The Brilliance Bulletin - 02/02/26

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!

Thank you so much for your patience and flexibility last week as we navigated inclement winter weather. With conditions changing throughout the week, we made the decision to shift between e-learning days and two-hour delays to keep our community safe. As a highly mobile school community—with many students and staff traveling across the city each day—safety will always come first, and we will continue to make decisions with that priority in mind, without hesitation.

Moving forward, we will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and work to communicate decisions as early as possible so families have ample time to plan accordingly. We truly appreciate your partnership and trust as we work together to keep everyone safe.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser! Thanks to your incredible generosity and support, we raised nearly $13,000 with the help of more than 230 supporters. This is a powerful example of what our community can accomplish when we come together with a shared purpose.

A special shoutout to our top-selling students:

1. Rae Thomas
2. Dash Staten and Dillian Taylor
3. Gamaliel and Milan Martin
4. Major and Mercy McCrary

These students will receive their well-earned prizes very soon—great work!

The funds raised through this fundraiser will help strengthen our programs, support our staff, and deepen the quality of work happening across our school. Thank you again for investing in our students and believing in what we are building together.

As we plan ahead for the 2026–2027 school year, we ask all families to complete the Intent to Return Survey.

This survey helps us:

• Plan class sizes and staffing
• Prepare materials and programming
• Ensure we are meeting the needs of our scholars and families

Completing the survey does not lock you into a final decision, but it is an important step in helping us plan responsibly and effectively.

Please take a few moments to complete the survey if you have not already done so. Your response directly supports thoughtful planning for the upcoming school year.

Our Black History Month Program will take place on Thursday, February 26, 2026, and this is one of the most meaningful events on our school calendar. All students will participate, and individual scripts and performance pieces were sent home last week.

Please ensure students are bringing their scripts to school each day and practicing their parts nightly at home. While we will be rehearsing regularly during the school day, consistent practice outside of school is essential for students to feel confident and prepared. Rehearsals will continue each week leading up to the program, so learning lines and cues is vital.

In class, students are also engaging with this year’s theme, “Always Here: Systems, Science, and the Black Roots of America,” through their Reading and Political Science coursework. Instruction will support students in thinking critically about history, systems, and the ongoing impact of Black contributions in America—building both understanding and purpose behind their performances.

More details will be shared as the program approaches. We are excited to celebrate our students’ hard work and this powerful learning with our community.

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.

We are excited to welcome our newest Pre-K scholars to The Genius School community—Hendrix Phillips, Lennox Phillips, and Xavier Kelly! We are so glad to have them join our Early Education Center and look forward to watching them grow, learn, and thrive.

Our Early Education Center continues to grow, and we are proud to share that The Genius School now accepts CCDF for our Early Ed program. This expansion allows more families to access a high-quality, faith-centered, brain-based learning environment for their little geniuses.

We are currently enrolling potty-trained children ages 3–4, and this is a great time to secure a spot in a classroom designed to build confidence, curiosity, and early academic success. Space is limited, and enrollment is already underway.

At The Genius School, we believe kindness isn’t just something you talk about—it’s something you live. Throughout December, our scholars showed us what that looks like in action: offering a helping hand, encouraging classmates, and helping create classrooms where everyone feels valued and supported.

Our December Geniuses of the Month exemplify kindness as a powerful form of genius. Each of these students leads with heart, empathy, and respect, making a meaningful impact on their peers and our school community as a whole.

We are proud to celebrate:

• Jarvis – Preschool
• Julius – 3rd Grade
• Alec – 4th Grade
• Major – 4th Grade
• Ethan – 4th Grade

Their stories remind us that character and academics grow best together—and that kindness is foundational to who we are.

Learn more about our December Geniuses of the Month and how we cultivate character alongside academic excellence: https://geniusschoolinc.org/genius-of-the-month-december-kindness/

We’re excited to share a video highlighting our Science of Goal Setting learning experience at The Genius School. This approach goes beyond motivation and helps students understand how goal setting actually works in the brain.

Through age-appropriate lessons in neuroscience and psychology, students learn how the brain grows when meaningful goals are set, practiced intentionally, and reflected on over time. They explore concepts such as neurons, neuroplasticity, focus, motivation, and stress, then apply that learning directly to their own academic and personal goals.

Using mind maps that mirror how the brain organizes information, students connect ideas, track evidence of growth, and begin defining success based on effort and progress—not just grades. Students are also preparing to lead conversations around their learning by explaining their goals, sharing evidence, and reflecting on growth with confidence.

Learn More About Our Science of Goal Setting Approach: https://geniusschoolinc.org/the-science-of-goal-setting-how-genius-school-students-learn-to-grow-their-brains/

Watch the Extended Science of Goal Setting Video: https://youtu.be/ZSrrAzPN4eI

At The Genius School, we teach students that genius isn’t something you’re given—it’s something you grow.

During our Faithful Friday reflection, students reflected on Jeremiah 1:4–5, a powerful reminder that every child is known, created with purpose, and set apart long before they ever walk through our doors.

In this week’s video, scholars from across grade levels help bring this message to life—reminding our community that each student’s gifts, voice, and presence matter. From first grade through middle school, we remain intentional about helping students understand who they are and whose they are.

At The Genius School, faith and learning come together to affirm that our students were created on purpose, for a purpose. This belief continues to shape how we teach, lead, and support our scholars each day.

• February 13 - Mental Rejuvenation Day (No School)
• February 16 - President's Day (No School)
• February 26 - Black History Month Program (6:00 pm)
• March 4 - Professional Development Day (Synchronous Learning)

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.