August 1, 2012
Dear Gonzales ISD School Family,
Summer has been a great time to work on plans for school year 2012-2013. I hope that you are having a great summertime fun with your children, family and friends! These months go by so fast! Make the best of every minute! In a few short weeks we will begin our new year. I have some district news and some reminders for beginning of school. Additionally, you can find news related to registration, orientations and other pertinent information on our district website at www.gonzales.txed.net, on facebook where we post district information, or by calling the campus directly.
I am happy to introduce our new administrators. Gonzales High School welcomed Dr. Chris Morrow to GISD to take the lead as high school principal. Dr. Morrow has 6 years of high school principal experience with the most recent from Friona ISD. He brings a family that will be well involved in GISD. His wife, Laura, will teach Pre-K at East Avenue. His daughters Kendall, Maddie, and Emma will attend school at Gonzales Elementary, North Avenue and Gonzales Junior High, and little Brinley will attend East Avenue next year. We are excited to have Dr. Morrow with us, and he is happy to be in Gonzales and excited to start the new school year. We are also happy to have Michael Garcia who will take the role as an Assistant Principal at GHS. Mr. Garcia worked at GHS as a coach for several years. His wife is a teacher and they have two children Cody Josiah, who is 6 years old, and Kaely Esther, who is ten months old.
Gonzales Junior High will be led by Ms. Wanda Fryer. Many of you know Ms. Fryer as she is well established in the community. Ms. Fryer has many years of experience in Gonzales ISD as teacher, assistant principal and principal for 4 years at North Avenue. She also has a niece attending GISD at North Avenue. Ms. Fryer is excited to begin the year at GJHS. We are so pleased to have Ms. Fryer as principal at JH. She has a great start having already worked with the Junior High students when they were at North Avenue. We are happy to have another new administrator to GJHS, Hector Dominguez who will take the Assistant Principal role. Mr. Dominguez has served in the Nixon-Smiley district as a band director for several years prior to taking the assistant principal role.
North Avenue Intermediate will be led by Mr. Gene Kridler. Mr. Kridler has also been a Gonzales resident for many years. He has served GISD as a coach in 1994 and as assistant principal and principal in the past ,most recently at GHS as Assistant Principal. Mr. Kridler’s wife, Jackie, works as counselor at GHS. Their daughter, Gena, graduated from GHS in 2010 , and their son Trey will be a senior this year at GHS. We are very pleased to have Mr. Kridler as Principal at NA. He is excited to begin the year. Mrs. Jenny Needham will serve as Assistant Principal at NA. Mrs. Needham has many years of experience in the district and has served as teacher at GE and most currently as assistant principal at GJHS. Her husband, Dane, works for GVTC as construction supervisor here in Gonzales and son Brett will join us at GISD in a few years.
Gonzales Elementary will again be led by Mrs. Jayne Iley, Principal and Mrs. Lori Lindemann, Assistant Principal. Mrs. Iley has served GISD for many years as teacher and assistant principal. She has been the principal of GE for the past two years. Mrs. Iley and her husband, George, are longtime Gonzales residents. Both of their daughters, Gennifer and Christina, attended GISD schools. We are happy to have Mrs. Iley at the helm of GE and she is excited to start the new school year. Mrs. Lori Lindemann has served GISD for several years. Mrs. Lindemann has worked as teacher and district coordinator for bilingual/esl and testing. Mrs. Lindemann has been the assistant principal of GE for the past two years. Mrs. Lindemann and husband, Tom, are longtime Gonzales residents and have three children, Tel, Leigh and Beth. Leigh currently teaches school at North Avenue.
East Avenue Primary will again be led by Mrs. Christi Leonhardt. Mrs. Leonhardt has served GISD for many years as teacher, reading facilitator, assistant principal and currently as the EA principal. We are fortunate to have Mrs. Leonhardt as EA principal where she has worked for the past 24 years. Mrs. Leonhardt and husband, Kenneth, are longtime Gonzales residents. They have two daughters. As Assistant Principal at East Avenue, we are so happy to welcome Ms. Stephaine Camarillo. Ms. Camarillo has vast experience in education having worked as a representative for the Department of Education and at the Regional Education Service Center for many years as a school improvement specialist. Ms. Camarillo is from Gonzales and happy to be working at GISD.
Watch for our new teacher announcements to come out in August. We are very happy with our teacher candidate selections and excited to start 2012-2013 school year.
- Student/Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct: All students will receive a copy of the 2012-2013 Gonzales ISD Student/Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct. This handbook and Code of Conduct will also be available on-line by the week of August 20th, 2012. Please remember that receipt of the Student/Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct must be acknowledged in writing. The receipt forms will be received with the handbook and should be returned to your child’s campus.
- Bus Routes: Bus routes are posted at individual campuses. Bus information is available by calling 830-672-3010.
- Meet the Teacher- PK-6th grade campuses have scheduled time for Meet the Teacher. Please check dates and times on-line at our Gonzales ISD website, in the Gonzales Inquirer, the Gonzales Cannon (first week of August publications) and on the campus marquees.
- Registration- Please check dates and times on-line at our Gonzales ISD website, in the Gonzales Inquirer, the Gonzales Cannon (first week of August publications) and on the campus marquees or by calling campuses.
- School Supplies- School Supplies-Grade level school supply lists have been compiled and are available online, in the Gonzales Inquirer and the Gonzales Cannon and by contacting the campuses. Supplies may be dropped off during Meet the Teacher night for grades PK-6.
- School Start Times- Please check dates and times on-line at our Gonzales ISD website, in the Gonzales Inquirer, the Gonzales Cannon (first week of August publications) and on the campus marquees or by calling campuses. Remember that getting to bed early helps with an early morning routine and assists students throughout the learning process.
- First Week of School Pick-Up/Drop-Off: East Avenue Primary: In an attempt to assist with first week of school traffic issues and better serve everyone we are incorporating a staggered start time for East Avenue Primary. This start time is in effect for the first week of school August 27th- August 31st only. Staggered start times follow: 1st grade report to school between 7:30 A.M. and 8:00 A.M., Kindergarten report from 8:00 A.M.-8:30 A.M. and Pre-K report between 8:30 A.M. and 9:00 A.M. Please help out by following the staggered start time schedule in place first week only. (If you must be at work at a time that will not allow you to follow the schedule we understand. Feel free to deliver your child at the normal time from 7:30 A.M.-8:00 A.M.) Remember to report at the normal time beginning the second week of school.
- Immunizations: Please check out the Gonzales ISD Health Website for immunization information.
- 2012-2013 District Calendar: Please note that the Gonzales ISD 2012-2013 Calendar can be located on the district website or in the Gonzales Inquirer or the Gonzales Cannon (first week of August). New calendars will be sent home with each student on the first day of school.
- Dress Code: Thank you for following the Gonzales ISD dress code. If you have questions related to the dress code, please refer to the Student/Parent Handbook or review it on-line at the Gonzales ISD website.
- Attendance: Attendance is important! Thank you ahead of time for getting your child prepared and to school on time daily. Timeliness starts the day calmly for students and ensures that they do not miss their instructional time. Please watch for attendance information to go home the first week of school.
- Spend time talking: Time contributed now to the importance of learning and attending school will make a difference in your child’s life when he/she becomes an adult. Spend time each school morning and evening talking about what your child is learning at school. Ask your child to show you how to do the assignments he/she is working on. This is great review and practice. Ask your child about new friends and what he/she has learned about their friend’s families, like where they work and how they spend free time. Ask your child about his/her favorite teacher and why he/she would pick that one. The questions to ask are important to show your child that you value who he/she spends time with, the world of education and the time they spend learning. These are some of the most important conversations you will have with your child. ·Reminder: Talking with children about what to expect is important. It helps them be prepared and takes away normal anxiety that occurs with change in schedules. It helps to remind them that this school year is a continuation of the prior year. They will see old friends and make new ones. Everyone feels a little anxious. That is normal, and they will have plenty of time to get to know each other. Also, remind them that their teacher will spend time getting them acquainted with the procedures and expectations. For all students, and especially students who are brand new to school, it is important to talk about what to expect.
The family support, structure, motivation, and encouragement from parents, faculty and staff are what inspire students to go to school and do their best. The best education for your children comes about when we work as a team. Thank you for being a part of your child’s education.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Strozier
GISD Superintendent of Schools
