Geist Gazette
January 18, 2019
GEIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Website: https://ges.hseschools.org/
Location: 14051 East 104th Street, Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: 317-915-4260
Twitter: @Geistgators
Note from the Principal-
Hello Gator families,
Happy New Year!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful break. We are in full swing in the classrooms.
Today our classes met to prepare for the marketplace. Make sure to take time to ask your child about their product they will be producing. Our products vary from coasters, bowls, tote bags, string art, duck tape items, stress balls, bath bombs, recycled crayons, and much much more!
Please take time to review the full newsletter as there are some very important articles in regards texting, apps, screen time, and internet safety from Mr. Frazer and Mrs. Keller.
I know that today the buses ran late. If you did not receive a text and email from the district please make sure you change your settings in skyward. Please, go to the Skylert tab and make adjustments to receive text alerts and skylert messages from the district and school.
Thank you for your continued support of your neighborhood school-
Have an amazing three day weekend-
Christi Thomas- Principal
GES Science Fair
Please Label ALL Coats, Boots and Shoes
Unclaimed items are placed in the lost and found, which is located outside of the music room. Feel free to check it when you are in the building. Periodically we clear out the lost and found and donate all unclaimed items. At winter break, FIVE LARGE LAWN BAGS full of very nice clothing were donated to the Good Samaritan program.
Changes Coming to School Dismissal Manager
Global Studies - Spanish
¡Hola!
We are continuing to have a great time learning Spanish while singing, dancing, collaborating, creating and playing in Global Studies!
Kindergarten students have learned how to sing Happy Birthday. They are working on identifying numbers to ten.
First grade students are working on colors in Spanish. After having learned about Talavera tiles from Mexico, they are creating their own colorful paper tiles and utilizing the Spanish vocabulary for the colors.
Second, third and fourth grade students are continuing to work on shapes and colors. They are learning to write sentences using this vocabulary. They are creating characters out of shapes and describing the shapes in Spanish.
During the week of February 4th or February 11th, the students will have the opportunity to sample roasted plantain chips during their Global Studies class. The ingredients in the chips are plantains, sunflower oil, and salt. Pictures and additional information about the product can be found here. If you do not want your child to sample the plantain chips, please complete the Participation OPT-OUT form and respond by February 1, 2019.
The link for the OPT-OUT form can be found here.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Stacey Zimmerman
Items wanted...
- Do you have a personal handheld CD player (remember the Walkman?) you no longer need? Mrs. Friedle is in need of some for a reading project. If you have one to donate please contact her at sfriedle@hse.k12.in.us. Thank you!
- Students in Miss Minieri and Mrs. Biggs's class are collecting some materials for Market Day. Empty and clean water bottles; old, clean t-shirts; remnants of fleece fabric; extra ribbon not needed. These should be things you just have at home and don't need anymore. No need to purchase any items. You can send in with your child and label BIGGS/MINIERI Marketplace. Thanks in advance.
- Clean your closet for a good cause! The partnership of Tappendorf/Stevenson & Cameron are collecting t shirts as part of our Market Day project and we need your help. We want your old t shirts. We will accept all donations, any size, any color as long as they are clean. You can drop off your t shirts in person at the office, or send your shirt donation with your student. We appreciate your generosity. Our students thank you in advance!
Parent Inquiry Responses RE: Technology Monitoring and Tips:
Several parents have reached out to me about students texting with iMessage.
Students are not allowed to text during school, and it should be turned off when entering the school. Research shows that notifications distract learning even if they are muted, not answered, or banners only.
When using iMessage at home, please have a conversation with your child about the fact that once their messages are sent, they can NOT be taken back. The reality is that with screen shots and other saving apps, student’s words/pictures/videos are out there forever.
In response to multiple parent inquiries about how they can best monitor and limit their child’s iPad: With family sharing you are able to monitor, share apps, limit app purchases, and limit screen time. I have included links for setting up Family Sharing and setting up
Screen Time limits: Some of you already have your own systems in place so please do not feel like you need to use these methods. If you do set up limits, what I have heard works best is to set up downtime limits instead of app limit times. That way it is simple, and you do not have to worry about app exceptions, school apps running out of time during school hours, or granting more time to apps.
Setup Family Sharing: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201088
Screen Time for Kids: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208982
Thank you for your inquiry! Please let me know if you would like any other technology tips.
Nathan Frazer
3rd Grade Teacher
Technology Lead
Tips for Parent Monitoring:
The websites shared below are intended to help educate and inform you, as parents, of some of the dangers in our children's worlds (apps, videos, chat-rooms, etc.). As school counselor and parent, myself, I care greatly about the well-being of ALL of our children.
Recently, some new phone apps have come to my attention that have proven to be dangerous to children. The dangers inherent are secrecy from parents, rude/demeaning comments to others, inappropriate photos, etc. The two apps that have come to my attention recently are 'Hang-outs' and 'Secret Calculator'. Both can cause issues and invite bad decisions from students who use them.
When your child(ren) use cell phones, I-Pads, etc., you might want to check the apps they are using. Please visit these sites to learn about the dangers lurking behind the scenes of cell phones, apps, and technology (in general). While technology can be a wonderful and useful tool, it can also be a source of hidden dangers.
As always, please share with me any new information you find, as well. We are in this together!
Thank you!
http://carefulparents.com/ https://www.gaggle.net/top-social-networking-sites-and-apps-kids-use/ https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/snapchat-kik-and-6-more-iffy-messaging-apps-teens-love?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=csm
Mrs. Lisa Keller, M.S.
School Counselor
GES is an Indiana Gold Star School
Geist Elementary is proud to be a Gold Star School as recognized by the Indiana Department of Education. According to the DOE, Gold Star schools have exhibited “the highest level of school counseling professionalism in Indiana.” To receive this honor, Geist Elementary convened an advisory council of diverse stakeholders. That team participated in a nine-month, rigorous process that reviewed student data, established student outcome goals, aligned efforts to counseling standards, and committed to maximizing the time school counselors spend in direct service of students. Comprehensive school counseling efforts rely on a strong community safety net where every adult is responsible for guiding students. Geist Elementary will continue to build on this momentum by exploring teacher advisory programs, parent advisory programs, and community advisory programs. We are very excited about this recognition and thank everyone involved for their tremendous efforts.
Science Night was a Big Success!
Friends of the Library
Mrs. K's Corner
Music Newsletter:
-4th Grade Performance Info
-Spring Choir Info
-Kindergarten Performance Info
-E-Learning & Canvas Info
-2nd Grade Musical Pictures
-And more!
IN THE GYM
Grades 3 and 4 will be working on Target Heart Rate. They will get a worksheet this week and should be returned by next week. It will be on Canvas if they are unable to find theirs.
Grades K-2 will be working on juggling skills and continuing to work on basic locomotor skills.
February will begin out 17th year of Kids Heart Challenge which was formerly called Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart. This is just a name change. More info to come the first of February.
As always, please send tennis shoes if your child wears boots to school. I want them to be active and safe in class.
Mr. Sutherlin
Geist Elementary Physical Education
Artists of the Week
Congratulations to the artists of the week for Dec. 17:
K: Colin K. in Mrs. Many's class
1: Rubi R. in Miss Minieri's class
2: Grant B. in Mrs. Dobbin's class
3: Ivy L. in Mrs. Taylor's class
4: Sophie F. in Ms. Kappus' class
GES Yearbook Sale Begins
Don't miss out! Yearbook sales are open and will continue through Friday, March 15. The price is $15.
Online orders are being taken NOW at www.inter-state.com/yearbook. Our school code is 36757Z
Please note, this is the first and only time yearbooks have been available for order this school year.
LATE ORDERS CANNOT BE TAKEN AFTER MARCH 15! THERE WILL NOT BE "EXTRA" BOOKS MADE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.
If you have questions, please contact Ms. Green at egreen@hse.k12.in.us
Text-A-Tip
Text-A-Tip is a program that allows students, parents or others to anonymously send a text or email message to our school resource officers and school administrators about concerns they may have for their own safety or the safety of others. Text-A-Tip will be actively monitored during the school day. It should not be used for emergencies—Call 911 if you need immediate help. For more information on how to submit a tip please use the link below.
https://www.hseschools.org/services/other/school-safety
This information is always posted in the Geist Gazette at the button at the bottom of the page.
Mental Health Concerns
If you or someone you know is at risk of self-harm, suicide, or harmful towards others, please contact one of the following (All lines are free, confidential, and available 24/7):
Community Health Network - Call 800-662-3445 or Text HELPNOW to 20121
National Suicide Prevention Hotline - Call 800-273-8255
LookUP - Call 800-284-8439 or Text LookUp to 494949
Mental Health Issues are common and treatable. Hamilton Southeastern Schools has a contract with Community Health Network and has a mental health therapist working with students in each of our schools. If you have questions or concerns please reach out to your school’s school counselor for further information.
This information is always posted in the Geist Gazette at the button at the bottom of the page.
Non-discrimination and Non-harassment Information
All students in HSE Schools deserve to come to school free of fear and to feel safe to be their authentic selves. Discrimination of any type is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated at HSEHS Schools – this includes sexual harassment (Title IX) and discrimination based on disabilities or race (Titles II and VI).
If students ever experience any type of harassment, we ask that they report this immediately to an administrator, school counselor or trusted adult. Beyond reporting directly to building officials, HSE Schools has an entire support system in place for filing concerns and complaints, which can be located on our District website. https://www.hseschools.org/about/legal-notes
This information is always posted in the Geist Gazette at the button at the bottom of the page.
Student Handbook Information
HSE Preschool of the Natural Sciences Registration
Fishers Fusion Dance Team Winter Clinic
HSE Schools Community Insider
Check out opportunities and activities on the HSE Community Insider on the HSE Schools webpage. You can find it here: hseschools.org/happenings/community-insider