East Weekly

MSE is excited to let students wear appropriate costumes to school on October 31. However, it is important that costumes adhere to our school dress code stated in the MSE Handbook to ensure a safe and positive environment for everyone.

Costume Guidelines:

• Costumes must follow the regular school dress code (no inappropriate language, graphics, or themes).
• No weapons (real or pretend) or masks are allowed as part of any costume. Violation of this rule may result in disciplinary action.
• No paint or makeup that covers the face or distracts the educational environment.
• Students must be comfortable enough to sit in a chair without disturbing their desk partner's personal space.
• No inflatables.
• There will be principal discretion.

Students who violate the dress code will need a parent or guardian to bring in a change of clothes or may be sent home.

Wearing costumes allows students the chance to express themselves, build community, and have a bit of structured fun—while also encouraging responsibility and respect for our school rules. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a safe and fun atmosphere for all students. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

October 25: Girls Basketball Tryouts

October 26: Fitness Fundraiser meeting @ 9AM - Panera

October 28: Ski Club Meeting @5:30 NEW!!!

October 29: Ski Club Meeting @5:30 NEW!!!

November 1: Boys Basketball Tryouts

November 11: Veterans Day Program

November 8: No School for students
November 27-29: Thanksgiving Break - No School

7th Grade Science: We have started our unit on Matter!

7th Grade Power of the Pen: We will meet on Monday from 3:50 - 4:30 in Mrs. Maynard’s room (room 1)!

7th Grade ELA - Students are continuing to read their book club books. Ask your student if they are meeting their reading goals! We have also started a Spooky Writing Unit! Students will create and submit their writing on 10/31, and then we will nominate the spookiest writing in each class!

Math 7- Students are continuing their work with integers, and have begun working on representing distances as subtracting integers. We will begin working with multiplication of decimals. Students will soon be able to work through all operations with rational numbers.

Please make sure your student is charging their chromebook every night!

Q2 Policy Updates

ALL 8th GRADE PARENTS: Please read the note above from Principal Kirsten about the reinstatement of book signatures in 8th grade. Thanks!

Caudill Am History: I’m excited to share that your child will be participating in the We The People project this semester! This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and how our government works through group discussions, research, and a simulated congressional hearing.

Here’s what the project will look like for students:

• Team-Based Learning: Students will work in teams to study different sections of the Constitution. Each group will explore specific units from our textbook and present their findings during a mock congressional hearing. While students are in teams, most of the points in the project come from individual work. Each student will be responsible for completing their own work and contributing to the group effort.

I’d also like to invite you to be part of this project! Parents are welcome to watch or even serve as judges during our class presentations, which will take place from December 16-19 (We will present 2 of those days, specifics TBD). More details will follow as we get closer to the event.

I sent out an email with more details on 10/24. Reach out with questions!

Families who believe they may qualify for Free or Reduced-Price Meals can now complete the application online through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. A step-by-step tutorial is available to help guide you through the process, with additional tutorials offered in Somali, Spanish, French, and Nepali.

You can also submit a paper application, which is available for download. Complete the form and return it to any school office, the Central Office, or by email or fax. Once submitted, you will be notified of your child’s eligibility through the Parent Portal under the Messages tab.

Please remember, only one application per family is needed, and eligibility is based on household size and total household income. For further details, including how to access applications in other languages, visit the USDA website.

For more information, feel free to contact us. Refer to the website below for applications and more FAQs.

The Panorama survey window will be open from October 14th through November 1st, and students will complete the survey during their science class. While opt-out options were provided from the district on October 7, we encourage participation, as the survey offers valuable insights to help MSE better support your children and foster a stronger sense of community. Student feedback is highly valued and plays a crucial role in our continuous improvement efforts.

This year on Veterans Day we are excited to honor those who have served our country. To recognize Veterans for their contributions we will hold a Veterans Day Breakfast & Assembly on Monday, November 11, 2024.

We encourage students and family members to invite a veteran in their lives—whether it's a family member, friend, or neighbor—to be a special guest at the breakfast and assembly presentation.

Please RSVP by November 1, 2024 to help us plan for this meaningful event.

Thank you for your support as we honor those who have served!

The veterans in attendance on Monday November 11, 2024 will be invited to a breakfast in the Library followed by an introduction by their MSE student at a whole-school assembly. The assembly will last until about 10:30 AM.

For veterans who can attend, I ask that you confirm their attendance by completing the form below on or before November 1st. An invitation will be emailed as a followup to completing the form.

For veterans that cannot be in attendance, we still want to recognize them! Please complete the form below, by November 1, 2024 to include in a picture for the slideshow presentation.

If you have questions about your veteran’s participation, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail. Thank you for your help as we show our students the importance of honoring those who have served our country in this manner.

To report an absence, please call the front office at (614)478-5550 or email fischerj@gjps.org by 9:10am if possible.You also have the ability to login into Infinite Campus and mark your child's absence there. Please ONLY do this if your child will be absent for the entire day.

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.

The Heart & Pride Nomination Form will remain available year-round and is open to any member of our staff, regardless of position.

PTA meetings take place on the 2nd Monday of each month in the GMSE library at 7:00pm. All are welcome!

Meeting dates:

• November 11

• December 9

• January 13

• February 10

• March 10

• April 14

• May 12

Help support and fund numerous initiatives for students and staff throughout the year. Stay tuned to our Facebook page, “GMSE Parents” (new members be sure to answer the questions to be admitted), and upcoming newsletters for more information about what we do and how you can help.

Please consider joining the Middle School East PTA.

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