Geist Gazette
April 15, 2016
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
Upcoming Dates
Monday, Apr. 18
Track Club - Grade 4
Spanish Lessons
ISTEP Testing Begins - through May 6
2nd Grade Field Trip to Ritchey Woods (Friedle, Ramos, Stinson)
Engineering Club
Dine to Donate at DQ
Tuesday, Apr. 19
Geist Running Club - Grade 3
Topsicle Tuesday
ISTEP Testing
2nd Grade Field Trip to Ritchey Woods (Cushman, Schmitt, Wolf)
Wednesday, Apr. 20
ISTEP Testing
Earth Day Celebration
Sign Language Club
Thursday, Apr. 21
ISTEP Testing
Earth Day Celebration Rain Date
Friday, Apr. 22
Mid-Term Grading Period Ends
Geist Running Club/Track Club - 4th Grade
ISTEP Testing
Chess Club
Monday, Apr. 25
Track Club - 4th Grade
ISTEP Testing
Engineering Club
Tuesday, Apr. 26
Geist Running Club - Grade 3
ISTEP Testing
Wednesday, Apr. 27
ISTEP Testing
Sign Language Club
Thursday, Apr. 28
ISTEP Testing
Friday, Apr. 29
Geist Running Club/Track Club - 4th Grade
ISTEP Testing
Chess Club
Specials Rotation
Apr. 18 - Apr. 22 - Week 1
Apr. 25 - Apr. 29 - Week 2 (PLC)
Lunch Menu
Apr. 18 - Apr. 22 - Week 3
Apr. 25 - Apr. 29 - Week 1
Click the links to see the lunch and breakfast menus. Visit the HSE Food Services page for prices and nutritional information.
PTO Corner
GES 4th Grader takes 3rd place at State Science Fair!
SchoolKidz Supply Kits for students attending GES in 2016-2017 - ONLINE THIS YEAR
Your SchoolKidz order form was sent home this week. SchoolKidz is the school supply kit that is delivered to your child’s classroom for the first day of school. No running from store to store looking for the right supplies, it’s all done for you. The SchoolKidz supply list is chosen by the teachers so the kit contains the exact supplies needed for the classroom, plus a few shared supplies (Kleenex, baggies, wipes, etc…) for school wide use. Each grade level kit is $35. (Each kit is $35= $30 grade level supplies + $5 convenience fee which provides additional school wide shared supplies).
This year all orders will be placed online at www.shopttkits.com (use account number 32455) until May 10. Please contact Sarah Tappendorf stappendorf@hse.k12.in.us with any questions.
*This is a service provided by the GES PTO for students attending GES for 2016-2017.
Class Placements
Dear parents,
As we begin to reach the end of the 2015-16 school year we are starting to plan for our class placements for 2016-17. In order to make sure we provide the best environment for all of our students, GES allows parents to email Mr. Reynolds with information that would be helpful in class placements. Please know that we do not accept teacher requests. You are welcome to share with us what characteristics you feel help your child be successful, however, notes or emails with teacher names are not referenced in the class placement process.
Please contact Mr. Reynolds at jrreynolds@hse.k12.in.uswith your request.
Thank you!
Testing Begins Monday
April 18 - May 20: ISTEP Window (Grades 3 & 4)
May 2-20: NWEA Testing Window (Grades K-4)
Check out our 3rd Grade Wax Museum
IDENTIFYING HIGH ABILITY STUDENTS
Students are identified in two ways:
• those with exceptional cognitive potential
• those with outstanding achievement in mathematics/reading.
More information here: http://www.hse.k12.in.us/ADM/academics/ha.aspx
Measuring Academic Achievement
Normative data from the NWEA test is used to identify high academic achievement for students in reading or math.
The NWEA is an adaptive test that provides progress scores as well as national norms.
All students in grades K – 6 participate in the NWEA two times a year.
Grades K and 1 students who score at the 99 percentile and grades 2-6 students who score between the 95th - 99thpercentile on national norms from the spring administration of NWEA will be identified as eligible for service in the areas of mathematics, reading, or both depending on the results of the test.
All students in grades K, 2, and 5 who have not already fully qualified in both reading and math through NWEA will then participate in a cognitive potential screener.
Measuring Cognitive Potential
This second round of testing is intended to find any students with cognitive potential that might have been missed through achievement testing.
A screen is a short version of a test followed by a full version pending screening results.
In measuring cognitive potential, we use the CogAT, a nationally normed test of aptitude.
Students in grades K and 2 will take a CogAT screener. Scores at or above the 80th percentile on the CogAT screener will qualify for the full CogAT. In grade 5 scores at or above the 80th percentile on the NWEA will qualify participation in the full CogAT.
A score between the 95th - 99th percentile on the full CogAT at grades K, 2, and 5 indicates that the student qualifies to receive high ability services.
Potential Third Qualifying Test
Students with results that just miss the cut off score within the standard error of measure (SEM) on either test are eligible for a third qualifier. The Scales for Identifying Gifted Students Inventory (SIGS) will be used to collect data from parents and teachers. A score between the 95th – 99th percentiles on the SIGS indicates that the student qualifies to receive high ability services.
April is School Library Month!
Makerspace Thursday is Coming!!!!
Artist of the Week:
Artist of the Week:
March 29: Addy J. in Mrs. Scott’s class
April 11: Harper G. in Mrs. Hillman’s class
GES Students' Art on Display at HSEArt Show
Artsonia has great gifts for Mother’s Day!
There are many great choices of items you can order for gifts, and 20% of your purchase goes to the GES art department! Items that feature your child’s artwork include snap-on necklaces and bracelets, mugs, iPhone cases, and much more. All students in grades 1-4 have an Artsonia account. If you’re unsure how to access it, contact Ms. Green at egreen@hse.k12.in.us. Visit artsonia.com to see all the items available for order!
News from the Gym
Geist 5K - If you are interested in running the Geist 5K, please use the link below and follow the listed directions.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/geist-half-marathon-2016-registration-18331334515?access=SchoolProgram
Choose 5k school program pay now
Choose Hamilton Southeastern Schools
Choose Geist Elementary
Follow directions from there
If you have questions, please email me. rsutherlin@hse.k12.in.us
Track Club permission slips went out last week. Parents can get a copy from the office or students can get a copy from Mr. Sutherlin. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Sutherlin.
Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart Total AWESOME!!!!! $26,026 were collected for Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart this year. What a great community we live in!! Thanks so much for your support!!!
Enrolling New Students
Chess Club starts here Friday, April 22
HCCTA Tennis Lessons Offered at GES
HCCTA Mission: Using tennis to enhance communities through fitness, education, community service and diversity
WHO Any Geist Elementary Students in grades K-4.
WHAT HCCTA is a 501 c 3 non for profit organization. HCCTA offers beginning tennis programs to students in grades K-4 at GES. The program is 6 hours of Beginner tennis instruction using short court nets and foam balls. Short court nets will be set up in the gymnasium as well as outside on the school playground. Tennis racquets provided. Students may bring their own if they would like.
WHEN May 4, 11, 18, 25 from 3:45 to 5:15pm
COST $50, includes tennis instruction, t-shirt, certificates, and equipment supplied by HCCTA.
DEADLINE When enrollment numbers have been met. *Spots are limited and are based on a first come first served basis*
REGISTRATION INFO: To register your student, please go to http://hccta.org/geist-elementary-registration/
Questions? Contact Shannyn Miller at smmiller@hse.k12.in.us .
S.P.O.R.T.S.
Fall 2016 Open Registration for football, cheerleading, soccer, girls volleyball, fall baseball, cross country and boys and girls winter basketball will begin on May 1 and continue through May 31 (basketball registration remains open through August 31). Registration forms will be available on the S.P.O.R.T.S. website, at the S.P.OR.T.S. office, at all HSE schools and the Fishers Library. Parents may also register online and can pay online with a credit card or can print the registration form and submit it to the S.P.O.R.T.S. office with cash or check payment. Credit cards are not accepted in the office.
Spring 2016 Registration Update – Contact the S.P.O.R.T.S. office for up to date information on openings for spring sports or visit our website, www.hsesports.org.
Fishers-HSE Baseball – Opening Day for Fishers-HSE Youth Baseball is April 23. Bring out your family and enjoy a full day of fun including entertainment by Dave and Rae, Pitch-Hit & Run Competition, Food Vendors, Local Mascot appearances, Family Games and Activities, Fireworks show, and of course a FULL day of Baseball! Event runs 12-4 p.m. with fireworks at 9:30pm.
Fishers-HSE Knights Cheerleading is holding tryouts for the 2016 season. Any 4th, 5th or 6th grade girl (2016-2017 school year) wanting to try out for Knights Cheerleading will need to attend the mandatory clinic being held on Friday, May 6, 5:00-6:30 p.m. at Indiana Elite. Tryouts are held the next day, on Saturday, May 7, at 9:30 a.m. at Indiana Elite. Please visit Knight Cheerleading on the Cheer website for more information.
S.P.O.R.T.S. Girl’s Volleyball is seeking board and committee members. There are a variety of open positions with varying time commitments. The season is ten weeks, mid-August to mid-October and ends before fall break. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Janet Berg at f.j.berg@sbcglobal.net.
High School Boys Volleyball Youth Night – Fishers High School Boys Volleyball is hosting the Mudsock Match against Hamilton Southeastern on April 21. All youth will be admitted free and boys in the S.P.O.R.T.S. volleyball league are encouraged to wear their team t-shirts. The JV game begins at 6:00 p.m. with the Varsity beginning at approximately 7:15 p.m. There will be a youth serving contest between games with prizes! Click here for more information.
Southeastern Youth Rugby saw record enrollment numbers for the 2016 season. First games are on April 17, with the 5/6 and 7/8 teams taking the pitch at Cyntheanne Park, and the Flag team playing in Carmel at River Road Park. Supersite tournament for Flag, 5/6, and 7/8 is at Cyntheanne on April 24. For more updates, log on to http://rugby.hsesports.org.
Nickel Plate District Transforms into Outdoor Theater for #FishersMovies
Calling all residents, #FishersMovies return to the Nickel Plate District amphitheater this spring and offer the perfect Friday night out for families of all ages. Beginning this Friday, April 15 movies take place weekly and begin at dusk. This season, Fishers Parks & Recreation has secured an awesome movie line-up that features:
- The Good Dinosaur April 15
- Minons April 22
- Pixels April 29
- Shaun the Sheep May 6
- Hotel Transylvania 2 May 13
- Pan May 20
- Inside Out May 27
Movies are free to attend and families are encouraged to pack a sweatshirt, roll out a blanket and stop by concessions to purchase a few movies snacks. The City of Fishers G.I.V.E. Committee will work concessions, weekly to ensure you have something sweet and salty to enjoy during the show. Each movie is presented in closed captioning, and movies have different ratings. Parents, we encourage you to check out the movie beforehand to ensure it’s appropriate for your family.
For additional details about #FishersMovies, please download the Nickel Plate District mobile app or visit www.Fishers.in.us/Movies.