Website: https://ges.hseschools.org/
Location: 14051 East 104th Street, Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: 317-915-4260
Twitter: @Geistgators

Hello Gator families-

As I am typing this we are preparing for our next class of Gators to walk the hallways this evening at our Kindergarten Open House. The time surely does fly by! I can't believe we only have 5 weeks of school remaining and are starting to prep for the next school year. If you need to register for GES next year, please use the following link.

Starting April 18 - May 13 we will begin ILEARN testing in third and fourth grades. In addition we will begin NWEA testing in kindergarten through fourth grade. These assessments provide important data regarding student growth and information to guide our next steps in our instructional plan for the 22-23 school year. We appreciate your efforts at home to make sure children get a great night's sleep and are focused for the final assessments they will have for the school year.

Thank you for your continued support and please take time to look at all the dates and information below.

Have a wonderful weekend-

Christi Thomas

Principal

Calendar:

April 18-May 13 ILEARN for 3rd and 4th

May 2-May 13 NWEA for K, 1, 2, 3, 4

April 21- Choir Concert

April 29- eLearning (no students at school) and the PTO Spring Social on the playground

May 2-6- Staff Appreciation

May 5- Kindergarten performance

May 9- 4th Grade Track Meet

May 9-13- GES Book Fair

May 10- Earth Day

May 16- Bongo Boys presents

May 18- Field Day

May 20- Last student day

Grade 3 and 4 ILEARN Testing Window opens Monday, April 18th

Our GES third and fourth students are prepared with the tools to be successful on the Indiana Department of Education required ILEARN assessment. ILEARN is Indiana’s online computer-adaptive assessment designed to measure your child’s proficiency of the Indiana Academic Standards for Grades 3-8. In grade 3, students participate in ELA and Math assessments. Grade 4 students participate in ELA, Math, and SC assessments.

GES 4th grade students will participate beginning Monday, April 18th.
GES 3rd grade students will participate beginning Monday, April 25th.

In preparation for ILEARN, we are asking for your support at home in the following ways:

*Fully-charge your child's iPad the night before testing.

*Families are a part of each child's team and academic success. Share with your child how proud of them you are and build their confidence approaching the assessment; Just provide encouragement and help your child get a good night's sleep.
You've got this!

*Have your child eat a healthy breakfast to provide the brain energy: protein, protein, protein.

*Arrive at school on time. We will begin the assessment promptly at 8:10AM each morning.

We are proud of our Geist Gator students, we know they will rock ILEARN!

The NWEA Spring testing window is Monday, May 2nd through Friday, May 13.
Be on the lookout for classroom communication for the ELA and Math assessment schedules.

Please find the following in the Music Newsletter:

Choir Concert Information

Kindergarten Performance Information

Rotation 6 Music Lessons

Pictures & more!

https://www.smore.com/ma1rkw

It is already time to begin thinking about next school year! The PTO is excited to share the opportunity to support GES students and teachers with the purchase of a school supply kit. All the supplies have been carefully chosen by the grade level teachers. ​

​

You can also purchase additional classroom supplies, such as sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, and zip top bags that are not included in the kits but needed (and appreciated) as classroom supplies.​

​

Go to www.shopttkits.com and type in the account number: 32455 to order your grade level kit and extra supplies! Ordering begins 4/11/2022 and ends on 5/14/2022.

This year our GES 4th graders were chosen to go to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to learn about the 500 Festival & the Indy 500. They spent the day learning about what goes into running and hosting these events. They kissed the bricks, met a 500 Princess and IndyCar driver, sat in an IndyCar just to name a few cool experiences.

GES library will host a Scholastic Book Fair May 9th to May 13th. Shopping days are as follows:

• Monday-4th grade
• Tuesday-1st grade
• Wednesday-2nd grade
• Thursday-3rd grade
• Friday-Kindergarten

There will also be after-school shopping on Tuesday, May 10th from 2:30 to 4:30.

Calling all volunteers!! We will need cashier help each day. Look for class shopping time information coming soon at VolunteerSpot.

Amanda Wilson, chairperson

Kelly Pidcock, teacher librarian

The fourth grade had a unique hatch this year! We want to thank our PTO for helping us create this hands on learning experience about embryology for our entire 4th grade again this year.

Recognizing All Valuable Employees

Do you know an employee who makes HSE Schools a better place for others? Do you know someone who exemplifies the Mission of HSE Schools? Have you observed an employee who goes above and beyond their job responsibilities/duties to make a difference?

These individuals deserve a 5-star “RAVE Review!”

The goal of the RAVE (Recognizing All Valuable Employees) Review is to identify and honor those, in their contributions and service to HSE Schools, exemplify our mission. Click here to submit a nomination.

Check out the upcoming SEL lessons on mindfulness, focus and awareness. Click the links for more details.

• Week of April 18
• Week of April 25
  

This week, our students and staff participated in a school wide read aloud, to celebrate all the shades of color of our community and friends and to learn how to use your power to make changes, big or small, in the world, our community and most importantly, oneself.

Kindergarten, 1st-grade and 2nd-grade read The Colors of Us by Karen Katz.

3rd and 4th grades read Change Sings by Amanda Gorman.

Students participated in community circle conversations and classroom discussions. All were asked to pay particular attention to what each, as an individual, can do to respect others' differences, find commonalities and to think about what they can do to create positive change in their classrooms and school community.

As we reflect, we've suggested asking ourselves the following questions:

1. What have I learned about myself?
2. What have I learned about others?
3. How has my perspective, my classroom and my family benefit from engaging others.

Unfortunately, we can’t outrun the weather and we certainly can’t fight it. The weather is an unpredictable and uncontrollable force, two factors which make it all the more scary for many children. These tips offer parents or guardians some guidance about how to help children cope with weather anxiety.

Encourage your child that they will not be alone. Let them know you or another adult, such as a teacher or sitter, will be there to help them.

Keep the television watching to a minimum. Of course, you will need to keep an eye on the weather as it approaches, but your child may experience anxiety watching too much news coverage of the impending storm. Monitor the weather on your phone or a television in a different room if possible.

Keep calm. Your child will listen to your words during discussions, but how you act and speak during an emergency will have a greater impact on how they feel in a situation. Attempt to keep your voice as calm as possible and your body language relaxed. This can be challenging, especially if you are just as, if not more anxious than your child. Talk them through the situation by reviewing your safety plan. For example:

“OK, the sirens are going off now. They are telling us that there is some strong weather coming. We have our flashlights, shoes, and emergency kit. Let’s go to our safe spot so we can wait until the storm is done. Do you remember where our safe spot is?”

Do something to pass the time. Once a storm has arrived, tension and fear can build if your child is constantly focused on it. When you have reached a safe area, play some games, or ask conversation starter questions to help distract your children from the sounds of the storm.

Follow-up. When the storm has passed, encourage your child by telling them they are safe now and how proud you are that they followed the safety plan. If damage has occurred, explain how you will repair the damage and that your material belongings can be replaced. Your child will probably have concerns and questions for you after a storm, so plan some one-on-one time to ask them what they thought and if they have any questions.

Your child's current grade level team is instrumental in creating a balanced classroom group of students for the following school year based on social and emotional, academic/learning, and personality needs of each student.

Completing the Thoughtful Placement Request form, for special circumstances, will assist teachers and administration in determining classroom placements for the following school year.

We value parent input in identifying the most positive classroom environment. Through the placement request, parents can share areas of strengths and challenges, and how a particular environment would best meet their child's needs. With a school population of 650+ students it is not possible for us to accept specific teacher requests. We appreciate your input in this form instead of an email to Guidance and Administration. Please know, final class placement decisions rest with the building administration.

This form will close on Friday, April 22, 2022.

GES Thoughtful Placement Form

As families have moved on from GES, we have had some important committee roles to fill on the PTO in the coming school year.

The GES PTO welcomes everyone from staff, parents and caregivers to grandparents, aunts and uncles. Whether you can help once a week or once a month, we need your help to be able to continue to do what we do for the GES staff and students. Please visit the PTO website to learn more about the positions that we need to fill before the end of the school year.

Looking for a fun and flexible career? Join the HSE Food and Nutrition Department. We're hiring full-time and part-time positions with competitive pay and benefit options. No experience necessary.

Geist Elementary has a Cashier/Monitor Position available! Hours are 10-2 each school day.

This is an opportunity to make a difference in the community by working in the public schools. The HSE Food and Nutrition Department promotes a family-like work environment. You can work a schedule that fits with your child's school hours. No evenings or weekends ! Want to to learn more? Contact Andria Ray, Director of Nutrition & Food Services at aray@hse.k12.in.us or 317-594-4100.

Boys Volleyball is BACK this Spring:

Due to interest, Mudsock Youth Volleyball will be running sessions for 3rd - 8th graders from April 22nd - May 15th on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Participants can register NOW at myathletics.com. Parents/guardians, thank you for letting us know if you'd like to coach on the online form. Learn everything you need to know, including the format here. We’ll see you on the courts soon! Questions? Email mudsockvolleyball@gmail.com.

Knights Travel Cheerleading Tryouts:

Calling all incoming 5th and 6th graders! Do you want to stunt, flip, jump, and cheer for the Knights Travel Football Team? Attend the callout meeting on April 25th for all the details. The Knights Cheerleading 2022 season tryouts will be held Sunday, May 15th, from 4:30-7 p.m. at DeVeau’s Gymnastics. Find information and registration details here.

Fall Sport Registration Opens May 1st:

Mark your calendars! Open registration for football, cheerleading, soccer, girls volleyball, cross country, co-ed field hockey, fall baseball and softball will take place on May 1 – May 31st at myathletics.com. Find fall season information from our leagues here.

Work while your kids are at school! The demand for substitute teachers is extremely high. HSE subs have an opportunity to pick their hours and even the schools they prefer. Please consider a position as a substitute teacher. Click here for details.