"Wrap Up the Year with Wisdom!"

This year 2,627 QuestBridge Finalists matched and have earned full four-year scholarships awarded by 52 college partners! Match Scholarship Recipients are granted early admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship, worth over $200,000. This year, Grand Prairie ISD has three students who matched with a QuestBridge college partner ! Join us in congratulating the following students:

Dubiski Career High School
Giselle Garcia – Columbia University

South Grand Prairie High School
Destiny Posso - Colby College
Monisha Nath – Dartmouth College

As the first semester ends, it's crucial for students to finish strong and maintain passing grades. Set up a weekly grade update to track their progress and discuss performance. Follow the steps below to get started.

Links to provide step-by-step instructions are listed below.

Parent Grade Notification Setup

Parent Instructions to View Grades in Skyward

Students often face challenges in their academic journey, from learning difficulties to stress or anxiety. Open communication with your child and their teachers is key to understanding and addressing these struggles. A positive home environment with a routine, adequate sleep, and healthy meals also helps. For more tips, see the Nemours Kids Health article.

Article found here

The AVID elective is designed for motivated students seeking to learn more about post-secondary options and prepare for their academic future. This month Bill Arnold MS 6th-8th grade students visited Dallas College Mountain View campus to learn more about GPISD Early College programs at Grand Prairie Early College High School and South Grand Prairie Early College High School.

The students at Arnold middle school joined efforts with radio station KSCS 96.3 for 10,000 for the troops. AVID students delivered about 500 cards for the holidays to support our men and women serving in our military.

Arnold students collected over 600 cans in our canned food drive this year. AVID students delivered these to Mission Arlington and volunteered much of the day helping them get ready to feed 20+ thousand people for the holidays. What an awesome day of service!

The Reading component of AVID’s WICOR strategy is essential for developing deep comprehension and critical thinking skills by actively engaging students with text through strategies like questioning, analyzing, and summarizing, ultimately preparing them for college and career readiness; "WICOR" stands for Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading, highlighting that reading is one component of a holistic learning approach.

At AVID, every student has the potential to excel. Through determination, collaboration, and a focus on growth, we provide the tools to unlock opportunities and drive success in school and beyond. 💡🎓

From critical thinking to college readiness, AVID students have the skills to navigate and thrive in an ever-changing world. 🌍✨

🔹 Are you ready to make your future brighter?
🔹 Looking for ways to set goals, stay organized, and push beyond your limits?
Join the GPISD AVIDFamily today and be a part of something BIG. 💪💙

👉 Apply now using the link or QR Code:

GPISD Early College High School is offered at both Grand Prairie High School and South Grand Prairie High School. It is designed to provide students with a personalized, supportive college-preparatory environment while offering the opportunity to earn an associate degree from Dallas College. Beginning in the 9th grade, students are exposed to dual credit courses, allowing them to complete their associate degree and receive a high school diploma at the same time. The program fosters a college-going culture through intentional support systems and immersive experiences.

If this is an opportunity that you are interested in, you will need to complete an application. The application window opens March 3, 2025 (the Monday after The Experience). Current 8th and 9th grade students may apply! Please continue to visit our website for upcoming information.

1. Your child is a dedicated student who is interested in obtaining college credit and working towards an associate degree and higher.
2. Your child wants an enriching course of study, which enables them to combine both high school and college courses in order to obtain an associate degree or higher.
3. Your child has expressed an interest in becoming a nurse or entering the health care profession.
4. Your child is interested in being immersed in the college experience through college tours and coursework on the Dallas College campus.
5. Your child naturally strives for excellence and high achievement.
6. Your child prefers a small, caring, and highly focused school that offers advanced educational opportunities and personalized learning experiences.

• Fish Creek Clean Up - January 25th
• Beacon Hill HOA Adopt-a-Stream Cleanup – January 18th
• The Big Event – March 22nd

Additional projects that are available:

• Fence replacement at Bush Community Garden – ready to schedule
• Turf installation at Cross Point Community Garden – waiting for irrigation installation to be scheduled
• Litter cleanup at parks
• Hauling off fallen tree branches at Cemetery
• General garden cleanup day

Available dates for additional projects:

• · January 4th or 11th
• · February 15th or 22nd
• · March 8th, 15th, or 29th
• · April 5th
• · May 3rd

More information: amaron@gptx.org or 469-515-9194 call/text.

This application is required for your senior student to receive grants, loans, or work-study when they attend a college, university, or trade school after graduation. Completing a FAFSA or TASFA application is also a graduation requirement in the state of Texas.

Grand Prairie ISD invites you and your student to attend one of the four district financial aid workshops. These workshops will have over 20 staff members that will be on-site to assist you and your student in completing the application. Workshops are available to students from all seven GPISD high schools.

Register for a workshop here: https://forms.gle/cJVxHgZMUJS5aChT6

The 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form will be available to the public on or before Dec. 1, 2024.

How To Prepare for the 2025–26 FAFSA® Form

Prepare now so you can complete the 2025–26 FAFSA form as soon as it’s available on or before Dec. 1, 2024.

Here are some ways you can get ready:

• Create a StudentAid.gov account (if you don’t already have one).

• Learn about the documents you may need to fill out the FAFSA form.

• Determine your dependency status and whether your parent(s) or spouse will be required to contribute information on your FAFSA form.

• If you’re a dependent student, use the Who’s My FAFSA Parent? wizard to identify which parent(s) will be a required contributor on your form.

Scholarship Applications can be found at the link: Scholarships | WTS

This month, our newsletter focuses on the mental challenges of recruiting: the stress of decision-making, the fear of the unknown, and the toll of constant evaluation. In this issue, you’ll find strategies to manage these pressures, stories of resilience, and tools to help you maintain your mental strength during this pivotal time. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey, and your well-being is just as important as your performance.

Click here to enjoy this month’s newsletter.

The NCAA process can feel overwhelming, but we are here to help guide families through it. Our goal is to provide the necessary information to assist you in setting up your account. Please note that the initial setup is free for middle school students and first-time high school students. Below, you'll find helpful links to guide you through the process of setting up and managing your NCAA account.

NCAA Initial Eligibility Process for Parents

Creating a NCAA Account-Essential Items Needed

Article-Can Athletes write about sports in an essay?

NCAA's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have moved from DialCare to Call4Care to help students facing behavioral or emotional concerns, including depression, anxiety, grief, bullying, and self-esteem issues. These services are provided to students in Kindergarten-12 grade. Call4Care provides other opportunities for family needs, like food, clothes/uniforms, and supplies/hygiene products. To get started, please call (972) 522-7070.

Visit the College & Career Hub website today!

Education Center

2602 S Beltline Road Grand Prairie, Texas 75052

Jereese H. Johnson

Email: jereese.johnson@gpisd.org

Patricia Calahan

Email: patricia.calahan@gpisd.org

Dr. Holly Mohler

Email: holly.mohler@gpisd.org

Email: ana.gonzalez@gpisd.org

Email: melissa.rodriguez@gpisd.org

Website: https://www.gpisd.org/Page/42249
Twitter: @GPCollegeReady