The Wolf Weekly

Wonderful Wolf Families,

Welcome to November!

Monday and Tuesday our wolves get to enjoy a little time away from school while our staff engages in two days of learning! We look forward to our wolves returning to campus on Wednesday.

The pack celebrated Red Ribbon Week in style all week! Howl to the incredible participation from all wolves! See below for highlights from the Red Ribbon Week pep rally.

Tuesday is election day! See the voting season section of today's newsletter for information from GCISD. Thank you for reading before you head to the polls to cast your ballot!

Looking forward to a wonderful week with the pack!

Howl,

Jamie Halliburton

CTMS Principal

Election Day is November 5! Check Out These Resources for your Questions about GCISD’s Proposition A?

Still have a question about GCISD’s Proposition A, otherwise known as the voter-approved tax ratification (VATRE) election? In addition to our FAQ and Clarifications pages, please check out the resources below:

Is a VATRE Unique to GCISD?

Watch this video to learn why districts across the state are placing a VATRE on the ballot.

Proposition A Ballot Language

Watch this video that explains the language that will be listed on the ballot for GCISD's Proposition A.

Tax Rate Comparison with Surrounding School Districts

Watch the district’s recent Facebook livestream to hear GCISD Chief Financial Officer Derick Sibley address how GCISD compares.

Impact on the Tax Rate and the GCISD Average Home

Also on the Facebook livestream, Superintendent Dr. Brad Schnautz and CFO Sibley speak about how Proposition A (VATRE) affects the tax rate and the GCISD average home value.

Superintendent’s Letter

Read Dr. Brad Schnautz’ October 22, 2024, Letter to Families and Community detailing why a VATRE was called, the impact on the district and other resources available to answer any questions.

Voting Hours and Locations

Remember, to vote! Early Voting continues through Friday, November 1. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. Hours are 7 a.m.‐7 p.m. Registered voters may vote at ANY Tarrant County Early Voting or Election Day location.

Still Have a Question?

Visit GCISD’s Proposition A (VATRE) webpage where the district has posted presentations, videos, documents and more about the referendum, or watch the district’s full Facebook livestream, which is also separated by topic so you can find the answer fast.

Remember to vote!

¡El 5 de noviembre es el Día de las Elecciones! Consulte estos recursos para preguntas sobre la Propuesta A de GCISD.

¿Aún tiene preguntas sobre la Propuesta A de GCISD, también conocida como la elección de ratificación de impuestos aprobada por los votantes (VATRE)? Además de nuestras páginas de Preguntas Frecuentes y Aclaraciones, por favor consulte los recursos a continuación:

¿Es un VATRE único para GCISD?

Vea este video para entender por qué los distritos en todo el estado están colocando un VATRE en la boleta electoral.

Lenguaje de la Boleta para la Propuesta A

Vea este video que explica el lenguaje que aparecerá en la boleta electoral para la Propuesta A de GCISD.

Comparación de la Tasa de Impuestos con Distritos Escolares de los Alrededores

Vea la reciente transmisión en vivo de Facebook del distrito para escuchar al Director Financiero de GCISD, Derick Sibley, quien aborda cómo se compara GCISD con otros distritos.

Impacto en la Tasa de Impuestos y el Promedio de Vivienda en GCISD

También en la transmisión en vivo de Facebook, el Superintendente Dr. Brad Schnautz y el Director Financiero Sibley hablan de cómo la Propuesta A (VATRE) afecta la tasa de impuestos y el valor promedio de viviendas en GCISD.

Carta del Superintendente

Lee la carta de Dr. Brad Schnautz del 22 de octubre de 2024, dirigida a las familias y la comunidad, donde detalla por qué se convocó un VATRE, el impacto en el distrito y otros recursos disponibles para responder cualquier pregunta.

Horario y lugares para votar

¡Recuerde votar! La votación anticipada continúa hasta el viernes, 1 de noviembre. El Día de las Elecciones es el martes, 5 de noviembre. El horario para votar es de 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Los votantes registrados pueden votar en CUALQUIER lugar de votación anticipada en el Condado de Tarrant o en su centro de votación el Día de Elecciones.

¿Todavía tiene una pregunta?

Visite la página web de la Propuesta A de GCISD (VATRE) donde el distrito ha publicado presentaciones, vídeos, documentos y más sobre el referéndum, o vea la transmisión completa en vivo en el Facebook del distrito, que también está separado por tema para que pueda encontrar la respuesta rápidamente.

¡Recuerde votar!

Howl to Mr. Gott for capturing the fun from Thursday's Red Ribbon Week pep rally! Enjoy the highlights!

HOWL to 7th Grade A-Team Football team for bringing the title of Zone Champions to the wolf pack on Monday night at Mustang Panther Stadium! Howl to the CTMS Cheer Squad and Silver Dancers for being there to cheer on the team! Great night for the pack!

Starting Wednesday, November 6th, we will implement a new CTMS practice for forgotten wolf IDs. As a reminder, the wearing of student IDs is part of the GCISD dress codes and outlined in the student code of conduct. We want to ensure consistency and encourage responsibility among our wolves, so each wolf will begin with a fresh start on this date.

The updated practice is as follows:

1. First forgotten ID: Verbal warning.
2. Second forgotten ID: Lunch detention.
3. Third forgotten ID: Two lunch detentions.
4. Fourth forgotten ID: Parent phone call, and a replacement ID will be automatically charged to the wolf's Skyward account.
5. Fifth forgotten ID: In-school suspension (ISS) for repeated dress code offenses.

Additionally, please note that failure to return temporary IDs will result in lunch detention.

All wolves receive IDs, free of charge, on picture day. For those wolves who join the pack after picture day, they receive IDs when registering. Replacement IDs can be purchased from Ms. Richards in the front office before school or during lunch daily.

Thank you for your support in helping our wolves build good habits and follow GCISD expectations!

Ms. Billman needs boxes to collect GRACE donations! If you have any suitably sized boxes, each one you bring in is worth 15 minutes of volunteer time. Please bring boxes and your hours sheet to room B7 from 8:00-8:10.

The GRACE Food Drive is a wonderful NJHS-led initiative to support our community, so if you can, please make a point to donate starting next week in your ELA class!

If you are interested in earning 30 minutes while working for only about 15, I have posted several opportunities in our Canvas under GRACE Food Drive!

Parent Meeting ~ November 12th 6pm in the Lecture Hall ~ Enter through B-Hall

ATTENTION: Current 7th graders who are interested in going on the 2026 DC/NY Trip. We will have a parent information meeting on November 12th in the Lecture hall. While in DC we will visit all the Monuments, Smithsonian Museums, Mount Vernon, and Historic Georgetown. In New York, we will see all the sites and sounds of the City. Broadway show, Coney Island, Time Square, and Little Italy are all planned.

This is a reminder of our upcoming Play It Safe presentation. Please complete the Skyward Family Access Form to indicate your preference for your child’s participation in any of the above programs. If you choose for your child not to participate, your child will be provided an alternate location while this program is being presented. If the form is NOT completed by 3:00 PM the day before the presentation, your child will NOT participate in the program.
If you were unable to attend the Parent Preview for Play It Safe, you can access the recorded meeting, along with the scripts and videos for each topic, at the following website: https://www.gcisd.net/page/parent-previews-24
If you are having difficulty accessing the form through skyward, please email allyiah.daniels@gcisd.net if you would like for your student to participate in the Play It Safe presentation!
Our schedule for showing the Play It Safe Curriculum this year is as follows:

6th grade “Sexual Harassment”- November 12th, 2024
7th grade “Can’t Take It Back” - November 19th, 2024
7th grade “Abuse of Power” - February 25th, 2025

6th grade “Survivors of Abuse- March 11th, 2025

Tuesday, November 12th 5:30-8:30 PM - Parents Night Out at Sloan & Williams Winery - Please grab some friends and stop by! A percent of ALL sales comes back to CTMS PTA so feel free to join the PTA crowd, make it a date night, or enjoy with some time close friends. We just hope you are able to come & support! We will also be showcasing a preview of our Thanks for Giving Auction items and website - you won't want to miss this exclusive first look!

November 14th - 22nd - Thanks for Giving Auction will be LIVE! - We are SO EXCITED about the items on this year's auction - they are dynamic and there is truly something for everyone! It's the perfect way to knock out some holiday shopping and support CTMS. Be on the lookout for the auction link - it will be emailed on the 14th.

Help us show the teachers & staff that we are thankful for them by sponsoring a pie. They can be purchased HERE for $15 each and will be delivered on the 20th.

Get your early bird tickets for sixth grade cotillion! Early bird tickets are $55 from now until December 15. After that day, ticket prices go up to $75. For more information and to register, visit: https://www.ctmspta.org/cotillion

Cotillion is a sixth grade only event focused on fun, etiquette, and dancing.

• January 17: Hip Hop
• January 24: Western
• January 31: Disco
• February 7: Winter Wonderland

Your kind words of encouragement truly uplift our teachers and staff! If you have a positive experience to share, we’d love to hear about it! Use this form to leave a shout out for our amazing wolf staff!

Click here for the official district calendar for the 2024-2025 school year

• Monday, November 4 & Tuesday, November 5 ~ No school for Wolves/Staff professional learning

• Thursday, Nov. 7 ~ CTMS Girls Basketball Scrimmage @ CMS 4-8 pm

• Saturday, Nov. 9 ~ Band Phase II All Region Auditions 8 am-2 pm @ Carroll MS

• Monday, Nov. 11 ~ Veterans Day Assembly CTMS 2-:45 - 3:30 pm / CTMS 7th Boys Basketball Scrimmage @ CMS 5-8 pm / CTMS 8th Boys Basketball Scrimmage vs CMS @ CTMS 5-8 pm

• Tuesday, Nov. 12 ~ PTA General Mtg & Parents Night Out 5:30-8:30 pm

• Wednesday, Nov. 13 ~ CTMS Fall 7th Tennis Match vs East @ Coppell HS 5-7 pm

• Thursday, Nov. 14 ~ CTMS Choir Mid Winter Concert @ GHS 7-8 pm

• Friday, Nov. 15 ~ CTMS Spelling Bee Lecture Hall 2:45-3:30 pm

• Friday, Nov. 22 ~ Student vs. Staff Volleyball Game

GCISD Holiday Greeting Card Art Contest

All elementary, middle, and high school students are invited to submit original artwork for the cover of GCISD’s official holiday greeting card. This year’s theme is "Show Others Kindness." Three student designs—one each from the elementary, middle, and high school levels—will be selected and sent out on behalf of the GCISD Board of Trustees and Superintendent Dr. Brad Schnautz. Cards are sent to community leaders, area businesses, organizations, and other school districts.

• Each student will submit their artwork to their campus art teacher or other designee.

• Each school will select campus-based winners whose art will then be submitted to the district level for final selection.

• Each high school will choose up to 10 finalists; each middle school will choose up to 5 finalists; and each elementary will choose up to 3 finalists. Final designs for the cover will be selected by the Superintendent and his designees based on originality, the theme, use of the elements of art, and overall design.

The three students whose works are selected for the GCISD Holiday Greeting Card will receive $25 and recognition at the December meeting of the Board of Trustees. The selected artwork and the artists’ names will be featured on the district’s website and used in district publicity.

Please see your school's art teacher for entry forms.

Concurso de de felicitación para días festivos oficial de GCISD

Se invita a todos los estudiantes de primaria, secundaria, y preparatoria a presentar sus obras de arte originales para el diseño de la tarjeta de felicitación para días festivos oficial de GCISD. El tema de este año se llama “Muestra Amabilidad a los Demás” (en inglés, “Show Others Kindness”). Se seleccionarán los diseños de tres estudiantes – uno de nivel de primaria, secundaria, y preparatoria- y se enviarán en nombre de la Mesa Directiva de GCISD y del Dr. Brad Schnautz. Las tarjetas se envían a los líderes comunitarios, empresas locales, organizaciones, y otros distritos escolares.

• Cada estudiante presentará su obra de arte al maestro de arte de su escuela o al individuo designado.

• Cada escuela seleccionará a los ganadores a nivel escolar cuyo arte luego se presentará al nivel del distrito para la selección final.

• Cada escuela preparatoria seleccionará hasta 10 finalistas; cada escuela secundaria seleccionará hasta 5 finalistas; y cada escuela primaria seleccionará hasta 3 finalistas. Los diseños finales serán seleccionados por el Superintendente y los individuos designados según su originalidad, tema, uso de color, y diseño general.

Los tres estudiantes con obras seleccionadas para la Tarjeta de Felicitación para Días Festivos de GCISD recibirán $25 y serán reconocidos en la reunión de la Mesa Directiva en diciembre. Las obras seleccionadas y los nombres de los artistas se publicarán en el sitio web del distrito y se utilizarán en la publicidad del distrito.

CTMS Families,

Our annual Veterans Day Celebration is on Monday, November 11 th . We will host a short

reception at 2:00pm in the Library for veterans and their families, followed by an assembly at

2:35 in the Main Gym. This is always a very special time in which we take time to honor our

veterans and their service to our country.

We would like to make this event personal to our students and families, and we are hoping you

can help us out. If you have any family members that serve or have served in the military, we

would love to get a little information about them with the purpose to honor them throughout

our Veterans Day program.

If you and/or a veteran plan on attending the reception and/or the assembly, please complete

our form by clicking on this link, even if you cannot attend, you can send in a picture and give

information so we may honor your veteran. Please complete the form by Monday, November

4th. If you are attending, please bring a state issued ID so you can sign into our system and

receive your visitor sticker.

Thank you in advance for helping us make this memorable for our CTMS students and families.

We hope that you can all attend and help us celebrate. If you have any questions, please feel

free to email Stephanie.Maupin@gcisd.net.

Thank you,

Cross Timbers Middle School Social Studies Team

• School Hours: 8:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Doors Open: 7:45 a.m.
• Wolves enter the building through the C hall doors or the SAC doors. 6th & 8th grade wolves wait in the SAC and 7th grade wolves wait in the lecture hall for the bell to walk to first period.
• Bell Schedule
• Campus Map (click present for easier viewing)
• Front Office: 817-251-5320
• Mascot: Wolf
• School Colors: Silver & Black
• Planners: All wolves use a planner at CTMS. This is to assist with organizing, prioritizing, and planning. You can purchase a CTMS planner for $5 on the first day of school or use one of your choosing. Wolves use their planners daily.
• Student IDs: All wolves who did not attend Wolf Camp or Registration will be issued a temporary CTMS ID on the first day of school. The first IDs are free and replacement IDs are $5. Per the student code of conduct, IDs are to be worn daily by all CTMS students and staff.
• Lost & Found: The Front Office currently has several pieces of jewelry, keys, glasses and phones that are lost and have found their way to the office! Come by to check to see if your item was found!

Attendance

Layla Torres

817-251-5320

layla.torrez@gcisd.net

Counselors

Molly Brown (last names A-K)

817-251-5315

molly.brown@gcisd.net

Rachel Smith (last names L-Z)

817-251-5312

rachel.smith@gcisd.net

Student Advocate

Allyiah Daniels

817-251-5323

Allyiah.Daniels@gcisd.net

Registrar

Ilia Kaku

817-251-5314

ilia.kaku@gcisd.net

Nurse

Riley Heimuli

817-251-5337

riley.heimuli@gcisd.net

Assistant Principals

Alishia Ilic (last names A-K)

817-251-5313

alishia.ilic@gcisd.net

Cinthia Morales (last names L-Z)

817-251-5317

cinthia.morales@gcisd.net

Principal

Jamie Halliburton

817-251-5320

jamie.halliburton@gcisd.net

In need of a new charger for a school issued Chromebook, click here for information on how to order a new one.

Thank you for helping our wolves be prepared for school each day by ensuring their Chromebooks are charged nightly!

Welcome All Wolves! Find information about your Attendance Clerk contact at CTMS this year below:

Please check your mobiles devices to ensure the correct Attendance Office contact information is updated to our current Attendance Clerk - Layla Torres. below you will find the correct email address and phone number to reach her desk going forward this year. This ensures your students absence information is being seen and recorded.

• As much as possible, please schedule appointments before or after school, or on student days off (teacher professional development days).
• Doctor's notes are required for those appointments & illness lasting more than 1 day.
• Please email me at layla.torres@gcisd.net or call 817-251-5326.

Click here to see the updated secondary grading policy from GCISD. All wolf pack teachers will be following this policy this school year to communicate the progress of each wolf.

Grades are a method of communicating the progress each wolf is making at CTMS. If you ever have questions or concerns over a grade, please reach out directly to the teacher.

Here is the link for the 2024-2025 GCISD Student/Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct :https://www.gcisd.net/o/gcisd/page/studentparent-handbook.

GCISD's Student-Parent Handbook contains information that students, parents and staff are likely to need during the school year. In addition, both students and parents need to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct. Both students and parents should become familiar with the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District Student Code of Conduct, which is a document adopted by the board and intended to promote school safety and an atmosphere for learning.

Middle school students may use telecommunications devices before and after school, and during

lunch. They may not use telecommunications devices during passing periods or classes.

What does this mean for the wolves?

• Devices can be used before 8:00 a.m., during lunch, and after 3:30 p.m.
• Smartwatches can be worn as long as they are used for telling time.
• Earbud, airpods, and the like will not be used in the hallway or during class time.

Exciting News! CTMS Now Offers a New Online Purchase Option for Student ID's and Wolf Lanyards!

We are excited to announce that CTMS has added a new, convenient way for students and parents to complete your ID purchase needs online! This new payment option makes it easier and faster than ever before. You will find this payment option on the CTMS web page under the Quick Links heading where you can create your personal Web Store account. Once your account is created, click on the Middle Schools square and choose Cross Timbers Middle School. Complete your purchase through the Security/Dress Code option. Students will be able to finalize their order in Mrs. Richards office the following day once ID is personalized with the students' photo download. We hope this will be a helpful addition to preparing you student for a successful day at school everyday!

Student-Parent Handbook page 55: Except in emergencies, delivery of messages or packages to students will not be allowed during instructional time. A parent may leave a message or a package such as a forgotten lunch, for the student to pick up from the front office during a passing period or lunch. Students are not permitted to order food using delivery services such as UberEats, DoorDash, etc.

What this means for the pack: Wolf pack family members may drop items off items to the vestibule for wolves. Delivery services are not permitted. Wolves will visit the vestibule during passing periods to pick up items dropped off by parents.

For the protection of students and staff, all volunteer applicants must read the Volunteer Handbook (in Español) and are asked to apply online authorizing the district to obtain a criminal history background check.

Note: All volunteers are required to reapply each year.

Apply Online

GCISD utilizes Volunteer Tracker for volunteer applications and signing up for volunteer opportunities. Please follow the steps provided to sign up. If you have any questions about registration, please contact App-Garden at support@app-garden.com or submit a help ticket.

Drop-off and pick-up occur in TWO locations: In the parking lot outside the academic halls at the C-hall door and outside the SAC. See the map below.

For the safety of all wolves, thank you in advance for driving slowly, keeping cell phones away, and staying alert and aware of others.

C-Hall Door

For drop-off and pick-up, the parking lot across from the football field is two lanes. Pull into the lane you will be exiting from, if you are turning right out of the parking lot, drop off and/or pick up your wolf in the inside lane (closest to the building) and if you are turning left out of the parking lot, drop off and/or pick up your wolf on the outside lane (closest to the football field). Also, please pull all the way up to let your wolf out of the vehicle. The doors to the school open at 7:45 a.m. and school dismisses at 3:30 p.m.

SAC Doors

This is a single lane drop-off and pick-up. The driveway is not for parking. If you need to assist your wolf, please park in a non-reserved space.

Email: ctms.info@gcisd.net
Website: https://ctms.gcisd.net/
Location: 2301 Pool Rd, Grapevine, TX 76051
Phone: 817-251-5320
Twitter: @CTMSWolfWay