The Grandview School District Food Service Department recently updated its website to include information ranging from school menus to nutritional information and recipes. Click here to find information on the new Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program, which is working to ensure students always have access to nutritional snacks. You can also find information on the district's school breakfast program and favorite recipes.

The first snow flakes of the fall are in the air, which means it's time to start thinking about how inclement weather can affect our school district. For the latest information on school cancellations and delays visit the Inclement Weather, School Cancellations & Delays tab under the Families heading found above, or click here to be taken to directly to that page.

Vendors wishing to respond to district E-Rate requests should follow the procedures outlined in the Forms 470. Updates and resources will be posted to the E-Rate page of the district website. Additional inquiries may be sent to erate@gsd200.org if necessary.

Staff members from the throughout the Grandview School District were recently recognized for their years of dedication and service. During an awards ceremony held at the Grandview Middle School library during American Educational Week in November staff members were given special pins commemorating their time with the school district.

Receiving five-year pins were Kayce Axtman, Fidel Castro, Dale Fleischbein, Juan Gonzalez, Ben Hardman, Charlie Kriewall, Elizabeth Leon, Matt McKinstry, Jacque Mendoza, Andrew Penwell, Michelle Ross, Lea Shea, Judy Stanton, Brian Vessey, Jennifer Arteaga, Juana Barcenas, Flor Garza, Nasarita Gonzalez, Betty Graf, Yolanda Hernandez, Christina Lopez, Anna Madrigal, Richard Peacock, Tabitha Petersen, Jeremy Smith and Talia Stewart.

Receiving 10-year pins were Kelly Barth, Sylvia Campos, Kelly Ledgerwood, Matt Mallery, Lucy Prieto, Jodi Sabin, Margi Trevino, Sheila Arriaga, Herminia Barrera, Tyra Finley, Alicia Garcia, Christine Garcia, Cyndi Jech, Maria Lopez, Pete Molina, Vickie Roberts and Tim Smith.

Receiving 15-year pins were David Bruinekool, Mike Closner, James Dougherty, Dino Gonzalez, Gloria Hernandez, Everette Labat, Janet Mecham, Jeff Sevigny, Skitch Stanton, Helen Andrews, Mary Perez and Maria Tovar.

Receiving 20-year pins were Sandy Labat, Scott Parrish, Ara Pena and Cristy Rodriguez.

Receiving 25-year pins were Elma R. Perez and Diane A. Jaramillo.

Receiving a 30-year pin was Eva Garcia.

And eight staff members were recognized for more than 30 years of service in the district. Terry Dahlstrom, Douglas Veach and Patricia Bonnell were each recognized for 31 years in the district. Leslie Charvet was recognized for 32 years, and Patricia Dorsey and Karen Miller were each recognized for having 33 years of service in the district. Jeffrey Miller was recognized for 35 years of service and Joyce Meeker was recognized for 37 years of service in the Grandview School District.

Keeping open lines of communication between the schools, students and their families is an important part of life in the Grandview School District. And it's an area where the district is seeing a lot of success.

The Grandview School District recently completed its fall parent/teacher conferences, giving parents and teachers a chance to meet face-to-face. At the elementary school level, all of the schools saw at least a 90 percent participation rate during conferences.

Arthur H. Smith School and Harriet Thompson Elementary School both saw a 96 percent participation rate during fall conferences, with McClure Elementary School seeing a 90 percent participation rate.

At Grandview Middle School 86 percent of the students completed a student-led conference.

"The family support was great and the parent surveys indicated that parents appreciate the student-led model where students have a voice in the conference and advisors guide the conversation covering current grades, state test scores and future goals," said GMS Assistant Principal Carol Bardwell.

Grandview High School has seen great gains in its conference participation levels. Principal Mike Closner said the school saw a 75 percent participation rate in conferences this fall. Closner said in the fall of 2003, when student-led conferences were introduced at the school, they were able to double the number of parents attending conferences to 59 percent. Since then, the school has seen a steady increase in the percentage of parents taking part in conferences. Closner hoped to reach out to a few more parents in the weeks after conferences to raise their participation percentage to 80.

Compass High School saw 85 percent attendance at its fall conferences. Principal Brian Anderson said this year students were encouraged to dress up for the student-led conferences and conduct themselves as if at a job interview. During the conference parents were given insight into their student's job performance at school.

Superintendent Kevin Chase said it's important for students to have positive adults in their lives and working together can be a key factor to a student's success.

"We need to work together to provide students the education each will need to do well in college, work and life," Chase said. "That means we need to close the circle by seeing and talking to one another about the successes and challenges our students face. It is essential that we communicate."

Pictured above: Volunteer Petra Morales welcomes a parent to fall conferences at Grandview Middle School.

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