The journey was beautiful. The future is bright.
Cherishing where they began, celebrating where they’re headed.
It's Race Day.
This morning, our Girls on the Run participants will take on their end-of-season 5K at Ballpark Village, a celebration of growth, perseverance, and joy. Each season concludes with this event, giving every girl a chance to experience the pride that comes from setting a goal and crossing the finish line. No matter their pace, every participant finishes with confidence and carries that sense of accomplishment with them long after the race is over.
From Start to Finish, Make an IMPACT.
Then and now — always destined for IMPACT.
The countdown is on. Our kids are anxiously awaiting summer. They are ready for a break. Teachers are ready for time to breathe. Parents are ready for a slowdown (or a slight change of speed) as well.
Many of us have mixed feelings about summer. While we likely feel some excitement and anticipation, some of us also worry what the lack of routine and structure may do for our kids. Some parents are working from home, trying to figure out how they will be an employee and a parent all in the same house. Some of our students don’t have as much to look forward to as others, and will miss their teachers, classmates, and sense of belonging when they leave our GES walls. A quick scroll through Facebook can make us question if we’re falling short as parents. Are we doing “enough” for our kids in the summer? It seems like everyone else has gone on countless trips and have planned many Pinterest-worthy days. Are we the only family who’s barely surviving?
During this time of year, learning to take things one day at a time is a necessity. I’ve spoken to several parents just this week about recent changes in their child’s behavior and mood. There is more talking back, tears, big reactions to small problems, and emotions are just so much bigger. Maycember is REAL. The amount of field trips, award ceremonies, graduations, parties, practices and games, permission slips, and special days is absolutely overwhelming, and crammed into just a few weeks. Take it one day at a time. Lower the bar for yourself and your kids. Ride the wave and survive. Above all, have so much grace for yourself and everyone around you.
Saying no and lowering the bar for yourself is a great place to start. It’s also great to model this for your kids. “I'm very overwhelmed. I would usually make fun treats and go all out on birthday party decorations. This year, we’ll grab something easy from the store and focus on enjoying each other’s company.” “We haven’t had an evening “off” in weeks. Next Wednesday is open, but we were asked to go to a cousin’s baseball game. Let’s sit this one out and plan to go to one later in the summer.”
While there are things we can do to lessen the load a bit, it’s important to remember to embrace the chaos and celebrate surviving. Take control of what you can. Breathe, laugh, and celebrate just getting through the rest.
At tonight's Spring Concert, we recognized our 8th grade students and their parents for their dedication to the Bulldog Music Program through the years. We hope to see them continue their love for music in high school.
It's Concert Night!
Our Bulldog Chorus and Band Program takes to the stage at 6:30 this evening for the annual Spring Concert.
Every note, every beat, make an IMPACT!
The 8th Grade Graduation time has been set for 8:00 on Tuesday, May 13. The doors to the school will open at 7:00.
We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to Rose Acre Farms for their generous support as a Gold Sponsor for the 21st Annual Bulldog Dash. Did you know Rose Acre Farms is the second-largest egg producer in the United States? With facilities across the country, they serve some of the biggest names in retail, food service, and industry. But what truly makes them stand out is their continued commitment to the small-town values of quality, service, and community that have defined them from the beginning.
Please consider supporting the businesses and individuals that back our community school.
It's Match Day!
Members of the Bulldog Golf Team take to the links at Roland Barkau Golf Course in Okawville for SIJHSAA Regional action.
From tee to green, make an IMPACT. Go Bulldogs!
This Tuesday, May 6th, from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Knotty Pine in Breese is generously donating 10% of all sales to support the Bulldog Dash.
Grab lunch or enjoy dinner all while helping us raise funds for the school through the Bulldog Dash. Every bite counts, and every order makes an IMPACT.
Let’s 'Pack the Pine' and show our Bulldog pride.
We are excited to announce that Friday, October 10, 2025, will be Grandparents and Special Friends Day at Germantown Elementary School.
This year we are planning something extra special, “A Grand Adventure". We can’t wait to celebrate the people who make such a meaningful IMPACT in our students’ lives.
Specific event details will be shared at a later date, but for now, mark your calendars and get ready to join us for a morning filled with love, laughter, and memory making.
It’s Bulldog Dash Day, and we’re ready to GLOW. Join us at Schoendienst Park tonight for our Neon Night Fun Run. The 5K kicks off at 6:00, followed by the 2K at 7:00. After our runners light up the night, the kids can play and fans can cheer on the St. Louis Blues with the playoff game showing on the big screen.
We have extra t-shirts. Walk up registrations are welcome and begin at 4:30.
It’s a night full of fun, fitness, and Bulldog spirit . Don’t miss it.
The clouds are getting darker and he heard someone talking about potential storms this afternoon. First, breathe.
There is a math test coming up this morning and she doesn’t feel prepared. She HATES test days and her stomach hurts. First, breathe.
It’s presentation day. He has to present in science in front of the whole class. He says he needs to stay home because he feels like he might throw up. First, breathe.
Her dog is sick and may have to be put down this week. She’s finding it really hard to focus in class. First, breathe.
She has way too many things on her list, overcommitted this “season,” and feels like she is drowning at home and work. First, breathe.
“Take some deep breaths” might be something we say, but are we practicing that skill daily? Breathing is natural, so we assume that everyone can do it. Did you know that there is a “right” way to breathe to get in control of our thoughts? To practice deep breathing, find a comfortable position, breathe in slowly through your nose and feel your belly rise, hold for a few seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth. When we can move the breathing beyond just our chest and into the abdomen, lung capacity increases and it has the ability to help us calm.
This type of breathing is not natural for most of us. It is absolutely a skill that has to be practiced. Just like we would not start teaching our child to ride a bike when they are in tears, exhausted, or upset, we do not want to introduce this skill only when they need it. When our kids are “ready to learn,” calm, and in control is the best time to practice.
Is there a time of day that you can build this into a routine? Expect pushback from your older kids, a “Mom, that will not work,” or “I already know how to breathe.” Stick with it. Model it. Explain it out loud when you practice and use this strategy. And one day—when they’re nervous, overwhelmed, or just need to pause—they might take that deep breath on their own. Not because they were told to, but because they’ve practiced it, with you, when it mattered most.
Look at our Bulldog Alumni making an IMPACT at the high school level. We are so proud to see our former Bulldogs excelling and making a difference beyond the halls of GES. These outstanding students were recognized at the Clinton County Academic Excellence Awards Banquet for being in the Top 10% of their graduating class. Your hard work, dedication, and excellence continue to shine. Keep reaching for the stars!
#OnceABulldogAlwaysABulldog
Today we celebrate our Top Ten performers from the Clinton County Conference Golf Tournament. Congratulations to Chloe M. - 3rd Place, Bryn W. - 2nd Place, Kenzie P. - 4th Place, and Wyatt K. - 10th Place Tie.
Bulldog Country stands proud of you.
It's Match Day!
Our Bulldog Golf Team takes to the links at Roland Barkau Golf Course for a match against Wesclin and Albers/Dville.
From tee to green, make an IMPACT. Go Bulldogs!
Congratulations to our Lady Bulldog Golf Team for claiming the Clinton County Conference Tournament Championship today. We are so proud of these talented young ladies for their hard work and determination.
We had three golfers finish in the Top 10 — Bryn took 2nd place overall, Chloe claimed 3rd, and Kenzie rounded out our top finishers with a strong 4th place showing.
From tee to green, they made an IMPACT. Way to go Lady Bulldogs!
It's Match Day!
Our Bulldog golfers take to the course at the Goat Ranch for the Clinton County Conference Tournament.
From tee to green, make an IMPACT. Go Bulldogs!
Just played with friends? Check in. Mindlessly scrolled for a while? Check in. Woke up after a good night of sleep? Check in. Alarm goes off after staying up past bedtime on the ipad? Check in.
Checking in means to ask yourself, “How do I feel?” This is a GREAT strategy to practice as an adult and a GREAT strategy to teach our children. When we check in with ourselves, we can make connections between our behaviors and how they make us feel. With self control and self management, we can then use this information to guide ourselves to make choices that make us feel good.
As with everything else, this takes coaching, practice, time, and consistency. Conversations might sound like this: “I noticed your light was on in your room long after you were supposed to go to bed last night. How do your brain and body feel this morning?” When they respond, we just listen and acknowledge. If they feel great, great. Our job is not to tell them how they feel, but to listen and acknowledge. If they feel tired and crabby, your response is, “Okay. That makes for a hard start to the day.” Now is not the time for a lecture. It is time to listen and acknowledge. The goal is for them to increase their self awareness. The goal is to make checking in a habit. The goal is for them to be able to be honest with themselves and really get tuned in to how they feel. Making changes comes later.
Effective conversations will not sound like this:
Adult: You spent some time with a different group of friends today. How do you feel?
Child: Great. We had so much fun!
Adult: Do you? You seem pretty on edge this afternoon. I’m not sure that group is a good influence.
When we take the check in over, we are taking away their ability to assess how they feel. We are putting ourselves in charge, and they will very likely push back. The end result will be very different from what is desired.
When we model self check in skills (“I started my morning with a quick walk instead of sitting on my phone. When I checked in, I was in a really good mood. I had a lot more energy than usual and was just happy.”) and encourage our children to do the same, we are giving them tools to increase their independence, happiness, and ownership of the choices they make. This is an incredible tool for them to carry into all stages of life.
