
Gables Elementary Weekly Newsletter
February 12, 2024
SAVE THE DATES
FEBRUARY
- 2/10-14 Scholastic Book Fair at School
- 2/5-18 OELPA Testing
- 2/13 Parent Teacher Conferences
- 2/17 NO SCHOOL Presidents Day
- 2/21 Book Nook
- 2/21 PTA Family Movie Night
MARCH - 3/3 Panorama Survey Starts
- 3/5 NO SCHOOL Professional Development
- 3/5 Foertmeyer Spring Flower Sale Begins
- 3/11 PTA Meeting
- 3/14 Panorama Survey Ends
- 3/19 Foertmeyer Spring Flower Sale Ends
- 3/21 End of the 3rd Quarter
- 3/21 Book Nook
- 3/26 NO SCHOOL Records Day
- 3/28 Report Cards in Parent Portal
STAFF CORNER
Principals Update
IMPORTANT: Families need to Update Emergency Contacts in Parent Portal
Please ensure your family reviews and updates their emergency contact information through the Parent Portal. Each student should have at least two emergency contacts. These individuals do not need to be family members; they can be any trusted adult known by the family. We also ask that families identify those authorized to pick up their students (including older siblings) from school if a parent or guardian cannot.
To do this follow these steps:
1. Open Infinite Campus Parent Portal,
2. Click the dropdown Menu (3 lines on top left),
3. Choose More
4. Choose Annual Update
5. Follow Annual Update Prompts
If your Annual Update says complete but you would like to add more emergency contacts or authorized people for pickup, please click "start another" and add them. If you have questions or need guidance, please call the school and we can help walk you through it. We appreciate your help in making sure our records are up to date in case of an emergency. Thank you!
Notes from the Family Ambassador
In February, Columbus City Schools launched the Academic Calendars Survey for CCS community members to gather comments and feedback about the proposed calendars for the 2025-2026 school years. The proposed calendar survey period is now open to allow for public comment. The district’s academic calendars are created in collaboration with the Columbus Education Association (CEA) and in consultation with principals, district administrators, and parent representation.
The survey was sent out to families through the district’s Infinite Campus Parent Portal. The survey focuses on the main areas of the start of the school year, Wellness Week, resources for children during break periods, allocation of breaks throughout the school year, Spring Break, and the final day of the school year.
If you have input to share, now is your chance to do so. Log on to your parent portal and take the survey today. It is available in multiple languages. You have to access it through the parent portal. There is not a direct link to this survey.
We love to learn!
Kate Green
Family Ambassador
School Nurse Update
School Counselor Update
Below you will find several quotes to share with your students and some books that help teach children about grit and how to use it in their lives. Remember a mistake isn't a mistake if we learn something from it.
What is GRIT?
Grit is a personality trait that describes someone who is determined and persevering, especially when working towards long-term goals. People with grit are able to maintain their interest and effort over time, even when faced with challenges or setbacks, they don't give up.
Here are some great videos to watch with your kids about Grit!
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
Our 2nd Annual Scholastic Book Fair is back at Gables! You have two more days of shopping before the fair closes for the year, and all purchases through the Book Fair benefit our school!
Prepare for the Fair
You can set up an eWallet for cash-free shopping. This loads funds under your student's name. No need to send money in their backpack. We can simply look their name up at our cash registers and their purchases will be deducted from their eWallet account. Set up an eWallet using the button below.
Payment Methods to purchase books include:
Cash & Checks
eWallet
Credit Cards
Apple Pay
Scholastic eGift Cards
Book Fair Schedule
Preview Week
February 3-7th. Each teacher will bring their class to the Book Fair in the school's library to preview the items that will be for sale. Students will write down their wish lists to take home to parents.
Shopping Week
February 10-14. Students will have to opportunity to shop the Book Fair during their scheduled time. Parent/Teacher Conferences are also happening on Thursday Feb 13th. Parents will have the opportunity to visit the Book Fair in the school's library and shop.
Share the Fair
You can share your eWallet link with friends and family so they can help your child find even more to read. Uspent funds from a past Fair? To transfer them to this Fair, log in to your Scholastic account and create a new eWallet- then your previous balance will be available to transfer as an eGift Card. When you fund an eWallet, you can also contribute to Share the Fair, the giving program that benefits kids in your school who need help buying new books. Click here for more info and to set up an eWallet
PTA NEWS
Book Nook
February Book Nook is coming up! On Friday Feb. 21st, during the school day, your child will be able to purchase a book for just $.50 cents.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! If you are a parent, grandparent or guardian and are available for a couple hours between 9am and 2:30pm to help please email Erin at gablesgators@gmail.com
If you'd like to sponsor your child's class, a $12-15 donation will ensure every child in the class gets a book. Please email gablesgators@gmail.com to find out exactly how much to send in or paypal.
Do you have books that you've outgrown at your house? We will take them! We are especially in need of books for established readers (grades 3-5). Highly requested books that we never seem to have enough on hand are of graphic novels and books about sports.
Family Movie Night
WHAT MOVIE IS SCREENING?
- Date: February 21st
- Start 6pm
- Pizza & Snacks Available for purchase through the PTA
- Adults may want to bring a comfy chair to sit in and enjoy
Questions? Please email Erin at gablesgators@gmail.com
Gables Spiritwear Sale
COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOL NEWS & EVENTS
School Choice Lottery Information and Deadlines:
School Choice Lottery: For parents/guardians of KG-12th grade students wishing to apply to attend a school other than the school assigned.
- High School & Middle School Lottery Applications: Accepted via the Parent Portal no later than Friday, February 28, 2025.
- Elementary School Lottery Applications: Accepted via the Parent Portal no later than Monday, March 31, 2025.
Reservation Admissions: For students who currently attend a school that is eligible to reserve a seat in the next school with the same programming.
- Reservations: Accepted via the Parent Portal for eligible students until Friday, January 31, 2025.
Request to Return to Home School: For students attending a school in Columbus City Schools that is not their school of address.
- Request to Return to Homeschool Application: Submission deadline of Friday, March 21, 2025. Applications must be submitted via the Parent Portal.
Selective Admissions: For students who meet specific criteria.
- Selective Admissions Applications: Submission deadline of Friday, January 31, 2025. Applications must be submitted via the Parent Portal.
Congrats to the Centennial Stars Girls Basketball Team
Celebrate Black History Month
Happy Black History Month! We are celebrating Black history, achievements, and culture. The Columbus Metropolitan Library locations will be hosting special events about Black art, literature, music, beauty, and history all month at library branch locations around the city.
Check out the Columbus Metropolitan Library's website for most up-to-date events planned for the remainder of February.
The Office of Whole Child Supports invites you to participate in Relationship Week from Monday, February 10-14, 2025. This year’s theme is Promoting Healthy Communities.
Celebrate kindness, connection, empathy, and belonging in your classroom, school, organization, or community. Research has shown that more hopeful students perform better, believe in pathways to desired goals, and are naturally motivated to pursue them.
Consider these activities for Relationship Week:
- Highlight the Relationship Week theme of the day during the morning announcement at schools or as an office SEL activity.
- Create a display showcasing empathy, kindness, and belonging.
- Classrooms: Teach a lesson using Sandy Hook Promise instructional resources or facilitate a restorative proactive community building circle.
- Office/Departments: A friendly word or smile can make someone’s day. Invite co-workers, managers, and others to connect and be involved.
- Greet students or staff in their native language.
- Consider the daily resources posted here in Canvas Relationship Week Daily Activities
As we interact daily with colleagues, students, families, and community partners, take time this week and throughout the year to enhance those relationships.
Your active participation in promoting healthy relationships is appreciated.
Best regards,
The Office of Whole Child Supports
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS & RESOURCES
New Library Branch Coming to Northwest Columbus
From Pastures To Pages, The Case Road Library Branch Is On The Way
Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) is adding a brand-new library to its lineup, bringing its total number of branches to 24. The new Case Road Branch will serve the city’s northwest side, marking a significant expansion into a previously underserved area.
The branch will be located on West Case Road, across from The Ohio State University’s airport, on a parcel of land informally known as the “sheep farm.” The land, purchased by the City of Columbus from OSU in 2019, will also be home to a planned city park. This collaboration with the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department promises to bring both literary and outdoor experiences to the community.
Columbus Museum of Art
Sundays 10 AM – 5 PM, 480 East Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215
CMA provides free general admission for museum visitors, each and every Sunday. Bring your friends and family and enjoy Free Sundays at Columbus Museum of Art (CMA). Special exhibition admission is an additional $8 for nonmembers.
Black History Month
The King Arts Complex Collection has an online photo digitization partnership with the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
The "My History" database provides access to central Ohio’s digital history. Images, documents, maps and artifacts. Learn about your neighborhood’s history – and become a part of it – by sharing your historic photos. The King Arts Complex archive includes Call and Post images and articles from approximately 1962 to 1995.
Summer Camp Ideas
Fun and Unexpected Things to do In Columbus
Carriage Place Recreation Center
February 17: Center Closed; President’s Day
February 18: 2025 Outdoor Rec Summer Camp Registration
February 25: T-Ball & Coach Pitch Baseball Lg. Registration
February 25: 2025 CRPD Summer Camp Registration
February 26: Gymnastics Meet @ Whetstone
March 12: Gymnastics Meet @ Whetstone
March 15: Winter Classes End
March 18: Spring Class Registration
Scan or visit our website to learn more about our center or to register: ColumbusRecParks.com/Carriage
Need Help? Check out our Community Partners.
Here is a list of Columbus Community Partners providing assistance.
Asian American Community Center - is a non-profit community-based organization serving needs of all Asian Pacific Islanders in Central Ohio. AACS has led efforts to empower and develop the local Asian community through its expansive and proactive programs and services.
LSS 211 offers services from homeless shelters to senior living. Call 211.
City of Columbus CARES Act offers assistance with utilities.
Cap4Kids provides resources for families in the areas of meals, housing, utilities, mental health and lots more.
Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio offers pharmacy services and medicines, counseling on proper medication usage, health screenings, wellness education, and social program assistance for those who cannot afford them. (614) 227-0301
Community Refugee and Immigration Service (CRIS) is an independent non-profit agency serving refugees, asylees, and immigrants in central Ohio. They help refugees and immigrants achieve successful integration into the central Ohio community.
Clintonville Resource Center serving all of Central Ohio by providing assistance through the food pantry, child and youth programs, senior services and kinship care programs.
Ethiopian Tewahado Social Services (ETSS) assists immigrant and refugee families and low-income individuals in Central Ohio through education, training, supportive services, and self-development opportunities.
Franklin County Childrens Services Guide provides information on local emergency or non-emergency assistance to families.
Mid Ohio Food Bank provides food locations by zip code.
MY Project USA is a non-profit organization. It is the first and the only national initiative that is addressing the challenges facing the American Youth, especially in the immigrant and refugee communities from various Muslim countries.
OhioKAN ensures every kinship and adoptive family who wants support navigating the resources available to them can get it.
Project Connect provides help to families living in shelters, car, motel, campground and doubled-up families.
Teaching Tolerance provides guidance for educators on how to handle students that are going through the stress/fear of deportation.
Essential Resources for Winter for Columbus Residents
Click the links below for helpful resource lists and tools:
- Columbus Winter Warming Centers – Interactive Map
- Columbus Winter Warming Centers – PDF
- Clothing, Hygiene Items, and Home Goods Resource List
- Utility & Housing Payment Assistance Programs
- Best Gas Prices in Columbus
- Free Home Weatherization for Income-Eligible Franklin County Residents
- Grief Support, Support Groups, Substance Use Help, and More
- Emergency Food Help
- Emergency Housing Help
- Helpful Hotlines
- Columbus Street Card
- How to Prepare Your Home for Winter Weather
GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION
About Gables Elementary
If you are calling the school office about your student, and your call is not answered, please leave a message on the Gables Office voicemail and your call will be returned promptly.
Attendance Email:
If your child will be absent, please email below. If you are just running late to school, please bring your child into the school, you do not need to call ahead.
attendance.gables@columbus.k12.oh.us
Attendance Phone: 1-380-997-6025
PTA Email: gablesgators@gmail.com
Family Ambassador: Kgreen2@columbus.k12.oh.us
FACTline Email: factline@columbus.k12.oh.us
FACTline Phone: 614-221-FACT (614-221-3228)
Email: gableses@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: ccsoh.us/GablesES
Location: 1680 Becket Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: 614-365-5499
Learn the Gator Way!
Be Responsible!
Be Respectful!
Be Safe!
Be Kind!
That's the Gator Way!
Parent Portal
Is Your Parent Portal Account Activated? Stay engaged in your child's education by setting up and signing into the Columbus City Schools Parent Portal. Through the Parent Portal, you'll be able to securely access valuable information on your student(s):
- Teacher Contact
- Grades and Course Schedules
- Daily Attendance
- Missed Assignments
- Complete your Annual Update