Jeremiah Gray Kindergarten Academy
Home of the Little Giants - August 3, 2018
Principal's Message
Greetings from the Principal's Office
It has been a great week at JGKA! Our students have been doing a great job learning school procedures, and have gotten down to work! I spotted kids in the halls looking for numbers on "number hunts," and I've also seen a lot of students working on their letters.
We have also been learning about how to do a Fire Drill. For the past few days we've practiced listening for the alarm, stopping, standing, and stepping into line. We will have our first actual fire drill Monday when we safely exit the building. You might want to talk to your students about it, reassuring them that it is practice for their safety.
I want to end my message with a few words about our school goal. Student success is our number one priority. In order to ensure that all children grow to their fullest potential, we have set our learning goals high! By the end of the year, our school goal is that our students are able to use reading strategies to to be good readers. This means they will have mastered early reading skills such as: letters and sounds, sounding out words, and sight words. They will also be able to read and understand grade-level text.
Below you will find a LEVEL C passage. I hope you can use it to know where your child needs to be by the end of the year. I am also attaching some suggestions for how you can help your child with these early reading skills.
Thank you for allowing us to serve your children each day. They bring me so much joy! Enjoy your weekend.
Love,
Mrs. Hansell
This is a Level C passage.
Here are some ways you can help your child meet their school goal:
Story Time LIVE with your Principals
If you haven't liked us on Facebook, please make sure to find us: Jeremiah Gray Kindergarten Academy.
We hope ALL of our students can "tune in" for story time!!!!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT IMMUNIZATIONS!
All students must be current on their immunizations to attend school. If your child's shots are not up to date you will need to schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to get these shots.
On August 20th any students that are not up to date on their immunizations will be excluded from school. They will not be able to return to school until they've received all of their shots. We will also accept proof of a pending appointment if you are unable to get in before the deadline, but have scheduled an appointment.
Important Things to Know About the School Bus
Here are a few things that might help make the commute to and from school more understandable:
*Kindergartners will only be let off of the bus and released to a parent or designee. Drivers will NOT release your child without an adult present.
*Parents need to be out at the stop, visible to the driver.
*If you are not at the stop when the bus arrives in the afternoon, your child will be brought back to school and you will have to pick them up as soon as possible.
*Kindergartners work hard all day, and often can fall asleep on the bus. If the student is sleeping, they may not hear the driver call their name to get off at that stop. Our drivers are instructed to walk the bus at the end of their route. If a sleeping child is still on the bus, they will be returned to school and we will call you immediately.
*If you are concerned that your child might have missed their stop, you can call the transportation department at (317) 789-6221, or you may call the main office at school (317) 782-2240.
The main thing we want you to know is that we are not going to leave school until all children are safely home. So, if by chance your child misses the stop for any reason, please know we will be here to receive them and keep them safe until you can come get them. We LOVE our Little Giants, and keeping them safe is our number one priority!
Polo Shirts for Sale
Little Giant of the Week
Teacher Spotlight
Name: Jennifer Still
Number of years in the profession: 16, 12 teaching kindergarten
Family Info: I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Mitch, for 17 years. We have 2 sons; Aidan, 12 and Ethan 8.
Favorite hobbies: I love to shop and travel! I also love sports and enjoy spending my time attending my sons’ sporting events!
Interesting fact: I love to go to concerts and go on cruises.
Staff Spotlight
Name: Kori McNamara
Number of years in the profession: 4
Family Info: I have a daughter in 5th grade
Favorite hobbies: Attending my daughter’s sporting events. I enjoy cooking and baking.
Interesting fact: I am in the process of completing my bachelor’s degree in elementary education!
Important Dates
- Wednesday, August 1st - Early Release
- Wednesday, August 8th - Early Release
- Tuesday, August 14th - PICTURE DAY
- Wednesday, August 15th - Early Release
- Wednesday, August 22nd - Early Release
- Wednesday, August 29th - Early Release
- Monday, September 2nd (Labor Day) - NO SCHOOL
Visitor Policy
Volunteer Policy
The new background check is only $5 and can be completed online. The link for the background check is included below. Please do this soon as it can take several days to process a background check! This background check will be good for the 2018-2019 school year. A new background check will need to be completed each school year.
Background Checks are Needed for:
- Volunteering in school and classroom
- Attending field trips
- Helping at class parties
- Working with other students
- Other times as deemed appropriate by school administration
http://www.perryschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/VOLUNTEER-POLICY-2018.pdf
A Message from Our Nurse
Attention Car Riders
Important Safety Message
Dear Perry Township Families,
Thank you for choosing Perry Township Schools for 2018-19! It is our privilege to educate every student who walks through our doors, and we do not take your trust for granted. In addition to offering every child a 21st century learning experience, we also make school safety a priority, especially in these challenging times. We have several policies and programs in place to help us provide a safe environment to all students, staff, parents, and visitors.
School Police
Under the leadership of Chief David Stalcup, our Perry Township School Police Department is a constant presence within our school community. The Department consists of 10 full-time and nine part-time officers who patrol each of our 22 schools daily. They also provide security at school and district events, as deemed necessary. The Department’s K-9 unit detects the presence of drugs, alcohol and explosives on school property, as needed.
Disaster Drills
Our police officers lead “Run. Hide. Fight.” training in each of our schools. The “Run. Hide. Fight.” response plan teaches educators and students what to do in the event of an active shooter situation. We are required, by law, to perform one of these drills each semester. Teachers and administrators also lead one tornado drill per semester and one fire drill per month.
Secure Entrances
At each school, entryways are designed so visitors must be admitted to the school office before gaining access to secure areas of the building.
Starting in 2018-19, changes will be made to the way both district employees and visitors access the schools.
Guests will be required to present a driver license or other acceptable form of government-issued identification before signing in.
All district employees will receive a personalized ID badge that will allow front office staff at each school to match the employee’s face to the photo on the badge.
Video surveillance camera systems also help administrators monitor activity at each building.
Safety Committee
Our safety committee consists of building administrators, central office staff, and School Police who meet monthly to review and revise our safety procedures.
Each building and central office staff member on this committee is a School Safety Specialist through the Indiana Department of Education’s School Safety Specialist Academy.
Information on the academy can be found at http://www.doe.in.gov/student-services/safety.
School Safety Specialists must attend two professional development days per year at the Indiana School Safety Academy to remain certified.
Counselors & Social Workers
School counselors are available to help students navigate academics, mental health, and social challenges. Guidance departments and teachers receive ongoing training on how to recognize students who need support, so they can appropriately intervene.
Social workers are also available to assist students, families, and teachers in addressing problems that could negatively affect the student’s emotional growth or academic outcomes.
Safety Hotline
Our Safety Hotline was created for students to report situations such as drugs, bullying, and threats of violence. The number is 317.789.3905.
This hotline is intended for students who may not feel comfortable reporting an incident to a school official in-person.
We take seriously the safety of all our students. We pride ourselves in being prepared for these rare, but very possible events.
Parent Information
LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE WITH THE YMCA
Summer may be over, but we’re ready to continue the fun this school year! The YMCA of Greater Indianapolis is proud to be the before and after school provider in Perry Township. We provide enrichment programming for children in an environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive in a safe environment! For more information, or to register for the YMCA Before and After School Program, please visit us at www.indymca.org/youthdevelopment.
What's going on around the community?
The Southport Library
Family Game Day:
Saturday, August 4, 12:00-4:00
Families and children of all ages are invited to drop in anytime between 12:00-4:00 to make new friends while playing board games or solving puzzles.
Lego Club: All Ages:
Saturday, August 11, 2:00-4:00pm
Families and children ages 2 and older are invited to drop in any time between 2:00-4:00 to learn to play and play to learn using Lego bricks and more. Lego bricks, Duplo bricks, gears and bristle blocks will be provided.
Paws to Read
Wednesday, August 15, 6:00-7:30 pm
Registration Required
Phone: 317-275-4510
Children who are reluctant readers are invited to read to Abbey or Biscuit, registered therapy dogs who love to listen to stories! This activity can help improve a child's reading skills and self-confidence. Participants can sign up for a 15-minute reading session with Abbey or Biscuit.
Perry Township Girl Scouts
Ready to Register? Visit www.girlscoutsindiana.org and follow the links to join!
Want more information? Attend one of our Girl Scout Information Nights to talk with Girl Scout leaders and volunteers. Thurs., Aug. 9, 5:30-7:30pm in the cafe at Perry Meridian Middle School OR Wed, Aug. 15 5:30-7:30pm inside Door 6 at Southport Middle School.
Have a quick question or two? Email perrytownshipgs@gmail.com or Abby at Girl Scouts of Central Indiana (aborders@girlscoutsindiana.org)
Jeremiah Gray Kindergarten Academy
Website: http://www.perryschools.org/jk/
Location: 5225 Gray Road, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: (317) 782-2240
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JGKALittleGiants/
Twitter: @JGKAPrincipal