Germantown Elementary School District #60

Day 4 of Campaign Chronicles Why do we need a new gym? Our current gym has hosted countless events over the years, graduations, concerts, assemblies, sporting events, and PE. While it has served its purpose, due to limited seating it is a struggle to accommodate the needs of our growing school community. Some of the challenges we face with our current gym include: For sporting events, visitors to the building often have to congregate in the hallway until their child's game starts because of limited seating in the gym. Our athletes are at a disadvantage practicing on our small court. Conditioning and game prepping on a small court does not prepare our athletes for playing games on bigger courts. In addition, the small dimensions of the court do not allow basketball players to comfortably shoot a three pointer from the baselines. As a result of the small court dimensions and limited seating, hosting sporting events that draw a large number of people, such as Regionals, is not a viable option. For events such as concerts, the overflow crowd results in some visitors having to stand for the entire performance. For whole school assemblies, some students have to sit on the floors to accommodate our growing enrollment. When PE cannot be held outside due to weather or other circumstances, the gym is occupied the entire day. As a result, indoor recess and PreK gross motor time have to be held in the classrooms. As our class sizes increase, the small size of our gym inhibits our ability to effectively carry out PE activities.

Do you have a passion for basketball and a desire to coach young athletes? If so, we have a potential opportunity for you. GES is looking for a JV/Varsity girls basketball coach for the 2024-25 season. Practice starts in September. Games are scheduled for mid-October through mid-January. Most JV games begin at 6:00 with varsity games to follow, so prospective candidates must be available in the evenings and on some weekends. If interested in the position, contact Athletic Director, Blain Loepker, at ad@ges60.org. Please help us share this opportunity with others.

Day 3 of Campaign Chronicles Why support fundraising efforts for a school that is publicly funded? As a high achieving school considered low needs, Germantown Elementary School receives less funds to cover operational expenses. Last year alone, we were funded at 72% of what is considered adequate. That resulted in a $700,000 shortfall.

Day 2 of Campaign Chronicles What is the 'story' behind the raise the Roof Capital Campaign ? The GES #60 Raise the Roof Campaign is an ambitious endeavor that seeks to secure $750,000 to close the funding gap on a new gym. The vision for this project is not merely about erecting brick and mortar; it is about investing in the future of our children. As our school district grows, so do the needs of our students. With an increasing enrollment, our current gymnasium is bursting at the seams, unable to accommodate the growing demand for athletic programs, physical education classes, and extracurricular activities.

Three cheers for more opportunities at GES! Do you have a passion for working with young children and want to make a positive IMPACT on their lives? Does the thought of helping children grow socially, emotionally, and academically through play and exploration get you excited? Would you like to work in a school setting with a family atmosphere that embraces creativity and a team approach? Are you interested in working school hours only, so your work schedule is the same as the children in your life? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, this is a great prospective job for you. Germantown Elementary is looking for a paraprofessional/individual care aide to add to our team for the 2024-25 school year. In the morning, this individual will work one-on-one in a PreK classroom with a student with special needs. The afternoon schedule entails working with individual/small groups of K-4 students on developing their reading and math skills. Candidates must either be paraprofessional certified or be willing to get paraprofessional certified before the start of the new school year. The certification process is relatively simple, and we will help with this every step of the way. Now is an exciting time to join our Bulldog family as we are growing. We recently completed Phase I of a construction project, the addition of 2 early childhood classrooms. Phase II will follow at some point in the near future and includes the construction of a new gym. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a front row seat for all the excitement to come. If this isn’t enough to pique your interest, our faculty/staff is given the freedom to dress casually every day of the school year. We work hard, have fun, and dress comfortably at GES. In addition, we have recently adopted a policy granting the children of full-time school district employees the opportunity to attend GES tuition-free. This new policy serves as an added incentive for candidates who value the prospect of sharing their child(ren)'s educational journey within the same school community. Specific job responsibilities and the rate of pay will be discussed with applicants. Interested candidates are asked to contact Robin Becker via email: rbecker@ges60.org. Interviews will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled. Join our dedicated team and be a part of a small school with a BIG impact.

Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be spotlighting the Raise the Roof Capital Campaign, showcasing how as a small school district we strive to make a BIG IMPACT on our community's future. These small snippets of information will serve to inform the community on our story, our goal, and our plan for bringing our vision for improved facilities to life. Day 1 of Campaign Chronicles What is the Raise the Roof Capital Campaign? The Raise the Roof Capital Campaign is a grassroots effort started in August of 2023 to raise money to close the funding gap on a new gym for the community children.

Drumroll, please. We are excited to begin announcing our new lineup of 'rockstars' joining our Bulldog family for the 2024-25 school year. First in the spotlight is Mrs. Poettker. Mrs. Poettker will be teaching kindergarten next school year. After earning a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education in 2018, she proceeded to get her Master's Degree in special education in 2022. Mrs. Poettker comes to GES with six years of experience in education including teaching PreK, Early Childhood Special Education, and K-5 special Education. With her experience teaching PreK through grade five, Mrs. Poettker brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for fostering a love of learning in young students. We are confident her dedication to creating inclusive and engaging classroom environments will make a positive IMPACT on our kindergarten students. Get ready to rock the school year with Mrs. Poettker and the rest of our amazing team.

Looking for a part-time job that will make a positive IMPACT on the GES school community? We anticipate a custodial helper/lunch-recess supervisor vacancy for the 2024-25 school year. This position entails supervising lunch/recess from 11:00-1:00 followed by assisting with various custodial tasks around the building from 1:00-3:00. Specific job responsibilities and the rate of pay will be discussed with applicants. If interested, contact Robin Becker at rbecker@ges60.org. Join our Bulldog family. Small School BIGImpactGES#60

One of our goals as a school district is to take the ORDINARY and add a little EXTRA to create moments that serve to generate a love for learning. The fun and excitement for the new school year will begin on Monday, August 12, as we celebrate Bulldogpalooza. What is Bulldogpalooza? Bulldogpalooza is an engaging and festive open house event organized by a school that proudly identifies with the Bulldog as its mascot. This year, we will once again transform our ORDINARY Open House into an energy filled event by adding a little EXTRA fun - music, games, snacks, and drinks - provided by the Germantown PTA. So, mark your calendars for Monday, August 12th, and join us at GES as we kickstart the school year with Bulldogpalooza!

We are excited to unveil our theme word for the 2024-25 school year, IMPACT. While we are a small school, we strive to make a big IMPACT on the community we serve. The following traits will be the focal point of our HOUSE meetings: INSPIRE: To INSPIRE is to ignite a spark within others, motivating them to reach for their highest potential. At GES, we aim to INSPIRE our students through innovative teaching, supportive environments, and by being role models who demonstrate passion and dedication every day. MINDFUL: Being MINDFUL means staying present and fully engaged in the moment. It involves paying attention to our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment. At GES, we practice MINDFULness to foster a calm and focused learning environment, helping students develop self-awareness and emotional regulation. PATIENT: PATIENCE is the ability to remain calm and composed, even in challenging situations. It involves giving ourselves and others the time needed to grow and learn. At GES, we value PATIENCE as it allows us to support our students' unique learning journeys, understanding that progress takes time. ACCEPTING: ACCEPTANCE means embracing diversity and appreciating the unique qualities each individual brings to our community. At GES, our ultimate goal is to promote a culture of kindness and understanding where every student feels valued and respected. CONFIDENT: CONFIDENCE is believing in oneself and one’s abilities. At GES, we work to build our students' CONFIDENCE by providing them with opportunities to succeed, encouraging them to take risks, and celebrating their achievements. CONFIDENT students are empowered to face challenges and pursue their dreams. TRUSTWORTHY: Being TRUSTWORTHY means being reliable, honest, and maintaining integrity in all our actions. At GES, we emphasize the importance of TRUSTWORHTINESS, creating a safe and supportive environment where students and staff can depend on each other and build strong, positive relationships. Together, these traits embody our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of children . At GES, we believe in the power of a small school making a big IMPACT. We look forward to working together with our families to create a remarkable and IMPACTful 2024-25 school year. #SmallSchoolBigImpact #GES60

Germantown Elementary School Is looking for an educator to add to our rockstar team of teachers. Are you certified to teach early childhood education and passionate about giving young children a comfortable learning environment where they can grow socially, emotionally, and academically through play and exploration? If so, this is a great prospective job for you. This position can be structured in two different ways. For the candidate that prefers to work part-time only, this position entails teaching a morning Preschool for All Program. For the candidate that seeks full-time employment, this position combines teaching the morning Preschool for All Program with teaching K-4 RtI in the afternoon. Now is an exciting time to join our Bulldog family as we are growing. We recently completed Phase I of a construction project, the addition of 2 early childhood classrooms. Phase II will follow at some point in the near future and includes the construction of a new gym. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a front row seat for all the excitement to come. Whether interested in teaching part-time or full-time, if you desire to work in an Exemplary district with a family atmosphere that embraces creativity and a team approach, this is the job for you. Interested candidates are asked to contact Robin Becker at rbecker@ges60.org. Interviews will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. If you know anyone that might be interested in this position, please share this opportunity with them.

They say a school is the heartbeat of a community. At GES, we take pride in creating an empowering and child-centered environment for our students. Now, we are calling on members of the community to help shape the future of our school. While we've just turned the calendar to July, it's already time to start thinking about the April 1, 2025, election. We have 3 school board members whose term will expire next April. We need dedicated community members to step up and run for the board. Petition filing begins on August 20, 2024, so now is the time to start thinking about this opportunity to make a difference in our school community. Stay tuned for more details and start envisioning how you can help ensure our school remains a vibrant, empowering, and child-centered place where students and staff thrive.

Being a parent in today's world can be challenging, but you're not alone. Join our fall Parent Book Club to connect, share, and learn with other parents. Choose between "The 5 Love Languages of Children" and "The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers" and discover how to effectively communicate love, manage emotions, and build strong relationships with your kids. Let's support each other in making our children feel unconditionally loved and empowered. Interested? Fill out the form below. We look forward to growing together. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6orSnSw8E0uaWc8gJqPeQBmOJOm8D73HW2YA7RrcQ5QlOcQ/viewform

Our on-line school supply kit store is closing this Sunday, June 9. All orders submitted by the deadline will be shipped to the school. Families will be notified when they are ready for pick-up, or the kits can stay at school, and we will deliver to the classrooms. Miss the deadline and still need to order – no worries! Even after the Ship-to-School sale is over, the teacher-approved supply list can still be ordered from the website, and it will be shipped directly to your home instead. Please note, there will be an added charge for ship to home. If interested, click the link and head over to School Tool Box today to place your order. https://schooltoolbox.com/school-supplies/school/list-boxes?schoolId=32821

GES #60 has the following extra-curricular vacancies for the 2024-25 school year: Cheer Coach Practices typically start in late August/early September. Regular season starts in October and runs through the middle of January. Post-season begins in late January. Most games are held on weekdays and start at 6:00. 5/6 Volleyball Coach Practices typically start in late December/early January. Games start in late January and conclude in early March. Almost all games are held on weekdays. Fifth grade games start at 4:00 followed by 6th grade games at 5:00. Scholar Bowl Coach Practices typically start in late November. There are 2 Saturday tournaments. The first one is held at Mater Dei High School in early February followed by a tournament at Central High School in late February/early March. The Regional Office of Education also hosts a tournament in late March. Practice matches may also be set up at the coach’s discretion. If you are interested in any of these positions, click the link to complete a short Interest Form. https://www.ges60.org/forms/employment-interest-form

Goodbye School Year. Hello Summer. Thanks for a fantastic 2023-24 school year Bulldog Country.

Check out the final Bulldog Bulletin publication of the 2023-24 school year.

Today we celebrate the Future Class of 2033. Our PreK and TK students are now ready to move on to kindergarten. The future looks bright at GES.

It's Race Day. Our Girls on the Run participants will participate in a 5K at Forest Park this morning. Bring on the Bulldog FIERCE!

Mrs. Conner's eighth grade ELA students finished the year reading 364 books as a class!. These eighth grade students were challenged to read 15 books this school year, and they all successfully met this goal. Of these students, eight of them met their personal goal set as well. The top two readers from the class were Adriana B.and Meagan K. This book challenge allowed students to find what kind of books they like, expand their vocabulary, explore their creative side, and learn about life, history, and places in the world. Keep reading kiddos, proving that readers are leaders.