Shoutout to my our four outstanding third graders who earned bus tickets today! Thank you for setting a great example for others!


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This weekend marked an exciting milestone as the brand-new GCISD BBQ Team, proudly calling themselves Sandbar Smokehouse, fired up their pits for their very first competition at the West Texas BBQ Bash in Monahans — a Champions BBQ Alliance–sanctioned event!
Thanks to the generous sponsorship from OSC Rentals and the incredible support of the event organizers for securing our sponsorship, our student pitmasters — Reagan Hillger, Aubrey Halfmann, Shooter Brinkley, Harrison Little, Trevor Garcia, and Grady Ivins — entered the full card of cookoff categories: brisket, pork butt, ribs, and chicken. Competing against professional pitmasters from across Texas, teams representing the sponsorship of major oilfield companies for the charity event, our students held their own and received excellent marks in a field of tough competition.
While they didn’t crack the Top 10 this time, the team gained invaluable experience and mentorship from BBQ legends such as Paul Whitaker of Scooter-N-Clarke, D’Kota Dixon of West Texas Smoke, and Tim Milligan of Team Chupacabra, who all took time to share tips and encouragement with our young cooks.
And they didn’t leave empty-handed! In the Senior KidsQ, our students made their mark cooking individual ribeye steaks for turn in:
🥩 5th – Aubrey Halfmann
🔥 4th – Trevor Garcia
🏆 1st – Grady Ivins — proving that all that extra practice at home pays off!
Next weekend, Sandbar Smokehouse will take their talents to Greenwood to compete in the Tried & True Cookoff, once again sanctioned by Champions BBQ Alliance.
Mrs. Gunkel shared, “I couldn’t be more proud of these hard-working first-time competitors or more excited for their future. This is only the beginning for this young team because they really have the BBQ Fever now!”
Special thanks to additional coaches, haulers of pits and all the stuff, and amazing team supporters- Lissa & Karen Cammack, Adam & Tammy Halfmann, Kristen & Darren Hillger, and Steven Brinkley for all your help in Monahans!


















Parents,
If your child rides the school bus, we have great news! Be on the lookout for an email on Tuesday, October 21st, from EZ Routing/TransAct. This email will guide you through the next steps to monitor your child’s bus rides to and from school.
We are excited to bring this platform to you as an added measure of transparency and safety for all.

Happy National Boss’s Day to our incredible leaders — Mrs. Marr, Mr. Keele, and Mrs. Keele!
Your leadership, dedication, and commitment to our students, staff, and community make our district a great place to learn and grow. Thank you for the countless ways you support and inspire excellence every day!






