Blacklick Bulletin

Dear Blacklick Families:

If you are a parent that drops your child off in the car rider line in the morning you may have noticed we have a new addition to the car rider line - 5th Grade Safety Patrols! We are so excited to have our 5th graders help in the car rider line to greet students! Our safety patrols are really helping to keep the car rider line moving and getting students to class by 8:05 AM! They are a big help! Thank you to Mrs. Wolfe for coordinating this 5th grade group of leaders!

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns at 614-759-5100 or by email at grovesk@gjps.org.

Respectfully,

Kristen Groves

All students (both NEW and RETURNING) MUST have their emergency forms completed on Infinite Campus by September 30th. Students will not be able to have snacks or go on a field trip without it.

You can complete this on infinite campus! PLEASE call our school office if you have questions with this process (614-759-5100).

Start with Hello Week is a national initiative through Sandy Hook Promise that encourages students to connect with each other and create a more inclusive and welcoming school environment. This year, each Gahanna Jefferson elementary school will be participating in Start with Hello Week - this week - from September 16-20, 2024.

During Start with Hello Week, students will learn about the importance of kindness, inclusion, and respect.

Two spirit days will take place during Start with Hello Week:

· On Wednesday, September 18th, we are encouraging students to wear green for unity.

· On Friday, September 20th, we are encouraging students to wear our school colors blue and gold to show Blacklick PRIDE.

This week will include:
Morning Greeters: Different members of our community will welcome students each morning! Think music, pom - poms, high fives, welcome signs, and enthusiasm!

Lunch or Recess Activity: Mrs. Warfield and Mrs. Jenkins (School Counselors) will facilitate lunch and recess activities across grade levels.

Let’s welcome ALL individuals and make our school the friendliest place ever!

The Blacklick Elementary Spirit Wear Sale through Pep Rally Apparel is scheduled for September 2 - 20. Orders will be ready 3 weeks after the close of the sale.

Please see the link below for ordering details:

https://peprallyapparel.com/collections/blacklick-elementary-presale

**Please select PICK UP at checkout so you do not pay for shipping. All items will be shipped directly to Blacklick Elementary School and sent home with students.

Blacklick Parent Curriculum Night

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

6:00 - 7:00 PM

Blacklick Library

Overview/Q&A presented by:

Dr. Erin Schmidt and Sharon Suriano

(GJPS Curriculum Coordinators)

All Blacklick parents/guardians are invited and encouraged to attend to learn about our new curriculum tools! Please join us! Our teachers are working hard to implement Wit and Wisdom (new reading/writing tool) and Bridges (new math tool) in all K-5 classrooms. Our staff will participate in continued professional learning about these new tools throughout the school year.

Below are resources for families for both math (Bridges) and reading/writing (Wit and Wisdom) if you are interested in learning more:

BRIDGES MATH

WIT AND WISDOM

Please reach out to Kristen Groves with any questions at grovesk@gjps.org.

Parent teacher conferences are scheduled for October 3 and October 10. Please make sure that you sign up for a conference with your child's teacher if you have not done so already. Teachers will have a lot of information to share with you regarding your child's progress so far this school year.

Need to schedule a conference with a related arts teacher - art, music, PE or library? If you would like to meet with one of your student's related arts teachers during conferences, please email them directly. Click here to ensure you are contacting the correct teacher for your student.

Dear GJPS Families,

Beginning last school year, districts in Ohio have been navigating new legislation related to

health and safety lessons that schools are required to include as a part of the curriculum. House

Bill 123 and Senate Bill 288, as outlined in the chart below, provide instruction to students in

grades K-12 on these topics.

We have developed our plan for delivery and have begun communicating with parents in

preparation for instruction. There are many details related to both House Bill 123 and Senate Bill

288 and we wanted to provide clarifying information on both components of our curriculum.

Instruction required annually for students in grades K-6:

Child Sexual Abuse, Dating Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention instruction is required annually for students in grades K-6.

Instructional Materials used:

SPEAK UP

Second Step Crime Protection Unit

Both HB123 and SB288 require districts to provide families the opportunity to examine

instructional materials and/or excuse their student(s) from taking part in the instruction.

For your convenience and due to a low response rate across the district, we have

created this HB123 & SB288 Parent Opt-Out Form for families to use ONLY IF YOU

WISH TO OPT OUT.

If you would like to read more about these pieces of legislation, you can access information

using the links below.

Prevention Education Resources (HB123 & SB288)

Legislative Requirements

Thank you,

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools

To report an absence, please call the front office at 614-759-5100 or email lindseyk@gjps.org by 8:30am if possible. You may also elect to use the online absence reporting in the Parent Portal (see information listed above).

Pursuant to House Bill 410, student attendance is now calculated in hours. This includes absences that have been identified as both excused and unexcused by the school, as well as planned absences. Being late or tardy to school does calculate into the total hours absent.

In an effort to encourage regular, on-time attendance and avoid habitual truancy, families are encouraged to:

• Make getting to school on time every day a high priority.

• Discuss the importance of regular school attendance and the negative impacts of excessive absences.

• Create a safe space for students to discuss what is keeping them from school.

• Develop a backup plan for getting your student to school when transportation challenges, illness, or other challenges arise.

• Schedule vacations during a time when school is not in session.

• Monitor your student’s attendance records to identify any disruptions or patterns of change.

• Contact your student’s school to discuss preventative services and supports available to promote regular attendance.

PLANNED ABSENCES (Such as vacation):

The time missed will be counted as an authorized, UNEXCUSED absence but shall not be a factor in determining grades unless the make-up work is not completed. Students who are absent 38 hours in a month or 65 hours in a school year with or without legitimate excuse are now considered Excessively Absent. These students will receive a letter from the District and will be required to follow the District Truancy Plan.These hours include approved planned absences. Planned absences will not be approved if your child has already met or will meet (based on this request) the absence threshold for Excessive Absence and/or Habitual Truancy.

If you have a planned absence, please fill out this form and send it in to the office. For more information or questions, please visit the GJPS website.

Parent Portal Annual Update

Infinite Campus is our parent portal and student information system. This site will allow parents/guardians to access school information electronically. For example, Infinite Campus will allow you to update email addresses and other important information regarding your child as well as view your child's report card electronically.

ALL Families (either new to Chapelfield or returning families) need to update your information in the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus. Directions for how to update Infinite Campus are linked below:

1. Log into the Parent Portal on Infinite Campus at: https://gahannajeffersonoh.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/gahanna_jefferson.jsp

2. Click MORE from the left hand column

3. Click on ONLINE REGISTRATION from choices on the right

4. Click START next to "Existing Student Registration"

5. Go through each step to complete the registration

Families New to Blacklick Elementary: If you are a new family to Blacklick (including all of our kindergarten families), you will receive an email from Mrs. Lindsey, school secretary, soon detailing directions on how to log into the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus to update your information.

Returning Families: If you need assistance - please call the school office at 614-759-5100. Mrs. Lindsey will be happy to help.

Columbus Metropolitan Library’s School Help Centers are now open, offering students in your family free after-school help.

• Reading Buddies, 15 minutes of one-on-one reading practice for K-3 students

• School Help Centers, offering K-12 students free help with their schoolwork plus use of computers, printers, digital research tools and other resources

• HelpNow, connecting them one-on-one with a virtual tutor Monday-Friday, 2-11 p.m.

• Online school help tools available 24/7

• YouMedia, an open lab space at nine locations where teens can explore technologies

• After-School Snack, offered at 16 locations in partnership with the Children’s Hunger Alliance

Learn more at columbuslibrary.org.

GRIN Snack Bag Sign Up

Dear Blacklick Elementary Families,

Gahanna Residents In Need (GRIN) has partnered with Blacklick Elementary to offer a “Weekend Snack Pack” program for our students.

The program is to benefit families who are experiencing food insecurity or who NEED supplemental food at home for the weekend.

If you would like to participate in this program you will receive a bag of non-perishable food items that will be sent home from school with your child every Friday. No refrigeration is required.

In order to participate, please complete the form below. If you have more than 3 students complete the form until you have entered all children.

Dash & Stash!

Come and join the fun, whether you dash, walk or run! Come see the progress of the new GLHS!

Do you own a business or work at a business that would like to have a decorated trunk at the Stash?

If you would like more information, please contact Dianna Bessignano at bessignanod@gjps.org OR (614) 269-4262.

Please click on this document to learn all about Blacklick!

"Everything You Need To Know About Blacklick Elementary - The Blacklick Basics"

Please visit You can find almost anything you need on our website

www.gahannaschools.org

• Infinite Campus: Please log in to the parent portal and complete the Annual Information Update. Update all Emergency Medical Forms, make sure all contact information is current, apply money to lunch accounts, and more! Click Here for DIRECTIONS
• Bus Information: find your student's bus route, contact information, and download the bus app.
• District Calendar
• Free and Reduced Lunch Applications: Apply for free or reduced price lunch using the Parent Portal. Directions and more information can be found on the Food Service Website. If you need assistance please contact our head cook, Lisa Hughes at hughesl@gjps.org.
• LUNCH MENU LINK with ingredient information.
  

GJPS Elementary Student Handbook 24-25

The next PTO meeting of the school year is scheduled for October 8, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Blacklick library. All parents/guardians are welcome and encouraged to attend!

PTO Officers for 2024-2025

Karen Davidson - President

Kristin Stewart- Vice President

Ashley Dean - Treasurer

Jess Waxler - Secretary

Need to contact the PTO?

PTOBlacklick@gmail.com

September 17 Parent Curriculum Night - Learn about new curriculum tools!

September 23 Teacher PD Day No School for Students

October 3 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 8 PTO Meeting in the Blacklick Library at 6:30 PM

October 10 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 18 End of Quarter 1

October 21 Conference Comp Day - No School for Students/Staff

October 22 Staff Work Day - No School for Students

October 25 Report Cards for Quarter 1 go home with students

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. Families are encourage to nominate a staff member today! The Heart & Pride Nomination Form will remain available year-round and is open to any member of our staff, regardless of position.