East Weekly

I hope you are all doing well. I want to apologize for not sending out the newsletter last Friday.

Unfortunately, I was out sick on Thursday, and over the weekend both of my little ones came down with the flu. I’m just now catching up on emails and realized the newsletter hadn’t been sent.

Please accept my sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused. As Flu A is going around, I kindly ask that you remind your children to wash their hands frequently and to keep them home if they develop a fever or other flu symptoms.

Thank you for your understanding and support. Stay healthy!

Jan 24 - Feb 28: Yearbook Sales (see information below for all grade levels)

Feb 3 - Feb 7: Book Fair

February 6: Parent/Teacher Conferences-- 7th & 8th grade only

February 7: 7th & 8th Grade Fun Night

February 11: From Classroom to Career Presentation-- NEW!! (See flyer below)

February 13: Parent/Teacher Conferences-- all grades

February 13: PTA FUNDRAISER-- EAT AT MOD PIZZA(See flyer below)

February 14: Teacher professional development -- No School for students

February 17: President's Day-- No School

Feb 18 - Feb 25: 7th grade students will schedule for 8th grade classes

The student council is excited to again host the MSE Winter Fun(d) Night this February 7th! Proceeds from this event allow us to provide fun activities to MSE students - including last day of school festivities!

We do appreciate the help parents & guardians are able to provide so the students can have the best time - Please review the available slots in the link below. Feel free to reach out (hobbse@gjps.org or maynarda@gjps.org) with any questions - Thank you!

The event is run by the student council, but you can help by signing up to chaperone here.

We are excited to share an incredible opportunity to support a meaningful project that will benefit all students in our district. This year, the Gahanna-Jefferson Education Foundation (GJEF) Gala will feature a Fund-A-Need initiative focused on purchasing and installing communication boards at each elementary and preschool playground. We encourage you to support the cause in any way you can.

Communication boards are visual tools that use pictures, symbols, and words to help individuals express their thoughts, needs, and emotions. These boards are particularly useful for students with limited verbal communication, those learning English as a second language, and even young children still developing their vocabulary. Communication boards provide students with an inclusive way to connect and engage with peers during play.

While these boards are an invaluable resource for students with specific communication needs, their benefits extend to every child on the playground. Here’s why:

• Promoting Inclusion: Communication boards foster an environment where all students can participate and communicate effectively, regardless of their language or abilities.

• Encouraging Social Interaction: By providing visual cues, these boards help children initiate conversations, make friends, and engage in collaborative play.

• Building Language Skills: For students developing their vocabulary or learning English, communication boards offer a fun and interactive way to learn new words and phrases.

• Supporting Emotional Expression: Playgrounds are not just for physical activity—they are spaces where children express their feelings and build relationships. Communication boards give all students a voice to share their emotions and ideas.

How You Can Help: The GJEF Gala is a fantastic way to bring our community together in support of this initiative. Here’s how you can contribute:

• Register for the FREE Online Silent Auction: Includes entry into the raffle for a $250 Amazon gift card.

• Donate to Fund-A-Need: Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to making these communication boards a reality.

• Spread the Word: Share this initiative with family and friends who may also be interested in supporting our schools.

Together, we can make a lasting impact by creating inclusive spaces where every child feels seen, heard, and valued. Thank you for your ongoing support of our students and schools. We hope to see you at the Gala on February 22, 2025!

Take care,
Sue LeHota, Director of Special Education and Dr. Colleen Boyle, Curriculum Coordinator of Special Programs

GJPS Families,

Please be the biggest cheerleader for GJPS by volunteering for the 2025 Biggest Pep Rally Ever!

Please click on the following link, review available slots and sign up today! Volunteer Sign Up

Thank you for being involved! Go Lions!

Students can place donations (no cash please) in their House bins in the front of the building. Some specific items Morrow County Humane Society is requesting include paper towels, cat litter deodorizer, puppy pads, Purina kitten chow, tidy cat clay and clumpable litter, Redford brand adult salmon cat food. Dog treats and hard chew toys are also appreciated. Thanks in advance for your generosity!

The 2024-25 GMSE Yearbook is now on sale!!!! Books will be sold from Friday, January 24, through Friday, February 28.

How To Order:

(We strongly encourage you to use the online ordering platform.)

Option #1: Simply visit book.hrimaging.com to order your child’s yearbook. The cost is $28. If you are asked to list a teacher please make sure that your child's House Teacher is listed.

Option #2: Look for an email from HR Imaging and click their link. It will auto populate your child's information. You will get an email for each child you have at MSE.

Option#3: Write a check/send in cash. Click here to access that information. Your child will also come home with this information today. If you are asked to list a teacher please make sure that your child's House Teacher is listed.

Because 6th grade has only one winter conference night (Thursday, 2/13) and limited time slots available, teachers sent home a yellow request form today (Friday, 1/24), if they feel a conference is necessary at this time. If your child received a yellow form, please return it by Tuesday, January 28. If you do not receive the yellow form but would like to schedule a conference, please call the front office after February 3 to schedule.

Our one stop shop for students’ assignments: The Launchpad

*If you are able to donate kleenex to your house teacher it would be greatly appreciated! We are running out in the midst of cold and flu season*

7th Science: Our Energy Transformations Assessment will be on Wednesday 1/29.

7th ELA: Students are in the middle of our research unit. Ask them what they are learning and how they are contributing to their group!

7th Grade Math Students: Our Winter Math MAP test will be next Tuesday, January 28th. Please make sure your students have a charged chromebook and a book to read if they finish early!

Art: 7th grade students finished some super cool Mini Museums where they got to recreate miniature artwork. If your child has art this quarter, ask them to show you which artists they chose!

Hello Travelers and Families!

Happy New Year to you all! We are officially in 2025 and are less that 5 months away from the D.C. trip! I wanted to send out a couple of reminders and an update about the trip so that you know what to expect over the next few months.

Reminders

• Payment dates were scheduled for January 10th, February 7th, March 7th, and April 4th. These dates were set to help families spread out the payments, but no one's trip will be cancelled, nor will fees be added for late payments. However, they do ask that the balances be paid by the last payment date of April 4th. If you have any questions about your account or payments, please reach out to Prodigy Student Travel at 614-436-8747.

• When students were registered, you were sent forms to be completed through Infinite Campus (IC). The Behavior Contract was sent to students and parents/guardians to be signed. The other forms were only sent to parents/guardians. Please make sure to complete these forms. Students cannot participate in the trip if these forms are not completed . Also, if you marked "no" on the medication form for any medication that your child needs to take with them on the trip, make sure to complete the appropriate additional medical forms linked in the "additional medical forms" document sent to you through IC.

Updates

• In March students will go through the process of selecting their roommates for the trip. We do our best to honor these requests and can normally do so unless we have cancellations or other issues that arise.

• In April we will have another virtual meeting to discuss the final itineraries for the trip, what to pack and what not to pack, behavior expectations while traveling, and the details about the morning we leave (where and when to meet, checking in, etc.) and our return.

• All medications, prescription and non-prescription, must be turned in to your school nurse in their original containers no later than two weeks before we leave for the trip.

Michael Hunt

See Gahanna Gala information above!

Gahanna Middle School East PTA will receive 20% of fundraiser sales* during this fundraiser. Participate on Feb 13, 2025 by ordering online using the code MODGIVES20 or by visiting this MOD (333 S. Hamilton Road) location and showing attached fundraiser flyer or mentioning the fundraiser at checkout.

* Tax, gift cards and retail sales are excluded from the donation. Offer void if flyer is distributed in or near the restaurant.

DIGITAL CODE

Order online at modpizza.com or with the MOD app and apply this digital code.

Offer valid only on the date(s) and at the MOD location identified on this flyer. Offer valid for dine-in, takeout, or delivery when ordered through the MOD app or website only. For online or in-app orders, please use the code provided by GroupRaise. For delivery, customer must live within delivery boundary.

Only nonprofit organizations and nonprofit schools are eligible to participate in the MOD fundraising program. MOD will donate 20% of food and beverage sales to the organization. Tax, gift cards, and retail sales are excluded from the donation. Offer void if the flyer is distributed in or near the

restaurant. For more information about fundraising, visit https://modpizza.com/fundraisers/

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:

• 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.

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