Monthly Update, August 23, 2024
We appreciate your patience as we settle into our new transportation routes and bus stops this year. We are seeing improvements every day, but with several road construction projects and lane closures around Gahanna, our drivers are encountering some new and unexpected delays. We are continuing to adjust routes to prevent students from arriving late to school.
Please continue to monitor Transfinder and Here Comes the Bus as your route may be impacted.
Thank you for your understanding as we navigate these bumps in the road!
What We Want our Students to Be
Almost three years ago, in alignment with the Master Facilities Plan, GJPS staff and families set out to answer the question, “What do we want our students to be and become?” These discussions, along with brainstorming related to the educational experience we want for every student, guided us in the development of the Learner and Educator Profiles that promote and support our GJPS students and staff to be Empowered Risk Takers, Visionary Thinkers, Confident Communicators and Global Citizens.
The GJPS Learner Profile outlines the essential characteristics and qualities our district is working to develop in our students, and the Educator Profile details the ways in which staff guide, facilitate and support students in achieving those outcomes. By fostering these profiles, we are helping to prepare our students for academic success leading to meaningful, impactful lives now and in the future.
The profiles embody our district mission, vision and core values and further our commitment of “Inspiring Learners, Building Futures."
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Stay Connected with your Teacher and School
We're excited to announce that TalkingPoints is back this year to help families stay in touch with their school and teachers. With TalkingPoints, you'll receive important updates through text messages, ensuring quick communication in your home language.
Be on the lookout for messages from your student's principal and teachers in the coming weeks. We encourage you to save these numbers in your contacts, since it is a number unique to you and may be unfamiliar.
While text messaging is the primary method for receiving these communications, you can also download the TalkingPoints for Parents Mobile App in the app store on your iPhone or Android for additional features.
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Here's What You Need to Know
Our fall sports season is underway, and we hope you can come out to watch our student-athletes compete when you have a chance.
On Friday, August 23, 2024, our Gahanna Golden Lions play their opening home football game. It is an exciting time for our district, our players, and our GJPS community. Showing our Lion Pride and supporting our young student-athletes is extremely important for all of us.
- Tickets for all home athletic events are available online. Cash will be accepted for tickets at the gate.
- There are two stadium entrances for fans. Please see the attached flyer for details regarding parking and stadium entrances.
- We enforce a no-bag policy and utilize crowd control barriers under the stands. These efforts will remain in effect this year. The no-bag policy is limited to those of school-age only (18 years old and younger). The duty to prove age will rest on the ticket holder.
- We will continue to deploy crowd control measures around the stadium to encourage free movement, reduce congestion, and enhance safety.
Together, we will create a positive image for visiting fans and a safe environment for students, staff, and community members.
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Did you know that students who miss just two days of school in September are five times more likely to be chronically absent throughout the school year? Starting as early as kindergarten, chronic absence is a sign that children will be off track for reading by the end of third grade, achieving in middle school and graduating from high school. Families play a key role in making sure students access learning opportunities and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.
Missing just 2 days a month can lead to chronic absence. 10% of the school year = 18 days of absence = almost 1 month of missed learning.
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Now Available for GJPS Families
We are excited to announce Online Absence Reporting, a new feature available in the Parent Portal. It provides a convenient new way to inform your school about planned absences with just a few clicks.
To enter a request, follow these simple steps:
Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.
Select your child’s profile.
Navigate to the Absence Request section.
Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the absence.
Submit your request.
You will be able to view the status of your request using the View Requests button.
The elementary Chinese Enrichment Program is now accepting registrations for the 2024-2025 school year. This program is open to all students in grades 2 through 5 with classes taking place before or after school.
Please visit our Chinese Language Program Website for more details. Registration will be accepted online now through August 30, 2024.
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Sept. 2, 2024: Labor Day - No School
Sept. 23, 2024: PD Day - No School
Oct. 21, 2024: Comp Day - No School
Oct. 22, 2024: Staff Work Day - No School
Nov. 8, 2024: PD Day - No School
Nov. 27-29, 2024: Thanksgiving Break - No School
Dec. 23, 2024-Jan. 2, 2025: Winter Break - No School
Jan. 3, 2025: Staff Work Day - No School
Jan. 20, 2025: Martin Luther King Day - No School
Feb. 14, 2025: PD Day - No School
Feb. 17, 2025: Presidents Day - No School
Mar. 10, 2025: Staff Work Day - No School
Mar. 31-April 4, 2025: Spring Break - No School
April 18, 2025: Comp Day - No School
May 2, 2025: PD Day - No School
May 23, 2025: Last Day of School for Students
May 24, 2025: Class of 2025 Commencement
Celebrating Our Staff
The Heart and Pride Award recognizes two outstanding staff members each month who make a profound impact on our students and Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools.
This nomination form will remain open year-round and is open to any member of our staff, regardless of position.
Building Pride for Our Future
In November 2020, voters in the Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools district approved a bond and operating levy to fund Phase Two of the GJPS Master Facilities Plan.
Phase Two of the Master Facilities Plan Includes:
- Additions and renovations to High Point and Blacklick Elementary
- Additions and renovations to Middle School East
- New Lincoln High School on current site
Let's Be Social
GJPS has very active Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube accounts.
Please check us out and LIKE US, give us a comment or tweet and SHARE us!
Have a question about something school related? We bet you can find the answer on our Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools website at www.GahannaSchools.org.
Sign Up For the GJPS Monthy District Newsletter
The newsletter you are reading (the GJPS NEWS TO KNOW District Newsletter) is emailed to our families and GJPS community each month.
If you live in the GJPS community and want to stay in the know about what's happening in YOUR school district, please SIGN UP for our monthly update.
(Psssst, families of current GJPS students already receive this newsletter, so there is no need to sign up again, but please share with a friend who does not receive it.)