What a GReat first week at GRHS! We welcomed many visitors to GRHS, and the feedback was consistent: our campus runs smoothly, our Longhorns are kind and respectful, and there is something special happening here.
It takes a team to make a campus of 200 staff members and 2,200 students GReat. Thank you to our incredible staffamily for making this our best first week ever, to our district support teams for coming alongside us and making sure we have what we need for a successful year, and to YOU—our families—for your partnership and support.
As we head into this week, we have so many opportunities to grow together, build our team, and make memories! We’ll kick off the week with Chalk Your Spot and Senior Sunrise (seniors only), a Community Pep Rally and a special campus celebration just for our staff.
And, as we continue to grow together, we ask for your help with Dress Code expectations. Please remind your student to:
Wear their GRHS-issued ID every day.
Make sure shirts are long enough that when a hand is raised, no midriff is visible.
When we work together, we make The Ranch GReat—1% better every day! #OHOH
Coming Up at The Ranch
Upcoming Dates & Events - see flyers for details
August 16 - 5:30 - 7:30pm - Chalk Your Spot (Senior Only Event)
August 19 - 6:30pm -Fall Community Pep Rally (see flyer)
August 20 - 6:30am - Senior Sunrise
August 28 - Early Dismissal @ 12:25pm
August 28 - Progress Report SW 1 - Close Date
September 7 - Student & Staff Holiday
September 8 - GRHS Open House - 5pm - 7pm
September 16 - UNDERCLASSMEN PHOTOS (9-11th) all day in Gym through English classes
September 18 - End of the 1st six weeks
September 21 - Start of 2nd six weeks
September 24 - Early Release @ 12:25pm
September 25 - Student & Staff Holiday
September 28 - October 2 - Homecoming Week
October 3 - 7pm - 11pm - Homecoming Dance
October 6 - PSAT @ school - 9th grade
October 7 - PSAT @ school - 11th grade
October 8 - PSAT @ school - 10th grade
October 9 - Student & Staff Holiday
October 12 - Student & Staff Holiday
October 13 - Progress Report SW 2 - Close Date
October 20 - UNDERCLASSMEN (9-11th) & STAFF PHOTO RETAKES
October 26 - 30 - Red Ribon Week
October 30 - Early Release @ 12:25pm
Hot off the Press!
Current News & Things You Need to Know!
Beginning of the Year Grade Level Meetings
Student Service Window Reminders
Student Schedules
Dual Credit Fall Payment Due Now!
Bus Transportation Forms PAST DUE- Next Steps!
Beginning of the Year Forms Must Be Filled Out!
26-27 Yearbooks on Sale!
Student ID Protocol
Dismissal - Pick Up Procedural Reminders
Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOL) Guidelines
Save the Dates! Check out the flyers and add all the important dates to your calendar!
Beginning of the Year Grade Level Meetings
Begining of the Year Grade Level Meetings were conducted last week. Students were introduced to administrators, counselors, and other key staff members that are here to help! Students were given an overview of many procedures at GR, such as how to go to tutorials, cafe etiquette, and where to find the restroom nearest to their classes. In addition, GR administrators reviewed expectations and potential consequences for not meeting expectations according to the LCISD Student Code of Conduct. For more information on the Code of Conduct, please see "Ranch Resources."
Student Service Window Reminders
Student Leaving Before DIsmissal / Early Pick Up Procedures:
If you need your student to leave before the dismissal bell, please email grhsattendance@lcisd.org. We MUST receive an email from the parent/guardian listed in Skyward at least 2 hours before the desired check out time.
If you are picking your student up, a parent/guardian, or emergency contact listed in Skyward, must come into the front office with their physical ID every time. No student will be released unless identificaiton can be produced and verified via Skyward. The cut off time for student pick up is 3:20pm.
Lunch Deliveries:
Students are NOT permitted to use a delivery service such as Door Dash or Uber Eats.
If you want to deliver lunch to your Longhorn, you MUST be listed as a parent/guardian, or emergency contact in Skyward.
Attendance:
Attendance notes must be turned within 5 days of returning to school. Attendance notes may be delivered in person to the Student Service Window or emailed to grhsattendance@lcisd.org. If emailed, the notes must come from a parent/guardian's Skyward verified email account. Please include the student's first and last name, grade, student ID number, the date(s) the student was absent, and the reason for the absence. For more information, see "Ranch Resources" and click on "Student Handbook."
Student Schedules
Counselors were at all lunches last week to assist students with schedule concerns. Please note that schedule correction requests are no longer being accepted unless they meet one of the seven approved reasons outlined in the LCISD Course Catalog (Page 17).
All Lamar CISD parents and guardians must complete the required student transportation form to confirm their students’ main form of transportation and to submit an official request for bus transportation for the 2026-2027 school year.
Please note: Submitting this form does NOT automatically qualify your student for bus transportation. Eligibility requirements for bus transportation are in the Lamar CISD Student Handbook:
· If a form is not submitted by Aug. 2, your student WILL NOT receive bus transportation until August 24
· For all forms submitted between August 3 to August 21, bus transportation will begin August 24.
· Contact your student's campus to request any change in your transportation choice after August 21. Please note, any changes after August 21 may take up to five business days to go into effect.
For the 2026-27 school year, all required Lamar Consolidated ISD beginning-of-year forms must be completed online through the Skyward Family Access Center. Online forms are available through the Family Access Center and all forms need to be submitted no later than Sept. 11th. Instructions, important dates, a username/password reset button, and technical assistance regarding the online forms can be found by clicking here. For those who need access to a computer or the Internet, computers will be available on campus Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact the school front office.
CO27 PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Order your Senior Tribute Ad on the Jostens website when you order your book, and we'll do the rest! Here's how to do it: Click "Create My Ad" on the "Yearbook Recognition Ad" panel, choose the size you'd like, pay for it on the Jostens site, and we'll create a valued keepsake tribute for your CO27 grad!
Student ID Protocol - Update!
Correction - In last week's Longhorn News, it was stated that students receive the initial ID and a 2nd replacement ID at no charge. This was incorrect. Please accept my apology for the oversight. Each student receives ONE free ID card, plastic cover, and lanyard. - Yanta
As of Friday, August 14, 2026 - every GRHS student has been issued a GRHS ID, plastic cover, and lanyard. Therefore, beginning Monday, August 17, 2026, each new ID printed will be at the cost of the student.
Student ID Card Protocol Reminder
To help ensure that all students are properly identified on campus and to promote accountability, George Ranch High School requires students to have a visible student ID card or approved temporary sticker while on campus. Every student has been issued an initial student ID card at Ranch Round Up or on the few first days of school at no cost.
Replacement ID cards will cost $5 each. Students may purchase up to four additional replacement ID cards, for a maximum replacement fee of $20.
Repeated requests for replacement ID cards may be considered a failure to comply with GRHS dress code and student identification expectations. After 5 total ID card issuances, additional replacement requests may result in progressive disciplinary consequences, including ISS assignments and possible loss of semester exam exemptions.
Dismissal - Pick Up Procedural Reminders
PLEASE BE PATIENT AND KIND!
If you are picking up a student in the front of the school during dismissal, you are allowed to double park on Longhorn Drive while you wait (the driveway closest to the front of the school). Please leave the center of the driveway open with enough space to accommodate emergency vehicles. Also, please pull forward to the vehicle in front of you, leaving as little space as possible.
However, when Longhorn Drive is full, you will be directed into the front parking lot. At that time, we ask that you find an empty parking space and avoid parking and waiting in the travel lanes within the parking lot. Waiting in the travel lanes can obstruct emergency vehicles, as well as those parents in parking spaces trying to exit. Please communicate your parking space number to your student so they may find you. Your cooperation and patience will expedite the egress of traffic off campus. Eventually, you may notice that arriving on campus at 4:00pm or slightly later may minimize your wait time on campus.
Bring Your Own Laptop Guidelines
LCISD will continue its BYOL (Bring Your Own Laptop) program this school year. This program allows students to use a personal laptop in any Dual Credit or Advanced Placement (AP) course.
The BYOL policy and required permission form are linked below. In order for a student to use a personal laptop in a Dual Credit or AP course, the permission form must be completed and submitted to each teacher of the course in which the laptop will be used.
Please complete the form and have your student turn it in to their Dual Credit and/or AP teacher to ensure a smooth start to the school year.
Counselors, College Career Facilitator, and Registrar Squad!
Our GRHS Counselors, College Career Facilitator, and Registrar are ready and available to support you. The best way to contact them is via email and they will be getting back with you within 24 business hours. From schedule questions, college questions, transcript requests, to any student concern, our GRHS team is here to assist you! Feel free to email them with any questions or concerns.
GRHS Student News is produced by our talented students and Mr. Terrando. Please note that the imbedded video is a You Tube link that parents should be able to access but if on a LCISD network, the link will not work. Students view the Student News on Fridays during Advisory. Shout out to the Student News team for getting it done, even in Week 1!
Mum Market Open! Get Your HoCo Mum!
GRHS Athletic Booster Club Spirit Bundle
🔥 The wait is over… your George Ranch spirit bundle is here! 🤘🐂
Four shirts. Four ways to show your Longhorn pride. One unbeatable price.
ATTENTION CO27 GRADS, PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Legacy Studios will be taking Senior Portraits on the GR campus 7 times over the next few months for Senior Portraits! The first on-campus session is from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Friday, August 21, 2026! The Yearbook photo is free, and other sittings are available at different costs. Use this link to schedule your appointment: https://seniors.legacystudios.com/george-ranch-hs-richmond-tx/
Our George Ranch High School Staffamily is committed to helping every student succeed, and we'd love your help recognizing those who go the extra mile.
Has a GRHS staff member made a positive impact on your student or family? Whether they've shown exceptional care, provided outstanding support, or gone above and beyond, we want to celebrate them!
Please use the link below to answer three quick questions and recognize a deserving Longhorn. Your words of appreciation help us celebrate the people who make George Ranch a championship campus—one student, one family, and one act of excellence at a time.
Our Admin Team is ready and willing to support! We are available (via email) during business hours and will promptly get back with you within 24 business hours for assistance.
Please feel free to reach out to your student's assistant principal or counselor (alpha split by last name) for student specific concerns or assistance.
Mrs. Carrie Yanta: Principal, cyanta@lcisd.org
Mrs. Cecilia Alvarado: Administrative Assistant to Mrs. Yanta, cecilia.alvarado@lcisd.org
Mr. Michael Holmquist: Associate Principal, michael.holmquist@lcisd.org
Mrs. Bonnie Mendez: Administrative Assistant to Mr. Holmquist, bmendez@lcisd.org
Assistant Principals: Students are assigned an assistant principal by the student's last name.
A - D: Travis Gann, tgann@lcisd.org
E - K: Babafemi Ojo, babafemi.ojo@lcisd.org
L - RA: Jessie Eilenstine, jessie.eilenstine@lcisd.org
RE - Z: Marqueshah Coy, mcoy@lcisd.org
Counselors: Students are assigned a counselor by the student's last name.
A - B: Kimberly Ethridge, kimberly.ethridge@lcisd.org
C - GRE: Stacey Richards, stacey.richards@lcisd.org
