GALATAS GAZETTE

Denae Wilker, Principal

Candace Mathis, Assistant Principal

Dawn Wright, Assistant Principal

Natalie Weber, Counselor

Through the collaborative efforts of all who pass through our door, we provide a safe learning community that develops lifelong learners and responsible citizens.

Website: http://galatas.conroeisd.net/
Location: 9001 Cochrans Crossing Drive, The Woodlands, TX, USA
Phone: 936-709-5000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GalatasCISD/
Twitter: @GalatasCISD

Please click below to download a printable back to school checklist.

Teddy Bear Tea

Monday, August 12 (Kindergarten Only)

1:00 P.M.

Students are invited to bring their favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal.

Teddy Bear Tea is our kindergarten version of Meet & Greet and New Student Orientation. While students are engaged in fun activities, parents will meet with our administrative team and learn more about the operations of our school.

New Student Orientation

Monday, August 12 (Grades 1-4)

4:00 P.M.

This event is for parents and students new to Galatas Elementary in grades 1-4 only. You will learn about the operations of our school, available clubs, and fun activities offered throughout the school year. Representatives from our amazing PTO will also participate in the presentation.

Meet and Greet

Monday, August 12 (Grades 1-4)

4:30-6:05 PM

Our faculty and staff always look forward to this fun "come and go" event for students in Grades 1-4. It is a time for students to meet their teachers prior to the first day of school and drop off school supplies. If you pre-purchased supplies from our PTO, they will be delivered to your child's classroom.

The times below are suggested to assist with parking and traffic flow during this large event.

4:30-4:55 PM (Last Name A-H)

5:05-5:30 PM (Last Name I-Q)

5:40-6:05 PM (Last Name R-Z)

The first day of classes for the 2023-2024 school year will be Wednesday, August 14. School hours are from 7:55 AM – 3:10 PM. Students may begin to arrive 7:30 a.m.

In an effort to minimize the crowds in our school during this exciting time, we ask that if you plan to walk your child to class on the first day, that you take pictures outside of the school and then escort your child to class. We will have staff members available to assist students to their classrooms if you wish to say your goodbyes outside.

Students who bike or walk to school will enter the building at the front of the school. During arrival and dismissal, the crosswalk at the front entrance will not be available for use due to bus arrivals and departures. Please use the sidewalk and approach the building from the top of the hill by the Galatas marquee. Parking is available at Cattail Park.

Staff members will be on duty in the car rider line at the back of the school and on the front porch to assist students arriving by bus..

Calling All Interested Room Parents!

If you are interested in serving as Room Parent for your child’s class, please email volunteers@galataspto.com by August 23 and include your child's name and the section for which you are volunteering. If you are considering but have questions, please email, as well!

August 26 - 3rd, 4th, and special services at 5:00 p.m.

August 29- Kinder, 1st, and 2nd at 5:00 p.m.

This event is designed for parents. Additional information will be included in future editions of the Gazette.

Dear Galatas Parents/Guardians,

Here are a few reminders from the clinic so that we can have a successful start to the 2024-2025 school year. We are excited to see our smiling Greyhound faces fill our campus again!

• All students must be up to date on vaccines in order to start school. If your child has a vaccine or new Conscientious Objector affidavit that is due before August 14th, a letter and email was sent home at the end of last school year. Feel free to email any updated vaccine records to nkendall@conroeisd.net, and original, notarized Conscientious Objector affidavits can be turned in to the front office.

• Please be sure to complete your annual online enrollment ASAP, ensuring phone numbers are correct, as well as any current allergies or medical conditions that your child may have. A link to complete that information was emailed to you from the district in mid-July. Using the information that you provide, medical conditions are manually updated each August in our clinic software and shared with teachers, along with any new emergency plans that you provide to the clinic.

• If you have ever informed the district that your child is allergic to any foods, even if it is not showing as active in my software, the Child Nutrition department keeps it active in your child’s profile until a parent contacts them and requests the allergy be removed. At this time, if any food allergies have changed, please email nkendall@conroeisd.net and I will update the cafeteria manager accordingly.

• If your child has a chronic condition such as asthma, severe allergies, diabetes, migraines, or seizures, we ask for new doctor's orders EACH school year before we can check in your child's medication. It's very scary to be left with no option but to call 911 if there is an emergency at school; we are not allowed to provide any medication or emergency treatment without a parent permission form and strongly encourage a doctor’s order for these medications.

• Emergency forms are available by going to the clinic website: https://galatas.conroeisd.net/department/studentparent-resources/clinic/ and a copy of CISD current medication guidelines can be found at the link provided. Please know that we do not have any medications at school to give students unless they are provided by a parent. Please note that students are NOT allowed to transport any medication to or from school (this includes cough drops and inhalers). A parent or legal guardian must check in the medication directly with a clinic staff member.

• For Medication check-in, please email the school nurse at nkendall@conroeisd.net to schedule an appointment to check in the medication and necessary forms. I (Nurse Kendall) will also be available during Meet & Greet on Monday, August 12th.

• Clinic visit communication: When your child visits the clinic during the school day a white clinic pass will be sent home, this is how we communicate with the parent or guardian that your child was at the clinic today. We only call the parents/guardians if it is determined necessary from my professional clinic assessment of your child.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at nkendall@conroeisd.net. I look forward to assisting you, and your student!

Nell Kendall, RN

Please support our school by joining our amazing PTO. The link below will take you to the Galatas PTO website, where you can join the PTO and explore ways to get involved at Galatas.

It is a great way to get connected with our Galatas community and other parents.

All visitors must be able to provide a government issued, photo I. D. at each visit. Photos of the I.D. will not be accepted. Visitors will check in at the front office and receive a Visitor Badge which must be worn at all times in the building. When leaving the building, visitors must check out with the front office and return the badge.

In order to volunteer at school, a Volunteer in CISD Application must be completed.

Please visit volunteer-in-cisd to complete the process, or click on “Volunteer (Parents)” in your student's Parent Portal.

CISD is looking for volunteers for a variety of committees:

1. District-Level Planning & Decision Making Committee (deadline to apply is August 15)

2. Attendance Boundary Committee

3. Library Materials Reconsideration Committee

For more information or to apply for any of these committees, please visit https://www.conroeisd.net/parents/get-involved/

Parents may select from four modes of transportation for their child.

Bus:

A student is eligible for service if their home is 1 mile or further from the school. You will need your child's student ID # to register for bus service. Please use the link below to find your child's bus number, pick-up/drop-off locations and times.

If your student is in Kindergarten, you MUST have a yellow sign to display when meeting your student at the bus stop. This will help drivers ensure that each kindergarten student is accompanied by an approved guardian when exiting the bus. Yellow signs will be available at Teddy Bear Tea, and on the first day of school.

Bus Registration and Find Your Bus Route

Car Rider:

Pick up a pink sign at Meet and Greet (1st-4th) or Teddy Bear Tea (K). The car rider line is at the back of the school.

Daycare:

Confirm that your daycare picks up at Galatas Elementary.

Walker/Biker:

These students will dismiss at the front of the school. Students will be escorted by staff to the top of the hill to meet their parents. If your student is in Kindergarten, you MUST have a green sign to display at the top of the hill. This will help us ensure that each kindergarten student is accompanied by a guardian at dismissal. Green signs will be available at Teddy Bear Tea, and on the first day of school.

On severe weather dismissal days, student will not be allowed to walk or bike home. If you select biker/walker as your primary mode of transportation, then you will also be asked to select a second choice for severe weather dismissal (bus if eligible or car rider).

Buses will load and unload at the front of the school. Cars may not enter the front loop from 7:25-8:00 a.m. and 2:45-3:30 p.m.

Student drop-off and pick-up car lines will be at the back of the school. Students may be dropped off between 7:30-7:55 a.m. The back driveway will be closed to cars from 7:55 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The back driveway will be open to cars to form a pick-up line beginning at 3:00 p.m. Dismissal will begin at 3:10 p.m. Cars must enter the driveway from the north (right turns only).

Car Rider Line Procedures

• The car line will be a one-way entrance: please enter the line from the north side of Cochran’s Crossing Drive (for arrival and dismissal).
• Please ensure your child’s name is visible and easy to read on the pink sign. Include the first name, last initial, and section number for each child on the Car Rider form (for dismissal).
• Look and listen to the line caller to direct you to the number your child will be assigned.
• Pull up to the pole of the assigned number so your child can enter your car safely.
• Pulling your car all of the way up to the numbered pole will allow all cars to fit safely in the car rider line.
• Trained Safety Patrol students, or staff members, will assist your child in or out of your vehicle. For safety reasons, students may only enter or exit their vehicle from the passenger side.
• Please wait for the line to move forward once your child has been loaded or unloaded from your vehicle. For everyone’s safety, do not pull around other cars.
• Remain in your vehicle while in the car rider line.
• In order to keep the car line moving, please take the time to teach your child to unbuckle and buckle their own seat belt/safety belt. Please do not stop the line or exit your vehicle.

Cars will be permitted to make left or right turns out of the school driveway during dismissal. We ask that you use your turn signal to indicate which direction you are turning, so that our CISD Police Officer can assist with keeping our line moving quickly.

Transportation change notepads will be sent home with each student at Meet and Greet or on the first day of school. Please use these forms any time a student needs to go home in a different way from the permanent designated mode of transportation.

All transportation changes must be received in writing by 2:00 p.m. We are unable to accept a phone call. You may send a written note to your child’s teacher (place it in your student's PAWS folder), or fill out a form in the front office. Please include the date, your child’s full name, section number, bus number (if applicable), and your signature. If an emergency arises, you may send an email to galatastransportation@conroeisd.net . The e-mail must include all of the above information, including a parent signature, and must be received before 2:00 p.m. If you submit a transportation change by email, it must go to the email address referenced above; transportation changes should not be emailed directly to the teacher.

Please send a new note for each day the change occurs; we cannot accept notes for multiple days or with multiple changes. District policy states that a student may only ride the bus they are registered to ride; students may not have a transportation change to ride a different bus.

When you visit Galatas, we have designated the 8 parking spaces at the entrance (closest to the school) as "visitor" spots. We welcome you to use these spots when you visit the campus. The lower parking lot has been designated as "staff" parking, (as well as a couple of spots that are reserved for our Springetti Parking winners).

If all the visitor spots are full, we ask that you please park at either Cattail Park, the row of spots closest to Galatas in the Community Baptist Church, or the closest end spots at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. These two churches have graciously offered these spots to us as our Galatas Family grows.

Thank you for your help with parking!

In order for our students to learn and practice our lunch procedures, we ask that lunch visitors wait until August 26, to plan a lunch visit.

Student Breakfast $2.00

Student Lunch $3.20

Non Student Lunch/2nd Student Lunch $5.00

Milk $1.15

If your child is bringing their lunch, please pack items they can easily open.

Free and Reduced Meals: Parents must complete an application for students to be eligible for Free or Reduced meals. You may apply using the link below:

Please help your child be fully prepared for their day by ensuring that they have all needed materials (backpack, lunch, water bottle, etc...) before leaving for school in the morning.

To minimize interruptions to classrooms, please limit drop-offs to the following items:

• Water bottles and lunches may be placed on the Drop-off table before 10:00 a.m. at the front office. These items should be labeled with your child’s name and section number to ensure proper delivery. Items are delivered at 10:00 a.m. to a drop-off table at the end of each hallway, so please email the teacher to let them know that you have dropped off the water bottle or lunch. You may email your child’s teacher to let them know to allow your child to check the drop-off desk after 10:00 a.m.

• If you need eye glasses delivered to your child, please do not put them on the drop-off table. Bring them to the office staff for immediate delivery to your child.

• Any class work or homework that is dropped off will be placed in the teacher’s mailbox to be picked up during the day.

Delivery of flowers, balloons, etc. to students at school are not permitted.

Children are encouraged to bring water bottles each day. Please clearly write your child's name on the bottle with permanent marker. Students may refill their bottles during the day at one of our water bottle filling stations.

With the exception of service animals, dogs and other pets are not allowed on school grounds, including at the top of the hill during arrival and dismissal.

This is for the health and safety of our students and staff.

The speed limit in the Galatas school zone is 20 mph. This is to ensure the safety of all of our community members during very busy times in the morning and afternoon. As families enter and exit the car line, please take care to drive slowly and carefully.

In addition, cell phone use in a school zone is prohibited. As you enter areas around schools, please end your calls and put your phone away.

The CISD Police and Montgomery County Sheriff's Department patrol our school zones to ensure everyone's safety, and will issue citations if necessary.

Thank you for your help in keeping our community safe!

Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:

--Do not "cut through" the Good Shepherd parking lot to get into or out of the Galatas parking lot.

--Only cross at crosswalks! Our crossing guards and staff are here to keep everyone safe and ensure that families cross intersections in an efficient manner. Please do not short cut through the school parking lot to get to the sidewalks.

--Please do not park behind staff cars in the school parking lot. Please park in a parking space, as blocking cars could cause a safety concern in case of an emergency.

--Please do not park up on the curbs or grass areas in the school parking lot.

--Please be considerate of our neighbors at Hayden's Run and Wyndspire South. Keep the sight lines at the entrance clear for entering and exiting vehicles.

--Please be considerate of our neighbors at South Silvershire Circle. Please do not park on the grass or lawn of the homes. Take care not to block driveways and leave enough room for residents to easily drive in their neighborhood at all times.

All CISD returning students (including kindergarten students that registered prior to July 1st) received an email earlier this month with a snapcode. Please use the link in that email to access the secured site and complete the forms.

If you moved over the summer please email our registrar, Robin Curtis at rcurtis@conroeisd.net.

August

12 Teddy Bear Tea (Kinder Students); 1:00 p.m.

12 New Student Orientation (Grades 1-4); 4:00 p.m.

12 Meet & Greet (Grades 1-4) 4:30-6:00 p.m.

14 First Day of School

26 3rd, 4th, and Special Education Parent Information Night 5:00 p.m.

29 Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Parent Information Night 5:00 p.m.

September

2 No School: Labor Day Holiday

10 PTO Meeting – 10:00 a.m.

12 Individual Pictures

18 Read for a Better Life

26 Newcomer Coffee--9:00 a.m.

October

1 Walk to School Day

4 Kinder and 4th Grade Group Pictures 8:15 a.m.

8 PTO Meeting-10:00 a.m.

11 No School: Student Holiday

14 No School: Holiday

21-25 Red Ribbon Week

21-25 Book Fair

22 Bedtime Story Night-6:00 and 7:00 p.m.

25 Storybook Parade-8:20 a.m.

31 Science Day

November

4 No School: Staff Development

5 No School: Election Day

7 Individual Picture Make-up Day

12 PTO Meeting- 10:00 AM

14 3rd Grade Program: 6:00 p.m.

15 Galatas Family Movie Night: 6:30 p.m.

22 Galatas Fun Run

25-29 No School: Thanksgiving Break

December

10 PTO Meeting-10:00 a.m.

12 Holiday Party: 2nd grade

20 Polar Express Day (Students wear p.j.’s)

20 Early Release Day, End of Nine Weeks– 12:10 p.m.

December 23-January 6 Winter Break

January

7 Classes Resume