Blacklick Bulletin

Dear Blacklick Families:

THANK YOU to the PRIDE Partner PTO and all the Blacklick families that donated to our parent/teacher conference night dinners! We very much appreciate your kindness and support. The food was delicious and a wonderful treat for our staff.

We have a busy week ahead! Details of the week are listed below:

Grade 3 Ohio State Test in Reading: October 15 and October 16 - testing will begin at 9:45 AM.

Buddy Day - Students complete get to know you activities with buddy classrooms: October 16

Unity Day - October 17 - Wear Orange - details are listed below!

As a reminder, there is NO SCHOOL for students on Monday, October 21 and Tuesday, October 22. We will welcome students back in the building on October 23.

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

We are excited to share with you that our school community will be celebrating Unity Day on Thursday, October 17th this year.

Unity Day is an annual event occurring during National Bullying Prevention Month in October that promotes joining together to create healthier communities through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. It was started by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center in 2011 and is now celebrated around the world.

Here at Blacklick, we invite students and staff to wear ORANGE to show that we are united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Students will also participate in morning meeting discussions to encourage maintaining a school environment where everyone feels like they belong.

Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will be taking the Panorama Survey. This tool will provide us with information on student perceptions regarding topics such as school climate, sense of belonging, cultural diversity and social awareness.

The administration window for the survey this semester will be October 14 through November 1, 2024. During this administration, we will be seeking the opinions of students in grades 3, 4 and 5 via an online needs assessment survey that we expect to take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Once the data has been received, we will use the results to guide staff conversations around how we can best support students’ needs on a social-emotional level. A follow up survey will be administered again at the end of second semester to help us determine the effectiveness of programming put into place throughout the year. We invite you to access the Panorama Demo to preview a sample survey.

If you would like to opt your child out of taking this survey, please EMAIL Mrs. Groves (grovesk@gjps.org) by October 11, 2024.

Dear Parents,

We invite you to share a few kind words or a heartfelt message for your child's teacher or Blacklick staff member. Our staff works tirelessly to provide the best education and support for our children, and your appreciation can make a significant impact on their day.

Please take a moment to express your gratitude, share a positive experience, or simply say thank you.

Your messages will be shared with the staff member to brighten their day and acknowledge their hard work and dedication.

Thank you for your participation and support!

“Staff Tribute: Share your thanks”

The annual Blacklick Elementary Veterans' Day Assembly is scheduled for Monday, November 11th. We will be having two assemblies on this date: 9:30 AM and 10:45 AM.

**Our 5th grade students will be performing at the 9:30 AM assembly.

**Our 3rd grade students will be performing at the 10:45 AM assembly.

Please be sure to send in your RSVP form to your child’s classroom teacher by Tuesday, November 5th if you are planning to attend. The RSVP form will go home this week in student PRIDE Folders.

You can also RSVP by filling out the google form that is linked below:

Veterans Day RSVP - November 11, 2024

We will be recognizing all Veterans and Active Military Guests that attend each assembly.

We will be collecting Candy for the Troops! Do you have extra Halloween candy that you would like to donate to the U.S Military? Please send in all of your extra candy to your child’s classroom teacher by Tuesday, November 5, 2024. We will be partnering with the Buckeye Military Moms Organization out of Worthington, Ohio. This organization will be shipping the candy to US military troops.

Dear Blacklick Families,

Plan to join us for Community Night on Thursday, November 21 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Come share your family culture and learn about cultures at Blacklick. Wear special clothes or bring food to share. There will be music and crafts as well as free pizza and food trucks to purchase from in the back parking lot. The Book Fair will also be open to shop in the library.

Look for more information coming home soon with your child!

Forms for the yearbook art contest will go home in PRIDE Folders this week with students in grades K-5.

When creating your design, please remember to :

1. Create your design in a COLOR medium such as crayons, markers or colored pencils (press firmly).

2. Use the form that was sent home and create the design below the dotted line.

3. Make sure the design in vertical.

4. Color to the edge of the paper, but keep any text or words 1" (one inch) from the edge of the paper.

5. Be sure to include BLACKLICK ELEMENTARY and 2024-2025 in your design.

Interested students should turn in their entry to their classroom teacher by Monday, October 14.

We are excited to offer a PRIDE Wellness after school club for our students this school year. Thank you to Mrs. Garling (EL teacher) and Mrs. Nevius (3rd grade teacher) for organizing this club for our students! As a reminder, if your child has signed up for a session of our PRIDE Wellness Club, please make sure to send in the permission form asap! Please click on the link below to read more about our PRIDE Wellness Club!

There are still vendor spaces available for the bazaar. Please email blacklickbazaar@gmail.com for more information.

The next PTO meeting of the school year is scheduled for November 12, 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

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. As a reminder, 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.

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 below).

GJPS Elementary Student Handbook 24-25

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.
  

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.

October 15 Ohio State Test in Reading Part 1 for Grade 3 Students

October 16 Ohio State Test in Reading Part 2 for Grade 3 Students

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

Nov. 7 Picture Retake Day

Nov. 8 PD Day - No School

Nov. 11 Veterans Day Assembly

Nov. 12 PTO Meeting at 6:30 PM in the Blacklick library

Nov. 18 - 22 Book Fair in the library

Nov. 21 Blacklick Community Night (6:00 - 7:30 PM)

Nov. 23 Blacklick Bazaar (8:30 - 12:00 PM)
Nov. 27-29, 2024: Thanksgiving Break - No School

Dec. 20 End of Quarter 2
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

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.