Better Together
Geist Montessori Academy@GeistAcademy
Volume 7, January 19, 2020
GMA staff puts their hearts into everything they do!
AHA CPR Certification
Did you know that if CPR is performed immediately, it can double or triple a person’s chance of survival? On Friday, January 17, all staff members were certified in CPR/AED to help better protect our GMA school family.
School Board Meeting: January 21, 5:30 p.m.
We are so appreciative for our incredible School Board!
Please join us Tuesday, January 21.
BOARD MEMBERS
Nick Wright – President
Kirby Durham – Secretary
Uriah Ellis – Treasurer
Lacey Willard – At-Large Member
Andrew Cavallaro – At-Large Member
We look forward to seeing you Tuesday evening in the art room.
Please refer to the attached agenda.
Of all things, love is the most potent- Maria Montessori
ribbon cutting Ceremony
We can't wait for you to join us on January 31
We are looking forward to an exciting evening of gratitude, friends, and fellowship on Friday, January 31, from 6-7:30 p.m.
Please join us for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 6 p.m. in the gym, followed by a light appetizer progressive reception, student demonstrations, and a scavenger hunt in the new facility. All classrooms are beginning their winter activities and preparations for this exciting night of celebration and togetherness!
Please note that this event is open to the community-at-large, so please invite your friends and family members with this link:
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Invitation: We Hope YOU Can Join Us!
The Current of Fishers and Geist, as well as the Greenfield Daily Reporter will be promoting and featuring GMA in their upcoming publications, as well. If you or a loved one would like to be a part of the event committee, please complete this quick form:
Sibling enrollment time!
Enrollment Form, Sibling 2020-2021
Please contact Ms. Jane with any questions or concerns, 317-813-4626.
East Entrance is the only exit during the school day until car line pick-up
GMA’s east entrance, closest to Olio, is to be used as an entrance and exit during the school day since cars are not allowed on the north side of the campus during school hours. We are having a sign made to reflect this, so in the meantime, please know that it is ok to drive out the Do Not Enter signed east entrance.
There is also a chain blocking the north side of the school, so please be mindful of this policy. This is ensuring the safety of our middle school students as they play basketball on the blacktop area. We appreciate your help with this, as we continue to keep student safety a priority.
thank you drivers!
In addition, thank you for continuing to show courtesy and grace by zippering cars into the line, as well as remembering to use the DOUBLE Car line S pattern when lining up, leaving little room between you and the next car. Also, thank you for prominently displaying your car rider number!
Learning Labs Coming Soon
We have been busy dissecting student achievement data in math and reading and are beginning Learning Labs to help better support our students who are in need of just a little boost. We are utilizing the Quality School Grant to offer these tutoring labs before or after school, FREE of charge to our families. If your child was chosen to participate in this opportunity, a permission letter describing the lab details will be coming home this week.
There are seventeen, free, academic support sessions being offered to families, serving approximately 90 students, and we will be closely monitoring the students’ progress to ensure success. The first session is for 5 weeks, the weeks of 1/27- 2/28. At which time, we will reassess and offer other students the opportunity to participate or offer the students currently in the labs, the ability to continue receiving services.
Further, in analyzing the data, we also discovered that there are many high ability students who need differentiated learning opportunities. We are utilizing the high ability grant to ensure that high ability English language arts and mathematics curriculum is being offered to better serve their needs and stretch their potential and higher level thinking skills.
Tree of Thanksgiving
Like rain and sunshine, community partnerships and outreach help Geist Montessori Academy continue to thrive and flourish. In recognition of the many sponsors and donors, we are developing a tree of thanksgiving and new growth. Leaves of recognition will be adhered to the tree in tiers:
Bronze: $1000-$4,999
Silver: $5000-$9,999
Gold: $10,000-$14,999
Also, in honor of time and talent, in addition to treasure, we are allowing the PTO to select outstanding volunteers for up to 20 percent of the recognition leaves, over a 5 year period. Sponsors and donors that make a contribution of $15,000 or greater will have a banner featured in the gymnasium. The banners are 3 X 5 feet with grommets in the left and right upper hand corners. The design on the banner needs administration and board approval. Upon approval, the banner is created by the donor and then displayed in the gymnasium.
We appreciate your partnerships and are so thankful for your generosity and support.
Indeed, we are BETTER TOGETHER!
Clinic care kits
Nurse Joy made classroom care kits for all of the teachers to assist with minor student health issues. She has also finished organizing the new clinic and is busy ensuring that all regularly administered student medications are up-to-date.
Meet Ms. shari, Middle School Teacher with Ms. Kathy
My name is Shari McMahan. I live in Fishers, IN. My husband and I have 3 boys (13, 15, 17). I am currently working on completing my bachelor’s degree (only 10-15 credits away from finishing!) I love music, dance, painting with oil paints, and High Fitness (a dance class). I am very excited to be at GMA!
What is your favorite Montessori quote or principle? “Imagination does not become great until human beings, given the courage and the strength, use it to create.”
- Maria Montessori
What is your favorite song and why? This is a hard question. I like all sorts of genres. I really think music speaks to the mood and moment. Right now I would say anything Coldplay.
How do you define success? Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do. Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence. Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
What advice do you have for your students? The quote on success above.
What is your favorite thing to do? I love teaching and I love the arts (painting, dance, music, etc.)
come out and support our robotics team
Great STEM opportunity: Register now
Engineering for Kids is offering after school STEM opportunities in explore and mechanical engineering. Please see the attached flyer with all of the enrollment details.
They are also offering an Early Bird Special for Summer Camps at GMA. Register for a full day camp experience and save up to $50 per week!
Here is the link for the website:
https://www.engineeringforkids.com/indianapolis/programs/camps/
Sensational Spirit Wear Shirts Available!
It seems that everywhere I turn, I see someone wearing our new sensational shirt, uniting us as one: Better Together!
Our incredible PTO is selling these T-shirts, displaying our new school logo for only $10. Youth sizes XS-L and Adult sizes S-XL are available. These will be the only spirit wear shirts offered this semester, so please order accordingly.
Also, if you were given your shirts at the Sweet Meet and Greet and have not paid for these yet, please do so as soon as possible since the PTO has many other financial obligations at this time.
Shirts are limited, so please contact Casi Durham directly if you would like one: durham.casi@gmail.
Act it out~ coming soon!
A note from Ms. Meagan:
What? A place for all things theatrical! Children will have the opportunity to study theatre through play! With a variety of dramatic games and improv warm ups, your child is sure to have a blast! We will also go through the steps of putting a small performance together and showcase that to our family and friends on our last day of class in the NEW GYM!
Please refer to the attachments with all of the details.
special Thanks to our GMA Gym Magician
Mr. Cameron's Update
It's been music to our ears, hearing the wonderful musicians in our new school!
Kindergarten through 3rd grade students are learning how to read rhythm through musical notation with varying degrees of difficulty based upon their age groups which corresponds to anchor standard 4: listen and respond, involving the ability to hear or read the music, and then play it back.
Fourth through eighth grade students are learning how to play the ukulele which corresponds to Anchor Standard 8, playing instruments from any family accurately and clearly. They are also performing what they’re learning in front of the class which corresponds with anchor standard 7, the ability to comfortably perform in front of an audience (their class).
FAr out!
Calling all Pokémon Players!
Come explore the wonder and excitement of competitive Pokémon!
What? Find out what all these cards are about! Children will have the opportunity to enhance their strategy and critical thinking skills through play! The Pokémon trading card game involves high levels of reading, math, logic, planning, and executive functioning skills. Importantly, it also teaches social skills such as communication in game, calling for help, sportsmanship, and winning and losing graciously. After our last meeting, I will be more than happy to organize a field trip to an actual competitive Pokémon event for our group!
Who? I highly recommend this club to 2nd through 6 th year students. The game involves reading all the fine print on the cards, and doing multiple math calculations per turn, which can include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Maximum of 10 kids in each 6-week session.
When? Fridays after school- 4:00PM-5:00PM
Feb. 21, Mar 6, Mar 20, Mar 27, April 10, April 17.
Where? Ms. Joni's Room (Redwoods)
Cost? $75 for the session; and each child will receive a 60-card deck, with protective sleeves and a deck box, and all damage counters and other materials needed to play the game.
Please see the sign-up for more details and for registration. The Sign-ups are first come, first serve (payment first only). Please contact Joni Heredia jheredia@gma.k12.in.us with questions.
SIGN UP HERE: https://signup.com/go/QRsxesz
TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT: Send PayPal to freelanceindiana@gmail.com
Or send a check for $75 to Joni Heredia.
important reminders
New Phone Number: (317) 813-4626 and Address
Please take note; our new school family has a
NEW PHONE NUMBER:
(317) 813-4626
NEW ADDRESS:
6058 W. 900 N.
McCordsville, IN 46055
Attendance Matters
Bundle Up and Be in the Know!
appointments
Due to the car line dismissal time of 3:30, there will be no student dismissals permitted after 2:45 p.m. Therefore, please make all appointments for your children before 2:45 p.m. In order to properly manage the flow of car line dismissal traffic, any student needing to be picked up beyond 2:45 p.m. will have to join the rest of the students in the regular car line procedures.
eLearning Day : february 14
Per Indiana Department of Education, "eLearning Days have given the option for continuing an instructional day away from traditional time limits and brick and mortar setting. This innovative program has evolved into an engaging instructional model used in many Indiana schools to keep the sequence of learning going in spite of weather and other challenges. More importantly, it has provided teachers and students the opportunity to engage with digital resources, to collaborate virtually, and to develop digital skills that are used and valued beyond K-12."
Please enjoy the eLearning PowerPoint Presentation by Mr. Logan, presented on October 3 to explain the process: http://gmacademy.org/e-learning-day-november-1st/
Additionally, please find the attached board policy pertaining to eLearning Days. Students should have received their eLearning day work before leaving for winter break.
Upcoming Events
January 20: NO School: MLK Holiday; Dine to Donate - Hotbox Pizza Fishers/Geist - just mention GMA with your order
January 21: School Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m., art room
January 25: Robotics Competition at Franklin Township, 10 a.m.
January 31: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 6-7:30 p.m., Gym,
Invite your friends and family with the evite link!
February 13: Skating Party at Roller Cave, 5:30 Learn to Skate, 6-8 p.m.
February 14: eLearning Day, Professional Development for Teachers
February 21: Family Dance, 6-8 p.m.
Mastering Montessori
Together, we are so much better!
Meet Geist Montessori Academy's Executive Director: Cindy Schuler
Email: Cschuler@gma.k12.in.us
Website: gmacademy.org
Phone: (317)335-1158
Twitter: @GeistAcademy