Growing Together
Geist Montessori Academy@GeistAcademy
Volume 21: January 17, 2021
Dear GMA School Family,
As we prepare to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy tomorrow, January 18, 2021, may we remember and be inspired by his dream! On Aug. 28, 1963, in front of a crowd of 250,000, King departed from his prepared words to share a dream that would mesmerize the nation. (Getty Images)
Famous Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes:
1. “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
2. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
3. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude.”
4. “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
5. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
When reviewing his powerful and inspirational words of hope, it is striking to see how similar they are to Montessori’s philosophy. We are so grateful for your partnership in learning and especially during these 13 days of virtual learning as we continue to grow together promoting Montessori's core principles of love, kindness, respect, and peace to all!
Warm winter wishes,
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
1/18 No School/ Martin Luther King Day/Pause and remember his dream
1/19-1/22 Virtual Learning
1/19 School Board Meeting, 5:30 ZOOM; PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
1/20 Grounds Committee, 7:00 p.m., Zoom
1/25 Onsite learning resumes
2/1 Basketball Club Permission Slips Due
2/3 Basketball Club
2/10 Basketball Club
2/12 eLearning Day
2/15 No School/ President's Day
2/17 Basketball Club
2/24 Basketball Club
3/12 End of First Quarter
Hoops! Here it is!
Swoosh! It's Time for Basketball Club!
When: February 3, 10, 17 & 24
Time: 3:45 – 4:45 (students must be picked up before 5:00)
Where: GMA Gym
Who: Grades 4th – 8th
Contact Info: Brian Hole bhole@gma.k12.in.us
317-813-4626
Registration form found below is due to Mr. Brian by Monday, February 1, 2021.
Counseling corner with Mr. Michael
GMA Families,
Happy New Year! I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to the new year! Every year, we hear people talk about their New Year Resolutions. But what exactly is a resolution? I have a video with a story that helps clear up what a resolution is for students! A lot of people think about their physical health for the new year, whether it is working out more, drinking more water, or eating healthier food. I encourage everyone to also have a resolution or a goal to help improve mental health as well. This could be talking to others when we have an issue or writing down our thoughts and feelings in a journal. Being able to identity how we are feeling and taking a deep breath before responding can always help a situation. Taking time to practice deep breathing or meditation is helpful for mental health as well. Next week I will have another video with many different resolutions that people can make.
ELearning has a lot of differences that can be overwhelming if we are used to being at school. During this time, if there are any students that you would like me to check in with, I can create a Zoom session and check in with any students that might be feeling down or just want to talk. It is a whole different world of learning, especially for those who thrive by being close to others in a school setting. If you would like me to schedule a 15-20 minute check in with your student, please email me at mskiles@gma.k12.in.us. If there is anything else I can do to help, please don't hesitate to reach out. I hope everyone has had a great start of 2021. Let's all work together and try and make this year the best year yet!
Thank you,
Michael Skiles
Geist Montessori Academy
School Counselor
317-813-4626 EXT: 104
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_y8YRMbABgdOP8i_y9WYhuPfHGx2LAqN/view?usp=sharing
I have a dream!
"I Have a Dream," Address Delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
Author: King, Martin Luther, Jr. (Southern Christian Leadership Conference)
Date: August 28, 1963 Location: Washington, D.C., Audio Speech
Topic: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, 1963
Audio: Listen to Audio
Details: In his iconic speech at the Lincoln Memorial for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, King urged America to "make real the promises of democracy." King synthesized portions of his earlier speeches to capture both the necessity for change and the potential for hope in American society.
Source: MLKEC-INP, Martin Luther King, Jr. Estate Collection, In Private Hands
Lexia by Ms. Nicole
PTO President, Ms. Morgan
All PTO meetings are at 6:30pm, and we hope that you can join us!
January 19
March 16
April 20
May 18
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/4295784599?pwd=Zkt4WFIrZXovNFlNQ1dVa2p0bng2Zz09
Meeting ID: 429 578 4599
Passcode: 2BQ5G9
What would you build with this!
THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND REFLECTIVE WRITING
Visual writing prompts are thought-provoking, encourage higher level thinking, and reflective writing.
Help bring your child's thinking to the next level with this strategy:
thank you, School Board!
Our sincere appreciation is extended to our school board for their time and service to GMA!
President: Uriah Ellis
Secretary: Lacey Willard
Treasurer: Andrew Cavallaro
Members at Large: Karen Swan and Mark Clark
Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 19, 2021, 5:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75754401026?pwd=a08zZmVtcHY2MEV5WkFQTWJXWVFOZz09
Meeting ID: 757 5440 1026
Passcode: w9c39B
Meeting Dates: February 16, 2021, April 20, 2021, June 15, 2021
*All Meetings begin at 5:30 pm and are open to the public. Meetings are being held virtually.
We look forward to our continued partnership, as we grow together for the better!
GMA's Super Space Committee, All Welcome!
According to the parent and student surveys, as well as Mr. Michael's classroom visits, there are some key areas of interest that we will be investigating further and breaking into smaller committees. Each top area is listed below, and we are so grateful for the chairperson for each area.
1. Playground/Swing Committee Chair: Caitie Copple
2. Nature Path/ Community Garden/Outdoor Classroom Chair: James Keith
3. Animals/ Flower Beds Chair: Amanda Merriweather
When: Wednesday, January 20, Virtual
Topic: GMA Super Space Grounds Committee
Time: Jan 20, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74926687205?pwd=SmZIME5kVW1waGhjVFlhM2JzNnlKQT09
Meeting ID: 749 2668 7205
Passcode: z81svU
We hope to "see" you there!
FREE online resources
Here is a list of free education resources that you and your student can use to continue the learning journey. As long as you have an internet connection, you can use these online resources to unlock hours of learning:
At Home Activities:
Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/) – Khan Academy offers free courses of all grade levels to help students master subjects and accelerate their learning. Through these courses, Kahn Academy allows students to personalize their learning and learn at their own pace.
PBS LearningMedia (https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/) – PBS LearningMedia provides students with free lesson plans, videos, and games aligned with standards they are learning in the classroom.
TEDEd (https://ed.ted.com/) – TEDEd brings lessons to life for students through animation. TEDEd’s goal is to ignite curiosity among learners. To do this, TEDEd collects the best teacher lessons around the world. Then, it turns them into shareable animated videos for students.
PowerMyLearning Connect (https://powermylearning.org/learn/connect/) – PowerMyLearning Connect offers curated learning from a variety of online platforms. K-12 students can access free content in all core subjects and many electives, with the ability to choose standard aligned lessons.
BrainPOP (https://www.brainpop.com/) – BrainPOP provides animated interactive lessons, quizzes, and games for core subjects and a variety of electives.
Lumosity (https://www.lumosity.com/en/) – Lumosity offers free brain games to keep student minds actively engaged. For example, the games use problem solving, critical thinking, and memory to keep students on their toes and strengthen their skills.
Duolingo (https://www.duolingo.com/) – Duolingo helps students keep up with foreign language skills. Duolingo offers 30+ languages so students can start learning a variety of languages that interest them. Or, students can use Duolingo to practice the foreign languages they are already learning in the classroom.
EVERFI (https://everfi.com/partners/k-12-educators/) – EVERFI offers free supplemental lessons for the whole student in areas of Finance, SEL, Health, College/Career Readiness, and related topics.
The Smithsonian Learning Lab ( https://learninglab.si.edu/distancelearning)-offers teachers and parents access to millions of digital resources from across the Smithsonian's museums, research centers, libraries, archives, and more. Includes pre-packaged collections that contain lessons, activities, and recommended resources made by Smithsonian museum educators. Includes self-directed learning modules for teens and tweens.
Online courses and video lessons
- Crash Course, an online youtube channel started by Hoosier natives Hank and John Green, has 15 courses with up to 75 video lessons for each. Lessons are geared for the middle and high school student.
- Crash Course for Kids follows the same format as Crash Course but with elementary level content.
- TedED has engaging video series for all ages. Sign in with Google to create lessons.
Ranger Rick (https://rangerrick.org/)- The National Wildlife Federation has opened all articles behind its paywall through June 30. This includes Educator’s Guides and Ranger Rick, Jr. Parent Reading Guides in English and Spanish.
Stories Around the World (International Children's Digital Library) Explore tales, fables, and stories from around the world in over 59 languages.
Free tutoring with Rose-Hulman (AskRose) has extended their free tutoring service hours for middle and high school students.
The Encyclopedia of Life (http://eol.org/)- an online database of over one million species and counting, provides a platform for the scientist and citizen-scientist alike to collaborate on scientific information for every living thing on Earth. This “open-science” website aggregates information from over 180 scientific organizations and scientists and as a result, provides rich and detailed text descriptions, photos and video clips, sound files and links to research and associated research.
Department of Defense: Learn about careers in STEM fields
Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics: Kids' Zone
Department of Energy: Games and Activities; Virtual Field Trips to National Energy Labs
Environmental Protection Agency: Games, Quizzes, and Videos about the Environment
The Library of Congress: Presentations and Activities to Help Students Learn about History
NASA: Interactive Lessons about Space, Earth, Solar System and Universe; Lessons from Astronauts about Living in Space; STEM Activities for Students of All Ages
The Kennedy Center: Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems; Tour the Kennedy Center with The Pigeon
The Smithsonian: Free Smithsonian STEM Games and Simulations; Meet the Animals of the National Zoo; 3D Exhibits and Virtual Tours; Smithsonian Magazine Ten Museums You Can Virtually Visit; The Museum of Natural History Virtual Tour; Digital Smithsonian American Art Museum; Distance Learning Resources
NOAA: Use Real-Time Ocean Data to Explore the Environment
USGS: Learn from Home About Physical science, Geography and Maps
Social Emotional Resources:Social Emotional Learning Resources related to Covid-19
Resources to support you and your family:
- See this link for information on hospitals, Community Mental Health Centers, and other local supports: https://www.in.gov/issp/2422.htm
- Trauma and ACES: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/aces-and-toxic-stress-frequently-asked-questions/
- Resources from Indiana Department of Education: https://www.doe.in.gov/elearning/2020-covid-19-remote-learning#family%20resources
- Resource from World Health Organization:https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/helping-children-cope-with-stress-print.pdf?sfvrsn=f3a063ff_2
- Parenting Tips and CIVID-19:https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/healthy-parenting?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_campaign=030096d2e1f0&utm_medium=page
- Intro to Seesaw video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzlrtDR84KY&feature=emb_logo
- Family guide to Google Classroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Iowi-gmbys
- How to use Zoom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCjksPhTlyE
- Microsoft family guide: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/distance-learning-with-office-365-guidance-for-parents-and-guardians-89d514f9-bf5e-4374-a731-a75d38ddd588?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=U
Special Populations Resources
English Language Learner
- eLearning Resources - English Learners - This hub features resources for both teachers and families of English learner students. Included are links to other EL-specific resource hubs, such as WIDA’s, links for effectively connecting with multilingual families, and instructional programs and supports.
- eLearning Requirements and Supports for English Learners - IDOE’s guidance on the requirements for providing services, communicating with families, and assessing English learner students.
High Ability
Special Education
International Recognition: Children of the world
GER21 virtual Super Saturdays
The registration to enroll for the Purdue Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute’s (GER2I) Spring Super Saturday program held in February 2021 is now open! At these GER2I camps, students take challenging classes related to their area(s) of interest. We offer hands-on classes in a wide range of subjects, including STEM and the humanities, all designed to be one to two grade levels above traditional classroom content. These classes are taught by esteemed professors, graduate students, and teachers from Lafayette and surrounding areas.
GER2I's Virtual Super Saturday program provides learning experiences that explore advanced material and develop critical and creative thinking. We offer a caregiver-child format for children in PreK - 5th grades so caregivers can spend quality time and gain experience working with their children. This is required. The participation of caregivers of students in 6th - 12th grades is not required, but parents are invited to our parent interest sessions.
2021 virtual spring Super Saturday program will fall on February 6, 13, 20, 27 in 2021. REGISTER ONLINE at: https://cvent.me/2PdBln The registration fee per student is $145. All the students are eligible to enroll, with no prerequisites.
Our 2020 Spring Super Saturday courses are:
PreK-K:
Icky, Sticky, and Fun
Gr.1-2:
Kitchen Chemistry
STEM at Home: Forces & Motion
Gr.3-5:
Colonizing Mars
Fun Filmmaking
The Magical World of Harry Potter
Gr.6-8:
Games with Python®
Get Protected from COVID-19: A Biomimetic Engineering Challenge
Psychobabble: Let’s Talk Neuroscience!
Gr.9-12:
Python® Programming for the Future
Brainiacs! Neuroscience Highlights
Please visit our Facebook or email Yao Yang at yang1707@purdue.edu for more information!
For more information about Spring Super Saturday program, please visit our website https://www.education.purdue.edu/geri/youth-programs/super-saturday/
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