Jeremiah Gray Kindergarten Academy
Home of the Little Giants - December 13, 2019
Principal's Message
First, thank you to all of our families that came out and watched their Little Giants perform a Holiday of Music! The kids did a wonderful job. See below for performance pictures.
Next week we will have a four day week. It's going to fly by fast, because we have a lot of fun activities planned:
- Wednesday, we will have a holiday spirit day for students and staff. Students may wear holiday shirt and jeans.
- Thursday we will have our Holiday Parties. Each team collaborates to create a special day for kids. Some teams will have Polar Express activities or will enjoy Winter "Snow Day" fun. Students and staff are invited to wear pajamas to school that day to participate in the holiday fun! (Please note our visitor/volunteer policy below. Only parents with background checks are permitted to attend class parties.)
- Thursday we will also celebrate our Citizens of the Month during lunch!
We will not have school Friday, December 20th.
Love, Mrs. Hansell
Winter Holiday Program
Friday Morning Meeting
What a great way to start the day!
School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports
Achievement Wall
Do you want to sign the wall??
Congratulations to our Little Giants of the Week!
A Visit From the Grinch
We want to extend a huge thank you to Southport High School graduate, and Mrs. Hansell's daughter, Abbey! She did a great job transforming Mr. Witt into the Grinch!
Teacher
Name: Samantha Frye
Number of years: 2
Family Info: I have a husband and a dog named Lucy.
Favorite Hobbies: I love to travel and spend time with friends and family.
Interesting fact: Mrs. Hansell was my second grade teacher.
Aide
Name: Maddie Brite
Number of years: 2
Family Info: I am the oldest of 4 kids that all grew up in Perry Township.
Favorite Hobbies: I love to play with my dog, Kona.
Interesting fact: I know sign language and graduated from Jeremiah Gray Elementary.
Aide
Name: Paulina Mares
Number of years: 1
Family Info: I have 3 siblings. My brother went to JGKA last year.
Favorite Hobbies: I love escape rooms and movies.
Interesting fact: Mrs. Frye, Miss Brite and myself all went to Southport High School.
Appropriate Winter Wear
Child Nutrition
Stay Connected with ParentSquare
ParentSquare is the newest communication tool designed to keep families informed. By providing your email and phone number, you will receive the following information from teachers and principals:
- Weather cancellation/delays
- Emergency notifications
- General announcements
With ParentSquare, you can receive notifications via the ParentSquare smartphone app, text message, email, phone or a combination of these.
Did you know:
That missing 10% of school days, or just 2 days each month, can put children at risk of academic failure?
Students who missed fewer than 2 days in September continued to average fewer than 2 days absent each month.
Absenteeism and its ill effects start early. One in 10 Kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent.
By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
Attendance improves when schools engage students and parents in positive ways and when schools provide mentors for chronically absent students.
Students are more likely to go to school if they know someone cares whether they show up.
2020-21 Kindergarten Registration Information
Kindergarten registration will begin on January 6, 2020 for those students who will be entering Kindergarten in the Fall of 2020. The student must turn 5 years old on or before August 1, 2020 in order to register. There is a waiver process for children with a birthdate after August 1st up to September 1st. The Kindergarten Academy your student will attend is determined by your residence only and not where other siblings may be attending. The following is a list of home schools and the corresponding Kindergarten Academy your student will attend:
Home School Kindergarten Academy
Jeremiah Gray Kindergarten Academy
Southport Elementary
Mary Bryan Elementary
Clinton Young-if residence is North of 465 and East of I-65
Homecroft Kindergarten Academy
Winchester Village Elementary
Homecroft Elementary
Clinton Young Elementary-all other areas not included above
Douglas MacArthur Kindergarten Academy
Henry Burkhart Elementary
Douglas MacArthur Elementary
Rosa Parks Kindergarten Academy
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Glenns Valley Elementary
When registration opens in January 2020, you will need to register your incoming Kindergarten student at the Academy that your student will attend based on your address. We will have maps at Clinton Young, Jeremiah Gray Kindergarten and Homecroft Kindergarten to help clarify which Kindergarten Academy your child will attend. *Transportation information will be communicated at a later date.
2020 Choice Application Information - Incoming Kindergartners
The choice application period for the 2020-2021 school year will be open from January 6, 2020 through February 21, 2020. Choice is for residents of Perry Township only. Applications and instructions will be available through our website under the “For Parents” tab as well as at each elementary school beginning January 6th. There will be a limit of 20 choice spots available per Kindergarten Academy for incoming kindergarten students. There will be no transportation provided for the kindergarten choice program. Please read the instructions and complete the application as directed.
2020 Choice Application Information - Grades 1-5
The choice application period for the 2020-2021 school year will be open from January 6, 2020 through February 21, 2020. Choice is only for residents of Perry Township. Applications and instructions will be available through our website beginning January 6, 2020 under the “For Parents” tab as well as at each elementary school. Please read the instructions and complete the application as directed. Students entering the first grade will be assigned to their home school, this may not be the school attached to their Kindergarten Academy. Please remember that Jeremiah Gray Elementary and Rosa Parks Elementary are Choice Schools only. Please note that a completed application is required for incoming first graders that have older siblings that attend a choice school. No late applications will be accepted.
Second and Fifth Grade High Ability Screening
Dear Parents/Guardians of second and fifth grade students:
We need additional information on the academic needs and performance of individual students in order to provide instruction at the appropriate level for each child. We are continuing our screening for the high ability program and depending on the information needed your second or fifth grade child may be administered a standardized test during the month of December. Parents of students who qualify for the program will receive a letter by the end of May. If you have any questions regarding testing, please contact Kim Jovic at kjovic@perryschools.org.
NOW HIRING BUS DRIVERS
Our students need you!
*We CDL Train*
Contact our Transportation Dept
317-789-6225 or apply online at www.perryschools.org
Important - Student Accident Insurance
Student Accident Insurance is available to any parent/guardian of a student in Perry Township. Please contact your school's front office for information on cost, coverage and how to sign up or you can visit our website at perryschools.org under the parent section.
ID Required
Visitor & Volunteer Policies
Volunteers play an important role in our school district. Their guidance and influence can encourage the academic, social, and personal success of students. Their skills and willingness to assist can help principals and teachers tackle some of the items on their long to-do lists. Perry Township Schools promotes an environment of safety, trust, and respect. In accordance with state law, volunteers must wait until after their background screening process is complete to begin their volunteer assignment.
All background screenings need to be completed on a laptop or personal computer (PC). Due to security settings, smart phones and tablets will not allow the completion of the application process.
Please see below for an explanation of the appropriate levels to ensure you are completing the correct background check for the appropriate volunteer position. All links can be copied and pasted fort the appropriate link to complete the volunteer process.
Volunteer Access Levels
Level I Visitor: Volunteer application and formal background checks are not necessary. This level is for guests who are visiting the office only, having lunch with their student, and guest speakers that will NOT have one-on-one contact with the students. Level I visitors are required to have their driver’s license or ID scanned through the visitor system for a limited criminal history and an instant sex offender screening.
Level II Volunteer/Visitor: A Raptor background check is necessary. The $5 paid fee and the background check must be completed every school year. Level II Volunteer/Visitors have access to students during the school day. Positions that would fall in this level include classroom party parents and guardians, field trip chaperones, tutors, Hope tutors, and student teachers completing field experience only. This list is not all inclusive. The link can be found here: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MTA2MDplbi1VUw==
Level III Volunteer/Visitor: SafeHiring expanded background check is required. $24.90 fee (minimum) and must be completed every five (5) years if there is no break in volunteer service. On May 1, 2019, the state legislature passed House Bill 1209 which requires expanded criminal background checks for volunteer coaches. Level III Volunteer/Visitors/Coaches have direct and potentially unsupervised interaction with students. Positions that would be covered by this level include extra-curricular coaches (e.g. club sports – lacrosse, bowling, etc.) and non-employee sponsors (e.g. robotics, show choir, etc.). If you have lived outside the state of Indiana, there may be additional costs associated with the background check request.
https://secure.safehiringsolutions.com/app.cfm?id=01C1C7C6-A384-4C38-9037-766F36C5E886
Perry Township values all of our volunteers and truly appreciates your efforts with both volunteering and making sure the safety of our student is priority #1.
What''s going on in the Community
Skate with Sycamore
Sycamore Ice Skating Club at Perry Park offers group skating lessons for skaters of all ages and levels. Our winter registration event happens on the first 3 Saturdays in December – 7, 14, and 21. Registration can be taken on these dates from 10:45am–1:45pm in the rink lobby, or through online registration. Lessons for all ages and levels begin Saturday, January 4, 2020, from 12:40-1:40pm. Adult-only lessons begin on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, from 6:50-7:50pm. Further information can be found on our website www.sycamoreisc.org, or email learntoskateusa@sycamoreisc.org. We are also on Facebook.
Jeremiah Gray Kindergarten Academy
Website: http://www.perryschools.org/jk/
Location: 5225 Gray Road, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: (317) 782-2240
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JGKALittleGiants/
Twitter: @JGKAPrincipal