GEIST GAZETTE
January 20, 2023
GEIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Website: https://ges.hseschools.org/
Location: 14051 East 104th Street, Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: 317-915-4260
Twitter: @Geistgators
Principal's Message:
Hello Gator Families-
As we look ahead to the third quarter, we have some exciting events prior to spring break. We have Science Night on Friday, February 24 and International Night on Tuesday, March 21. Please mark your calendars for these exciting GES evenings.
A few other dates I would like you to know about are the following:
- In February, we will have one scheduled eLearning day on February 17th. This is a day scheduled for staff PD and no students will be at school that day.
- Also in February, the 20th is Presidents' Day with no school and the 21st is a flex day. Flex days are designed to be used for possible inclement weather cancelations. If we have a school cancelation between now and Feb. 17, there will be no eLearning on the "snow day." Instead, it will be a "snow day" like we remember having as children! Because there will be no form of schooling, everyone would go to school on Tuesday, Feb. 21st. We have one additional Flex day on March 13. The other side of that is, if we DON'T have a cancelation, then this is a day off of school! The reason for this is the state changed the law this year and districts are only allowed three eLearning days. HSE uses those eLearning days for professional development to allow for fewer substitutes and increased building collaboration.
Finally, I want to thank and promote our PTO. Over the almost ten years I have been at GES, our PTO has graciously served our students and staff. I am so thankful for all the behind-the-scenes work they do to make GES successful and engaging for our students and community. We are in need of additional parents to join the PTO and the PTO executive board moving forward. The responsibilities vary and we can find the right fit for you! Please reach out to our gesptopres@gmail.com if you have an interest. If you have questions, reach out to me or the PTO. We must continue to have a strong PTO and we need our next group of parents to step into some of these roles! I appreciate your consideration and commitment to GES!
Thank you for continuing to support your neighborhood school and for sharing your beautiful children with us each day!
Christi Thomas
GES Principal
Featured Artists
Congratulations to our featured artists for Kindergarten Plaid Pumpkins!
Hazel G, Alec S, Ethan L, Jameson W, Sehbaj S, and Bennett S.
Congratulations to our featured artists in second grade for their portal travel illustrations!
Maddie K, Noah C, Mackenzie G, Ellie H, Elin W, Kalysta H, and Reeva R.
Congratulations to Featured Artists: Third grade portraits inspired by Derrick Adams
Jacob N, Muadh H, Rajwant B, Ciara S, Mark G, and Aavya S.
GES International Fair
Mark your calendars for an opportunity to learn, share, and experience cultures from around the world! Geist Elementary School is planning a very special event to take place on the evening of March 21st from 5:30-7:30pm. We are excited to host the first annual Geist International Fair.
The students of Geist Elementary come from many different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. The international fair will be a great opportunity to celebrate and share the heritage of our Geist families with our community. We are seeking out families and community members who would like to share about their culture or their family's heritage. This could include photographs, art, music, dance, food, clothing, games/toys and other contributions you might have.
In order to help in the planning stages of this event, we are asking interested families to please click on the link below or scan the QR code to complete this quick interest form through January 22nd to give us information regarding your interest level in participating in the event. Also, if you have someone in the community we should contact to help support the event, please fill out the interest form. Participating & attending is optional and the evening will be a similar format to Literacy & Science Nights! A hard copy will also be sent home to all students next week.
If you have any questions regarding this survey, feel free to contact Jennifer Koenig : jkoenig@hse.k12.in.us
Interest Form Link
Thank you for your time and consideration!
The International Fair Committee:
Kelli Caughman
Somer Compton
Suzanne Chadwell
Stacy Cook
Jen Koenig
Rewida Osman
Enas Said
Christin Schippnick
Choir Registration
I’m very excited for the new semester! Choir is open to all 3rd and 4th graders at Geist Elementary even those that were not in choir in the Fall. We will have rehearsals almost every Monday starting January 23rd through April 19th. All rehearsals will be from 2:10-3:15pm. There might be a few optional rehearsals after Spring Break if needed. This semester we will be preparing for our Spring Concert "The Power of One" on April 20th. This performance will be in person with no limited audience in the evening. Click on this link to register for choir, get information and the rehearsal schedule.
Please note that rehearsals and the performance fall within Ramadan this year. If your family celebrates Ramadan and your student still wants to participate prior to the holiday, let me know. I can give you some alternate options if you choose to take them.
Same Registration Link As Above
Registration is past due. Please register ASAP and let me know if you have any questions. Have a musical day!
Jen Koenig
Mr. Adams was Principal for the Day! He did a great job helping, reading to classes and making decisions!
Students in CFL were working on their numbers, hand eye coordination, and communication.
Fourth grade students hard at work on fractions!
Music Newsletter
Mrs. K's Music Corner Content
-1st & 3rd Gr Demo Day Information
-4th Grade Performance Information
-Choir Registration Information
-Kinder Performance Information
-Read Alouds & Pictures
GES Science and Engineering Fair
The GES Science & Engineering Fair promotes interest in science and engineering. Entry forms with project outline are due on January 23rd. The Science and Engineering Fair will take place on February 24th during the school day. The Science Fair is open to all GES students in grades 1-4. Science Fair projects will be displayed in the evening at GES’s SCIENCE NIGHT. Information will be posted on the website, or you may request a packet from your teacher. For more information, please review the information packet below or visit the GES website at www.hse.k12.in.us/ges.
Shout Out to Our Cafeteria Staff
Mrs. Barnes and the cafeteria staff earned praise this week following an inspection by the county health department. The inspector stated the kitchen was super clean and in order as always, and that the staff "deserves a pat on the back for their hard work." Congratulations!
CFL & Life Skills Classes visit Kroger
Our CFL and Life Skills classes took a study trip to Kroger recently to purchase ingredients for snacks. The class project included selecting the snack, purchasing ingredients, assembling and then enjoying a snack of rice cakes, peanut butter, apples and raisins. Click the attachment to see fun pictures from Mrs. Meier's CFL class on the trip.
4th Grade at Conner Prairie
Our fourth graders are learning how perspectives influence action on their most recent trips to Conner Prairie with our HSE teacher in residence, Mrs Murch. We had the chance to "talk" to different people from the 1800s to learn about the Underground Railroad and Indiana's role in the Civil War. It is such a powerful trip and we are thankful our students get to be a part of it.
Library News
Follow along with library happenings on Twitter @geistlibrary or Instagram @geistlibrary
We will be launching a schoolwide Winter Reading Bingo next week. This is a fun way to encourage reading with some achievable reading goals and tasks. Students will have a bingo sheet to mark off any tasks they complete. There will be a bookmark prize for all students! Please reach out with any questions: Jennifer Harmon jharmon@hse.k12.in.us
Jennifer Harmon
Teacher Librarian
Geist Elementary
jharmon@hse.k12.in.us
Twitter & Instagram: @geistlibrary
Yearbook Sale!
The GES Yearbook Sale is On!!!
Sales are online only. Each yearbook is $18
To order your yearbook visit: inter-state.com/order and enter code: 75435Y
Orders due by March 17
SEL Week 18 Jan 17-20
Summary:
In this week’s lesson, your child’s class will reflect on their journey of working toward their 2-week goal.
Try This at Home:
Ask your child about their experience with setting a class goal and working toward it. What worked? What didn’t work? What could they do next time? Reflect on a goal you’ve worked toward and what you learned.
Parent/Guardian Link: Unit 1: Growth Mindset and Goal-Setting Home Link
Cafeteria Menu and Snack Prices
Our prices have gone up to 1.10 each for most snacks (Rice Krispie Treats are $1.15). Students K-3 may purchase one snack per day; 4th graders may purchase two per day). Please make sure your student's lunch account is up to date; we have a lot has money in their account for snacks. If there is a negative balance and they bring money for snacks(ex. Bring 2.00) that goes towards the negative balance so if the account is negative they still will not have money for snacks.
IMPORTANT DATES - Looking Ahead
Friday, February 17 - No Students in the Building (eLearning Day)
Monday, February 20 - No School (Presidents Day)
Tuesday, February 21 - Flex Day (No School unless needed to make up cancellation days)
Monday, March 13 - Flex Day (No School unless needed to make up cancellation days)
Friday, March 31 - Friday, April 7 (No School - Spring Break)
Thursday, May 25 - Last Day of School
Mudsock Youth Athletics Updates
Spring Program Registration is Open!
Get moving with us the spring! Registration for baseball, softball, soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, rugby, boys volleyball and track and field is open at myathletics.com. Learn about each of our programs here. Remember to register between January 1st – 31st to guarantee your place on a team and receive the best pricing.
Spring Program Scholarships
Families who qualify for free our reduced lunches within the district are also eligible for program scholarships with MYA. Families can apply for one per season per child and must apply and be accepted during our open registration period. For spring sports these dates are 1/1 – 1/31. Email info@myathletics.com.
Rugby Try-It Days (Open to 5th – 8th Graders with Female Only Times)
Calling all 5th – 8th graders who live within the HSE School District. Attend one of our free try-it days, including female only sessions, to learn about the sport. We are specifically trying to grow our junior high girls team! Sessions offered on Sundays at RJH (Feb. 5th) and HIJH (Feb. 26th). Learn more here.
R.A.V.E. REVIEWS
Help us in recognizing and appreciating our talented, hard-working, and dedicated employees by submitting a R.A.V.E. (Recognizing All Valuable Employees) Review. All HSE staff members are eligible for nomination and may be recognized multiple times. To submit a R.A.V.E. Review, click here to fill out a quick and easy online form and share why the individual is a 5-Star employee.
Recipients will receive a R.A.V.E. Review window cling to proudly display their nomination in their workspace, a certificate and letter of recognition with their review. Each month, one R.A.V.E. Review recipient will be selected at random by the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation for a $100 gift card. Thank you for your support!