Better Together

New Year, New School, New Vision

It is clear to see that Geist Montessori Academy has such a bright future as one, united, school family: Better Together!

Thank you, PTO and families, for the Amazing Staff Appreciation Luncheons! The food was delicious, and everyone is so very grateful for the PTO's generous gift cards, as well as all of the other numerous treats and gifts that the staff was given. We hope that you know how much we appreciate and love each and every one of you!!!! Thank you for all that you do to make GMA so incredibly amazing!

As inclement weather approaches, please watch local news’ stations and check your emails for delays and cancellations. We will post all 2-hour delays and cancellations on local news’ stations, email, Facebook, and Geist Montessori Academy's website.

Warm your hearts with a special gathering at the new campus on Wednesday, January 8, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. This open house format will allow students to see their new classrooms before coming to school on Thursday, January 9. Be sure to check out the gym and enjoy some Cookies and Cocoa with the PTO.

It was so wonderful to see so many of you at the Parent Education Night regarding the New Campus Car Line Procedures! Please review the PowerPoint presentation and informational sheet, if you were unable to attend. We look forward to our new campus, where all students will be on the same schedule: 8:30-3:30 p.m. Car line will begin at 8:15 a.m. for arrival, and it will begin at 3:30 for dismissal, with assistants gathering numbers at 3:15. Prior to 3:00 p.m., the car line area will be blocked, so please plan accordingly.

It was a pleasure seeing staff and students' twinkle in their eyes as they made and sent Secret Santa surprises to make each others' days!

In order to keep our students safe and best meet their needs during the day, the only entrance that will be open during the school day is the one closest to Olio Road on the east-side. This will allow students to utilize the blacktop area on the south-side of the building as extra play space during the day.

Along with this, due to the car line dismissal time of 3:30, there will be no student dismissals permitted after 2:45 p.m. Therefore, please make all appointments for your children before 2:45 p.m. In order to properly manage the flow of car line dismissal traffic, any student needing to be picked up beyond 2:45 p.m. will have to join the rest of the students in the regular car line procedures.

Many students and staff enjoyed snuggling up with a good book and friends this holiday season in their jammies.

Many hands make light work!

The closet shelves for the teachers have arrived at the new campus, but they need to be assembled. If you are available to assist with this, we will be building these in the gym on January 3, from 12-3:00 p.m. Please come any time during that window of time and be a part of the helping hands team.

The lockers will also be arriving on January 3, and we will need help unloading these from the truck, as well as securing them to the walls. If you are interested in helping with locker assembly, please email me at cschuler@gma.k12.in.us.

Come be a part of the new campus ribbon cutting ceremony!

We are looking forward to an exciting evening of gratitude, friends, and fellowship on Friday, January 31, from 6-7:30 p.m.! To help celebrate our grand opening, we are looking to showcase our children's, families', staff's, and community's gifts and talents. Please complete this form if you or a family member is interested in performing, planning, or helping to prepare for this event.

Better Together: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

With the transition and move into the new GMA building, there will be two eLearning Days in January: Tuesday, January 7 and Wednesday, January 8.

Per Indiana Department of Education, "eLearning Days have given the option for continuing an instructional day away from traditional time limits and brick and mortar setting. This innovative program has evolved into an engaging instructional model used in many Indiana schools to keep the sequence of learning going in spite of weather and other challenges. More importantly, it has provided teachers and students the opportunity to engage with digital resources, to collaborate virtually, and to develop digital skills that are used and valued beyond K-12."

Please enjoy the eLearning PowerPoint Presentation by Mr. Logan, presented on October 3 to explain the process: http://gmacademy.org/e-learning-day-november-1st/

Additionally, please find the attached board policy pertaining to eLearning Days. Students should have received their eLearning day work before leaving for winter break.

BOARD MEMBERS

Nick Wright – President | Kirby Durham – Secretary | Uriah Ellis – Treasurer

Lacey Willard – At-Large Member | Andrew Cavallaro – At-Large Member

Recently, your child took a MAP® Growth™ test from NWEA® on a computer or tablet. MAP Growth scores help teachers check student performance by measuring achievement and growth. Teachers use results to tailor classroom lessons and set goals with students.

MAP Growth tests are unique, and they adapt to your child’s responses in order to measure your child’s skill level. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If s/he answers incorrectly, the next one is easier. These results will provide a more complete picture of what your child knows and is ready to learn—whether it is on, above, or below grade level.

Based upon the results, students set goals within their classroom and assessed their strengths and opportunities for improvement. The NWEA results were sent home with the students’ second quarter progress reports on Friday, December 20.

We are truly excited to focus on your child’s individual growth and achievement. For more information about MAP Growth, visit NWEA.org/familytoolkit.

January 7-8: eLearning Days

January 8: Sneak Peek, 6:00-7:00 p.m., Cookies and Cocoa

January 9: First Day for the GMA staff and students to be together: Better Together!

January 14: PTO Meeting

January 17: eLearning Day, Professional Development

January 20: MLK holiday or eLearning Day

January 21: School Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m., gym

January 31: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 6-7:30 p.m.

February 13: Skating Party, 5:30 Learn to Skate, 6-8 p.m.

February 14: eLearning Day, Professional Development

February 21: Family Dance, 6-8 p.m.

Cheers to you and yours in the New Year!

Email: Cschuler@gma.k12.in.us
Website: gmacademy.org
Phone: (317)335-1158
Twitter: @GeistAcademy