Growing Together
Geist Montessori Academy@GeistAcademy
Volume 11: October 11, 2020
Thank you for Carving Time out to Meet with us!
Dear GMA School Family,
We are so excited to meet with you for Parent -Teacher Conferences!
Your child's teacher should have sent out a sign-up sheet for you to select a convenient time to meet between October 14-16. We are eager to share information about whole child development: social-emotional, academic, and behavioral achievements. Your student's NWEA progress report will be distributed, as well as his/her progress report to provide insight as to how s/he is developing. Onsite students will have onsite conferences and virtual students will have virtual conferences. If you are coming onsite, please wear a mask and practice social distancing.
During conferences, your teacher will explain the progress reports and also share NWEA data. Here is some information that can be found in the NWEA Toolkit, “Children learn better—and faster—when teachers have a clear picture of what each student knows and is ready to learn next. That’s why a group of educators and researchers founded NWEA®, a not-for-profit organization that has created some of the most trusted and reliable assessment solutions available. More than 11 million students in the US and in 140 countries worldwide use MAP® Growth™.
MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive test. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. This type of assessment challenges top performers without overwhelming students whose skills are below grade level. MAP Growth begins with a question at each student’s grade level and adjusts the level of difficulty based on individual performance. What it measures MAP Growth uses a RIT scale to accurately measure what students know, regardless of their grade level. It also measures growth over time, allowing you to track your child’s progress throughout the school year and across multiple years. Once your child completes a MAP Growth test, they receive a RIT score.”
For more information, please check out the NWEA Family Toolkit: https://www.nwea.org/the-map-suite/family-toolkit/
Thank you, again, for carving out time of your schedules to meet with your child’s teacher this week. We look forward to sharing your student’s incredible growth over the first quarter and are so grateful for your partnership.
Warmly,
Cindy Schuler
Executive Director
Geist Montessori Academy
(317) 813-4626
Of all things, love is the most potent.
-Maria Montessori
Dates to remember
Upcoming Events
10/12 Picture Day, NEW quarter and classes begin
10/14-10/16 Parent-Teacher Conferences
10/15-10/16 Early Release at NOON
10/20 School Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m.; PTO 6:30 p.m.
10/22-23 Fall Break
10/30 Dictionary Day
11/17 PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
11/25-27 Thanksgiving Break
SAY CHEESE! Picture Day is Monday!
Picture Day is Monday, October 12!
Please see the attached flyer for details.
Say Cheese!
Picture Day is coming to GMA, and virtual students can attend during their scheduled teacher’s (second nine week teacher) time slot. Please know that this is optional, and re-take picture day will also be a possibility. If you select to come onsite, the office will buzz your child inside, and then you will be asked to wait outside until your child’s picture is taken. Ms. Stephanie will come outside and assist with signing the children in and out. We look forward to seeing you Monday, October 12th.
Virtual Students’ Picture Day Schedule
9:05-9:25 Ms. Staci’s class
10:30-11:00 Ms. Meagan’s class
11:00-11:20 Ms. Abby’s class
11:20-11:40 Ms. Deb’s class
11:40-12:00 Ms. Mare and Ms. Sarah’s class
Feeling the Beat!
The sound of Joy and togetherness!
sunshine spreaders!
Spreading joy and kindness this week:
Braydon Rodgers
Megan Filbrun
Tucker Wise
Eloise Jobe
Cheyenne Hall
Alexa Alvey
Liam brightens the day!
Virtual Related Arts
Virtual Related Arts for Second Quarter
Students will continue to receive daily related arts, but the format will be changing. Recorded lessons will be sent out for the children to view and participate in every day. Each student will also receive one live ZOOM class for each special: one for PE, one for art, and one for music, each week. These live ZOOM classes will be multi-age and optional.
We're Being the Best that we can be! BTBTYCB!
Short Chains
45 Layout
Pre-K using the Strip Board
Notes from the NUrse
Our GMA family has been busy with healthy habits! Last week many of the students completed their vision screening and many families came out for the vaccine clinic. We could not have asked for better weather during our vaccine clinic evening. Some of the children were able to play (with masks on) while parents braved getting their annual flu shot. Ms. Meagan and Ms. Morgan were even able to make it after their back to school night supply hand off for second quarter. What a wonderful surprise to have eggs and bacon getting flu shots together at GMA! The highlight from the evening was the support from all of you who cheered and supported the ones who were feeling apprehensive. Your support and love was truly felt among all of us.
Thank you to the Indiana Immunization Vaccine Coalition for helping to keep our community safe and thanks to all of you who braved getting your flu shot and catch up vaccines to keep your community healthy this year! We look forward to having them again, possibly in the spring, to help provide vaccine support to our GMA community.
Keeping up with our healthy habits, please make sure your students are filling their water bottles with plenty of water and packing healthy lunches, try including one fresh fruit and one fresh vegetable!
Look for more information coming home this week on “what’s cooking at GMA” with Nurse April as we continue learning about self-discipline with healthy choices and meals we can make for home and school!
Words Come Alive 10/30
Dictionary Day
Dictionary Day is held in honor of Noah Webster, the man who is considered to have fathered the American Dictionary. It is typically celebrated October 16, but GMA will be celebrating words on 10/30.
Dictionary Day encourages students to improve the way they speak and write by enhancing and expanding their vocabulary. Friday, October 30, vocabulary words will come alive, as students dress as a word. Each class will partner with another class to share their words, parts of speech, definitions, and the words used in a sentence. We can't wait to see the words come alive!
Better Together
WE hope to see you at the next PTO Meeting!
Time: Oct 20, 2020 06:30 PM Indiana (East)
Every month on the Third Tuesday, until Dec 15, 2020, 3 occurrence(s)
Oct 20, 2020 06:30 PM
Nov 17, 2020 06:30 PM
Dec 15, 2020 06:30 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://zoom.us/meeting/tJEpcOyqqTMjE9GXc85TFfOC08_I-ORU2A6M/ics?icsToken=98tyKuCtqjwvGNOduRCCRowMBo_CZ-rwtlxEj_p6pBy9VhR1ZCzVZrp9G_9QIu2C
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95475278995?pwd=YkM3eXBjUW1yd3N3bkJCNmdvdC91dz09
Meeting ID: 954 7527 8995
Passcode: jXU4tX
School Board Meeting Coming Soon
Our sincere appreciation is extended to our amazing school board for their service to GMA!
President: Uriah Ellis
Secretary: Lacey Willard
Treasurer: Andrew Cavallaro
Members at Large: Karen Swan and Mark Clark
Meeting Dates: October 20, 2020 , December 15, 2020, February 16, 2021, April 20, 2021, June 15, 2021
*All Meetings begin at 5:30 pm and are open to the public. Meetings will be held at the physical school location or virtually, as needed.
We look forward to our continued partnership, as we grow together for the better!
GMA School Calendar
Virtual or LIve, GMA always thrives!
Children of the World, featuring GMA students!!!
Meet our incredible School Family staff members: Enjoy Photos and Letters
Meet our 2020.2021 Staff Members
We are so excited to grow together for the better!
Meet Geist Montessori Academy's Executive Director: Cindy Schuler
Email: Cschuler@gma.k12.in.us
Website: gmacademy.org
Phone: (317)813-4626
Twitter: @GeistAcademy
GMA Contact iNformation
PHONE NUMBER:
(317) 813-4626
ADDRESS:
6058 W. 900 N.
McCordsville, IN 46055