Blacklick Bulletin

Dear Blacklick Families:

As a reminder, there is NO SCHOOL for students on Monday, September 23, 2024. Our staff will be participating in professional learning that focuses on our new curriculum tools, Wit and Wisdom (reading/writing) and Bridges (math) on this date.

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

Start with Hello week was a huge success! We learned how to say hello in different languages, pledged to be kind and inclusive, and were greeted each morning by very special guests.

We'd like to give a huge THANK YOU to our Blacklick PTO for coordinating a visit from Brutus and our PTO officers for giving their time to hand out friendship bracelets and say hello this week!

We also had the pleasure of hosting athletes from Gahanna Lincoln High School, staff from our Central Office, Board Members, and our local police (Franklin County Sheriff and Gahanna Police Department) and fire departments (Jefferson Township Fire Department).

We truly felt the love and support of our community last week! A huge THANK YOU to our school counselor, Mrs. Warfield, for organizing this week for our students!

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).

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.

The Blacklick PTO is catering the main dish for both conference nights for the Blacklick staff but needs some help with the extras. If you are interested in donating an item, please click on the links below. Thank you in advance! The Blacklick staff is very appreciative!

Thursday, October 3rd:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054DADAB2CA6F49-50900456-thursday

Thursday, October 10th:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054DADAB2CA6F49-50900536-thursday

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.

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

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”

Thank you to all of the parents/guardians/family members that attended our curriculum night last week! I appreciate your time!

As shared in the curriculum night presentation, our Language Arts curriculum is Wit & Wisdom. Below are links for each grade level's family letter. Take a moment to read the letter, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or comments.

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Dreambox and Lexia - Access at Home

As a reminder, GJPS provides our families access to ClassLink, which is the students’ dashboard of apps, allowing them to access their apps at home throughout the school year and summer. Through this access, parents can support the growth of their students in Math and English Language Arts. Remember that Dreambox and Lexia are adaptive and adjust to the user, so parent participation should be only in helping their child log on to a device at home and being a cheerleader along the way. If your child is confused about the content, then reach out to your child's classroom teacher and ask him/her to check in with your child on the specific lesson. 10-15 minutes a day on one or both of our digital platforms will go a long way toward building confidence and a solid foundation for your student.

Here are the directions on how to log onto a personal device at home.

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.

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 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.