Gray Elementary is an amazing school full of bright and inquisitive learners. Teachers and staff work hard to ensure a positive, safe, and intellectually enriching environment. We value a collaborative school-home partnership with our supportive families. It is of paramount importance that all our students form a strong academic and social-emotional foundation for their promising futures.
SEPTEMBER 2026
Dear Gray Families,
The 2026-2027 school year is off to a great start! It is wonderful having our Stallions back in school. As we move into September, students are enjoying connecting with friends and learning from their new teachers. We recently had a pep rally on the new turf, which ignited our school spirit!
September will bring with it a lot of celebrations and community building events. These events are important because they help set and maintain a positive culture here at Gray. Among these, Gray will host an Open House on September 10th from 5:00-6:00pm. This is an excellent opportunity to speak with your child’s teacher, connect with other Gray families, build a home-school connection, and see your child’s home away from home.
Mark your calendars! Gray Elementary’s annual Spirit Week is coming up the week of September 14th. As part of the celebration, our annual Stallion Trot will take place on Wednesday, September 16th. Please see the schedule below so families can come and cheer on their Stallions. Families are encouraged to make signs that inspire and motivate our students.
TIME GRADE LEVEL
8:30-9:00 AM 1st, 2nd, 4th
9:00-9:30 AM 3rd, 5th, Kindergarten
9:30-10:00 AM Pre K
10:00-10:30 AM 6th
1:00-1:30 PM 7th, 8th
Thanks to our partnership with Friends of Gray and the generosity of our community, Stallion Trot donations have funded many campus improvements, including new water fountains, recess equipment, and garden developments. Be on the lookout for more Stallion Trot details soon!
On September 15th, we will host High School Night for families of our 8th grade Stallions in the UGB gymnasium (please enter through Door #10). We will also host our Chalk the Walk event on the 15th to prepare for the Stallion Trot the following day.
To close out the month of September, we will celebrate International Week. The purpose of International Week is to celebrate the wonderful diversity that exists within our school, honor identities, and build relationships. It is important to highlight the vast array of cultures that our families, students, and staff bring to Gray Elementary each day. Please continually check calendars and Stallion Newsletters for information. Our K-4 international week parade will take place on October 2nd at 2:15pm. K-4th grade families are invited to watch our parade. Feel free to bring a flag or make a sign.
Gray Elementary will have 2 food celebration days during the 2026-2027 School Year: December 18th and June 11th. These days may include store bought items like pizza, chips, cookies etc...Teachers will share details as these dates approach.
Additionally, we will host 2 Treat Days on October 31st (Halloween) and February 12th (Valentine's Day). Unlike Food Celebration Days, shared meal items (like pizza or cakes) are not permitted on Treat Days. Instead, students may bring small, store bought, individually wrapped items to share during the last 30 minutes of the day (for example, a lollipop attached to a card). Please note: Students will not consume treats at school, all treats will be sent home in backpacks.
Gray students will participate in CPS district wide assessments during the 2026-2027 school year. Our Kindergarten-2nd grade students will participate in the iReady assessment and 3rd-8th graders will participate in the Star 360 assessment. Teachers will utilize the results of these assessments to help inform, drive, and differentiate instruction to ensure our Stallions are always moving forward.
Below are the testing windows for both iReady and Star 360:
Beginning of the School Year (BOY) 8/31/26 - 9/24/26
Middle of the School Year (MOY) 12/14/26 - 1/21/27
End of the School Year (EOY) 4/26/27 - 5/20/27
We are Stallion Strong!
Sincerely,
Dr. Kotis
