Geist Gazette
March 29, 2018
GEIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Website: http://www.hse.k12.in.us/GES
Location: 14051 East 104th Street, Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: 317-915-4260
Twitter: @Geistgators
Note from the Principal
I can't believe it is Spring Break! Now, don't get me wrong, I'm excited it's spring break!
I want to point out a few important dates for you.
1) We need all families who have incoming Kindergarten students to enroll NOW. We have our orientation in April and we need accurate numbers for ALL grades going into the end of April. If you have new neighbors, please go and introduce yourself and tell them the Principal wanted me to come over and say welcome to the neighborhood and please enroll at the following link :-)
2) We need parent volunteers for our PTO. We are in specific need of parents in grades K-1-2 grade to involve yourself in the PTO. We have many outgoing families who have children in 3rd and 4th grade! We are in critical need of parents of primary students to get involved! Please contact Stacy Neilsen, PTO President, to make a positive difference in your child's school. Email Stacy at nielsens.indiana@gmail.com . Please see additional details below in the PTO newsletter.
3) The country has been deeply impacted by the school violence that has occurred in the US. I remember in 1999 when Columbine happened. I was actually in New Zealand at the time and my fellow educators were devastated, as I was, by what had happened. Here we are 19 years later and we are faced with such horrific and senseless tragedy. Please know that at Geist we make your child's safety a top priority. We are constantly looking at our approaches and working to have a prevention approach to safety while always preparing for response and recovery. We have many different safety protocols in place to help keep our staff and students safe. From Lockdown drills to severe weather protocol to safety procedures for allergies, your child's safety is important. Although school violence hits the news, your child's safety in the car line or your child's medical needs (seizures, diabetes, feeding tubes, immuno-compromised) are safety concerns as well. Have you ever wondered what safety procedures we have in place? We invite you to a night at Geist to learn more about school safety as a whole on April 16th in the Cafeteria from 6:00-7:00 pm. Please join the Fishers Police and your Geist Administration as we share what we do at Geist and throughout the HSE district. Please know in addition, our students will also be having a training on safety procedures. This is done in the Fall during our School Safety week and will be re-visited in late April. We will make sure you know the details of what we re-visit with your students. Your students currently practice procedure for a fire (monthly), tornado (by semester) and lockdown (by semester). Your students are taught what to do in a lockdown. The students are taught what to do in a lockdown in a developmentally appropriate way. Our teachers do a wonderful job of assuring, educating and supporting our students. The number one thing your child can learn to do in a crisis situation (health, fire, weather, violence) is to listen to the directions given by the known adults. Below are some of the different strategies/resources we have in place for school safety. I hope you will come out on Monday, April 16th to learn more!
** Safety Plans ** Background checks ** Safe Visitor Protocols ** School Resource Officers ** Strong Relationships with the Fishers Police and Fire ** School Safety bags in classrooms ** Medical Bags ** Secure Vestibules ** Mental Health Therapy Services through Community Health K-12 ** Suicide Prevention Training for Faculty ** School Counselors K-12 ** Text-a-Tip ** Access Control ** All Hazards Approach ** 40 + personnel trained through ISSSA ** Student Safety Council ** ALICE ** Trauma Informed Training ** Health Cards ** RN Nurses ** Digital Citizenship **
Thank you for sharing your child with us each day. We appreciate your trust and look forward to finishing strong in the classroom in these final two months!
Enjoy your spring break and we will see your cherubs back on April 9!
Christi Thomas, Principal
From Mrs. Pidcock- Students in K-2nd learning about Digital Citizenship
In the past three weeks, primary students have participated in discussion and practical application for 21st century learners in a digital world.
The target for each lesson was “I can go places safely when I am online.” Kindergarten emphasis included online safety through asking permission before using the internet, only talking to people whom they know and sticking to websites that are just right for them. The concept of a digital footprint was also introduced. First grade students continued their discussion with the difference between personal and private information, and second grade students used examples of personal and private information to create an appropriate online profile for a fictional person.
Celebrity Day, April 11 - Student Council Fundraiser
On Wednesday, April 11 Student Council will sponsor Celebrity Day. Bring $1.00 and dress like your favorite TV personality, movie star, athlete or any other celebrity you can think of. All money collected will be donated to help the YMCA to raise money for its annual campaign. This money is to help families who need assistance with programs such as before and after school childcare.
Author Day in Mrs. Many's Class
Toy Drive for Peyton Manning Children's Hospital - April 9-16
Please help the Girl Scout Daisy Troop 4519 with their "Take Action Project" supporting Peyton Manning Children's Hospital. Between April 9th-16th, the school will be accepting new, unopened toys, newly released DVDs (G, PG, PG-13), Legos, XBOX One and PS4 games (rated "E" for Everyone), small toys featuring popular characters (such as Disney Princesses, Paw Patrol, Mickey Mouse, Marvel Superheroes, Doc McStuffins), arts and crafts, books, and other items you think the children will enjoy! All items must be new and in original packaging in order to ensure infection control for sick patients.
Donated items will be given to patients throughout the year for birthdays, end-of-treatment parties, and more! You can also support the hospital by visiting give.stvincent.org/toystore to purchase gifts online. Click here to see a list of wished-for items. Thank you for supporting the Daisy Scouts and PMCH!
ISTEP+ Part 2 Testing Window
The 3rd and 4th grade teachers have worked hard to prepare GES students for the approaching ISTEP+ Part 2 Testing window which will begin after Spring Break.
Mark your calendars, the ISTEP+ testing schedule will be as follows:
3rd grade: Practice Test Wednesday, April 11- Friday, April 13
Math and ELA; one session each day beginning Monday, April 16 through Monday, April 23
4th grade: Practice Test Wednesday, April 11-Friday, April 13
Math, ELA, and Science; one session each day beginning Monday, April 16 through Wednesday, April 25
GES Gators, Show'em what you've got!
Keller's Clips
WHAT DO YOU DO TO FEEL HAPPY?
That’s what Geist Elementary Staff and Students reflected on, created and displayed to help celebrate International Day of Happiness, on Tuesday, March 20th. Students are taught that Happiness is a Personal Choice, and we may choose happiness at any point during our day.
GES students, in partnership with some of our HSE-schools and other people from around the World, shared ideas, examples, pictures and positive thoughts about things we do to feel happy, how we share happiness with others and how we can personally be responsible for our own happiness. What an amazing day!
In partnership with one of our beloved GES parents, GES raised $800 for Big Brothers Big Sisters just by sharing Acts of kindness during International Day of Happiness. The company she works, Nerium International, matched $1.00 for every ACT of KINDNESS shared on this day! Not only was the day a day for celebration, but it was a positive and fun-filled day of healthy reminders of positive mental and physical health.
AND, what an amazing way for our kiddos to give back to the community!!
Our GES Parent shared with us the coverage our HSE schools received from a local news organization RE: the event—see link below.
We look forward to celebrating International Day of Happiness next year!!
Social Emotional Learning (SEL):
We value, nurture and explore feelings at Geist Elementary!
At GES, we support a whole-child approach to education. We choose to ‘Love First, Teach Second’. As a district, we strive to build foundations for Social Emotional Learning (SEL). “SEL is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions’, (Indiana School Mental Health Initiative).
Third-grade student and artist, Sebastian R., displays his renditions of the characters from Inside Out.
2018-19 Geist Elementary Thoughtful Placement Requests from March 30 thru May 4, 2018
We appreciate you taking an interest and role in your child's educational placement for the 2018-19 school year. Please know, 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, academic/learning, and personality needs of each student. There are individual situations where a thoughtful placement needs to be made for a child to create the best possible learning experience. Completing the Thoughtful Placement Request form, for special circumstances, will assist teachers and administration in determining classroom placements for the following school year. Individual requests must be completed, each year, by using this link 2018-19 Geist Elementary Thoughtful Placement Request Form for each individual child.
Please know, the final decision on all placement rests with the administration after due consideration of staff recommendations and parent thoughtful placement input. In a building of 800+ students, it is not possible to accept specific teacher requests; please refrain from inserting specific teacher names for the following school year placement. However, we request that parents assist in identifying the characteristics of a classroom environment that would meet their child's needs.
Please submit your request with this form instead of an email to Guidance and Administration. This form will close on Friday, May 4, 2018. All parent thoughtful placements will be reviewed and you will receive an autogenerated email response by May 11th.
Thank you for partnering with your child's teacher and the entire Geist School Staff.
We Have Chicks!
Art Room News
Artists of the Week for March 26:
K- Nylah L. in Mrs. Blake's class
1st-Cassidy C. in Mrs. Diamond's class
2nd-Crew G. in Mrs. Taylor's class
3rd-Jackson M. in Mrs. Ellis' class
4th-Parker S. in Ms. Kappus' class
Custom gifts from Artsonia make great gifts for Mother's Day on May 13! Order early to be sure to get gifts on time--they are very busy this time of year. Your orders benefit the GES art department with 20% of sales, so it's a win-win!! If you need assistance accessing your parent linked account, contact Ms. Green at egreen@hse.k12.in.us.
Friends of the Library
Thank you and congratulations to the most recent Friends of the Library members. Books have been donated by (April) Allison A., Jiger N., Ella T., Brooklyn F., Connor G., Morgan C., (May) Mia K., Carter S., Alle P., Chloe R., Katie C., Avarie K., Ella C., Anabelle M., Naomi T., Zoe K., Jordan R., Ella C., Jonas R., (June) Addie T., Maryn R., Hank S., Harper S., Sarah R., Gabrielle V., (July) Max M., Olivia B., and Blake E.
With the end of the school year fast approaching, the Friends of the Library club will not accept celebration book orders after Friday, April 13th. This will allow all of our friends plenty of time to enjoy their special book selection before summer break. Thank you to all the families that participated this year.
Kelly Pidcock
School Librarian
Attention: 4th Grade Parents....Fall Creek Transfer Option for Next Year
2018-19 Fall Creek Transfer Option
Hamilton Southeastern Schools has opened enrollment at Fall Creek Intermediate School (FCI) and Fall Creek Junior High School (FCJH) to students in the Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate/Junior High School (HIJH) attendance boundary for the 2018-2019 school year. This means students currently in grades 4-7 who would attend HIJH, may choose to attend FCI or FCJH next school year.
Please complete the official 2018-2019 Fall Creek Transfer Application (powered by SurveyMonkey) using the link below.
THERE IS NO NEED TO COMPLETE THIS FORM IF YOU WANT YOUR STUDENT(S) TO ATTEND HIJH AS SCHEDULED THIS FALL.
An approved transfer application offers the following assurances:
1. Transportation: HSE Schools Bus Transportation will be provided.
2. Continuity: Students electing to transfer may attend FCI/FCJH through their eighth grade year.
3. Sibling Consideration: Siblings of 2018-19 Fall Creek Transfer students may attend FCI/FCJH through their eighth grade year as well.
4. Book rental fee (excluding iPad) waived for the 2018-19 school year for each new Fall Creek transfer student.
Families will receive written confirmation of their voluntary transfer request via email within two weeks of receipt of application.
**This application is for current 4-7 grade parents, in the HIJH attendance area, who want to have their student(s) attend Fall Creek Intermediate or Fall Creek Junior High beginning this fall for the 2018-19 school year. THERE IS NO NEED TO COMPLETE THIS FORM IF YOU WANT YOUR STUDENT(S) TO ATTEND HIJH AS SCHEDULED.**
LINK TO FALL CREEK TRANSFER APPLICATION FORM: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QL7JV6W
Enrolling in Kindergarten at GES next year?
If you are enrolling a kindergarten next year please click here. If you have an older student who will be new to us, click here. Instructions for enrollment, including document requirements can be found at each link. Please remember to upload all required documents at the time you submit the enrollment.*
*If your student has not received all his/her immunizations at the time of enrollment you may submit the enrollment, on the basis the immunizations will be complete by the start of school.
Please note: Current GES students do not need to re-enroll each year.
Pop Tabs for Ronald McDonald House
Send your tabs in with your student and their teacher will have them deliver tabs to the collection location - If you have an abundance of tabs, feel free to leave them in the front office with your kiddo's name AND Mrs. Brown’s name on them. Thank you for your help in teaching our kiddos that any little bit “CAN” help others!
Lunch Menus and Visitors
Click here to see what's being served in the café.
Click here for the food services website.
Visitors with a Safe Visitor badge are welcome in the cafeteria and may bring a sack lunch. Please do not bring restaurant-packaged food. Thank you!
Geist Elementary PTO is the best!
Want to keep up on what's happening at school?
Follow @geistgators on twitter. We tweet throughout the day.
Check our website: hse.k12.in.us/GES
This newsletter, the Geist Gazette, goes out every other Friday (although it may be sent again next week). We will send it to you via email, and post it on our website under the News tab.
Click here to see our building calendar. This lists activities before, during and after hours.
Text-A-Tip
Submit Via Text
Texts can be sent to 274637 (or CRIMES). Start the actual message with the # symbol and a building-specific keyword. For a list of keywords, click here...
See what the HSE Schools Foundation is up to this month.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT GEIST:
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
HSE Schools Community Bulletin Board
HSE Schools has created a Community Bulletin Board on its district website. This will serve as a central location to find information about activities and events promoted by organizations that serve our students and their families. This is where the Fishers Library, YMCA, S.P.O.R.T.S. and other groups' registration information will be located.