Monthly Update, January 24, 2025

Superintendent Dr. Tracey Deagle and District leaders invite you to a presentation highlighting the achievements and future goals of GJPS.

This event will feature updates on our GJPS Strategic Plan, with a focus on areas such as:

• Supporting student success
• Empowering our educators
• Building strong partnerships
• Enhancing organizational efficiency

Join us as we celebrate our progress and look toward an exciting year ahead!

Read More About our Strategic Plan

In less than a year, our students and staff will be teaching and learning in our new Gahanna Lincoln High School. Our new high school is set to open in January of 2026. Read about plans to make the transition smooth for students, staff and families, including adjustments to Winter Break 2026 for GLHS.

Our Board of Education recently met for their organizational meeting to establish meeting dates for this calendar year. You can find the schedule of meeting dates on the Board of Education Meetings webpage.

This month, GJPS joins over 700 school districts throughout Ohio in celebrating SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH! At the regular BOE meeting last week, Superintendent Dr. Tracey Deagle and Treasurer/CFO Cliff Hetzel recognized our Board of Education for providing their leadership to our District. Join us in celebrating the members of our Board and their dedication to our students, staff and families!

If you do not currently receive text messages for school closures or delays and would like to sign up, please text a message of "Y" or "Yes" to 67587.

Students at Chapelfield recently talked about random acts of kindness and that even small acts of kindness can have a ripple effect, positively impacting those around us. Empowering students to understand the power of one through acts of kindness not only benefits others but also fosters their own self-esteem and sense of purpose.

As a school, Chapelfield decorated coffee sleeves for the Gahanna Starbucks on Hamilton Road with positive, encouraging messages in hopes of starting a chain reaction of kindness.

The GJPS Middle School Robotics Team, Classy Chassis, and its alliance partner, Scorpions from Zanesville Middle School, recently secured first place at the V5 Robotics Competition in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

As champions, the team has qualified for the 2025 Ohio VEX V5 MS Robotics State Championship in March, extending its journey to qualify for and compete in the VEX Robotics World Championship.

READ COMPLETE STORY

Congratulations to Middle School West students Benson Afful and Serena Ghimire for earning first and second place respectively in the VFW's Patriot's Pen youth essay contest. The contest required a 500 word essay dedicated to the theme of "My Voice in America's Democracy".

Congratulations Trent Hughes on being recognized as the CW Columbus and the Ohio Education Association Scholar Athlete of the Year! Trent has served as Captain for both the Golf and LAX teams at GLHS!

Watch Video Celebrating Trent and His Award

Join us to learn about the future of our Central Ohio region! Experts from the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio and OneColumbus will be at Middle School West on February 11 to share about the economic future of our area and the way it is guiding how we inspire learners and build futures.

Whether you’re cheering from the sidelines with a donation or joining the action in person or from home, your contribution will make a game-changing impact for our students. You’ll be supporting classroom grants that allow our staff to INSPIRE, INNOVATE and IMPACT learning for Gahanna-Jefferson students every day.

We are adding more items weekly.

Bidding begins Saturday, February 15 - Saturday, February 22.

Register for FREE and be entered into a raffle for a $250 Amazon gift card!

Help guide the direction of the City of Gahanna by participating in their strategic plan process!

Jan. 29, 2025: State of the Schools

Feb. 11, 2025: From Classroom to Career
Feb. 14, 2025: PD Day - No School
Feb. 17, 2025: Presidents Day - No School

Feb. 22, 2025: GJEF The Gahanna Gala
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

2024-25 GJPS District Calendar (PDF)

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.

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

Master Facilities Plan & Building Projects Webpage

Phase Two Building Projects Webpage
Phase Two Elementary Projects Webpage

Phase Two Middle School East Project Webpage

Phase Two Lincoln High School Projects Webpage

GJPS has very active Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts.

Please check us out and LIKE US, give us a COMMENT and SHARE us on your channels!

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.

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.)