The Brilliance Bulletin - 08/22/25

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!

We are so grateful to community member Shari Bell, who generously donated a U-Haul full of bottled water to The Genius School! This incredible gift ensures that our scholars and staff stay hydrated and healthy throughout the school day. Acts of kindness like this remind us of the power of community and the difference it makes in the lives of our students. If you or someone you know would like to support The Genius School in a similar way, please contact our main office — together, we can continue to build an environment where every child thrives!

Thank you to the following people for various in-kind donations:

• Daniel Saunders (Daniel's dad)
• Shanell Woodard (Sage's mom)
• Tara Thomas (Rae's mom)

• Stephanie Beaver Smith

• John Miller

• Pink-4-Ever

If you would like to support our geniuses with an in-kind donation, contact the main office for a list of needs.

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.

Thank you for helping us start the year off right by making sure your child comes to school in full uniform each day. You can view the complete dress code here: Click to View Dress Code

We are thrilled to announce that our scholars will visit The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on Friday, September 12, 2025! This exciting opportunity will allow students to explore hands-on exhibits and connect their classroom learning to real-world discovery. Scholars will leave school at 9:30 AM and return around 2:00 PM. Please note that breakfast should be eaten at home, but students will receive a breakfast snack at school before we leave. Each scholar should bring a packed lunch from home to enjoy at the museum. Dress for the day will follow our Friday dress code.

Permission slips will be sent home on Monday and must be returned by Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Please make sure to complete and return the form on time so your child can join us on this special day!

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!

Mark your calendars — Picture Day will be on Monday, September 15! All scholars should come to school in their formal uniforms to ensure they look their best for photos. Order forms will be sent home soon, so please keep an eye out in your child’s folder. If your child is absent on Picture Day, no worries — a make-up day will be scheduled for the following Monday. We’re excited to capture these special memories of our scholars as we begin a new school year!

We are excited to kick off another year of partnership through our Parent–Community Organization (PCO). The PCO plays an important role in building a strong school community by supporting events, volunteering, and providing input that helps make The Genius School the best it can be for our scholars. Our first meeting of the year will be announced soon, and we encourage all families to consider getting involved. If you are interested in joining, please contact the main office. Additional details about the PCO and our upcoming meeting will be sent home shortly — we look forward to working together to make this a great year!

We are incredibly proud of our scholars for their outstanding performance on the IREAD-3 assessment! This year, The Genius School not only reached 100% literacy mastery in 3rd grade, but our 2nd graders who were enrolled all year also passed at 100%. These results show the power of our unique approach to learning and the dedication of both our students and staff. We are also thrilled to share that our school outperformed the state average, Indianapolis Public Schools, and Pike Township. 🎉

Want to learn more about how we achieved this success? Check out the full story on our blog: Read the Full Blog Post Here

Check out some photos of our geniuses in action!

• September 1 - Labor Day (No School)
• September 8 - 12 - GSI Community Immersion Week
• September 12 - Children's Museum Field Trip
• September 15 - Picture Day (Details to come)
• October 1 - PD Day (Synchronous)
• October 3 - End of Quarter 1

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.

For families needing additional care, we’re pleased to partner with the Riley Youth Community Center to offer before and after care. Before care runs from 6:00 to 8:15 AM, and after care runs from 3:45 to 6:00 PM. This program provides a safe and engaging environment for students outside of school hours. For more information or to register, please visit: Before & After Care Details

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.