What's Happening at Griffis

We hope you have been enjoying your summer and have found time to enjoy some special activities together! We hope you are recharged, relaxed and ready to start the 2024-2025 school year. Our staff is already planning and preparing to meet their new students. Our custodians have worked all summer cleaning our building and it looks amazing. We are enrolling new students to Griffis and we are excited to welcome them to our Griffis Family. Our PTO is getting ready to welcome families, provide volunteer opportunities and offer other exciting events and programs.

Griffis is such a special place to learn and grow. Our dedicated staff strives to make connections with students to help them feel valued, accepted and safe. We are proud of our students and our school and will continue to have high expectations for each and every student. This last year has shown us what we can accomplish with a strong partnership between our families and schools. Together, we know we will make this school year one of growth and achievement for all of our students. We are ready to GLOW!

It's a GREAT Day to be a Fox! GO GRIFFIS!

Sincerely,

Michelle Colwell, Erin Gray & Leslie Crow

Griffis would like to welcome Leslie Crow to our campus! Mrs. Crow has been announced as the principal for Kathy Kirkpatrick Elementary that will open the 25-26 school year. She was the Assistant Principal at Lee Elementary last year. She will be sharing her time with Griffis and Lee until the new campus opens. It's a Great Day to be a Fox. GO Griffis!

REGISTER NOW for the 2024-2025 school year!

If you have any questions about registration or are having problems with your account, please send an email to hdaniels@caddomillsisd.org or call the office at 903-527-3525.

Bring your school supplies to drop off with your homeroom teacher.

If you ordered school supplies through 1st Day School Supplies, your supply box will be delivered to your homeroom teacher and in your classroom on Meet the Teacher night. If you still need to get your supplies, click the link below.

• Doors open at 7:30
• Guardians may walk students in Wednesday and Thursday ONLY
• Dismissal at 3:35

Bring your picnic blankets and come enjoy lunch with your student. If the weather does not permit, it will not be rescheduled.

We are excited to continue our monthly student recognitions with our GLOW Griffis Celebrations! Students that are receiving an award for that month will be invited by their child's teacher. These will be quick celebrations right after announcements. We are excited to start this at Griffis this year.

We don't have staff members on duty until 7:30. Please do not drop students off on the front porch prior to doors opening at 7:30.

Car Rider Arrival:

Doors will open at Griffis at 7:30 a.m. Pre-K through 1st grade students will be welcomed to school in the back drive thru. 2nd grade through 4th grade will enter in the front drive thru. No one will be allowed to park and walk their students to the door. ALL students will be received in the car line. If you are a family with multiple students at Griffis in various grade level drop off locations, only ONE drop off is needed per family. Use the youngest siblings drop off area. (Ex: 1st grader and a 3rd grader need to be dropped off together, the back drive thru would be their drop off location.)

Parents will be allowed to walk their students to their classroom on Wednesday and Thursday the first week of school. Normal drop off procedures begin on Friday, August 16th.

We don't have staff members on duty until 7:30. Please be mindful of this when your students are walking and riding their bikes to school without parent supervision.

Please do not drop your students off on Seabiscuit by the playground fence and the Griffis walker sidewalk. If you are in a vehicle, you will need to follow car rider arrival procedures.

ALL students that are walkers or bike riders will need to come to the FRONT of the building for arrival. A crossing guard will stationed for Stonehaven walkers and bikers.

Car Rider Dismissal:

School is dismissed at 3:35. Pre-K through 1st grade student car riders will exit the school in the back drive thru. 2nd grade through 4th grade car riders will be released in the front drive thru. Please follow signage for directions of line formations. Use the youngest siblings pick up area for multiple siblings. Car rider tags will be provided. Please display them clearly on your car windshield. Please do not line up prior to 2:45 to allow the buses to be in place for the district transportation schedule. No walk ups. Please do not block the crosswalk.

Please see maps for specific details of traffic flow and double line formations. Reminder no cell phones in the car line to ensure safety for all!

Vehicles are not allowed to park on Seabiscuit by the playground fence. If you are picking up your student in a vehicle, you will need to join the dismissal car line spot for their grade level.

• All bike riders will be dismissed from the front
• ALL walkers will be dismissed from the playground gate.
• Pre K-2nd walkers will need a guardian to meet them at the playground gate pick up spot.
• Please show your walker sign with your student's name.
• 3rd-4th walkers and younger siblings will be able to walk on their own.
• Cars will only be permitted in the car line in the back of Griffis. No cars will be allowed in the parking lot area in the back of Griffis during dismissal time due to student safety.

Here are a few reminders for dismissal with heavy rain, thunderstorms or severe weather: If your child is normally a walker, parents have two options:

1. Normal routine of meeting your child at the playground fence. We will be walking

out the front entrance due to the weather.

2. Join the appropriate car line to pick your child up in a vehicle. We will not dismiss bike riders or walkers without a guardian present for all grade levels. Please call the

front office to make a transportation change for your bike rider or walker due to the

weather. Car rider signs help with the dismissal process. If you do not have one, you can create your own:) Thank you for your help ensuring that dismissal runs smoothly even in inclement weather.

7:30 Doors open at Griffis

8:00 Tardy Bell/ Class Starts

3:35 Dismissal Bell

Students not in the building by the 8:00 A.M. bell are considered tardy. Please refer to our campus handbook regarding our tardy policy. If your child is tardy, please do not drop your child off. For their safety, your child should be signed in. Please come to the front to sign them in.

Parents - you can access bus route information 3 ways:

1. Download the Stopfinder App

2. Go to the district website to the transportation home page

3. Check Skyward under the transportation tab

Any questions about bus service to please contact the transportation office at 903-527-6133.

Child Nutrition is pleased to announce SchoolCafé, our new school meal account system. Account setup guides are attached. Please make sure to add money to your child's account before the first day of school. Free & Reduced Lunch Applications for the 24-25 school year is open. These can be completed electronically through your SchoolCafé account. Paper forms will be available at your campus' front office.

** If you qualify for Free & Reduced Lunch through Direct Certification (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid Free or Reduced), you do NOT need to fill out an application. Your feedback is important. Complete the parent and staff survey by following the link below: https://forms.gle/2aNeZBusj1uE7uLcA

Caddo Mills ISD is excited to partner with AlphaBest to offer an after-school program for students in grades Pre K-4. The program will be housed at both elementary campuses. Check out the attached flyers for additional information, or click the link below.

We are excited to continue this program with Griffis Elementary PTO this coming this year!

The Watch D.O.G.S. Program brings male role models such as dads, stepdads, grandpas, uncles, etc. into the school for the betterment of the school, the students, and the community!!

Are you interested or know someone who may be?

We ask for a commitment of a partial or full school day just ONCE per year! Of course, you can volunteer more often!

More information on how to volunteer and our Kick Off meeting will be posted at a later time.

For more information visit the website at: https://dadsofgreatstudents.com/

For questions, you may contact our TOP DOG Coordinator: Bram Johnson at Griffiswatchdogs@gmail.com

Thanks for your support, we look forward to seeing you on campus this year!

SAVE THE DATE! Our Annual Hometown Gathering and Meet the Foxes is ready to go. Local businesses will showcase their items and we will get to Meet the Foxes.

Website: https://www.caddomillsisd.org/
Location: 3639 Farm to Market Road 1565, Caddo Mills, TX, USA
Phone: 903-527-3525
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kathryn-Griffis-Elementary-Official-291701637518892