Gullett Gazette - Jan. 8, 2025
Principal's Post
Dear Gullett Caregivers,
Welcome back! So excited for our spring semester and to start 2025 together! We ended the fall semester with a bang by announcing our Teacher of the Year, Mr. Marc Sustaita and our Teacher of Promise, Ms. Natalia Lizcano! We have so many amazing teachers here at Gullett and we are proud to have these two wonderful educators represent us at the district level at our Salute Awards. Salute is Austin ISD’s annual celebration to recognize some of the district’s incredible team members for their continued dedication to student excellence and achievement in our schools. Aside from Teacher of the Year and Teacher of Promise, the Salute Awards recognizes campus-based staff members in ten categories. District employees, students, families, and the community are invited to submit a nomination for staff members now through January 15th. Submit your nominations today!
Just a reminder that while it is a new year, we still have the same procedures! Don’t forget that our student and family handbook linked here has all the information you need to know which alongside our website can be super helpful. Don’t forget that school starts at 7:40 and we hit the ground running with announcements right away! You can drop off your child in the cafeteria as early as 7:15. Our car line runs pretty quickly and is also open starting at 7:15. I know it can be challenging after not having that morning rush over the break to get back into the swing of things, but we appreciate your cooperation so we can all have a smooth start to the day. Part of being back in the groove of school means following our safety protocols and routines. Please note that we will still practice our ongoing safety procedures which include our monthly fire drills. Each semester we also do a shelter in place drill (bad weather) and a lockdown drill. Our lock down drill is scheduled for January 24th. Finally, thank you for bringing your identification and checking in at the office when coming to campus during the school day.
A new year is a wonderful time to set goals as individuals, teams, and as a school. Our staff will be reviewing mid year assessments along with their data to set individual goals, classroom, grade level, and campus goals. One significant goal we have this year that you all can help with is raising our attendance rate! This is a major district initiative as well because it impacts both school funding and more importantly, student belonging and achievement. Of course, if your student has a fever and is sick, please keep your Gecko at home! But when it is possible for them to be at school, we want them here because they make our school a better place. On our website, you can find all the information that you may need for reporting absences and how to support us in reaching our attendance goal! Attendance is taken at 10:30 daily and if they are not present at that time, it is counted as an absence for the day. The only exception is if a student is at a medical appointment and comes back on that same day with a doctor's note. If you can schedule travel plans and appointments that keep your Gecko at school until 10:30 or have them back prior that would be a great help.
Funding is important and every dollar counts. There are very direct impacts we are seeing on campus as a result of having to tighten our budgets, so if we can all do our part to collect as many dollars as we can from the state of Texas it will help our campus and our district. Funding aside, the most important reason we want to improve attendance is to support your Gecko’s learning and achievement! Teachers are delivering core curriculum in very systematic ways as they introduce and review skills. When students are out they miss opportunities to practice those skills and critical information being taught that cannot be replicated with a make up assignment. Coming to school on time ensures a smooth start to the day for all learners as teachers often having learning opportunities ready to go as your Gecko walks in the door.
I am always happy to answer any questions you may have about attendance and funding as well as ways to improve. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or join our discussions on this topic at our CAC meetings! Thank you for working with us to increase our percentages by helping to eliminate “avoidable absences” and working with us to ensure your Gecko is here everyday if they are healthy!.
There are so many reasons to be here everyday this semester! In addition to all the daily learning opportunities in the classroom, this spring we have plenty of fun and excitement ahead of us. Next week is the Science Fair and upcoming events include Lunar New Year, Black History Month, our first ever FUN RUN, Valentine’s Day, Field Day, Art Show, and Talent Show are just a few things we have to look forward to. Of course, none of that would be possible without the incredible work from our teachers and our fabulous caregiver community coming together to ensure that our Geckos finish off the 24-25 school year academically strong with memories to last a lifetime!
Happy New Year Everyone!
Sincerely,
Ms. Thompson
Proud Principal, Thomas A. Gullett Elementary
Counselor Spotlight
As the spring semester begins, I am excited to share highlights from our school counseling program and provide a preview of what’s to come in the spring. Our focus last semester was on fostering emotional growth, building resilience, and promoting a positive school climate.
Counseling Highlights of the Semester
Classroom Lessons: This semester, students participated in lessons on social-emotional learning topics such as kindness/bullying prevention, emotional regulation, gratitude, perspective, and empathy. These interactive sessions help build the foundation for lifelong skills.
Small Group Sessions: We hosted small group sessions focusing on topics like coping strategies, handling transitions, and teamwork. It was inspiring to see students connect and support one another.
Community Involvement: Thanks to your generosity, our holiday giving drive was a huge success. Together, we helped a number of families in our school community.
Looking Ahead
Counseling Themes for Spring: In the upcoming semester, we will focus on perseverance, goal setting/careers, honesty, cooperation, and courage.. These themes will be integrated into classroom lessons and small group discussions.
Lamar Middle School Transition Presentation: January 17; course selection sheets go home.
Career Day! In conjunction with Career and Technical Education Month, Gecko Career Day will be February 21.
Parent Workshops: We’re planning a spring book study using The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt.
Student Check-Ins: I’ll continue to offer individual student check-ins to provide additional support when needed. Please feel free to reach out if your child would benefit from one-on-one counseling.
Encouraging Mental Wellness At Home
Take time as a family to reflect on positive moments from the past year.
Encourage your child to journal or draw about their favorite memories and goals for 2024.
Incorporate mindfulness activities like deep breathing or yoga into your routine to help everyone recharge.
Thank You Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting the well-being of our students. Your engagement and encouragement make all the difference. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need resources in the coming year.
Wishing you and your family a peaceful and joyous new year. I look forward to continuing our work together in 2025
~ Ms. Mahan
Library Letter
Check out the library newsletter for details and more library happenings, including an author visit next week!
~ Mr. Temple
The Note
Happy New Year, Gullett Musicians!
Broken record statement: last month was a big one! We packed everyone in the school into the cafeteria for the Geckos Around the Globe Singalong and had the year’s first Share Day where every student got an opportunity to perform for their classmates. Also, though he’s not one to toot his own trumpet and announce it, the next time you see Mr. S, be sure to congratulate him on being named Gullett’s Teacher of the Year!
We’re at the start of a busy semester, and here are some of our upcoming events:
1/21-1/24: We Love Austin Music Week
1/21-1/22: 1st Grade Informance
3/3: Young People’s Concert (4th/5th)
3/25: 4th Grade Program–Texas!
4/5: Recorder and Ukulele Festival (by audition)
And many more!
Let us know if you have any questions!
Sincerely,
Will Jurgens and Marc Sustaita
Gullett Music Staff
The "Art"icle
Hello Amazing Artists,
Kindergarten students are exploring Pattern and Repetition this month with a historical connection to quilt-making during the Underground Railroad era.
1st and 2nd grades are starting clay projects. 1st grade will be looking at and designing Mesoamerican suns. 2nd grade will be looking at Greek amphoras, then designing their own amphora (pinch pot) and using the Sgraffito technique to scratch patterns and images into their clay.
3rd through 5th grades are working on their choice-based project about fairy tales! For inspiration, students are looking at artists' work that use fairy tales/ fantasy as subject matter. Students decide which story/scene they want to illustrate, reimagine, or create a new story. As well as decide which of the many drawing, painting or collaging studio materials and techniques they want to use! We are excited to see their creativity shine and which stories they will share.
Mrs. Leatherwood & Mrs. Luecke
Classroom Wishlist for Mrs. Leatherwood and Mrs. Luecke
Artsonia: Connect a parent account to your student
P.E. Press
What we are learning
Happy new year! In December we wrapped up our basketball unit! We started our jump rope unit just before the winter break. Students in K-2 worked on developing their basic single rope skills, and 3-5 worked on adding various foot patterns to their repertoire of jump rope skills. Students worked on building strength, endurance and coordination through the practice of various short rope skills, as well as cooperation and teamwork needed for long jump rope. Jump rope is a wonderful way to exercise and there are countless jump rope tricks and skills that can challenge students at every level. We will be starting Volleyball and Gymnastics in the coming weeks. Wellness lessons this month will cover the skeletal and muscular system including the identification of various bones, muscles, and ways to build muscular strength, endurance and flexibility.
~ Coach Garcia, Coach Rose, and Coach Victor
Upcoming Dates
1/9 - PTA Winter Soiree
1/17 - Science Fair
1/20 - Holiday for MLK Day
1/21-1/24 We Love Austin Music Week/1st Grade Informances, Holocaust Remembrance Week
1/28 - CAC
1/29 - No school for students
2/ 3 - School Counselor Week, PTA Meeting 6pm
Thomas A. Gullett Elementary
Samantha Greenleaf, Assistant Principal
Email: gullett@austinisd.org
Website: www.gullettgeckos.com
Location: 6310 Treadwell Boulevard, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2082
Facebook: facebook.com/gullettgeckos
Twitter: @GullettElem