit for 50 days (totaling $285.00) loaded onto their existing Lone Star Card. Any G-PISD family who has NOT already received this benefit can visit the following link and complete an online application during the month of June 2020 (beginning next week). For these families who do not have SNAP, benefits will be received by mail on a P-EBT card. This service is provided via the Texas Dept. of Agriculture (TDA) and Texas Health & Human Services (HHS), as released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Today, G-PISD received the link for families to apply for P-EBT benefits online. Please click the appropriate link below to apply, and/or learn more about the program:

APPLY TODAY (Select one for instructions): ENGLISH | SPANISH

For more information, please visit the following website: hhs.texas.gov/PEBT

Thank you, again, for your engagement and support this school year.

With appreciation,
G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Good afternoon, and thank you for your support of our school district. Please review the following, important information:

Free Meals for Children 18 & Younger – Available through June 26, 2020

G-PISD will continue serving meals for children ages 18 and younger for the next few weeks, with the last day of this free service being provided on Friday, June 26, 2020. Families are able to receive breakfast and lunch for every day of the week (all seven (7) days) via no-contact, curbside pick up on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, for the remainder of this service. Pick up locations are T.M. Clark and S.F. Austin Elementary Schools, and new participants may be required to show ID for students in one of several ways. For more information, and to learn how to provide student ID if needed, please visit: www.g-pisd.org/freemeals

G-PISD Families Qualify for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)

Gregory-Portland ISD has been supported by the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for a few years following Hurricane Harvey (the benefit that has provided free breakfast and lunch meals for all G-PISD students). As a result of our existing status under this provision, G-PISD students and their families ALSO automatically qualify for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT). Families who are already served by the SNAP program would have received the $5.80 per child benefit for 50 days (totaling $285.00) loaded onto their existing Lone Star Card. Any G-PISD family who has NOT already received this benefit can visit the following link and complete an online application during the month of June 2020 (beginning next week). For these families who do not have SNAP, benefits will be received by mail on a P-EBT card. This service is provided via the Texas Dept. of Agriculture (TDA) and Texas Health & Human Services (HHS), as released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Next week, we will provide a District Update with a link to apply for P-EBT benefits after it is received from the state. For more information, please visit the following website: hhs.texas.gov/PEBT

Outdoor Graduation Ceremony - Event Start Time @ 8 p.m.

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Good evening, and thank you for your support of our school district. Please review the following, important information:

Returning District/School Items & Picking Up Student Belongings

This Wednesday, May 27th, G-P High School, G-P Middle School, W.C. Andrews, and East Cliff students/families will return all materials and equipment that are property of the district, as well as pick up some personal item(s) belonging to students. This Thursday, May 28th, T.M. Clark and S.F. Austin families will provide a second opportunity for return/pick-up. On Wednesday, G-P Middle School will serve as a drop-off location for any family needing to return an elementary school student's Technology device(s) and are unable to drop off at the appropriate elementary campus. Please see below with dates/information, as well as the notice regarding the return of District-owned technology items:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27th:

• G-P High School (inc. WLC/DAEP) - Please CLICK HERE to view the return schedule/procedure for G-PHS.

• G-P Middle School - Please arrive between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27th, and pull up in your vehicle at the front, circle drive near the entrance of the school. In addition to items being returned by G-PMS students, some teachers are using this opportunity to provide purchased t-shirts, yearbooks, art work, reimbursements (Cat's Club, intramurals, 8th grade NJHS fees), and other items to students. Any family who has an elementary student and is unable to return to the appropriate campus (per schedule listed below) can provide technology item(s) at G-PMS during this time.

• W.C. Andrews Elementary - Return of Technology items, as well as all other items for return/pick-up, will be conducted at the campus for all WCA students on Wednesday. Please CLICK HERE to view the return schedule/procedure for WCA.

• East Cliff Elementary - A second opportunity to drop-off Technology items, library books, etc., will be conducted at the campus for this Wednesday. Please CLICK HERE to view the return schedule/procedure for East Cliff.

THURSDAY, MAY 28th:

• T.M. Clark Elementary - A second opportunity to drop-off Technology items, library books, etc., will be provided this Thursday. Please CLICK HERE to view the return schedule/procedure for TMC.

• S.F. Austin Elementary - A second opportunity to drop-off Technology items, library books, etc., will be provided this Thursday. Please CLICK HERE to view the return schedule/procedure for SFA.
  

RETURNING DISTRICT-OWNED TECHNOLOGY ITEMS: Students who have (1) turned in all assignments as of May 27th, and (2) will not need to attend summer school, can return District-owned technology devices through this process. There will also be a second opportunity to return Technology items for students who still need devices for further instructional needs after May 27th. If you need to keep your device(s) longer than May 27th because you will attend summer school, you will receive prior notice from a Campus or District employee. If you would like to request to keep your item(s) for other school purposes/needs, please email your School Principal. Email addresses can be found at www.g-pisd.org/contactus.

To view the schedule and procedures planned at the current time, please visit: www.g-pisd.org/returnschedule

Thank you, again, for your engagement and support this school year.

With appreciation,
G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-P High School Graduates/Families & Community

Good afternoon, and thank you for your support of our school district during this unprecedented time. Please review the following, important information:

Graduation Plans for the G-PHS Class of 2020

A plan has been finalized to provide a memorable celebration for the G-P High School Class of 2020 via a dual approach to graduation, with an outdoor ceremony as well as a virtual option so that all families (1) can decide how they would prefer to celebrate with consideration for the health and safety of their family/household; and (2) may understand that a virtual production (in addition to an outdoor ceremony) is being developed to serve as both a means to celebrate and a contingency plan in the event that inclement weather, governmental agencies, or changes in health conditions locally closer to the date of an outdoor ceremony may result in the unforeseen cancellation of the outdoor event. Here are the options, and some initial information for families of graduating seniors:

• Outdoor Ceremony @ Ray Akins Wildcat Stadium – Friday, June 12, 2020 at 7 p.m. – Families who plan to attend this outdoor event MUST RSVP in advance to enter the ceremony. There will be only reserved seating, with a limit of no more than three (3) individual guests per household in addition to the graduate. (The guest limit was determined based on TEA requirements for seating, which includes six feet of distance between groups of household guests.) In the event that a significant number of graduates/families opt to be involved in only the virtual ceremony, it is possible that an additional guest may be granted per household at a later time. If that occurs, families will be notified on or before Wednesday, June 10th. If you are the primary guardian of a graduating senior: Please CLICK HERE to RSVP and let us know if you plan to attend, or NOT attend, the outdoor ceremony by Tuesday, May 26th.

• Virtual Ceremony Production beginning this Week – A professional video company will be recording presentations and scheduling to film as needed to develop a ceremony packaged as a video production. An official release date for the virtual ceremony will be provided on or before Wednesday, June 10th, so that families who would not plan to attend the outdoor ceremony can gather in their home(s) or celebrate virtually as desired on or after the date this ceremony is provided to all graduates. Certainly, families who attended the outdoor ceremony can also plan to do the same. The virtual ceremony will be posted and available to the public.

• Health Screenings Required for Entry – For both types of ceremonies: All participants (including graduates and their guests, presenters, staff, etc.) must complete a health screening upon arrival covering a variety of symptoms including temperature/fever and declaration of whether an individual has “known close contact (in the past 14 days) with a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19.” Per TEA requirements, any individual who does not pass the screening may not enter/participate.

Additional requirements must be met, and will be communicated as needed to graduates and families as well as presenters and staff/volunteers. Thank you for your patience and support as we worked to finalize these plans for our families. It is our intention to keep everyone as safe as possible, while considering the needs and concerns of all graduates and their families in this unique situation. We join our families in the desire to recognize our graduates with the degree of honor, tradition, and celebration due to them for their outstanding achievements.

We look forward to serving our graduates, and all of our families, as this school year ends and new learning opportunities begin for all of our G-PISD students.

With appreciation,

G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Good afternoon, and thank you for your support of our school district during this time. Please review the following, important information:

Full Day Pre-K Registration for Eligible Students (2020-21)

G-PISD is now enrolling eligible students for FREE Full-Day Pre-Kindergarten to begin in the Fall of 2020 (in compliance with state law passed in 2019 under House Bill 3). A child is eligible to enroll for the coming school year if he/she is at least four (4) years of age by September 1, 2020, and meets at least one (1) of the eligibility requirements established by the State of Texas. To learn more about these requirements, and register if your child is eligible, please visit www.g-pisd.org/pre-k.

New Student Registration for Next School Year (2020-21)

G-PISD released an online form to begin the registration process for any *NEW* student who plans to attend our school district beginning in the Fall of 2020. (Please Note: This process is not intended for returning students who are already enrolled with the school district, but rather for those who are not currently attending G-PISD and plan to begin attending in the Fall. Our returning students will have the opportunity to complete online registration via Skyward Family Access closer to the beginning of the school year, as in years past.) To access the online form for a student who is not currently enrolled with G-PISD, but plans to attend this Fall, is available at www.g-pisd.org/registration.

Summer School Registration (6th - 12th Grades) for Current School Year (2019-20)

Online registration is now open for G-P High School and G-P Middle School students to attend Summer School this year. For more information about summer school, and to register and pay for classes online, please visit www.g-pisd.org/summerschool.

Campus & Program Return / Pick-Up Schedules for This Week

This week, campuses and programs will continue to provide opportunities for students/families to return materials and equipment that are property of the school district (and pick up some item(s) belonging to the student(s)) The full schedule for the month of May (for all campuses) as well as important procedures for returning/picking up items can be found at: www.g-pisd.org/returnschedule

As always, we ask that you please continue to connect with your student's teachers, and contact us with any needs or concerns as we move toward the end of this school year. You can find information to reach teachers, staff, and administrators at www.g-pisd.org/contactus.

We are extremely proud of all our students, parents, teachers, and staff. Thank you for doing your part to keep others safe, and finish the school year #GPstrong.

With appreciation,

G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Thank you for your continued support this week, and in the weeks to come. Please take a moment to kindly review the following information:

Senior Yard Sign Distribution

Gregory-Portland ISD designed a yard sign for every senior, and those signs were delivered to the district today. District leaders, administrators, teachers, and staff will begin making deliveries to place them in yards on Tuesday, May 12th, beginning at 3 p.m. Delivery routes have been planned based on the student's physical address on file with G-P High School. If you would like to confirm this address (as the parent/guardian of a G-PHS senior), please email Mrs. Casey Dean (cdean@g-pisd.org) and provide the exact address in writing via email. The deadline to confirm your senior's physical address is noon on Monday, May 11th. Special thanks to Gulf Coast Growth Ventures for covering the cost of these signs.

Graduation Update

G-PISD administrators are actively planning for graduation, with four possible types of ceremonies under review now that the necessary guidance from Governor Abbott and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has been received as of late Tuesday, May 5th. Careful planning for every possible scenario is necessary for the decision-making process, as our school district (and others across the state) must address whether all of the requirements and restrictions can be met for each type of ceremony. After this planning process is completed, we will be able to determine which type of event will best serve our graduates and families while also maintaining safety as the highest priority for everyone. We will continue to keep you informed, and look forward to confirming the plan for graduation as soon as possible.

As always, we ask that you please continue to connect with your student's teachers, and contact us with any needs or concerns. You can find information to reach teachers, staff, and administrators at www.g-pisd.org/contactus. Thank you for continued patience, support, and engagement as we continue with e-learning at home.

With appreciation,

G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Thank you for your continued support as we continue e-learning at home. Please take a moment to kindly review the following information:

Helping at Home - e-Learning for Struggling Families, Students

We thank our families who have reached out to us to share their current struggles and concerns, and want to remind all who may not have done so, to please contact us (www.g-pisd.org/contactus). We will work with you to help your student(s) as much as possible throughout the final weeks of this school year, and we are here to help. We also ask that you keep in mind we must abide by legal directives that G-PISD and all school districts are receiving from the state-operated Texas Education Agency (TEA), and it is required that we continue with e-learning at home and also continue to record grades for all of our students. We have tried to do so thoughtfully, and put systems in place designed to help all of our families, especially those who may be struggling during this time, but we do need you to communicate those needs with us. Additionally, our teachers have been trying to minimize stress at home by limiting the number of assignments scheduled during the week and responding to family needs. We highly encourage you to reach out to teachers if you are in need of support in any way.

Please see the information below regarding some important reminders for the weeks to come as we look ahead to the completion of this school year. Please also keep in mind that if you are struggling, these systems are designed to support you and your student. We remain with you through this crisis, even if from a distance, and we thank you for your partnership as we continue forward together.

Grade-Level Retention & Promotion for G-PISD Students

During the next few weeks, campuses will be identifying students for promotion to the next grade level, or retention in the current grade level based on grades throughout the school year. Any decision to retain a student in his/her current grade level will be reviewed by a campus-based committee. Final determination will be based on the full evidence of student work throughout the entire school year, and whether the student will be able to be successful in the next grade level even with remediation and additional supports. As always, our intention is to ensure that all students are successful and appropriately set up for success at the beginning of each school year.

Possible Grading Scenarios reveal how Grading Guidelines are Helping Students

We understand there are varying challenges for families at home, and the District's temporary Grading Guidelines for the 4th Nine Weeks of this school year were established to support students and parents who we know may be struggling. The system is designed to reward student efforts for simply (1) remaining in communication with his/her teacher(s), and (2) showing a "valid attempt" to complete assignments and continue learning at home. You can view the various ways that we are supporting all families in this unique situation, and rewarding a "valid attempt" when grading, by reviewing our Grading Scenarios online. Please keep in mind that students can only benefit from the system by completing their assignments.

Missing or Incomplete Assignments - Due by Friday, May 15, 2020

Please check your student's progress reports and recorded grades in the gradebook via Skyward Family Access and help them plan to turn in any missing or incomplete grades (noted with an " i " in Skyward). The deadline to turn in all assignments is Friday, May 15, 2020, and after that date any missing or incomplete (" i ") grades can be converted to a failing grade. We do not want any student to miss the opportunity to benefit from the temporary grading system in place, and it is designed to help them during this time ... but they must complete their assignments to receive that support. Please CLICK HERE to view the Skyward Parent Video showing you how to view your student's recorded grades when you log in to Skyward.

As always, we ask that you please continue to connect with your student's teachers, and contact us with any needs or concerns. You can find information to reach teachers, staff, and administrators at www.g-pisd.org/contactus. Thank you for continued patience, support, and engagement as we continue with e-learning at home.

With appreciation,

G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians, Staff & Community

Thank you for your continued support as we continue e-learning at home. Please take a moment to kindly review the following information:

Virtual Parent Education Meeting - "Mental Health during Isolation"

The month of May is Mental Health Awareness month, and G-PISD is scheduling a virtual meeting for parents about this important topic via Zoom link. We encourage parents to consider joining us online on Thursday, May 14, at 2 p.m., to hear from two presenters: Courtney Sanchez, MBA/MHA, who serves as the Director of Behavioral Health Outreach with Bayview Behavioral Hospital, and Vanessa Fawn, LPC, with Bayview Behavioral Hospital. Please CLICK HERE to access the virtual meeting beginning at 2 p.m. on May 14, 2020.

TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Thank you for your support as we continue e-learning at home. Please take a moment to kindly review the following information:

Progress Reports Released – 6th Week of this Grading Period

Official Progress Reports for the 6th Week of the 4th Nine Weeks grading period have been released in Skyward Family Access. Please login to Skyward today to review your student's report. Weekly progress reports will also be posted each Friday for the remainder of this school year.

Missing / Incomplete Assignments - Due by May 15, 2020

As a reminder, numeric grades are being recorded in the gradebook via Skyward Family Access and any missing or incomplete grades (noted with an " i " in Skyward) will be converted to a failing grade if not completed and turned in to the teacher(s) by May 15, 2020. Please click the following links to view the Skyward Parent Video about how to check your student's gradebook for any missing assignments, and the temporary Grading Guidelines for the 4th Nine Weeks of this school year. Select to view: Skyward Parent Video | Grading Guidelines

Senior Class Group Photos

Herndon Panoramics photographed the senior group photo of the G-P High School Class of 2020. Parents who have not already ordered a print copy of this senior photo, and would like to do so, can order online (the company will mail prints to your home address): https://herndonpanoramics.com/product/gregory-portland-high-school/

As always, we ask that you please connect with your student's teachers, and contact us with any needs or concerns. You can find information to reach teachers, staff, and administrators at www.g-pisd.org/contactus. Thank you for your patience, support, and engagement as we continue with e-learning at home, and work to serve all students and families in alternative ways this school year.

With appreciation,

G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians, Staff & Community

Thank you for your continued support as we continue e-learning at home. Please take a moment to kindly review the following information:

Missing / Incomplete Assignments - Due by May 15, 2020

As a reminder, G-PISD's temporary Grading Guidelines for the 4th Nine Weeks of this school year are designed to support students who (1) remain in communication with his/her teacher(s), and (2) show a "valid attempt" to complete assignments and continue learning at home. As a result, numeric grades are being recorded in the gradebook via Skyward Family Access and any missing or incomplete grades (noted with an " i " in Skyward) will be converted to a failing grade if not completed and turned in to the teacher(s) by May 15, 2020.

SKYWARD VIDEO for PARENTS: Parents can login to Skyward Family Access to view your student's recorded grades, as well as see which assignments show an " i " for "Incomplete." We have created a short video to show you where to look in Skyward to find all recorded grades, as well as view which grades have an " i " and need to be completed by May 15th. CLICK HERE VIEW THIS VIDEO.

Progress Reports – Tuesday, April 29th & Every Friday each Week

G-PISD schools will be releasing the official Progress Reports for the 6th Week of the 4th Nine Weeks on Tuesday, April 29th. Parents will receive notification from each campus as these progress reports are posted in Skyward. Additionally, G-PISD will be posting a weekly progress report for every student each Friday in Skyward to help parents more frequently view student grades. (Please be sure to watch the Skyward Video for Parents to find out how to subscribe for automatic emails in Skyward based on settings that you choose, including information you may want to receive about your student’s grades.)

G-PISD Tech Support for Students/Parents

There are now two ways for parents to receive support for technology needs at home. You can visit www.g-pisd.org/techsupport to complete an online form and receive support, or call 361-777-1089. Please understand there is usually a short wait time to receive support, as we are responding to requests from across the district. We thank you for your patience and encourage you to reach out to us with any needs.

As always, we ask that you please continue to connect with your student's teachers, and contact us with any needs or concerns. You can find information to reach teachers, staff, and administrators at www.g-pisd.org/contactus. Thank you for continued patience, support, and engagement as we continue with e-learning at home, and work to serve all students and families in alternative ways this school year.

With appreciation,

G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians, Staff & Community

Thank you for your continued support as we continue e-learning at home under modified operations. Please take a moment to kindly review the following information:

Graduation Plans

Our thoughts remain with all of our students and parents at home, and certainly with seniors scheduled to graduate from G-P High School this year. As of this week, we received some information from Commissioner of Education Mike Morath, who oversees the Texas Education Agency. He confirmed that virtual graduation ceremonies are possible at this time for all Texas school districts, however we are still waiting for guidance from TEA regarding all other types of ceremonies: Specifically, whether Governor Abbott's executive order will allow for an in-person gathering of any kind to hold a graduation ceremony. This information is vital to make an informed and legal decision, and to ensure we can honor our G-PHS graduates in a way designed to keep them, their families, and all in the community safe from the spread of COVID-19.

As we await this guidance, we want to again confirm the following information first communicated in a District Update on April 8th: Currently, our first option is to have graduation take place as scheduled on May 22nd at 7:30 p.m. at American Bank Center. We also have a contingency plan to move graduation to July 10th at 7:30 p.m. at American Bank Center. In either case, please keep in mind there may be some modifications required for how any ceremony would be conducted. Guidance is needed from the state before we can determine what is allowable under law, and what the safest course of action would be for our families. G-PISD has additional contingency plans in place regarding graduation, in case neither of the two dates are possible to hold a ceremony. We will continue to communicate with you and provide a solid date for graduation as soon as we can, and we thank you for your patience as we try to make informed, thoughtful decisions for our graduates.

Senior Recognition in the G-P Community

We invite the community to follow the social media pages below, where we are releasing information and photos to celebrate each of our seniors as their parents submit content to us for distribution. Many recognitions have already been released, and your support of these graduates is appreciated. (If you are the parent of a senior, visit www.g-pisd.org/seniors to submit your graduate's information.)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gpisdwildcats/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GPISD1

G-PISD is also designing and producing a custom yard sign for every one of our graduates this year, and once produced they will be provided to the parents of these seniors for display in the front yards of their homes and/or windows of their apartment buildings. We thank Gulf Coast Growth Ventures (GCGV) for sponsoring this project and covering the cost of these signs for our families. G-PISD is also working on additional projects to recognize seniors, and we encourage you to follow our social media pages for further information in the weeks to come.

As always, we ask that you please connect with your student's teachers and contact us with any needs or concerns. You can find information to reach teachers, staff, and administrators at www.g-pisd.org/contactus. Thank you for continued patience, support, and engagement as we continue with e-learning at home, and work to serve all students and families in alternative ways this school year.

With appreciation,

G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians, Staff & Community

Thank you for your support as we continue e-learning at home under modified operations. Please take a moment to kindly review the following information:

Free Meals - Restored to Seven (7) Days/Week with Three Pick-Up Days

Gregory-Portland ISD was notified this week that the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and Texas Dept. of Agriculture will provide a reimbursement program for school districts so that weekend meals can, once again, be offered as part of the Free Meals program. Meal pick-up days are now scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday going forward, and the G-PISD Food Services team is employing a new "NO CONTACT" pick-up method for meals to promote social distancing and safety for all. Please click the link to learn more at: g-pisd.org/freemeals

Student Media Consent Notice for All Families

Gregory-Portland ISD is a public school district, and student information including photos/video can only be publicly shared with consent from parents/guardians under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). During online student registration each year, parents have the option to opt-in or opt-out for public release of student information and photos/video. We understand that, while completing schoolwork from home via e-learning, your student may be engaging in some exciting activities with other students and teachers that you may want to share with others in various ways, perhaps even via social media. However, we kindly request that you refrain from posting or sharing any screenshots, photos, videos, names, and/or content that reveals images or identifying information about students other than your own child. Thank you for your attention to this important need to protect the privacy rights of all students and families.

Graduation Plans & Senior Recognition

COVID-19 is affecting every facet of our daily lives for a temporary period of time, and all of the challenges we are facing as a community are difficult to accept. Perhaps most difficult is the time lost in school for our seniors who are soon scheduled to graduate from G-P High School. We want you to know that planning is taking place behind the scenes right now, both to honor our seniors in various ways and also to consider the best possible options for graduation in light of the circumstances that we are facing (or may face going forward). G-PISD students are scheduled to return to school Tuesday, May 5th, and as long as there are no change(s) to that timeline, we are currently planning to have graduation take place as scheduled on May 22nd at 7:30 p.m. at American Bank Center. If we are unable to return to school as scheduled, we do have a contingency plan to move graduation to July 10th at 7:30 p.m. at the American Bank Center. There are additional contingency plans in place if needed as well, and we will continue to communicate with you if/when necessary. Additionally, we ask that parents who would like their seniors to be recognized by the District in the coming weeks please complete a brief questionnaire with your student along with a photo and/or short video. All information provided will be publicly released, therefore it must be received from the parent's email address as recorded in Skyward Family Access (to confirm parent consent for public recognition). To view more about how to submit your senior's information for public recognition, please visit www.g-pisd.org/seniors

Thank you for your continued support and engagement as we continue with e-learning at home, and serving all students and families during this time.

With appreciation,

G-PISD Administration

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TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Thank you for your continued support as we continue e-learning at home. Please take a moment to kindly review the following information:

Special Education

We have two important letters intended for all families with students receiving Special Education (SPED) services, and they are provided here: Please CLICK HERE to view an important message for all families from the SPED department, and CLICK HERE to review a letter regarding 504 accommodations.

Free Meals for Children

There have been some changes to the Free Meal program, including a new schedule with less pick-up days, a transition to only weekday meals provided, and a new "no contact" method of distribution during pick-up times. Please visit the following web page to review these important changes which will all be in effect by Monday, April 6th: www.g-pisd.org/freemeals

Online Awareness & Etiquette

As we continue to focus on e-learning, please take an opportunity to help your student learn online social skills and etiquette that they can use for a lifetime. Here are a few quick tips to share with them:

1.Mute the Mic - When participating on a webinar or web conference, please keep the microphone muted when you are not speaking or asking a question. When it is time to speak, unmute for a short period of time and mute again. This helps minimize distractions for all attendees.

2.Look Behind You - Be aware of your surroundings and what is happening in the background in your video. It helps to put your back to a wall with the screen or device in front of you, so that no one can walk up in the background.

3.Speak at a Normal Volume - Sometimes children feel like they have to raise their voice to a higher level or yell when speaking when there are multiple people on the call or video conference. This is a good opportunity to teach them that technology usually works in their favor and will often pick up what they say without having to speak loudly.

4.Let Others Speak - It's important to be a little more patient than usual when participating online, as Internet service can sometimes cause slight delays and there may several participants on one call. Help students to remember to let the meeting host or leader (often the teacher) choose who answers a question first. Good practices in the classroom, like raising hands to speak, work well on video conferencing.

Thank you for your attention to this information. We are grateful for your continued patience and support as we continue e-learning at home.

With appreciation,

G-PISD Administration

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E-Learning Portal Now Available

TO: G-PISD Parents/Guardians

Beginning Monday, March 23rd, Gregory-Portland ISD will transition to modified operations across the school district. In anticipation of this change, our administrative and teaching teams have been working around the clock to plan, train, and prepare to make e-learning happen across the entire district for our students and families.

Please keep in mind that while we are working to provide academic support for students, we also fully understand that this process may be challenging for our families. We have kept your needs in mind throughout the planning process. We will work with you and offer support along the way, as you will find by reading the information available via the G-PISD E-Learning Portal.

Please take some time to carefully review all of the information provided in the E-Learning Portal.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE E-LEARNING PORTAL

Thank you,

G-PISD Administration

The shortcut link to the portal is www.g-pisd.org/e-learning