The Grizzly Gazette
Jamie Alexander, Principal
November 20, 2015
Our Mission Statement: To develop life-long learners and globally minded citizens by fostering the academic, creative,
and social skills needed to achieve excellence in a multi-cultural environment.”
Dear Greenbriar Families,
I hope that you enjoy your Thanksgiving break! We had a
Thanksgiving feast for each grade level this week. Teachers,
students and district administration spent time enjoying each
other during a candlelight lunch. We had an awesome Veteran’s Day convocation; thanks to Mrs. Perry and the fourth
grade for a great program.
We have about 3 weeks until Winter Break. Be sure to stay focused and work hard everyday. Students will continue their
academics and with assessments toward the end of December
to display all the growth they have made since August. I encourage you to continue to communicate with your child’s
teacher so you know how your child is progressing.
Thank you to our PTO for an awesome Movie Night for K-3
students. We finished up our first round of the G.R.O.W. program. Thank you to Regan Zwald as well as many other parents and teachers that helped to make G.R.O.W. as successful
as possible. We will have another round in the spring.
We are so blessed with the many organizations that support
Greenbriar. Second Presbyterian Church has donated school
supplies, coats and clinic items. Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation donated 30 Thanksgiving baskets and 100 bags of food
to needy families at Greenbriar. Performance Assessment Network (PAN) donated 100 bags of food for families for the holiday break. Thank you to these community partners for helping
us educate our students with the necessary basic resources.
We had a phenomenal turn out for our Donuts with Dads
event. Thank you to the teachers and parents who helped make
this event possible. Thank you for all of our phone book donations and canned food items. We collected 2,274 items for Second Presbyterian Church Food Pantry. This is awesome! Thank
you for thinking of others and helping our students become
active in action in our community. At this time of the year, it is
always a blessing to see how others are giving of their time to
help out those in need. If you are in need of food items, a new/
gently used winter coat, hats or gloves, please feel free to stop
by school anytime or contact me and I will make sure you get
the items you need.
Sincerely,
Greenbriar’s Proud Principal Alexander
Kindergarten
Holiday Bazaar
Dec. 8, 9, 10
9-11 am & 12-3 pm
Kindergarten crafts are priced .25 -$2.
Support our GB Community! Proceeds
benefit Greenbriar families!
NOVEMBER
21-29
THANKSGIVING BREAK
30
SCHOOL RESUMES
30
PTO HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENT
DECEMBER
1-4
PTO HOLIDAY SHOPPING CONTINUES
4
GIRLS NIGHT OUT 6-7:30 PM
11
GUYS NIGHT OUT 6-8 PM
17
ALL SCHOOL SING WITH PERFORMING
ART STUDENTS. WATCH FOR MORE INFO
17
PTO EVENT AT INCREDIPLEX
WATCH FOR MORE INFORMATION
17
LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS
DEC
18 JAN 3
WINTER BREAK
NO SCHOOL; STUDENT RETURN JAN. 4
NOVIEMBRE
21-29
VACACION DEL DIA DE GRACIAS
NO HAY ESCUELA
30
REGRESO A LA ESCUELA
30
EVENTO DE COMPRAS DEL PTO
DICIEMBRE
1-4
CONTINUA EL EVENTO DE COMPRAS DEL
4
NOCHE DE NIÑAS 6-7:30 PM
11
NOCHE DE JÓVENES 6-8 PM
17
EVENTO DEL PTO EN INCREDIPLEX SE
ENVIARA MAS INFORMACIÓN
17
ÚLTIMO DÍA PARA LOS ESTUDIANTES
17
PRESENTACIÓN DE CANTO TODOS LOS
ESTUDIANTES Y LOS ESTUDIANTES DE
ARTE, ESPEREN MAS INFORMACION
DEC.
DESCANSO DE INVIERNO, NO HAY ES8CUELA; ESTUDIANTES REGRESAN EL 4 DE
JAN . 3 ENERO
Update Missing Immunizations NOW!
The state of Indiana requires that all school age children
be current on immunizations. Letters were recently sent
home informing those as non-compliance with the state
requirements. Students missing shots should update requirements as soon as possible. Students without the
required immunizations may not return to school November 30 without the updated shot record.
Thanksgiving Break is a great time to get these shots!
Greenbriar families should bring the notices concerning
any missing shots to the health care provider.
After visiting a healthcare provider, please return a copy
of the updated shot record to the office after the break.
Questions? 259-5445
Music Notes
Mrs. Perry
Thank you to the Fourth Graders for giving such a respectful and honorable program for the Veterans on November 11! Thank you parents, community and Veterans
that were able to come to our program and support the
Performing Arts as we honored those that have served to
keep our great country safe. If you didn’t get a chance to
order a DVD of the program, orders will be taken until
Wednesday, December 2. Cost is $10.
Fifth Grade is busy preparing for a new program this
year! On Dec. 17, we will have an ‘all school sing.” A performing arts presentation also will be showcased.
Grade 5 will be helping the rest of the school to learn
about the different holidays celebrated around the world
in December and January. During the program, we will
feature students that are currently taking private lessons
of the Performing Arts. Please ask Mrs. Perry for a form
that tells more about this opportunity. Private lessons
could include piano, violin, ballet, dance to name a few.
Have a great Thanksgiving. Kindergarten and 1st Grade
could teach a 'thankful song’ for dinner if you ask them.
They also learned to do it with sign language. Be sure to
ask for a demonstration.
News From The
Greenbriar Café
The Greenbriar Café wants to remind all families that
student lunch accounts must be paid and kept up to
date. As the first semester is coming to a close, we need
all accounts to be current.
Please contact Linda Tarver, 259-5445, ext. 119.
Winter Break No School!
Dec. 18 - Jan. 3
Students Return Jan. 4
Vacación No Hay Escuela!
Dec. 18 - Enero 3!
Regraso a la Escuela Enero 4
Ladies Dress for Success
Girls Night Out
& Tie Thursday Guys
Night Out
Students who met the criteria are
invited to join in on the fun!
Girls Night Out December 4 6 - 7:30 PM
Guys Night Out December 11 6 - 8 PM
Greenbrair Elementary School
Café and Gymnasium
Join the celebration for students who met the criteria
for meeting the requirements for Dress for Success
and Tie Thursday. A safe, fun, and positive environment has been planned where students will participate
in activities, games, mentoring, and table talks.
Students will receive invitations for this event. RSVP
required and only one guest may accompany students.
Patriotic Garden Recognized
as Indiana Bicentennial Site
Greenbriar’s Patriotic Garden and Famous and
Historic Trees have been recognized by the
2016 Indiana Bicentennial Commission. Our
project, designated as a legacy project, will be
listed on the Indiana Bicentennial website.
Congratulations to Greenbriar for their part in celebrating Indiana’s 200th birthday.
RECYCLE YOUR PHONE BOOKS NOW!
Yes, the campaign goes on. Tell all your friends
and family to bring phone books to Greenbriar
through December 11. Be sure to drop off all
phone books in the blue dumpster in the school’s
north lot. Let’s see if Greenbriar can continue to
carry out their record of recycling phone books and saving trees!
Canned Food Drive, Kona Ice Event Big Success
Spotlight on New Staff Stars
Thank you to the students and families for supporting our
canned food drive. Students brought in 2,274 cans which
were donated to the Second Presbyterian Church for holiday
distribution. Winning totals in order of largest amounts contributed by class were: Mrs. Robbins, Mrs. Isaacs, Mrs.
Kreinhagen, Mr. Miller and Mrs. Hassen.
The coinciding Kona Ice visit also raised
money for Greenbriar to be used for a future school-wide event.
A special thank you to the Gr. 5 Ambassadors, Mrs. Kreinhagen and Mr. May, for all their hard work. Greenbriar strives
to instill a sense of community service in all our students!
Allesandra O’Rourke ~ Gr. 4 Teacher
ART NEWS
Ms. Parkison
Hello Greenbriar families! Art Room Update Time!
Kindergarten and 1st grade students are making oil pastel castle
masterpieces inspired by familiar shapes and the artist Paul Klee.
Our 2nd and 3rd grade artists are creating wacky cubist portraits
in the style of artist Pablo Picasso after reading the book, When
Pigasso met Mootisse.
The 4th and 5th grade artists are busy designing their Native American parfleche luggage
pouches. A parfleche pouch was a painted and
sewn rawhide used to carry valuables.
Stay posted to hear more from the art room! Stay creative,
Greenbriar!
Clip & Save
Student Lunch Periods!
Kindergarten:
Grade 1:
Grade 2:
Grade 3:
Grade 4:
Grade 5:
10:25 - 10:55 am
11:00 - 11:30 am
11:35 -12:05 pm
12:10 - 12:40 pm
12:45 - 1:15 pm
1:20 - 1:50 pm
Remember to Recycle at Greenbriar
Greenbriar recycling containers are in place at
the northeast side of the parking lot. Please
remember to turn your trash into our treasure. Deposit newspapers, magazines, and catalogs in the green and yellow bin. Remember
to tell your neighbors and friends to donate to our recycling project.
Aluminum cans are also welcome and may be recycled in
the blue container.
Important: These are not trash bins! Only items to be
recycled can be accepted.
Greenbriar thanks you for your support. Questions: Alyce,
259-5445.
I’m so grateful to have been welcomed on the Greenbriar Grizzly team this year! Before becoming a Grizzly, I spent 8 years teaching in Brown County at Sprunica Elementary School, with teaching experiences spanning grades K-4. I’m currently attending Butler to earn
my Masters in Ed Leadership. I received my bachelor's
degree in Elementary Education at Ball State with a concentration in Science. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family doing all kinds of things. I love traveling to
new places, exercising and following around our kiddos, biking, go
-karting, and spending a lot of time outside.
Do you have a hobby or area of interest? Exercising. I love to be
active and outside.
What is your favorite:
Book? Series - Janet Evanovich, the
Stephanie Plum Novels
Movie? Love Actually
Song? Under the Table and Dreaming
Sport? Softball
Food and Restaurant? Italian; Mama
Corolla’s
Vacation? Anywhere with a beach.
If you weren’t in education, what other occupation would you
choose? Something with animals. The little girl in me still wants to
be a dolphin trainer.
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or deceased, who
would it be and why? My Grandpa; he passed when I was too
young to have known him well, but old enough to remember how
much I adored him.
Tell us something interesting about you that would surprise other
Greenbriar staff? In the summers my family takes high school
students to Hawaii to study Marine Biology and Hawaiian Culture.
I’m the bus driver. :-)
Lease Updates Due Now!
The first semester of the school year is
coming to a close. All leases for Greenbriar families must be kept current with
updated information on file. A copy of a
current lease with the expiration date, management
signature page, and a utility bill must be on file no later than December 14.
If you are moving outside of the Greenbriar district
please contact the office as soon as possible so we may
forward student records.
NOTE: Please keep all contact/phone numbers up
to date. In the event of an emergency, office and
clinic personnel must be able to contact parents or
guardians as soon as possible. Please send a note
with updated numbers to your child’s teacher.
Questions or concerns? Call the office, 259-5445.
Words of Wisdom
“Having a place to go ~ is a home. Having
someone to love ~ is a family. Having both
is a blessing.”
~ Donna Hedges
Mark Your Calendar!
Awards Ceremony January 12
Gr. 3-5 9 am
K-2 2 pm
Marque su Calendario!
Ceremonia de Premios 12 de enero
Grados 3-5 9 am
K-2 2 pm
IB @ GB!
You might have heard your child discuss Essential
Agreements during the course of this school year.
These agreements might be referred to as "Rules"
but are now a more interactive and reflective experience for the
students and teachers at the start of the year. Both students and
teachers take an active role in creating Essential Agreements for
each member of the classroom community to refer to during the
school day. These agreements are created in the classroom, and in
special classes, ensuring that students are aware and invested in
agreeing to abide by the Essential Agreement statements.
When creating these, the teacher guides the students by asking:
What is an essential agreement?
What does essential mean?
What does agreement mean?
What behavior best helps us to be the people we want to be?
We want students to go beyond rules to the reasons behind them
and understand that what we value is most reflected by the choices
we make and how we act. What is most important to us should
remain at the front of our minds so we remember why we want to
act in a certain way, and remember the people we want to be.
If you remember those things, you do not really need “rules.” Instead you have a goal or vision of who you want to be. This has a
much more powerful impact on students' lives, and remains with
them as they make their choices, in and out of the classroom.
In Media news, thank you for helping your student be successful
in bringing back their books and/or paying for lost books. Taking
responsibility empowers our students, and gives them a strong
basis for being responsible adults. Have a wonderful holiday!
Jessica O'Neill Casas
IB PYP Coordinator/Media Specialist
Check Out Lost And Found Now!
Parents: The Lost and Found is overflowing! As the end of the semester gets closer,
please come and check out the items by Friday, December 11. All items left after this date will be
donated or discarded.
The Lost and Found is located in the cafeteria. Look
through the large box and hooks for any missing
items. You may come to the building at any time during school hours to look through the Lost and Found.
Any questions, call 259-5445, ext 14408.
Thank you for your cooperation!
NCHS Holiday Shows
Holiday Band Concert
December 2 7pm NC Auditorium
Winter Choir Concert
December 7
7pm
NC Auditorium
Messiah Concert
December 8 7pm NC Auditorium
Holiday Orchestra Concert
December 10 7 pm NC Auditorium
More Joyful Sounds of the Season
With the North Central Counterpoints
December 13 at 3pm NC Auditorium
PTO HAPPENINGS
Dear Grizzly families,
This year seems to be flying by! I can’t believe we are
already planning for Winter Break and thinking about
our annual Spring Fling event . We still need a chairperson so head this event!
I have fond memories of the Holiday Store in my elementary school
and buying that “perfect” coffee mug for my dad and that “pretty”
necklace for my mom. The PTO is bringing Secret Shopping to
Greenbriar this year for our students. This event will allow the students to experience the JOY of giving, as well as teach them “real
life skills” of managing their money and buying on a budget. We
will need a lot of volunteers to assist students with those perfect gifts
for their loved ones. Start helping your students by thinking of ways
they can earn money for this event.
On December 17, the PTO will be hosting a Family Fun Night fundraiser at Incrediplex at 6002 Sunnyside Road. Passes will be available, $15 each, and includes a slice of pizza, unlimited drinks, a $5
game card, and unlimited laser tag from 7-9pm. Watch for more
details. This will be a fun way to kick off winter break. Mark your
calendars now and plan to play the night away with your classmates!
Thanks to those who attended our November PTO Meeting, the
G.R.O.W. cheerleaders and their coaches for showcasing what they
learned in fall G.R.O.W., and to all the volunteers who helped out
with our November Movie Night! You rock!
Upcoming Events:
Nov. 30-Dec. 4 - Holiday Shopping (adult volunteers needed!)
Dec. 17 - PTO Winter Break Kick Off! at Incrediplex!
Please consider joining the PTO Board or chairing an event. There
are also many other ways to get involved; please contact us to find
out how! You can get connected by emailing us or by entering your
email address at Signup Genius to learn about volunteer opportunities throughout the year. You can visit our page
at www.signupgenius.com (Greenbriar PTO) to enter your email
address to be notified of volunteer opportunities. You can also LIKE
us on Facebook @ Greenbriar Elementary School PTO page.
Happy Holidays from your Greenbriar PTO Board!
Tracy Toumi, PTO President
[email protected]