Germantown Elementary School District #60

A big thank you to the Class of 2005 for joining the Class Challenge with a $350 gift to The Final Push!

Want to join The Final Push? Click the link to get started.

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

A big Bulldog thank you to Justin and Marcy Voss for their generous $500 donation to The Final Push. Your support makes a real difference.

Join The Final Push today! Click the link to make an impact:

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

Due to the winter weather, several GES #60 events have been rescheduled.

Bring on the sunshine and warmer temperatures!

Due to the unsafe conditions of some of the country roads, our News Channel 60 winter weather team has declared Tuesday, January 27, an E-LEARNING DAY!

Anonymous, but mighty! A $1,500 donation to The Final Push is helping us move closer to our goal—thank you.

Together, we can raise the roof! Take The Final Push next step here:

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

#STRONGerTogether

Last week was a slower one for our Final Push efforts, with $300 newly pledged, and that’s okay. Progress doesn’t always come in big leaps. Sometimes it comes in steady steps.

Those continued pledges bring our Final Push total to $277,250. When combined with Raise the Roof Rock Fest proceeds, we have now raised $652,250 toward our $750,000 goal.

That puts us at 87% of the way there!

Thank you to everyone who continues to support this incredible effort. Every pledge, every donation, and every share truly matters. It’s inspiring to see this community stay committed as we near the finish line. Let’s keep moving forward together.

Want to help us raise the final $100,000? Simply click the link to get started:

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

A big thank you to Kordair Farms Inc. for their generous $500 gift to The Final Push. Your support brings us closer to our goal.

Be part of something big—The Final Push needs you!

Click to join:

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

Shoutout to members of the Class of 1998 for joining The Final Push with a donation in the amount of $850.98. Your continued support of Bulldog Country is very much appreciated.

Ready to be part of The Final Push? Click the link to get started:

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

The pairings for the 62nd Trenton Knights of Columbus 7th Grade Boys Basketball Tournament have been released. In first round action, our Bulldogs take on Albers-Damiansville at 6:15 on Monday, February 2.

From tip-off to buzzer, play STRONG!

Class of 1983 in action! Michelle Ripperda, Melissa Kuhl, and Barb Kalmer made a $250 donation to the Class Challenge—moving The Final Push closer to the finish line. Every gift counts—let’s go Bulldogs!

Ready to be part of The Final Push? Click the link to get started:

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

Kindergarten Registration is now open for 2026-27 NEW to the district kindergarten students.

If you live in the Germantown Elementary School boundaries, have a child that will be 5 years old by September 1, 2026, and is NOT currently in the Germantown Elementary School Pre-K or TK Programs, please email dkehder@ges60.org or call (618)523-4253, so we can get your child added to the roster, provide you with the information needed to complete the registration process, and schedule a kindergarten screening.

We already have contact information for families with children that attend our PreK and TK Programs, so there is no need for these families to reach out to us.

Have you ever given a simple direction or asked a simple question---”Put on your shoes. How was practice? We’re leaving in 10 minutes.”---and your child completely loses their mind? These moments can be jaw-dropping as a parent, leaving us completely clueless as to what brought us to this moment. What’s actually happening has less to do with listening and more to do with how your child’s brain is working in that very moment.

To help understand, think of your brain as an “upstairs” and “downstairs.”

The downstairs brain is the brain’s alarm system. It controls big emotions and survival responses like fight, flight, or freeze. When it takes over, kids may yell, cry, argue, or shut down.

The upstairs brain is the thinking part of the brain. It helps with problem-solving, self-control, and using words. This part of the brain is still developing well into the teen years and often goes offline when kids are tired, hungry, stressed, or overwhelmed.

When the downstairs brain is in charge, reminders, lectures, or consequences usually don’t work—because the thinking brain isn’t available yet. This isn’t a behavior problem or a parenting failure; it’s brain development.

How you can help at home:
*Connect before correcting - Take a few minutes to sit quietly with them or give them space if they want it.
*Name your child’s feelings - You look/sound really irritated.
*Teach skills when your child is calm - Practice going outside and shooting a basketball, jumping on the trampoline, or taking deep belly breaths. These can help their brains and body feel more in control.
*Remember that behavior is communication - Always be thinking - What are they really trying to say?

When kids struggle, they’re not giving us a hard time—they’re having a hard time. With support and practice, we can help strengthen their upstairs brain over time.

Grateful for another act of kindness—an anonymous gift of $250 to The Final Push. Your generosity helps keep our dream of a new gymnasium moving forward. Thank you!

Want to join The Final Push? Click the link to get started.

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

We are pleased to share that an anonymous donor contributed $250 to The Final Push. We deeply appreciate this continued support for our students and community.

Want to join The Final Push? Click the link to get started.

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

A huge thank you to Craig and Sarah Ratermann for their $500 donation to The Final Push. Your support keeps our momentum strong and pushes us one step closer to raising the roof.

Want to join The Final Push? Click the link to get started.

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

It's Game Day! Our VBB Team travels to St. Boniface Edwardsville for one game at 7:00.

From tip-off to buzzer, play STRONG!

Generosity is alive and well! An anonymous gift of $250 has been given to The Final Push. Thank you for supporting our dream to raise the roof on a new gym for the community children.

To join the final push, click the link.

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

This Wednesday, January 21, is Extra-Curricular Picture Day. All students participating in cross country, basketball, volleyball, bowling, band, chorus, Student Council, Math Team, Brain Games, Scholar Bowl and golf are asked to bring their Picture Day attire, best smile, and order form with payment to school.

A special thank-you to the Pingsterhaus Family—Gerri, Kim, Eric, Brad & Kyle—for their $500 donation to The Final Push. As longtime Bulldog supporters, we appreciate their generosity and commitment to raising the roof for our students.

Join in today:
https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether

Last week, $40,250 was raised, keeping our Final Push total at $236,700. When combined with Raise the Roof Rockfest proceeds, we have now raised $651,950 toward our $750,000 goal.

That puts us at 87% of the way there!

Thank you to everyone who continues to support this incredible effort. Every pledge, every donation, and every share truly matters—and it’s inspiring to see this community come together as we near the finish line. Let’s keep the momentum going strong.

Want to join us in our efforts to raise the final $100,000? Simply click the link to get started.

https://forms.gle/1LqFu1ok4v1K4NWr8

#STRONGerTogether