Geist Gazette
May 5, 2017
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
Notes from the Principal-
We are excited to share that ISTEP is finished! Hip hip Hooray!
The coming weeks are going to be action packed with Earth Day, 2nd grade Musical, Topsicle Tuesday, Field Day, fourth grade clap-out and more! We appreciate your efforts to keep routine at home as normal as possible in the coming weeks. I'm guessing this rain will stop at some point and the children can get outside and play. Just do your best to keep to a good bedtime in the final weeks!
If you have a pre-school child at home, please note that HSE is offering pre-school for children. Please look below for the HSE Preschool of Natural Sciences.
Thank you for your support of GES and for sharing your children with us,
Christi Thomas, Principal
Goodbye and Good Luck to our Gator Retirees
Several of our staff members will be saying goodbye to GES at the end of the school year. If you see them in the hallway or classroom please take a moment to say hello - or goodbye!
Rhonda Taylor, Music Instructor
Mrs. Taylor is ready to spend more time with her husband, children and grandchildren. Mrs. Taylor came to GES when the building opened 13 years ago. She looks forward to her son's wedding in November and the birth of her 7th grandchild!
Jan Qualkinbush, Occupational Therapist
Mrs. Q. is retiring after 37 years, 17 with HSE Schools. Mr. Q is semi-retired and the two plan to travel, including a big trip across the pond this summer with their daughter and son-in-law.
We will have lots of new faces in the cafeteria next year, as we say farewell to four of our café staff.
- Jenn Bedrosian, Cafeteria Line - Miss Jenn, who was a GES Parent before joining the lunch line a few years ago, is moving on to help her husband in his office.
- Beth Casey, Cafeteria Monitor - Miss Beth has been a monitor for 9 years, and is looking to see what retirement brings.
- Pam Moore-Nall, Cafeteria Monitor - Miss Pam, also a monitor for 9 years, says she plans to go to dance class three days a week!
- Kay Poole, Cafeteria Line - Miss Kay has been serving up lunches with a smile for 8 years and is ready to relax!
Thank you all for your dedication to GES. We wish you all the best!
Scholastic Book Fair May 15-19
Friends of the Library
Thank you and congratulations to the most recent Friends of the Library Club members. Books have been donated by (May) Katie C., Ella C., Jordan R., Ella C., Jonas R., Naomi T., Shelby B., Ava P., Andrew O., Annabelle M., (June) Maryn R., Chloe R., Sarah R., Evan B., (July) Nathan T., Raegan H., Summer W., Nate M., Patrick C., and Austin H.
3rd Grade Pixel Portraits
Art Room News
In a few weeks all students in grades 1-4 will bring home their portfolios. All the artwork from the school year will be inside. I hope you will take a few minutes as a family to look through the art you child(ren) have created this year!
First grade: We have finished up our Styrofoam prints and moved on to ceramics! The kids were very excited to use clay and see how it can take on textures. Each student chose a personal symbol to add to the top of their texture tile. This week we have added color, and next week we will add a hanger. Look for these projects to be coming home soon!
Second grade: Students are still working on their printmaking project inspired by Gustav Klimt's Tree of Life. We drew our tree into Styrofoam and started with a print made with markers. We will be doing a second print on a "tie-dye" paper the students created this week. Next up is ceramics!
Third grade: I think the students had a lot of fun with our last project, Pixel Portraits. The kids were excited to do these because of their look is similar to Minecraft. Next we are working on a printmaking project that uses a radial design. Ceramics are coming soon!
Fourth grade: This week we glazed our donuts! Yes, we created donuts using clay and are using ceramic glaze to add color. The projects are turning out so great and the students have had some very creative ideas! We will be working on a printmaking project next, and if there is time we will finish the year with weaving.
Artists of the Week, May 1st
Owen P. in Mrs. Scott's class.
Notes From the Music Room
TALENT AND HOBBY DAYS are coming to a music room near you! The week of May 15-17th will be sharing and performing days. Students are signing up now to perform their talents or share about their hobbies. Talent and hobby day will be on the day that children regularly come to music class. They will need to bring their own music to play, sing to, dance to or to use as background music for their "acts". They will be performing/sharing in front of their own class in the music room. Please help your children to remember their props (music, guitars, hula hoops, trophies, pictures, jump ropes, etc.) needed for their presentation, especially the Monday Music classes!
Our 4th and 3rd grade students are finishing their unit on Recorders, and assessments are in progress. Soon your children will be bringing their recorders home for the school year. Students will need their recorders next year in 4th and 5th grades. Parents, please help your children find a great place to store their recorders until needed next year. I have recommended their underwear drawers!
2nd graders are very busy putting the finishing touches on their musical, The Principal and the Pea to be performed on Wednesday, May 10th. The information letter to all parents has been sent out several times via email and SKYLERT. If you are able to help make props and decorate the stage, please contact Mrs. Rhonda Taylor to volunteer! Lots of help is needed!
1st graders are learning about the different families of the orchestra, and are playing xylophones in class. We will be singing some great American songs in our last few weeks.
Rhonda Taylor
Music Instructor
HIJH SchoolKidz for Incoming 5th Grade Students
Schoolkidz ordering information was sent home this week. SchoolKidz kits can be picked up during our Panther Preview on Wednesday, August 2nd. If unable to attend Panther Preview, kits will be delivered to your child’s homeroom classroom.
Orders can be placed online at www.shopttkits.com (use account number 30065) until May 26th. Please contact Sue Wahlstrom swahlstrom@hse.k12.in.us with any questions.
Spring NWEA Testing Windows
Grades K-2 is May 1-3
Grades 3-4 is May 8-10
iPad Return Process for the End of the Year
Library Cards and Enrollment information for 2017-2018
As students are being enrolled for the 2017-2018 school year, please check the box that allows children to use the Hamilton East Public Library databases. The child's student number then becomes the ID and password for accessing the databases and electronic books making logging in much easier.
Classroom Placements for 2017-2018
It is that time of the year where we will accept letters about class placements for next year. 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 direct all letters to Mr. Reynolds at jrreynolds@hse.k12.in.us.
Need help?
If you and your family is in need of any assistance of any kind, please contact Mr. Reynolds at jrreynolds@hse.k12.in.us or 317-915-4260.
HSE Preschool of the Natural Sciences
Lunch Menus and Visitors
Click here to see what's being served in the café.
Click here for the food services website.
We love our lunch visitors! Please remember that we are unable to offer lunch to our visitors. You are welcome to bring your lunch; please no restaurant-packaged food.
Reminder to Sign Up for Geist Half Marathon with Geist Elementary
Go to Geisthalf.com
Click "Register Now"
Click the green "Tickets" tab
Click on the “Enter Promotional Code” in the upper right hand corner of the screen
Enter “SchoolProgram2017” as the program code
Please make sure you choose “School Program / Pay Now” Do not choose just School Program
Complete the registration form
If you have questions, please call or email. I hope to see a large group representing Geist.
Rod Sutherlin
Want to keep up on what's happening at school?
Geist Elementary PTO
Click here for this week's edition of the PTO Corner.
Our fantastic PTO has a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GeistElementaryPTO/
Please sign up for Geist Elementary PTO activities on SignUp.com today!
See what the HSE Schools Foundation is up to this month.
HSE Schools Professional Honor Roll
It’s hard to believe the end of the year is in sight! May is such a busy month at HSE Schools, but it is also the perfect time to recognize a special teacher or staff member that has made a difference for your child.
As you are considering staff appreciation, go beyond the mug by nominating any HSE Schools teacher, counselor, nurse, bus driver, custodian, food service team member, administrator, or other staff member to the Professional Honor Roll.
Your honoree will receive notification of your gift, a thank you for exceptional service to students and public recognition on the HSSF website.
Visit www.hsefoundation.org/donate/thank-educator to thank an outstanding educator today!
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see who will make the Honor Roll this year or see last year’s honorees at www.hsefoundation.org/what-we-do.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT GEIST:
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The HSEHS Choral Department presents “Celebration” May 11th and 12th
Summer Sports Camp
Summer Sports Camp information is now available online. Here are the links:
HSE High School
http://hseroyalsathletics.com/hq/summer-sports-camp-information/
Fishers High School
http://fisherstigersathletics.com/hq/fishers-tigers-sports-camps/
HSE HS Robotics Camps June 2017
2017 Knights Cheer Try Outs Information
HSE Fishers Youth LaCrosse Give Back Wednesdays
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.
Parents can view the information at any time by visiting http://www.hse.k12.in.us/ADM/news/bulletin.aspx.