GEIST GAZETTE
October 7, 2022
GEIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Website: https://ges.hseschools.org/
Location: 14051 East 104th Street, Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: 317-915-4260
Twitter: @Geistgators
4th grade- Study of glaciers
Students in fourth grade have been learning about how years ago glaciers impacted Indiana land! If you travel Indiana for fall break, consider talking about the Indiana Dunes, to the flat lands and lakes in Northeast Indiana, to the hills of southern Indiana!
2nd grade- Study of patterns and skip counting
Students are learning how patterns are created through addition and subtraction of numbers. You can create patterns at home and help your child explore and extend the patterns!
eLearning day for students, professional learning for staff
While our students were away learning, our staff were hard at work advancing their studies in our new reading curriculum, HMH. We know eLearning creates a new routine for students and we appreciate your flexibility as we provide professional development for our staff and minimize substitute usage during the typical school days.
Message from the Principal
I want to take a moment to talk about the saying, "what we put in, is what we will get out." As my Mom would say, "garbage in, garbage out!" Although it is a saying, I believe it has some nuggets of truth. As educators we are finding this apparent when it comes to what our students read, watch, play, listen to and see. What do I mean? We see some behaviors and language at school that we can tie back to video game playing. Students play games that show physicality or language, and children begin to normalize the behavior and thus choose inappropriate reactions to conflict. We see behaviors and language at school that can tie directly back to television shows or YouTube videos students watch. Let me give you an example. If a professional athlete slams the ball down after getting called for a foul and yells at the referee, our children may think it is ok and normalize it unless the parent or coaches teach the appropriate response and expectation. Our children see it, internalize, then if a similar situation happens, our child can respond in the same way the TV/Video game/sports game/etc. taught them.
As parents, we can't be around to protect our children from the daily conflicts that happen every hour. Our best approach is to assure we model strong conflict resolution as well as filter as needed appropriate conflict resolution in what our students watch, read and play. When we see a poor response, talk about why it was poor! When we see a great response to conflict, talk about it and why! We will continue our work on appropriate conflict resolution at school and we appreciate your partnership at home!
Next week is a full week of school and then we will have fall break! Hopefully you are able to enjoy a little down time with your cherubs.
Thank you for sharing your children with us,
Christi Thomas
Principal, GES
Literacy Night was a blast!!
Our students and families turned out in fantastic numbers to celebrate readers and writers for Literacy Night. Terry Border was an entertaining presenter and said over and over how much he enjoyed his time with us. Art, Global Studies, and Music rooms had a continuous flow in and out of the rooms. The library gave away 100 books with the Scavenger Hunt. Hamilton East Public Library representatives expressed their delight in being part of this wonderful event. Attendees ate 398 cookies and drank 200 bottles of water. What a great time!!
Friends of the Library
Thank you to the families of the following students for donating books to the library.
September: Kate S., Luke S., Ava G., Jackson S., Hans H., Alec S., Eleanor S., Maddie K., Matthew D., Liam B., and Kate M.
October: Noah R., Oliver R., Brayden B., Kira H., Adeline M., Jameson W., Halle G., Kalysta H., Maddie K., Elin W., Canon W., Cora G., Connor B., Zoey S., Jackson W., and Landry W.
Calling all 3rd & 4th grade Snare Drum Players!
I would like to add some snare drum players to the Veterans Day Performance. Please email me if your student/s take percussion lessons and/or has snare drum experience. Thanks! Mrs. K jkoenig@hse.k12.in.us
SEL At Home Resources
Click on the links to see the SEL lessons for the next two weeks.
The Fall Festival is November 4. Wristband orders are due next Friday!!!! This week's issue of the PTO Corner has full information about the day's activities along with a Dine to Donate this week, the Fall Festival and much more. Click here to read the PTO Corner.
CUP STACKING has many components!
In the picture below, students in PE were enjoying running, cup stacking, multiplication, patterns and teamwork all in one!!!
Keller's Korner
Conflict Resolution Skills
Conflicts are normal experiences within one’s school and/or work environments.
By teaching conflict resolution skills, we build an on-going school support system where students, staff and parents are committed to working towards the same end: a secure and safe school environment.
Normal peer conflict implies a balance of power, less frequency and a lack of real victim trauma. Students are asked to resolve their own conflicts, when and if they can; as learning to deal with peer conflict helps students master socialization skills as they mature into healthy adults. Adult intervention can rob students of the opportunity to learn important coping skills. Students are supported to resolve issues among themselves, to collaboratively work through responses and solutions and to learn skills that can be applied in other settings. Learning conflict resolution strategies can help students to:
- Accept differences
- Recognize mutual interests
- Improve persuasion skills
- Improve listening skills
- Break a reactive cycle or routine
- Learn to disagree without animosity
- Build confidence in recognizing win-win solutions
- Recognize/admit to/process emotions
- Solve problems!
We also teach that if a conflict is not solved by using an assertive voice (e.g. I feel.....when you.....please stop), students are asked to REPORT to the nearest adult to help with the situation and intervene. If a child is threatened with harm to self or others, students are taught to REPORT immediately. The goal is to teach self-advocacy with a safety net of support when needed.
Have you checked your student's course fees and/or lunch balance?
Course fee statements were sent via email on Tuesday, Sept. 6th. You will find balances for both in your Skyward Family Access on the Course Fee and Food Services tabs. If you have paid but see a balance please note that it may take 7-10 business days to post to Skyward.
Fees may be paid with a check or exact cash in the office or by credit/debit card through eFunds. How to use eFunds: Please note, eFunds and Skyward are not connected. You will need to obtain the total amount due in Skyward and then log into eFunds. From the main menu in eFunds you will need to choose "Pay Optional Fees" and enter the amount that you are paying.
Questions regarding fees and payment of fees may be directed to jwatkins@hse.k12.in.us.
2022 Liger XC Mile Thursday, October 13
The 2022 Liger XC Mile will take place on Thursday, October 13th at Hamilton Southeastern HS!! This race/run/walk is for ALL K- 6th grade students in the Hamilton Southeastern School District. School team scores will be kept by school. Register Online at RaceRoster.com. Search Liger.
Online entry includes a t-shirt with all competitors’ names & schools on the back! And the always awesome LIGER Logo!! Medals for top 5 finishers in each grade- both male and female. Ribbons for all Finishers.
- Online with shirt by Monday Oct 10th, 11:59AM. $22 (Name on Shirt and Bib)!
- Enter by Oct 5 and receive a personalized race number!
- Same day registration available at race site: $30 –limited number of shirts on race day.
Why: To promote health & fitness throughout the district and introduce the lifelong sport of running.
Check out the attachment for full details.
Mudsock Youth Athletics
Winter Program Registration:
Registration for our recreational basketball programs for both boys and girls remains open at myathletics.com. The leagues welcome athletes in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The girls season runs from November through early March. Boys (K) play January through March, (1st - 6th) November through March, and (7th/8th) January through March. Find the girls basketball information packet here. Find the boys basketball information packet here. Some divisions will form waitlists soon so thank you for registering now to play.
Travel Basketball Tryout Information:
Registration for tryouts for Fishers (3rd-8th) and HSE (3rd) girls travel basketball is open at myathletics.com along with Fishers and HSE (3rd-6th) boys. Find everything you need to know for girls here and boys here.
R.A.V.E. REVIEW
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!