Geist Gazette
February 2, 2018
GEIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Website: http://www.hse.k12.in.us/GES
Location: 14051 East 104th Street, Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: 317-915-4260
Twitter: @Geistgators
Celebrating the 100th Day of School!
Quick Check
Small group instruction
Technology integration
How many trapezoids can go into a hexagon?
Need an answer, ask a Kindergator!
Principal's Message
We have had a wonderful week with a highlight being Global Read Aloud Day. The students were excited to hear either Same Same but Different ( K-2) or All the Colors We Are/ Todos los colores de nuestra piel (3rd and 4th). Please take time to ask your children about the book they read and discussion or activity they completed! I heard rich discussion about the beauty of what makes us the same and yet we have differences we can appreciate as well! I hope you were able to enjoy a great read aloud book with your children! If you didn't get that fit in last night, take time this weekend to enjoy a book together!
Please know we are moving into standardized assessment time in the state of Indiana. Third and fourth grade will be taking ISTEP and 3rd grade will be taking IREAD. Please make sure to avoid scheduling any appointments during this time. Geist is graded on full participation of all students on the test as well as performance and growth on the assessment. Please make sure you children get a good night's rest and breakfast to help create optimal testing situations.
ISTEP (Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress) - 3rd & 4th Graders
- TESTING WINDOW 1: February 26 - March 9
- TESTING WINDOW 2: April 16 - May 4
IREAD (Indiana Reading Evaluation And Determination) - 3rd Graders only
- March 12 - March 16
Next week at Geist we will be having our Everyone Counts presentations in our building. This is such a rich opportunity to teach our students that everyone is differently abled. We all learn differently and we all are differently wired. That is what makes us special! Some students wear glasses, some students use a wheelchair to move about, some learn best by seeing and doing, and some students use devices to speak. During our presentations, students will learn to celebrate and value our differences. Students will have a chance to ask questions and perhaps better understand the reason for braille, sign language or hearing aids for example. Each grade will be presented with a different topic. This has been an ongoing program provided by our amazing PTO.
K- Intro into Differences
1st- Visually Impaired
2nd- Hearing Impairment
3rd- Developmental Disabilities
4th- Motor Impairment
Thank you for following up with your child on Tuesday and Wednesday to have him/her share with you what they learned during EVERYONE Counts.
Thanks again for all you do to partner with the school. Have yourself an amazing two weeks!
Christi Thomas, Principal
More of this and less of that
Below are some tips from an education journal that we find helpful for all parents. Think of it as, try a little more of this and less of that. For example, as adults work to help children to have a growth mindset adults should praise a student for his/her effort and their strong thinking instead of saying, "you are so smart." Research shows that adults should be specific in our praise and the grit he/she shows so that a student embraces new challenges with the effort, perseverance and mindset that taking on an intellectual risk is a great way to learn!
Home ex. I'm proud of you for taking out the trash. OR I'm proud of you for showing responsibility and a positive attitude while helping with tasks that need to be completed around the house.
School ex. Good job. OR I really like how you explain your thinking in detail on how to solve the math problem. That was a strong explanation.
Students explain their thinking
Why so many different strategies?
K students graphing
2017-2018 Yearbook Sale is on Now! Order by March 16.
Yearbooks are now on sale for the 2017-18 school year.
This is the only time to order. Do not rely on extra yearbooks being available to purchase! Order today!!
Orders may be made online only:
Please visit www.inter-state.com/yearbook
Our school code is 25304E
The cost is $15 each.
The last day to order is Friday, March 16.
No orders can accepted after this date! No exceptions!
If you are unable to place orders online, or have questions regarding yearbooks, please contact Ms. Green: egreen@hse.k12.in.us
Artist of the Week
Artists of the Week for January 22:
K-Hank L. in Mrs. Blake's class
1st-Alaina B. in Mrs. Beck's class
2nd-Colette P. in Ms. Stinson's class
3rd-Jia P. in Mrs. Miller's class
4th-Mason M. in Mrs. Scott's class
Artists of the Week for January 29:
K-Henry G. in Ms. Barmore's class
1st-Harper W. in Mrs. Knox's class
2nd-Julia G. in Mrs. Wolf's class
3rd-Adi C. in Mrs. Biggs' class
4th-Isabel B. in Ms. Kappus' class
Art Room News
Mark you calendars for the HSE district-wide art show March 17 and 18! It will be held at HSE High School each day from 2-5 pm. Your child will receive a paper note/invitation if he/she has work chosen for the show.
Kindergarten: Students have been learning about geometric and organic shapes. We learned about Wasily Kandinsky for our geometric shapes and made watercolor pictures. For our organic shapes we read Too Much Glue! and then created a picture with glue bottles! Our next project will focus on art from Mexico
First: We finished our study of using patterns by exploring Andinkra cloths from Africa. By "carving" patterns into Styrofoam, we learned we could make stamps and copy our art over and over! Next is to create suns by looking at ancient Aztec designs and learning why the sun was an important symbol to them.
Second: Second graders learned the properties of a still life. Our next step was to choose a personal celebration to depict in a still life. Students chose objects that would be on a table for their celebration and created a collage. We are now beginning metal tooling, which is a common folk art craft in Mexico.
Third: We finished our landscapes and started drawing gems. For the gems we are focusing on geometric shapes and then painting them with water color pencils.
Fourth: Now that our donut drawings are finished we have started creating donuts sculptures using clay. Students can create a donut and glaze (ceramic "paint") or add extras to their donut before glazing. While we wait for the clay to be ready to glaze, we will start a printing project focused on something important to each student. Our artist study will be on Romare Bearden, who combined many art mediums into collage.
Ms. Erin Green
Art Teacher
Geist Elementary
317-915-4260 ext. 1622
Please help keep GES students healthy
Dear Geist Families,
Many of you have seen the recent reports on the news of what a terrible flu season this is becoming. In order to help keep all our children and staff healthy, please keep sick children at home until they have been fever, vomiting and diarrhea free, without being medicated, for a full 24 hours. Monitor your child’s temperature, especially if they have a cough, sore throat or runny nose. Let’s all do what we can to keep each other healthy!
If your child is absent for illness or any other reason please call the office: 317-915-4260. The automated attendance line is available after-hours (same phone number).
Your Geist Nurses
Geist 5K
Hello All Geist Gators,
The Geist Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k races were organized to inspire health and wellness in the children in and around the Geist Reservoir community because we believe healthy bodies contribute to healthy minds which result in improved student outcomes and stronger communities. Thanks to your involvement our organization has donated over $400,000 to Geist area schools! We can’t wait to have your student runners with us this May!
If you would like to sign up for the race, please tap the attached link to register. https://secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=128206
Please make sure you choose the pay now portion of the link. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to call or email me.
317-915-4260 ext 1690
I am looking forward to seeing lots of Gator Runners in May!
Rod Sutherlin
Geist Elementary
Physical Education
Problem Solvers!
Global Studies - Mexican Chocolate Pudding Activity Volunteers Requested
Dear Parents and Guardians,
During the weeks of February 5th and 12th, the students will be eating Mexican Chocolate Pudding as part of the Spanish rotation for the Global Studies Program. Last week we sent a Skylert message with additional details and information related to the recipe and planned activity. If you have informed the nurse that your child has a food allergy on the health card, a paper permission slip will be sent home with the student. Click here to see the list of ingredients. Please click here for the opt-out form if you do not want your child to participate.
In addition, we are in need of some parent volunteers for this activity. We will need help with items such as setting up for each class, helping the students add ingredients to their chocolate pudding, and cleanup. If you would like to help out, please click on the sign-up link below. Please remember, you will need to have a current Safe Visitor Badge with the school to volunteer (they expire after 3 years).
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f094ea8af29a2f94-spanish
Thank you very much!
Stacey Zimmerman – Global Studies Spanish Teacher
Menu Changes in the Cafe
Mexican Meal, Feb. 7
To celebrate Global Studies activities we will be serving a Mexican meal to anyone who orders a hot lunch on Wednesday, Feb. 7. The menu includes: BURRITOS (beef, bean and cheese), SPANISH RICE, CORN, SALSA, FRESH FRUIT, CHURROS
Thursday Feb 15th we will try a new item Pizzadillas:
Ultragrain tortilla with marinara, cheese and turkey pepperoni served hot.
PBJ, Pizza pack,turkey sandwiches and chef salads will still be offered each day.
Lunch Menus and Visitors
Click here to see what's being served in the café.
Click here for the food services website.
We are practicing smooth transitions and procedures in the cafeteria as our students adjust to the school schedule. The cafeteria is not open to visitors at this time. We will open for visitors after Labor Day.
Geist Elementary PTO is the best!
Want to keep up on what's happening at school?
Follow @geistgators on twitter. We tweet throughout the day.
Check our website: hse.k12.in.us/GES
This newsletter, the Geist Gazette, goes out every other Friday (although it may be sent again next week). We will send it to you via email, and post it on our website under the News tab.
Click here to see our building calendar. This lists activities before, during and after hours.
HSE Preschool of the Natural Sciences Open House February 8, 2018
Text-A-Tip
Submit Via Text
Texts can be sent to 274637 (or CRIMES). Start the actual message with the # symbol and a building-specific keyword. For a list of keywords, click here...
See what the HSE Schools Foundation is up to this month.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT GEIST:
Good News Club
Good News Club will be starting up again soon! We will meet in the library for 6 weeks on Tuesdays beginning February 13 from 3:45 - 5:00. All ages are welcome to this fun-filled weekly club for kids: dynamic Bible lessons, games, songs & scripture memory. Registration forms are available in the office. For any questions, please contact Diane Dennert at 317-577-0623 or
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
HSE Schools Community Bulletin Board
HSE Schools has created a Community Bulletin Board on its district website. This will serve as a central location to find information about activities and events promoted by organizations that serve our students and their families. This is where the Fishers Library, YMCA, S.P.O.R.T.S. and other groups' registration information will be located.