Calendar at a Glance
Thursday, February 7: 8th Grade Planning Meeting (information on GPA diploma plans for incoming high school students)
Thursday, February 9: Daddy Daughter Valentine's Dinner/Dance
Thursday, February 16: Grandparent's Day
Saturday, February 18: Discovering Grace Prep, 10 to 11:15 a.m. Do you have friends interested in Grace Prep? Invite them to attend this informational meeting! Remember, if a family enrolls as a result of your referral, you will receive a tuition credit of $250 as a “thank you” for your promotion of the school. (Other DGP dates: March 24 & April 21)
Monday, February 20: President's Day – No Classes
Thursday, February 23: Annual Family Registration Meeting at Grace Prep. Registration
packets for the 2012-2013 school year will be available for pick up at this meeting.
Thursday, March 1: Registration for the 2012/13 school year begins
March 12–16: Spring Break
GPA Today Online!
If you haven’t seen it yet, you should! The website edition of our newspaper is created by our students and filled with their journalistic efforts. Eleventh grade journalism student, Braden Offutt, wrote a movie review of “Real Steel” that was selected by the American Society of Newspaper Editors to be displayed on their national online newspaper. Congratulations, Braden! To read the movie review and the newspaper, visit www.my.hsj.org/arlington/tx/gpatoday
Tickets Now On Sale for the Elementary Daddy/Daughter Dinner and Dance
Your elementary daughter should have received her invitation last week. Dads, don’t miss this special time with your sweet daughters. You will be her hero! If Dad is not available, other escorts are welcome to attend. Tickets are on sale in the front office through Friday, February 3. They are $25 per couple and $7 for additional tickets.
Got Prom?
Are you one of those helpful people who have been storing prom decorations for us? Please email Amy Dean, or call her and let her know what you have. Thank you!
Speaking of prom, the HS girls will have a meeting at lunch on Monday, Jan. 30, and the HS boys will meet on Fri., February 10.
Cold and Flu Season Do's and Don't's
Cold and Flu Season is upon us. Here are a few tips to remember to keep your students well:
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Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
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Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
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If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
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While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
Inclement Weather School Closings
If GPA should need to close due to weather conditions, you will find that information by watching all of the local news channels or listening to KCBI. Outerwear for GPA students is recommended for this time of year. Please follow the guidelines in the Parent/Student Handbook on page 15. Also, please remember that students need to wear dress code attire under the appropriate coats, jackets or sweatshirts.
Got School Pics?
If you ordered school pictures, they are available for pick up in the front office!
Grace Preparatory Academy Annual Report
We have printed copies of GPA’s Annual Report for the 2010/2011 school year. They are available in the front office for anyone who would like to pick up a copy and see the details of the last school year. The Annual Report covers information regarding GPA’s three foundational pillars: Academic Excellence, Spiritual Growth and Leadership Development, and Financial Integrity.
Fundraising Made Easy!
Besides SCRIP cards, there are several easy yet effective ways we can raise funds for the "extras" here at GPA. (For example, our school received $730.29 through our Target® Partnership alone!) Visit our Community Partners Programs page to learn more about all the simple, everyday ways to earn money for our school. Thank you to those who participate!
Student Use of Telecommunication Devices
Pagers, cell phones, and other communication devices must be turned off and stored in bags, backpacks, etc., while on campus anytime during the student’s academic school day. These devices are not allowed to be carried by the student in pockets or holders of any kind during academic school hours. Students may store communication devices during school hours in the front office. Devices must be picked up by the student or parent. Office personnel will not give devices to friends for pick-up. Enforcement of this policy is as follows:
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First Offense: $20 fee assessed to the family account, parent pick-up of device in front office after three school days, and a record of the violation to be included in the student’s file.
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Subsequent Offenses: $40 fee assessed to the family account, parent pick-up of device after 12 school days, and a record of the violation to be included in the student’s file.
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Chronic Offenses: $40 fee assessed to the family account, parent pick-up of device after the equivalent of a semester, and a record of the violation to be included in the student’s file.
Having RenWeb Troubles?
Please email Regina Ahart for assistance.
Parent Pray!
This sweet time takes place every Tuesday morning from 8-9 a.m. in Dale Meinecke's office. Don't miss this rich time of encouragement!
We Need Substitute Teachers
Because of our unique school model, our preference is to use parents of students here at our school. If you are interested, please pick up an application in the front office, along with a background check release form, and get those turned in ASAP! The applications are simple; you will not need references if you are a Grace Prep parent; you turned those in with your student applications. If you have any questions, e-mail Robin.
Absences and Tardies
Students need to bring a note to the front office, not to the teachers, regarding absences. Please refer to the date and nature of the student’s absence in the note. Both absences and tardies are considered unexcused unless a note or phone call to the front office has occurred! We advise parents to read the Parent/Student Handbook regarding these policies.
Need to Make Up a Test? Need Extra Help in Math, English or Spanish?
Please be sure to visit the Make-Up Test Center and Math and Writing Labs pages under the Secondary tab on this website for available days, times, and locations.
School Day Drop-Off and Pick-Up
Please pull as far forward as possible in the drop-off lane in order to keep traffic moving smoothly. Students not picked up within fifteen minutes of their last class will be in Study Hall. This policy includes secondary students on campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Study Hall locations are as follows:
(MWF): 1:30 - 2:30, Auditorium; 2:30 - 4:00, Room 1206; 4:00 - 5:00, Auditorium.
(T/TH): Rooms 205, 207
Senior Parking Spaces
Please remind your students to not park in the decorated/painted parking spaces during regular school hours on Monday thru Friday. Seniors purchase these spaces as a class fundraiser. This guarantees a parking space for them when on campus for school.
SCRIP
What is SCRIP? Check the Development/Community Partner Programs page on this website for more information. This is such an easy way to help GPA gather funds for extras, like the tables around the playground! Whole Foods is a new participant in SCRIP, giving 3% back to our school! Christmas is just around the corner; the next order deadline is Wednesday, February 1, 2012. They make great stocking stuffers, or you could use them for your own Christmas shopping and earn funds for Grace Prep! Congrats to Cheri Jordan for winning the $10 Starbucks card in December's drawing. Thank you for your continued support of the GPA SCRIP Program.
Don’t Stop Saving Your Box Tops!
Congratulations to the 5th grade and 8th grade classes for winning the Fall Box Top grade competitions. In December, the 5th grade class had a pizza party and the 8th grade class had an extra casual dress day. Box Tops are a painless way for families to help GPA enhance academics and facilities! Have you seen the picnic tables by the playground? That area has become a favorite hangout for both elementary and secondary students. Box Tops proceeds purchased both of them! The Box Top competition is now going on for all grades! Click here to see a list of class deadlines and incentives for the spring semester. You can also shop online to earn additional box tops! Just make sure you establish a login at www.boxtops4education.com before you get started.