The Brilliance Bulletin - 02/23/26

Each week, this newsletter will share a variety of updates and information about The Genius School, including exciting highlights, upcoming events, and important announcements. Stay tuned to keep up with all the amazing things happening in our community!

On behalf of The Genius School, we would like to thank you for your continued support of our scholars, staff, and school community. As we approach the final months of what has been an incredible 2025–2026 school year, we are asking for your partnership to help ensure our students finish the year with memorable and meaningful experiences.

As we head into Spring Break, we are excited to celebrate our incredible scholars during Genius Appreciation Week, March 16–20. Each day will feature a fun theme where students can show creativity, personality, and school spirit—from dressing as their future career to representing their favorite book character or decade.

Throughout the week, students will have the opportunity to participate in themed dress days, and we will wrap up the celebration with “Rolling with the Geniuses” at the skating rink on Friday.

Participation is optional, but we encourage all students to join in the fun and celebrate what makes them unique. Students who choose not to participate in the themed dress days must come to school in the appropriate school uniform.

We look forward to an exciting week celebrating the brilliance, creativity, and future of our Genius scholars!

We are excited to announce that the application window for the 2026–2027 school year is officially open! If you are planning ahead—or know a family searching for a school that combines academic excellence, strong character development, and a nurturing community—now is the time to apply.

Families may qualify for the Indiana Choice Scholarship (voucher program) to help cover tuition costs. Please note that Choice Scholarship funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so we strongly encourage families to apply early to secure their spot.

If The Genius School has been a blessing to your family, help us grow our village. Share this opportunity with your network—friends, family members, church communities, coworkers—anyone who may be looking for a high-quality educational option for their child.

For questions about the application process or Choice Scholarship eligibility, please contact our office. We are happy to help guide you through the next steps.

Our Early Education program is nearly full, and only a limited number of seats remain for the upcoming school year. We anticipate closing admissions to certain grade levels before the end of the school year.

If you are a current family, reapply now to ensure your scholar’s seat is secured. Enrollment is not automatically guaranteed without a completed application.

If you know a family interested in joining our Early Education program, we encourage them to apply as soon as possible. Once seats are filled, a waitlist will begin.

We are excited about the growth of our youngest Geniuses and look forward to welcoming another strong class.

We are excited to share that enrollment is now open for our Early Education Program serving PreK through 1st Grade!

Our PreK program is designed for children ages 3–4 years old and provides a strong foundation in early literacy, math, social-emotional development, and school readiness. (Students must be fully potty trained to enroll in PreK.)

We are also accepting CCDF vouchers for families who qualify, making high-quality early education more accessible to our community.

If you are interested in enrolling your child—or if you know a family who would thrive in a nurturing, academically strong environment—we invite you to schedule a tour today. Come see how we help our youngest scholars build confidence, curiosity, and a love for learning from the very beginning.

Spots are limited, so we encourage families to connect with us soon!

We are currently seeking donations of healthy snacks, fresh fruit, and fun games to support student activities through the remainder of the school year. Donations may be dropped off at the school’s front office Monday–Friday between 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM. Your generosity will help support several upcoming student events and activities.

Starting Friday, March 13, students will participate in FREE Fun Fridays. These days will include engaging activities, snacks, and time for fellowship with classmates. Scholars will have the opportunity to participate in these fun events every other Friday through the end of the school year.

Testing season is quickly approaching at The Genius School, and we are preparing our scholars with intention, focus, and confidence.

Who takes it? - All 2nd graders, along with select 3rd and 4th graders who have not yet passed.

Testing Window - March 2 – March 13

IREAD-3 measures foundational reading skills. It ensures students are on track in critical literacy areas such as phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Strong reading is the gateway to success in every subject.

Who takes it? - All 3rd–7th grade scholars

Testing Window - April 13 – May 8

ILEARN measures mastery of Indiana’s grade-level standards in English/Language Arts and Math (with Science and Social Studies in select grades). It assesses students’ ability to apply learning, think critically, and demonstrate true understanding.

Preparation for these assessments is happening every single day in our classrooms.

It is critical that scholars:

• Attend school consistently between now and testing

• Arrive on time and ready to learn

• Avoid absences during the testing windows whenever possible

Missing school now means missing key instruction, review, and confidence-building practice. Missing during testing may require make-up sessions and can increase stress for students.

• Prioritize daily attendance

• Ensure 8–10 hours of sleep nightly

• Encourage reading at home

• Speak confidence and calm over your scholar

Testing season is not about pressure — it is about preparation, growth, and demonstrating the excellence our scholars work toward every day. We are confident. We are prepared. We are ready.

Our FACTS Family Portal has been updated, and families can now access report cards and track grades for the current quarter.

This tool is a great way to:

• Stay informed about your scholar’s academic progress

• Monitor growth throughout the quarter

• Partner with teachers by reviewing assignments and performance in real time

How to Access Grades in FACTS

1. Log in to the FACTS Family Portal

2. Click on Student

3. Use the drop-down menu to select Gradebook

4. Choose the class you would like to view

5. Select the current term to see grades and assignments

Understanding the Gradebook

• Assignment – Name of the assignment

• Pts – Points your scholar earned

• Max – Maximum points possible

• Avg – Class average

• Status – Assignment submission status

  • Valid = Turned in

  • Missing = Not turned in

  • Excused = Not required

• Category Average – Overall grade for the class

• Term Grade – Final grade for that term

If you need assistance accessing or navigating your FACTS Parent Portal, please contact the Main Office, and we will be happy to support you.

At The Genius School, we believe that true genius is reflected not only in academic growth, but also in the character our scholars demonstrate every day. During the month of January, we focused on the trait of goodness—making positive choices, showing integrity, and treating others with kindness and respect.

Throughout the month, our scholars showed what goodness looks like in action: encouraging classmates, doing what is right even when it’s difficult, and helping create classrooms where responsibility, respect, and integrity are valued.

Our January Geniuses of the Month exemplify goodness through their daily actions and strong character. Each of these scholars leads by example, reminding us that being a genius means using our choices, words, and actions to build a stronger and more caring school community.

We are proud to celebrate:

• Liberty – 1st Grade
• Deighton – 2nd Grade
• Maddy – 4th Grade
• Sage – 4th Grade
• Gamaliel – 5th Grade

Their examples remind us that goodness is not just something we talk about—it is something we practice through the choices we make every day. By living with integrity and encouraging others to do the same, these scholars help shape the positive culture that makes The Genius School so special.

Learn more about our January Geniuses of the Month and how we cultivate strong character alongside academic excellence: https://geniusschoolinc.org/genius-of-the-month-january-goodness/

• March 2 - 6 - IREAD-3 Testing Window (Grade 2 and select 3rd and 4th graders)
• March 4 - Professional Development Day (Synchronous Learning)
• March 9 - 13 - ILEARN Benchmark 3 Assessment (Grades 3-7)
• March 13 - End of Quarter 3
• March 16 - 20 - Genius Appreciation Week
• March 23 - 27 - Spring Break (No School)
• April 3 - Good Friday (No School)

We’ve heard your feedback, and we appreciate our families’ partnership in helping students look sharp and feel confident each day. To make things a little easier, we’ve updated our dress code — either hunter green or navy blue ties are now acceptable for all students.

Please remember that full uniform (including tie) is required daily, as it reflects our Genius standard of excellence and readiness to learn. Students not in proper dress code may be held out of class until the uniform is corrected, so please double-check each morning before heading to school. Thank you for continuing to support our shared commitment to excellence in every detail — from how we learn to how we show up.

Thank you so much for your continued flexibility and understanding during weather-related delays. Because many of our students and staff travel from all across the city, safety must always come first. For that reason, we will more often than not err on the side of caution when making decisions about delays or closures. To ensure you receive timely updates, please be sure your contact information is kept up to date in FACTS, as all official messages will be sent there and shared on our social media platforms. We truly appreciate your partnership and trust as we work together to keep our community safe.

During Genius Conferences, families received their child’s Individualized Genius Plan (IGP)—a personalized roadmap designed to support each scholar’s academic growth and success. Together, we reviewed student data, celebrated areas of strength, and identified focus areas for continued improvement. Each IGP outlines the specific steps, supports, and goals that will guide your child’s learning this quarter.

All students received personalized flash cards to strengthen foundational skills in both reading and math. Students in grades 2–7 received math fact flash cards aligned to their current Rocket Math level. As students show mastery and move up in Rocket Math, they’ll be given new flash cards to match their next level of learning.

Every student also received a set of leveled sight word flash cards. Beginning with our incoming Pre-K scholars, our school-wide goal is for every student to know all 1,000 sight words by the end of 3rd grade. As students master their sight word sets, families should contact their child’s teacher or Mr. Cassoday to schedule an assessment at school. Once a student demonstrates mastery, they’ll receive a new set of words to continue growing.

We encourage families to practice flash cards nightly for just a few minutes—consistent, focused practice at home makes a powerful difference in building fluency, confidence, and long-term success!

Before fall break, our Genius Scholars in grades 3–7 completed their ILEARN Checkpoint 1 assessments. These results were shared during Genius Conferences as part of each student’s Individualized Genius Plans (IGPs).

Families, we ask for your continued partnership in supporting these goals at home. Please help your child work through their assigned IXL skills for about 20 minutes in ELA and 20 minutes in Math each day. Our team is tracking student progress and will reach out if additional support is needed. Remember, this is a true school–home partnership—your involvement makes a measurable difference in your child’s growth and confidence. At school, we’re continuing to provide targeted remediation while also beginning our preparation for Checkpoint 2. To ensure every scholar is fully prepared, consistent practice at home is key.

When your child completes their IXL skill plan, please contact Mr. Cassoday so your child can take Checkpoint 1 – Opportunity 2. This allows us to monitor growth and make sure each student is on track for success on the end-of-year ILEARN Summative Assessment.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and commitment to helping our Geniuses shine!

Thank you to all of our families for your attention to the updated dress code over the past few weeks — we’ve seen a big improvement as we start the year strong! That said, we still aren’t quite at 100%, and we need everyone’s help to ensure consistency. Please remember that Monday through Thursday students should be in white button-down shirts (not polos) with a tie or cross tie, and navy blue pants are required every day (not khaki). Following the dress code helps our scholars look sharp, feel confident, and stay focused on learning. We appreciate your partnership in making sure every student comes to school prepared and in full uniform each day.

• Monday through Thursday, students should be in dress uniform — this means a button-up shirt (not a polo) with a tie, and a cross tie for girls, along with navy pants every day.
• Friday is our regular uniform day. Dressing for success not only reflects our school pride but also helps create a focused learning environment.

As we settle into the school year, we’ve noticed an increase in common illnesses going around. To help keep our school community healthy, we are asking families to partner with us in taking extra precautions. Please remind your scholar about the importance of good hygiene habits such as regular handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding the sharing of food or drinks. If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home to rest and recover — this helps prevent the spread of illness to others. Together, we can create a safe and healthy environment where all of our scholars can learn and thrive!

To help our days run smoothly, please note our arrival and dismissal procedures.

• Arrival is from 8:15 to 8:30 AM. Students arriving after 8:30 AM are considered late and must be walked into the building by the person dropping them off.
• Dismissal takes place from 3:30 to 3:45 PM.

A successful year starts with being prepared! If you haven’t had a chance to bring in your child’s school supplies yet, please send them in as soon as possible so our scholars have everything they need to learn and thrive. Having supplies in the classroom helps us start each day smoothly and keeps students ready for every activity. You can view and download the complete supply list here: Click for the Supply List. Thank you for your support in making sure our classrooms are well-equipped for a fantastic year!

Our student dress code can be found here.