The GMA Gazette

Summer Break is a time for adventure, relaxation, spending quality time with friends and family, reading, traveling, trying new things, and *hopefully* enjoying a sightly slower pace. I've enjoyed having a bit more free time in my schedule, working on some home projects, reading for enjoyment, soaking up the sunshine, tending to my cut flower garden, and relaxing with my family and friends. It is so nice to slow down and savor the sweeter moments of life in the summertime!

Even though I've enjoyed some downtime this summer, I've been working on several things for the new school year as well. I am excited to welcome new staff members to our team, get to know all of the new families joining our school community, work with our new PTA, continue working on our pedestrian bridge project (check out the pic of the soil boring that was done this week!), and network with other Montessorians at the MACTE teacher residency being hosted at GMA next month. Summer is definitely a time to slow down, but it's also a time to work toward goals for the school year!

I hope you'll take a few minutes to read through this newsletter to begin thinking about the new school year. I'll send another update for everyone on July 19. Until then, enjoy the joys of summer!😎

Be well,
Ms. Jen

Are you ready to start shopping for school supplies? The lists for each age band can be found below!

There may be a few items requested by individual teachers once class lists are published. The lists below are standard for each age band level.

Once again this year, families will be able to login to view classroom assignments through PowerSchool. A OneCall message will be sent once this information is live after 4:00 pm on Friday, August 2.

Remember, GMA does not allow parents to request specific classroom placement or teachers for their child(ren). Please keep in mind that our team spends several hours working to develop class lists that are designed to be as diverse, intentional, and supportive of all students' needs as possible. School leadership reserves the right to make changes to classroom placement as needed throughout the year.

🚗🚗IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR CARLINE THIS FALL🚗🚗

Beginning this Fall, the following changes will take place for arrival and dismissal on campus:

• Families will be assigned a specific color for their car line tag. We will use one color for our Early Childhood line and another color for our 1st-8th grade line.
• All Pre-K and Kindergarten students must be dropped off in the Early Childhood car line which will run from 8:00-8:15 am. Older siblings of these students may also be dropped off in this car line. Pre-K and Kindergarten students will be marked tardy if they arrive after 8:15 am.
• All students in grades 1-8 without younger siblings in Pre-K or Kindergarten must be dropped off in the second car line which will run from 8:20-8:35 am. These students will be marked tardy if they arrive after 8:35 am.
• All Pre-K and Kindergarten students without older siblings in the building must be picked up in the first afternoon car line between 3:00-3:15 pm. Pre-K/Kindergarten students with older siblings in the building should be picked up in the second car line, which opens at 3:20 pm.
• All students in grades 1-8, and those Pre-K/Kindergarten students with siblings in these grade levels must be picked up in the second afternoon car line between 3:20-3:35 pm.
• Families picking children up in the first line may not line up until 2:50 pm at the earliest. 1st-8th grade car line families may not line up before 3:15 pm.
• All students must be picked up no later than 3:35 pm unless they are registered for The Grove.

This Fall, no one will be permitted to line up early for any car line. Due to the volume of traffic and the need to run two seperate car lines through the serpentine pattern, we will require all families to abide by the updated expectations. Please plan accordingly and do not arrive on campus before your scheduled drop off or pick up time because you will be asked to leave in order to keep traffic flowing for everyone.

Thank you for understanding and cooperating with our staff during car line times!

It's time to fill out applications for The Grove 2024-25, GMA's before and after school program! Spots in this program are expected to fill up quickly, so please fill out this application as soon as possible if you're interested in your student(s) attending before or after school care. Spots are limited at each age level and will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Ms. Kayla will be reaching out to all families who fill out an application by Wednesday, June 26th. Reach out to kcommons@gma.k12.in.us with any questions!

7/16 - Chipotle Dine to Donate Event @ the 116th St. store, 4-8 pm - be sure to show the flyer!

8/5 - Meet the Teachers - grades 1-8 only, 5:00-6:30 pm

8/5 - Parenting a Montessori Student, 6:30-7:00 pm (RSVP here!)

8/6 - Early Childhood Meet the Teachers - Pre-K and Kindergarten only - 5:00-6:30 pm

8/8 - First Day of School

8/12-16 - Fall NWEA Testing, K-8th grade

9/2 - Labor Day, no school

10/9-10 - Parent Teacher Conferences

10/10-11 - Early Release Days

10/14-18 - Fall Break, no school

The Grove's Summer Camp at GMA is in full swing! Campers have enjoyed Aloha Week, Pirate Week, and Going Green Week so far. Next up is a week filled with dinosaur fun for Jurassic Park Week! Please reach out to Ms. Kayla directly with any questions. Her email address is kcommons@gma.k12.in.us.

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We use OneCall Now as our mass communication system to send out alerts, updates, and school-wide communication such as The GMA Gazette. Most communications are sent through email, with a text alert to notify you that something has been sent from GMA.

When school is closed or delayed due to inclement weather, especially in the unpredictable Indiana winters, it is important that families receive the notification quickly and easily. The best way to ensure that you don't miss an announcement from GMA is to sign up for text alerts!

It's simple to sign up. Just text the word alert to 22300. That's it!

Please contact Ms. Beth at blarock@gma.k12.in.us if you have questions or need to add an additional phone number or email address to our OneCall Now system.