Geist Gazette
March 4, 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
Teaching how to use the tools!
Students engaged in inquiry driven study!
1-1 Masterpieces on Geoboards
Exciting times...
With the 1:1 initiative just a few months away, I want to share what I'm seeing from my point of view as a Mom as well as a principal. As some of you know, I was slow to join the technology wagon with my own children. My daughter was required to earn money to purchase half of her iPAD and we walked into the Apple store with the ziploc bag and piggy bank in tow and paid with coins, dollars and a few twenties. This was a huge step for our family and yet a step that has opened so many doors for us! Yes, it required some management on my part (a filter that has helped and made me feel safer) and some important lessons are being taught. The benefits have been good. The reality is, the 21st century is well underway. We don't use rotary dial phones, we use IPHONES. We use robots to assist surgeons and we use GPS driven combines to harvest our fields. The iPAD will not replace the teacher and yet it can help to amplify the instruction! As a Mom, I'm thankful that with the help of the school we can teach my children how to navigate in this technological and thought provoking world! Since the purchase of the iPAD, my children are coming to me with research they have found, they are creating iMOVIES and Chatter pixs, and learning how to interact in instant messaging with their Mother :-) in an appropriate way. Don't get me wrong, we still play Shopkins, Monopoly and watch more TV than one should. There is a balance.
As a principal, I've seen the same thing in the classroom. Our students are not on the devices all the time and they won't be. In fact, above are some pictures taken last week where best practice instruction was used to amplify learning. There was student learning through hands on activities in the classroom, boards games that were engaging, and small group instruction from the teacher. The device is a tool that helps us amplify the HSE21 initiatives of student choice, rigor, global awareness, differentiation and relevance. It is a tool which allows research and unique opportunities to be in the hands of our students. I'm so excited for the work our teachers are doing to prepare for this tool. I'm excited to be taking this journey together. If you have questions along the way, please feel free to contact me! Thank you for joining us in this journey!
Christi Thomas, Principal
Upcoming Dates
Monday, Mar. 7
Spanish Lessons
Engineering for Kids
Tuesday, Mar. 8
Geist Running Club - 3rd Grade
Yearbook Club
Topsicle Tuesday
Good News Club
Dine to Donate at Puccini's
Wednesday, Mar. 9
Choir Practice
ASL Sign Language Club
Thursday, Mar. 10
Spanish Lessons
PTO Board Meeting
Friday, Mar. 11
Grading Period Ends
Geist Running Club - Grade 4
Chess Club
Movie Night - Destination Imagination Fundraiser - Grades 2-3-4
Monday, Mar. 14
Flex Day - No School if we haven't had a snow day
Tuesday, Mar. 15
IREAD Testing - Grade 3
Geist Running Club - Grade 3
Good News Club
Wednesday, Mar. 16
IREAD Testing - Grade 3
Choir Practice
ASL Sign Language Club
PTO Open Forum with Guest Speaker Dr. Bourff, HSE Superintendent
Thursday, Mar. 17
IREAD Testing - Grade 3
Spanish Lessons
Friday, Mar. 18
Report Cards Posted
IREAD Testing - Grade 3
Geist Running Club - Grade 4
1st Grade Field Trip to Beef & Boards
Chess Club
Saturday, Mar. 19 & Sunday, Mar. 20
HsEART Show, FHS 2-5
Specials Rotation
Mar. 7 - Mar. 11 - Week 2 (PLC)
Mar. 14 - Mar. 18 - Week 1
Lunch Menu
Mar. 7 - Mar. 11 - Week 2
Mar. 14 - Mar. 18 - Week 3
Click the links to see the lunch and breakfast menus. Visit the HSE Food Services page for prices and nutritional information.
PTO Corner
Artist of the Week
Feb 29: Kayla W. in Mrs. Ireland’s class
Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart
SAVE THE DATE MARCH 16th : INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION ON REFERENDUM
Geist Elementary and Brooks School Elementary will host Dr. Bourff at Geist Elementary from 6:30-7:30pm. Dr. Bourff’s topic for the evening: Informational Presentation on Referendum. Free babysitting will be provided.
Wednesday, March 16 is the last day to order yearbooks!
This year, yearbook orders will be sold online only. To order a yearbook, go to www.inter-state.com/yearbook. Our school code is 04553Y.
The cost for each yearbook is $15. Orders can be placed between now and March 16, 2016.
Questions should be directed to Ms. Green at egreen@hse.k12.in.us
Flowers, Balloons, Gifts at School
Giving Gators donate to Amy Beverland Elementary
One amazing staff growing, learning and creating together.
Our lifeskills class learning about dinosaurs!
Spring Pictures Friday March 25th
S.P.O.R.T.S.
Spring 2016 Registration Update - Registration for baseball, soccer, and girls lacrosse is closed and a waitlist has been started. Softball registration closes March 4. Boys lacrosse, rugby, track and field and boys volleyball registrations are still being accepted with a $10 late fee. Contact the S.P.O.R.T.S. office for more information or visit our website, www.hsesports.org.
Fishers-HSE Youth Baseball Evaluations - Rec league evaluation dates are listed below. It is very important that every player attend their designated evaluation session. Players should report 10 minutes prior to their scheduled time.
7th and 8th Grade - Saturday, March 5 - HSE Auxiliary Gym #1
Last name A-M - 1:30 p.m.
Last name N-Z - 2:30 p.m.
Fishers-HSE Youth Softball Evaluations - March 5 - 6
Players are requested to arrive 10 minutes before their scheduled time. Registration will be required and girls will go through the evaluation in groups. All girls interested in pitching should report to the pitching evaluation. Please allow 45-60 minutes to complete the entire evaluation process.
*Please Note* - Only 8U players interested in playing All-Stars need to be evaluated. There are NO evaluations for the 5/6U leagues.
Saturday, March 5 – Fishers High School Auxiliary Gym
8U - Interested All-Stars Only 12:30 p.m.
10U - Last Name A-L 12:45-2:00 p.m.
10U - Last Name M-Z 2:15-4:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 6 – HSE High School Auxiliary Gym
12U 1:00-2:30 p.m.
14U 2:45-4:00 p.m.
Southeastern Rugby - Wanting to improve your footwork for soccer, your hand-eye coordination for basketball, and your tackling for football? Rugby is the perfect spring sport to stay in shape for fall and winter sports, and everybody makes the team! Email SEYouthRugby@gmail.com. Final deadline for spring registration is March 31 at http://www.hsesports.org.
INTERNATIONAL NIGHT
The HSEHS World Connections Club will present its eighth annual “International Night” on Friday, March 25, 2016. Live entertainment will begin at 7:00pm in the Leonard Auditorium, immediately followed by food and fun in the Annex Café. This spectacular evening celebrates the many cultural sights and sounds from around the world that make up our HSE community. Plan now to join us for International Night 2016! Tickets are $4.00 in advance and $5.00 at the door. To purchase tickets please contact Mrs. Lazaga (vlazaga@hse.k12.in.us.) at Hamilton Southeastern High School.