GEIST GAZETTE
October 28, 2022
GEIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Website: https://ges.hseschools.org/
Location: 14051 East 104th Street, Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: 317-915-4260
Twitter: @Geistgators
Message from the Principal
Hello Gator Families-
We hope you all had a wonderful fall break and are feeling refreshed. Please take time to review the newsletter. There are many updates including current happenings in Art and Global Studies: Spanish, Veterans Day, Body Safety Presentations, self regulation tips for home and school, Community Helper Day Volunteers and much much more.
Thank you for signing up for a parent teacher conference with your child's teacher. We are hoping for 100% participation!
Thank you for sharing your children with us,
Christi Thomas
Principal, GES
Kinders kick off Community Helper Standards by learning how the Fishers Public Works helps our community!
Join us in celebrating our favorite Veterans at GES! Your student is bringing home a template for a Veteran's picture and information. Please return the template by Wednesday, Nov. 9th and they will be displayed in the windows in the front of the school. The pictures will be returned to your student by Winter Break.
Art Room News
What's been happening in the art room:
Kinder: We have completed our exploration of lines and shapes. This month we are finding out more about tacos and other Hispanic foods in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
1st: These artists completed portraits inspired by author/illustrator Todd Parr. We explored his style and the book It's Ok to be Different. Currently we are finishing our boxes of donuts!
2nd: Our exploration of warm/cool colors and organic/geometric shapes is coming to a close. Artists are finishing up by arranging their shapes into a collage. We began with experimenting with watercolor techniques and learning about artist Helen Frankenthaler's style.
3rd: Artists learned about Mexican artist Lourdes Villagomez and her butterfly paintings. They studied how symmetry is present in the body of a butterfly and used these concepts to create their own butterfly painting.
4th: Currently, artists are working on the stages of a layered abstract composition. They began with a background drawing of lines and circles. These were painted by mixing liquid watercolor paint and white tempera paint. Next, we are stamping and stenciling the second layer. Pop-up shapes will be added last.
CFL/Life Skills: We are working on cutting and tearing skills while we create a 3-D taco out of paper. We have also explored warm colors and fall shapes.
Featured artists for Kindergarten's "Lines that Wiggle" (no picture): Caleigh R, Sutton V, Brooks S, Amelia D, Caroline H, Aria V.
Featured artists in first grade for "It's Ok to be Different": Mia M, Ari L, Easton F, Brady M, Adirath M, Maeve S, Braden B.
Featured artists for second grade's "Name Jar": Gurkirat S, Daniel C, Amal S, Isaac L, Max M, Ellie H, Emma C.
Artsonia
Artsonia is our school's online art gallery. You can order all kinds of gift items featuring your child's art and the GES art studio receives 20% of the order. These funds are used to purchase supplies your child uses in art class. Your support is greatly appreciated! If you would like to be connected to your child's account, contact Ms. Green: egreen@hse.k12.in.us
Community Helper Day Friday, November 18th 8:00-11:30AM
Parents, Looking for volunteers
- We are looking forward to Career Week, November 14-18! Throughout the week, we will complete career awareness lessons to help educate students about different careers.
- To finish the week off, on Friday, November 18th we will be having a Community Helper Day, where students will be introduced to many different careers in our community and the vehicles they use (Ex: Police Officer, construction worker, farmer, postal service worker, fireman, etc.).
- We are looking for volunteers for our Community Helper Day! All careers (and their vehicles) are welcome and we’d like as many as possible! Volunteers would need to commit to full time, 8:00-11:30AM, for safety of our students and inability to allow vehicles to be moved prior to 11:30AM end time.
- If you are interested, please sign up here. We appreciate your help and look forward to Career Week!
If you have any questions, please let us know. Have a great day!
Mrs. Keller, Erin Scott and Allison Everhart (BU Counseling Interns)
Keller's Clips
Self-Regulation: Control
Stress is a very normal; yet uncomfortable aspect of daily demands on us.
We have schedules and events to meet, tasks to complete, time management demands and pressures to perform. As adults, this can be difficult; yet we must be cognizant of the demands and to realize that some things are simply ‘out of my control’. When we focus on what is ‘in our control’, all of a sudden, the weight of many stressors is lessened.
Notice what’s ‘in my control’ all include the words ‘I’ and ‘my’; and those things ‘out of my control’ are situational events or have to do with ‘others’ thoughts and behaviors.
Our children are no different; yet sometimes we, as adults, forget to remind ourselves and our children to focus on ‘what is in our control’ and to establish a game plan, with a positive mindset, when faced with decisions and responses regarding those things ‘in our control. The reminder to ourselves, helps us to remind and guide our children to do the same.
1. Notice we are stressed (body signals, feelings of overwhelm, etc.). Talk with your child(ren) about how you notice stress in your own bodies and share with them what you do to calm your amygdala, in order to ‘get your prefrontal cortex online’ and able to take that first step toward a goal or task.
2. To use a strategy to calm our triggered amygdala (the outcome of a stressor). Positive self-talk using growth mindset words, like ‘I’ve got this’, ‘It will be okay, I’m ready to tackle this in a minute’, and ‘I will use one of my strategies’, are key.
3. Coming up with a plan or taking steps toward a goal is the next step. This is where we as educators and you, as family caregivers are so important. Modeling the
planning or goal-setting steps, with a growth mindset will enable your child(ren) to do the same for themselves when needed.
Many times, our young ones are amazed when we share with them that we are stressed and have struggles, many times, as well. When they hear and see modeling from us that affirms we are stressed, how we respond with calming self-talk and growth mindset and how we plan steps toward completion of a goal or challenge; this is when learning occurs.
Remember, to always identify when triggered by a stressor, to verbalize and to decide whether an event or stressor is ‘in your control’ or ‘out of our control’. If ‘out of your control’, share verbally what you say to your amygdala to remind yourself that ‘it’s okay’, ‘I will move on and stop worrying’, etc., so that your child(ren) SEE you and DO the same.
SEL At Home Resources
Click on the links below to see the SEL lessons for the next two weeks.
Body Safety Classroom Presentations
The mission of the Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse & Suicide is clear - to prevent youth abuse and save lives. Our team is dedicated to creating awareness that 95% of abuse is preventable and providing critical resources necessary to give hope to those who have lost their way. We will work with our communities to make sure that evidence-based curriculum is in place, so both youth and adults, can be empowered to protect, prevent, and create a personal mission to end abuse, once and for all.
Parent Information
Tuesday, Nov. 1 and Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, trained presenters from Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse & Suicide will present to classrooms to help create awareness of body safety in order to help protect and prevent child abuse.
What can the classrooms expect from the presentation? The presentations will last 30-45 minutes. All classroom teachers or Related Arts teachers will be present with their students.
What topics will be covered in the classrooms?
For K-6 (elementary) we will discuss:
· Using our brains to keep us safe
· Bullying
· Body safety and the idea “my body belongs to me.”
· Brainstorm trusted adults
· The difference between secrets and surprises
· Trusting our “guts” or innate feelings
· The idea that everyone is special
Do you have other parent resources available for parents?
We have a parent resource video available at www.indianaprevention.org and selecting the “Our programs” tab at the top right hand of the page. Parents can also call our office at 317-759-8008 with any specific programming questions not answered in our parent resources.
If you would like your student to “opt-out” of the program, please fill out the ‘opt-out’ form attached and have your student return to his/her teacher by Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.
Global Studies: Spanish Class
¡Hola!
We are continuing to have a wonderful time learning Spanish while singing, dancing, collaborating, reading, creating and playing in Global Studies!
Kindergarten students are working on identifying colors, and they have been creating color books. They are learning the words for red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
First grade students have also been learning about colors. The words they are practicing include red, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown, black, white and pink. After learning about Talavera tiles from Mexico, they will be making colorful paper tiles of their own while utilizing the Spanish vocabulary.
Second grade students will be learning how to describe shapes according to their colors. They will be using this knowledge to create shape and color books. The characters in their books will be speaking Spanish greetings and farewells!
Third grade students are learning seasons and months of the year in Spanish. They will be creating their own flip books to demonstrate their knowledge of this vocabulary.
Fourth grade students are reviewing days of the week. They will also be learning how to describe the weather in Spanish and creating a weather forecast.
In both third and fourth grade classes, we read the book, You Matter, by Christian Robinson. We translated the expression to “¡Tú eres importante!” (“You are important!”). Students designed pop up cards with this expression.
For all grade levels, on the home page of each of my Canvas courses, there is a link that says “Class Vocabulary and News.” Please click on this link and then click on the frog icon on the next page. This will bring you to a page in which you will see some of the vocabulary that we practice in class. Please try some of these words and phrases at home!
I am really enjoying working with the staff and students at Geist Elementary!
Stacey Zimmerman
Special Dessert on Monday, Oct. 31
Students who purchase any meal deal at lunch will receive a frosted sugar cookie for dessert on Monday. Nutritional facts and ingredients are pictured.
Menu change for Thursday, November 17
A holiday meal will be served on Thursday, November 17 as the hot option for the day. We will offer the usual cold items as well. The meal includes:
- Shredded Chicken ( turkey is not available), mashed potatoes with Gravy, green beans, Hawaiian roll, Fruit cup, Fudge Cream Cookie (Individually Wrapped).
We are excited to prepare this meal for our Geist students and staff!
Parent School Safety Academy
Dear HSE Families:
Hamilton Southeastern Schools is offering a special program designed for parents of current students who are interested in learning more about our safety initiatives and protocols.
This behind-the-scenes look at our safety principles and fundamentals will help you better understand how we respond to various situations that occur in our buildings.
Although the program will not reveal details that would compromise safety protocols, it will provide you a foundation of safety practices that will aid you in responding to a crisis and allow for constructive feedback.
The Parent School Safety Academy is limited to 50 participants who must have an up-to-date Safe Visitor background check and complete the online application that can be found here. We hope to have a diverse group of participants with representation from each of our schools.
The program will be held over two evenings on December 1 and December 8 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Some of the topics that will be reviewed, include legal requirements, best practices related to school violence, severe weather preparedness, access control, communications and reunification. Participants must be available to attend both sessions to be considered.
There is no cost to participate if you have an updated background check on file. The deadline to register is noon on November 6, 2022. To apply for consideration, click here.
Sincerely,
Mike Johnson
Director of School Safety
UPDATE THIS
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.
Student Materials Fees are Past Due
Course fee statements were sent via email on Tuesday, Sept. 6th. You will find balances for fees and lunch 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.
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!