GEMS Family Newsletter

• Sun. July 21- GEMS Family Crew Summer Playground Meet up at Scioto Audubon Metro Park Playground at 3:00pm
  
• Wed. Aug. 14 - GEMS Family Crew Summer Playground Meet up at Brevoort Park (Clintonville) Playground at 6:00pm
  
• Wed. Aug. 28 - Back to School Night
  
• Mon. Sept. 2 - No School - Labor Day
• Tues. Sept. 3 - First Day of School
• Wed. Sept. 25 - GEMS Family Crew Skating Party at Skate Zone 71 - 5:00-8:30pm
  
• Thurs. Sept. 26 - Fri. Sept. 27 - No School - PD Days

• School Year Office Hours - 7:45am-4:30pm - office@gemsschool.org
  

• School Day Hours - 8:30am-3:15pm
• Summer Office Hours - June 3 - July 31 - 9:00am-3:00pm

We look forward to having your student continue to be enrolled at GEMS next year, however, your student's spot for next school year is NOT guaranteed until all Annual Student Registration forms have been completed and are received by the school.

This year we are using PowerSchool to complete the online registration forms. A letter was mailed home that included log-in information and step by step instructions on how to create an account. Click here (https://ps-tge.metasolutions.net/) to log-in to your PowerSchool account, then go to the forms page and complete each section under General.

Please contact Anjali Haury at records@gemsschool.org or 614-253-4000 with questions.

Dear GEMS Families,

We are pleased to share that families may now access the spring 2024 state assessment scores (OST) through the PowerSchool Parent Portal under the state assessments icon on the left near the bottom.

State assessment results that are available within the PowerSchool Parent Portal include:

• Grades 3-8 Ohio’s State Tests in English Language Arts and Mathematics

• Grades 5 and 8 Ohio’s State Test in Science

• Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA): Administered to students who qualify as English language learners

The results listed within the PowerSchool Parent Portal represent overall scores and performance levels.

Printed Family Reports for the spring state tests results will be mailed home later in the summer, as they do not arrive in the district until late July.

If you need assistance logging into the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please contact office@GEMSSchool.org.

Sincerely,

Alen Auguste, Dean

Christina Conrad, Dean

Angelic Dean, Dean

Cassie Muller, Dean

The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT or SUN Bucks) is new for summer 2024. Summer EBT/SUN Bucks provides grocery benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when school is closed for the summer. Summer EBT benefits will be loaded to a household’s Ohio Direction Card, or a benefit card will be sent in the mail to each eligible child.

Families can use the money to buy food during the summer at grocery stores, farmers markets and other authorized retailers. Families will receive a one-time benefit of $120 for each eligible child and participation will not affect children or families’ immigration status.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE SUMMER EBT/SUN BUCKS AND HOW DO I APPLY?

• For ALL Schools - If your household already participates in SNAP, OWF or if income eligible and receiving Medicaid benefits, your child will automatically be enrolled to receive summer benefits with no further action.
• If you completed a meal eligibility application for 2023-24 school year and were approved for free/reduced meal benefits, your child will be automatically enrolled to receive the summer benefit with no further action.
• If you did not complete a meal eligibility application, but you believe that your child might be eligible, you can complete a meal eligibility application as soon as possible at https://sebt.ohio.gov/
• When applying, you will be asked to provide your child’s name, school, date of birth, address and some additional details. You will also be asked to report your household’s income. You will not need to provide any other documents or information including social security number, proof of citizenship, or pay stubs to apply.

We are pleased to inform you that Graham Elementary and Middle School (GEMS) will be implementing a new option available to schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for School Year 2024-2025.

What does this mean for you and your children attending the school(s) identified above?

Great news for you and your students! All enrolled students of GEMS are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2024-2025 school year. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit an application. We will be collecting Ohio Income Household forms in order for students to qualify for other programs. If we can be of any further assistance, please contact us at baney.1@thegrahamschool.org or 614-262-1111.

Sincerely,

Cathy Baney, Child Nutrition Director

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

email: Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Graham Elementary & Middle School (GEMS) announced today a change to its policy for serving meals to children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for GEMS for the 24-25 school year. Schools qualifying to operate the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) provide breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals. This new approach reduces burdens for both families and school administrators and helps ensure that students receive nutritious meals.

FREE HEALTH CARE: Families with children eligible for school meals may be eligible for FREE health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio’s Healthy Start & Healthy Families programs. These programs include coverage for doctor visits, immunizations, physicals, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and more. Please call 1-800-324-8680 for more information or to request an application. Information can also be found on the web at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/familychild.stm. Anyone who has an Ohio Medicaid card is already receiving these services.

For additional information please contact the following person:

Cathy Baney, Child Nutrition Director

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
   

   U.S. Department of Agriculture

   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

   1400 Independence Avenue, SW

   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2. fax:(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3. email: Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Check out the available positions for the 2024-25 school year!

Click here for GEMS

Click here for TGS

Click here for TCS@ODU

Summer Playground Meet up at Scioto Audubon Metro Park Playground
Sunday, July 21, 2024 @ 3 pm
400 W Whittier St, Columbus, OH 43215
We'll meet by one of the tables near the playground equipment (just past the climbing wall and water tower).

Summer Playground Meet up at Brevoort Park (Clintonville) Playground
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 @ 6pm
3545 Indianola Ave, Columbus, OH 43214
We'll meet by one of the tables near the new playground equipment.

Skating Party at Skate Zone 71
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 @ 5-8:30pm
4900 Evanswood Dr, Columbus, OH 43229
The 1st hour (5-6pm) will be open to only GEMS students and family members and then from 6-8:30 it will be open to the public. More info to follow.

GEMS is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year. Please share this newsletter with anyone who is interested in learning more about GEMS. Click here to complete a New Student Online Application. Please e-mail Anjali Haury at records@gemsschool.org with questions.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GrahamElementaryandMiddleSchool

Instagram -

https://www.instagram.com/gemscolumbus/

Kroger

Go to: www.krogercommunityrewards.com or call 1-800-837-4483 to enroll in the program. Add GEMS to your Kroger card. You can search for GEMS by name or use our school code: FD086. Shop! Every time you shop and use your Kroger Rewards Card GEMS gets rebates. Kroger totals those rebates and sends GEMS a check.

The Graham Family of Schools participates in the National School Lunch Program that allows for all families to apply for free or reduced meals. Lunch is available to all students. Should they choose not to participate in the school meal program, students may bring their lunch from home. NO OUTSIDE FOOD MAY BE ORDERED OR DELIVERED AS THIS DIRECTLY VIOLATES THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM POLICY.

Our partnership with EL Education empowers our teachers to unleash the potential of their students. EL Education is built on ten design principles that reflect the educational values and beliefs of Kurt Hahn, founder of Outward Bound and co-founder of EL Education. These principles also reflect the design's connection to other related thinking about teaching, learning, and the culture of schools. The 10 design principles are: The Primacy of Self-Discovery, The Having of Wonderful Ideas, The Responsibility for Learning, Empathy and Caring, Success and Failure, Collaboration and Competition, Diversity and Inclusion, The Natural World, Solitude and Reflection, Service and Compassion.

GEMS is a School-wide Title 1 program, enabling us to receive Federal Funds to ensure that our students receive the support they need to reach and exceed grade level goals particularly in reading and math. We welcome parent involvement in planning, review and improvement of Title 1 programs. Please contact Debbie Addison at addison.2@gemsschool.org with any questions. Follow this link to the Parent Pact.

Per House Bill 21 community schools are required to perform a monthly review of student files and randomly select families for residency verification. Please contact the school immediately in case of an address change. Proof of residency must be submitted within two weeks of an address change. If evidence is not provided, requests for additional documentation or a home visit may occur.

School Day Hours - 8:30am-3:15pm

Email: office@gemsschool.org
Website: https://www.thegrahamfamilyofschools.org/gems_home.aspx
Location: 140 East 16th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201, USA
Phone: (614) 253-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Graham-Elementary-and-Middle-School-109578509098428